when the phone rings novel

Time seemed to slip away as Heeju sat in her car, wrestling with a tangle of thoughts. The deepening shadows that stretched across the landscape mirrored the unsettled state of her mind as she finally pulled into her driveway.

I spent the whole day checking out fish markets and aquarium stores and completely lost track of time. I didn't even realize my phone was off until I shut the engine. 

"Oh...!" She gasped, reactivated her phone, and exited the vehicle. Suddenly, a powerful force propelled her to her feet. A pale, sweaty figure, ghostly white despite the chill, was staring at her.

"You... why are you so late?!... Why is your phone off!" Sa-eon's hands trembled. 

"Where the hell have you been?" The parking lot echoed with his loud tirade. 

"The first hour, I assumed you were busy. In the second hour, I started to worry. By the third, I was frantically checking hospitals. The fifth hour, I finally had to call the police, Heeju." 

"Sa-eon that—!" 

"They asked if we had a quarrel recently..."

His voice dripped with cold venom. "My wife, leaving me? Not inconceivable, given my behavior last night." 

"No, what are you suggesting!" she exclaimed, her words barely escaping before he continued. 

"I felt terrible going to the station to report your disappearance. I regretted confessing. I burdened you by showing how pathetic your husband was. Even someone as sweet as you wouldn't want to start a family with a messy man..."

"Stop talking nonsense!" she gasped, her voice raw with emotion. Baek Sa-eon, startled by her outburst, froze, his eyes widening as they slowly met hers.

"Nothing happened. I went to meet Shim Gyu-jin!" His face immediately stiffened. Baek Sa-eon's eyes swept over Heeju, examining her closely with an intensity that was both fierce and surprisingly gentle. He searched for any trace of harm, his gaze lingering on every part of her. 

"I'm really okay." Heeju moved to the driver's side and pressed the trunk release button.

"I brought you a gift. Open the trunk." 

"......." Baek Sa-eon hesitated. A strange suspicion flickered in his eyes. 

"This doesn't feel right." 

"What?" 

"Do you even know what people usually keep in trunks?" 

"What are you talking about?" 

"You go see Shim Gyu-jin, and then you tell me to check the trunk? Hong Heeju, be honest. Do you need my help?" Baek Sa-eon's face turned cold. 

"What?! What weird stuff are you talking about?" Unable to shake his suspicions from her nervous reaction, Baek Sa-eon glanced at Heeju and then at the trunk. He stood in front of the trunk, shoving the slightly ajar door forcefully as if searching for something. 

"...." His dark eyes held something unspoken. Baek Sa-eon froze, staring at the contents.

"I got a koi fish as a gift for you." It was a black tank, grimy and dirty, filling the trunk to the brim. Coral tangled within, exuding a fishy and moldy smell. Several red-scaled carp swam energetically inside. For a moment, it reminded Baek Sa-eon of the old fishing spot where he used to live as a child. Calloused hands threading worms, old ferries creaking, and the omnipresent smell of fish. It was a fleeting journey to a childhood he didn't want to remember. Baek Sa-eon tugged at his tie feeling suffocated. Just then, a soft voice interrupted him.

"Do you know what purifies polluted river water?" Beside him, Heeju chuckled lightly. 

"It's these guys." 

"......." A delicate finger pointed to the fish. 

"Do you know how amazing they are? They keep harmful substances at bay and, of course, help purify the water. They say..." Heeju's brow furrowed in confusion, and she shook her head slowly. Baek Sa-eon stood rooted to the spot, his expression a mixture of bewilderment and disbelief. A cold voice brought him back to reality. The stench of the water faded, and a cool light filtered in.

"Right...! They stir up old sediment and bring in fresh oxygen!" 

"......." 

"Koi are actually quite beneficial. Even their waste provides nutrients for other fish, making them valuable contributors to the ecosystem." 

"......." 

"That's why I got you this big, old, kinda gross fish tank— not some fancy, clean one. I'm sorry it took forever, sorry I didn't call, and sorry I put you through all this." Heeju embraced the man, then stepped away. Baek Sa-eon's arms trembled at the distance. When he gripped her hand tightly, Heeju smiled brightly. 

"Let's keep this koi with us..." She took a step closer to Baek Sa-eon, who couldn't tear his eyes away from the black tank.

"The day the tank is clean..." In other words, the day Baek Sa-eon's heart feels lighter... 

"You won't be able to avoid me any more, I promise." Sa-eon had an indescribable expression on his face as he stared at the red carp swimming. Suddenly, a gentle breeze swept between them. A soft breeze passed between them. Heeju absently nudged her shoe against the pavement and asked, "Sa-eon, if a child... were to ask you what love is, what would you say?" 

"What kind of child would ask such a cheeky question?"

A cruel twist to his lips quickly vanished, replaced by a steely seriousness. Baek Sa-eon's gaze followed the fiery hues of the sunset, a chilling premonition of doom reflected in his eyes. Finally, he returned his attention to the carp, his fingers nervously tracing the edge of the tank. 

"The water is so black..." he muttered to himself. It was a long time before he spoke again. 

