episode_0021

When I woke up from a doze, the storm outside got worse.

dream? Or reality?

Lately, I’ve been having a hard time distinguishing between nightmares and reality.

I Twisted fish shadows dance in the black river that flows across the city, and the clown picks up a poodle with a pink balloon.

And the dead man comes back to life.

To meet us again-

-Alas, at the window! In that window!

… … … … window?

no. I guess I was mistaken for a moment.

Hmm, we’re in a tent right now so there are no windows. It’s inside a ‘secret base’ made of waterproof fabric and a metal framework.

How much did you end up using? Ah, I see!

—

It was my third year of middle school, almost before summer vacation.

This is an important time for high school entrance exams and future career paths.

It’s been a while since I had a meal with my dad, who doesn’t come home often because he’s busy with work.

As I mentioned earlier, my dad, Joo Hong-soo, is the chairman of Paradise Foundation, a bachelor’s foundation!

“Have you been seeing each other separately lately? As I was coming home earlier, I happened to see that he had grown significantly.”

“Yes… … . Ha, but we talk often.”

“That’s right. Middle school boys and girls can’t run around and play like kids. Of course that child will go on to our Nakwon High School, right?”

I nodded silently, but I didn’t really know the truth.

There is a possibility that they can apply to public schools on their own.

I was going to stop it somehow, but I was worried that our 10-year relationship would never end.

“Probably.”

“Supporting that child is half an investment, so I really hope you come.”

Dad muttered calmly while shaking the plum wine in the transparent cup.

“Investment… … ? Dad, what are you talking about-?”

“At the same time, it is atonement for his parents. They were both my childhood friends. However, I hated my hometown more than anyone else. It’s like I forced it on myself. I regret it if I had lived somewhere else, if I had paid off my debt.”

There is no doubt that he is a good man, but it is his bad habit to criticize and push himself more than necessary.

Knock the table! He gets up and corrects it.

“There is absolutely no reason to be sorry! Jeong-Gyu’s parents who committed suicide in front of their son are crazy. They’re all mentally ill!!”

“Stop. You are still a child. There’s no way you can understand an adult’s situation.”

“Well, I don’t understand either,” said Dad with a bitter smile.

When only the sound of the spoon hitting the bowl filled the surroundings, Dad, who was sipping the remaining alcohol in his cup, dropped a bombshell.

“I’m thinking of adopting it. I hope you work at our foundation after you graduate. Once you get used to the job, you can take it slow.”

Dude, at first I thought I heard wrong.

As someone whose conservative father is a woman, I am disappointed that he did not think of passing the business on to me in the first place.

It’s crazy that someone who was my childhood friend has become my family. I blushed and shouted!

“Yang, adoption is absolutely not allowed! Why adoption?”

He threw his hand back into a fist and stamped his foot like a child throwing a tantrum.

“Hmm? It’s the easiest way to become a family.”

“I hate myself. There is another way!? There is an easier way. Dad, think about it.”

When I point my index finger at exactly one spot on my father’s forehead, I stroke his chin and after much thought, come up with an answer.

“Indeed… … It’s okay to adopt a daughter and make her a son-in-law. Everything is left to the judge’s judgment.”

“No! I hate sisters even more!”

It’s dull.

It’s so dull that it’s frustrating.

Why can’t we come up with the simplest way?

Anyone who has read this memoir knows the simplest way for a man and a woman to become a family, right? You don’t know? joy.

‘They’re all idiots.’

Ding dong! Ding dong!

Just then, the doorbell rang and I went out, and my childhood friend was standing in front of the door.

Tall and black haired. My eyes are still blurry.

Holding a large fox doll between his arms.

This is my favorite character since I was young.

There is no particular reason. Just because it’s cute… … .

“here.”

He shakes the doll gruffly as soon as the door opens.

Considering the size and accessories, it is an expensive item with an asking price of at least 10,000 to 20,000 won.

“What is all this? I couldn’t believe I bought it… … ?”

Honestly, I was happy.

Although he and I are not as incapable of living without one as we used to be, he used to take care of us in his own way.

There was still, not yet, a chance to make up between us.

-He said as he passed the fox doll into my embarrassed arms.

“I was passing by and I picked it through the lottery. Do you hate it? Foxmon.”

“You idiot. Spend your money on useful things! Not dolls.”

“… Joo Yena. Don’t talk nonsense, just take it. If you don’t like it, throw it away.”

“First of all, thank you. I won’t throw it away.”

I couldn’t tell what my expression was right now.

What kind of expression was he making?

I hope it wasn’t just a flabby expression.

Somehow I feel embarrassed.

With good timing, my dad came towards the front door.

“Ah, it’s regular.”

“Yes, mister. How have you been?”

“Do not raise it higher. If it’s okay, go eat and go. It’s Yena. Peel the apple.”

Holding tightly the doll I received from Jeong-Gyu, I rushed up the stairs. The second floor is my room.

“I don’t know! I don’t know. I’m going to my room. Don’t look for it.”

***

That doll is still carefully kept in my room.

Now that a lot of things have happened, I often get a creepy feeling so I don’t touch it, but when I just received it, I held it like a child and slept with it.

“K-dong arcade… … ?

