episode_0077

“…Oh, it’s raining.”

“Rain? Really.”

I don’t usually check the weather forecast.

If it rains, I just carry an umbrella, but I don’t really trust it, so I just keep a small umbrella in my bag as part of my daily routine.

The city view outside the window quickly became obscured.

The overcast clouds covered the sky, making the late morning not so bright.

The cars below pushed through the rain, people out for a walk shielded their heads with their hands to avoid the rain, and those who had heard the weather forecast brought out their umbrellas and continued on their way.

“Should I rest a bit more…?”

“I like the rain.”

In reality, there’s no plan to go out.

Feeling tired, and since my brother worked even on weekends, he’s the one who needs rest more than anyone else right now.

Moving my legs leisurely under the soft blanket, I got up.

“Where are you going…?”

“I’ll finish what I couldn’t do yesterday and then come back. Just stay lying down.”

I pressed my brother’s hand again as he tried to get up.

He held onto my hand, not letting go, but I couldn’t resist either.

“Rest. Please.”

“So, I have to rest while you work hard…?”

“Yes. At least I had days off.”

The grip on my hand slowly loosened.

“Can I ask you a favor?”

“It’s something that will be done in less than an hour. I said I would take care of the chores, didn’t I?”

If there’s any guilt in leaving me alone, then reduce the work.

“Thank you.”

“If you’re going to rest, rest properly. If you keep staggering around in front of me looking tired and unable to focus, I might really… burst into tears.”

“Okay… I understand.”

I don’t think I ask for much.

If that time really comes, it won’t end in tears.

Covering him up to his neck with the blanket, not as a command to stay still, I left the room.

Asking for a little proper rest.

Trying to help me, trying to stay with me even after resting.

Recalling the breakfast lies, his caring heart, and the image of my brother staggering, I faced him.

“… Fool.”

I heard that it’s okay not to do it, that it’s okay to leave work at the same time, even if you work overtime.

It was clearly voluntary.

Just because there’s a lot of extra pay, because there’s a bonus.

The light rain seemed to cry for me instead.

Although I like rain, this time I was starting to dislike it.

Because I don’t want to cry.

Perhaps I should be smiling instead.

The hard work is over. Now happiness begins.

I should smile… even though I firmly believe that smiling is the right thing to do.

“…Am I being foolish?”

I couldn’t bring myself to smile.

*

“Ugh… sigh.”

Even after sleeping and getting up from bed, the rain was still falling.

The rain intensified, time passed, and the gray clouds turned dark.

The city always looked the same, whether it rained or snowed.

“…Get up. We need to eat.”

Watching the rain fall outside while lying in bed, I checked the time and woke my brother up by shaking him.

Too much…

“Ugh…”

My brother’s exhaustion kept him in bed until evening.

I also slept, but another hour had already passed.

By the time I returned, he had already drifted off to dreamland, sleeping much more than me.

“If you don’t get up, I won’t stay quiet either.”

Sleeping is important to relieve fatigue, but eating is important too.

For my brother, who must have lost a lot of weight, nutritional replenishment is essential.

“Ugh… what time is it?”

“It’s already time for dinner. If you keep sleeping, you won’t be able to eat.”

Filled with exhaustion, she supported him, understanding that he was letting it out.

“Ugh.”

As she missed his figure, he buried his face in the pillow again.

Lacking the strength to get up.

Because he didn’t exert any effort.

“You’re not going to eat?”

“Just a little… later…”

Cuddling the blanket, she tucked her face into it like a turtle, indicating that she would stay here.

“Sigh… I got it. I’ll call you when the food is ready.”

“Ugh…”

The sound of chopping vegetables and the bubbling stew filled the kitchen.

“Huh!?”

Warmth enveloped her waist from behind, the heat tickling her ear with each breath.

“Having stew today?”

It had been so long since she heard his hoarse voice this close.

Upon returning, she would shower and immediately fall into bed, too tired to even receive affection.

“It’s dangerous to approach me with a knife in hand. You scared me.”

The habit of not pointing a gun translated into cooking as well, as she fixed the knife on the cutting board and looked up.

He’s handsome.

“…Sit and watch.”

Though she intended to scold further, she didn’t mind, so she gestured for him to leave casually.

“Need help?”

“No, just sit.”

Whether he forgot or tried again, she firmly declined the offer and finished cooking.

“Korean food after a long time?”

“We need to fill our stomachs.”

In reality, with the side dishes left over, this combination was inevitable, but it made sense, right?

For Koreans, rice is the best.

“Kimchi stew filled with meat?”

