Minseo was thirty-five. More precisely, she had only recently turned thirty-five. There had been nothing especially remarkable about her birthday. A few coworkers had sent cake emojis over the company messenger, and her mother had called first thing in the morning to ask whether she had eaten seaweed soup. For dinner, Minseo ordered pasta and ate it alone.

There had been a time when birthdays meant plans. Drinks with friends, pictures, and a hangover the next morning. These days, if her birthday fell on a weekday, it was simply a weekday.

Minseo was in her ninth year at the company. She had carried the title of assistant manager for quite a while now, and people had begun mentioning that she might be up for promotion to manager soon.

She wasn't bad at her job. If anything, she was good at it. She could put together reports quickly, knew what to say in meetings without creating trouble for herself, and knew exactly whom to call first when something went wrong.

When she was new, she had believed doing good work meant being recognized for it. Until her early thirties, she had worked fairly hard at improving herself too. She took classes after work, looked into certifications, bought books related to her field.

But after nine years in an office, she knew better. Being good at your job did not guarantee a promotion. Promotions depended on timing, whether there was an opening, and whose team you had happened to work under. And becoming a manager did not exactly make your salary skyrocket.

Still, work had to be done. That was what a company was.

She spent the morning in meetings and the afternoon revising documents.

“Assistant Manager Song, you can get this done by today, right?”

“Yes. I can.”

Because even if she said she couldn't, she would have to do it anyway.

Just before she left work, her phone buzzed. It was the group chat with her college friends.

[Sujin is getting married ♥]

A mobile wedding invitation and engagement photos followed. Messages poured in one after another.

You're gorgeousㅠㅠ Finally!!! lol Where are you going for your honeymoon?

Minseo typed too.

Congratulations ♥ You look amazing.

Sujin was a good friend. Minseo genuinely meant it.

A little later, a high school friend sent her a baby photo. Her second child this time.

Had her this morning. I'm finally doneㅠㅠ

Minseo congratulated her too.

Her phone was full of news like that these days.

Marriage. Pregnancy. Babies.

First birthdays. Housewarmings.

And then there were divorces.

Her college friend Hyunju had divorced after three years of marriage. Her husband had hidden debt from before their wedding. Minseo had been shocked for a long time when she first heard about it.

So whenever marriage came up around her, she sometimes thought of Hyunju.

Right. Better alone than with just anyone.

The thought made her feel a little better.

As she was packing up to leave, Serin at the next desk glanced over.

(Serin): “Assistant Manager, it's Friday. What are you doing tonight?”

(Minseo): “Going home.”

(Serin): “No plans?”

(Minseo): “Nope.”

(Serin): “Running clubs are really popular these days. My friend met her boyfriend through one.”

(Minseo): “Running?”

(Serin): “Yeah. They meet early on weekend mornings, run together, then go have brunch.”

Minseo considered it for a moment. It didn't sound bad. She could meet people and exercise at the same time.

The moment she got on the subway, she searched:

Seoul running club office workers

She opened the first recruitment post.

Saturday, 7:30 a.m. meetup

Minseo stared at the screen.

Wake up early on the weekend too?

She closed the page.

If she wanted to meet someone, she had to do something. Open a dating app. Join a club. Go running.

But even deciding to do any of those things felt exhausting.

Then again, if she spent the entire weekend at home, by evening she would feel pathetic for doing nothing.

It was strange. She couldn't be bothered to make plans with anyone, but when she saw no one, she felt lonely.

She had gotten off the subway and was walking home when her mother called.

“Yeah.”

— You off work?

“Yeah. On my way home.”

— What are you doing tomorrow?

“Don't know.”

— You're not staying home again, are you?

Minseo said nothing.

— This is exactly why you need to meet people. How long are you going to keep doing nothing but work, home, work, home?

“I need someone to meet first.”

— Someone I know wants to introduce you to a man. Want to go out with him once?

“How old is he?”

— Forty-one.

Minseo went quiet.

“Mom.”

— What? Six years is nothing these days.

“Why is he still unmarried at forty-one?”

— Why are you still unmarried at thirty-five?

She had no comeback.

Minseo pulled the phone slightly away from her ear.

“I'm home. I'm hanging up.”

