episode_0036
by fnovelpia“Yoo-chan.”
“Yes, why?”
“If I start exercising, will you quit eating ramen?”
I stared at Yujin in confusion at the sudden proposal.
“What do you mean?”
“You want me to exercise. I don’t want you to eat ramen.”
“So when you start exercising, I quit eating ramen. Is that what you mean?”
“Yes, that’s what it sounds like.”
As Eugene’s exercise itself is a helpful act, I should refrain from eating ramen, but no matter how I think about it, it is not fair to stop eating ramen.
To make me stop eating ramen, not reduce it.
“If you tell me to exercise for an hour every day without resting for a day, I will quit ramen.”
“En? Why is it like that? Since I do what you want, you should also do what I want.”
“If you don’t exercise every day, you have days off. Then, I can eat ramen on your days off from exercising.”
There is no more perfect logic in my life.
Eugene must have been taken aback when he heard that logic, so he couldn’t continue talking for a while.
“Then… I will exercise 5 days a week. One hour each. Don’t eat ramen 5 days a week either.”
“I understand. If you really protect it, I will protect it too.”
“We report to each other. To be conscientious and not to deceive.”
“I’m not even an elementary school student, so why would I lie about it?”
We both accepted the offer in return for what we wanted from each other.
I wonder if it’s necessary to go this far, but I don’t think there’s anything to lose.
“It’s raining a lot.”
“… That’s right.”
I felt a weight and a trembling voice reached my ears.
I could tell Yujin’s emotions without having to look at her face, so I slowly stroked her head while looking out the window.
This is the first time I have seen a rainy night since I returned.
Exactly 8 years ago. When we had just gotten married and were enjoying newlywed life.
I was aware that there was a stalker following Yujin, but since this was my first time doing something like that, I couldn’t take proper measures.
I had the complacent thought that if I just spent the day with Yujin, everything would be okay.
That carefree thought caused severe trauma to Yujin.
If I had paid more attention to Yujin back then and made a detailed plan, Yujin wouldn’t have had to suffer from unnecessary trauma.
“Yujin.”
“Yes… ”
“I told you, right? We are not living the past repeating itself.”
“It is not about repeating the past, but living a new reality.”
“I remember. Nothing will repeat itself. So don’t worry too much.”
He held Yujin’s slightly trembling hand and patted her back. Even though so much time has passed, the anxiety Yujin feels is no different from then.
To calm Eugene down, I went to the kitchen and started making coffee.
Of course, it is regular stick milk coffee and not the cappuccino that Yujin likes, but it will be helpful to Yujin now.
“Drink this.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Oh, and eat this too.”
“You just ate green onion pancakes. What kind of cookie is this?”
“Are you not hungry?”
“I’m not hungry. Unless you have a beggar in your stomach, how can you possibly be hungry already?”
“Just eat it. You need to eat and gain weight.”
A cookie was forced into the hands of Eugene, who refused to eat it.
Even though he talks like that, Eugene eats well when you hold him like this.
“Yoochan, is your mother okay?”
“I hope you are doing well and in good health. He said he went on a 4-day, 3-night trip with a friend just the day before yesterday.”
“Mother is still the same.”
“What about Eugene’s mother and father?”
“ Take care. Dad still seems to miss America.”
“Was it until you graduated? How much my father missed America.”
“Yes, just until then. I’ve said a lot about wanting to go back to America and live there. Of course, it still is like that.”
I felt like the mood was down, so I thought about a topic I could change to.
Then one thing came to mind.
“Yujin.”
“Why?”
-Cock!!
I touched Eugene’s shoulder. And when Yujin turned her head towards me, she raised her index finger and poked her cheek.
“Don’t do it.”
“I’m catching this.”
“Try it just one more time.”
Isn’t it human nature to want to do something more when you’re told not to do it? It’s better to do it once and not do it if there is no response.
I tapped Yujin’s shoulder again as he watched him challenge Hanmu while drinking coffee.
This time, the moment I tried to stab Yujin’s cheek.
“Aaaaa!! hey!! Are you going to bite me like that?!”
“Did I tell you not to cry?!”
“Oh, it hurts!! My fingers are cut off!!”
He just bitten it off. That’s really loud too.
No matter how much I tried to flap my hand, it wouldn’t let go, so I barely managed to pull it off with enough force to pull my finger out.
