Despite the awkwardness of that farewell, we ended up meeting again from Sunday morning.
This time, it was at a church, a place I thought we would never have any connection with in our lifetime.
Let me say this beforehand, I don’t have much interest in religion.
Part of it was because I find it bothersome, but it also had to do with the fact that anything involving religion becomes exhausting.
From short conversations to human relationships, and even life before and after marriage.
I had heard many stories that the stronger someone’s faith, the more intense those issues become.
During a time when a pandemic was rampant, this was a big problem as well.
People would say things like they could overcome illness with prayer or that believing in them would cure their sickness…
As if a virus cares about people.
Despite having her fair share of minor illnesses, Shiyeon doesn’t have much prejudice against religion.
Still, she doesn’t usually wake up early on Sunday mornings to go out of her way.
“From the bottom of my heart, I love you…”
Anyway, here we are, both Shiyeon and I, singing praises at the church.
Of course, it wasn’t because we wanted to; it was due to the invitation from Taehyun’s aunt.
Even though it’s called a religious activity, in reality, it’s not much.
After singing a few songs mixed with strangely exhilarating drum sounds.
We sit evenly spaced on long benches, open a Bible, and listen to the talk— that’s all there is to it.
Under the name of being born into faith, you can also see kids zigzagging between the long benches during singing or preaching.
It’s a childish and generous scene that feels a bit like a kindergarten.
“Parents are devoted to their families…”
As the church’s sermon, which I can hardly listen to, drones on, my eyelids begin to droop like I’m in class at school.
Worried I might look bad on my first day at church, I shook my head briskly, barely managing to lift it.
Looking around with sleepy eyes, I noticed some people were already asleep, and Taehyun’s aunt was similarly nodding off.
“Wait, why is the aunt falling asleep?”
In disbelief at seeing the very person who brought me to church dozing off, I poked Taehyun in the side.
He shook his head silently as if indicating waking his mom would be pointless, and just fiddled with his smartphone under the bench.
Well, it’s the same as waking up a student at school; they can’t last five minutes anyway.
I guess this place isn’t much different.
And so, what felt like an eternity of 30 minutes slowly passed by.
“Let us pray for the week ahead.”
By the time that phrase came out of the pastor’s mouth, the sermon was finally coming to an end.
Luckily, unlike the lengthy speeches at school, the church didn’t add extra sentences at the end, so it was bearable.
As we joined in prayer, I brought my hands together and placed them on the small space that jutted out from the front bench, resting my forehead there.
Though it’s called a prayer, I was merely pretending to mumble without any thought.
In reality, it was a moment granted to me of a few seconds of insufficient sleep.
“Well then, we shall conclude the morning worship with a closing song.”
As those words were spoken, the back door of the sanctuary opened.
Doors creaking and rattling.
Like credits starting to roll in a movie, people began to rise one by one, some not even finishing the song.
Finally, it was over. With that thought, I stretched and stood up.
As I was about to walk out first, an aunt who had just been sleeping said something as if it still wasn’t over.
“Aren’t the middle and high school students meeting before leaving?”
“Excuse me?”
Thinking it was definitely over and I could just take the bus home, a flustered sound slipped from my lips.
Wait, it’s not over yet? Middle and high school group?
This isn’t school, and what else is there to do after a service by dividing us by age?
“What else is there?”
“Taehyun, take Mari and Shiyeon with you since it’s their first time.”
“Sure—”
Taehyun readily agreed as if it was the most natural thing in the world and opened the door to the building next to the church, ascending the stairs.
Meanwhile, the aunt who led us there leisurely walked toward the bus stop as if to attend yet another service after the worship.
Why is she going back again?
“I’m really going to lose it.”
Just following the flow of consciousness, I trailed after Taehyun, taking one step up the stairs.
Since I was following Taehyun, Shiyeon naturally followed behind me.
If I were the hamburger, Shiyeon felt like the fries or cola that came with it.
We arrived at the third-floor door of the building after trudging up the steps.
