Seoul Train
June came out of the bathroom after washing his face. He sat at the kitchen table. His mom brought him scrambled eggs and orange juice.
“Thank you, mom,” he said and started to eat.
It took him less than a minute to finish his breakfast. Mom took some money from her wallet and gave it to June.
“Use it for lunch money,” she said.
“Thank you, mom.” June responded, grinning.
He put on his shoes and noticed rain falling outside. It didn’t seem heavy, so June left the house without his umbrella. But soon the rain began hitting the street harder. June walked through the rain, regretting his decision about the umbrella. He stopped by the newspaper booth on Purple Sun Avenue. He grabbed the Seoul Central Times and a pack of Lotte gum. The man standing inside the booth looked at June’s wet hair. He gave June a vinyl umbrella.
“Oh, I don’t have enough money for it,” June said.
“No, no. Take it. It’s free.” The man smiled and said.
“You don’t have to do this, thank you much.” June bowed his head, expressing appreciation.
He left the booth and continued walking toward the subway station. A large number of people moved hurriedly to catch the train. He walked past the Joy Game Room, Kumho Tires and the Korea Book Store. June stopped at the grocery store to get some tangerines. A middle-aged lady greeted June. He asked her how much two tangerines cost. She told him the price with her hands. Then, June realized she was mute. He gave her money and got out and put two tangerines in his pocket. June reached the station and purchased the subway ticket. The steel turnstile rolled as he inserted the ticket. He discovered many passengers at the platform. A female voice boomed through the station’s speaker, announcing that the train was approaching. June moved close to the yellow waiting line. He discovered a lady in a gray coat. Her coat color blended into the melancholy sky. She turned her face to the left. She looked very familiar, as though June had met her somewhere before.
The subway stopped; the train looked like a California roll June ate two days before. Lots of people exited the train. June stood behind the woman wearing the gray coat. She got in the train and June followed her. It was morning traffic hour in Seoul; there wasn’t any seat available. Immediately, sweat arose on his forehead. June wiped it off with his hand, looking at the outside. It seemed as if the world outside was moving, not the train. He just saw a five-story building named ‘White Dove Wedding Hall.’ It reminded of him the divorce rate in Seoul. Fifty-percent.
The train stopped at the WangShipRie station. About one-third of the passengers got out of the train. Some seats emptied and June sat by the window seat. He watched the woman in gray coat sitting across from him. June unfolded the newspaper and read through the politics and economics section in order. Then he stopped at the art section.
Woody Allen Film Series in Koa Art Hall
The thick red line attracted his eyes.
Let me see. It starts this weekend, I should check this out. June muttered.
“Bell Street,” a delicate woman voice announced through the speaker. June got up. And the woman also arose from her seat. She and June departed from the train. The woman was heading toward to the YMCA exit. It was the opposite way of June’s exit. He watched the woman dissolved into the wave of people.
June got out of the subway station and opened the vinyl umbrella. The green neon sign from the Pagoda English Academy building sparkled on the rainy street. June passed the main street and turned left.
June got into the Blue Wings building and walked toward the tiny elevator. Its’ capacity held only four people. The elevator reached the ground and June got in. He pressed the button for the seventh floor. As the door closed, June saw a woman rushing to the elevator. It shocked him profoundly. It was the woman June met at the train station. June hastily opened the door for her.
“Thank you.” She thanked him and caught her breath.
“Which floor?” June asked.
“Fifth please.” She responded and flashed a smile.
“You work on the fifth floor? I work on the seventh,” He wanted to keep the conversation going.
“Actually, I have an interview for a job. I didn’t know direction but I made it on time.”
“Which office?” He asked and the elevator passed the third floor.
“It’s the café. I want a part time job,” she said.
“I hope you get it.” June said as they landed on the fifth floor.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Anyway, my name is June,” he said.
“Good to meet you, June. I’m Yuri,” She grinned and got out.
The elevator hit the seventh floor and June stepped out. He walked into the Si-Sha Academy office.
“Hi, June.” Kay, his female co-worker said.
“Hey, Kay.” He took off his jacket and hung it on the rack.
“Gosh, I don’t like rain. It makes everything feel slow,” Kay said.
“Really? I love it,” June said, shrugging his shoulder.
