episode_0033

“Take your time and talk. The lady will take care of taking Nayeon home.”

“Thank you for today. I’ll contact you when I get home.”

“What is gratitude between us.”

The aunt, Seo-hu, and Hanna-yeon decided to go home for now. It was getting late, and they needed a place to talk calmly.

“I’m sorry for barging in so suddenly. I’m sorry for causing trouble… .”

“No. Personally… Yes, it was a fun time. Have a safe trip back.”

While the lady and the chairman were exchanging greetings, I greeted Hanna Yeon.

“Hannayeon, see you at school tomorrow.”

“Yeah… .”

“Oh, and… .”

He took a step closer to Hannah Yeon, lifted his hooves, and whispered quietly to her ear with his lips.

“You have to tell me in detail about going to France. I also need to prepare for this and that.”

“… What preparations.”

Hanna Yeon looked at me, slightly turning her face away.

“I also need to install something like a video call program… I might be able to go to France with Mirae?”

“France?!”

At the same time, Mirae, who had been running behind him, suddenly stopped in surprise.

“Is France really that far?”

Mirae asked, pulling back the hem of my clothes.

“Oh, right? I have to fly there.”

“I see… !”

As I nodded my head and took a step back, Mirae turned her gaze to Hanna Yeon with wide eyes.

“Over there… Ugh… .”

I thought we were close enough that it wouldn’t be awkward since we played together at Chuchu Land… but it seems Mirae is still having trouble figuring out what to call Hanna Yeon.

“Can’t I just call Nayeon unnie?”

The title of “sister” didn’t stick in my mouth. Mirae was also embarrassed to suddenly call me “sister” and whispered again while pulling on my collar.

“When will that person come back from France?”

“If you have any questions, ask the future directly.”

I grabbed Mirae’s shoulder and turned her back to Hannah Yeon. I wanted my precious people to get along well. We’ll be meeting often in the future, but I can’t keep them in a state of awkwardness.

Besides, it seems like Mirae wants to become friends with Hanna Yeon. Hanna Yeon hasn’t even left yet, but she’s already asking when she’ll be back.

“Ugh… Me, Nayeon, uh… Sister Hannayeon… .”

Yes, Future, just have a little more courage!

“When will my sister come back… .”

Although he hesitated, his intention was clearly conveyed.

As if to prove that fact, Hanna Yeon answered with a faint smile on her lips.

“If Hanna Lin says it’s hard, she can come early.”

“Cheet… .”

It was a kind answer that would ease my worries about the future. However, Mirae seemed unfamiliar with Hanna Yeon’s kindness, so she turned around and hugged my waist tightly.

It’s true that Hanna Yeon is not very good at talking. How nice it would be if she said something like, “For the sake of the future, I should come back quickly.” Of course, if she really did say that, people would have made a big fuss and said it was creepy.

“I’ll go.”

Hanna Yeon, who had been staring blankly at the back of Mirae’s face, soon turned around with a smirk.

“Yeah, take care. Seohu also gets home safely!”

“Yes, goodbye.”

As I bowed my head and went out, the house was instantly filled with silence.

It feels like I’m at a country house after a holiday. It’s quiet and lonely, but still comfortable. I never imagined I’d feel this way while being with the chairman… .

We sat across from each other at the table, looking somewhat deflated.

And after a few minutes of just moving my lips and staring at the cookie, I was the first to speak.

“I thought about it carefully… .”

Knock, knock.

Even though it wasn’t a habit, my fingers tapped the table without permission. It seemed to clearly reveal the lingering anxiety in my heart, so I curled my fingers and hid them under the table.

“This may sound like a shameless request, but… Can’t I live with you too? I thought it would work out if the three of us lived together… .”

It is true that I have been nurturing Mirae for 7 years. However, it is also true that if the Chairman decides to take Mirae away, there will be no place for me to intervene.

There is no way to win in court, and there is no one to ask for help. In the worst case scenario, he may persistently pursue me and I may be reported as a stalker. The point is that if the chairman wants to, he can get me off in any way he wants.

