Strange
Kwon Sungha
“So, did you get the ticket?”
– I got it, that’s why I contacted you. Arriving at O’Hare Airport Friday at 5:15 PM.
“At least you’ll arrive before dinner time. I thought it would be later.”
– Originally only the 1 PM and 7 PM flights were left, but when I checked today, the 4 PM one opened up. I’m glad I waited.
“Then we can go straight to dinner when you arrive. I’ll make a reservation for 6:30. Let’s just stop by the apartment to drop off your luggage.”
– Ah. Finally going to see it, Chicago.
It had already been over two years since I came to Chicago, but this would be Sora’s first time visiting.
It wasn’t that there was any particular reason she couldn’t come until now, but whenever I had time, I’d been the one going to New York, so there hadn’t been an opportunity.
– But is it really okay to take time off work? You’re not pushing yourself because of me, are you?
“I didn’t completely take it off. I just switched with another day, so it’s fine.”
– Still, it’s a day you’re supposed to work, so I was worried if it was okay to go eat on that day.
“I told the boss in advance. When I said a friend was coming from New York, he was actually happy about it. He asked if I was deliberately promoting the restaurant.”
When I asked what she wanted to visit most in Chicago, Sora immediately named the restaurant where I work. It’s actually a famous place, but since it’s where I’ve been working for two years, she seemed quite curious.
– So when are you meeting your friends? Are you eating together?
“Only Sehyun will come for dinner. One of the hyungs finishes late that day, so we decided the hyungs would meet up after dinner. To drink.”
– Wow… Finally going to see him.
Sora’s voice was completely excited as she said that. I must have said the name Kang Sehyun dozens of times, so there was no way she wouldn’t know.
– I’m really curious. I’m curious about everything, but I’m most curious about him.
“Why?”
– Just. At first I was a bit jealous, like my friend was being stolen, but now I’m grateful. At least it seems like you’re not lonely because of him.
It was true. In fact, I’d hardly ever been lonely since coming to Chicago. Except for the first few weeks when I was alone, after that I was mostly with someone. Especially with Kang Sehyun, we constantly kept in touch, so much that I didn’t even have time to feel empty.
I’d been convinced that I was the one filling Kang Sehyun’s empty space, but thinking about it now, it was Kang Sehyun who first filled my empty space.
– It still seems like there’s so much time left, I don’t know how I’ll wait. I wonder if I’ll even be able to sleep from excitement starting today.
“Two weeks will pass quickly.”
– Right. I’ll be there soon. Wait for me.
As expected, each day was long, but the two weeks passed in a flash. Going to school and working repeatedly, before I knew it, it was the Friday I’d been waiting for.
I dressed up for the first time in a while. I wore a thin knit over a T-shirt that I hadn’t taken out once since being in Chicago, and put on the new jeans I’d recently bought. There wasn’t much different except for the clothes to call it dressing up, but still, my reflection in the mirror looked quite different.
There was exactly one reason I paid attention to my appearance. If I didn’t, I was afraid of the nagging that would fly my way. Even though it’s a face I see every day, even if I said there was no one to look good for, Sora always took interest in my appearance instead of me. Asking what was the point of having a handsome face, what was I using my tall height for.
On the way to the airport, Kang Sehyun called. It was to let me know he’d come to the restaurant by 6:30.
Sora’s flight arrived 30 minutes late due to airline circumstances. Around almost 6 o’clock, I got a message that she’d gotten off the plane.
“Sungha!”
When I turned my head toward where the voice came from, long limbs caught my eye from far away. Sora, wearing a loose knit with tight jeans, walked over calling my name loudly, not caring whether others looked or not. Of all things, the top and bottom were the exact same color as mine.
“You’re here? You must be tired.”
“Tired from what, it was only a two-hour flight. You’re the one who had a hard time waiting. Of all things, why did it have to be delayed. Where’s the car?”
“Right out front. If we go out and cross the crosswalk, it’s right there.”
“Okay. Let’s hurry. We’ll be late if we’re lucky. You said 6:30, right?”
“Yeah. If we leave now, we’ll arrive right on time.”
Since we ran late, we skipped the plan to stop by the house in the middle and decided to go straight to dinner. Fortunately, it wasn’t too far, so we could make it just in time.
As expected, Kang Sehyun had arrived early and was already inside.
“Oh? Sungha’s here.”
From the entrance, the working staff greeted me one or two at a time. Their gazes naturally turned to Sora next to me. A female staff member who was serving gave me a strange look with an indescribable smile.
Following the reception’s guidance, the table we arrived at was Table 3 where the boss was. I hadn’t specified a table and asked for whichever table wasn’t busy that day, but Kang Sehyun was firmly settled right there.
“Hello.”
“…Huh? Ah! Welcome.”
When the boss saw Sora and me, he looked surprised for a moment before greeting us. Then Kang Sehyun, who turned his head belatedly, suddenly frowned. His straight forehead crumpled in an instant.
