episode_0040

Yumina leaned back in her seat. It is questionable what purpose this Chief Secretary’s grandfather had in his approach.

I glanced at him and our eyes met. Grandpa smiled softly.

“Where do you want to go?”

“Just… to the nearby library.”

I don’t know if the library was closed or not, but I answered anyway. When the grandfather nodded, the car moved as if the driver had checked it in the rear-view mirror.

In the video on the laptop, Cha Ha-neul and Do Yoo-geon were still arguing. Could it be that he came because of Do Yoo Geon? Considering that the chief of staff came in person, it seems like the intention was on the grandfather’s part rather than Cha Ha-neul’s father, and from the grandfather’s point of view, Do Yoo-geon loitering around near Cha Ha-neul might have been annoying. But then why did he approach me? It would be right to go to Do Yoo-geon.

Grandpa closed the laptop. The voices that were being heard died out and silence came.

“I have seen Miss Cha Ha-neul since she was young. It has been a year since she entered middle school, but I am very worried. She is not a very sociable person.”

Grandpa laughed quietly.

“I want to hear about your school life.”

What is Cha Ha-neul’s school life like? Pictures of Cha Ha-neul’s bad life in many ways passed through my head. Then, a thought occurred to me. After all, the school is owned by Cha Ha-neul’s mother’s foundation, so wouldn’t they know all this? As you said, a year has passed since you enrolled, so I wonder why you are asking now. There may be many complicated circumstances, but… … .

“Cha Ha-neul, I’m going around comfortably.”

“In what way?”

Going out for a walk during class time, not coming into class on a nice day, etc. I opened my mouth for a moment to speak, then closed it. When I try to speak, I feel reluctant to speak without him. It’s true, but it’s even more so because speaking of it, it’s like gossip.

“Just take it easy.”

“Like skipping class or something like that?”

It seems like he knows everything and is asking.

“Yes, well, that’s right.”

“How was it with your friend?”

“…I get along well with my friends.”

Cha Ha-neul has one friend at school. To put it bluntly, it’s just you. That’s why it’s a bit difficult to make friends because Cha Ha-neul himself makes a point of telling people not to approach him. At the beginning of the semester, many of the people I wanted to be friends with had all dropped out thanks to that, and now I can declare that I am a friend in front of myself, but I told them all that I had taken a different approach at first. Usually, in cases like this, Cha Ha-neul was determined and irritated, but he was an exception, so he was a bit surprised.

“How have you been?”

If you ask me in what way, should I answer that what I just said was a lie?

“Just… like Cha Ha-neul?”

After saying it, it was a poor answer.

The old man looked at me for a moment and then laughed. I feel cold sweat.

“I’m glad you’re doing well.”

“yes.”

When I looked out the window, the library was still far away. It was close so I thought we would all get there, but it was far. The situation is so uncomfortable, I wish I had arrived sooner. But isn’t this going around now? I carefully looked at the distance and found that it was turning around. It felt cheap.

When I looked back at my grandfather, I saw him smiling gently while looking at the front of the car. It feels oddly out of sync.

“I’m glad, but I’m getting older and I’m worried that it’s my fault. What if I make a bad friend? What if I go down a bad path? I’m more worried because the young lady is kind to her friends. Is this too much?”

“No, whatever.”

What are you thinking about going around? I didn’t even tell the driver, but seeing it go like this makes me think it was planned in advance. So it would be true that he approached me with a different intention, but what was his intention really?

I leaned into the corner. All of this is uncomfortable.

“It’s even more so because of this incident. You ignore the security guard’s words and hang out with your friends in a dangerous situation. Your concerns have become reality, huh.”

I think you’re talking about Do Yu-geon. Cha Ha-neul is being dragged around by Do Yoo-geon.

There was silence for a moment, so I hesitated before opening my mouth.

“But why are you telling me that?”

Our eyes met.

“Since you are my friend, wouldn’t you be able to tell her nicely not to do that?”

“Yes, of course.”

However, with such content, I think it would be quicker to persuade Do Yoo-geon. Even if I said that to Cha Ha-neul, she would just brush it off and say that she knew.

“Then let me ask you a favor.”

“yes.”

I leaned heavily into the seat. It wasn’t a big reason, but I was nervous for no reason. It must have been an unavoidable action since the introduction was long. The library was close too.

“I’m glad you found a good friend.”

I was both embarrassed and happy because he was clearly a good friend.

“But I heard you are wandering around at night. Are you having any trouble?”

“yes?”

This is suddenly an uncomfortable story. Adults are usually not considerate in this way, but it is so sudden.

“……No. I just like being outside.”

It was an awkward answer even to myself.

“is that so.”

The grandfather took out a paper bag from his pocket and handed it to him. I was curious about something and made eye contact, so he motioned for me to open it.

“It’s a small gift, so please accept it.”

I took a quick look and opened the envelope. Inside was a bankbook, a card, and an unknown piece of paper.

I looked again and checked the contents. I can guess what it is. To be honest, it’s not like I didn’t imagine such a small income while living with Cha Ha-neul. The purpose of my first approach to Cha Ha-neul was also to try to reduce my dependency on pocket money, and as intended, Cha Ha-neul bought me this and that for me, so even now that my pocket money was cut off, I was able to go out with my savings left over.

I opened my bank account and looked at the details. There were seven zeros after the 2 and two commas in between. After a moment of lost thought, I understood the value. Twenty million.

