My heart feels torn on the way to work
On the subway to work, I opened a fortune reading about our compatibility. What would two people on the same line talk about first: work or love?
Suyeon was reading the compatibility fortune with her partner when he asked which came first, work or love. Instead of answering, she looked back down at the paper.
On the subway to work, Suyeon’s partner Minho asked to see their compatibility reading. He read the line, “Make time for each other,” and said work had to come first. Suyeon couldn’t answer right away. In the counseling room, Yeonhwa sat with them as they looked at how each of them understood the same sentence differently. The question Suyeon had wanted to ask never quite made it into words.
When you’re torn between work and love
A question about priorities can sound like you’re being asked to choose one or the other. Looking at how the question came up can make what you really want to work out together a little clearer.
When did priorities between work and love come up?
The moment on the subway when she heard those words but couldn’t let go of the paper stayed with me. “Make time for each other” had somehow turned into a question about who would step back first. If you’re holding on to words like that, you can start by telling me about that moment.
Scenes
- 01 · The words he brought up first The words he brought up first — On the subway to work, Minho held out the compatibility reading to Suyeon. The words “priorities between work and love” were underlined. Minho: Want to look at this together? Which comes first for you, work or me? Suyeon: Why are you asking me that all of a sudden?
- 02 · Work comes first Work comes first — Pointing to the underlined words, Minho said work had to come first for now. Suyeon held the paper and didn’t answer. Minho: For now, work has to come first for me. Suyeon: Yeah.
- 03 · The paper that wouldn’t fold The paper that wouldn’t fold — In the counseling room, Suyeon smoothed the folded corner of the paper and said that even after Minho said work came first, the question “Then when will it be my turn?” stayed with her. Suyeon: After hearing that, I wanted to ask when it would be my turn. Yeonhwa: I imagine that question kept catching your eye, like the crease in the paper. What did Minho’s face look like then?
- 04 · The question left unasked The question left unasked — Suyeon folded the paper halfway. She said she didn’t know what to say to Minho first. Suyeon: Then what should I ask first? Yeonhwa: Suyeon, the words “when will it be my turn?” came up first. What part of that is weighing on you most right now?
Stories by Yeonhwa
- Yeonhwa
- At the company dinner, I wonder if I can let go of an old habit.
- I was only being kind. Why am I being called a flirt?
- When payday comes, I count who likes whom more.
- The way people spend at work dinners keeps catching my attention.
- I keep thinking about the conversation that ended, every afternoon.
- On my way to work, I heard about a big expense.
- On their birthday morning, you hold back the greeting, afraid your feelings might show.
- I want to choose someone to live with, but I’m just waiting for the tarot reading.