— Seriously, if you keep this up—

She ended the call.

She stepped inside and turned on the lights. It was a small studio apartment, but more than enough for one person. The subway was close, and work wasn't far either. It was a jeonse lease, secured with the money she had saved over several years and a modest loan.

She had been proud when she first signed the contract.

Then, not long ago, a friend who had married young told her that she and her husband had bought an apartment. They had both worked and saved together for almost eight years.

Her friend sent photos of the new place. Minseo congratulated her sincerely.

Then she looked around her own apartment.

A few steps from the entrance was her bed. From the bed, she could see the refrigerator.

If I'd gotten married around twenty-eight, would I own a home by now too?

Then she thought of Hyunju. Hyunju, who had married a man who hid his debt and divorced three years later.

Right. Better alone.

Minseo took a beer from the fridge.

This place was plenty for one person. Her salary was enough to support herself. She didn't have to answer to anyone.

It was comfortable. Really comfortable.

Except lately, those words sometimes sounded like something she was saying only to reassure herself.

Saturday.

When Minseo opened her eyes, it was 12:48 p.m.

She checked her phone. One friend was at a kids' cafe with her child. Another was shopping for furniture for her newlywed home. Someone on social media had already run along the Han River that morning, and someone else had posted a picture from the top of a mountain.

Minseo thought for a moment.

Should I do something too?

A book she had bought recently caught her eye on the shelf.

《The Two Hours After Work That Will Change Your Future》

The title seemed unusually accusatory today.

She pulled it out and read ten or so pages. It was about making yourself more competitive as an office worker. Learn new skills. Prepare for the future. Increase your value.

Minseo closed the book.

What would change if I got even better at work?

Her promotion wasn't coming immediately. Being better at her job wouldn't increase next month's paycheck. And she had no desire to spend her evenings building more skills for the company.

But it wasn't as if there was something else she desperately wanted to do either.

She put the book back on the shelf.

She ordered lunch.

(Minseo): “Please leave it at the door.”

She ate, turned on a drama, and fell asleep halfway through.

When she opened her eyes again, it was dark outside.

5:36 p.m.

Minseo sat motionless on the sofa for a while.

She hadn't seen anyone all day. The only thing she had said out loud was:

“Please leave it at the door.”

That was it.

And suddenly, a thought came to her.

What am I waiting for?

She wasn't waiting to get married. She wasn't waiting for a promotion. She didn't dream of quitting her job.

There wasn't anything in particular she was trying to achieve.

Was she unhappy?

No.

She had a job. A home. Her health.

Friends.

But if someone asked whether she was happy, she wasn't sure of that either.

Nothing much happened. Today. Yesterday.

Probably next week too.

Minseo picked up her phone and typed into the search bar:

35-year-old single woman

She skimmed a few results and closed them.

Then:

growing old alone

She closed that too.

A while later she opened the search bar again.

what to do when life feels boring

Exercise. Hobbies. Travel.

Meditation. Meet people. Learn something new.

All things she had already thought about at least once.

She scrolled until her finger stopped.

Two-day, one-night temple stay A chance to pause and look inward

Minseo stared at the photos.

Mountains. A temple. Trees.

Not many people, by the look of it.

That part appealed to her.

She opened the booking page.

This weekend. One spot left.

Minseo hesitated.

Then she paid.

[Your temple stay reservation is confirmed.]

The moment the message arrived, she came to her senses.

“…Why did I do that?”

She opened the reservation again. There was a cancel button.

Her finger hovered over it, then stopped.

If she canceled, she knew exactly what this weekend would look like. Sleep late. Order delivery. Think she should do something. End up doing nothing.

Minseo put her phone down.

She didn't cancel.

She had no idea what she was supposed to do at a Buddhist temple. She wasn't religious, and she had never done 108 bows in her life.

Honestly, she regretted it a little.

Still, she felt like she had to do something. Anything she wouldn't normally do.

She checked the reservation message one more time.

This Saturday. Two days, one night.

She sighed.

“Great. Now I actually have to go.”

And so Minseo ended up heading into the mountains—not because of some grand determination to “look inward,” but simply because she wanted to escape one more weekend exactly like all the others.