My mouth opened wide. I felt like I missed something, so I looked at my grandfather and saw that he was looking at the front of the car. I closed the account and looked at the card. It’s like a card connected to a bank account. I left the card behind and unfolded a piece of paper I couldn’t figure out. There was a brief map, an address, and a password written below. For a moment, I don’t understand what it is.

“It’s not a good house, but it’s good enough for a short stay. You can change the password, so change it to whatever you want.”

Complex emotions came over me and I held my breath for a moment.

“……thank you.”

The secretary’s grandfather laughed quietly for a moment and said to the driver.

“I’m done talking, so stop walking around and go to the library.”

The car headed toward the library.

Buildings and trees passed by outside the window. It was a street I normally see, but it felt different. The world is somehow a little more beautiful.

I occasionally saw reports on the news that Cha Ha-neul’s grandfather’s pharmaceutical company raised the price of drugs drastically, causing some patients to die, so I thought the people on Cha Ha-neul’s side were cold-blooded, but they were not. I’m sorry for no reason.

Twenty million is not enough money to do much. But it’s money that allows you to do things you can’t do. This will be enough money to find a room and live on your own for at least a few months. Moreover, now that I have a place to stay, it may be possible to remain financially independent while graduating from middle school with just this money. After that, if you go to high school in a place with a dormitory, you can at least not go home until you become an adult.

I felt relieved and my mood lifted. I felt the corners of my mouth twitch, but I didn’t think to stop it.

The car kept running and arrived in front of the library. I put the bankbook into a paper bag, and also included a card and a piece of paper with my home address written on it. And when I look at my grandfather to say thank you before leaving, I’m a little embarrassed because I remember how wary I was at first.

“Thank you.”

Grandpa just laughed quietly. It didn’t seem like he was giving me much of a greeting, so I grabbed the doorknob.

Around that time, my grandfather spoke as if he had suddenly remembered something.

“Oh my.”

“yes?”

“Hehe, maybe it’s because I’m getting older, but I often forget this. Can I ask you a few more things in addition to what I asked you earlier?”

“Yes, please speak.”

I let go of the doorknob and straightened my posture.

“I guess you’re not the kind of person to reveal your true feelings, right?”

“Yes.”

“This is so confusing that I feel like I want to know at least once. So, I’d like to ask as a friend.”

“What?”

“Do you like Do Yu-geon? The young lady says she doesn’t, but it’s still questionable….”

In the past, I often asked questions when I was bored, so there’s nothing I can’t ask. But is it okay to freely convey the answer I heard without Cha Ha-neul’s permission?

“I’ll ask Cha Ha-neul if I can tell him first.”

Grandfather shook his head.

“No. Then there’s no point. I’m telling you this without you knowing.”

“that…….”

The paper bag shook and rustled.

“And one more thing. Whenever I meet Do Yu-geon separately, I want you to tell me the various things she said about Do Yu-geon.”

“…What do you mean?

“It’s a gossip the lady said.”

Cha Ha-neul doesn’t say harsh things about Do Yoo-gun, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good thing to say.

“It’s like… it’s like this.”

“You understand quickly.”

My heart was pounding hard and I felt nauseous.

“Similarly, you can tell the lady about Do Yu-geon’s gossip.”

“That’s… Cha Ha-neul won’t leave me alone.”

“That’s right. So it’s possible to convey this to Do Yu-geon?”

My breathing became disturbed following the sound of my heart. The sound of the paper bag rustling was particularly loud.

If you get caught, wouldn’t it be okay if you apologize? I think Do Yoo-gun will let it go if he apologizes properly, and Cha Ha-neul… … . Wouldn’t it be a relationship where these mistakes can be tolerated at least once?

Grandpa looked at his watch and said.

“The next schedule is tight, so I hope you can answer quickly. Time passes even if you stay still.”

With this money, I can live without an allowance, and with this house, I can sleep outside. Something that allows you to imagine more things with a lighter mind and achieve a higher future.

“grandfather.”

“You can call me Chief Secretary.”

“It’s like tea sky.”

“What…?”

I took a breath.

“He’s rude, unlucky, and annoying!”

I threw the envelope in my face, opened the car door, and got out. I quickly ran towards the front door of the library, and soon I heard the sound of a car moving. When I looked back, the car was leaving the library. I don’t think I have any intention of chasing you.

After looking at it for a moment, I turned around and trudged back towards the front door of the library. My whole body felt weak and tired.

Why do things like this happen to me because I don’t know how to do anything? I can’t get my parents’ consent to work part-time, I have no other means of income, and I have no confidence in living well because I’m running away from home. I can’t do this, I can’t do that, I’m neither this nor neither… … .

I hit my head on the glass door of the library.

“Ugh!”

I touched my forehead and looked at the glass door and saw that it was closed.

“Why are you closed too!”

I shook the door, but it wouldn’t open. Why is this happening? After knocking on the door a few times, I stopped because my hands were sore.

I squatted down and took out my smartphone. After knocking a few times, Cha Ha-neul answered the phone.

“why?”

It was a calm voice.

“You’re annoying.”

“What are you saying all of a sudden?”

“He’s rude, unlucky, and annoying.”

“I know.”

“Even though you know now, you’re not fixing it? It’s even more annoying.”

“So what.”

Many emotions rushed through me.

“this person……!”

I had no words so I just hung up.

“Ugh…!”