HER DESTINATION
Jeon Min-hee gave a sigh of relief as she put in the last bulletin through the final mailbox in the row of hanok houses.
The sun was blazing like it had an agenda to roast a human being before it set for the day. The air was moist and hot.
Min-hee wiped the sweat on her forehead with the back of her hand, buckled her helmet before she remounted her bicycle to begin the long, tiring and hot ride back to the Vicarage.
If only Reverend Jeon Dae-hyun would email his monthly message to his parishioners instead of the rigorous process of going from one house to the other, maybe, just maybe Min-hee can enjoy her afternoons better. There were times she had wished he did the emailing and this was one of them.
After all, according to a certain handsome gentleman, everyone in the village was supposed to have a computer. "We are in the modern times," he had said.
But the Reverend who was Min-hee's father so much relished the intimacy. "People need warmth and smile, my daughter," he had said to her when she protested.
And when Min-hee came across someone like old Mrs Yeom, who was always longing for a chit chat over a cup of tea and biscuits because she was lonely, and who certainly had no computer or even a mobile phone, she saw that indeed, her father was right.
With the sun blazing, she realized that it wasn't a good day for cycling either, as it wasn't a good day for a chit chat over a hot cup of tea with old Mrs Yeom.
She had even crawled to Mrs Yeom's mailbox to avoid being seen and since she was done sharing the bulletins, she needed rest—a time alone. Solitude.
She halted her bicycle and reached into the bicycle's pannier and took out her water can.
And after taking several sips, she frowned, grimacing on how unpleasantly hot the water was. "So much for escaping Mrs Yeom's tea," she thought to herself.
Just as she was about to start pedaling, loud honking of a vehicle made her gasp and she lost control of her footing on the pedal. She wobbled for some time before being able to get her bicycle under control.
The red sports car parked beside her and Min-hee looked up to discover it was none other than Sun-woo Mi-jung. Her rival since childhood and the most dreadful, self-absorbed human being on earth.
"Hi, Min-hee," Mi-jung chipped. She had her long black hair smoothed to the back and a shiny, magenta colored designer sunglasses sat gallantly on top while her face rested with a smirk. "Oh, Minny. You and this old wreck. When will you upgrade?"
Min-hee who was still recovering from the shock struggled to control her temper. She cursed under her breath. But at the same time, she thought to herself, "Why would I waste my energy on a spoiled brat who thinks the world revolves around her?"
It wasn't a surprise to Min-hee that Mi-jung would treat her in such a despicable manner. The only thing that surprised Min-hee was seeing Mi-jung in the village at such an unusual time of the year. Perhaps, she just dropped by for a visit or she came to show off. Knowing Mi-jung very well, Min-hee counted on the second option because as far as she could tell, Mi-jung is showing off her sports car.
Reluctantly, Min-hee dismounted from her bicycle and stretched her lips to what looked like a false smile. "Good day, Mrs Sun-woo," she said with a composed to signify respect. Acknowledging that Mi-jung is older than her and at the same time a married woman. "How are you doing?"
"Oh Minny. Always behind in the news," Mi-jung said, giving Min-hee an angry once-over. "Well, I'm fine. You had no idea that I am using my maiden's name now?"
"Emmm . . . I didn't know . . . Why?" Min-hee asked, looking confused.
"The divorce is going through. You're always a little behind."
For heaven's sake! So that's why she was in the village. She looked more like one who is showing-off her new car than a person who was actually getting a divorce? Mi-jung was actually using one stone to kill two birds right now. But why was she getting a divorce? She had just been married for two years!
"Emmm . . . I never knew. But I'm so sorry."
Mi-jung laughed heartily. "Well, don't be. You didn't cause the divorce. I was shortsighted and didn't see I was making a hideous mistake. But that's life, you know."
Shortsighted? She had an enormous wedding in Busan. Every dignitaries in the city was invited. The wedding was plastered on the front page of every newspaper, and celebrity magazines. Her wedding gown must have cost a fortune and the whole wedding ceremony too. In all of that, she didn't know then that she was shortsighted? She hadn't realized that she was making a hideous mistake?
"Yeah, that's life," Min-hee nodded. "Are you back for a holiday? The whole divorce-thing can be very stressful."
"Nah. I'm back for good." Mi-jung made a disapproving face of disgust at Min-hee, giving her a total once-over as she inspected Min-hee's outfit, damped brown hair that had escaped from its loose bun. "Well," she continued. "What have you been up to, Mother Teresa? Feeding the poor or tending to the sick?"
"Delivering the parish bulletin in the village," Min-hee responded expressionlessly.
"Oh my!" Mi-jung exclaimed sarcastically with her palm on her chest. "You can never surprise me. You're such a good girl."
"Yeah. Thank you."
"I'll see you around. And if I were you, I wouldn't spend any more time in the sun, Minny. You look as if you've reached boiling point already. Look at all that sweat!" Mi-jung laughed as she drove off.
She watched as Mi-jung's car disappeared round a bend in the lane before turning her bicycle to a different bend and started making her way down a lonely lane, a route which would take her to a place of solitude.
Her time alone, the place of isolation was a spot people haven't visited for a very long time.
Mi-jung was completely right about one thing, just one thing—she was reaching boiling point. However, her destination will give her the cure for that.