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. You're able to relax at your desk for once.

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.

When your sister is smarter than you, you learn to put up with her insults.

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. Umma and Appa were out.

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

CS   But we mostly talked, and...

CS   We…

You swallow.

CS   We had a good time.

NS   Details, Chae-Seong!/p>

NS   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   ...

There's a low, squeaky sound from her end. Was she letting out a whistle?

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 an invisible weight is released with it.

CS   I have a girlfriend.

Some whoops and cheers from the other end. It's good that she lives alone; you want this news to remain firmly between the two of you.

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?

NS   You know. They're going to notice if you keep bringing her home.

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

NS   Oh, don't be so stressed.

NS   You don’t have to tell them anything.

CS   Are you sure...?

NS   Ugh. They’re so traditional.

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

NS   Everything is school, school, school.

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.

You saw Neul-Seong dating a couple of people before she finished high school and left the home for good. It all seemed so complicated. There were nights where you could hear her crying in her bedroom, and you quailed at the thought of someone hurting her that way.

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...

NS   Hmm?

CS   You don’t think, because it’s my first time, it'll...?

NS   It'll what?

CS   You know.

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. And screw me too.

NS   If you want this, you deserve to have it.

NS   Firsts are special.

CS   ...

CS   They are, aren't they?

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   And obviously you like them back.

NS   But you never do anything beyond that.

NS   I couldn't tell 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.

NS   Torturing your sister.

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   I think so.

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.