Jia: A Novel of North Korea by Hyejin Kim

Author:Hyejin Kim
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Published: 2011-04-02T14:17:59+00:00

It was still too cold to be outside for long, but I felt it was the safest place to tell the story I had never told anyone. We sat side by side on a bench in Taedong Resort, as we had the week before, and I rested my right hand on his left. His hands were my favorite part of him-big enough to cover mine, which were chronically cold. I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be, and once I began, telling the most important person in my life about my past felt like the most natural thing in the world. It felt good to share myself and be close to Seunggyu. Why hadn't I done it sooner?

Seunggyu was silent as I spoke. I didn't look at him, but I could feel him watching my face closely.

When I finished, he quietly stood up and said, "Let's go back. I'll take you home." His face was blushing deeply, like a scarlet peony.

It was the first time I had to reach for his hand, not he for mine. I could only hold three fingers; it was hard to grab his whole hand. As Seunggyu walked, he stared straight ahead, his mouth firmly closed. I knew it would be difficult for him to digest a woman's 20-year life story in a few hours-especially his future wife's hidden story-and I had tried to prepare for every reaction.

When we reached my apartment, Seunggyu peered up at the window on the third floor and said, "I have a twoweek assignment training new recruits. I might not see you during that time."

His voice was distant. After that, he turned to go.

I called to him, "Seunggyu, can you understand now why I have sympathy for the people you despise?"

He nodded his head shortly, without looking back.

I decided not to be impetuous. No matter when it might be, the next time I saw Seunggyu I would tell him how mischievous I had been when I lived on the mountain. I climbed up to my flat and fell into a deep sleep.

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