So I decided to go out in a humble manner. For the sake of the future, I don’t mind getting down on my knees as much as I want. Pride is nothing compared to family.

“Ah, ah! Of course, when I earn money, I plan to pay off all the rent! In the meantime, I will do all the housework… .”

The chairman hadn’t even opened his mouth yet, but I was the only one feeling anxious and adding conditions in a fluster.

“I don’t like it.”

And the answer was as expected. Well, my proposal was empty. It was an unattractive story to the chairman. A person who is the chairman of a large corporation would not be concerned about rent, and housework can be solved by hiring a housekeeper. There is no need to bring an outsider into the house.

Is there really no way now… .

“Chairman, Mirae still needs a mother. I have lived as a mother of the future until now. And… I can’t say I have no shortcomings, but I can confidently say that I have not done anything shameful.”

All I have is the time I’ve spent with the future. I have no choice but to show the sincerity that Iharu has gained from living as a mother for 7 years.

“So which one is for the future… .”

I sat up from my seat. The future and the chairman’s gaze were focused on me at the same time.

Work for the future. If I kneel here, will the future be pleased with it?

Parents are the mirror of their children. Is it really right for a mother, who has been seen as a mirror, to kneel before another person?

I don’t know. I’m so immature. I couldn’t fathom the feelings of the future at all.

Suddenly, my mind became complicated, and I froze while standing up. I wondered if he was trying to protect his pride by using the future as an excuse. My head was getting hot, and I wanted to stop thinking.

“Please listen to what I have to say. I don’t really like that about you.”

A cold voice that cooled the heat. The chairman said this and looked to the future.

“If we live together, it will be uncomfortable for me, you, and Mirae. Of them, I will probably be the most uncomfortable.”

There was a strange smile in the eyes of the two people who faced each other.

“Besides, the future sheep will need time to adapt to the new environment. That is not very efficient.”

It seemed like it was something important… The chairman’s voice was so calm that I felt disconnected from it. No, maybe it was because it didn’t feel real? It would have been normal to be excited, but I couldn’t accept it.

“Auntie said I could live with Mom!”

But when the future suddenly arose and embraced me.

“Mom and I… said we were going to… invest… ? Um… That means… cheering!”

The chatter of the future brought me a heart-pounding reality.

“Why all of a sudden… .”

All the memories flashing through my head came out as tears. I sat down in front of the future and covered my face with my palms.

When my future was taken away, I lay there helpless and helpless. Inwardly, I compared myself to the chairman and made excuses to break up with the future. Maybe I was trying to give up on the future.

But Hanna Yeon pushed me from behind. Ajumma and Seohu cheered me on, and Mirae worked hard.

If even one of them wasn’t there, I would have just stood still forever.

“Mom, let’s go home.”

The future embraced my head and patted me.

The word ‘our home’ affirms me. The future and me, us. It seemed to tell me that it was okay for me to stay by the future’s side.

We give up a clean, cozy house, even one with amenities. We give up a comfortable life and a lot of money. The future is going to return to our home.

I really can’t tell which choice is the right one. Even though I made a lot of resolutions, my anxiety didn’t go away easily.

Yet I was already sobbing, rubbing my face against the ship of the future.

My heart, this day’s life, could not accept the absence of a future before judging right and wrong.

“Yeah, let’s go back… .”

To the treasure trove where our seven years are completely melted into one.

* * *

We headed home in the car driven by the chairman. As expected of an expensive car, there was no shaking at all. It felt as if the wheels had been oiled.

“Why did you change your mind?”

Mirae and I, sitting side by side in the backseat, sat with our shoulders against each other in a daze. It was because I was so happy that I hugged Mirae and cried for a long time.

“Didn’t I tell you? It’s for efficiency.”

Efficiency. It’s a word that wouldn’t look strange no matter where you put it. Even the situation where the chairman himself brought it to me was not efficient at all, so I just laughed.

