It was somewhat natural that the departure date had been set. Jun had come to Korea for a short time due to preparations for a film shoot. This wasn’t his main residence. So, it was natural for him to return to Japan after finishing his schedule.

But this sorrow was unrelated to such objective facts. In an instant, my mind was filled with thoughts of today, tomorrow, and every day without Jun.

“I have to go, of course…”

Even though I fully understood it in my head, when it passed through my heart, the words came out crookedly. I turned my head towards the window as if I could dispel this sadness by facing the wind.

“Sorry.”

“…”

“Haru.”

“…”

“Now you won’t even show your face. Ah, it’s heartbreaking.”

“While driving.”

“I’ve been driving all this time. Even then, you were looking at me.”

“…Later. I feel a bit emotionally unstable right now.”

“…”

Jun’s sigh blended with the sound of the departing car engine.

“Two weeks.”

“…”
“If you wait for just two weeks, we’ll start shooting in Japan. Please wait for just two weeks. I won’t ask you to wait any longer.”

I embraced Jun’s efforts to comfort me in some way. I nodded my head in acknowledgment.

“Haru.”

“Yeah.”

“Haru, look at me.”

Jun continued calling me, as if I had to look at him to signal the end of my distress. My silent response seemed to bother him, and suddenly he said,

“Why? Are you planning to go to Yoo Jihoon because you feel lonely?”

“Kim Jun!”

My head turned in irritation.

“Now you’re looking.”

In Jun’s weak smile, forcibly pulled up, my heart stung for a moment.

“Until you come, during those two weeks, I’ll complete all the postponed tasks without rest. I’ll be waiting for you. I’ll be eagerly waiting for the day you come.”

Even the two weeks apart were an unrelenting time for Jun, meaning that it was a break he couldn’t afford. Jun reluctantly accepted the two weeks of separation to fulfill the shooting schedule of our story in the movie.

The realization that I, burdened enough, was making it even harder for you, came next.

“Yeah, I got it. Let’s meet in two weeks, us.”

“Yeah? Is it really okay?”

There was confusion in the urgent tone. Even though everything I had done so far was for him to hear those words. His reaction was somewhat surprising, and it was good to see your blindly devoted sincerity toward me.

“I wanted to hear that. To wait for me eagerly in Japan. From the day after tomorrow. So, not today.”

“Yeah. Not today.”

In response to Jun’s resolution, my closed lips suddenly released laughter.

From the day Jun returns to Japan, I will start marking circles on the calendar. The time from the day after tomorrow will gather into a bundle of circles, slowly passing while consuming me with eagerness.

I turned my head back to the car window. The colorful night scenery was beautiful, like fireworks had just finished.

I placed two pieces of buckwheat bread from yesterday into the toaster. Plunk, I sat in front of the dining table. I poured a moderately brewed black tea into a teacup. Even though it was morning, I still couldn’t easily shake off my drowsiness. I was about to bring the teacup to my lips with my drowsy eyes when,

Rrrrr. Rrrrr.

The eyelids, which had been closed for a moment, suddenly opened wide. On the phone, Jun’s name appeared. In an instant, my sleepiness disappeared.

“Oh, Jun.”

[Glad you picked up. Haru, are you still at home?]

“Yeah, but your voice…”

The area around my throat chilled. A subdued voice. Jun’s efforts to sound cheerful were in vain. I quickly understood that Jun’s current state wasn’t good.

[…Well, how did you notice with just one word.]

“Now that’s not important. Are you okay? Are you in a lot of pain? Where does it hurt? Is it a cold?”

[Ha, how did you catch on so quickly?]

“Why. How much does it hurt…”
[Just because of that, you’re asking a real question.]

“Don’t joke. I’m worried. Besides, your schedule for today is like that too…”

Of all days, today was the day for Haru’s reverse casting audition. The entire day had to be dedicated to the audition until late evening. Moreover, Jun had a crucial role as the director leading this audition. Even as I spoke to Jun, I could feel the worry accumulating to the tip of his chin.

[I’m not hurt. Even if I am, I won’t be. I heard your voice.]

“Ha, Kim Jun, saying that now. It’s upsetting…”

[…Alright. I’m a little hurt. Very little. But it’s okay. It feels like a cold or body ache.]

Jun’s voice admitting a bit of pain after I expressed my concern was bitter. His throat condition didn’t seem good either. It felt burdensome to think that Jun would go through a tough day today. After a brief pause, a sigh passed through the phone.

“Even if you say you’re a bit hurt, you’re upset just like me. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“…Okay. I’m a bit upset now too. Just a little.”

[It’s not a phrase you should believe coming from me.]

“That’s not important… We can’t cancel today’s schedule…”

[I’m really fine. More importantly, I’m going to get up now. Even if I prepare now… It might take some time to get to your place. Is that okay?]

“No. It’s not okay.”

[Ah, as expected. Then I’ll…]

“If you coming to pick me up is not okay.”

[It’s fine. I’ll be there soon…]

“I’ll go now. Don’t bother coming over. It’ll just complicate things. You won’t even answer your phone. I’m hanging up!”

[What? Haru…]

The phone, which I had already pressed the end call button on, fell silent.

I quickly put on some randomly grabbed clothes and left the house. Near my house, I stopped by a porridge shop and got some abalone porridge. Unable to find the pharmacy that usually looked conspicuous, I ended up buying cooling sheets at the convenience store. Even in the taxi, I chewed on my lower lip nervously. It felt like the more I chewed, the faster the car would drive.

After getting out of the taxi and arriving at the hotel, from the hotel entrance to the elevator. Finally, I reached the front of Jun’s hotel room where he was staying. Probably, the scenes that I passed by in a hurry didn’t come to mind at all. I pressed the bell without catching my breath.

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed in my ears. Shortly after, the door opened. In that brief moment, Jun’s face appeared. Even at a glance, it was a face full of flushed energy. Jun’s words poured over my head without giving me a chance to examine that face.

“Iharu. You really didn’t even answer my calls.”

“If I had answered… Ha, ha. You came running with that body of yours. Ha…”

The face, which showed signs of pain, contorted for a moment. The awkward sight of him standing as if he could barely breathe, or maybe sit down, seemed uncomfortable.

“Don’t think about me. If you run like this, you can’t even think about how I would feel. You can’t think about that.”

“Let’s talk about that later. Let’s go inside first.”