Love Next Door

16

Surprising news

The morning light filtered through the windows of the Shin family home, casting a pale glow on the wooden floors and furniture. Mrs. Shin stood in the kitchen, her hands moving absentmindedly as she prepared tea, the steam curling softly into the air. She was lost in thought, her mind filled with the quiet tension that had settled over her household for years now. The clock on the wall ticked softly, filling the silence with a rhythmic reminder of time passing.

The front door creaked open, and she glanced up, already knowing who it would be. Her husband stepped in, his face weary from another long night shift at the hospital. His white coat hung over his arm, and he rubbed the back of his neck, exhaustion etched into the lines of his face.

"Good morning," Mrs. Shin greeted, her voice polite but distant, as always. She poured another cup of tea, offering it to him. He accepted it wordlessly, his fingers brushing hers for the briefest moment.

"How was work ?" she asked, her tone casual but obligatory.

"Busy," her husband replied, his voice low and tired. He sipped the tea slowly, not meeting her eyes. "There was an emergency surgery. Complicated, but it went well."

"That's good," she murmured, not knowing what else to say.

They stood in silence for a moment, the awkwardness palpable between them. This was their routine—short exchanges about their lives, never venturing deeper. Mrs. Shin had grown used to it over the years, but it didn't make it any easier. She watched as her husband finished his tea and set the cup down with a soft clink.

"I'm going to get some sleep," he said, already turning toward the stairs.

Mrs. Shin nodded, watching him leave without another word. She sighed softly, staring down at the tea in her own cup, feeling the weight of the unsaid things between them. It was always like this. He would come home, exhausted, they would exchange a few words, and then he would retreat to his room to sleep off the night shift. They hadn't shared a meal together in weeks, maybe months.

She wiped her hands on a kitchen towel and looked out the window, the peaceful morning outside contrasting with the quiet tension inside her home. Her thoughts drifted to Ryujin, wondering how her daughter was doing—if she was handling everything okay, if she ever thought about the distance between them all. But just like every other time, she brushed the thoughts aside, unwilling to confront them head-on.

-

On the bustling streets of Seoul, Ryujin was making her way to work, dressed sharply in her usual white shirt and black slacks. She walked with purpose, her bag slung over her shoulder as she mentally prepared for the day ahead. The city buzzed around her with the energy of a weekday morning—cars honking, people hurrying to work, and the occasional street vendor calling out their goods.

As she turned a corner, she felt a sudden jolt as someone bumped into her hard, almost knocking her off balance. Ryujin blinked, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise.

"What the hell—" she began, turning to see who had collided with her.

It was Yeji, walking briskly in the opposite direction, not even sparing her a glance. She looked irritated, her expression set in a grumpy scowl as she marched forward. Ryujin raised her eyebrows, watching Yeji's retreating figure with mild curiosity.

"Hey !" Ryujin called after her. "Why are you fleeing like a criminal ?"

Yeji stopped but didn't turn around, her fist raised in mock warning. "If you know what's good for you, don't upset me today. I'm not in the mood," she snapped over her shoulder, her voice low and threatening, though not entirely serious.