This is My Love

Not that kind of Date

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The woman whose name he didn’t know opened the door again for them. Gasping, “What happened to you?”

Sehun followed Namjoo inside, set his folded umbrella to the side.

“Are the kids still asleep?” Namjoo asked. Her clothes were soaked through and through. Sehun debated about offering her his jacket, but it didn’t sound like a good idea.

“They are,” the woman replied then glanced at him warily.

“Thanks, Yurim,” Namjoo touched her arm. “You can go now.”

“Oh…yea,” Yurim muttered uncertainly. Passing by Namjoo went into where he guessed was her bedroom and closed the door to change. His eyes shifted over to the woman eyeing him curiously.

She didn’t head out the door but into the kitchen. Turning on the electric kettle she said, “The tea packets are in the cupboard right here. You know how to make tea?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll leave it to you,” Yurim said. Walking over to a chair she grabbed her sweater. “I’ll be leaving.”

The door opened and closed, and he was left with the kettle yet to boil. Making his way toward the cupboard as instructed Sehun spotted several boxes of tea. There were various kinds. Tea for muscle aches, green tea, chai tea, tea for vision improvement, tea for memory and so on. Going with his safest bet he pulled out a packet of green tea. Green tea was always good in his memory.

The kettle hissed steam as the water started boiling. Tearing open the packet Sehun took a mug from the dishrack and placed it inside. Then the door opened and Namjoo stepped out in fresh, dry clothes.

Leaving the door open a crack she told, “They’re still sleeping.”

“They must have tired themselves out,” he said.

“Are you cold?” she wondered.

“Huh?” Realizing what she was talking about he explained, “Your friend suggested making a cup of tea for you.”

Pressing her lips together, Namjoo pulled a chair out and settled in. The kettle automatically turned off after boiling. Sehun poured the hot water into the mug and turned around to place it in front of her. Deciding he would have to wait for Gunta he also pulled out a chair to sit down.

An air of silence surrounded them. Placing elbows on the table Namjoo rubbed the exterior of her mug. Her overly large sweater appeared fluffy around her. Dry now her hair was still damp.

“Did you hear everything?” Namjoo started.

“Only some,” he admitted.

An embarrassed smile crossed her lips. “I’m embarrassed. Sorry.”

It probably wasn’t all right to say it ok. This was her moment and he had walked in on it.

“I’m divorced,” Namjoo confessed. Her eyes ran up the steaming mug, over the tabletop then back down. “I left home. It’s been just me and Moowon when he was barely six months.”

“I’m sorry,” Sehun apologized because he didn’t know what to say.

“We managed,” Namjoo said then glanced at him conceding, “the money I got helped me get up.”

Hearing this, he looked at her. When he got Gunta he hadn’t wondered what the money had been used for. Now he knew.

“I’m glad,” he smiled, “it helped.”