“Chairman, is it okay if I go play with Mirae often?”

I was quietly watching the chairman drive when I suddenly asked.

The chairman’s house is large and cold. It’s not something I should think about when I’m taking the future, but my heart aches when I think of the chairman being left alone.

“As long as it doesn’t interfere with the schedule… it doesn’t matter.”

“You can meet me after work.”

“Work isn’t something you do only at set times.”

It didn’t seem like much had changed, but I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all even though I was in the cramped space of a car. I felt like I had shed a layer of the pretense of being the chairman or my future aunt.

“Then, please contact the chairman. I will run right over to you.”

“You don’t have to run. I’ll send someone to pick you up… .”

“That’s what I’m saying. Are you really going to run there?”

“Oh, I see… .”

It seems a bit silly. After all, people are something to be dealt with through socializing.

As we were passing the time chatting like that, soon a car stopped in a familiar alley.

I got out of the car with Mirae and tapped on the window.

“Thank you for bringing me here. Be careful on your way home.”

The window slowly lowered. When it was halfway down, I couldn’t wait any longer and said hello.

“Yes. Then that’s it… .”

“Oh, wait. Mirae, I have to say hello to Mirae too.”

The chairman’s face was tired from the tumultuous day we had together. Mirae, who had been standing there blankly, blinking her eyes, only nodded when I put my hand under her armpit and lifted it up.

“See you next time… Aunt.”

“Come visit us anytime. I hope you stay healthy.”

No, you said I have to stick to your schedule!

After firing a powerful shot at the black sedan that slid away, I grabbed Mirae’s hand and walked up the stairs.

Since it was a two-story building, there was no elevator. Of course, there was no guide to greet us at the front.

All that greeted us was an orange light with a broken sensor. Still, as if it wanted to brighten up the darkened stairs, the light that had turned off as soon as we approached quickly turned back on.

“I’m back!”

As I opened the door with my key, Mirae smiled as she rushed into the house.

“Welcome… .”

I followed Mirae and hugged her tightly. We whispered softly and shared our body heat for a moment. As if we were returning to the daily life we had as mother and daughter, I hugged her even more tightly because we had been apart for so long.

Their warmth mixed with each other, and other smells stopped bothering them, and eventually they blended in with our house and became one. It felt like the future had come back after a very long time, but it didn’t take long to get used to it.

“… Should I wash first?”

I thought this would be enough, so I let Mirae go. I want to wash up quickly and then roll around in bed with Mirae… .

“No, I have something to do in the future.”

But Mirae picked up the hula hoop that had been left in the corner of the living room with a stern expression.

“Why hula hoops all of a sudden?”

“I thought about it at my aunt’s house… If Mirae becomes really strong… If she protects Mom… Then Mom won’t cry… Won’t get sick… Won’t have to be separated from Mom… .”

As I asked her while sitting down on the sofa with her languid body, Mirae muttered in a serious voice and put the hula hoop around her waist.

“The future… .”

I never dreamed that Mirae would think like that. Even if it wasn’t because of Mirae, it’s true that I’ve been acting a bit disheveled lately. I should have done better.

I looked into the future with eyes filled with complicated emotions, unable to shake off the feeling of being both moved and bitter.

The hula hoop felt rather large compared to Mirae’s body size. Once, twice, three times. Mirae bit her lips tightly and spun the hula hoop diligently.

Once, twice, three times. Once, twice, three times.

It was a hula hoop that I had confidently bought but then threw away, saying I couldn’t use it. Even now, I haven’t been able to use it more than three times and have failed every time.

“Hoohoo…, Phew!”

I do it while holding my breath, but unfortunately, the hula hoop falls to the floor before it can go around three times.

“Ugh… Three more… .”

Mirae picked up the hula hoop with a blank expression, but continued to challenge without stopping.

“There is a future… .”

I am trying to overcome even the things I hate for myself. My heart aches as I look at that future.

“That’s not how you do hula hooping.”

But Hoon-soo still couldn’t stand it.