episode_0031

“Ah… damn.”

My leg hurts.

To be precise, my ankle hurts.

I pushed myself too hard yesterday, making it difficult to walk…

Jihu seemed like he was just sleeping next to me, almost as if he were dead. Thankfully, he was breathing peacefully.

Yesterday… caught up in the atmosphere, I ended up going crazy…

I’m not sure if this was the right thing to do…

Am I not myself anymore?

Getting up from bed, I made my way to the bathroom with great effort.

Since I never really wore makeup anyway, it’s fine…

“Ugh… damn…”

As memories of what I did yesterday started replaying in my mind like a Blu-ray, I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

Yesterday… I was truly insane. Really.

I can’t find the words. Right now, all I could think about was bowing my head and wanting to die.

Swept up in the atmosphere without even realizing it.

I don’t know how to face Jihu today.

My ankle hurts, making it hard for me to get up properly.

But still, since I put on a good act… there shouldn’t be any issues.

Let’s go back to bed.

Regaining my composure, I laboriously made my way back to bed.

“Uh… yeah…”

Jihu let out a slight groan.

“Are you up?”

He asked if I had woken up or if he should get up.

“Yeah… let’s sleep a bit more.”

Knowing that Jihu must be tired, I told him to rest a little longer.

Yesterday, I was me, and Jihu also pushed his body to its limits like a madman.

Today… let’s just rest a bit.

Thinking that way, Jihu closed his eyes again and began to fall asleep.

“But… what day is it today?”

Jihu opened his smartphone to check the date and time.

“Ah… damn, I have a lecture this afternoon.”

In the morning, Jihu was a college student.

I couldn’t help but wonder if he was feeling drained because of me.

“Hey Jihu, I have something I’m curious about.”

“What is it?”

“What’s this about wanting to apologize to me in the end?”

As Jihu pondered my question for a moment…

“I don’t know… I forgot.”

If he forgot, then it must not be a big deal.

Well… I was feeling good yesterday too.

Regardless of what it was, let’s forgive each other.

I lay back down on the bed, intending to sleep a little more.

“I’ll be out for a bit.”

But Jihu is indeed a social person.

Busy, he said he needed to move again after moving so much yesterday.

Looking at it that way, one might think Jihu is a machine.

Since I can’t meddle in Jihu’s work either.

“Take care.”

I could only say that he should take care.

“Okay, I’ll be back soon… Let’s at least get dressed first.”

“Ah…”

Looking at the underwear and clothes scattered on the floor.

Jihu handed me some clothes.

I should change when Jihu leaves.

It’s a bit chilly being naked since morning…

After changing clothes, Jihu finished getting ready to go out.

“I’ll rest a bit more.”

Jihu told me to rest a bit more, and I nodded.

Strange… Jihu was ordinary until yesterday.

Today, he looks very handsome.

His appearance isn’t even close to that of a celebrity.

Why is he acting like this?

As I thought about it,

Jihu went out just like that.

—

I decided to bring Jiwoon home and head out in the afternoon.

By 6 p.m., after the lecture ended, I planned to return home.

Taking the subway, I arrived in front of my house.

There was a young girl sitting there.

“Hi~!”

“Hey, hi.”

She greeted me, and I responded before entering the house.

“You’re back?”

As I entered the house, Jiwoon asked if I had returned.

“I’m back.”

As soon as I came in, I threw my bag and tried to lie down on the bed.

“Jihu, I have something I’m curious about.”

“What is it?”

“Is this kid your hidden child?”

Suddenly, Jiwoon started shouting.

What is she talking about? I raised my head to speak and saw the young girl who had just greeted me outside now inside our house.

“… What the hell is going on with this kid?”

Our house was invaded without permission? Can I report this as illegal trespassing?

After pondering for a while, Jiwon finally sat down and asked the little kid who they were.

“Hello~!”

The little kid greeted Jiwon with a hello again.

“Well, hello.”

Jiwon replied with a smile.

“Hey, you little brat! How dare you speak informally to an adult!”

“Hey, are you crazy…?!”

Surprisingly, Jiwon, who had just been smiling moments ago, now scolded the kid for speaking informally to an adult.