Kay brought hot coffee to June’s desk. He thanked Kay. She smiled and sat next to June’s desk.
“How’s it going? I mean this month’s tape sales,” asked Kay.
“Not so good. You know, I just started two weeks ago.” June replied, touching his hair.
“I know. And people want to learn English in an institution or school, not by tapes. It’s so hard to learn a second language with stupid tapes.”
Kay rolled her big brown eyes and said.
June looked around and no one seemed like they heard what she said.
“Then why do you work here?” June asked.
“Don’t you know? They provide free English classes to salespeople. I take English class at Plaza English Academy near LG Headquarter.” Kay answered.
“Really? I didn’t know that.” June said, touching his forehead.
“Otherwise, no one would want to work in this place.” Kay said and bitterly smiled. It made complete sense to June. He had only worked for two weeks; however, he began to doubt if he would continue working there. At least now he knew he could take free English classes.
“What do you want to eat for lunch?” Hoki came to June’s desk and asked.
June looked at the clock on the wall. It was already past twelve in the afternoon.
“How about soondaekook?” June suggested.
“That sounds good.” Hoki nodded and licked his upper lip.
Hoki took out his blue jacket from the closet. June got up and followed him to the hall. Hoki pressed the button for the elevator. It didn’t light up right way. He clicked impatiently a couple of times.
“This building was constructed 1982. It has been only nineteen years.” Hoki complained of the building’s condition.
“Man, they built up the building so fast. That’s where problem came from.” June simply analyzed.
The elevator moved up to the floor and it stopped. The door opened and they entered. The elevator closed its curtain as June hit the button.
He and Hoki didn’t say anything until it reached the ground.
People crowded the Bell Street.
“How many times do they have to fuck to keep this population?” Hoki said and chuckled.
“Night and day. All the time.” June said as they walked past an old lady.
“She’d better stay at home and watch the animal channel,” Hoki shook his head and mentioned of the old lady.
Soondaekook restaurant wasn’t as crowded as it used to be. This was the result of new American fast food stores arriving after the Seoul Olympics. Hoki and June sat at the table in the middle of the restaurant. A waitress came to the table with two corn teas.
“Can I take your order?” She asked right away.
“Two soondaekook.” Hoki said, looking at the waitress.
She nodded and retreated to the kitchen.
“I heard this restaurant has been around for almost a hundred years. The owner’s great grandfather started it. Cool thing is, they never lose the genuine taste. Isn’t it awesome?” Hoki said and looked around the restaurant.
“I didn’t know that this restaurant is that old.” June said.
“We’re eating history, man.” Hoki joked.
The waitress brought radish kimchi and a few side dishes such as fish cakes, bean sprouts, boiled potatoes and cucumber kimchi. She said the entrée would come out in a few minutes.
“No problem.” Hoki told her and took some fish cakes with chopsticks.
June quietly drank his corn tea.
The clock on the wall in the office said four-forty.
“JongSoo, English is so important. You said you’re going to study in New York. You must study English very hard.” June talked to one of his best friends.
“You don’t have to tell me that. I heard you sell English tapes. How’s it going?” JongSoo said, chuckling.
As matter of fact, JongSoo was leaving for New York City next month to study English Literature at Columbia University.
“How much is whole set anyway?” JongSoo asked.
June was silent for a few seconds and told him.
“It’s fifty thousand won.”
“Fifty thousand? Man, you trying to overcharge me?” JongSoo sounded surprised.
“Come on, it’s a new recording with native speakers from Toronto.”
“Native speaker from Toronto? Interesting.”
“Canadian accent is close to authentic,” June said without any clue.
JongSoo said he would meet June next week at the Gyobo Book Store and purchased the tapes. June said ‘thank you’ and hung up the phone. Victorious smiled appeared on his face. The chief, who sat across June, had noticed it.
“How’s your sales going?” he asked.
“It’s good. I just got the contract.” June said, putting his fingers on his forehead.
The chief smiled back and raised his thumb. June went out on the office balcony for a cigarette. He lit a Marlboro and watched the sun setting under the Mountain Nam. ‘Blue Moon Foreign Language Academy’ turned on its blue neon sign. June discovered the group of men going to the pub, Seoul Tower. Kay joined June on the balcony, holding a tea cup in her hand.
“Hi, what are you doing?” she asked, leaning against the balcony railing.
