The morning sun streamed faintly through the curtains, but Ji-won's room was still quiet. Her phone buzzed endlessly on the nightstand, vibrating against the wood, but she didn't stir.
Downstairs, her grandmother looked at the clock. 12:00 PM.
A crease formed on her forehead. Why wasn't she answering her phone?
She climbed the stairs slowly, worry tightening her chest. When she opened the door, she saw Ji-won curled up under the blanket, still asleep. Gently, she reached out to wake her, but the moment her hand brushed Ji-won's forehead, she froze.
"She's burning up…"
"Ji-won-ah," her grandmother whispered softly. "You have a fever. Why didn't you tell me you're not feeling well?"
Ji-won blinked awake, lifting a weak hand to her forehead. "Mmm… do I? I don't think so, Grandma. I'm okay."
Her grandmother checked her fever from the thermometer and showed her the thermometer, the small red line clearly above normal. Ji-won stayed silent.
"And your phone," Grandma said, "it's been ringing so much — maybe ten times. You should check who it is."
Ji-won gave a tired smile. "Okay, I'll check. Go down and prepare something delicious. I'm hungry."
Her grandmother's lips curved into a smile at the request. "Alright. I'll cook." She left the room quietly.
Ji-won turned her gaze to the window. The sunlight felt warm on her skin. She looked at the clock and thought, after so many days, I've had proper sleep… I feel good.
Her phone buzzed again. She picked it up slowly. "Yes?" she answered.
Her boss's voice exploded through the speaker:
"YAAAAAAAAAA! Where are you? Do you want to die? Do you not want your salary?!"
Ji-won's voice was calm and cold. "I already sent you my resignation yesterday. I think you haven't seen it?"
"What? Resign? Why?"yaaa ji won ah you know our company need like you who can talk logically and go any where with out any questions.
She rolled her eyes, her voice trembling but firm:
"That's why you sent me into forests to find people who don't even want to be interviewed. Do you even know how many times I've faced problems because of it? You don't. You're too busy with your co-workers in cafes, bars, and hotels while leaving me to handle everything alone. Aigoo… I deserved a promotion, but instead, you gave it to people who don't even work. My salary is less than others, even when I stay until 10 p.m. every night. Cut the phone, bastard."
She hung up.
Looking into the mirror, Ji-won took a deep breath. Her lips curved into the smallest smile. "This is the first time I let my voice out," she whispered to herself.
Downstairs, her grandmother had been listening. A proud, quiet smile spread across her face.
⸻
After showering, Ji-won came down to find the table full of freshly cooked dishes. She smiled, but before she could sit, her grandmother touched her forehead again, checking the fever.
"Grandma, I'm okay. You don't need to worry about me," Ji-won said softly.
Her grandmother smiled, and they sat together at the dining table. Ji-won suddenly realized her grandmother hadn't woken her up like usual.
"Why didn't you wake me up this morning?" she asked.
Her grandmother smiled warmly. "Because I knew you needed rest… after all this tragedy."
Ji-won blinked, confused, but her grandmother only said, "Eat it before it gets cold."
Ji-won ate quietly, warmth spreading in her chest that had nothing to do with food.
⸻
That night, when Ji-won went upstairs to her room, her grandmother lingered in the kitchen. Her mind drifted back to the night before.
She had woken up to find the untouched dinner on the table. Slowly, she'd climbed the stairs, only to hear Ji-won crying softly in her room. She'd paused outside the door, her heart aching. But she didn't go in. She had turned away, letting Ji-won cry alone knowing sometimes that was all a person could do.