Upon entering the door, a surprisingly spacious area appeared, contrary to the narrowness of the stairs.
Inside, there were no chairs or anything on the floor, just a small desk and a computer.
And a white screen with a projector hanging from the ceiling.
A few adults overseeing the worship for the middle and high school group, with members ranging from first-year middle school to third-year high school.
While there was also a goal of fellowship, they were truly a group that gathered to hold worship after worship.
Mindless.
I cleared my head and just recited the Bible verses and songs as instructed, with only one thought remaining in my mind.
“I really want to go home.”
After finishing the second praise and worship of the day, I became mentally and physically drained… essentially, I felt like a limp seaweed.
After stretching out for a while.
“I heard you’re Taehyun’s school friends; what are your names?”
In the circle we were sitting in, amidst casual conversations passing from one person to another, we came to our turn.
It was only natural for the attention to focus on us, the newcomers in the middle and high school group who had followed Taehyun.
In that circle, a woman who seemed to be in her mid-twenties led the questions and the flow of conversation.
Pointing to herself and Shiyeon in turn, I introduced us.
“I’m Kim Mari, and this is Lee Siyeon.”
“Do you two know each other?”
“We’re sisters.”
“Oh, is that so?”
After a brief exchange of questions and answers.
From across the circle, a male student who looked like a high schooler stood up, moved closer, and sat next to Taehyun, throwing an arm around him.
“Hey, Taehyun, you’re doing pretty well! Who’s your girlfriend?”
Just like that, the guy immediately approached and asked who Taehyun’s girlfriend was.
With a tilting head and a casual attitude.
To put it simply, he looked like a student who might smoke a bit.
I’m not sure if it was a joke or serious, but Taehyun replied, stunned.
“Oh, Taewoo, it’s not like that!”
It was the rare sight of Taehyun being flustered.
Looking at the two of them exchanging what seemed like a hundred percent joking conversation, I glanced around.
It seemed like such banter was a daily occurrence, with no one visibly uncomfortable, as laughter filled the atmosphere.
I heard that some people come to church hoping for romance, and judging by the vibe, that seemed like a not-so-wrong statement.
“Aren’t both of you really pretty? Are you really not dating?”
“I told you, we’re not…”
The high school student named Taewoo, sitting next to Taehyun, was subtly looking this way, showering us with compliments and prompting Taehyun for further clarification.
It felt like he was trying to win favor with unconditional compliments.
Both Shiyeon and I are decent-looking, or at least I think Shiyeon is pretty, while I often see myself as average in the mirror.
That’s why I wouldn’t be the type to blush and thank someone for compliments like a romantic game female lead.
“Thanks, even if it’s just empty words.”
“It’s not empty words; I mean it!”
I brushed off the guy’s flattery, treating it like something someone says just to lift the spirits of a long-lost acquaintance.
Why do people ask such questions after months of not seeing someone?
“Hey, have you lost weight?”—that kind of question.
It doesn’t matter if they really think that or not; it’s just a way to lift someone’s mood.
After hearing such a question, the person often replies casually, “What are you talking about?” and brushes it off just the same.
Following light questions about my relationship with Taehyun, we delved into sharing news from our week.
One by one, we talked about places we visited or good things that happened at school…
As we took turns recounting our days with highs and lows according to the student perspective, after a full round.
We had a moment of prayer where we expressed gratitude for the good things that happened and reflected or prayed to forget the bad things.
Personally, I wonder why one should thank God for good things that happen to them, but I didn’t voice that concern and swallowed my thoughts.
Isn’t that the realm of luck, not of God?
“Let’s pray individually and wrap things up.”
At the mention of individual prayer, I closed my eyes, clasped my hands, and bowed my head.
As each of our murmured prayers began, a loud sound came from the door behind us.
The crinkling of plastic and the aroma of delicious food.
I slightly cracked my eyes open and turned my head toward the door.
In the entrance, piled high were pizza boxes just after lunch.
It was a divine grace and miracle that could make an atheist into a devout believer.
“Hallelujah, Amen!”