If Eugene had held on for just one second longer, his finger would have been amputated.
“Ah… It really hurts.”
“Obviously I told you not to do it, but you did it.”
“I have no feeling in my fingers. I guess it was cut.”
“If it was cut, would it stick like that?”
Anyway, we spent some time in a brighter atmosphere again, and after washing up, we went back to our rooms.
This time, like last time, I decided to sleep on the floor and Yujin slept on the bed.
“I can sleep on the floor.”
“What kind of person is the one who can’t sleep even if the bed is slightly uncomfortable? Sleep in bed.”
“You’re twenty years old now. It’s okay.”
“I still remember going on a trip when you were 20 and not being able to sleep because the bed was uncomfortable.”
“I remember that. It gives me goosebumps.”
“You remember everything too.”
After setting up the bed, I lay down on the floor looking at the dark ceiling.
I remember that Eugene will be at the public lecture tomorrow. I only have one class in the morning.
I think I can go to class in the morning, buy a new cell phone, and send it back after lunch.
“Yoochan, what would it have been like if we had a child?”
“Suddenly?”
“That’s right. I suddenly have that thought.”
“Well, I think it would have been a lot different if I had children.”
“Which one?”
“Well, we wouldn’t have fought that often, and by the time we started to loosen up with each other, we would have become close again thanks to the child.”
“My mom and dad say that a new life unfolds from the moment a child is born.”
“My parents said the same thing. I don’t know what that is.”
As we talked in a calm atmosphere, a yawn naturally escaped us.
Anyway, I wonder if Eugene can sleep well. I think it might be difficult because of the heavy rain.
“Sleep well, Yuchan.”
“Yes, sleep well too.”
With a little worry, I closed my eyes and slowly fell asleep.
***
“Don’t come… ”
“City, I don’t like it… Why do you keep following me? ”
In a space where I was in a deep sleep and couldn’t feel anything, I heard someone’s voice.
I didn’t know what this was, so I ignored it and continued to lie down.
But that voice.
“… Huh. Sis, I hate it… ”
I heard it constantly.
I felt something strange and opened my eyes on the spot.
“Please… Don’t follow me… ”
I saw Yujin tossing and turning in bed and letting out a trembling voice.
Before I could even think about what was going on, my body started to move.
He quickly got up from his seat and ran to the bed where Yujin was lying, shaking Yujin violently.
“Eujin. Eugene!! Shin Yujin!!”
My voice became louder.
“Huh… !! ha… ha… ”
Eugene opened his eyes and let out an inexplicable sigh.
“Are you okay? Did you have a nightmare?”
“Yu, Yuchan… ”
Eugene looked at me for a while and then hugged me tightly.
Just like when he called me in fear of trauma, his whole body was shaking and I could see cold sweat running down his face.
I hugged Yujin and patted her without saying a word.
“Did you even dream that time?”
“Uh, yes… I told him not to follow me, but he kept following me.”
“It was a vivid nightmare.”
“Oh, I even saw the face. He grabbed my wrist, and I felt it all… ”
First, I turned on the light in the room and brought Yujin some cold water.
I had such a vivid nightmare that I was sweating so much that my hair stuck to my face.
I wiped away the sweat with a small towel and lightly straightened my hair.
“Are you feeling better?”
“Uh, yes.”
What makes things better? While my hands are still shaking.
I think he’s probably telling these lies to not make me worry anymore, but it only makes me more concerned and worried.
As Yujin’s anxiety continued, she felt guilty about herself in a corner of her heart.
“Even if I sleep again… I think it will work.”
No matter what I say, it’s obvious that he’ll just say it’s okay and ignore the situation.
After turning off the light without saying any more, I put Yujin back on the bed and I lay down next to her.
“Why are you lying here?”
“How can I sleep because I’m anxious? If I stay away, I’m sure I’ll have another nightmare.”
“… You don’t have to do this. It’s so narrow that it’s uncomfortable to sleep in.”
“Don’t you remember how you always did this?”
“I remember. There’s no way it won’t fly.”
Because it was a single bed, I had no choice but to lie down completely next to Eugene.
It’s a little uncomfortable, but it’s better than seeing Eugene look anxious again.
“Don’t be nervous and close your eyes comfortably. Relax your body.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“No matter what happens, there is someone right next to you who will help you.”
“Thank you… ”
I quietly closed my eyes, hoping that Yujin was okay.
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