“I have a contrarian streak, so now I want to marry Jihyun. We’re going to have so many babies, enough to start a soccer team. We will live happily ever after till the end. Jihyun, I’ll be waiting here, come home as fast as you can, okay? How many days will you be in Italy? You’re coming back soon, right?” I kiss Jihyun’s forehead. I feel like that’s not enough so I kiss his eyelids and lips. I don’t know if it’s about being caught off guard or Donghyuk being there, but Jihyun pulls back, muttering, Wait, wait.

The three of us drink in silence. I don’t think I like wine. Donghyuk tells me I’ll like it soon enough if I train my palate and continues refilling my long glass with the golden drink. I think I’m not born to be high-brow. Jihyun lies down on the couch. He doesn’t seem to feel well. Why wouldn’t he go to the bed?

I find my bag, and check if the wallet is still in there. My books and other belongings must be still at Instant Paradise or in the apartment in that building. Oh, but Sol and Eunyong got them for me. They must be still in the trunk. I should grab them in the morning.

“I’m going to step outside for a minute. When Jihyun wakes up, tell him I have his key, so he can lock the door and go to bed. Are you going to stay over tonight?”

“You’re taking off in the middle of the party? Lame.” Carrying a glass in each hand, Donghyuk stumbles after me to the door. He pushes one of the glasses into my hand and clinks the other one against it.

“Cheers to Yeoul’s future! To our brief youth!”

Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony

It’s been a while since I was on campus. Sol would probably nag me if she saw my face. What happened to your face? Did you get into another fight? How’s your leg? What’s this smell from your coat? What would you like for the evening snack? She’d ask all these questions at once.

The campus is deserted. At this time last year, mid-March, when I was a freshman, there were small groups of students hanging out here and there. A well-dressed couple walk toward me from the clock tower. The girl is holding her books against her chest instead of keeping them in her backpack.