The Backside Story

The Story From Kim Sabu's POV

It's yet another day at Doldam Hospital. I went out of my office to check on patients. I'm on duty – its an ordinary thing... I walk towards the ER and saw a woman standing by the entrance; her back is turned on me. As I was about to approach her and ask if she needs help, she turned and looked at me. I froze on my tracks, I couldn't even bring myself to utter a word.

"Hi! Its been a while" – she greeted me. And the cocky me couldn't even say a word except "why?, how?". She smiled at me and was generous enough to give me a lengthy response. "This place has a charm of its own, I thought it was a haunted mansion. I've been hearing news about you since the end of last year; I heard about the artificial heart surgery too and then I found out you're here at Doldam Hospital. Have you been well?". I came back to my senses. She really is here, Lee Yeong Jo. I asked if she wants to talk inside my office and she agreed.

Inside, while I prepare her coffee, she looked around my office and noticed my old cassette player. "You still have these?". She's good at breaking the awkward silence between us, and I'm thankful for that. "Yeah, I've been listening to them", came my short reply. She played one of the tapes, "music is very funny. It turns back the time, doesn't it?" she asks me and all I can manage was a short "yes". Maybe, I don't want to go back to that part of the story. "When did you come back?" it was my turn to ask the question – I needed to cut this awkward feeling anyway. "Its been about three years. No, it might be four. I look old, don't I?" I shook my head and voiced out what was on my mind "You still look the same. You look pretty cool." I smiled at her, this time I'm feeling more at ease and comfortable at her presence. She, too, smiled at me. "I know you were lying, but it still sounds good. I heard you definitely aged if you like hearing those things." I smiled to myself, I missed these moments with her. I felt her eyes on me now "What's this? Do you make coffee?" "Yeah. It's like a habit" "what? A habit?" she laughs and I looked at her. She spoke before I can even ask what's wrong with having a habit like that. "You hated things like this." "Did I?" I really can't remember, or should I say I refuse to remember. "Watching movies, going to restaurants. And you specially hated sitting at café's and chatting. And you are here making coffee for yourself?" the surprise was evident on her voice. "Was I like that?" I try to remember. "You always give me a hard time when we went out on dates. I can write a whole paper about it." I laughed... realizing what a jerk I am. "You also never laughed like that"... that part hit home, and I was transported back to the past.

"Today is White Day. Why didn't you give me any chocolates?" She crossed her arms in front of her chest, like a detective interrogating a criminal. I raised my eyebrows at her. "Why should I give you chocolates? It's no longer a secret that you're special to me." "Then... you should at least give me a card!", her tone a pitch higher than usual. I looked at her, "I know, I know. After lunch, I'll send you an E-card". Having said that, I returned my gaze back to the CT scan result I was reading. "You have to e-mail it to me. I'll be waiting." Disappointment was evident in her voice, but still, I can feel that she knows and understand that, that's the way I am. "I don't understand you women. Why do you make such a big deal out of White Day?" I grumbled while eating my food while still looking at the CT. I realized too late that I should have kept my silence; my comment added fuel to her already boiling head.

"You are not romantic at all! Don't you watch any Korean Drama?"

"Korean Drama? I only watch documentaries."

"Your life is boring!"I can see from my peripheral vision that she made a face at me. "You should at least try watching movies. There's this movie that I really love, you should see it."

"What's that movie called?" I tried my best to give her my attention and show a little bit of interest before she gets real mad at me. But, truth be told, I don't believe in love portrayed in movies. I always thought they were lies.