Another Life With You

Alarms

The Seri's Choice headquarters was totally empty when Seri, Jeong-hyeok and the other bodyguard stepped off the lift. Most of the staff had gone to the party, and it was otherwise too late for anyone else to be there, other than the night security.

"I'll be fine from here," Seri said, when they reached her office door. "My door locks from the inside, and there are security cameras and building security. It's not like I haven't spent the night here before anyway."

"If you're sure, daepyonim," the other bodyguard said.

"Yes, yes. Go home to your wife," Seri waved him off and he set off down the hallway gladly.

She entered the door code, all too aware that Jeong-hyeok was still hovering next to her. "You too," she said without looking at him as she opened her office door. "Go home to your fiancée."

Without giving him time to reply, she entered the room and, flashing him a knowing smile as she looked back at him, closed the door firmly behind her. The lock beeped.

Well, then.

Jeong-hyeok stood in front of the door for some time, wavering between staying and leaving. Seri had known he would argue and made the decision for him. He knew he had been using work as an excuse to stay away from home, and what she had said about building security was sound enough. He should go. And yet, he couldn't help feeling that something wasn't right here.

He decided that he would compromise and stay for a little bit to make some food in the pantry. He hadn't eaten during the staff party. As he walked down the hallway to the shared pantry, Jeong-hyeok took out his phone and typed out a message to Seo Dan:

Sorry I'm late coming home. Something urgent came up at work.

Sliding open the pantry door, he flipped the lights on and went through the cabinets and fridge. It was well-stocked, and the equipment was an absurd improvement compared to his humble kitchen in his last military village house. Still, Jeong-hyeok couldn't help thinking about the slow mornings he used to enjoy, when he could fully absorb himself in the process of cooking. He took out two packets of ramyeon from the cabinet and looked through the cooking instructions with a sigh. Things were more efficient here, sure, but in return, something was lost in between.

He filled up a pot of water and set it boiling on the stove, still regarding the two packets he had taken out. He had noticed that Seri hadn't eaten anything either at the staff party. Even though he knew her mouse-like eating habits, he thought that there was a chance she might be hungry. He took an egg out of the fridge, too.

His phone buzzed in his pocket as he was stirring the noodles. He took it out to see a message from Seo Dan:

Having drinks with a friend. Don't worry about me.

That suddenly reminded him of letter in he had stashed in his pocket. Seo Dan had handed it to him right as he had left for work, and he had forgotten about reading it until now. She usually received smuggled letters once or twice a month, usually from her mother or uncle Myeong-seok. They kindly tried to include updates for Jeong-hyeok as well, and Seo Dan would share the letters with him once she'd finished them.

Checking that the noodles still had time to cook, Jeong-hyeok leaned against the counter. This time, the envelope was addressed to him, and it was unopened. He slit it open and unfolded the page inside, written in Myeong-seok's hand:

Jeong-hyeok tongji,

I hope this letter finds you and my niece well. I have been working hard here in Pyongyang. I will keep this letter brief.