episode_0091

Episode.91 Date

I was waiting in front of the association where I had promised Harin to go on a date.

Since I was waiting in front of the association, I didn’t forget to drink the face-changing potion.

Now, once you drink it, it lasts quite a long time, so you don’t have to drink it often.

‘The durations overlap, so you can drink it all at once, but the taste is the worst… By the way, the weather is terrible.’

Since it was winter, the cold frost, which would not be surprising if it fell at any time, was stimulating my cells.

“10 minutes until 8 o’clock… Is it.”

I said looking at the floor.

Somehow, thanks to her leaving behind a scary warning, she didn’t bring Illya or even Chaewon.

– … Here’s the next news…

“Huh? This sound…”

The sound of news coming from a shopping center near the association stimulated my hearing.

‘It’s how loud the TV sound is turned up.’

It may be a nuisance to others.

Still, I listened to the news to relieve my boredom.

– At present, the practice of ‘joint suicide’ among close friends is said to be spreading among teenagers who cannot bear the stress of studying.

‘This is why kids these days…’

The suicide rate is number one and the birth rate is at the bottom.

I am worried that if this continues, the population will truly disappear and the proper noun Korea will be erased from the world map.

– … The next news is the continued slump of the large guild ‘Triangle’, which continues to be a hot topic.

– We are hearing news of S-class hunters continuing to not participate. Since the guild’s identity continues to be kept secret, it is estimated that it will be difficult to determine the exact details.

– What really happened to the guild?

“You came early. Have you been waiting long?”

“I didn’t wait particularly long.”

“As promised, I will use your 24 hours as I wish today. Of course there are no complaints, right?”

Even with her eyes closed, Harin accurately found the seat next to me.

“Well, you can say that. I don’t care where I go as long as I don’t do anything too embarrassing.”

“… I also set the standards for difficult behavior.”

“Please take a look.”

I said, keeping an appropriate distance from her.

It was because I felt a movement that seemed to be getting closer and closer to me.

“Don’t go back, close your eyes.”

“Uh, that’s about it… I understand.”

As she closed her eyes, the darkness she would always see covered the world.

Now, when I talk to Harin, I rarely use gestures.

At some point, this also became a habit without me knowing it.

‘Well, actually, I do get a little bit of light under my eyes.’

“Did you close your eyes properly? Then…”

I felt the cold touch of her hands on my skin, my face.

“Oh… Um… Yes, you have the right eyes, nose, and mouth.”

“Are there people without eyes, nose, mouth?”

“I don’t have eyes?”

“No, you already know that… I guess I meant to ask why you’re suddenly touching my face.”

“I just said goodbye and told him to come… but he came with some kind of useless contract, so I just checked to see if Illya didn’t let him down.”

Harin stopped touching my face and removed her hand.

“No, Ilya is not a man-eating creature.”

The fragrant smell of soap coming from her hands woke me up early in the morning and awakened my slightly sleepy mind.

“Are you taking another woman’s side in front of me?”

“That’s… no, I’m sorry.”

I didn’t mean to take Illya’s side, and I don’t know what I should be sorry about.

In the current situation, I felt like no matter what I said, it would create an unfavorable situation for me.

“Hehe, still… I’m glad you kept your promise.”

“I try to keep my appointments as much as possible.”

When Harin heard me, she shook her head left and right.

“No, that’s not it… I felt happy about leaving the uninvited guests at home… Now that this is over, shall we go on a date quickly?”

I immediately thought of a place.

“Then where should we go…”

“Oh, I already have a place in mind, so all you have to do today is follow me.”

Harin’s expression seemed strangely confident.

But to me, the lonely corners of her eyes seemed quite contradictory.

**********

“It’s a bit of a shock to pick a ruin as a date spot… Harin?”

“It just turned into a ruin… This place wasn’t a ruin from the beginning either.”

I seriously doubted whether she was truly mentally ill.

No, honestly, I already knew to some extent.

‘It would be a lie if I said I had no idea…’

Anyway, we can’t say that Harin doesn’t have mental illness at all.

“So where was this originally?”

I said, looking at her, who seemed to be immersed in memories even though she couldn’t see.

