Jodi Lee: Ante Mortem

She coerced him into laying down for “just a little bit.” With his head in her lap, Hyun struggled to stay awake despite Mai stroking the back of his neck.

It wouldn’t have done any good to stay up. While Hyun slept, Mr. Cheong phoned the hospital and forbade the staff to speak of his son’s condition. Hyun could only get the doctors to tell him that Joon was stable and “responsive.” When Mr. Cheong arrived late the next day, Hyun was abruptly dismissed. He knew there was no use in arguing. Since they were first friends, Mr. Cheung considered Hyun an asset to his son’s life. Though from a lower class family, Hyun got excellent grades, stayed out of trouble, and in turn kept Joon from getting into as much as he would have otherwise. Now Hyun feared he had fallen out of favor: Mr. Cheong was fiercely protective and made enemies easily.

Despondent, Hyun retreated to the resort where he found his cabin cordoned off. Not knowing what else to say at the time, he had told police that a stranger broke in and attacked Joon. The hotel manager allowed Hyun to collect his things and offered him a free weeks stay in the future, by way of apology. When the man left, Hyun went to Mai’s cabin and took her up on the wine she’d offered when they met. When the bottle was drained, he curled up beside her in bed and talked about Joon: how he had always looked out for Hyun, ever since they met, and how he never cared about Hyun’s parents working in a factory, or that he wore clothes from Good Will.

“Everything will go back to normal,” Mai said when he finished. “Just give it time.”

“I don’t want to go back alone. My flight to Chicago is tomorrow.”

“Where in Chicago?”

Hyun told her his address. When she didn’t respond, he asked what was wrong.

“Nothing. It’s just,” Mai shook her head in disbelief, “Hyun, I live two blocks away from you.”

“Are you sure?” It sounded ridiculous, but wonderful.

“Very sure. Why don’t I cut my trip short and come back with you?”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to. I’ll miss you if you leave.”

“You just met me.”

“Granted.”

Mai sat up in bed and looked at Hyun. Something in her eyes made heat spread across his stomach.

“However, under the circumstances I think we’ve bonded more than time would have otherwise allowed. And I want to go back with you.”

As soon as he said yes, Mai was on the phone with the airline agency. Luck was on their side, and she managed to get on the same one as Hyun’s. By the time the plane landed at Chicago airport, his thoughts were racing. He still hadn’t heard from Joon, and his exhausted mind taunted him with morbid possibilities. Distraction came when they reached his apartment: there was an envelope stuck on the door and Hyun’s key didn’t fit in the lock. Disoriented, he let Mai read the letter.

“Mother-fucker,” she spat.

“What?”

She looked up from the paper clenched in her fist, and her expression turned from rage to sorrow.

“It says that your things have been moved to a storage facility. The address is on the bottom. Your friend’s father has generously paid for the first month’s fees.”

“He kicked me out?” Hyun asked, unable to fully process the news.

“This is ridiculous. I’m sure when Joon feels better, he’ll straighten things out. Do you have someone you can crash with for a few days?”

Hyun shook his head. “Joon was my only friend here. I haven’t even started my new job yet.”

“All right, well, at the risk of sounding impetuous you can crash with me. I don’t think they let you sleep in those storage places.”

“I can’t do that to you.”

“Sure you can.” Mai took his hand and led him back to the elevator. “I have an extra room you can use. Right now there’s nothing in it but book shelves and a fish tank. It was going to be my home office.” She rolled her eyes.

Hyun didn’t argue after that, he was too miserable. It was easier to follow Mai. Since she didn’t have anything for him to sleep on, she put Hyun in her bed and took the couch.

“We can buy a futon or sofa bed, if things take some time to work themselves out,” she assured him.

Over a month later Hyun still hadn’t heard from Joon, despite sending him numerous emails and phone messages. Eventually he felt compelled to tell Mai he would need to get his own place, he couldn’t count on her charity indefinitely.

“It’s not charity if you pay rent,” she countered. “Honestly, you’d be doing me favor.”

“You’re just saying that.”

“I’m serious.”

With gentle prodding, Hyun learned the whole truth. Mai explained how her family had money once, and how her father loved to travel. Especially in Asia. Vietnam was his favorite, he named her after one of it’s native flowers. Unfortunately, a series of bad investments had bankrupted the family. Still, he clung to the dream of seeing his favorite vacation spot one last time. When he died, Mai did the best she could: She laid her father’s ashes to rest in the waters of the resort lake. It drained her bank account, leaving her to juggle credit cards until she got back on her feet.

“Don’t feel pressured, I swear I can get by. And if you get sick of me you can always leave, no notice required!”

Hyun couldn’t imagine himself getting sick of her, so they moved his things out of storage that afternoon. The next night, he got a text message from Joon.

Where are you?? Your things are all gone!

Hyun called him right away. Joon answered on the verge of panic.

“Hyun, why did you leave? Are you mad at me?”

“No! I didn’t want to leave. Your father…” Hyun bit his tongue. It didn’t seem right to disrespect Mr. Cheong.

“My father did this?” Joon sounded calmer, but still unhappy. “That’s ridiculous, he can’t kick you out on the street. Come back.”

“I’m not on the street, Joon, don’t worry about me. Are you all right? When did they let you out of the hospital?”

“Yes, this morning. My father wouldn’t let me call anyone or use my computer. He’s ashamed of what happened.”

Hyun thought back to the cabin and repressed a shudder. “But you’re all right now?”

“I still ache sometimes but they gave me pills so it’s not so bad. Can I see you?”

“Of course, I can come over right away.”

After saying good-bye, Hyun told Mai the news. She was happy, but her smile dimmed.

“Are you going to move back right away?”

“I’m not moving.” Hyun felt genuinely surprised at his own words. “Joon will understand. He would have been happy to have his own bachelor pad, if he didn’t worry about me.”

“I won’t be pissed if you change your mind. You two are like family.”

“So maybe I should go move in with my mother,” Hyun teased.

Mai laughed and he pulled her close.

“I’m not leaving,” he promised. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

As soon as Hyun was in the door Joon eyed him suspiciously, then grinned.

“You’ve been a bad boy. Who is she?”

“Her name is Mai. You’ll like her.”

“Who cares if I like her?” Joon poked Hyun playfully in the ribs. “Do you like her?”

“Yes. We’re living together.”

“So soon? Ah, you were always the romantic type.”

They sat at the kitchen table and Joon became serious.

“So you’re not moving back in?”

“Does it bother you?”

“Be with your woman.” Joon patted Hyun on the back. “We’re grown men, right?”

Hyun nodded, grateful.

“Is your father still angry at me?”

Joon sighed. “He always likes to blame others.”

“What did you tell him?”