A group chat notification interrupts her.
Just as she was about to take her time and talk, a group chat notification rang first.
Sumin wanted to find a pace that felt right for them. But the moment she brought it up, a group chat notification from her partner stopped her mid-sentence.
After dinner, Sumin sits in a café, wanting to tell her partner Junho that she’d like to take things slowly together. Junho’s group chat notification rings, and he checks his phone and replies in the middle of their conversation. Sumin lets her words drop. Later, in counseling, she tries to say again what she’d meant to tell him, then stops.
When you want to find a pace together
Even in an intimate relationship, you may each feel comfortable moving at a different pace. Instead of asking who’s right, notice where the conversation stops.
When you wanted to find a pace that felt right for both of you, what did you want to say first?
Just as I was about to say I wanted us to take things slowly, a notification rang, and Junho replied to someone else first. What stayed with me most wasn’t the difference in our pace, but the fact that I’d lost the chance to put it into words. If you’ve been through something similar, you can tell me what words were on the tip of your tongue.
Scenes
- 01 · The evening the notification rang The notification came first — Just as Sumin is about to suggest they take their time finding a pace together, Junho’s group chat notification rings. Sumin: I want us to take our time talking about this. Junho: One sec. I’ll just reply to the group chat.
- 02 · A shorter reply His eyes on the screen — Junho sends a reply to the group chat. Sumin stops mid-sentence and looks at the rim of her teacup. Junho: Yeah, see you tomorrow at seven.
- 03 · Words she started to say, then stopped What she wanted to say then — Sumin tries again in the counseling room to say what she’d meant to say at the café that day. Sumin: I was going to say I wanted to take things slowly. Haeon: That’s where the words stopped. What else was left on the tip of your tongue?
- 04 · Words left at her lips The pause at the end of her words — Sumin can’t continue. She can’t take her eyes off the glass of water. Haeon: Would you tell me whatever comes to mind about what you wanted to say after that? Sumin: ……
Stories by Haeon
- Haeon
- After the funeral, I find it hard to bring up contraception and testing.
- When someone reaches out after a long time, it’s hard to make plans based on silence alone.
- I fold away my hopes while waiting for a reply
- I keep putting off talking to my parents about my body every Sunday night.
- Sunday night, my feelings get tangled only after we’ve been close
- Someone I haven’t heard from in ages got in touch. Is it okay to bring up contraception first?
- It was my day off, but I said yes again.
- On a day off, a mislearned idea about my body comes to mind