After the hobby story of whether it was poker or not ended as a simple event.
The month of May, known as the Month of Families, passed, and we gradually moved into June as summer began to unfold.
As if announcing the quiet arrival of summer, the rain fell endlessly, drizzling down.
Unlike the refreshing sound of “whoosh,” the humidity-laden air brought a sticky discomfort.
Shiyeon and I emerged from the side entrance of the school to return home.
Taking shelter briefly under the ceiling, we moved one strap of the bag slung over our shoulders to the front.
I dug my hand into the front of the bag, rummaging through it until I pulled out the umbrella.
Since I never know when it might rain, the umbrella is always kept tucked deep inside the bag.
When I pressed the button on the handle of the umbrella, a pop sound echoed as it opened to reveal its frame.
It wasn’t perfect, but at least it provided some protection from the rain.
“Waaahhh!!”
Students who had absentmindedly left their umbrellas behind ran through the downpour, with no other options available.
Boys sprinted headlong, shouting as they dashed down the rain-soaked asphalt road.
If they fall in that state, they’ll end up in an ambulance with a cast, just like that.
As we continued walking, we reached the corner that led to Shiyeon’s academy.
From there, our paths separated naturally as we exchanged goodbyes, promising to meet again in the evening.
“See you later—”
“What do you want for dinner?”
Instead of saying “see you later” to Shiyeon as she walked away, I asked her what she wanted for dinner.
Shiyeon turned around when she heard my voice calling out to her, contemplating for a moment.
Then she slowly began to spin the umbrella by its handle before finally blurting out a food name.
“Hmm, how about budae jjigae?!”
Budae jjigae, a stew perfect for picky eaters that can be made quickly by just adding rice after choosing the ingredients.
As the rain fell steadily, it felt just right to have a warm bowl of budae jjigae with the air conditioner in dehumidifying mode for dinner at home.
Having mentally noted the ingredients I needed to buy, I waved goodbye to Shiyeon as she walked further away.
“Got it, do well over there—”
“Okay—!”
For the first time in a while, I was enjoying a peaceful walk home alone.
Two of the three good-for-nothing boys I usually hang out with had already split up early, determined to go to an internet café even in this rainy weather.
The last of the trio, Taehyun, decided just recently to start attending an academy from June.
Could it be that other parents in the vicinity began sending their children to academies one by one?
Even Auntie Taehyun, who usually seemed uninterested, felt a sense of urgency and sent Taehyun to an academy… that was the situation.
Because of that, a shuttle bus was waiting at the main gate right after school ended.
Well, their after-school schedules aren’t my concern…
On my way back, I decided to stop by the market to pick up some ground meat and some front leg meat for the stew.
“One pound of front leg meat for stew, and one pack of ground meat, please.”
As soon as I entered the market, I found a butcher shop illuminated by pink lights.
I stood there, nonchalantly placing my order, and from inside, a large slab of meat was brought out.
“Would you like the fatty side or the lean side?”
“The fatty side, please.”
For the stew, the essential ingredient is the fatty part that becomes tender and delicious when simmered for a long time.
I ordered the fatty side instead of just the lean side and waited for the meat to be cut.
The butcher sharpened his knife with a metallic rod a few times before effortlessly tearing open the plastic bag containing the fresh meat.
While regular kitchen knives often struggle with fresh meat, the long butcher’s knife sliced through it easily.
With the meat wrapped in clear plastic once and in black plastic once, I held in one hand both the safely secured meat and a pack of ground meat, feeling satisfied with the total price of 8,000 won.
Just then, while I was thinking I could buy the remaining ingredients at a mart near my apartment…
“Oh my, is that Mary?”
“Ah? Hello.”
I ran into Auntie Taehyun, who was just entering the market.
As soon as she saw me, her curiosity got the better of her as she pointed at the bag in my hand.
“What’s that?”
“It’s ingredients for budae jjigae.”
“Oh, I see! How is Shiyeon? Is she home right now?”
As I raised my right hand holding the bag to reveal its contents, she continued the conversation with some random remarks.
It seemed she was curious about what Shiyeon was up to.
“She’s gone to her academy.”
“Oh, really? But you’re not going?”
“No, I’m not going.”
Shiyeon went to the academy, but I’m not.
While I answered her every question, my mind and gaze were entirely focused on the bag in my hand.
I wanted to get the meat into the refrigerator as quickly as possible, but I kept getting stuck in this ongoing conversation.
“How about you follow Taehyun to the academy? He’s learning math, English, and science… three subjects.”
“Oh, I’m not really into academies.”
“When you reach 2nd grade in middle school, there will be midterms and finals, you know? It might be good to start preparing early.”