“I’m just watching the city.” June replied, grinning.
Kay fixed her eyes to the street. A cool wind rustled through her hair.
“Look at all the bars and restaurants.” June said, touching his hair.
“Drinking and eating is why we exist,” Kay said and sipped her green tea.
June chuckled at her wit and said, “You wanna drink tonight to make sure you exist?”
She laughed and nodded her head.
“Just you and me or someone else too?” Kay asked, looking straight into his eyes. June said Hoki might want to join, too. She exposed slight disappointment. June and Kay got back inside the office. June saw Hoki was on the phone.
“That’s not true. I told you I’d give a 10% discount, not 50%. You
wanna return tapes and get a refund? Well, you could return the tapes, but I can’t give you a full refund. I could only give you a half.”
Hoki’s face turned dark burgundy.
“Listen. Don’t say that! I didn’t lie to you, okay?” Hoki shouted into the phone and put down the receiver hard.
His nostrils were still vibrating. June got up and cautiously approached him. Hoki turned his head and met June’s eyes.
“Man…You okay?” June asked him.
“She’s fucking stupid. She can’t even remember the negotiated price I gave her.”
“It happens all the times. Don’t get stressed out too much.” June said.
Hoki drank his cold barley tea and cooled down his boiling blood.
“Come on, let’s go to a bar.” June put his hand on Hoki’s shoulder.
Hoki finally grinned and said, “That’s gospel to my ears.”
The bar was located on the third floor of Dragon Tale Building.
An automatic door was opened as Hoki stepped in front of its sensors. Kay and June followed him. A hostess with a sensual black blouse approached them.
“Smoking or non?” she asked, spilling a colorless smile.
“Smoking, of course,” Hoki responded.
She guided them to a corner table, with a great window view. Vivid neon signs were blinking on the Bell Street. June sat in front of Kay. He saw neon signs painted Kay’s face green, red and purple.
“You look so colorful.” June told her.
“Haven’t you noticed? I’m always colorful.” She responded delightfully.
Hoki put a Camel Light in his mouth. June lit it up for him with a plastic lighter. He took an easy puff of the cigarette.
“How would you get a job at Si-Sha?” Kay asked June, moving an ashtray for Hoki.
“Well. I saw an ad in the Monthly Job magazine. What about you?” June said to Kay.
“I heard about it from my friend, Ji-Young. She used to work here. She earned quite good money.”
“Really? How was that possible?”
“She sold tapes to her cousins, friends, families and everyone. She was so good at it.” Kay talked with excitement.
“Then why did she quit the job?” June became curious.
“She slept with the chief and his wife found out.” Hoki chuckled as he conveyed the story.
“Oh my goodness.” June said in disbelief, shaking his head.
The waitress came to the table and asked, “You guys ready to order?”
“Let’s see, we’ll take one large Miller Lite pitcher. And what do you want to order?” Hoki looked at Kay.
“I’d like to get a vegetable and snail.” Kay picked the food.
June ordered two dried squid and peanuts.
“That’ll be it.” June said. The waitress returned to the kitchen. Hoki released the stream of white smoke and said,
“So, you guys like the job?”
“Well, it’s alright. I just took it, so I could save some money before joining the army,” June answered.
“When will you join the army?” Hoki said.
“Next spring, I guess. How about you?” June said to Hoki.
“I had a physical exam three months ago. I probably go next spring, too,” Hoki said as the waitress brought the large beer pitcher. She put it down on the table and located three beer glasses. Hoki grabbed the pitcher and poured for June and Kay and himself. Hoki held the beer glass high and proposed a toast, “GunBae for the great English Language!”
June chuckled at his sarcasm.
Beer ran smoothly down June’s throat. He emptied half the glass. Kay tore dry squid into bite-sized pieces. She took a piece and dipped it in hot sauce.
“I like squid a lot. It’s really chewy.” She expressed her joy.
“Chew it while you’re young. When you get older you won’t be able to eat tough pieces,” Hoki said and laughed.
The waitress brought the snail with vegetable. Kay clasped her hands together as if she was praying. June took a piece of snail with a fork. Hoki took a long drink of his beer, swishing it around in his mouth.
“See you guys tomorrow.” Kay waved her hand and got into the taxi.
Hoki asked June if he wanted to drink more. June said he had enough.
