NS   씨발! Sorry.

NS   Some water got on the phone.

You wait patiently as the other end becomes muffled. It gives you a moment to glance back at today’s agenda, just in case you’ve missed something before bedtime. Fortunately, this call is the last thing on the list.

NS   Nngh.

NS   There. It’s out of the way now.

CS   Did you put it on a shelf?

NS   In the sponge holder. It’s up on the wall.

CS   Why there?

CS   Won’t that get… wet, too?

NS   It doesn’t have a sponge in it right now. 바보야.

NS   What do you think I'm scrubbing with? My hands?

CS   Ah. Sorry.

NS   Dumb-dumb.

NS   Anyway! Don’t change the subject!

NS   So? How did the night end?

You lean back in your chair, looking up at the ceiling.

CS   We made it home alright.

CS   It was... hard to focus, but we made it.

CS   I… um… showed her inside.

CS   It was just us.

CS   I showed her the TV, and we started watching one of the movies.

CS   But we mostly talked, and...

CS   We…

CS   We had a good time.

NS   Details! What does that mean, exactly?

Even though she can’t see your face, you turn away from the phone nevertheless.

CS   It means… I think we are…

CS   Together?

NS   Oh!

NS   Oh, wow! Congratulations!

NS   How did the conversation go? Was it you who asked first?

CS   It wasn't really a conversation.

CS   I could, um. Tell.

NS   You can't claim victory if you didn't get a direct answer.

CS   No, Neul-Seong. I'm sure she likes me back.

CS   Trust me.

NS   What?

NS   Wait. Does that mean what I think it means?

CS   ...

NS   ...

NS   Nevermind. Don’t tell me.

NS   Keep that just between the two of you.

NS   But, hey! Girlfriend!

CS   Girlfriend.

The word is exhaled, and it’s as if an invisible weight is released with it.

CS   I have a girlfriend.

Some whoops and cheers from the other end.

NS   아싸! I knew you could do it!

NS   This is what your teenage years are for, you know.

NS   Oh, speaking of which.

NS   Do... they know?

The weight returns. You put your head in your hands, resting your elbows on your desk.

NS   You don’t have to tell them.

NS   Ugh. They’re so traditional.

NS   Like a little relationship before college will ruin your life.

NS   But, if you want my advice?

NS   The earlier you start, the more experience you’ll get.

CS   Experience?

NS   Oh yeah.

NS   My first relationship? 엉망이었어.

NS   Everyone’s is.

NS   Just go with how you feel, and don’t take it too seriously.

NS   You learn some lessons, and you move on.

CS   Umm...

CS   What… lessons did you learn, from your first?

NS   아… let me think…

NS   Oh! Don’t date a cheater.

NS   That guy was a son of a bitch. He fooled me with his great hair.

NS   That's why I don't trust the beautiful ones anymore.

CS   ...

You pick your head up off of the desk.

CS   Neul-Seong...

CS   You don’t think, because it’s my first time…

CS   It'll...?

NS   What? No!

NS   No, no, Chae-Seong, it’ll work out!

NS   I was just one example. That doesn't mean it'll be bad.

NS   Screw 엄마 and 아빠. If you want this, you deserve to have it.

NS   Firsts are special.

NS   And this one has to be special, if it got you to feel something.

CS   Hey! What does that mean?

Laughter erupts from the other end.

NS   People like you, Chae-Seong.

NS   You care about them. And it shows.

NS   But it seemed like you never knew what to do beyond that.

NS   Or if you were interested in anything like that, ever.

NS   So, I’m just glad you figured out what you wanted.

NS   This is a big step.

You stand up, grabbing the phone and walking over to your bed. You toss it onto a pillow and let yourself fall face-first onto the covers.

NS   What was that? Did you drop something?

CS   (I’m in bed.)

NS   Oh. Ha ha.

NS   Is that why your voice is muffled?

NS   You must look really stupid right now.

NS   Ha.

NS   I wish I could see it.

CS   (Me too.)

You flip onto your back. You’ve been faintly hearing the scrubbing, the clattering of dishware, and the running faucet. It feels so domestic. You try to imagine yourself in her place - cleaning and taking care of a house in an adult body. The idea would've felt so far away a mere month ago.

NS   So, this girlfriend...

NS   You never told me the name.

CS   I didn’t?

NS   No!

NS   You're so cruel, you know.

CS   Okay, okay.

CS   But that’s only because I wasn’t sure of anything before.

NS   Ooh. And you have no doubts, now.

CS   That's... one way of putting it.

NS   So? Who is she?

NS   This girl who chipped away at your little heart, I mean.

NS   Made it glow nice and red.

CS   …

CS   …Ryujin.

You close your eyes and let yourself smile.

CS   Her name is Ryujin.