The two of them finished dinner on a lighter note. Afterwards, Kyunghee insisted on cleaning and washing the dishes since halmoni had so generously cooked, it was only fair.
Halmoni dropped the gloves without a word of protest. "All yours, Kyung! If there's one thing about me, it's that I hate washing the dishes. I like to cook, but washing the dishes is such a pain in the ass. When my husband was still alive, he would be the one doing the dishes after every meal. Those were the good times." There was a nostalgic smile on her face as she leaned against the counter, recalling the pasts.
Kyunghee slipped on the pink gloves and turned on the faucet as she began to wash the dishes. "You're not going to believe this, but I like washing the dishes."
Staring at Kyunghee up and down, halmoni was not convinced. "I don't believe you. Why would anyone like to wash dishes?"
"It's true. There's just something really therapeutic about washing away the dirt and grimes," Kyunghee explained. "I'm weird, aren't I?"
"We're a match-made in heaven, sweetie," halmoni playfully teased with a wink. "I'll do the cooking, and you can do the cleaning. Best of both worlds!"
Kyunghee chuckled. "If you don't mind me asking, halmoni, when did your husband pass away?"
Halmoni pursed her lips with contemplation. "It's been ten years since he's gone now." With a more somber look, she said, "When I think about it, it's hard to believe it's really been ten years. He was my high-school sweetheart, my best-friend, my partner-in-crime and the love of my life, but nowadays, I can't even remember what he looks like. When I want to remember how he looks like, I have to pull out his picture. The old man is probably cursing me on the other side." Halmoni chuckled, but there was a hint of sadness in her laughter.
"Time does that to everyone," Kyunghee supported. "It takes away the pain, but it also steals the things you cherish."
"What about you, sweetie? Where are your parents? Any siblings? What about a boyfriend?"
Kyunghee didn't know where to begin. On the one hand, she didn't want to talk about family, but it wouldn't be fair since halmoni had shared something precious about herself. "My parents passed away a long time ago too," she said, which was half the truth. One of them did die, but the other…well, who knew where that woman was? To Kyunghee, that woman was good as gone anyway. "I have a younger sister, but we haven't talked in a long time."
"Oh no! Why is that?" halmoni gasped in surprise.
Shrugging, Kyunghee said as nonchalantly as she could, "We had misunderstandings. It was hard to resolve."
Halmoni didn't say anything, but there was a far-away look on her face, as if she was recalling another piece of memory. "Family conflicts are sometimes the hardest to resolve. We are all born into a family we can't choose, and not everyone stays to the end as family," she commented softly with sympathy, shaking her head woefully. "On a lighter note, what about a boyfriend? Are you dating anyone right now?"
"No I'm not."
"Why not?"
"I don't have time to date, halmoni," she excused. She knew her own predicament. She had too many things going on; she wasn't in a good place to date.
"Nonsense! There's always time to date. Young people these days are using dating apps. Have you heard of them, Kyung? I heard it from the Sunday Go-group that their children and grandchildren are all online dating now."
"Sunday Go-group?"
"Yes, it's where us old ladies get together on Sundays to play the game of Godori. Anyway, don't change the subject. One of the grandchildren even came by and showed us what this online dating app is about. Do you have an online dating profile, Kyung? How about I ask someone from the Sunday Go-group to help you create one? We can look for your future boyfriend together," halmoni suggested eagerly. "Oh! This will be so fun! We can look at pretty boys together!"
Kyunghee couldn't help but laugh at halmoni's excitement. "I know what you're talking about, but I don't use online dating apps." She finished rinsing the last dirty dish as she wiped down the wet counters with a dry cloth and removed the gloves. "I'm not interested in dating anyone right now."
"But how are you going to get married if you don't meet someone?"
"Halmoni, you're thinking way too far ahead!" Kyunghee said as she scurried off toward the living room like a mouse, wanting nothing but to get away from this whole dating conversation.
Halmoni was hot on her tail. "How about Jintae then, if you don't want to use the online dating apps?"
Kyunghee shook her head vigorously as she plopped down on the pink plush couch while halmoni sat down beside her. "No, halmoni. He's not my type." Just the thought of Detective Hothead's surly expression and grumpy aura had Kyunghee immediately turn the other way. He was nowhere near her ideal type.
"Then what is your type?" halmoni questioned, arching an eyebrow. "I'll keep a look out for you."
For an inexplicable reason, Jang Woosuk with his coiffed-hair, pressed suit and golden glimmering eyes popped up in Kyunghee's mind. Realizing what was going through her head, Kyunghee immediately stopped her imagination as she grabbed the remote control and turned on the TV for a distraction.
