Ch.2020. Borrow Someone Else’s Hand When in Trouble

“…I’ll think about it after seeing your grades.”

“What? What grades?”

“There’s a math quiz today. Did you forget?”

“Ah….”

Judging by her open mouth, she had clearly forgotten about the test’s existence.

Such poor memory for someone so young and fresh.

“Anyway, if you’re not going to eat breakfast, let’s start getting ready.”

Though there was no subject in the sentence, Hwa Nabi nodded. On weekday mornings, there’s only one thing students prepare for.

Getting ready for school.

“Change your clothes first and come out.”

“Okay.”

Hwa Nabi answered briefly and went into the bedroom.

-Click.

Only after hearing the door close did I pull back the rabbit pajama hood to the back of my neck. Now I need to get ready too.

Since undressing is the reverse of dressing, I put my hand on the zipper attached near the collar and pulled it down, splitting the rabbit’s belly.

“…”

When I put it into words, it sounds quite creepy.

…Anyway, I twisted my body in various ways, trying to escape the rabbit skin. I didn’t notice when putting it on, but taking it off is harder than expected. Maybe because it’s a one-piece.

“Ugh.”

After a brief struggle, I was able to break free from the rabbit’s restraint(?). These pajamas are quite troublesome.

Sighing once, I picked up my school pants from the floor table and put them on. Then, as I was about to put on my shirt.

“Excuse me, Siwoo? Have you seen my skin lo…”

Creeeeak,

Just then, the bedroom door opened.

I froze with my arm halfway through one sleeve of my shirt. I was genuinely startled since I never expected her to suddenly come out of the room.

“Uh… Um. I’m sorry. You were changing clothes.”

It seemed she was equally embarrassed, as Hwa Nabi mumbled while avoiding my gaze. Her apology made it clear it wasn’t intentional.

Yes, I understand it wasn’t intentional. But why isn’t she going back inside?

If she’s going to stay out here, I wish she would either cover her eyes or go back into the bedroom.

“What, what? Do you need something?”

There’s no answer to my call, just her staring at me without even blinking. As if she’s trying to take in the whole situation with her eyes.

“…?”

Is she possessed? Hiding my confusion, I turned my back and finished putting on my shirt.

“Hwa Nabi, what’s wrong?”

When I called again, she seemed to come to her senses. The blank look in her eyes changed.

The emotion that appeared in those eyes was probably satisfaction. And a bit of regret.

“…”

I don’t know why. It might just be my imagination, or it’s beyond my understanding.

“Ah. It’s nothing. I was wondering if you’d seen my skin lotion. I thought I left it on the vanity, but it was gone this morning.”

“I haven’t seen it.”

Besides cleaning supplies, I hadn’t touched anything in this house, so I knew nothing about it. Despite my unhelpful answer, Hwa Nabi nodded as if she had reached her own conclusion.

“Of course, you wouldn’t have seen it.”

“…If you knew that, why did you ask?”

“Just in case.”

“Then can you go back in now? I need to finish changing.”

I only needed to button my shirt, so there wasn’t anything inappropriate to show, but still, having someone watch me change felt a bit awkward.

“Yes.”

Even that answer now makes me uneasy. And it’s not just my feeling. Including just now, there have actually been several incidents.

“…Sigh.”

Who am I kidding? Just as I was thinking that.

-Buzz.

My phone in my pants pocket vibrated. Since it only vibrated once, briefly, it must be a text message or messenger notification, not a call.

“A message?”

After saying that instinctively, a thought occurred to me.

It’s a bit sad to admit, but I don’t have anyone who would contact me this early in the morning.

Well, it’s not just limited to this time of day; I don’t have anyone who would contact me at all… That’s why it was even more strange.

“Who could it be…”

I’ll know when I check. I took out my phone from my pants pocket to see.

But there were far more notifications than I had expected.

Text messages, messenger notifications, missed calls…. Just as I was wondering what all this was about, a new message arrived.

[Did you stay out overnight?]

“Ah.”

The moment I saw that message, I finally realized what I had done.

