Anya:

  My first day of studies is over and I’m tired. Classes didn’t go as smoothly as I’d expected. If the work is always as grueling as it was today, then I may have to reconsider the next 6 months. Especially as I only signed on to the language course on a whim.

  The bus ride is quick, and when it drops me off a block away from the house, I spot the kitchen lights on inside. Taeho must still be awake. Maybe I should talk to him about this morning. I don’t want there to be any awkwardness between us after what happened even though continuously calling me his wife is really strange. I barely know the guy but it seems I’m introduced as his “wife” to every stranger we meet. It was mildly funny that one time on the plane when I didn’t think I’d see him again, but now…

  When I enter the house, I can hear him talking on speakerphone with a woman. She sounds angry, and the conversation immediately catches my attention. I put down my book bag quietly and move as lightly as I can towards his doorway. That’s when I hear the woman shout. I’m taken aback by how shrill she is.

  “Bullshit!” she yells.

  From what I can gather, she’s angry with him for being in the same house as me, and that we’re having… What? An affair? My jaw drops. When she continues, it becomes clear this is his fiancée, and even though Taeho stays relatively calm, she erupts in a jealous rage. He’s trying hard to get his side of things across but she’s having none of it and hangs up.

  I wasn’t expecting her to end the call so abruptly, and now I’m stuck besides the doorway, and could easily be caught eavesdropping—not a good look. That’s when I hear Taeho bellow, “Fuck!” so loud it startles me. A loud gasp escapes my lips before I can stop myself.

  “How much of that did you hear?” he asks from behind me.

  I’ve only got halfway across the kitchen area before he catches me scuttling away, and I wince in embarrassment.

  “I’m really sorry,” I say, turning back to face him. “I heard voices and I just... I thought... I’d come and see if everything was alright?” It’s a lame excuse and we both know it.

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  He runs his hand through his hair before letting out a sigh and saying, “Are you hungry?”

  I offer to prepare our supper tonight, but he quickly dismisses it.

  “I need to keep myself busy,” he says while rummaging through the fridge.

  I settle at the island. “Rough day?”

  “Ha!” He scoffs.

  “Tell me about it!” I say—we have that in common—as I put my head in my hands. I contemplate my day at school, and not for the first time, feel like I’ve made a mistake coming here.

  My career to date has been somewhat all over the place. I’ve done some nannying, hosting, and some occasional catering for weddings. Lucas always advised me that long term contracts weren’t my thing. Now, though, I’m doing something completely out of my comfort zone. I’ve always been dreaming of doing something like this, but the classes are more rigorous than I anticipated, and it’s come as a shock. Maybe I’m not cut out for them after all.

  “Oh? How was your first day?” he asks.

  “Well, I thought it was crappy but it’s probably not as bad as yours.” I smile slightly.

  “So, you heard?”

  “Enough, yeah. If you ask me, your best option is to divorce me sooner rather than later,” I joke.

  He smiles broadly at that. God, I love his smile.

  “Yeah, I kind of shot myself in the foot there, didn’t I”

  “Kind of,” I chortle.

  “By the way, I’m sorry about this morning,” he says.

  “Oh, it’s OK. It was fun the first time, but maybe it’s best if you eased off with the “wife” thing now, OK?”

  “Absolutely. I honestly don’t know why I did that. It’s so out of character for me.”

  “Is it?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I don’t know you that well, but from the way your fiancée went off on you, it didn’t shine you in a good light.”

  “It does seem that way, doesn’t it?” He smiles weakly.

  He continues to prepare a range of bowls and plates in front of me before at last moving around to my side of the island and taking a seat.

  “You know what, as much as I appreciate you taking the time to make this meal, I think I’m going to call it a night,” I say, feeling tired and overwhelmed. I realize that if we start making a habit to share dinner and wine every meal, then lines are going to get even more blurred. Besides, my appetite seems to have left me.

  “Oh?” His kimchi filled chopsticks stops midway to his mouth.

  “Yeah. I just… I had a long day.” I sigh.

  “Right.”

  “Good night,” I say while turning towards my room.

  ?Sky Mincharo