From Wonso Pond by Kang Kyong-ae Page B

all the vines. He walked to the side of the patch to touch one, then removed his hat and began fanning himself.
    â€œJust look at these. This is why I love the countryside!”
    Okchom spun around, stood a moment, and walked over to him.
    â€œIt’s hot out here. Let’s go up inside.”
    Okchom had small beads of sweat forming beneath her nose. Sinch’ol wanted to catch his breath before climbing into the melon hut, so he plopped to the ground at the side of the field. Okchom’s mother, meanwhile, had craned her neck to see what was going on.
    â€œWhy are you sitting there, of all places?” Okchom said with a scowl.
    Sinch’ol shielded his face from the sun with his hat and wiped the sweat from his brow. He took a deep breath of air. Okchom stared at his broad shoulders. She was convinced that if she were in his position, she would never have sat facing away from him. It was unbearable that the two of them weren’t sitting face to face—even for this brief instant. She felt ignored.
    Sinch’ol jumped to his feet and took several brisk strides away from her. After searching in the grass for a moment, he lifted up a cluster of strawberries, leaves still attached. He held them up with a smile on his face as he walked back to Okchom.
    â€œOh, where did you find them? They’re such a pretty color!”
    Okchom snatched them out of Sinch’ol’s hand and studied them, her head cocked to the side.
    â€œ Kore anata no haato ? Is this your heart?” she asked in Japanese, staring up at Sinch’ol with a faint coloring on her cheeks. Sinch’ol looked back and forth between the strawberries and Okchom’s face. He felt a strange urge grow inside of him.
    â€œCome, let’s go up now.”
    Okchom walked ahead, and Sinch’ol followed her up the ladder. Okchom’s mother looked between the two affectionately.

    â€œWhat’s the matter? Did your father say he didn’t want to come?”
    â€œWho’d want to go and see that whore!” Okchom answered, as she tried to select a melon.
    She glanced over at Sinch’ol, then turned to her mother, who still seemed a little disappointed. “Well, it is awfully hot today, isn’t it?” Okchom’s mother said, brushing off her hurt feelings with a smile.
    â€œDid the owner say this was a sweet one, mother?”
    Okchom held up one of the melons.
    â€œYes, go ahead and slice it.”
    Okchom cut it in half with a knife. The flesh was green, and gave off the strong smell of honey.
    â€œOh, look at this. I bet it’s delicious.”
    Holding it up for them both to see, Okchom peeled off the skin and gave a piece to Sinch’ol.
    â€œWhy don’t we give this to your mother?” he said, taking it from her.
    â€œOh, just eat it.”
    Glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, she tossed the knife to the floor. Then, picking up the strawberries she had placed beside her, she smiled. To her, they seemed like tokens of Sinch’ol’s love. She stared at the strawberries from different angles, then attached them to her hat.
    â€œLook. Isn’t this pretty?”
    Okchom’s mother had dozed off for a moment, but started up at the sound of her daughter’s voice.
    â€œMy goodness! Where did the strawberries come from?”
    â€œMother, didn’t you know I had them?” she laughed, then added, “It looks like you’re falling asleep again . . .”
    â€œLet’s go back, then.”
    â€œAlready? Why don’t you go ahead.”
    Her mother rose slowly. It seemed difficult for her to stay any longer.
    â€œEnjoy yourself, young man. I’m going back now.”
    â€œOh, but why not go back with us?”
    Sinch’ol followed Okchom’s mother to the base of the hut and bowed to her politely. Okchom looked down on them from atop the platform.
    â€œ Anata wa baka shōjiki wa ne . Don’t be so earnest,”