Hoki said ‘Good night’ and walked across the Third Avenue to take a bus. June walked toward to the subway station. The moon was up, shining on the earth. Two black birds flew in the dark sky. June arrived at the subway station and went to the ticket booth.
“One-way, please,” he said and handed a lady money.
June was sweating a lot. The lady gave June a ticket and tissue.
“Oh, thank you so much,” June said and went up the stairs. Surprisingly,
Yuri was waiting the train by the platform. Upon seeing her under the moonlight, June remembered he went to the same middle school with her. With her silky black hair and big shiny eyes, she was adored by many boys. Yuri turned her back and saw June. She smiled and queried, “Hi, remember me? We met at the elevator.”
“Well, yeah. You’re Yuri. Right?”
“Wow, you even remember my name. You have really good memory.” Yuri said, smiling.
“I don’t know, I mean…” June murmured.
“What was your name?” Yuri asked, touching her hair.
“It’s June. I know it’s September, though.”
She tenderly laughed. June heard the signal announcing the train would be arriving soon. She and June walked closer to the yellow line.
“I hope it won’t be too packed. I’m so tired tonight.” She said and watched the train.
“Right…” June muttered and turned his face.
As the train reduced its speed, June noticed some seats available. The train stopped and they got on. She and June sat next to each other by the corner.
“So, I guess you got the job at the café.” June said.
“Yeah. I like it so far. By the way, I’m going to New York City next month.” She said excitingly.
“New York? My friend’s going to New York too. He got accepted by Columbia University.”
“Oh, he must be very smart.” She mused.
“What about you? Why are you going there?” He asked.
“I’m visiting my friend. She goes to a fashion school in Manhattan. I have never visited New York.” She replied excitingly.
“Sounds awesome,” June said.
“You work for the Si-Sha Academy, right?” Yuri asked.
“How do you know?” June said and grabbed the pole as the train was shaky a little.
“You got out on the seventh floor. Only the Si-Sha Academy is on that floor.” She said and grinned.
“I’m selling English tapes. I’ll join the army next year. I thought it would be great if I saved some money before I go.” June explained.
The train stopped at the WangShipRi Station. It was one of the busiest stations in Seoul, especially late at night. However, very few people got on the train. June look at passengers who just got on the subway. They seemed very dark as if black rain dropped outside.
“They look deadly serious.” Yuri realized it, also.
What happened? June deemed in silence, nodding his head.
The train stabbed through the deep night in the Seoul.
“What time you gonna have lunch tomorrow?” Yuri asked.
“I usually have it around noon.” June answered.
“You could come to café.”
“You have some food there?” June asked.
“We sell some sandwiches and rolls.” She replied.
“Okay. I’ll go. You should give me a discount.” June suggested.
Yuri laughed and said she would. Her fresh smile delivered brightness to his heart. Maybe I should ask for her number tomorrow. June pondered.
The train stopped at the Gun-Gook University station. She and June got off the train. Yuri hesitated for seconds and said she needed to use the bathroom.
“Then, have a good night and see you tomorrow.” June waved his hand and walked through the exit. As June emerged, he discovered a large group of people watching the giant screen on the Samsung Electronic Building. He carefully approached the monitor.
“What happened?” June asked a middle age man in the crowd.
He didn’t say anything but pointed the screen with his index finger. The Twin Towers in New York City were burning. At first, June thought it was an action flick. But June quickly realized it wasn’t a film. The World Trade Center was emitting heavy black smoke and dying. A lady in a black blouse standing in front of June quietly wept. A man with the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball cap, suddenly, shouted to the air, “It’s all karma, America’s fault!” June became very upset as he heard it.
He spat out furiously, “You shut the fuck up!” The man got scared of June and walked away. June watched the screen few more minutes. He slowly moved his heavy feet to home. June put a Marlboro between his lips and lit it. I don’t care if I could sell English tapes tomorrow. It doesn’t really matter. There should be more important thing in my life. There should be. June pondered as he puffed on a cigarette.
Eugene Jiang was born in Seoul, South Korea. He attended the Michigan State University and the School of Visual Art. His fiction has been published in Carve Magazine and the Korea Daily Newspaper. He was a finalist for the 2006 Jaewaedongpo Literary Award (South Korea). He currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
June came out of the bathroom after washing his face. He sat at the kitchen table. His mom brought him scrambled eggs and orange juice.
