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Revolving Dance
It had started on the day they first met, even though it took Junho a few hours to realize it. Their initial glimpse of one another, a first dance shared at the revolving doors into the building. A moment that often replayed in his mind. It wasn’t just because of how radiant she had looked in the early morning light, how her voice had such a pleasant sound to it, or how endearing her enthusiasm was at conquering those doors.
He had analyzed the scene over and over in his mind. Still, he couldn’t trace where or how that date found its way on the palm of his hand.
Junho hadn’t noticed it until he took his shower that night, scrubbing his arms with mint bodywash and humming a nameless tune to himself. In his peripheral, he noticed a dark smudge on his hand. He thought it was a bruise he may have picked up at the gym when lifting weights.
Yet, as the bubbles dissolved, the first number became visible: 2.
He scrubbed harder and peered closer
Junho blinked.
It looked like a date.
Wandering Mind
Junho was terrified.
He wondered if there was something wrong with his vision, or if he was imagining things. It was so strange that he had even asked Minwoo about it, pointing frantically at the numbers while his roommate was in the middle of eating his noodles.
‘What are you talking about?’ Minwoo gawked at him, ‘I can’t see anything.’
‘You can’t?’ Junho asked, desperately.
Minwoo eyed Junho as if he had six heads, ‘I don’t know, man. You’ve been working too much, or something. Go lay down.’
The next day the date was still there in the palm of his hand: it was ten months from now, in early summer. Junho stared at it so hard that his eyes began to hurt. In response, the numbers refused to budge.
What did it mean?
It had to be some kind of countdown.
A countdown until something terrible?
He swallowed. He really hoped not.
Highlight of the Day
Minwoo’s reaction made him far too scared to tell anyone. He already felt as odd enough as it was.
So, Junho did the next best thing: he distracted himself. Work kept him busy enough. That wasn’t to say that he didn’t sometimes woke up in the middle of the night, hyperventilating.
‘Lee Junho!’ He raised his head; Attorney Woo was scurrying over to his desk.
Despite the racing thoughts, the very sight of her was like a balm for his soul. He had hardly known her for two weeks, yet there was something about Woo Youngwoo that made Junho feel at ease. She made his heart skip several beats, sure, but being around her was also soothing. It was even somewhat liberating.
‘Attorney Woo, you look very happy today.’ He smiled at her.
‘Yes!’ She excitedly handed him a strip of shiny, gold plastic: it was the new nameplate for her office.
‘It turned out great, didn’t it?’ He asked, tilting it so that her name lit up in the small beams of sunlight emerging through the blinds.
‘Yes. I am happy you ordered it for me,’ She said as he handed it back to her, then she quickly clasped her hands together as if remembering something, ‘I should thank you for it. Thank you.’
‘Oh, don’t worry about it. I was just doing my job.’
She lifted it up, eyeing it with a big grin on her face. Junho watched her fondly, warmth spreading through his body.
Without another word, Youngwoo took off back towards her office. Junho watched after her, still smiling. A few seconds later, though, she was turning back around to hurry towards him.
‘Do you remember our promise, Lee Junho?’ She asked, gripping the nameplate tight to her chest, and not looking him in the eye.
‘That we would talk about whales at lunch today?’
‘Yes, and everyday after that. Well, every work day that is. I can’t expect you to talk about whales all the time. Suyeon says that I shouldn’t expect you to want to talk about whales every day, so our designated time to talk about them is lunchtime during work days. Also, I am not sure if we will both work at Hanbada forever, so it may not be every single day that-’
‘Yes, and every day after that.’ Junho grinned at her.
Youngwoo blinked.
‘Every day we work at Hanbada, during lunch hour.’ He clarified, to which she nodded, a small smile on her lips.
She took off again, leaving Junho in a happy haze.
If this number was a countdown, he hoped that all the lunch hours in that time would be spent discussing whales with Youngwoo.
Caught Up In You
A stack of folders in his hands, Junho entered Attorney Jung’s office.
The three junior lawyers had taken over the sofas and the coffee table in between, with papers piled high and cups of pure caffeine populating a large portion of the area. They were hard at work, in their own individual manners.
Minwoo was reclining back in the armchair, running his hands through his hair and huffing impatiently at the file in his hands. He prided himself on always looking smart and professional at the office, but Junho had never seen him more worn out.
