My Liberation Notes (나의 해방일지)

Your drink is ready.

Thank you. Come again.

So I joined the tango club, and I was appalled.

You can hear people breathing up close.

Why do people breathe so loudly?

My boss put his hand on my shoulder,

and it was hot and sweaty.

In table tennis, there's sweat everywhere.

It just spatters everywhere.

When my boss got in the elevator with me,

I pulled back without even realizing it.

I can still feel all the moistness I felt on that day.

Sweating with your colleagues is not the way to go.

Musical and theater clubs are the best.

You can just enjoy the show.

The problem with those clubs is the meet-up after.

How you feel about the show should be up to you.

But they always force their opinions on you.

If I say I enjoyed it, they say it was boring.

It drives me crazy.

I mean, can't we separate the clubs into older and younger groups?

Right? Can't someone suggest it?

Then the higher-ups will be upset.

You think?

What's it like in your clubs?

It's mostly people in their forties.

How about yours, Mi-jeong?

She's not a part of any, remember?

That's right, she doesn't do any.

Not even one?

Why? They cover all the costs.

Many sign up for two or three of them.

You know…

I'm just not interested.

Hey, you think we do it because we are?

You go to have fun!

And if you can get a date out of it, even better.

It takes me three seconds to realize there's no one there for me.

Nine times out of ten.

Most of the time, seriously.

But there's always that one chance

that you might meet someone.

That's why it's worth going to ten different clubs.

Come with me today.

Just come, okay?

You can do it! Just one more!

Haven't you joined any clubs?

Why not? There are many good clubs.

I live quite far away.

Where do you live?

In Sanpo.

Is that by Yongin?

It's near Suwon.

Good luck, sir!

You got this, boss!

Nice!

Well done.

You can do it!

-You can do it! -You can do it!

Looks like I'll be late today.

JUNE 21ST

Let's go!

Hey, I can drink more. I'm taking a cab home today.

-Will Mi-jeong be late too? -Yes.

I'll be late too. Meet me at Gangnam Station at 12.

You got this!

Let's just talk about it face to face.

Our whole relationship has been over texts.

Even all of our fights were through texts.

You want to break up through a text too?

At least when we break up, I want to say it loudly right to your face.

I'll be waiting.

I said, I'll be waiting!

-Nice shot! -Nice shot!

I'll be late too.

I'll see you then.

-You're so good at bowling. -Are you sure you're not pro?

Gosh, you're so good at bowling.

You were incredible.

-You were amazing. -You're really good.

You even got a strike.

How are you so cool?

-Everything you tossed out was a strike. -No.

-I know, right? -You're so good at it.

I can't get my form right.

Are you leaving? Stay a bit longer.

It's late.

I'll head out first.

You're leaving already?

I need to catch the last train.

She lives far away.

Where was it again?

You should move closer.

Doesn't our company offer a housing subsidy?

It's only ten million won.

-That's it? -Yes.

All right, cheers.

Where are you?

Hello.

You came pretty early.

It's been ages. Seeing anyone these days?

Another beer glass and a pair of chopsticks, please.

Sure.

He asked where I lived.

I said I live in Gyeonggi-do, so it didn't matter where we met in Seoul.

I told him to pick a place that worked best for him.

I did say that.

But shouldn't he at least have asked where in Gyeonggi-do I live in?

But he went, "Really?"

Then he said to meet in Samcheong.

Can you believe that?

Anyway, so I followed Route 1 all the way up,

crossing the Han River.

This guy clearly has no idea what Gyeonggi-do even looks like.

I went all the way up there, but…

Jeez, I'm tearing up.

Hey, where can you buy a gun in Korea?

A slap in his face won't cut it.

I should just put three bullets in him.

Do you know what it's like for me to go to Seoul on the weekend too?

How could they set me up with someone like that?

Being divorced, I don't care about.

It's no big deal these days.

I would even be jealous. I might even be okay if he's been married twice.

But come on, he has a kid!

Nothing's more precious to you than your own kid.

But that kid means nothing to me since it's not my kid.

We already have such a huge thing dividing us.

A woman and a man are trying to live together,

but if their priorities are different, how could that ever work?

Hey.

His kid is an eighth-grader. You know what they're like.

You can't tell if they are animals or a malfunctioning cyborg…

A lot of people who already have kids marry each other and live happily.

They recognize the importance of each other's kids

and care for them…

Why should I not say anything?

Did you two fight?

How could you be like this on her birthday?

Did your mom give you anything?

Come on, eat up.

Look at me. Do I look like I haven't eaten yet?

What did your mom give you?

Didn't she give you anything?

She did.

Then why aren't you telling me what she gave you?

I asked her for money.

Happy birthday.

They're earphones. Expensive ones.

Thank you.

Thanks for being born.

Thank you, truly.

Who do your Auntie Hui-seon and I have but you?

When we're old and lonely, I'm glad we'll have someone to call.

Hey, don't worry.

I won't bother you too much. I'll try to kick the bucket in one go.

-I got it. -I'm just relieved.

I'm glad to have you. You're like insurance.

When you were born, you were so little. I couldn't believe you were actually real.

When did you get this big? When did you turn into a whole person?

By the way, do you usually speak this quietly in a barbecue restaurant?

I've never seen people whispering while drinking at a barbecue place.

-I feel terrible, I drank too much. -Right.

Hey, it's late, let's go.

Yes, it's late.

Go.

I'm sorry.

Pick it up for her, will you?

A beer, please!

Where is he?

Thank you.

I may have gotten divorced…

but the best decision I ever made

was getting married.

How else would I have met such a precious kid?

How do you know him?

From work.

Then you should've said hi sooner.

I just know his face. We're not on the same team.

Jo Yu-rim!

Did you eat the seaweed soup I made for you this morning?

You call that soup? It was so thick that I couldn't get the ladle in.

What did Auntie Gyeong-seon get you?

That looks expensive.

Happy birthday to you

We're already here. Hurry up.

I'm on my way. I'll be there soon!

I can't believe him.

YEOM GI-JEONG

So you were messaging me and that guy at the same time?

At one in the morning, at that!

You don't do that? Everyone texts more than two people all the time.

Not when I'm texting my lover at one in the morning.

I don't text my lover "I miss you too" when it's meant for someone else

and then delete it.

I don't send a bunch of heart emojis and LOLs to others while texting my lover.

Did I meet him in person and flirt or something?

You know you have to be more friendly in messages.

You can't tell if words are being said with a smile or a serious look.

That's why I stick a LOL at the end of everything.