“Thank you, mom,” he said and started to eat.
It took him less than a minute to finish his breakfast. Mom took some money from her wallet and gave it to June.
“Use it for lunch money,” she said.
“Thank you, mom.” June responded, grinning.
He put on his shoes and noticed rain falling outside. It didn’t seem heavy, so June left the house without his umbrella. But soon the rain began hitting the street harder. June walked through the rain, regretting his decision about the umbrella. He stopped by the newspaper booth on Purple Sun Avenue. He grabbed the Seoul Central Times and a pack of Lotte gum. The man standing inside the booth looked at June’s wet hair. He gave June a vinyl umbrella.
“Oh, I don’t have enough money for it,” June said.
“No, no. Take it. It’s free.” The man smiled and said.
“You don’t have to do this, thank you much.” June bowed his head, expressing appreciation.
He left the booth and continued walking toward the subway station. A large number of people moved hurriedly to catch the train. He walked past the Joy Game Room, Kumho Tires and the Korea Book Store. June stopped at the grocery store to get some tangerines. A middle-aged lady greeted June. He asked her how much two tangerines cost. She told him the price with her hands. Then, June realized she was mute. He gave her money and got out and put two tangerines in his pocket. June reached the station and purchased the subway ticket. The steel turnstile rolled as he inserted the ticket. He discovered many passengers at the platform. A female voice boomed through the station’s speaker, announcing that the train was approaching. June moved close to the yellow waiting line. He discovered a lady in a gray coat. Her coat color blended into the melancholy sky. She turned her face to the left. She looked very familiar, as though June had met her somewhere before.
The subway stopped; the train looked like a California roll June ate two days before. Lots of people exited the train. June stood behind the woman wearing the gray coat. She got in the train and June followed her. It was morning traffic hour in Seoul; there wasn’t any seat available. Immediately, sweat arose on his forehead. June wiped it off with his hand, looking at the outside. It seemed as if the world outside was moving, not the train. He just saw a five-story building named ‘White Dove Wedding Hall.’ It reminded of him the divorce rate in Seoul. Fifty-percent.
The train stopped at the WangShipRie station. About one-third of the passengers got out of the train. Some seats emptied and June sat by the window seat. He watched the woman in gray coat sitting across from him. June unfolded the newspaper and read through the politics and economics section in order. Then he stopped at the art section.
Woody Allen Film Series in Koa Art Hall
The thick red line attracted his eyes.
Let me see. It starts this weekend, I should check this out. June muttered.
“Bell Street,” a delicate woman voice announced through the speaker. June got up. And the woman also arose from her seat. She and June departed from the train. The woman was heading toward to the YMCA exit. It was the opposite way of June’s exit. He watched the woman dissolved into the wave of people.
June got out of the subway station and opened the vinyl umbrella. The green neon sign from the Pagoda English Academy building sparkled on the rainy street. June passed the main street and turned left.
June got into the Blue Wings building and walked toward the tiny elevator. Its’ capacity held only four people. The elevator reached the ground and June got in. He pressed the button for the seventh floor. As the door closed, June saw a woman rushing to the elevator. It shocked him profoundly. It was the woman June met at the train station. June hastily opened the door for her.
“Thank you.” She thanked him and caught her breath.
“Which floor?” June asked.
“Fifth please.” She responded and flashed a smile.
“You work on the fifth floor? I work on the seventh,” He wanted to keep the conversation going.
“Actually, I have an interview for a job. I didn’t know direction but I made it on time.”
“Which office?” He asked and the elevator passed the third floor.
“It’s the café. I want a part time job,” she said.
“I hope you get it.” June said as they landed on the fifth floor.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Anyway, my name is June,” he said.
“Good to meet you, June. I’m Yuri,” She grinned and got out.
The elevator hit the seventh floor and June stepped out. He walked into the Si-Sha Academy office.
“Hi, June.” Kay, his female co-worker said.
“Hey, Kay.” He took off his jacket and hung it on the rack.
“Gosh, I don’t like rain. It makes everything feel slow,” Kay said.
“Really? I love it,” June said, shrugging his shoulder.
Kay brought hot coffee to June’s desk. He thanked Kay. She smiled and sat next to June’s desk.
