Ch.157Side Story (End) – Folding Mattress

Onnuri Orphanage.

Eunho, who grew up there, had been having strange dreams lately as he awaited his college entrance exam results.

Dreams about a world facing destruction by evil forces, and how he needed to save such a world.

Dreams with far-fetched content like those seen in webtoons or animations.

And it wasn’t just once or twice.

He had these vivid dreams, like fragments of memory, at least five times a week.

“May the rest of your lives be infinitely happy, as our savior wished…”

He wasn’t entirely sure, but after searching online, it seemed these might be lucky dreams, so to celebrate becoming an adult, he bought a lottery ticket.

He didn’t know why he was having such dreams.

“…Am I feeling weak?”

Come to think of it, he had been pushing himself hard.

Just two days ago, he had taken on another part-time job in preparation for when government support would soon end.

So Eunho wondered:

What if, when Onnuri Orphanage went bankrupt, he had followed the director’s guidance and been adopted like the other children?

“It would have been a bit easier.”

Without worrying about his gym clothes tearing during PE class, being late for part-time work after school, or missing sales because work ended late…

He could have devoted himself entirely to art.

Eunho knew.

Even when he refused the director’s proposal in the past, he was fully aware that his life would become difficult.

There were several reasons.

He was older than the other children, he had been preparing for this situation for a long time, and he had already adapted sufficiently.

Like dipping your heart first into cold water to ease the shock.

Since Eunho had prepared himself for independence, it was just a bit tough, but not painful.

But very occasionally.

For instance,

[Sender – Donwoo Livestock Manager]

I’m.sorry.Eunho.We’re.too.short.staffed.You’ll.have.to.stop.coming.in.from.today.I’m.really.sorry.I’ll.make.sure.you.get.severance.pay.at.least.

On days like today, when he had been running hard only to suddenly stop, it hurt a little.

“…Yeah. Just a little.”

After muttering those words as if to comfort himself, Eunho lay back down on his blanket-covered floor.

“It’s a shame.”

When this part-time job’s pay came in,

“I was planning to buy that folding mattress I’ve been eyeing for a while… as a graduation gift to myself.”

Was it thirty thousand won?

“Ah, should I just buy it anyway?”

With a forced smile, Eunho operated his smartphone from several generations ago and opened the shopping app with the highest discount rate.

Items stretched out in a long list.

In Eunho’s list, apart from the mattress he had bookmarked, there were no items exceeding ten thousand won.

He had deliberately set it that way.

To guard against trying to fill the emptiness in his heart on days like today by unconsciously buying things.

To be honest, there was a bigger reason.

“…Because everyone else will buy them.”

There was no need to set it to show only items under ten thousand won; others would add what they wanted to their carts and, after a moment’s hesitation, make the purchase.

They would buy without thinking or regret it afterward,

But unlike Eunho, a wrong purchase wouldn’t lead to hunger the next day.

“…Fuck.”

A curse that escaped without him realizing.

The voice was surprisingly wet and sharp, even to Eunho himself.

The words he spat out became a knife thrown above his head that returned to him, and as that knife tore through his heart via his ears, he felt endlessly sorrowful.

“No… I need to pull myself together.”

Eunho finally got up.

After all, nothing would change by wallowing in self-pity like this.

“If it were Han hyung, he would have kicked my butt and told me to get up right away.”

A smile escaped without him realizing.

“…Maybe I should draw Han hyung for a change?”

Eunho took out an A4 paper from school and a stubby 4B pencil and sat at his low desk.

The materials used for entrance exams were all expensive, so they were too much for a hobby.

Nevertheless, drawing was always so enjoyable.

Eunho took out a new sheet of paper, not a used one, and began to draw.

“His hair covered his eyes… and his jawline was quite sharp, right? Ah, and his body was incredibly sturdy. We grew up not eating well together, so why was Han hyung the only one who got big?”

Na-han.

The older brother who was always on their side, who was older than him.

“…Honestly, he was amazing.”

When Eunho overheard that the orphanage was facing bankruptcy, Han hyung was already working himself to death to keep it running.

Coming in at dawn, catching a brief nap, then going out again at dawn to work.

The memory of him walking carefully so as not to wake the younger ones was still vivid.

In Eunho’s mind, Na-han was made of steel.

He single-handedly supported the precarious director and orphanage, and concealed such gloomy facts from the younger ones without showing any sign.

Even though his actions only delayed the bankruptcy, wasn’t it because of him that all the younger siblings could be adopted?

So during that time when Na-han was struggling.

Eunho thought.

Since he was much older than the other children, he should help too.

That’s how he started working part-time.

