Sky High

Misery

Ri Jeong Hyeok

I think this is the third straight morning I find myself sleeping in my boss's home. And I don't even care about it. Please, I don't even know how I get here.

I'm a certified lightweight pretending to be a heavy lifter in terms of liquor tolerance. I'll do anything, so long as the pain in my chest goes away. The pain in my head... I kind of expect it with the amount of alcohol I consumed last night.

I groan, my head feels like splitting in two. I need Advil. And preferably a bowl of hangover soup. I get up from my laying down position in my sofa and see that actually my boss and his heavily pregnant wife are present in front of me.

"Good to see you alive, Captain." That's greeting from Mrs. Ace or Ms. Seo Dan. I can't look them in the eyes, really. Mrs. Ace shifts two pills of Advil and a glass of water to me. I mumble my thank you and take the pill eagerly.

"Dan makes haejangguk if you can bring yourself to the dining room. I have enough of your weights these three nights." I want to feel ashamed really, this is my boss after all, but there's very short list of things I care about right now and that doesn't include appeasing my boss.

I walk gingerly to their dining room and sit at one of the chair. The bowl of hangover soup waits for me already. Dan sits across from me while Ace sits beside her.

It's been two weeks since the wedding and I still go to the bar every night and drink myself to death. The first time Ace found me there was on day 5. He might have something to say about my performance at the base. I was distracted. I gave a whole lot reasons not to fly.

I didn't talk to him. Like nothing at all. He was just there. A company. And I was grateful.

I eat in silence. Not really want to talk about anything. Not now, my body language says. I can feel their stare on me. And I really appreciate them not saying anything and just let me be.

But they can only hold their tongue for so long. And eventually the questions start pouring.

"Are you okay, Captain?" Ace gently asks. I deliberate how to answer this question. I don't know how much he and his wife knows or if they even know anything. So I go with honesty.

"I'm not sure. I'm keen to think I'm not."

"Yes, you are not, Captain." Dan sums it with finality, not giving a chance for rebuttal.

"Is this sudden frequent visit to the bar has anything to do with the wedding?" What wedding? I want to respond. That wedding is something I want to erase from my memory. The pain. Ah, shit. The pain.

Unconsciously, I rub my left chest. "Yes."

"Wow. I don't think he'll be so honest about it." Dan smiles to her husband. I let out a grunt, not really liking how they patronize me.

"Since when do you harbor feelings for Yoon Se Ri?" Ace asks bluntly.

I can't even deny Ace's observation. Because the truth is I'm in love with my brother's wife. Any sentiment to the contrary will just be a denial of the truth.

But that doesn't mean I will do something about it. I don't know when or if I can ever let her go, but I will. At some point I have to. Right?

"Day 1." I answer solemnly. "Day 1 of what?" Dan asks.

"Day 1 I'm here."

"That's almost 7 months ago." I nod and continue eating the soup.

"Oh, Captain." That's pity if I ever hear one. Dan reaches out and squeezes my hand. A gesture I appreciate so much.