“How’s it going? I mean this month’s tape sales,” asked Kay.
“Not so good. You know, I just started two weeks ago.” June replied, touching his hair.
“I know. And people want to learn English in an institution or school, not by tapes. It’s so hard to learn a second language with stupid tapes.”
Kay rolled her big brown eyes and said.
June looked around and no one seemed like they heard what she said.
“Then why do you work here?” June asked.
“Don’t you know? They provide free English classes to salespeople. I take English class at Plaza English Academy near LG Headquarter.” Kay answered.
“Really? I didn’t know that.” June said, touching his forehead.
“Otherwise, no one would want to work in this place.” Kay said and bitterly smiled. It made complete sense to June. He had only worked for two weeks; however, he began to doubt if he would continue working there. At least now he knew he could take free English classes.
***
“What do you want to eat for lunch?” Hoki came to June’s desk and asked.
June looked at the clock on the wall. It was already past twelve in the afternoon.
“How about soondaekook?” June suggested.
“That sounds good.” Hoki nodded and licked his upper lip.
Hoki took out his blue jacket from the closet. June got up and followed him to the hall. Hoki pressed the button for the elevator. It didn’t light up right way. He clicked impatiently a couple of times.
“This building was constructed 1982. It has been only nineteen years.” Hoki complained of the building’s condition.
“Man, they built up the building so fast. That’s where problem came from.” June simply analyzed.
The elevator moved up to the floor and it stopped. The door opened and they entered. The elevator closed its curtain as June hit the button.
He and Hoki didn’t say anything until it reached the ground.
People crowded the Bell Street.
“How many times do they have to fuck to keep this population?” Hoki said and chuckled.
“Night and day. All the time.” June said as they walked past an old lady.
“She’d better stay at home and watch the animal channel,” Hoki shook his head and mentioned of the old lady.
Soondaekook restaurant wasn’t as crowded as it used to be. This was the result of new American fast food stores arriving after the Seoul Olympics. Hoki and June sat at the table in the middle of the restaurant. A waitress came to the table with two corn teas.
“Can I take your order?” She asked right away.
“Two soondaekook.” Hoki said, looking at the waitress.
She nodded and retreated to the kitchen.
“I heard this restaurant has been around for almost a hundred years. The owner’s great grandfather started it. Cool thing is, they never lose the genuine taste. Isn’t it awesome?” Hoki said and looked around the restaurant.
“I didn’t know that this restaurant is that old.” June said.
“We’re eating history, man.” Hoki joked.
The waitress brought radish kimchi and a few side dishes such as fish cakes, bean sprouts, boiled potatoes and cucumber kimchi. She said the entrée would come out in a few minutes.
“No problem.” Hoki told her and took some fish cakes with chopsticks.
June quietly drank his corn tea.
***
The clock on the wall in the office said four-forty.
“JongSoo, English is so important. You said you’re going to study in New York. You must study English very hard.” June talked to one of his best friends.
“You don’t have to tell me that. I heard you sell English tapes. How’s it going?” JongSoo said, chuckling.
As matter of fact, JongSoo was leaving for New York City next month to study English Literature at Columbia University.
“How much is whole set anyway?” JongSoo asked.
June was silent for a few seconds and told him.
“It’s fifty thousand won.”
“Fifty thousand? Man, you trying to overcharge me?” JongSoo sounded surprised.
“Come on, it’s a new recording with native speakers from Toronto.”
“Native speaker from Toronto? Interesting.”
“Canadian accent is close to authentic,” June said without any clue.
JongSoo said he would meet June next week at the Gyobo Book Store and purchased the tapes. June said ‘thank you’ and hung up the phone. Victorious smiled appeared on his face. The chief, who sat across June, had noticed it.
“How’s your sales going?” he asked.
“It’s good. I just got the contract.” June said, putting his fingers on his forehead.
The chief smiled back and raised his thumb. June went out on the office balcony for a cigarette. He lit a Marlboro and watched the sun setting under the Mountain Nam. ‘Blue Moon Foreign Language Academy’ turned on its blue neon sign. June discovered the group of men going to the pub, Seoul Tower. Kay joined June on the balcony, holding a tea cup in her hand.
“Hi, what are you doing?” she asked, leaning against the balcony railing.