I had been living alone for so long that I forgot about it. Come to think of it, Han Siwoo is a student, and he even has a family.

But I stayed out overnight without contacting home. No wonder there are so many messages.

“…What should I say?”

I needed to reply since a message had come, but I couldn’t think of any plausible excuse.

-I just suddenly wanted to sleep outside.

That’s practically asking for a fight.

-I stayed at a friend’s house.

That’s too obvious a lie. Because Han Siwoo doesn’t have friends who would let him stay over. The evidence is my empty contact list. His parents probably know that too.

-Buzz.

Another message arrived.

[I told you it’s fine to come home late, but didn’t I say no staying out overnight?]

“…”

Yes, as Han Siwoo’s mother said, coming home late and staying out overnight are different issues.

Not an adult but a student staying out overnight, and without saying anything.

Though it was my doing, I felt I deserved the scolding.

“But why didn’t I notice?”

I should have noticed with all these messages, why didn’t I?

I scrolled up to check when the messages had arrived.

And soon after, I thought it made sense.

“That’s why I didn’t notice.”

The first message arrived at midnight, 12 AM, which was late enough for me to miss it.

I was sound asleep by then, oblivious to the world.

From what I could see, it seemed like they had sent me a message after waiting as long as they could. That’s quite patient considering I was late without saying anything.

“So the delinquent does contact home regularly.”

Well, if not others, he would at least be mindful of his parents. After all, whose money is in Han Siwoo’s wallet?

“…Is he really a delinquent?”

Strangely diligent in some ways. After muttering that meaningless comment, I scratched the back of my neck.

Well, regardless of Han Siwoo’s attitude toward his parents, it’s not my concern.

What’s important now is that I’m in quite a predicament.

I don’t have a suitable excuse, what should I do? Just as I was pondering this.

“Siwoo, are you done changing?”

Just then, Hwa Nabi, now changed into her school uniform, came out to the living room.

Judging by the change in the color of her legs, she had even put on stockings—fully dressed and ready.

When I didn’t respond, Hwa Nabi approached closer.

Then, pretending not to, she peeked at the screen of my phone. She seemed curious about the message I was looking at.

“What, do you want to see?”

“No, not really. It’s your personal privacy.”

“It’s my parents. They’re asking why I didn’t come home yesterday.”

“Ah, your parents…”

Hwa Nabi nodded in understanding, then suddenly paused. She asked me as if she had heard something strange.

“…Wait a minute. Your parents? Siwoo, did you not contact home last night?”

“No.”

“What? Why? Your parents would worry.”

Hwa Nabi asked with an incomprehensible tone, but I only had one answer to give.

“I forgot.”

“…You forgot? My goodness, there are other things to forget.”

Hwa Nabi’s eyes showed rare astonishment.

That’s right. Maybe I’m too distracted lately, as someone might say, and keep forgetting these things.

“So what are you going to do now?”

“What can I do? Just get scolded once and be done with it.”

“Aren’t your parents really strict? Will you be okay?”

She speaks as if she knows Han Siwoo’s parents well, though I don’t know what they’re like either.

“Have you met my parents before?”

“…Once?”

Why does it take so long to answer? I looked at Hwa Nabi with suspicious eyes for a moment, then relaxed.

She probably felt guilty for trying to guess their personality after meeting them just once. I could understand that. Parents of a third-generation chaebol would naturally have a strict image.

“…So, what are you really going to do?”

Her attempt to change the subject was obvious, but I let it slide. That wasn’t important right now.

“I don’t know.”

I couldn’t honestly say I spent the night in a girl’s house wearing rabbit pajamas.

If I said that, they would probably be furious.

If I were Han Siwoo’s parents, I probably would be.

“Then, let me help you?”

“What are you going to do?”

“Just wait a moment.”

With just those words, Hwa Nabi went back into the bedroom.

-Click.

Followed by the sound of the lock.

As if telling me not to think about coming in, she even locked the door.

“…What is she planning?”

I can’t imagine what she’s trying to do with my phone. Very curious, I put my ear against the bedroom door.

-Yes, mother. It’s me… Yes. It’s nothing serious… Siwoo… at my house…

“…?”

