How to Avoid the Monday Blues – Chapter 7

Author: nicotine

His mother’s death, the realization that he was in unrequited love with a close friend, complicated family matters, and even interviews. As he recalled one by one the things he had left behind in Korea, it felt as though a heavy stone had been placed on his chest.

“Did you do something crazy, by any chance? You don’t look like the type.”

“It’s not like that…”

“It’s not an impulsive crime driven by revenge, is it? If it is, I’ll apologize for calling you a baby earlier.”

Or not. At the man’s added remark, Sewon laughed out loud. The man silently gazed at Sewon’s eyes, which curved like half-moons as he laughed brightly.

“No. I had a final interview and a second-round interview at another company this week, but… I blew them both off.”

“…Hmm.”

“So I won’t have any regrets. I’ll find a job somehow.”

Sewon spoke as if it were nothing, forcibly suppressing his fear and regret.

“That’s cool.”

“I’m just wandering… Is that cool?”

Jaehee had told him he was crazy, but the man said it was cool. The contrasting reactions were simply fascinating. Truthfully, Sewon also related more to Jaehee’s “you’re crazy” remark. Feeling sheepish, Sewon unnecessarily clenched and unclenched his hands.

“They say humans wander as long as they keep trying.”

“Ooh…”

A exclamation of admiration escaped Sewon’s lips at the man’s words. It wasn’t because of the quote itself, but closer to admiration for the man—who could naturally reference something like that without seeming the least bit pretentious.

“Where did you read that? You memorized it to look cool, didn’t you.”

“I…”

When Sewon parted his lips, the man turned his head. Sunlight cutting through the chilly air illuminated the man’s face. Gazing into the man’s deep brown eyes, Sewon—without even a moment to choose an appropriate address—blurted out what came to mind.

“Teacher, you’re cool.”

At Sewon’s words, the man let out a soft chuckle. Murmuring “Teacher…” the man looked at Sewon and said,

“Yeah, that’s better than Mister, at least.”

“No, that’s not it… If you don’t mind, I’ll call you hyung-nim.”

“Hyung-nim is a bit much.”

“Okay… Then, hyung?”

The man, hearing Sewon’s words, stood in place as if lost in deep thought. Then he shook his head. It seemed “hyung” was also a bit burdensome a title for him.

In Yerebatan Sarayı, where the citizens of Constantinople in the past had stored enough water to last three months, only ankle-deep water now pooled quietly. Instead, elaborate lighting and modern sculptures were displayed here and there, delighting tourists’ eyes.

But somehow Sewon couldn’t concentrate. The paths between the columns were narrow, so whenever he walked alongside the man, their fingertips and shoulders inevitably brushed. Having resolved not to be conscious of it, he only became more aware.

Sewon postponed the Topkapı Palace visit he had planned to tomorrow. The man, whose meeting had been canceled, naturally ended up having dinner with Sewon.

The man, who had said he wasn’t much fun as a companion because he was taciturn, made Sewon laugh several times even with his few words.

“This way.”

The man nodded his head and pointed in the opposite direction from where Sewon was about to go.

“Ah…”

Sewon smiled sheepishly. The two of them, having come out of the metro, walked silently toward the hotel. When the man walked ahead with his long legs, Sewon diligently chased after him.

As they neared the hotel, the man pulled a cigarette pack from his inner pocket. A few people were already standing in the smoking area in front of the hotel, smoking. Beside them were men standing with their hands in their pockets, just chatting.

What was peculiar was that all the men had white bandages wrapped around their heads. Blood had seeped through one of the bandages, and Sewon, noticing it, flinched in surprise.

Perhaps because of the relief of having arrived at the hotel without getting lost, Sewon felt fatigue wash over him all at once. Thinking he should quickly take a hot shower and prepare for tomorrow’s schedule, he said goodbye to the man. The fatigue Sewon felt now—the man had contributed to it as well.

“Thank you for today.”

“Oh, you’re going in?”