“I’m just watching the city.” June replied, grinning.
Kay fixed her eyes to the street. A cool wind rustled through her hair.
“Look at all the bars and restaurants.” June said, touching his hair.
“Drinking and eating is why we exist,” Kay said and sipped her green tea.
June chuckled at her wit and said, “You wanna drink tonight to make sure you exist?”
She laughed and nodded her head.
“Just you and me or someone else too?” Kay asked, looking straight into his eyes. June said Hoki might want to join, too. She exposed slight disappointment. June and Kay got back inside the office. June saw Hoki was on the phone.
“That’s not true. I told you I’d give a 10% discount, not 50%. You
wanna return tapes and get a refund? Well, you could return the tapes, but I can’t give you a full refund. I could only give you a half.”
Hoki’s face turned dark burgundy.
“Listen. Don’t say that! I didn’t lie to you, okay?” Hoki shouted into the phone and put down the receiver hard.
His nostrils were still vibrating. June got up and cautiously approached him. Hoki turned his head and met June’s eyes.
“Man…You okay?” June asked him.
“She’s fucking stupid. She can’t even remember the negotiated price I gave her.”
“It happens all the times. Don’t get stressed out too much.” June said.
Hoki drank his cold barley tea and cooled down his boiling blood.
“Come on, let’s go to a bar.” June put his hand on Hoki’s shoulder.
Hoki finally grinned and said, “That’s gospel to my ears.”
The bar was located on the third floor of Dragon Tale Building.
An automatic door was opened as Hoki stepped in front of its sensors. Kay and June followed him. A hostess with a sensual black blouse approached them.
“Smoking or non?” she asked, spilling a colorless smile.
“Smoking, of course,” Hoki responded.
She guided them to a corner table, with a great window view. Vivid neon signs were blinking on the Bell Street. June sat in front of Kay. He saw neon signs painted Kay’s face green, red and purple.
“You look so colorful.” June told her.
“Haven’t you noticed? I’m always colorful.” She responded delightfully.
Hoki put a Camel Light in his mouth. June lit it up for him with a plastic lighter. He took an easy puff of the cigarette.
“How would you get a job at Si-Sha?” Kay asked June, moving an ashtray for Hoki.
“Well. I saw an ad in the Monthly Job magazine. What about you?” June said to Kay.
“I heard about it from my friend, Ji-Young. She used to work here. She earned quite good money.”
“Really? How was that possible?”
“She sold tapes to her cousins, friends, families and everyone. She was so good at it.” Kay talked with excitement.
“Then why did she quit the job?” June became curious.
“She slept with the chief and his wife found out.” Hoki chuckled as he conveyed the story.
“Oh my goodness.” June said in disbelief, shaking his head.
The waitress came to the table and asked, “You guys ready to order?”
“Let’s see, we’ll take one large Miller Lite pitcher. And what do you want to order?” Hoki looked at Kay.
“I’d like to get a vegetable and snail.” Kay picked the food.
June ordered two dried squid and peanuts.
“That’ll be it.” June said. The waitress returned to the kitchen. Hoki released the stream of white smoke and said,
“So, you guys like the job?”
“Well, it’s alright. I just took it, so I could save some money before joining the army,” June answered.
“When will you join the army?” Hoki said.
“Next spring, I guess. How about you?” June said to Hoki.
“I had a physical exam three months ago. I probably go next spring, too,” Hoki said as the waitress brought the large beer pitcher. She put it down on the table and located three beer glasses. Hoki grabbed the pitcher and poured for June and Kay and himself. Hoki held the beer glass high and proposed a toast, “GunBae for the great English Language!”
June chuckled at his sarcasm.
Beer ran smoothly down June’s throat. He emptied half the glass. Kay tore dry squid into bite-sized pieces. She took a piece and dipped it in hot sauce.
“I like squid a lot. It’s really chewy.” She expressed her joy.
“Chew it while you’re young. When you get older you won’t be able to eat tough pieces,” Hoki said and laughed.
The waitress brought the snail with vegetable. Kay clasped her hands together as if she was praying. June took a piece of snail with a fork. Hoki took a long drink of his beer, swishing it around in his mouth.
“See you guys tomorrow.” Kay waved her hand and got into the taxi.
Hoki asked June if he wanted to drink more. June said he had enough.
