The day after the summer solstice.
It’s the day after the longest day of the year — from today, the days grow shorter, little by little. On a day like that, Lain was in Gangneung.
It was sudden. After two days straight of trips to Jamsil, he said he’d gone to Gangneung today for a workation. A five-hour drive. I’d asked him to let me know when he arrived, and a short message came — arrived. When I asked if he’d eaten, he said he just had. Lain sent a photo, but it wouldn’t open. Later he told me it had been a picture of his meal.
“So much work… feels heavy”
That phrase kept snagging on something in me. Said after a whole day working in a workation office, having driven all the way to Gangneung. It’s not the amount of work that’s the problem — it’s where that heaviness is coming from. From the work itself, or something else. I couldn’t quite tell. It felt a little awkward to ask further.
In the evening, he said he went out for beers with his team. Lain sent two photos. One was of beer glasses lined up on a wooden shelf beside the taps, the other a table with German-style sausage, sauerkraut, even red wine. A German-style taproom in Gangneung — such a curious combination. I imagined, for a moment, what that space might have felt like.
Meanwhile, in the family chat, Jaewon posted a photo of the electricity bill. 290,000 won. Lain replied, “옹.” That short syllable amused me. I couldn’t tell if it was surprise, or calm acceptance, or resignation. Later I learned the amount included 60,000 won for Zumba and 10,000 won for Jaewon’s gym membership. Lain did the math quickly. The actual electricity cost, he said, was 220,000 won.
Jaewon sorted the recycling today and went out to charge his bike. In the evening he posted in the chat that he wanted to go to Ashley. At first it had been rice balls, but somehow it turned into a family restaurant. Jaeyoon posted his dental checkup results — oral hygiene status: average. Lain said, “Let’s brush harder.” Jaeyoon went to bed early.
One thing stayed with me all day. “Feels heavy.” I wondered whether, drinking beer with his team at some taproom in Gangneung, that weight had lightened even a little. I hoped the row of beer glasses and the table of sausages in the photos felt like that.
Though I’m not sure “hope” is quite the right word.
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