Sheeh.
The cool wind shook the dense birch forest and passed by.
HaeJoon turned his head for a while and smiled at the white wooden pillars and lush green leaves lined up behind the hut. Then, he dipped the painting brush in a bucket, rinsed it clean, and got up from a creaking wooden chair to stretch. SeonWoo, who was reading a book lying under the shade of a birch tree, asked.
"Are you going to rest?"
"Yes, my shoulders are a bit stiff."
HaeJoon looked at the lake so wide that the opposite side was dimly visible. The calm surface of the lake was occasionally shaken by the blowing breeze and reflected the sunlight brilliantly. HaeJoon, who gave attention to quiet forests, lakes, and shabby hut one by one, asked his temporary roommate.
"What are we having for lunch?"
***
HaeJoon had applied for an international work camp ahead of the summer vacation of his 3rd year in college to travel abroad and to make something to write on his job resume later.
He'd already been to two of the world's three largest art museums, so this time he planned to go to the last, the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. So, he decided to participate in a program in the suburbs of St. Petersburg.
It was an obvious mistake not to look for detailed information about the program. He didn't even notice it until he reached the work camp office in Petersburg district. He just thought that he was lucky to have met Lim, SeonWoo, a fellow Korean in the group. But the next day, as they moved to the work camp site, they realized they had chosen the wrong program.
The work camp site near a Russian Orthodox monastery took three hours by train from Petersburg. In Russia, that distance was expressed as a 'suburb". They arrived in front of the crumbling hut after driving for about 30 minutes on a dirt road in the car of the monk who had met them in the stormy, inclement weather.
It was the worst environment. Five old iron beds were placed side by side in a hut lit by a single yellow light, and one of the windows had a broken glass and a breeze blew in. It was a bed for five people, two Frenchmen, HaeJoon and SeonWoo, and a Russian college student, Nicholai who followed as a guide.
The two French students vehemently protested against the harsh conditions before returning the next morning. HaeJoon and SeonWoo decided to remain. Before departure, they were informed that the participation fee was non-refundable, as they had no money to spend elsewhere for two weeks.
Two days later, Nicholai left HaeJoon and SeonWoo and went to Petersburg saying that it would be okay even without him. So, from the third day, only HaeJoon and SeonWoo were living in this hut.
On the first day of the rain, it was cold enough to feel like it was not summer, and they drank a glass of vodka and passed out. In the meantime, the poor environment was gradually improved by the monks providing the necessary items one by one. The windows were also tightly sealed with plastic, and it was equipped with an electric heater, frying pan, and gas burner, so it could be said that it was much better than what they saw in the first day. In addition, as HaeJoon was painting, a monk provided an easel, a canvas, paints and a painting brush.
This hut, which made the worst impression on the first day, gradually became friendly over time, and the two gradually adjusted to the life in the hut.
Their biggest concern was the meal menu. It took 30 minutes by car to get to the town where the store was located, so they bought food for a week for 5 people before arriving here for the first time. It should be enough for the rest of the time as only two people lived there. When HaeJoon brought sesame oil and red pepper paste from Korea, and added seaweed from SeonWoo, they were able to prepare a decent meal.
“I still have red pepper paste, and there are eggs and cucumbers, so would you like to eat a bibimbap?”
"Okay."
After lunch, there was nothing else to do. HaeJoon washed the dishes at the lakeside, pondering whether to sit in front of the easel again, but then lay down next to SeonWoo.
HaeJoon fell asleep while reading a book, and when he woke up again, it was 4 PM. SeonWoo was still reading the book. He was reading the last part of that book too, so HaeJoon thought he'd probably read it all by the end of the day.
“It's been a long time since I've really been idle without doing anything like this.”
'me, too."
SeonWoo didn't have much to say. HaeJoon wasn't the style to talk alone either, so the two only had brief conversations for a while, unless it was time to think about food. What HaeJoon found out so far was that SeonWoo was attending a university in Seoul, and that he was planning a trip to Northern Europe after his stay here. Now, it had to include the fact that he was also a gay and that he was currently in a crush.
On the night Nicholai left them, they lit a bonfire in front of the hut and drank vodka while grilling chicken skewers the monks had given them. Even though HaeJoon had only had two drinks, the spirit of alcohol was running through every corner of his body. One more drink seemed to knock him out. HaeJoon, who was looking at the flickering bonfire with such thoughts, suddenly asked.
"Hey, SeonWoo. If you're sure I would say no, but would you ask me out?"
"Well. How do you know someone would say no to you?"
"I'm a gay, and he's not a gay."
It was the first moment of his coming out. HaeJoon was drunk, but it was probably because he had a strong belief that if they would leave the hut, they would never see each other again. Until now, he was frustrated because he couldn't tell anyone his real thoughts. He thought he'd sort out his emotions by the end of the trip, but he wasn't really confident.
HaeJoon had only met SeonWoo for a few days, but Lim SeonWoo was a pretty good guy. HaeJoon liked the fact that SeonWoo had no complaints even in a poor environment, that he was the first to do things that others would be reluctant to do, and that he was reticent and listened to the other person with sincere attitude. It was clear that he was quite a dependable person, perhaps due to the fact that they were alone in a place far from civilization, such as on a remote island.
So HaeJoon said it impulsively, but it must have been abrupt anyway. However, SeonWoo didn't show any surprise at the coming out of HaeJoon. He glanced at HaeJoon for a moment, then turned his head back to the bonfire and spoke in a dull voice.
"Then don't do it."
"Okay, is that right? Besides, he's getting married next month."
Still, HaeJoon's mind was not made up. He had been handed the wedding invitation and had said congratulations, but when HaeJoon still thought of him, his heart broke with regret and sorrow. HaeJoon blinked his eyes as he felt tears in his eyes.
Looking at HaeJoon, SeonWoo's face flashed red in the light of the bonfire. His eyes somehow seemed to sympathize with the suffering of HaeJoon.
"Do you still want to tell him?"
"If three years is long, it is long, and if it is short, it is short."
SeonWoo turned his head back towards the bonfire. HaeJoon tilted the bottle to his glass and filled his. SeonWoo looked at the vodka that HaeJoon was pouring and said as if tossing it.
"I was thinking the same thing. I am also in unrequited love."
"What?"
"Huh. But I'm not going to be honest."
"Why?"
"Even if I will get refused, I am sure that I can't stop."
For a moment, HaeJoon took a breath. It was because his chest tightened as if he had been hit by a spear.
He drank the full glass at once. As he swallowed the vodka, his esophagus was on fire. If he drank more after this, he was pretty sure he would knock out.
"I'm a gay too."
SeonWoo laughed bitterly as he said that. Contrary to the reaction of SeonWoo a while ago, HaeJoon was really surprised and asked.
"Really?"
"Huh."
At that moment, a strong sense of unity captured HaeJoon.
"When I was in high school, I came out. It was never a pleasant experience. So, don't ask someone out in the public either."
HaeJoon was taken aback by not knowing what to say, but then managed to open his mouth.
"It must have been difficult."
"Huh. So, don't do such stupid thing. It's normal for even parents not to recognize their gay children."
HaeJoon was speechless, as the words were bitter and painful than the vodka he had just swallowed.