TRACK 01 : HAPPINESS, in yeop.

14

LEE JI-EUN?

Is that a name?

He kept saying it, twice, thrice. Now, only as Ji-eun. I wasn't sure whether he was having a nightmare but I wanted to put a stop to it. To stop hearing it.

The urge soon overthrew me and with no thoughts, I pushed him forcefully from the bed.

He fell on the floor with a loud thud. "Ow!"

I couldn't bring myself to have pity even as he caressed his hurting shoulder dramatically.

"Jesus christ, what was that for?!"

I didn't answer. Instead I turned around, rolled my eyes, and walked out. I don't know what got into me to resort to violence. But I am certain that I'm mad. Super mad.

"So what happened, ma'am?", the helper beamed at me wide when I arrived downstairs.

I couldn't even look at her. They probably thought I'd be back with entertaining news.

"Nothing", I could only reply, sitting on the center of the dining table.

The helpers, though they tried to quiet down, were still audible. Their whispers and inferences from how I acted were so clear that I was beginning to feel guilty.

Only for In yeop to show up.

He couldn't be bothered and was still on his satin pajamas.

"Sir, breakfast", one helper offered.

In yeop bowed a little, nodding, and made his way to a chair, the one opposite to mine. It was awkward really. Half of all breakfast, almost no words were spoken. It was only slurping, chewing, or the utensils hitting each other.

Yet when it got all too quiet, I spoke for decency. "I'm leaving this afternoon, by the way."

In yeop was taken aback by this. I saw how he rushed to swallow his food up to reply. "Leaving again? You just got home."

I chuckled, slicing my pancakes. "Well, it's not my fault that I have friends."

His lips rose, stopping himself from taking a bite of his food. Not long after, he also stood up and placed the utensils he's using back on the plate. It created a noisy sound that I was also forced to stop myself from eating.

I crossed my arms. "What?"

"You're asking me what?", he stared at me in disbelief. "You pushed me from the bed and now you're acting like this? What's your problem?"

"You want to know what's my problem?"

"Uh, yes?"

"You."

"Me? What did I do?"

"Well, you.. you..", I realized how dumb it was and groaned. "Forget it!"

"Where are you going?", he called when I stood up to leave. "Cosette!"

"I'M TALKING to you, 'liz", Eun-woo snapped from the other line. I figured he was at red light when I got to focus back om video call.

"Oh right, hi!", I exhaled. "What was that again?"

"The color of your gates. I was asking because I'm almost there."