episode_0039

“Um… .”

Shine stepped forward in front of me, glaring at Jin.

The two people’s gazes become entangled in the air.

“Wait a minute… .”

Jin hardened his expression and stepped back.

The sandwich that once filled his mouth was long gone.

But Shine didn’t back down.

I didn’t even listen to what he said.

When Jin took a step back, I took a step closer.

“Hmm… .”

Jin stopped in his tracks when he saw Shine’s eyes shining as if she wouldn’t give in easily.

As Jin stopped moving, Shine also stopped.

A situation where they just stare at each other without saying anything.

I sat down and wiped my eyes with my sleeve.

The feeling of the clothes soaking wet was unpleasant.

The two men didn’t say a word after that.

In the midst of the cold silence, a cool breeze blowing through the shaded pavilion dried my wet eyes.

“Shine?”

I got up from my seat and called out to Shine.

But she didn’t respond at all.

Her gaze was focused solely on Jin’s eyes.

I moved carefully and put the sketchbook spread out on the floor into my bag.

After zipping up the yellow bag with its mouth wide open, he drapes it around his back.

I was looking at Shine, then turned my gaze to Jin.

He too seemed frozen and showed no movement.

One or two people where time stopped, maybe five minutes had passed since then?

It was Shine who started moving first.

She stumbled and fell to the ground.

“Shine!”

Startled, I walked up to her and hung on her arm.

“Are you okay? Where does it hurt?”

Shine glared at Jin without saying anything.

I too followed her gaze and observed Jin’s appearance.

But Jin’s appearance was no different from before.

It was exactly the same as the way Shine’s gaze lingered.

“I am stronger.”

Shine got up from her seat, approached Jin, who was frozen, and patted his body.

Immediately after that, Jin’s body collapsed.

Jin, who had fallen on the floor, had a relaxed expression on his face, as if he was asleep.

It was a calm face, nowhere to be seen from the snowball fight with Shine earlier.

“Shine? What happened?”

It’s a series of things I don’t understand.

Jin suddenly collapses after having a snowball fight.

It didn’t seem like he was hurt anywhere, but it didn’t seem like he would wake up easily either.

“Shh. Jeff. Nothing happened. Don’t worry about it.”

Shine, who was taking a deep breath and straightening her staggering body, reached out her hand to me.

I took her hand.

Nothing happened between the two of them.

I nodded.

“Shine, are you sick or not?”

But apart from that, Shine’s condition didn’t look good.

Just in case, I started to feel her body carefully, checking for any injuries.

“Is this really okay?”

“Yeah.”

I sighed in relief after confirming that Shine was okay.

Immediately after that, I looked at Jin’s face, which was lying on the floor.

I was filled with anger at the sight of her lying there with a calm expression on her face as if she was asleep.

I unpacked the bag I was carrying on my back and rummaged through its contents.

Colored pencils, crayons, and small ballpoint pens poured out.

I picked up one of the dark red ballpoint pens.

Click-

A sharp nib that pops out with a small noise.

I started doodling on Jin’s face as he lay there, catching his breath.

A crooked red line was drawn, and a red mustache appeared on his face.

“You still won’t wake up?”

I pressed hard on it on purpose to draw the picture, but Jin didn’t seem to have any intention of getting up.

I drew a fat pig on his forehead.

Red graffiti filling the entire face.

But the desire for revenge did not subside.

After putting the pen in my bag, I turned my gaze to the shoes Jin was wearing.

A pair of leather shoes that looked quite expensive were shining black.

I reached for his shoes.

A solid feel is transmitted to your fingertips.

After struggling for a while, I was able to take the shoes off his feet.

The shoes that had been taken off gave off an unpleasant smell.

I picked up a convenience store bag that had fallen nearby and put my smelly shoes inside.

After that, I wrapped the convenience store bag tightly.

This way the smell won’t escape.

“Let’s go!”

Shine and I hurriedly left the pavilion, waiting for Jin to wake up.

After holding Shine’s hand and running for a while, I was able to arrive in front of the large rock where Jin was sitting and fishing.

I stopped in front of it and threw the convenience store bag I was holding into the pond.

The black envelope that had been floating high in the sky fell into the pond and began to float away.

I hid behind a large rock and looked at the pavilion.

Jin’s appearance was slightly visible, and he still seemed to have no intention of getting up from his stretched-out position.

What a strange person.

From what I heard from Amy, Jin was the leader of the group she belonged to.

It was truly incomprehensible that such a person would steal our lunch sandwiches.

His real purpose might not be sandwiches or anything like that.

It seemed like a coincidence that we ran into each other, but the more I thought about it, the less natural it seemed to meet him.

Normally you couldn’t even see his shadow, but he appeared right after Amy disappeared.

There were no fish living in this pond.

