episode_0010

“So… I’m nurturing the future.”

I explained to Hanna Yeon what had happened so far. Of course, I couldn’t tell her that I had been possessed. I couldn’t think of a proper way to explain it.

You are actually a person from a novel, and I come from another world.

There’s no way I can say the same thing. I’m not sure if this is a world in a novel, and I don’t want to think so.

And if these people are people in a novel, then maybe even I, who grew up in South Korea, could have been a character somewhere.

It’s terribly complicated. It’s better not to think about it. Anyway, I’m living as Iharu and as a future mother. That’s enough.

“Yeah.”

Hanna Yeon answered nonchalantly. Without showing any sign of surprise, as if she had known all along.

“Do you believe me?”

“If you don’t believe me?”

“I can’t help it… .”

I was sitting on the edge of the bed, hugging my knees, and I was wriggling my fingers for no reason and laughing bitterly. Was he not interested in me? I felt a little disappointed because it seemed like he was saying yes.

“I know because I heard it. They were on good terms.”

“Yeah… .”

I turned my head and looked at Hanna Yeon lying on the bed. Hanna Yeon was looking at me with surprising seriousness. She even had a small, rare smile on her face.

It’s not that I wasn’t interested. I really believed in it without a single doubt.

Just like Seo-hu’s parents, who reached out to me before asking about the circumstances, even though I appeared with the future in my arms.

“Thank you for believing in me.”

“… I’m going to sleep after talking.”

When I laughed awkwardly, Hanna Yeon turned around as if she was embarrassed. And she sat there still for about 5 minutes. Hanna Yeon didn’t move at all in that state.

“Okay, wait. What kind of blanket should I use?”

Even before the afterglow of emotion had faded, sadness came rushing in. No matter how much I owe you, you’re not even going to give me a blanket to sleep in?

As I was glancing at Hanna Yeon with eyes filled with regret at that thought, the blanket was slightly lifted.

“Even if it’s a little narrow, bear with it.”

“… Huh?”

“If you don’t like it, go to Hanna Rin’s room and sleep.”

So, you’re sleeping under the blanket right now? Under the same blanket, together… .

“Hey, I’ll sleep in the living room! I don’t feel the cold very well.”

I can’t go to Narin’s room. If I go under the covers, she’ll definitely wake up. Then she’ll think, ‘Who is this guy?’ She’s a total nuisance.

Considering the awkward atmosphere that will follow, I think it’s better to sleep on the sofa even if it’s a little cold. It’s spring now, so I don’t think I’ll freeze to death.

“Good night, Hannayeon.”

“… … .”

I left Hannayeon’s questioning gaze behind me and went outside. The living room was dark and there was a sofa. I wish I had a blanket, but I couldn’t find anything to cover myself with.

I squatted down on the sofa and closed my eyes.

“It’s cold… .”

Regret came over me before a minute had passed. My physical condition wasn’t very good, perhaps because I had been rained on earlier, but if I slept like that, I was sure I would catch a cold.

“Ugh… .”

No matter how much I think about it, it’s strange that there aren’t any extra blankets. I heard while eating earlier that Han Na-yeon was raised by her father. Her mother passed away when she gave birth to Na-rin.

Then, wouldn’t there be a blanket for your father to cover you with? Is he hiding it because he’s afraid you’ll hate it because it’s a man’s blanket?

Well, they say that high school girls at this age avoid their fathers. They say that if you put socks in the washing machine, the whole house will turn upside down that day.

But it doesn’t matter to me. I feel more secure under my father’s blanket than under a high school girl’s blanket.

“Hanna Yeon… Wow!”

As I was going back to my room to borrow my father’s blanket, I ran into Hanna Yeon at the door.

“Come in.”

“Ah, no… That… Is your father not coming?”

“Not coming today.”

“That, that’s right… ?”

But isn’t that a bit of a strange situation? Asking to borrow my dad’s blanket instead of my friend’s bed? It didn’t seem like it was intended to be a healthy thing.

“Then… where does your father usually sleep?”

“I don’t come home often.”

Hmm… It was a heavier story than I thought.

Maybe I shouldn’t have delved into it. But I can’t back out now that I’ve come this far. Hanna Yeon doesn’t seem to care, but if I drag things into a dark mood, it’ll just make things more awkward.

“But, don’t you come in sometimes?”

“About three or four times a year.”

It wasn’t, ‘Don’t come today.’ It wasn’t, ‘Don’t come tomorrow.’ Or even next month. If it’s three or four times a year, it’s practically like someone else.

If you think about it, Hanna Yeon was in a similar situation to me. She was raising Na Rin on her own. That’s probably why she accepted my story more easily.

I looked at Hanna Yeon with a complex and subtle gaze of sympathy and pity, then continued what I was saying. Hasty sympathy can actually be poisonous.

“Where are you sleeping then…?”

“In Hannah Rin’s room.”

… Are you saying that Narin slept in the room? Well, I didn’t see any empty rooms.

“Then what about Narin?”

“Sleeping with me… Why are you curious about that?”

“Oh, no, I was wondering if Dad had any blankets left… .”

Eventually, everyone got caught. They caught me wanting my friend’s dad’s blanket.

“None.”

“I see… . Then I’ll endure it.”

Fortunately, Hanna Yeon didn’t look at me strangely. She just answered me coldly in a voice that made my heart freeze. It wasn’t a problem, since it was Hanna Yeon as usual.

“What are you holding back? You asked because you were cold, right?”

“… Yeah.”