"I don't know who would ask me such a thing, but..." Baek Sa-eon gently stroked his wife's cheek, his fingers lingering on the skin that still bore the warm, reddish glow of the fading sunset. He couldn't help but wonder if his own fingers were now stained with the same vibrant color.

"I'll ask the child to look at you." Heeju held her breath as their faces drew closer. 

"If they don't understand, I'll point to you and say, 'Look at Hong Heeju'." His warm lips parted briefly. 

"You are my love." This time, he kissed the corner of her eye. 

"All the love in the world is here. What more explanation do they need?" Heeju snorted unnecessarily. 

"But... what if the cheeky one asking that is our child...?" 

"Then I'd say, 'Look at your mom.'" 

"...!" 

"My answer will always be the same, Heeju."

As he gently pinched her blushing nose, his voice faltered, as though grappling with something profound. 

"All the answers have always been with you." He paused in his confession. His determined eyes widened, wavering slightly. Heeju couldn't pinpoint the exact moment. But it was clear that this incomplete man was searching for the final piece, dismantling and rebuilding all his previous notions. Baek Sa-eon was far less complete and imperfect than he believed himself to be, yet his gaze remained sharp, as if he had discovered his ideal love.

A ragged exhale escaped his lips, followed by a coughing fit that seemed to expel years of suffocating weight. Finally, he drew in a deep, shuddering breath, as if savoring the taste of pure air. 

"..." 

Winter was on the verge of arriving, casting a quiet stillness over the land. The rivers, now frozen into icy mirrors, reflected the serenity of the season. And for the first time, Baek Sa-eon let out a visible breath into the cold air.

"Sa-eon shall we go home now?" A moment later, Heeju pulled a foldable cart from the back seat. Together, they placed a large fish tank on the cart and dragged it with vigor. Thud! Thud! Thud! The sound of the cart's wheels rumbling over the pavement was cheerful and lively. Every time Baek Sa-eon pulled the cart with one hand, the fish tank swayed and jostled. It seemed the koi were stronger than they looked.

Splash! Laughter bubbled up between them, a contagious sound that neither could claim as their own. It mingled with the gentle rhythm of the lapping water, creating a symphony of joy. The small koi, still tiny and shapeless, awaited the day they could drift downstream amidst their laughter. 

"I think we should name them Hee and Ju." 

"What?" 

"I can't think of anything else."

He said with a serious expression. Just then, Heeju clapped her hands excitedly. 

"Oh! By the way, what happened to your unfiltered speech?" 

"Ah, about that..." When twilight's brush, with colors bold, a masterpiece of light unfurled.

-The End-  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for reading guys! <3

Time seemed to slip away as Heeju sat in her car, wrestling with a tangle of thoughts. The deepening shadows that stretched across the landscape mirrored the unsettled state of her mind as she finally pulled into her driveway.

I spent the whole day checking out fish markets and aquarium stores and completely lost track of time. I didn't even realize my phone was off until I shut the engine. 

"Oh...!" She gasped, reactivated her phone, and exited the vehicle. Suddenly, a powerful force propelled her to her feet. A pale, sweaty figure, ghostly white despite the chill, was staring at her.

"You... why are you so late?!... Why is your phone off!" Sa-eon's hands trembled. 

"Where the hell have you been?" The parking lot echoed with his loud tirade. 

"The first hour, I assumed you were busy. In the second hour, I started to worry. By the third, I was frantically checking hospitals. The fifth hour, I finally had to call the police, Heeju." 

"Sa-eon that—!" 

"They asked if we had a quarrel recently..."

His voice dripped with cold venom. "My wife, leaving me? Not inconceivable, given my behavior last night." 

"No, what are you suggesting!" she exclaimed, her words barely escaping before he continued. 

"I felt terrible going to the station to report your disappearance. I regretted confessing. I burdened you by showing how pathetic your husband was. Even someone as sweet as you wouldn't want to start a family with a messy man..."

"Stop talking nonsense!" she gasped, her voice raw with emotion. Baek Sa-eon, startled by her outburst, froze, his eyes widening as they slowly met hers.

"Nothing happened. I went to meet Shim Gyu-jin!" His face immediately stiffened. Baek Sa-eon's eyes swept over Heeju, examining her closely with an intensity that was both fierce and surprisingly gentle. He searched for any trace of harm, his gaze lingering on every part of her. 

"I'm really okay." Heeju moved to the driver's side and pressed the trunk release button.

"I brought you a gift. Open the trunk." 

"......." Baek Sa-eon hesitated. A strange suspicion flickered in his eyes. 

"This doesn't feel right." 

"What?" 

"Do you even know what people usually keep in trunks?" 

"What are you talking about?" 

"You go see Shim Gyu-jin, and then you tell me to check the trunk? Hong Heeju, be honest. Do you need my help?" Baek Sa-eon's face turned cold. 

"What?! What weird stuff are you talking about?" Unable to shake his suspicions from her nervous reaction, Baek Sa-eon glanced at Heeju and then at the trunk. He stood in front of the trunk, shoving the slightly ajar door forcefully as if searching for something. 

"...." His dark eyes held something unspoken. Baek Sa-eon froze, staring at the contents.