Suyeon was sat cross-legged on one of the sofas, wearing fluffy socks. She was highlighting various lines on a document in bright yellow. Certain pieces of text would make her click her teeth in annoyance, or give a small whoop of jubilation.
Junho gave them both a cursory glance before his eyes rested on Youngwoo.
She was leaning over the coffee table, tapping her fingers on the edge of it as she read over a large legal volume. Her eyes moved at lightning speed, absorbing all the information like a sponge in water. Every so often, she would pick up her notebook, decorated with whales, and scribble down some notes, before resuming her reading. When she came across information that was pertinent to her, she would grin broadly and rock back and forth for a moment, before resuming her reading.
‘Junho, are you going to pass us those files or are you going to continue staring off into space like that?’ Minwoo practically barked at him, almost causing Junho to drop the folders in his hands.
‘Oh, sorry.’ He scrambled forward.
Suyeon gave him a small look over her shoulder and a smile, while Minwoo sighed, taking one of the files. Youngwoo barely moved, continuing to read.
‘I’ll head back to my desk for now, but let me know if any of you need anything.’
Junho found himself, as always, wishing she would raise her head and look his way.
He turned on his heel, heading for the door. As his hand reached for the handle, he saw it. There was that date, still in the palm of his hand. It would arrive a little over six and half months from now.
He swallowed. If it was the countdown to some kind of end, he wished with all his heart that Youngwoo would be okay. Wandering back to his desk, he almost walked into a closed door at the sound of her voice.
‘Lee Junho!’
‘Y-es.’ He stumbled over the word, turning to face the attorney.
She met his eyes briefly before looking away.
‘May I talk to you? Privately?’ She asked.
In the staffroom, Junho asked Youngwoo if she wanted anything to drink. She shook her head rapidly, so he decided to forgo a drink, also. He sat beside her on one of the brown sofas. She was drumming her fingers on her knees, and he found himself bouncing his legs in anticipation.
‘Lee Junho?’
‘Yes, Attorney Woo?’
‘D-do you have feelings for me?’
He froze. Had she noticed? He thought he had done a pretty good job at hiding it, knowing that she wouldn’t have felt the same way about him. It had been difficult. The second he’d seen her in that wedding dress, he was well and truly done for. Since then, he had been free falling deeper into his feelings for her.
‘I…’
‘Because I like you.’ She said at once.
Junho nearly choked.
‘You do?’
Youngwoo nodded quickly, though still not looking at him, ‘Yes. I have since that day we watched the sunset at Nakjo village, when you told me you wanted an attorney like me to be on your side.’
She was now holding her hands over her chest, squeezing her jacket.
He swallowed. Junho desperately searched for the words, knowing that none of them were going to suffice to explain how much he did return her feelings.
Yet, he didn’t get the opportunity to say them as Youngwoo was immediately getting to her feet, and sprinting away from him.
Light Of Day
A week had passed since Youngwoo told Junho she liked him, and he had yet to give her a response. It wasn’t for a lack of trying on his part, much the contrary. Whenever he saw Youngwoo, she would either take off, hurrying down the corridor to hide in Attorney Jung’s office, or begin telling Suyeon a new fact about belugas.
Junho didn’t want to force her to talk to him. The last thing he wanted was for her to be uncomfortable. Besides, this gave him more time to figure out what he wanted to say to her.
He liked her, very much. He desperately wanted to tell her that. Yet, how was he supposed to explain that he had a strange date in the palm of his hand? He didn’t even know what it was counting down to. Maybe it was a countdown to something scary, like the end of the world? Or, what if it was something silly? A day where he tripped over something and scratched his knee?
If it was something world-ending, would it not burden her to hear that from him?
He was pondering it all as he walked home one evening, only to find a familiar face waiting at a bus stop he passed by.
‘Oh, you!’ Geurami shouted, ‘Youngwoo’s boyfriend!’
Junho felt his face heat up, ‘B-boyfriend?’
He wished.
‘I am very invested in my best friend’s love life. Believe me! The sight of you even distracted me from reading this crazy message board that made me miss my last bus!’
‘Oh?’ Junho asked, his mind still lingering on the boyfriend comment.
‘Yeah!’ Geurami tilted her phone towards him, ‘You know, there's this urban legend of people all over the world finding dates in the palm of their hands? Apparently it's a countdown that has something to do with your soulmate.’
