Saturday's Master

Volume 1 - Chapter 4

It was only when he got to the door that he noticed a strange sign. He can't explain exactly what was different, but the hand he was about to knock on hesitated for reasons other than hesitation. he checked the number on the door one more time. And I knocked on the door, enduring the familiar twisting of my stomach, but there was no sign of presence.

It was the same when I put my ear to the door and listened. Taking a step back, I took out my cell phone and confirmed that there was no call from Team leader Han. In the text box, only the link he sent last week was floating in purple.

When I turned off the screen, a white number appeared on the lock screen. 23:01.

After looking around the hallway for a moment, I almost lost my phone. The screen of the mobile phone, which had been set to silent, flashed loudly. At the top, written in large letters, was his name.

The phone repeated a long, silent beep. You might have thought that if it rang, it would cut off on its own. I just stared at it frozen, then slowly, as if being dragged to an unwanted place, I pushed the screen up.

- Have you arrived?

He asked without waiting for a greeting. It was a voice that sounded lower and colder than it really was. There was no scolding as to why he received it so late. A muffled murmur could be heard over the receiver, and a car horn rang in the distance.

"... yes."

- Where are you now?

"It's the hallway in front of the room... ."

I was about to ask where you are, but I kept my mouth shut. Team leader Han was quiet for a while. The sound of short breaths reached my ears. he said without hesitation.

- I'm sorry.

"... ... ."

- I should have contacted you in advance, but there was no rush. I'm on my way now, but it will take another thirty minutes. Can you wait until then?

Did I have something other than the option to say it's okay? The narrow sense of satisfaction as if I had caught the pod of a person who was perfect every time, and the cowardly feeling of wanting to run away using that as an excuse, filled to the tip of my tongue. The bitter and astringent taste felt like something new. As if he knew that, he spoke calmly.

- It's me who broke the promise, so it's okay for Lee Seo Dan to do as he pleases. You can just go home and pretend you didn't have an appointment today. I do what I like.

"... really, so... ."

- Did I ask something too obvious?

he laughed. It was an unusually bitter laugh.

A feeling of relief wrapped around him as if melting the tight coils in his stomach. My heart was beating fast. All it took was one word. All I had to do was say yes, hang up, take the subway the same way I came and go home again. Saturday, which was approaching every week, did not give me room to breathe and gradually tightened my breath, and I was desperate for the end of the increase until next Saturday.

But... . I closed my eyes and leaned my forehead against the cold wall in the hallway. He clenched his teeth tightly, then slowly released them.

"I will wait here."

- ... Go to the front desk and give my name and they will give you the key. If they need confirmation, they'll call me. Entering the room.

"I'll just wait in a cafe or something and come back."

- Suit yourself.

He ended the call without coercion.

- I will contact you when I arrive.