“The meat for tonkatsu is here, isn’t it?”

“Wow… delicious. Even local restaurants don’t put this much meat in their dishes.”

“…Because I made it?”

He already finished his bowl, stating the obvious.

I made it, so I decide what goes in.

“Wanna go out?”

“Rest. When does someone who worked hard for a month have time to go out?”

“Hmm… How about the mountains?”

“It’s tiring.”

“The beach?”

“We went last time. And you know it’s raining now, right?”

Where can we go when it’s raining? And it seems like we’ve already enjoyed everything.

“…It’s raining?”

“You saw the rain this morning, right? What are you talking about?”

“Ah… I want to have fun.”

“I said rest.”

Continuing to contemplate where to go, he pushed the empty plate and chopsticks aside, glancing mischievously at his phone.

“Having fun is also a form of rest. We’ve worked hard for a month. Since we only slept today, it’s okay to make tomorrow special.”

“…Do as you please.”

At this point, it’s practically giving up. Did I say I wanted to go out? He’s the one suggesting it.

“No, let’s do it together. Am I supposed to go alone? It becomes more enjoyable and precious when we decide together.”

A rebuttal came to my casual remark, akin to how I might have said something similar before.

Oh. I think I said something like this before.

“So… where are we going? Show me too.”

We should match each other’s intentions to prepare accordingly. Considering I was finishing the remaining food while emptying a bowl, maybe some consideration is due…?

“Drive… Why go for a drive on a rainy day? Are you recommending driving at a steady speed?”

“Aquarium… Plants… We’ve been to all of them.”

On the internet, places we had visited were listed one after another.

There were even suggestions like indoor amusement parks.

“People seem all the same, don’t they?”

“Yeah. Besides a drive… there isn’t much else, right?”

“Are you going to play games on the computer with food from the motel?”

“…That’s something we can do now. There’s no need to go to the motel. We have a computer, and I bought a game console that you like.”

It felt like we were well-prepared for something.

Actually, it was my brother who had prepared everything… Ah.

“But wouldn’t it be fun? It’s been a while since we played games. You always complain about being tired and just jump into bed.”

“That’s true. Okay. Let’s just play games today. We can pick up where we left off last time, right!”

My brother got up, cleared the dishes with a determined look, and smiled brightly.

His habit of setting goals in advance while doing something was revealed.

“Hmm… Something to eat while playing games…”

As I rummaged through the cupboard looking for snacks, my brother grabbed my hand and closed the cupboard.

“Let’s just order food. How about some chicken? Nuggets, cheese balls, I want those too.”

“…Okay.”

Chicken is fine.

Cheese balls, even more so.

“But starting now?”

“Isn’t it a rule to play all night?”

“Well… that’s true, but it’s hard to get back on track if our daily routine gets messed up.”

“Wasn’t that always the case?”

“What do you mean?”

“…Nothing.”

My brother seemed like he wanted to say something, but instead, he glanced at me and gently placed the joystick he was holding back in its place.

“Ugh… I’m getting sleepy again.”

“Feeling sleepy?”

I covered my brother with a blanket as he flopped onto the bed, letting out a deep yawn.

See, he’s tired after all.

“…Feeling sleepy?”

“Are you falling asleep?”

“…I’m sleepy.”

What’s with this wordplay?

“Anyway, get some rest. It seems like your fatigue hasn’t completely gone away yet.”

“Oh… another day has passed… I just slept for a bit.”

“The problem is that you worked on the entire month’s worth of work. Why did you do that?”

“…It’s a secret.”

“Ugh. Seriously. Go to sleep quickly.”

I got under the blanket and rested my head on my brother’s arm, and he looked at me intently.

“…You won’t sleep well?”

“I miss you.”

“Huh?”

What does he want to see?

Me? I’m right here.

“S…”

“S?”

There was something I had been forgetting lately.

Because when I eat and wash up and go straight to bed, I get sleepier.

In reality, I would already be asleep by the time my brother returned.

There were many days like that.

I couldn’t wait around alone, wondering when my brother would come back.

On days when he came in almost at midnight, I would fall asleep on the sofa and then move to the bed when he transferred me, waiting for him. If he didn’t come, I’d just fall asleep in bed.

“It’s nothing. Let’s sleep.”

“Stockings. Just say it straightforwardly. If you mumble like that, it’s confusing whether you want me to wear them or not.”

“…You’re tired. It’s not just me working… Jihye?”

I was already holding a pair of stockings from the closet.

Today, it’s on the house. I clearly know he’s tired, but I don’t feel like dealing with it.

I’m tired too.