The day after receiving the fox doll, I was combing the doll and found a sticker on the label!

It proves that this doll is from another consenting gaming center.

K-dong is quite far away from here, in the old city center.

Currently, it is on the outskirts, so there is not much to see except for the historic academy district.

Shin Jeong-gyu, why did he go here… … ?

The only relative I know of is my grandmother who lives out of town.

There’s a friend… … … There is no reason to be there. Because I know his character relationships best.

Haha, now that I think about it, the light in the house next door has been turning on late lately, so it seems like he has been going out more often.

‘You really hang out with bad people!?’

This is not the time to get a doll and make a fuss about it!

It’s a natural prejudice. A lot of kids go to the arcade to have some fun, right?

I was overly worried that the doll might have been brought to me to avoid suspicion.

I decided to find out where to go. iced coffee.

Why did you do that back then? … No, I’m not wrong.

All the bad things, all the bad things, are him!

sorry.

As I write this dizzy dream, my emotions change from moment to moment. Please, readers, understand… … .

“Mia, you have a wig, right? I remember you said you were going to learn beauty salon skills at vocational school.”

“Oh, I have one at home. I’m currently running a cafe… … .”

“I’ll borrow it-. Are you okay?”

I borrowed a brown wig from an older woman I know who runs a cafe, and even wore prescription glasses.

My light hair and blue eyes really stand out.

-After middle school ended, I chased after him who had mysteriously disappeared.

The place he arrived at after changing buses twice was the academy district.

‘… academy?’

I know for a fact that he is not top tier, but he is still top tier. It’s not like I’m poor at studying and have to go to a private academy.

If there was no major accident, you could just go to Nakwon High School.

Now that I think about it, I like the idea of carrying a large leather case. Ominous!

“Probably not. I promised never to play a wind instrument again… … .”

The habit I had worked so hard to kill came back.

While I was biting my nails and praying that my prediction was wrong, Shin Jeong-gyu looked around and quickly hid behind a streetlight.

“Here! Here.”

Avoid going to the back alley, the voice echoing from room to room

This is a voice I know well.

A girl with chestnut-colored hair greets you while waving her hand.

“Are you here already?”

“Are you already here? Because you’re late.”

“Okay, so stop hitting me with your head.”

I know the detective’s daughter, Yu Ran-in (they always show that they don’t want to deal with each other using polite language).

It’s also true that he’s a fool who doesn’t know he’s a fool.

-The person standing next to her was someone she had never seen before.

“Hello, Jeonggyu.”

The school uniform of K-dong Myeonggye Girls’ Middle School, not far from this area.

She was a beautiful woman with a neat and elegant aura, and there was nothing missing about her appearance.

Big, big. In many ways.

The white headband on top of the black hair gives the impression of a magpie skin.

Even after a brief greeting, your childhood friend scratches the back of his head and acts like a 16-year-old virgin.

“How have you been? Today at school… … .”

“Oh. I see? It’s fun. I am… … .”

Why do you like it so much!

It wasn’t just jealousy, I soon became wary of her.

That’s because I didn’t like the gray-white eyes.

“Sim Eun-hye! Please embrace me too.”

Her name was revealed by a chestnut-haired kid who joined their conversation.

Good thing there are times when being an idiot can be helpful.

‘Sim Eun-hye… … favor. ‘Student at Underworld Girls’ Middle School.’

In the grand scheme of things, he is the same person as me.

I don’t like it either.

“I’m sorry for making you lonely. Yuran. How was school today?”

“Yes. Listen.”

“Chat later. There’s still time left until academy time, so let’s go and practice in advance.”

When I came back to my senses, I saw the three of them talking amicably.

‘what… … ?’

While changing her position to listen more closely to the story, Shim Eun-hye places her hand on the outer shell of her ear. After that, he opened his mouth.

As if who cares!

No matter how good your senses are, will they be able to sense me when you’ve never met them face to face?

“… … Isn’t there someone behind us? A ghost or something.”

“Ghost, ghost, ghost?”

“No way.”

“Excuse me. I forgot my anemia medicine. I guess I was confused because I was dizzy.”

Fortunately, it didn’t come this far.

My childhood friend smiled, probably because it was funny to see Eunhye somewhat attacking her with her hands.

It’s a relaxed expression that he doesn’t make at school or in front of me these days.

‘Did I push myself too hard…? … .’

It’s been a while since I last saw you, so I have a lot to think about.

“Haha. What is that. If the chronic disease is doji, what is dojeo? Anyway, Eunhye Shim, you have a lot in common with me.”

“Is that so? Regular. If it’s okay, why don’t we go to the pharmacy together?”

“Should I get on board too… … Son Yu-ran, go first.”

“Do whatever you want! You know if it’s late, right? Kwaaak-.

Seeing them become so close to each other, an inexplicable feeling of uneasiness grabs my heart and shakes it.

Because I am a coward, I held back what my heart wanted to say even though I had many opportunities.

If I shout in this situation… … He must be confused.

-Now, as I look into the deep abyss, this is what I regret the most.

As I said in advance, the woman named Shim Eun-hye… … Which word suits you best?

I can’t think of an appropriate analogy.

Oh yeah.

Internet? Script?

no. She was like a SNS woman.