Garbage Can Revisited
 

'Garbage Can...Do you think by moving to a better neighbourhood you'd be more respectable?

What's so respectable about a Garbage Can?'

 

"What is this?" Tae-Sik asked as he swiftly took So-Mi's phone away from her.

He normally would not do such a thing but he could not help but to notice her face going pale as she read her SMS .

They were both in the dining hall that bordered the living room and the kitchen.

Arriving home just after the shop was closed.

"Nothing."

So-Mi made a grab for the phone.

"Ahjussi! Give me my phone back."

"Who sent it?"

"I don’t know. The last I checked, it was unsigned."

"The number. I'll get it traced."

"I already did. They're all unregistered. This one will not be, either."

"They're not? How do you know?"

"I got my ways."

"Your police friend?"

His eyes narrowed.

Involuntary jealousy crept in.

She told him, but not me, he thought.

"Nope. My own."

"When did it start?"

"Since forever."

"Why didn’t you tell me about this?"

"And have you go ballistic on me like this? Like at the exhibition."

Gone were all decorum between them.

They bicker like adults.

Married ones.

Making Tae-Sik surprised at himself.

How did she do it?

How did she make him lose control all the time?

 

< But we know that you love her too. The only thing is that, we are not sure in what capacity that love is. >

I'm not sure either, he thought.

But he knew he had never have a chance with her.

Ever since they met 9 or so years ago. When she was just 10 or 11 years old.

She weaved herself into his dead heart, breathing life into it, little by little. Second per second.

< Ahjussi, I 'll never forgive bastards who touch children. >

So-Mi's mother had said.

He wanted to laugh then. The statement was simply too atrocious.

But he was not laughing now. And he thought of 'being that way' with So-Mi sounded too uous.

"Do you blame me?"

His voice soften.

"No," she concurred.

And his heart went out to her, knowing she was probably scared despite her bravado.

"We'll get to the bottom of this," he reassured her.

"No! You are not going on a rampage again!"

So-Mi literally screamed.

He was taken aback at her outburst.

But, he understood. Now.

Of her reluctance to share the information with him.

She was afraid he would go on a vigilante hunt for her again.

And his hardened heart soften yet again.

< I will make sure she finds herself a worthy companion. And when she does, I will take my leave. >

But please...can I keep her a little while longer...?

And he moved towards her.

To reach out and cup her cheek. Tenderly.

"I promise. We'll do it right, this time."