Chapter 10 of Portrait
INDEX
Chapter 10
Though Junho didn't like to admit it, he didn't think he could love any girl more than he loved his photography. Photography was the only part of art class that he actually made an effort in; it just was different for him.
Junho had been driving around Seoul, searching for inspiration. He found it in a dirty alleyway, a pair of shoes on a porch, a gathering of birds around a tree.
Mostly, though, his camera's lens sought out couples. Whether his subject was a pair of squirrels sharing an acorn or two teenagers giggling while hand in hand, his shots generally centered on two lovebirds of some sort. He had taken a beautiful picture of a girl and boy staring into each other's eyes, obviously in love.
Junho could pretend that he didn't believe in love. He did think of love as mushy nonsense, but that was regarding the kind of "love" that he had seen people his own age claim to have. True love, though…He'd make a judgment on that when he was a little older.
For the millionth time that day, Hyekyung and that boy yesterday popped into his mind.
That kind of relationship is just an attraction…there's nothing there.
Absolutely nothing.
Or do I just want to believe that?
~~~~~~~~~
Hyekyung rolled around her bed, clutching her stomach.
I must have eaten one too many cookies or something...
She raced to the bathroom and purged herself of not only her food but of all the unrest that had taken up space in her stomach.
"Ugh..."
Hyekyung flopped onto her bed again and stared at the ceiling. Since when had her life become so complicated? It had all started when she had met Junho. So it was his fault. But no, she never would have met him if Hyemin hadn't been late. So it was Hyemin's fault.
But no, Hyemin wouldn't have existed if it wasn't for her parents.
Hyekyung sped to the bathroom again and retched. Her hair was thankfully pulled back, but the few loose strands bounced as she breathed heavily.
"Are you okay?"
Hyemin came in and hit Hyekyung's back repeatedly to get Hyekyung to finally stop. Hyemin cradled Hyekyung's head and tenderly brushed the limp strands of hair away from Hyekyung's pallid face. Hyekyung whimpered and snuggled closer to her big sister. The two sisters held each other and sat there on the cold bathroom floor.
Hyemin gently extracted herself from Hyekyung's arms.
"You know I have to go to work," Hyemin softly reminded Hyekyung.
"I know...But I don't want you to go."
"I just started with this one. There's no way my boss will let me off."
Hyekyung sighed. She knew that Hyemin needed to go. She felt a slight tinge of guilt at her selfishness and at how she had never even applied for a job while Hyemin juggled several jobs at once.
I'm busy with school...That's why I don't have a job...
Hyemin kissed Hyekyung on the cheek and left while Hyekyung sat staring at the door and feeling ashamed of herself.
At last, Hyekyung got up and quietly tiptoed out of the bathroom so as not to wake Halmoni, who had been sleeping peacefully. Hyekyung had managed to reach her room with no problems. She was standing on a stool and extending her arms to get to the box with the lilac ribbon when the phone suddenly rang, knocking her over and sending various other items on the shelf crashing down. Hyekyung hastily pushed the things aside and began to sprint to the phone to get to it before Halmoni woke up.
"Yuhboseyo?"
Gosh darn it.
Hyekyung slid to a stop in front of Halmoni, who was talking on the phone with a serious expression.
"Uh huh. That soon? Oh. Yes, dear, it will be nice to see you again. I'm sure Hyekyung and Hyemin will be very excited. No, Hyemin is off at work, but Hyekyung is here. Do you want to talk to her?"
Hyekyung frantically waved her arms and mouthed "No!" repeatedly.
"Oh...um, Hyekyung is sleeping right now. Yes, I'm sure she will be very disappointed that she didn't get to talk to you. But you will get to see each other soon, so...Yes. Yes, dear. Good bye!"
"They're coming?"
Hyekyung's heart thudded, as she desperately hoped for one answer specifically.
"Yes, Hyekyung. They're coming."
That wasn't the answer she had wanted.