Sancutary | 박성훈

6. Requsiteless House

Maena eventually had some hours of sleep the first night at Sunghoon's house. It was now late morning and the sun of spring shone from her window. She went to the upstairs bathroom, washed her face and brushed her teeth as usually. The house was quiet again.

She walked downstairs. Sunghoon's room's door was open with no one inside. No one in the kitchen nor in the living room. It's Saturday, but Sunghoon has gone work? But maybe it's normal, she yet doesn't know much about business work or his schedule.

There was a piece of paper left on the kitchen counter. It was a note, written with a neat handwriting. She grapped it and read it. If you go somewhere and come back before me, the spare key is in the plant pot by the front door.

Thoughtful, but she could almost hear those cold and numb words even though it was written in ink. He could have easily left a text, but he didn't even have Maena's number, and neither did she have his. 

Maena left the note on the table and walked to the other side of the counter to find something to eat. After all, she realized that she hadn't eaten anything since she moved here, she just haven't been hungry. She opened the fridge and her eyebrows rose in kind of surprise or confusion. The fridge was almost empty, no decent food of any kind. Does the man not eat? Or has he forgotten to go to the store? Anyway, she closed the fridge and opened some cupboards looking for something. Some had Ramen and cereal, and she decided to make Ramen.

She looked at the stove for a moment, trying to figure out what the buttons were for. Although she also lived in a fairly wealthy home, Sunghoon's home was even more wealthy and the stove looked like it had come from the future.

After thinking for a while, she got it working and made herself some tasty Ramen.

-

It was a quiet day alone in the house and in an area where there is not much noise from outside. Maena enjoyed it, but surely such daily life would be tiring. It was Saturday and of course she could have been with Bora or other school friends, but she took that day as a rest day.

While examining the television downstairs, which also seemed more difficult to use, she heard a knock at the front door. If it was Sunghoon, he wouldn't knock so it had to be someone else. She hesitated, it could be some nice neighbor, Sunghoon's friend, some salesman or someone who doesn't mean good..

"Mr. Park. It's me!", a woman's gentle voice spoke behind the door. It made Maena feel better, it was someone who probably was close with Sunghoon. She walked to the door and opened it. The woman was quite old, well maybe middle-aged, around fifty. She looked happy and nice, but her expression changed to surprise when she saw Maena at the door.

"Oh well! You are Mr. Park's wife, aren't you! Nice to meet you, I'm Kim Haesoon, his neighbor. May I come inside?", she eagerly introduced herself and shook Maena's hand.

"Okay, sure.", Maena said and Haesoon proudly stepped inside the house.

"I almost forgot that he is getting married. I haven't seen you here before though. Lovely! I saw movement and lights from the house and I know that Mr. Park works on Saturdays, so I thought that maybe he is sick and took a day off, so I had to go see if he's doing alright! The man could hardly take care of himself.", Ms. Kim spoke happily.

"What's your name, sweetie? Oh, and I promise I won't tell anyone about you being his wife, since you weren't revealed in the news.", she assured and took a seat by the kitchen counter. Maena followed her and leaned on the counter, opposite her.

"I'm Maena. But I'm not his wife yet, surely.", she smiled.

"Of course, the wedding is still upcoming.", Haesoon stated. She frowned a little. "I was really surprised when it was revealed in news that he's getting married. He never said anything about a girlfriend, and definitely not anything about getting married."

"Yeah, I'm not really his girlfriend..", Maena clarified.

"What do you mean?", Ms. Kim inquired a little confused. 

"I'm not sure if I'm allowed to talk about it, but miss, our marriage isn't a love marriage. It was arranged by our fathers. And I don't really know Sunghoon at all.", Maena revealed, feeling like she disappointed her. 

Haesoon's face turned more surprised, like she couldn't believe it, but still smiled. "I see, but don't worry, the secret is safe with me. And I promise that Sunghoon is a lovely man." 

Maena thought of how positively she talked about Sunghoon, making him look like a good person. But in Maena's eyes he didn't seem that amazing, at least not yet.

"Oh, I probably should have offered something since you're a guest, but here really.. is nothing.", Maena said and scratched the back of her head.

"Really? Has he forgotten to go to the grocery store again?", Haesoon hastily claimed and walked to the other side of the counter and opened the fridge, just to see the emptiness. "Oh boys."

"Um, what do you mean 'again'?", Maena inquired, because it seemed like he forgets a thing like that often.

"Yes, the man sits at work from hour to hour. Forgets grocery shopping, sleep and eating in general. It's worrisome, that's why I often go to see him in the evenings. He seems to drink quite a lot of wine also, but a grown man should know how to take care of himself. But now you're here, Maena. You get to keep him in check.", Ms. Kim explained. It was a lot to take for Maena, but Ms. Kim seemed to be gotten used to it. 

After a small conversation the front door already opened and movement was heard from the hall. Haesoon walked to the door with her hands on her hips, as if she was about to start yelling at her child. "Mr. Sunghoon Park! You haven't been to the store again. Haven't I told you about it, now you have others living in the house so get your act together!", she scolded but in an amusing way.

"Yeah, I will tonight.", Sunghoon muttered and when he stepped into Maena's line of sight she saw how tired he looked. Even though Maena hasn't been with him for a long time, she does notice when someone is tired. His face was pale, there were black bags under his eyes, and his motion movements looked tired and weak.

"And have you gone to work without sleeping again?", Ms. Kim asked, more calmly now. "Go rest.", she gently urged and held Sunghoon's upper arm for him to walk towards his bedroom. He walked past the kitchen where Maena was, but didn't even share a glance.

"Well, maybe it's time for me to go then.", Haesoon noted. "I live in that house on the right, come visit sometime.", she smiled to Maena and now walked towards the front door. "Bye then, Maena."

"Bye.", Maena replied.

-

Later the night and after hanging in her own room again, Maena felt hungry. She only ate the Ramen in the morning. She again went downstairs. Sunghoon was sitting on the couch, now watching the television instead of working. Maena opened the fridge again, only to see the same emptiness than before. She haven't eaten, which probably means nor have Sunghoon.

"I'm going to the grocery store.", Maena stated from the kitchen and took great steps towards the front door. Sunghoon heard her and stood up from the couch.

"No, I was really going. I'll go now.", he hastily replied with a tired tone. He looked like he hadn't slept at all even thought Ms. Kim before urged so. The living room table had a wine glass again when Maena glanced there. 

"No, I'm going now.", she convinced.

"No, no, I-", Sunghoon started, but Maena cut him off. "Seriously, go to sleep.", she said firmly, almost being frustrated of the situation. Sunghoon had walked closer and now stared at her for a while without saying anything.

"Okay, okay then.", he gave in and walked to the cupboard that had wine bottles inside. "I'll give you money.", he said and took cash from the cupboard top. He walked back to her and held the money out to her. Maena accepted the money and didn't say anything.

"Keep the rest, or buy something nice for yourself.", Sunghoon lastly said before walking back to the living room. He turned off the television an picked up his wine glass. Maena put on her shoes. She still didn't have any jacket and took the same one she borrowed yesterday that belongs to Sunghoon. 

"I'll borrow your hoodie.", she informed. Sunghoon hummed something from the kitchen and then Maena entered outside from the house.

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