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“Eonnie!” Gyeoul exclaimed, catching Minha, who was deep into filing a patient report at the OBGyn station, off guard. “Let’s go out for dinner tomorrow?”
“Uhhh… I have a week’s worth of reports to file,” Minha replied, turning her attention back to the screen.
“But I missed you! It felt like you were away for a full year,” Gyeoul said, pouting.
Minha looked at Gyeoul again and smiled, feeling special and also sorry for her friend who mostly preferred to spend time with Minha if she wanted a social life outside of work.
“Okay, cool. But you’re paying,” she said, as if it was the most natural thing to expect.
“Oh?” Gyeoul looked confused but didn’t think much of it. “Sure, why not!” she said, not missing a beat.
“Chu sonsaengnim, the patient is dilated 10 cms,” a young resident came screeching to the station. Minha got up and started heading to the ward but not before pausing for a second and turning back to look at Gyeoul.
“You’re paying for EVERY meal here on by the way,” she told Gyeoul and winked. Gyeoul stared at Minha’s back, which quickly disappeared into the corridor, completely puzzled by what her eonnie had said.
*** *** ***
Gyeoul was SO happy to have her BFF back at the hospital. Minha had been asked to go to the Jogno branch for a week because Gu Dowon, the chief OBGyn resident, had for undisclosed reasons taken some time off and someone needed to be there to manage the relatively fresh crop of residents. It wasn’t until Minha left that Gyeoul realised how much of her sanity and happiness at the workplace depended on Minha’s presence. A couple of days ago, Jeongwon had even teased her saying, “...and you say I cannot survive without Junwan. Look at you now!”
Minha had come back being completely impressed by Jogno Yulje and recounted every noteworthy thing that happened there, including Gi Eunmi’s changed personality from being the quiet resident back when she worked at their Yulje. Gyeoul guzzled up every bit of information. The only branch she properly knew of was the one in Sokcho, where she had been to in the past for a two-week resident exchange program between the branches. She did not particularly have good memories of the time she had spent there. Not because of the hospital and staff, no. But because there was an aspiring priest-to-be in her own workplace whom she had lost her heart to but couldn't manage to garner a single word of appreciation from. But given that the former priest-to-be had now become her husband, the bitterness of the memory had waned.
When the service staff came with the bill after dessert, Gyeoul took out her wallet and gave the server her card.
“Ah, mata,” she said, after the server left, “why did you say I’ll be paying for all the meals from now on?”
“You really have to ask?”
“Uhh, ya? I’m curious.”
“Gyeoulah. On my night shift in Jogno last week, I was sitting on a bench outside the hospital marvelling at how big the hospital is…”
“and…?”
“...and I thought it was on par with our Yulje..”
“...okay?”
“And then it struck me… Your husband is the frikking owner of all these Yuljes!”
Gyeoul opened her mouth to respond but quickly shut it. Rubbing her nape, she said hesitatingly, “First of all, he is not the owner…”
“Riigggghhhht.”
“Secondly, even if his family owns it, I’m only his wife…”
“Really? Is that your defence?”
“You know my husband is a miser, right?”
“Right. He is also, famously, the sole heir to all Yulje establishments. And if you think that I do not know of the other enterprises owned by your family, then you must think I’m stupid.”
“Eonnie, it’s nothing like that. I wouldn’t deny that we are c-comfortable. But it’s not like what you imagine. And you and I are the same! We both struggled to pay off our student loans.”
“Uh-huh. Sure. But now you’re married to the Prince of Yulje. Just know that I’m not reaching out for my wallet when we step out from now on. Yup, I have no pride,” she said, taking the last sip of her wine with a smug smile.
Gyeoul sighed.
*** *** ***
“Happy to have your soulmate back?” Jeongwon enquired teasingly when he joined Gyeoul in bed after a shower later that night. She was settled against the headboard, texting the chief resident who was on the night shift.
“Jagiya, Minha eonnie is amazed by the other Yulje,” she said, turning herself and her attention to her husband.
“Yeah aboeji was proud of the Jogno branch and how he learnt from all the mistakes he made with our branch to make the other one become one of the best among the new hospitals in Seoul.”
“She also said she’s never paying for a meal with me again.”
“Mwo?”
“Apparently, because I’m married to you now, I am rich too.”
“And this thought occurred to her years after we got married?”
“Yes, it was apparently an epiphany from one of the nights she spent there.”
“Ah! Gyeoulah, let’s take her out for dinner one of these days.”
“Eh?”
“That overpriced artisanal restaurant with the pretentious curated 7-course meal at Signiel that my cousin was talking about. You should pay for it.”
“Waeyo? Why should I?”
“Because you’re rich by marriage now.”
“Nonsense! My husband’s hospital does not pay me enough.”
“Excuse me, your husband himself does not get paid enough.”
“Excuse me, my husband owns the hospital, apparently.”
“Excuse me, all your husband's bank accounts have you as a joint holder, which means all his money is yours.”
“Excuse me, where is this discussion heading?”
Jeongwon smiled evilly. “My sweet, innocent Gyeoulie,” he said smushing her cheek with a kiss, “pay now and make her pay later."
Gyeoul frowned until it dawned on her. The frown slowly turned into a smile.
“Understood!”
She smiled at her husband with narrowed eyes.