She had Junho’s full attention now, ‘Huh?’
‘Right! I don't have anything like that on my arm so I guess I haven't met my soulmate yet,’ She pouted, ‘Poor me.’
‘Uh, I gotta go!’ Junho was already hurrying away, Geurami shouting a ‘well see ya then!’ after him.
Here, Always
It had been over a week now since Youngwoo had last spoken to Junho. It wasn’t that she didn’t acknowledge him, she would kindly bow her head towards him if he were to talk to her, followed by a quiet “yes” or “no”. They were always surrounded by other people too.
He was working late at the office that night, so engrossed in his work that he was barely paying attention to the comings and goings. It wasn’t until the main lights went out that he almost jumped up in shock, aware of the twinkling lights of Seoul outside the office window, and the thought that he seemed to be the last one in the office.
Well, he still wasn’t finished with work and he was already here, so he decided his best bet was to caffeine up and complete these files.
It didn't help that he had spent all night trying to resist the urge to look at those message boards Geurami had talked about. He was already spooked enough by the numbers in his hand. If she was right, though, then it wasn’t a countdown to the end of the world.
Junho was about to wander into the breakroom when he heard a voice. It was the voice he was always happiest to hear.
‘Lee Junho, I am sorry I ran away.’ He heard Youngwoo say.
He then heard her pace backwards and forwards for a moment.
‘I am very sorry that I ran off, Lee Junho.’ She said, and then hummed.
She repeated those words again, and added, ‘I was burdening you by telling you my feelings, I am sorry.’
He swallowed, he didn’t feel that she needed to be sorry for anything, much less for “burdening” him; she couldn’t do that. He couldn't let her think that.
He had been so lost in his thoughts that he didn't realize how heavily he was leaning against the door, practically falling into the breakroom.
‘Attorney Woo! I’m sorry! I was eavesdropping!’
Youngwoo stared at him, her mouth open, flabbergasted.
She blinked at him before looking away quickly, ‘Yes, you shouldn’t eavesdrop, Lee Junho.’
‘I’m sorry. I’m really sorry! I just… I heard you practicing apologizing to me, and I wanted to reassure you that there is nothing to apologize for!’
Her eyes fixed on his exposed forearms, before trailing down to his open palm and he wondered if she was able to see the number.
‘Attorney Woo?’
She raised her head quickly, and this time he knew he wasn’t imagining her blush: ‘Yes?’
‘I like you, too. I like you so much.’
Blossoming
‘Lee Junho! Look at this one!’
He couldn’t fight the grin on his face as he watched Youngwoo hurry over to the next exhibit.
It was their first date. Junho had found that there was an exhibition of sea life photographs being shown at the art museum, that were taken by none other than the same photographer who had produced the photo of the whale displayed in the Hanbada conference room. Youngwoo had spent at least fifteen minutes in front of each photograph, describing each of the animals photographed in enthusiastic detail.
Junho decided that whatever that date would bring, it wasn’t going to stop them from having fun. Junho couldn’t help checking from time to time, and fighting the urge to see if it really did have something to do with soulmates. However, with Youngwoo and he sharing feelings for one another, it wasn’t the main thing on his mind.
He had allowed himself a small amount of research. A part of him had always believed in soulmates, so he couldn't help wanting to think something great would happen with the end of the countdown. He did find that soulmates could be platonic too. He leaned more heavily into that; he didn't dare get his hopes up that Youngwoo was his soulmate.
Youngwoo was now grinning broadly in front of a photograph of a beluga splashing back into the sea.
‘Are you happy, Attorney Woo?’ Junho asked, taking his place beside her.
She was clasping her hands together, eyes focused on the whale.
‘Yes! Did you know that belugas are quite slow swimmers, Lee Junho? They swim between three and nine kilometers per hour.’
They stayed in front of the beluga photo for a while before moving onto the next exhibition. As they walked, Junho could feel Youngwoo looking at him. He met her eyes, and she gave him a shy smile before looking away.
‘What’s up?’ He asked her.
‘I know that we tried holding hands the other day, and I didn’t like it.’
‘Right.’ He chuckled, fondly.
‘I would like to try linking arms, though. I think I would like to try that.’
‘Of course.’ Junho offered his arm out to her.