"I got a koi fish as a gift for you." It was a black tank, grimy and dirty, filling the trunk to the brim. Coral tangled within, exuding a fishy and moldy smell. Several red-scaled carp swam energetically inside. For a moment, it reminded Baek Sa-eon of the old fishing spot where he used to live as a child. Calloused hands threading worms, old ferries creaking, and the omnipresent smell of fish. It was a fleeting journey to a childhood he didn't want to remember. Baek Sa-eon tugged at his tie feeling suffocated. Just then, a soft voice interrupted him.

"Do you know what purifies polluted river water?" Beside him, Heeju chuckled lightly. 

"It's these guys." 

"......." A delicate finger pointed to the fish. 

"Do you know how amazing they are? They keep harmful substances at bay and, of course, help purify the water. They say..." Heeju's brow furrowed in confusion, and she shook her head slowly. Baek Sa-eon stood rooted to the spot, his expression a mixture of bewilderment and disbelief. A cold voice brought him back to reality. The stench of the water faded, and a cool light filtered in.

"Right...! They stir up old sediment and bring in fresh oxygen!" 

"......." 

"Koi are actually quite beneficial. Even their waste provides nutrients for other fish, making them valuable contributors to the ecosystem." 

"......." 

"That's why I got you this big, old, kinda gross fish tank— not some fancy, clean one. I'm sorry it took forever, sorry I didn't call, and sorry I put you through all this." Heeju embraced the man, then stepped away. Baek Sa-eon's arms trembled at the distance. When he gripped her hand tightly, Heeju smiled brightly. 

"Let's keep this koi with us..." She took a step closer to Baek Sa-eon, who couldn't tear his eyes away from the black tank.

"The day the tank is clean..." In other words, the day Baek Sa-eon's heart feels lighter... 

"You won't be able to avoid me any more, I promise." Sa-eon had an indescribable expression on his face as he stared at the red carp swimming. Suddenly, a gentle breeze swept between them. A soft breeze passed between them. Heeju absently nudged her shoe against the pavement and asked, "Sa-eon, if a child... were to ask you what love is, what would you say?" 

"What kind of child would ask such a cheeky question?"

A cruel twist to his lips quickly vanished, replaced by a steely seriousness. Baek Sa-eon's gaze followed the fiery hues of the sunset, a chilling premonition of doom reflected in his eyes. Finally, he returned his attention to the carp, his fingers nervously tracing the edge of the tank. 

"The water is so black..." he muttered to himself. It was a long time before he spoke again. 

"I don't know who would ask me such a thing, but..." Baek Sa-eon gently stroked his wife's cheek, his fingers lingering on the skin that still bore the warm, reddish glow of the fading sunset. He couldn't help but wonder if his own fingers were now stained with the same vibrant color.

"I'll ask the child to look at you." Heeju held her breath as their faces drew closer. 

"If they don't understand, I'll point to you and say, 'Look at Hong Heeju'." His warm lips parted briefly. 

"You are my love." This time, he kissed the corner of her eye. 

"All the love in the world is here. What more explanation do they need?" Heeju snorted unnecessarily. 

"But... what if the cheeky one asking that is our child...?" 

"Then I'd say, 'Look at your mom.'" 

"...!" 

"My answer will always be the same, Heeju."

As he gently pinched her blushing nose, his voice faltered, as though grappling with something profound. 

"All the answers have always been with you." He paused in his confession. His determined eyes widened, wavering slightly. Heeju couldn't pinpoint the exact moment. But it was clear that this incomplete man was searching for the final piece, dismantling and rebuilding all his previous notions. Baek Sa-eon was far less complete and imperfect than he believed himself to be, yet his gaze remained sharp, as if he had discovered his ideal love.

A ragged exhale escaped his lips, followed by a coughing fit that seemed to expel years of suffocating weight. Finally, he drew in a deep, shuddering breath, as if savoring the taste of pure air. 

"..." 

Winter was on the verge of arriving, casting a quiet stillness over the land. The rivers, now frozen into icy mirrors, reflected the serenity of the season. And for the first time, Baek Sa-eon let out a visible breath into the cold air.

"Sa-eon shall we go home now?" A moment later, Heeju pulled a foldable cart from the back seat. Together, they placed a large fish tank on the cart and dragged it with vigor. Thud! Thud! Thud! The sound of the cart's wheels rumbling over the pavement was cheerful and lively. Every time Baek Sa-eon pulled the cart with one hand, the fish tank swayed and jostled. It seemed the koi were stronger than they looked.

Splash! Laughter bubbled up between them, a contagious sound that neither could claim as their own. It mingled with the gentle rhythm of the lapping water, creating a symphony of joy. The small koi, still tiny and shapeless, awaited the day they could drift downstream amidst their laughter. 

"I think we should name them Hee and Ju." 

"What?" 

"I can't think of anything else."

He said with a serious expression. Just then, Heeju clapped her hands excitedly. 

"Oh! By the way, what happened to your unfiltered speech?" 

"Ah, about that..." When twilight's brush, with colors bold, a masterpiece of light unfurled.

-The End-  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for reading guys! <3