Another Life With You

The Return

The sky was still dark when Seri arrived at the NIS headquarters early in the morning. There was a bite in the air as she fast-walked to the front of the building, where they had been told to meet. A bus would transport the prisoners to be exchanged, the NIS agents, Seo Dan, and those accompanying her to the demilitarized zone at the 38th parallel.

Seri saw the lone figure of Ri Jeong-hyeok standing by the bus when she arrived. Despite the ungodly hour of the morning, despite the unpleasant chill of winter, Seri found herself smiling from cheek to cheek at the sight of him. He turned at her approach and greeted her with an equally bright (if more conservative) smile. Seri had expected him to act shy, maybe even awkward, when they met again after sleeping together for the first time. But if anything, Jeong-hyeok was warmer and more direct. He slid an arm around her shoulder in a half-hug, then opened his jacket and tucked her into a snug cocoon between the flap of jacket and the warmth of his body.

"This is nice and warm," Seri said, leaning her cheek against his chest.

"Mm," Jeong-hyeok's voice rumbled against her ear. "I'm glad you're here."

"Why?" Seri asked, glancing up at him.

He swept a hand through her hair in what was now a familiar gesture. "I'm not sure what to expect today."

Seo Dan chose to arrive at that moment, rolling a small suitcase behind her, dressed warmly in a black wool duster coat, gloves, and a thick scarf. Her cat-like eyes flickered to where Seri was huddled up in Jeong-hyeok's coat, then wandered away, as if hardly interested.

Wanting to be considerate of the other woman, Seri gently disentangled herself from Jeong-hyeok's coat, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Good morning, Seo Dan ssi," she looked behind Seo Dan. "Where's Seung-jun? I thought he would arrive with you."

"I told him not to come," Seo Dan said, face devoid of expression. Inside, however, there was an awful ache in her chest. As if a small hole had been torn in her heart and was stretching wider and wider.

She had told Seung-jun the night of the dinner at Seri's apartment. Having left early to stand outside the building entrance, Seo Dan had had time to give her mind free rein. Looking back now, perhaps that hadn't been the best idea. She had been embroiled in a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions.

Although she put on a front of indifference, Seo Dan wasn't fool enough to think that she would be fine without Seung-jun. She wouldn't be fine. She would miss his silly smile and his silly jokes. She would miss doing her daily errands with the constant background noise of his commentary and flirtations. She would miss the way that he looked at her, as if she were the brightest, shiniest thing in his world. She would miss having him by her side. Always. No matter what.

"No matter what," that's what he had said that day, after she had suggested they should say their goodbyes then and there. "I'll be there for you. Even if you can't see me, even if we're apart. You have someone who's always on your side. You know that, right, Seo Dan ssi?"

It was like she had locked her emotions away, and his words had broken the dam so that they rushed out in a roar. Her eyes had suddenly welled up. She had had to look away in embarrassment, even as tears had begun to trickle down her cheeks. "It will just be easier for us both this way," she had said, justifying it to herself as well as to him. "A clean cut. It will hurt now but heal better later."

"Right. Of course. If this is what you think is for the best," Seung-jun had agreed. Too readily, Seo Dan had thought, taken aback by his amiability. She had expected him to convince her otherwise, to have a slick and amusing argument at hand. To ask her to stay.