Youngwoo stared at it for a moment, before gingerly reaching forward. She was warm and soft, even when she was clinging onto him as tightly as she did right now. In fact, Junho loved that aspect. His heart was skipping beat after beat. It felt as if he was on a permanent vacation with Youngwoo at his side like this. It was as though they had nothing but time.
Skylight
The two of them stood on the balcony outside of Junho’s apartment. A tease of summer was in the air, Junho’s jacket folded under his arm. Youngwoo was beside him, pushing her fingers together. They had been going on dates for a month now, and walking home together every night after work. Even when Youngwoo worked late, Junho stayed back to wait for her. This was the first time that she had walked back to his place with him, saying that she wanted to see where he lived.
‘Is your curiosity satisfied, or would you like to come in?’ Junho tilted his head, smiling at her.
Youngwoo was chewing on her lip, not looking at him, ‘My curiosity is not satisfied.’
‘So, would you like to come in?’
‘No… but…’ She trailed off; he could tell she was searching for the right words.
‘What’s up, Attorney Woo?’
Junho watched her inhale and exhale quickly.
She spoke so fast that he almost missed it: ‘I’mcuriouswhatitwouldbelikeifyoukissedme.’
‘I’m sorry?’
She exhaled again, ‘I’m curious what it would be like if you kissed me.’
His cheeks warmed at her words.
‘Oh.’
‘If that is okay with you.’ Youngwoo quickly added.
‘It would be more than okay with me.’ Junho told her gently.
She met his eyes then, and he knew she was nervous. He was nervous too, but understood he may need to help her out here. He had never been more thankful for the shitty lighting at his apartment complex hiding his red cheeks. Yet, he wished he could see Youngwoo more clearly. Though, that was probably selfish of him; she was likely thankful for the darkness to hide her blush, too.
‘How d-do we do this?’ Youngwoo asked, and leaned in towards him, ‘Like this?’
‘Yes, you take the lead Youngwoo, it’s okay.’ He kept his voice level and low, despite his racing heart, ‘I’ll be right here.’
‘Oh, okay.’
Her breath tickled his lips, and he could see the gleaming of her eyes. His fell closed at the clumsy but delicate press of her lips on his. It was as though Junho had grown wings, flying with Youngwoo above the whole city.
She stayed still like that for a moment; Junho was waiting to see how long she wanted the kiss to be. He then felt her try to move her lips a little more, only to have their teeth momentarily clack together.
Youngwoo pulled back, gasping, ‘What was… What was…’
‘Our teeth clicked together.’ Junho laughed gently.
‘Yes, I was surprised by that. How do you avoid doing that? Did I do something incorrectly?’
Junho couldn’t help smiling at her. She was deep in thought, trying to work out the mechanics of a kiss.
‘Well, I would advise opening your mouth a bit more. And close your eyes, focus on the moment.’
‘Oh okay,’ She nodded, and then tilted her head up towards him, letting her eyelids fall.
Junho looked at her for a moment, admiring her beauty in the moonlight. He wondered at what point he had fallen even deeper for her. It seemed to be constant.
Leaning in, he captured her lips with his. Junho found Youngwoo melting into him, grasping onto the collar of his shirt. Her movements were unsure, but not at all lacking curiosity. Her mouth was so soft, and she tasted of blossoms on the summer air.
Candle
‘Happy Birthday, Lee Junho!’
Youngwoo’s enthusiasm was infectious as she set down the cake in front of him. It was white cream cake, decorated with strawberries and additional whipped cream. Youngwoo had quickly gathered that Junho was a serial sweet tooth
‘This looks amazing! Thank you so much.’
Youngwoo blushed as she drummed her fingers on Junho’s kitchen table.
‘I didn’t make it though. I bought it from the store. I won’t eat any, I don’t really like sweets.’
‘It was still very kind of you, Attorney Woo. It looks delicious, I can’t wait to taste it.’ Unable to quite stop himself, Junho stuck his finger in a dollop of whipped cream, bringing it to his lips.
Youngwoo stared at him.
‘Oh, sorry!’ Junho felt his face warm, ‘That was rude of me, huh?’
‘You have cream on your upper lip, Lee Junho.’
‘I do?’
Before he could react, Youngwoo leaned into him. Her lips covered his, and there was the briefest touch of her tongue. She pulled back slowly, looking intently at him again.
‘Okay, it’s gone!’ She announced with a smile.
