At twenty-nine—an age when most people are settling into stability—she finds herself face-to-face with a belated adolescence.
Living a life that followed a predetermined route, buoyed by the prestige of the Hyogwang Group, she suddenly feels an urge to break free.
And then one day, Cheon Seju appears before her after ten years.
As always, in ways that are unpredictable and impossible to pin down.
“That, when a person can’t breathe properly and starts choking…”
“……”
“You end up unintentionally touching someone else’s… breast or whatever.”
She had absolutely no such intention, but the fear that had been crushing her in that confined space vanished the instant her hand clutched Seju’s chest.
Suddenly, she thought that if it were Cheon Seju, he might be able to resolve her impulse.
That was why. That was why I blurted out a proposal brimming with that very impulse.
“Seju-ya. Want to sleep with me?”
After rejecting her outright once, he comes back and gives his consent.
For the sake of a smooth arrangement, they even draw up an FWB agreement and fill out a preference questionnaire.
“You little shit, you work outside the house, and you forget something that important and leave it at home?”
“Hey, I’m washing dark clothes—got anything to throw in? The weather’s nice today—let’s hurry and hang it out in the yard.”
“I’m making aged-kimchi makguksu for dinner.”
Why on earth… isn’t Cheon Seju going home?
***
[Hi. It’s Seju.
Remember Daisy, the dog that lived near our summer villa? She had puppies. Dad asked me if I wanted to raise one.
But the only thing I want to raise is you.
Want to come to my place?
I’ll take good care of you. I’ll play with you every day, feed you good food, and even scratch under your chin.
Think about it and let me know.
Seju, waiting for your reply.]
[To Seju.
You really are like a naked mole ratnaked mole rat¹.
Then, goodbye.]