Virus (바이러스)

WHAT'S HIS DEAL? IT'S BEEN OVER 30 MINUTES

IS HE SITTING SOMEWHERE ELSE?

THERE'S ONE OTHER COUPLE HERE BESIDES ME

HE MUST BE STUCK IN TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF THE RAIN

CAN YOU WAIT A BIT? PLEASE?

Hello.

MISSING THE SUNNY DAYS! YOUR FOREVER PRESIDENT, KIM YEON-WOO

Ms. Ok Taek-seon?

Hi, I'm Nam Su-pil. Your sister set us up.

- Hello. - Hi.

The new student…

had a nosebleed.

Everyone is busy with their theses these days.

Right. I need to check how the enzyme was handled by lunchtime

and send the amino acid for sequencing.

Thanks to MERS and COVID-19, researchers like us are in demand now.

Well…

What's your major?

I can't remember.

It's been over ten years since I graduated.

I studied Korean literature.

I see.

I heard that you attended a graduate school

for simultaneous interpretation in English.

Right. I wanted to write a novel, but I learned it wasn't for me.

So I switched to English.

I wanted to be an interpreter, but that wasn't for me either.

So I'm a translator now.

Looks like translation was meant for you.

Do you like mice?

I wouldn't say I like them. It's more like grief.

Grief?

I once had a mutant mouse from Japan for a diabetes project,

named Masako.

"Masako"?

We usually name the mice that we work with.

And Masako's last words were,

"Remember my death. Make sure it wasn't for nothing."

- The mouse said that? - In my dream.

In your dream?

I see.

She may have been a lab mouse,

but she was quite ill before she died.

Lab mice live and die solely for the sake of humans.

They die when we draw blood from their hearts

and when their body temperature drops.

And sometimes, they just die for no reason.

What's your favorite animal?

Cat.

Excuse me.

Hey, Jeong-hun.

Just turn the machine and take it out.

Just leave it.

I'm sorry, but I need to leave now.

Sure, go ahead. Work is important.

It's an important experiment.

I'm sorry. I wanted to grab some food with you.

I'll call you another time, Ms. Ok Sin-taek.

- It's Taek-seon. - Pardon?

- Never mind. Please go ahead. - Okay.

What if Jennifer dies too?

No, don't feed her.

No! First,

put those things back and…

That's right!

Have you seen a long green umbrella here?

I think the man took it earlier.

He took my umbrella?

Damn it.

All I remember from the date today is the mouse.

The mouse?

He said he heard the mouse's last words.

What?

The mouse's name was Masako.

Masako?

He asked me why she said those words.

He's kind of weird,

but it means he takes his work seriously.

He's always either at home or in the lab.

I bet he hasn't dated many girls either.

That only makes him weirder.

But he's a doctor.

He makes good money, and he's never been married.

- At your age, he's a pretty good-- - Are you on his side?

Of course.

Jeez, snap out of it.

I told you not to take these.

I only take them when I can't fall asleep.

Just give him one more chance.

This could be your only chance to date a doctor.

Apparently, human translators won't be needed anymore because of AI.

When you lose your job, don't expect me to help.

Look. No matter how good AI gets, only humans can handle the details.

And you're still single because you're hung up on the stupid details.

Look at your sister.

She never got good grades,

but she got a nice husband with that smiley face.

He even opened a hair salon for her.

And stop drinking alone at home.

Why drink alone? It's pathetic.

Jeez, could you two leave now?

Seriously, what's with all the cooking and cleaning today?

Today's not my birthday.

And you. Why did you put makeup on my face at this hour?

It only added to my stress. My face isn't your practice dummy.

And you look prettier now. Oh, he's here.

- Hello. - Hello.

Oh, my. You really came.

Was it difficult to find?

No, it was all right.

- Did you plan all this? - Please come in.

Oh, my.

Did you run? You're all sweaty.

- Mom, let's go. - Okay.

You're a doctor, so you know what to do, right?

You're both grown-ups.

Go ahead and have a heart-to-heart, okay?

Are you really going to leave me alone here?

You told us to leave.

Right. Don't talk about mice, okay?

- Let's go. - The stove's on. Watch out for the pot.

Now, come on.

Taek-seon, I'm not a bad person.

That's what all the bad ones say.

Look, Mr. Nam.

Yes.

Please leave now.

I don't think this is going to work.

We barely know each other.

We can't be doing this here at this time of night.

This is where I live by myself, you know.

Right.

I'm sorry.

- I'll leave. - Okay.

Can I ask you one thing, though?

Sure, go ahead.

Could you say your name and mine backward?

Su-pil…

Pil-su?

"Choice required"?

- It's not funny, right? - No.

Right. I'm sorry.

Are you crying?

Mr. Nam.

Mr. Nam?

The world's a tough place, you know.

You're more of a softie than I am.

I thought we were on the same page.

Is this some sort of a power game?

What's a power game?

Never mind. Don't worry about it.

You said you were studying

molecular virology, right?

People usually forget that after hearing it once.

You talked about it for a long time.

Let me tell you a secret.

I'm actually studying something very important.

It's about human happiness.

- Happiness? - Yes.

The person who was in charge went to the US, so I took over.

If this succeeds, it's going to be huge.

What…

CHECK OUT OUR UPDATED CATALOG!

Who is it?

It's a message from my elementary school group chat.

Oh, that's a relief.

I wish today was Christmas.

Why?

Well…

That's my birthday, and I've never had a girlfriend to spend it with.

Do you know the book Around the World in Eighty Days?

That's always been my dream.

Traveling the world with my girlfriend for 80 days.

Taek-seon.

You're so beautiful.

I put on makeup.

Why don't we do it together?

Let's travel the world.

Your pupils are dilated.

Shall we celebrate this day?

It's the day we became a couple.

Hey! What are you doing?

What the…

Let's…

get married.

I'm serious.

Get off me.

- What do you take me for? - Taek-seon, don't get me wrong.

Taek-seon.

Taek-seon.

I'm sorry. I'm not the kind of person you think I am.

I didn't feel anything at first,

but then my heart raced and I couldn't stop thinking of you.

- I-- - Su-pil.

You seem like a good person.

But please leave now.

Or I'll have to call the police.

You don't even know me. I'm not a good person.

You mentioned Around the World in Eighty Days.

I've once stayed home for over 80 days.