Why?
Not understanding the situation, I sat down for now. Then the boss personally handed the menu to Sora.
“Nice to meet you. Sungha asked to change his schedule for the first time, saying a friend was coming from New York, so I wondered who it could be, and it turns out to be such a pretty young lady.”
“Ah, really? Thank you.”
“Sungha, you just said a friend, but if an important guest was coming, you should have said so.”
Since I said friend, everyone seemed to have expected a guy, and with the arrival of an unexpected guest, they seemed to misunderstand our relationship.
I hurriedly tried to say no, but no one believed me.
“She’s just my closest friend.”
“Isn’t your closest friend this one here?”
The boss pointed to Kang Sehyun sitting on my left. Come to think of it, I realized that I was so busy greeting other people when we arrived that I hadn’t even greeted Kang Sehyun.
“When did you get here? Did you wait long?”
“Yeah.”
What’s this.
Today Kang Sehyun seemed strangely displeased. When we talked on the phone just before he arrived, he was fine though.
While Sora was absorbed in the menu, I asked quietly.
“Is something wrong?”
Then Kang Sehyun, who had been staring at me intently, opened his mouth after a few seconds.
“Dressed like that, anyone would misunderstand.”
“Huh? …Ah.”
“Did you match on purpose?”
“No. It was a coincidence.”
“You said you were stopping by home, why didn’t you think to change?”
“I couldn’t stop by home. The flight was delayed, so we came straight here.”
That’s why everyone kept looking at me strangely—I’d forgotten. The fact that Sora and I were dressed too similarly.
Anyway, once Kang Sehyun learned it was just a coincidence, he finally smoothed out his crumpled forehead. I still couldn’t understand why Kang Sehyun was finding fault with my outfit.
Why on earth.
“Sungha. Aren’t you going to introduce me?”
Sora, who had already looked through the menu, tapped my shoulder.
“Ah, say hello. This is Sora, and this is Kang Sehyun.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you. Since we’re the same age, is it okay to speak comfortably?”
“Yeah. That’s fine.”
Kang Sehyun nodded with an expressionless face. Seeing that, I was somewhat moved.
Actually, the fact that Kang Sehyun was coming out to this gathering itself was surprising, but he even said he’d have dinner together first. When I first heard those words, honestly, I couldn’t believe it.
‘…What did you say?’
‘Let’s eat together. Why are you so surprised.’
‘…Did I hear you right? A friend is coming from New York? It’s not just the two of us.’
‘What have you been hearing all this time. I’m saying let’s eat together, the three of us, with your friend coming from New York.’
‘…Will you be okay?’
‘What wouldn’t be okay.’
‘No, you don’t meet new people well. You don’t like people others bring either.’
‘You’re the one bringing them. Then it’s okay.’
Kang Sehyun listened well to the rather chatty Sora’s words. He wasn’t originally the type to respond well to anyone’s words from the start, but since she was a guest I brought, he seemed to be making an effort.
“So you didn’t have any classes at all today?”
“No. I had one in the morning. But it was at 11, so after it ended, I didn’t think I could catch the 1 o’clock flight. So I took the next one. It’s quite far from where I live to the airport.”
“You had a hard time.”
I was surprised. It would be strange not to be surprised. Because it was the first time seeing Kang Sehyun, who had always been indifferent or uninterested when meeting new people, listen to someone newly met’s story and engage with them.
Is this how the hyungs felt?
It was like seeing the Kang Sehyun from when I first met him.
“It’s ready.”
Before we knew it, the cooking was finished, and appetizing dishes were evenly distributed on each of our plates. The boss added some seafood and vegetables on top of the dishes we ordered.
“Thank you.”
“Let’s eat well.”
Sora, who tasted the shrimp coated glossily with butter, let out exclamations one after another. ‘This is so delicious, boss.’ ‘You really had reason to brag about this, Sungha.’ After saying this, she even poked my thigh in the middle and got annoyed, asking why New York didn’t have places like this.
While eating the teppanyaki, some separately ordered Japanese dishes and tempura came out. When I placed the fried squid, which Sora particularly likes, on her plate first, she grinned.
“As expected, you’re the only one who thinks of me. In New York, there’s absolutely no one who takes care of me like this.”
“Right. Eat a lot while I’m taking care of you. If it’s not enough, we can order more.”
The boss, who was watching from in front, smiled warmly at us. He seemed to have seriously misunderstood from earlier, but no matter how much I said no, it was useless, so I just gave up.
I was concentrating on the meal for a while when it seemed quiet, so I turned my head to the side. Kang Sehyun was staring at me blankly with a pouty face.
Why does he keep staring at me today.
When I silently asked with my eyes, he suddenly asked.
“What about me.”
“…You, what.”
“Why don’t you give me any.”
“…Give what?”
“That.”
A long finger pointed precisely in front of me. It was the fried squid, rolled up round and well-fried.
I’m going absolutely crazy.