“Wae?” he asked, with a curious smile.
“Have I ever told you that I like it when you are vengeful and petty?”
“Vengeful? Petty? Me?”
“Vengeful- sometimes and petty- all the time, with your friends.”
“I disagree. But if that makes you like me more then… Well, I’m willing to fake agree.”
“Technically…” she said, giving him a peck, “everything you do makes me like you more.”
Jeongwon blinked in the aftermath of the short kiss, deftly took off his t-shirt and pulled Gyeoul downwards, positioning his torso over hers.
“Whaaat are you…?”
“It’s been three days,” he said seriously.
Gyeoul chuckled and pulled her husband in for a kiss.
*** *** ***
3 months later
“I’m so glad we finally got to do this,” Minha said, as the server refilled their glasses with wine.
“I have to agree that it’s a nice place,” Seokhyeong said, adding in agreement. “Thank your cousin from us for recommending it, Jeongwona. When you suggested it, I was sceptical and thought this might be one of those ridiculously overpriced places that does not live up to the hype. I’m glad I was wrong.”
“Thank you for making time for us!” Gyeoul chimed in. “It’s nice to have our first official double date as married couples.”
“You cannot imagine how much Gyeoulie has been looking forward to this day,” Jeongwon smiled meaningfully - a meaning only she could understand.
“Sorry it took so long!” Minha apologised sincerely.
“That’s completely fine! We understand how busy the first few weeks after the wedding are,” Jeongwon said in empathy.
“Well, I’m glad everything’s done. My wife and I can be at peace now,” Seokhyeong said, looking at Minha, eyes brimming with love.
Minha blushed, still getting used to her gomdori addressing her as his wife at every opportunity he got.
The conversations went on and soon they realised that they were the only people left at the restaurant.
Gyeoul beckoned to the server to bring the bill while the rest finished up their remaining wine. She extended her hand when the cheque was brought to the table. The waiting staff retreated when he felt that there was soon going to be an argument over who would pay the bill. Minha and Seokyeong asked to see the bill so that they could pay their share when Gyeoul paused, smiled, handed it to Minha and said, “you are going to pay for this eonnie.”
“Of course, let me…” Seokhyeong extended his hand.
“Aniyo,” she said, taking it further away from him and closer to Minha. “Minha eonnie will pay for this.”
Minha blinked. This restaurant was way out of budget for her to pay for everyone. And given how drained her finances were in the aftermath of her wedding, she wasn’t really in the best position to pay the bill.
“You accused me of being rich by marriage some months ago. Now, we are on equal footing, won’t you say?”
Minha huffed and then stared at her best friend as she realised that every argument she had made that day now applied to her. Clearly, she had been too exhausted and caught up with all the marriage prep then to realise how easily Gyeoul could turn the situation over its head.
Minha opened her mouth in a feeble attempt at arguing her way out of it but Gyeoul beat her to it.
“I thought Taegun Apparel, which is enormous in itself, was what Seokhyeong oppa’s family owned. But,” she said, looking at Jeongwon, “I was informed that his eomoni owns several buildings all over the country, not to mention three buildings in Gangnam…”
“Gyeoulah…” Minha tried to interject.
“And! Isn’t Seokhyeong oppa going to be the sole heir to it all?”
Seokhyeong looked at Gyeoul and his wife and then turned to Jeongwon. “What is happening here? Is it something I should be aware of?”
Jeongwon was shaking with silent laughter. “Let’s not get between these two best friends,” he replied, waving his hand. Seokhyeong sat back, curiously watching the women’s exchange.
Minha and Gyeoul stared at each other intensely – Gyeoul with a smile dripping with innocence and Minha with narrow eyes.
Minha opened her purse and fished out a platinum card giving her husband a sheepish yet angry look. Seokyeong’s face broke out into a smug smile when he looked at the card she was holding. Just a couple of weeks ago he had given it to her because he said he wanted to feel like a ‘responsible husband’ by paying for his wife’s upkeep. Minha was offended and had said that she could pay for her own upkeep. An argument had followed with Seokhyeong sliding the platinum card into his annoyed and unwilling wife’s wallet and saying, “fine, don’t use it. Just keep it for my mental satisfaction. You can do that for me, won’t you?” Minha had huffed and turned her head away in anger, which he took for an ‘okay, fine!’ Seeing her use it now, he was not only amused but a primal part of him felt happy that he had provided for his wife in some way.
The bill was paid and the four got up on their feet to leave the restaurant. The women walked ahead of the men.
“Eonnie,” Gyeoul whispered, locking her hand with Minha’s. “You’re new to this so let me advise you, since I’ve been here before. It’ll take a bit to get used to the idea but we’re rich now.”
Minha laughed, shaking her head. “But I don’t feel like it.”
“I know! I know exactly what you mean. But, well, that’s how it is now.”
“How are you still so grounded?”
“Don’t you know how miserly my husband is? I have to maintain the image.”
“Gyeoulah, no one thinks your husband is miserly other than four of the Lacking 5.”
“I know, but I still try.”
They laughed conspiratorially.
The men couldn't hear what their wives were saying but whatever it was, like all those times before, was surely going to stay between the two.
“It’s been years but I still feel like the third wheel when I’m with these two,” Seokhyeong muttered.
Jeongwon sighed in faux defeat. “Tell me about it.”