“This is… the place where I spent my childhood… the orphanage.”

The orphanage, which looked like a ruin, was waiting for the return of orphans who would not and would not return.

Just one person… except her.

“Orphan…won, that’s it.”

Spending childhood and adolescence without parents is really difficult.

I thought I knew that pain better than anyone else.

“If you say less here, it is less, and if you say a lot, there were a lot of things.”

“Have you been living in an orphanage since you were born?”

“I don’t remember much because I was too young, but… I heard from the director here that I came to this orphanage when I was 5 years old.”

Harin seemed to be enjoying the lonely feeling of the orphanage, which was already in ruins and waiting to be demolished.

It’s as if the difficult times are over and remain as memories to look back on.

I don’t think it’s a situation worth enjoying at all, but it’s okay because it’s already happened.

“He was probably abandoned by his parents when he was 5 years old.”

“Can you remember who your parents are?”

“There’s no way you can remember. I don’t know his name, I don’t even know what he looks like… One thing is for sure, one of my parents has white hair like me.”

“Oh, yes… I’m sorry about something.”

Harin found the door to the abandoned orphanage and opened it.

I expected the old hinges to scream, but surprisingly, the door opened without any sound.

‘Is this possible?’

“Please come in.”

When I first saw this ruined orphanage, nothing was right.

The interior was so dusty and worn that it was unrecognizable.

“Ah, I suddenly got curious and wanted to ask you something…”

Harin said, raising her index finger.

“What is it?”

I looked around and answered.

“… Girlfriend…”

“Huh? What?”

“Well, it’s just my intuition… You had a girlfriend before, right?”

“Oh, there was. Not right now though.”

Why does this make me feel like I’m committing a sin for no reason?

The person may have been in a relationship.

Love is not a sin.

“Hey… I see…”

I am confident.

Cancer, whatever.

“Then, can you tell me about your ex-girlfriend?”

“G, now?!”

“Why are you so surprised? There’s nothing difficult… Or, are you still in love with that woman?”

“Oh, no, that’s not it… I’m still dating you, so I was wondering if I could talk about this.”

“Please. You’re available to me for 24 hours, right? So this is almost an extension of that.”

That’s how I told the story of my ex-girlfriend, Yena.

Just like the story I told Illya that morning.

Every single one.

From stories of friends to stories of former lovers.

From first meeting to parting.

**********

“It must have been pretty good.”

“It wasn’t that good. Honestly, when I was dumped…”

“… Why stop talking?”

‘… because it was honestly a bit ugly.’

It was just a past love.

It just wasn’t meant to be for me.

I was a little worried because I felt like I did something impulsively at a young age.

But I have no regrets.

“Hmph… Anyway, how do you feel? Which orphanage can I say I am from?”

“… Looks like a kindergarten.”

“Don’t lie. You don’t know anything about what it is, right?”

“Ugh, how did you know?”

“Because it was completely different from what I knew. I remember hearing that this orphanage, where I once worked, basically resembled a chapel. If you call it a church… it’s not quite a kindergarten.”

“Hmm… That’s what I heard.”

After listening to Harin, this place definitely seemed far from a kindergarten.

“Hehe… But what kind of date can you go on here?”

I said while looking at my breath blowing out even indoors.

“You can listen to my story here.”

“… Is that an old story?”

“Yes. My past… I just want you to know.”

Harin spoke while placing her hand on her chest.

“This story… is like repayment for the story about your old girlfriend.”

“Ah… There’s no need to… I didn’t tell you my story because I wanted something in return.”

really.

“… Don’t you hate it so much? It won’t be boring, right?”

Harin held my arm and spoke.

There was a sense of earnestness in that sight.

“No, it’s not like that-”

“I’ll end it briefly, so please pay attention and listen…! Okay, if you react like that… please take this as a command, not a reward.”

“Then, there is nothing we can do. Please keep it short. I came here for a date, but wouldn’t it be a waste to spend all my time talking about old times?”

“Yes. I think so too… All you have to do is just listen to me reminisce. Rather than talking about old times alone, it’s more enjoyable and happy to have someone who listens.”