Protection
Junho wrapped his arms tighter around Youngwoo, at her request. They had been sitting in his living room, watching a one of her favorite whale documentaries when the fireworks started outside. The crack and fizz, explosion of lights through the blinds, was overloading her senses. Junho had quickly learned that sudden sounds and lights were very upsetting for Youngwoo.
He would be there for her, no matter what.
‘Please, hold me tighter.’
He obliged.
Once the cheers outside ceased, and the sky no longer burst with much too bright color, Youngwoo felt well enough to accept the glass of water.
‘Thank you, Junho.’
He swallowed, and called her by her name for the first time, ‘Anything for you, Youngwoo.’
A Glimpse
He could see her, bouncing on the tips of her toes. She was waiting for him in the lobby, a large grin on her sweet face. As he passed through the gates, she hurried towards him.
‘Junho! I am a permanent employee!’
His face lit up with joy, ‘That's amazing, Youngwoo! I knew you’d be a permanent hire!’
They decided to go out for gimbap to celebrate, of course.
The restaurant was very quiet, with only two other patrons there. Low music played on the speakers above their heads.
He watched as Youngwoo carefully arranged her food on her plate. She aimed for perfect symmetry. A tenderness overtook him.
‘I'm very proud of you, Youngwoo… I love you.’
She froze as she lifted a piece of gimbap to her mouth.
Junho immediately mentally kicked himself: why had he chosen now, while she was in the middle of eating, to say that?
Before Youngwoo could open her mouth, Junho added, panicked, ‘You don't have to say anything back, don't worry! I just wanted to say it!’
Youngwoo met his eyes for a minute before nodding with a hum.
He started down at his own food, his face burning.
‘Thank you.’ He heard her say.
Pondering
Junho put Youngwoo’s small suitcase in the overhead compartment before sitting down beside her. She was peering out of the plane window, headphones on.
He could hear Geurami shouting and laughing with the others a few rows ahead. The group had decided to take a week long trip to Jeju, to celebrate the victory of a monumental case that protected consumer rights. Of course, Youngwoo had been the shining star of that case. Junho’s heart filled with pride.
He turned over his palm thoughtfully: it was tomorrow. He had resigned himself to whatever fate had for him. If it was something soulmate-related, then he welcomed it. If not… well, what would be, would be.
Tursiops truncatus
Junho and Youngwoo had managed to slip away to the seafront first thing that morning to look for dolphins… only for Junho to slip and break his leg on the rocks.
After a somewhat embarrassing rescue, Junho found himself in hospital, surrounded by his friends. His leg was up high in a sling.
So much for soulmates, then.
Everyone was joking and laughing, which did make Junho feel better. Yet, the pain in his leg was agonizing. Above all, he was annoyed with himself for not paying attention and robbing Youngwoo of the opportunity to see the dolphins today.
Everyone tried to make the best out of the situation, and they succeeded. Hairy and Attorney Jung brought huge bags of snacks, and the group laughed and joked their way through the remainder of the day.
As the sun descended outside, the others dipped out of the room one by one, leaving Junho and Youngwoo alone.
‘You don't want to head back with the others? It's late, I'm sure you'll want to get back to the vacation house to get some sleep. We had a long day. I'm sorry I ruined it by breaking my leg.’
Youngwoo was absent-mindedly playing with her hands in her lap, roused at once by his voice.
‘Oh, yes. I… just wanted to stay back to tell you something.’
She got to her feet and scurried over to him, standing right beside him.
Youngwoo leaned forward to speak into his ear: ‘Please heal as quickly as you can. I want to see Jedol, Chunsan, and Sampal with you. I love you, Lee Junho.’
There was a brief brush of her lips against his cheek and off she went, hurrying out while he still much too dazed to respond.
She loved him
A happy laugh escaped Junho’s lips as he stared down at his hands, trying to ground himself.
He blinked: the date had disappeared.
Extra: Curious
‘You don’t have to say anything back, don’t worry! I just wanted to say it!’ Junho told her, waving his arms frantically.
Well, if he said she didn't need to say anything back, then Youngwoo wouldn't say anything. Nevertheless, her heart was fluttering with a strange happiness she didn't quite know how to define.
As she raised another piece of gimbap to her lips, she noticed that her hand looked different. Pausing for a second, she noticed that today's date (which had been there for 10 months at this point) had disappeared from her palm.
‘Thank you.’.