“Yes. Enjoy your cigarette…”

Sewon nodded and answered. “Enjoy your cigarette” didn’t seem like an appropriate farewell, but he couldn’t think of a better one. Sewon bowed again and turned around.

After passing through the lobby and standing in front of the elevator, luckily the doors opened right away. He pressed the button for the 5th floor where his room was and was blankly watching the doors slowly close. Thud—someone’s hand slid between the elevator doors.

“Excuse me.”

The doors opened again, and a familiar voice came through. The moment Sewon recognized the voice, his mouth fell slightly open.

“…Huh?”

The man’s face appeared between the doors.

The man, having stepped into the elevator, looked at Sewon. Letting out a short breath, he ran a hand through his hair and said,

“I know this kind of question is strange, but… I felt like I had to ask.”

“…”

“…Where are you going tomorrow.”

The man threw out the question, but it didn’t seem like he was demanding an answer. The man’s low voice was closer to a quiet murmur.

Their gazes met in a straight line inside the narrow elevator.

Sewon unconsciously swallowed hard. His throat felt tight again. Pretending not to be shaken, Sewon recited tomorrow’s schedule in a calm voice.

“I’m going to Topkapı Palace, then crossing over to Çamlıca Mosque.”

At the edge of Sewon’s vision, the man’s hand—the one that had briefly touched his earlier—caught his eye.

In that hand was a single cigarette, its neck bent, with no trace of having been lit.

Sewon showered with water so hot his face flushed red. After washing away his distracting thoughts under the running water, he lay on the bed and picked up his phone.

In the employment study group chat, usually quiet, a pile of messages had accumulated.

Mechanical Engineering Kim Ahyeong

www.hetenews.com/20230403/ihatemonday

Haeseong Electronics postpones new employee recruitment schedule… Hiring scale maintained.

Haeseong Group side denies any connection between the “owner family scandal” that surfaced after Chairman Seong Jongyeon’s eldest son’s death and the recruitment schedule….

The messages sent by the study group members led to news articles. The news was filled with sensational words: rumors of the chairman’s health problems, infidelity, an illegitimate child, and the eldest son’s drug use and death.

It was news that had caused such a stir that even Sewon, who had been overwhelmed dealing with the funeral, knew about it roughly. It seemed it had eventually affected even new employee recruitment.

Computer Science Kim Yeseul

So the Haeseong Group second-round interview being postponed is confirmed ㅠㅠ

Electrical Engineering Ha Yuseong

Ah ㅠㅠ It overlaps with Group B’s final on Thursday. Should I go to the final rather than the second round?

Mechanical Engineering Kim Ahyeong

If it were me, I’d go to the final. It’s a shame about Haeseong, but if you’ve made it to the final, the chances of landing the job are much higher.

From Haeseong Group’s announcement, a long conversation had passed among the study group members. Unlike the other study group members who were flustered, Sewon was now able to participate in the Haeseong Electronics second-round interview, which he had thought was a lost opportunity.

And yet, he didn’t feel relieved or happy. He only felt a extremely dry sentiment: “Oh, so that’s how it turned out.” When he turned off the group chat, he saw two messages from Han Jaehee.

Han Jaehee

It’s boring without you, Sewon.

Have fun and come back to Korea quickly lol

The moment the read receipt appeared, his phone rang as if it had been waiting. The caller was Han Jaehee. Having been caught reading the message, there was no way to avoid it. Letting out a short sigh, Sewon answered.

— You were going to read and ignore, weren’t you.

Han Jaehee’s small, whispering voice came close to his ear. There was also a rustling sound behind, as if he was moving somewhere.

“Why are you still awake?”

— I can’t sleep because it’s not my bed.

It wasn’t like he’d gone on a trip, so why would he be lying in someone else’s bed on a weekday evening? As his thoughts reached that point, it felt like the inside of his throat tightened.

“Are you on a date?”

— The date’s over, and I came to rest. How’s the trip?