36화 창가

주말 저녁, 정우와 마주 앉은 자리는 편안했다.

정우는 말도 잘 통했고, 유쾌했고, 무엇보다 애쓰지 않아도 대화가 이어졌다. 좋은 사람이었다.

그런데 대화 중간중간, 은호는 자꾸 다른 생각이 끼어드는 걸 느꼈다.

무뚝뚝하지만 뜨거웠던 손. 비 오던 밤의 젖은 목소리. 새벽빛 속에서 봤던 그 옅은 미소.

*오늘따라 왜 자꾸.*

"은호 씨?"

"아, 네."

"딴생각하셨죠."

"…죄송해요."

정우가 웃었다. "괜찮아요. 근데 요즘 좀 그런 것 같더라고요."

은호는 뭐라고 답해야 할지 몰라서 물을 마셨다.

같은 시각, 태경도 그 거리를 걷고 있었다.

우연이었다. 근처에 볼일이 있었고, 돌아가는 길에 그 골목을 지났을 뿐이다.

창가에 마주 앉은 두 사람을 본 순간, 태경의 걸음이 멈췄다.

이상할 것도 없는 풍경이었다. 자기가 거리를 두기 시작한 것도 자기였고, 은호가 누구와 저녁을 먹든 그건 자기 일이 아니었다.

알고 있었다. 아는데도 한참을 서 있었다.

그러곤 결국, 발길을 돌렸다.

English

On the weekend, sitting across from Jungwoo was comfortable.

Jungwoo was easy to talk to, good-humored, and above all the conversation moved without effort. He was a good person.

But in the middle of it, Eunho kept noticing other thoughts breaking in.

A hand that was blunt but warm. A voice made rough by rain. That faint smile in the dawn light.

*Why does this keep happening today.*

"Eunho?"

"Ah — yes."

"You were somewhere else."

"…Sorry."

Jungwoo laughed. "It's fine. Though it does seem to happen a lot lately."

Eunho didn't know how to answer, so he drank his water.

At the same hour, Taekyung was walking down that street.

It was coincidence. He'd had something to do nearby and passed through the alley on his way back.

The moment he saw the two of them sitting by the window, his steps stopped.

There was nothing strange about the scene. He was the one who had started keeping distance, and whoever Eunho had dinner with was not his business.

He knew that. He knew it, and he stood there for a long while.

Then, finally, he turned back.