I reluctantly nodded. If I catch a cold, it will affect Mirae, and Hannayeon will get scolded by Nalin. Isn’t there some way to do it?

“Don’t be stubborn and come in and sleep.”

“Still… … .”

My head naturally lowered. At the same time, a thin finger touched my chin, and my face was forcibly lifted up.

“읏… .”

“Why, what’s the problem?”

Hanna Yeon’s face filled my eyes. Her long eyelashes, drooping wearily, made Hanna Yeon look more mature than usual.

Maybe that’s why I couldn’t make eye contact with Hanna Yeon because she felt somehow unfamiliar.

“You… .”

“Oh, no! It’s not what you think!”

He took a step back, waving his hands in the air.

It’s suspicious. Anyone can see that it’s suspicious behavior. I hate myself for being able to react in this way, for my heart to pound and my face to burn in this situation.

“Ah… .”

But before he could run away for long, Hanna Yeon grabbed his wrist.

“Then come in quietly and sleep. Hannah, you’re nagging me too long.”

“That, that’s right! Who knew I couldn’t do it? Let’s sleep, let’s sleep! Let’s sleep together!”

When I think about it, there was no need to avoid it like this.

What’s so weird about sleeping in the same bed as someone of the same sex? There won’t be any incidents like, “I woke up and had a baby!”

In the end, it all came down to my own decision.

I brushed past Hannah Yeon and confidently lay down on the bed. Then I hugged the large Mecha Chuchu doll next to me and tried my best to calm my trembling heart.

“Blanket.”

“Okay, lie down quickly and cover yourself with the blanket, Hannahyeon! I’m so sleepy, I’ll go to sleep right away!”

“You said you were lying down.”

“Ugh… .”

After wiggling my body out of the way, I covered myself with the blanket and straightened my posture. As I was doing that, I felt a warm breeze touch my back, and for some reason, my body stiffened.

Don’t be conscious. Don’t be conscious.

In the first place, I even borrowed Hannayeon’s clothes. It’s weird to be nervous about sleeping in the same blanket while not feeling any discomfort. No, is it weird to wear Hannayeon’s clothes? Why am I wearing another girl’s clothes?

“Hmph… .”

The faint scent of fabric softener. And the refreshing scent of citrus lingering in the room. Even Chuchu smells the same.

For some reason, I feel like I’m being hugged by Hanna Yeon… .

“Hey.”

“Um… .”

“Leeharu.”

“Yes, yes?!”

I was lying there blankly, hugging Chuchu tightly, when I was startled by a voice calling from behind me and I screamed.

“Noisy… .”

“Mi, sorry… .”

My heart was beating faster and faster. I felt like the sound was reaching Hannah Yeon, whose back was against mine, so I wiggled my body and clung to the end of the bed.

“Why did you cry earlier?”

“… Just now?”

“At a convenience store.”

An unexpected question came flying in. I didn’t think she would care about the fact that I cried. Well, it was half Hanna Yeon’s fault.

“Ah… I just feel… frustrated and upset… . Hahaha, I’m a little embarrassed.”

When I say it out loud, it’s even more embarrassing than I thought. I should have been thankful that Hanna Yeon didn’t burst out laughing at that moment. How absurd it must have been for her to burst into tears because I was joking around.

“Thank you.”

As I was trying to suppress the urge to kick the blanket over me, Hanna Yeon whispered softly.

A soft voice that melts away all the tension and self-loathing. I started to feel excited by the unexpected gift.

“Huh, what? I couldn’t hear you clearly?”

“Tsk… .”

I sent a request for an encore in a cheeky manner, but I got a cold response. In this situation, I was the one who was getting impatient.

“Ha, Hanna Yeon. Can you say it one more time?”

“… … .”

But after that, Hanna Yeon never opened her mouth.

* * *

“Euuung… !”

My eyes naturally squinted as the sunlight streamed in through the curtains.

A morning like any other. As I curl up in a daze, the future in my arms squirms as if expressing its discontent.

“Did you sleep well, Mirae?”

“What… .”

Without opening her eyes, she smiled faintly and hugged her lovely daughter. After enjoying the warm warmth from under the blanket for a moment, she found the place where her breath was escaping and kissed her lightly.

A morning kiss to start the day.

“Ugh?!”

“Um… slap!”

The warmth and soft sensation that had been there disappeared, and only then did I open my eyelids and face the future.

“Future… .”

“You, you… .”

The first thing I noticed was dark blonde hair.

When did Mirae dye her hair? It’s not going to look good.

“Ahahaha… Mirae didn’t even ask her mom’s permission… .”

“You now… .”

Why, why are you looking so scary? Mom won’t say anything, so don’t stare at me too much…?

“Sorry, sorry!”

Ironically, while I was in denial, the situation finally dawned on me. I jumped out of bed at the fastest speed I could have ever experienced and fell flat on my face.

Then I glanced up and saw Hanna Yeon covering her lips with the back of her hand, looking noticeably embarrassed.

“I like women… .”

“Oh, no! Oh my! I thought I was the future!”

“… … .”

Hanna Yeon looked down at me for a moment with a confused face, then suddenly got up and went outside.

“Ha, I’m sorry, Hannah Yeon! T, this isn’t it! I just accidentally bumped into it!”

I hurriedly followed Hanna Yeon and continued to apologize and make excuses. Then Hanna Yeon suddenly stopped and muttered softly.

“… I know.”

Perhaps because of the sunlight streaming in from the living room, Hanna Yeon’s nape looked a little red.