"Halmoni, let's not talk about this. Let's watch some funny variety shows instead. What do you want to watch? Yoo Jaesuk or Kang Hodong?"
Knowing that Kyunghee was adamant to brush off the topic, halmoni figured it was best to back down for now. However, she made a mental note to introduce Kyunghee to someone. Maybe one of her Sunday Go-group members had a single grandson waiting on stand-by.
Minutes passed by. Kyunghee and halmoni were in the middle of enjoying a newly aired episode of a popular variety show when Kyunghee was promptly reminded of a situation.
"What's wrong?" halmoni asked, noticing the sudden alarmed look on Kyunghee's face.
"Halmoni, can I borrow your phone? I want to try calling my phone. Maybe someone picked it up and can return it to me," Kyunghee explained.
"Sure thing. I left my phone in the kitchen I think. The password is 0000."
Kyunghee looked at halmoni teasingly. "Really, halmoni? 0000?"
"It's easy for me to remember. There are so many passwords nowadays. I can't remember everything," halmoni defended with a cute pout.
Kyunghee chuckled lightly. "Thanks halmoni. I'll be back."
She got up from the coach and walked over to the kitchen where halmoni's phone was sitting on the countertop, beside the stove. She picked up the phone and then made her way into the bedroom. Halmoni's laughter could be heard from the living room as Kyunghee closed the bedroom door for some privacy.
Kyunghee unlocked the phone with halmoni's PIN and punched in her memorized phone number. The phone rang a couple of times, but nobody picked up. Her brows furrowed as she hung up and tried again. Fortunately, this time the person on the other line picked up.
"Hello?" His familiar voice came through, calm and easy. Her heart sprung up to her throat.
"Hi, you have my phone."
There was a pause on the other end before he asked rather nonchalantly, "And you are?"
"I'm the owner of the phone you're currently talking into. It's Kyunghee."
"Kyunghee?" He paused for dramatic effects. "Hmm, doesn't ring a bell."
Her mouth dropped slightly opened before she forced it closed and clipped, "We met earlier in the hospital, remember?"
"How do I know this isn't a prank call?"
"What?" she asked in disbelief. This man couldn't be serious, she thought. "Jang Woosuk, I don't know how you managed to get my phone, but I want it back." The formality and politeness in her tone dropped.
"Hey, how do you know my name, Stranger?"
"You!" Kyunghee spluttered into the phone, incredulous. She could hear the mischief in his voice, and then it was followed by a soft chuckle. She could even picture the glimmer in his eyes.
"Alright, alright. I was joking, Kyunghee." His voice softened as he added, "Of course I remember you. You were in such a hurry to leave the hospital earlier that you forgot your phone here. Unless…this is your move."
"My move?" Kyunghee repeated, confused. "What do you mean?"
"You know, you left your phone here intentionally, so that I would pick it up and you'd have a reason to call me. I'd have to say, Kyunghee, this is quite cheesy of you, but it seems to be working."
She scoffed in astonishment. "There's no end to your arrogance, is there?"
"I'd prefer to call it confidence."
"You really think you're that good-looking?" she retorted drily.
"Oh, so you think it too," Woosuk stated as if it was an undeniable fact.
Kyunghee bit her lower lip, both annoyed and tongue-tied, because he was somewhat correct. However, she didn't want to feed his ego, so she ignored it with a question. "Can I have my phone back?"
"Don't you remember what I told you, Kyunghee? That my kindness comes with a price."
She narrowed her eyes into the empty space as she listened to his proposition. "What do you want?"
She could picture his playful smile as he replied rather mysteriously, "I'll see you soon, Kyunghee. Have a good night."
"Wait—" she started, but it was too late because he had already ended the connection.
Kyunghee sat down on the edge of the bed as she stared at the phone screen, dumbstruck. She couldn't believe his vanity! Her eyes couldn't leave the blank screen, and for some reason, her heart was beating a tad bit too quick. Sighing out loud, she tilted her head back as her gaze landed on the stucco ceiling. Why was nothing going her way these days? Jang Woosuk's smiling face suddenly appeared right before her again, along with his obscure intent.
What was wrong with her? She wondered, wanting to face-palm herself.
By now she should know better. Men who looked like Jang Woosuk had heartbreaker written all over their foreheads. She blamed it on the fact that he was just too criminally handsome, especially when he smiled.
Ahn Kyunghee was a sucker for beautiful smiles.