As you can see, Eunho’s initial reason for starting part-time work wasn’t for independence, but to earn money to protect the orphanage like Na-han, so,

“Here, take this, hyung.”

When he held out the small envelope he had received from the meat restaurant, thinking he would be praised,

“…Why did you do that?”

“Huh?”

“Your hands… they’re all burned. How important are your hands to you, and yet you…”

“…Huh? Hyung, are you crying?”

The steel-like brother crumbled for the first time.

Eunho couldn’t understand.

Why cry when I’ve eased your burden?

With this, you could sleep three more hours.

At least you could come in late at night and leave in the early morning instead of dawn.

“Eunho. Leave the orphanage to me, and live only for your own happiness.”

Why was his brother returning the envelope to him with tears?

The question remained unresolved.

As he grew taller, he could understand his brother vaguely, but being a student until now, he couldn’t fully comprehend.

But now.

[Folding Mattress – 38,400 won.]

Now that he faced his situation where he couldn’t freely buy even that cheap mattress.

Eunho finally understood Na-han completely.

“…Hyung must have known?”

What would happen to them if he couldn’t hold on and collapsed,

How everyone would react if his anxiety was transmitted to the children.

That’s why he cried when Eunho handed him that money.

Because he thought Eunho had hurt his hands due to his failure to endure properly.

“…What a fool.”

Just ask for help.

“When I see your drawings, my heart feels so at ease. So I hope you’ll keep drawing.”

What’s so special about my drawings?

What’s so special about Hyeyeon’s studies,

Kisung’s music,

Or Sua’s dream of becoming a doctor?

.

.

.

“What’s so special about those things that you’d sacrifice your entire life?”

Even as tears began to fall, they avoided the paper where the drawing was taking shape.

Pretending to be mature, still a child.

“I won’t get into college anyway because my skills aren’t good enough… why did you give me hope?”

The pencil snapped with a crack.

Like that, Eunho lowered his head, looking at the drawing of Na-han and muttering,

Ding.

An alarm sounded from his old phone.

“…What is it?”

Without much expectation, thinking it was probably an alert from the job platform, he checked his phone.

[00 Art University]

Admission results are now available. Please check through the website.

Perhaps due to his depressed mood?

Eunho entered his exam number without any expectation,

Like a defeated soldier checking his fallen country.

The slow internet, dependent on some unknown public Wi-Fi connection.

When the crawling loading screen finally passed and the result popped up,

“…Huh?”

Eunho was dumbfounded.

[Congratulations on your acceptance.]

Please send the tuition fee stated in the guide to the account by Monday, February 18th.

He had been accepted.

“Wh-what… huh?”

He couldn’t even afford to attend an academy, so all he had done was beg his art teacher to teach him.

“Why on earth…?”

In the midst of his bewilderment,

Suddenly remembering something, Eunho rummaged through his pocket as if possessed, took out a paper, and scanned the QR code located at the top right corner.

After another long loading time.

[Congratulations!]

You’ve won a total of 2,055,564,130 won!

The word “winner” appeared clearly.

“The, the lottery ticket worked…?”

An unbelievable streak of luck.

Eunho didn’t know.

At that moment when luck was pouring down on him like a waterfall,

“Honey, I’m pregnant…!!”

The director, who had been told she was infertile, was having a baby,

“A scholarship?”

Hyeyeon, who loved studying, received a scholarship,

“You’re offering to send me abroad!?”

Kisung, who loved music, received an offer to study overseas,

“No way…!!”

Sua, who wanted to become a doctor, received a text about her top admission to medical school…

.

.

.

Luck had suddenly found all the children who had stayed at Onnuri Orphanage,

The children Na-han had tried to protect.

“What, what is this. What on earth is going on…!!”

Eunho hugged his trembling body and curled up quietly, thinking.

“Why on earth…!?”

Hadn’t he lived a life that couldn’t even be called happy in empty words?

So why suddenly?

Where did this amount of luck come from to reach me?

“Fuck, I don’t know!!! Life is fucking amazing!!!!!”

Eunho’s frantic gaze fell on the face of a man he had drawn on paper.

The figure who had told him not to give up on his dreams and to live only for his own happiness.

“…Come to think of it.”

Even if I won the lottery, would I be as happy as I am now if I had given up on drawing?

After a moment’s contemplation, Eunho grabbed the paper and hugged it tightly.

Only then did Eunho realize.

What Na-han had firmly endured and protected wasn’t just buying time, but for the happiness that he himself had now gained.

“…Thank you, hyung.”

That night.

After sending a thank-you message to Na-han,

Eunho finally purchased the 38,400 won folding mattress he had been putting off for so long.