He started questioning if the kid had learned manners from Roblox.

“Are you really out of your mind…”

As Jiwon spoke, he expressed his frustration.

“It’s not that I’m weird, it’s this kid who’s misbehaving. Speaking informally to adults and being disrespectful!”

Argh–!

“Oh, damn!!”

“Watch your language in front of the child!”

My head is starting to ache because of this kid, seriously…

After staring at Jiwon for a while, I sighed.

“Why did you hit yourself?”

“I hit you because you deserved it. Watch your language and live properly in front of the child.”

Among the countless things one should never do in this world, there is one thing that stands out: swearing at a child.

Jiwon is jeopardizing our bright future…

“Damn it!”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, I heard cursing from somewhere and saw a girl mimicking what Jiwon had said.

“Oh… striving for a bright future.”

This is the dark future we’ve created…

I’m sorry, adults…

“So… little one, what’s your name?”

Approaching the child, I asked for her name.

With a smile, the child replied, “Yebin!”

“Alright, Yebin… Do you have your parents’ number or home address?”

Since she might be lost, I asked for her parents’ contact information.

Quietly, she took out a children’s phone from her pocket.

She seems to have a smartphone. If I handle this wrong, I could easily be seen as a kidnapper, a bad college student.

Thinking this way, I borrowed the smartphone and called the number saved as “Mom.”

“Hello? Are you Yebin’s mother?”

[Yes, who is this?]

“Well, Yebin seems to be lost and followed me for help. The address here is…”

After explaining the situation, I gave Yebin’s mother our home address.

“Hey, you’re being kidnapped.”

Jiwon, holding a bottle of drink, started imitating a famous movie scene.

“Kidnapped?”

“No, no. We’re just playing with the kid.”

Perhaps due to the previous dialogue, her mother misunderstood.

Quickly clearing up the misunderstanding, I gave her our address and decided to wait at home.

“Hey, Kim Jiwon, let’s go outside.”

Since we agreed to meet outside, I took Yebin out with me.

Let’s resolve this quickly and go back…

**

We went outside to wait for Yebin’s mother.

Yebin sat quietly, watching YouTube.

“Hey, is that fun?”

Jiwon, approaching Yebin out of boredom, asked if she was enjoying it.

Watching Jiwon and Yebin together on YouTube, I felt grateful to YouTube.

YouTube is amazing for keeping noisy Jiwon quiet.

While waiting for a long time…

“Uh… Jihoo…?”

In front of me appeared Seong-ah, my sister.

Why is she here…?

“Oh… hi.”

Carefully greeting each other, Seong-ah slowly approached me.

“Hi… It’s been a while.”

What was already a quiet situation now turned awkward.

Why is she here… I regret it, but since we’ve met, I thought it wouldn’t be so bad to chat with her instead of looking at my phone alone.

“And who is this kid?”

Seonga approached and asked, looking at Yebin.

As I tried to explain the situation, Yebin looked at me and said, “Dad!”

“What the hell, Dad?!”

“Dad?!”

Dad? What the f*ck?! Did she just call me Dad?!

Why is she suddenly calling me that?

The situation became strange.

I tried to quickly explain by looking at Seonga, but she ignored me and approached Yebin, asking, “Hey… kiddo. Then where’s Mom?”

In response, Yebin looked around and pointed towards Jiwon.

“Mom!”

“Mom?!! Mom?!!!”

Seonga began shouting in confusion.

Well, it is indeed bewildering.

Even I don’t know what’s going on right now.

“You.. you two.. have been like this since when.. no, more importantly, when did you have this kid.. no, more importantly, the kid is of age so.. from before… speeding?!”

Wrong. She’s not listening to me at all now.

And in her mind, she’s already filming a morning soap opera. What more can I hear?

“Hmm… am I the mom..”

Jiwon seemed lost in thought, then suddenly spoke to Yebin, “What nonsense are you talking about pointing fingers at adults!”

“Stop your crap!!!!”

Damn.. why did the situation turn out like this…

I couldn’t think of anything else but wanting to escape this situation by grabbing my head.

Why did it turn out like this.

Amidst holding my head for a while, a voice was heard.

“Yebin!”