"You didn't have to make that slap so realistic, you know?"
"I'm a method actor, Yi Jeong-ah." Ga Eul adjusted the screen on her laptop so he could see her better. They had decided to talk only by video chats nightly at 9 PM, and it reminded her of their long separation before, especially with Milo curled up on a high top chair in the background. She wished could be curled up in Yi Jeong's arms.
"May I say your methods are a bit extreme?" the man in question asked. Dressed casually in a gray t-shirt and sweatpants, Yi Jeong leaned back in his chair and slowly sipped a glass of water.
"You're one to talk about extreme methods." She scoffed.
He merely raised his eyebrows.
How did he manage to still look so cool in lounge wear?
"So tell me," she continued, "how did the lunch go?"
Yi Jeong shrugged, setting his glass down.
"I suppose you've been around dysfunctional families acting all chummy with each other before?" he commented lightly.
Ga Eul laughed, her glasses sliding incrementally down her nose. She shoved them back up.
"Even commoners have family problems, Sunbae."
"How was school today?" he asked, and she could sense his discomfort with the previous subject.
Not wanting to press him on it at such a late hour, she responded, "Normal, I guess. The kids asked about you. I told them you were a potter, and they wanted you to come to our class and do pottery with us, but I told them you were busy right now doing boring adult stuff."
"Oh, like running a trillion dollar art empire?"
"Exactly."
"While you get to do finger painting?"
"Why don't you try to do finger painting with 30 five-year-olds and see how long it takes them to get paint all over their new school clothes...and your clothes, for that matter?"
"Hmm…I see your point." Yi Jeong grinned. "I don't think you would've have liked having me in your class when I was that age."
"Are you kidding me? I couldn't handle having you in my class now. But don't worry. There's already a mini 'you' running around, kissing all the girls and making them cry. His name is Park Seong-Jin. I have a meeting with his parents tomorrow." Ga Eul pulled a face.
"Good luck with that then. I bet he's a saint at home, though. He probably just likes annoying you because he thinks you're pretty."
"That's what my mom said." Ga Eul sighed. Dipping her head, she glanced down at the loose string on her pajamas that her fingers had been toying with.
"Seriously, though, are you okay? You look tired. I'm sorry...about all of this."
Ga Eul looked back up and gave him the tiniest of smiles.
"Do you think it's really going to work?"
Her chest tightened when he paused and glanced studiously downward.
"Well," he began, smiling at her once more, "it's not like I'm going to just hand you over to Park...Park...what's his name again?"
Ga Eul giggled.
"Jeong-ah."
"Jeong-ah...Wait, his name is Jeong-Ah?"
"No, no, no, that's...never mind, Sunbae."
"You're confusing."
"You're rich."
"See...I know that's an insult coming from you."
"It is." Ga Eul nodded affirmatively. "If you were poor, we would not be having this problem."
"If I were poor, you would not be having that necklace you keep twirling around...or that phone or those earrings or that purse over there—"
"Yah...you make it sound like I'm just after your money. I didn't ask for any of those things."
"Then give them back," Yi Jeong mumbled sleepily and yawned. "Next time I'm over there, I'll take everything back. And then I'll take you back and everything else in that damn cramped apartment back, and you can all just live here with me."
"Get some sleep, Yi Jeong-ah."
I wish you were here.
"Hmm?"
"Sleep."
"Will you be in my dreams?"
I hope so. I hope I'll always be in your dreams.
"I'll be in your dreams, I promise."
"Will you be annoying me in my dreams?"
"Yah...what are you—"
"Just answer the question."
Ga Eul rolled her eyes.
"Yes, I'll be annoying you in your dreams."
"Good." Yi Jeong smiled. "That'll make it seem real. Good night, Ga Eul-yang."
"Good night...Pabo."