Hoki said ‘Good night’ and walked across the Third Avenue to take a bus. June walked toward to the subway station. The moon was up, shining on the earth. Two black birds flew in the dark sky. June arrived at the subway station and went to the ticket booth.
“One-way, please,” he said and handed a lady money.
June was sweating a lot. The lady gave June a ticket and tissue.
“Oh, thank you so much,” June said and went up the stairs. Surprisingly,
Yuri was waiting the train by the platform. Upon seeing her under the moonlight, June remembered he went to the same middle school with her. With her silky black hair and big shiny eyes, she was adored by many boys. Yuri turned her back and saw June. She smiled and queried, “Hi, remember me? We met at the elevator.”
“Well, yeah. You’re Yuri. Right?”
“Wow, you even remember my name. You have really good memory.” Yuri said, smiling.
“I don’t know, I mean…” June murmured.
“What was your name?” Yuri asked, touching her hair.
“It’s June. I know it’s September, though.”
She tenderly laughed. June heard the signal announcing the train would be arriving soon. She and June walked closer to the yellow line.
“I hope it won’t be too packed. I’m so tired tonight.” She said and watched the train.
“Right…” June muttered and turned his face.
As the train reduced its speed, June noticed some seats available. The train stopped and they got on. She and June sat next to each other by the corner.
“So, I guess you got the job at the café.” June said.
“Yeah. I like it so far. By the way, I’m going to New York City next month.” She said excitingly.
“New York? My friend’s going to New York too. He got accepted by Columbia University.”
“Oh, he must be very smart.” She mused.
“What about you? Why are you going there?” He asked.
“I’m visiting my friend. She goes to a fashion school in Manhattan. I have never visited New York.” She replied excitingly.
“Sounds awesome,” June said.
“You work for the Si-Sha Academy, right?” Yuri asked.
“How do you know?” June said and grabbed the pole as the train was shaky a little.
“You got out on the seventh floor. Only the Si-Sha Academy is on that floor.” She said and grinned.
“I’m selling English tapes. I’ll join the army next year. I thought it would be great if I saved some money before I go.” June explained.
The train stopped at the WangShipRi Station. It was one of the busiest stations in Seoul, especially late at night. However, very few people got on the train. June look at passengers who just got on the subway. They seemed very dark as if black rain dropped outside.
“They look deadly serious.” Yuri realized it, also.
What happened? June deemed in silence, nodding his head.
The train stabbed through the deep night in the Seoul.
“What time you gonna have lunch tomorrow?” Yuri asked.
“I usually have it around noon.” June answered.
“You could come to café.”
“You have some food there?” June asked.
“We sell some sandwiches and rolls.” She replied.
“Okay. I’ll go. You should give me a discount.” June suggested.
Yuri laughed and said she would. Her fresh smile delivered brightness to his heart. Maybe I should ask for her number tomorrow. June pondered.
The train stopped at the Gun-Gook University station. She and June got off the train. Yuri hesitated for seconds and said she needed to use the bathroom.
“Then, have a good night and see you tomorrow.” June waved his hand and walked through the exit. As June emerged, he discovered a large group of people watching the giant screen on the Samsung Electronic Building. He carefully approached the monitor.
“What happened?” June asked a middle age man in the crowd.
He didn’t say anything but pointed the screen with his index finger. The Twin Towers in New York City were burning. At first, June thought it was an action flick. But June quickly realized it wasn’t a film. The World Trade Center was emitting heavy black smoke and dying. A lady in a black blouse standing in front of June quietly wept. A man with the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball cap, suddenly, shouted to the air, “It’s all karma, America’s fault!” June became very upset as he heard it.
He spat out furiously, “You shut the fuck up!” The man got scared of June and walked away. June watched the screen few more minutes. He slowly moved his heavy feet to home. June put a Marlboro between his lips and lit it. I don’t care if I could sell English tapes tomorrow. It doesn’t really matter. There should be more important thing in my life. There should be. June pondered as he puffed on a cigarette.
Eugene Jiang was born in Seoul, South Korea. He attended the Michigan State University and the School of Visual Art. His fiction has been published in Carve Magazine and the Korea Daily Newspaper. He was a finalist for the 2006 Jaewaedongpo Literary Award (South Korea). He currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