The fishing rod hanging in the empty pond looked extremely awkward.

So then, what is his purpose?

Why did you avoid Amy and approach us pretending to be a coincidence?

I leaned against a large rock and fell into thought.

“Jeff, let’s go back.”

“Huh?”

I was lost in thought, but when Shine grabbed my hand, I got up from my seat.

Shine’s face looked tired.

The moment I see her face, the questions that had been floating around in my head disappear in an instant.

I thought it would be best to go back to my room as she said.

“That’s right. I have to go back… .”

I nodded and rubbed my stomach.

I was starting to get hungry.

The image of the sandwich that Jin had taken away flashed before my eyes.

After fixing my bag, I quickly left the park, holding Shine’s hand.

After that I went down the stairs.

Although it was difficult to climb the stairs, I was able to go down without getting tired.

It was a little past lunch time.

I paused in the hallway and looked toward the restaurant.

If you go now, you will be able to eat delicious food.

But Shine was the problem.

She leaned toward me with unsteady steps, seeming very tired.

I made an embarrassed expression as she whined at me while rubbing her soft cheek.

I want to eat… .

I had no choice but to go back to the room with Shine.

Immediately after returning to the room, Shine walked over to the bed and collapsed.

She buried her face in the blanket with a thud and seemed to have no intention of getting up.

“Shine?”

“Yeah… .”

Shine’s voice, which came out with difficulty, was listless.

“Where does it hurt?”

“I’m a little tired.”

I walked over to the side of the bed and touched Shine’s hand.

Soft, warm hands enveloped mine.

A body that falls over in the blink of an eye.

When I came to my senses, I was in Shine’s arms.

“Shine?”

I twisted my body and escaped from her arms.

Shine had her eyes closed, as if she was sleeping with a relaxed expression on her face.

I brought my ear to her face.

A small breathing sound heard at regular intervals.

It was the same sound as Shine’s breathing when she fell asleep.

I got out of bed, took off the yellow bag I was carrying on my back, and pushed it into a corner.

I needed to organize my sketchbook and crayons, but for now, food came first.

I immediately left the room and ran towards the convenience store.

The goal was to eat the sandwich I couldn’t eat today, and something to eat when Shine woke up.

Amy’s credit card allowed her to purchase many things without worrying about money.

I looked at the large basket full of food, finished paying, and picked up a large bag.

It was quite heavy, but I was able to lift it by myself since I didn’t buy any drinks.

I returned to my room, dragging a large bag, and immediately unwrapped the sandwich.

Lunch alone.

It was a quiet meal, no different from before, but somehow I felt empty in a corner of my heart.

As I was stuffing my mouth full of sandwiches, I looked away and looked at Shine.

I no longer feel the hunger that I felt so badly just a moment ago.

No, it would be more accurate to say I have no appetite.

I put down the sandwich I was holding in my hand.

A convenience store sandwich that I often eat on a regular basis.

Because I had a difficult childhood, I wasn’t picky about food.

I just realized.

That eating with someone you like is more delicious than eating alone.

I looked at Amy and Shine’s empty seats.

“It’s not tasty.”

The words that came out of my mouth without any reason quietly dispersed.

I jumped down from my chair and put a large convenience store bag into the refrigerator.

In a little while, when Shine wakes up, I will eat with her.

It tastes better, I say.

I walked over to the bed where Shine was lying and lay down next to her.

Immediately afterwards, a soft blanket was pulled over and covered Shine and my body.

Wrapped in a soft blanket.

I carefully moved my hand under the blanket and grabbed Shine’s hand.

Small, soft hands.

Is it because I covered myself with a blanket?

The hand holding hers felt a little hot.

The little fingers move as if to avoid the heat.

I dig between her fingers and hold on tighter.

Hands that cling tightly together.

Her heartbeat was transmitted through her hand.

It was a long time later that Shine woke up.

She opened her eyes with blurry vision and blinked in surprise at the sight of me lying right in front of her.

The mouth, slightly open, immediately forms a smile.

The round eyes curve gently like a smile on the lips.

At that sight, I also smiled and opened my mouth.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yeah.”

I immediately released my hands and sat up.

The hands that were held together are released, creating a feeling of emptiness.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“I’m hungry!”

Shine, who answered my question with a smile, got up vigorously.

Shine jumped out of bed.

I also got out of bed and headed to the refrigerator.

I take the sandwich out of the fridge and head to the table where Shine is sitting.

The sandwiches placed in front of her and me.

The two of us unwrapped our sandwiches without saying who would go first.

He lifts both hands full of the pristine white sandwiches that just came out of the packaging.

Immediately after that, I stuffed it all into my mouth.

The sweet and sour taste spreads throughout your mouth.

The smooth texture of cheese that melts on your tongue.

I looked at Shine and smiled.

it’s good.