“Ah, yes, I’ll think about it…”
While Auntie was bringing up various academically relevant discussions and trying to persuade me, she likely thought it would be nice for both Taehyun and me to be close to our homes, go together, and have more opportunities to talk.
I understood she was saying this because she was thinking of my well-being, but I left with just a vague response of “I’ll think about it” without committing to anything.
After moving on from the market, I arrived at a basement mart near my apartment.
While buying meat and seafood is cheaper in the market, it tends to be more expensive for other processed goods.
I don’t know why.
‘Maybe they set their prices like that among themselves…’
Thinking that, I placed my finger on the shelf, distinguishing between the foods I had at home and those I didn’t, gripping a handful of foodstuffs without a basket.
I remembered there were plenty of canned ham on the shelf, and the items I needed were baked beans and some sold types of kimchi and sausages.
One pack of long sausages, one can of baked beans, and two packs of napa cabbage kimchi.
As I fitted the packs onto my fingers and balanced the can on my palm, both my hands were full along with the meat bag hanging from my wrist.
Adding one more inconvenient aspect of being a middle school girl.
Simply put, my small hands don’t allow me to hold many things.
“That’ll be 14,700 won. Would you like a bag?”
The mart staff, noticing my awkward grip, mentioned the bag right after the checkout.
The bag I brought for the meat was only spacious enough for the meat itself, making it difficult to add anything else.
“Uh, yes…”
I thought I could carry it without putting it in a bag, but considering the umbrella, I reluctantly muttered my agreement, realizing it would be impossible to carry it all.
After finishing the checkout and returning home to my shaded apartment, I headed straight for the kitchen and set all the bags down.
With the ingredients spread out before me, I began to prepare the budae jjigae.
I took the canned ham, which was replenished for each festival, out and cut it into pretty rectangular pieces.
After tearing open the pack of kimchi, I tossed it directly into a large pot.
I took a chunk of minced garlic from the freezer and dissolved it in water, adding just one spoonful of chili powder.
The salty flavor would be well taken care of by the kimchi and ham, so just one spoonful of gochujang would suffice.
I also opened the can of baked beans, adding about half before putting the rest into a glass container for the fridge…
While I was in the middle of cooking, Gomtaengi interrupted with an unexpected comment.
“Mary, it looks like a monster is about to appear.”
“Again? Do these guys only come out when I’m preparing food?”
The appearance of a monster no longer surprises me.
Although the arranged time was near dinner, it’s remarkable that they only show up while I’m actively doing something.
Moreover, my unfazed reaction, lacking any expletives, seems amusing enough.
I removed the apron I had been wearing to avoid splashing any broth on myself, hanging it on a chair while I pulled on a tracksuit that had been casually lying against the wall, zipping it up.
Suddenly, a strange odor wafted up.
‘Is it this outfit?’
It was the smell that could only be caught from the tracksuit I slipped on, the one I wear only when going out to fight monsters.
Even though I had only worn it briefly, my distinct scent had already permeated the clothing.
Sniffing the air, I thought about how I would need to wash it once I returned, then decided to head out.
I would leave the bubbling pot behind, with the joy of enjoying my cooking waiting when I get back, and turned the induction stove setting to zero.
I stuffed Gomtaengi, who had been waiting at the table, into my pocket and slipped on just my sneakers, taking my time as I exited.
Since I can’t soar from the same place every time, I decided to change my launch point as I took off.
This particular monster had a familiar face—I recognized it as the fish head I had seen once near Gangwon Province.
“Hey, aren’t you that one from before?”
“Oh, ohhh! You remember me! I actually have something I want to ask the great magical girl, Sun!”
“Hmm?”
What he asked was about the conversation that had already taken place with those high-ranking officials like the Medik Tenkl.
It seemed that the discussions held with the higher-ups didn’t reach the lower-ranking combatant monsters, and those that had gone to the Black Zone during the pact were naively believing the line that they would ‘be comfortably killed.’
But afterward, a few monsters were said to be trembling in fear.
“Well, regarding the calendar, if the last digits are 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8, then I think it’s confirmed; however, you can’t come on just even-numbered days.”
“Oh, thank you for your boundless mercy! Please end my suffering swiftly, without leaving me the chance to feel pain! This Kyuipiret has already come with determination in my heart!”
“Yeah, yeah, you did well.”
As the sky turned crimson with the setting sun, the red glare began to fill the street with the smell of burning fish.
And ironically, having told them not to come on even days…
Fearful of suffering unnecessary torment from Shiyeon, the monsters started to come exclusively on even-numbered days.
‘Damn it.’