From the sound of it, she seems to be talking to someone, but the soundproofing is so good that I couldn’t hear exactly what she was saying.

I frowned and strained my ears.

-Yes, yes. Of course. I should be the one asking for your help. Yes, yes. Goodbye.

Suddenly,

The call ended quickly, and as soon as the voice stopped, the bedroom door opened. I stepped back in surprise.

“Ah, you startled me.”

“It’s all taken care of now.”

What’s suddenly taken care of? She spoke with such confidence that I nodded, but I was quite bewildered.

Who could she have been talking to that she even locked the door? I put my phone in my pants pocket and asked.

“Who were you talking to?”

“Your mother.”

“What? Who did you say?”

“I said I was talking to your mother. I explained everything well, so you probably won’t get scolded.”

Seeing her confident face, I couldn’t believe it at all. I hope she didn’t say anything strange on the phone?

Such suspicion naturally arose, but there was no way to check, so I couldn’t hastily say anything.

“…Can I trust you?”

“Of course. Who am I?”

A scatterbrain, an idiot, but good at cooking. Put together, a domestic scatterbrained idiot…?

…What kind of hybrid is this? But I couldn’t say such things to my fiancée, so I swallowed my words.

“Ah, okay…”

“Don’t worry, they’ll probably be very happy when you get home.”

“……”

Why does that make me more anxious?

*

After a short while.

Having finished our preparations, we left the house.

“Didn’t forget anything?”

“No. What about you, Siwoo?”

Since I originally came with nothing but my body, the question didn’t apply to me.

“I don’t think so.”

“Then we’re good. You’re surprisingly forgetful sometimes.”

“…Look who’s talking.”

Just as I was muttering in disbelief, the elevator arrived.

-Ding.

“Oh, it’s here. Siwoo, get in quickly.”

“I’m coming, coming.”

Inside the elevator, which I entered almost as if pushed.

Interestingly, Hwa Nabi’s apartment elevator has mirrors attached to all four sides.

I heard somewhere it’s to eliminate blind spots for crime prevention or something.

I’m not sure why they did this, but it does give a feeling like a room of mirrors.

“It’s fascinating every time I look.”

I shifted my gaze to the mirror reflecting my appearance. I checked at home before leaving, but just to be sure.

“What’s fascinating? Your appearance?”

Is that an insult or a compliment? Not knowing her intention, I couldn’t answer. As I was just fumbling with my lips.

“Siwoo. Your tie is crooked.”

“Huh?”

After hearing Hwa Nabi’s words, I checked my tie, but I couldn’t see any problem.

That’s because I definitely tied it as I was taught. It’s been so long since I last tied a tie after my interview that I can’t be certain, but if my memory isn’t wrong, this method is correct.

“It looks fine to me?”

“No, it’s not fine. The balance is off.”

“Which part are you talking about?”

“The left side, it’s misaligned.”

Hwa Nabi, seemingly frustrated, even pointed with her finger to show me.

But despite her efforts, I couldn’t understand what was wrong or how.

It’s understandable; if I had known, I would have fixed it myself already.

“Ugh, come here.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Just do as I say. We don’t have time.”

I brought my neck closer as instructed.

Then Hwa Nabi reached behind my neck to untie my tie, and started tying it again from scratch.

“See this wide part of the tie? You wrap it around like this, and bring it down.”

She was explaining something while personally wrapping the tie around, but I couldn’t hear well.

I looked down at her, half in a daze.

“Like this, maintaining even tension in the wrapped part. That’s the key.”

“……”

“…Siwoo? Are you listening to me?”

“Oh, yes.”

Without realizing it, I had been staring at her eyelashes. Maybe because they were surprisingly long.

Only after Hwa Nabi tapped my tie to indicate she was done did I come to my senses and answer.

“Look, isn’t it pretty?”

To me, it looked no different from before, but Hwa Nabi was looking at me with a satisfied face.

So I just nodded while looking at Hwa Nabi.

“Yes, it’s pretty.”

Whether I meant the tie was pretty, or someone else looked pretty,

Even I wasn’t sure.