The hallway was dim and quiet when Haesoo stepped inside, the weight of another long day pressing against her shoulders. She bent down to untie her shoes... then paused. A pair of men’s shoes sat neatly by the entrance. But next to them, unfamiliar red heels.
I’ve seen this before.
She stood slowly, her eyes fixed on the doorway at the end of the hall. The quiet hum of something, drifted faintly from within. Was it in a movie… or was it a drama?
Step by step, she moved forward. Her fingers trembled slightly as they brushed against the bedroom door. Then opened. The room glowed in a soft, pink-red light. The scent of sweat and alcohol hung in the air like a bruise. And there, in tangled sheets, her husband with another woman. Naked, intertwined, and moaning.
---
*Clink.*
A spoon hit a bowl. Haesoo blinked. She was back at the staff table in the cozy restaurant, head resting on her arm. Afternoon sun streamed in through the window. Someone nearby was washing dishes. A co-worker yawned behind her. Her break was nearly over.
No wonder I dreamed about that day again she thought quietly, lifting herself up. She smoothed out the front of her apron, her expression neutral, but her eyes distant. With a slow breath, she walked back toward the shopfront, where warm lights and the quiet buzz of customers waited.
