episode_0039

“…Miss? Did you work out?”

“No? Just took a walk.”

“Wow, you’re all sweaty. Should I go wash up first?”

“Yeah.”

Lost in thoughts of Chaewon, I walked and walked until I found myself at a hotel.

There were many hills, and it was quite a rough course, but I was so focused that I only realized how out of breath and sweaty I was after arriving at the hotel room.

As usual, I soaked my body in the bathtub.

After becoming a towel, passing through the maid’s hands, I found myself on the bed.

Perhaps due to the exhaustion of the day, sleep came faster than expected.

Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I placed my phone next to my head and tried to fall asleep.

Ding.

[Deposit: Give me your number / 1 won]

It wasn’t time to sleep yet, as Siwoo sent a message asking for my number as the sender of the deposit.

And it seemed there was no time to exchange numbers.

— Me: What’s up?

— Jung Siwoo: Yeah

— Jung Siwoo: Thanks to you, I got your number

— Jung Siwoo: Isn’t it too casual, you?

In case I have to turn my back on Chaewon later, I’ll be ready to leave the chat room at any time.

So, it doesn’t matter what conversation we have here.

— Me: It is a bit casual

— Me: And you knowing everything about me

— Me: I’m sleepy, so I’ll go to bed first

— Jung Siwoo: Hey, wait

— Jung Siwoo: Can I call you?

I was trying to fall asleep in a good mood, but now he’s talking about calling.

He’s just trying to be sneaky to hear Chaewon’s voice.

— Me: Let’s talk tomorrow, I’m sleepy

— Jung Siwoo: Just a moment, I have something to confirm

— Jung Siwoo: It’ll only take a moment

— Me: Ugh

Drrrring. Click.

“Thanks, I forgot to ask something.”

“What.”

— If you’re really Jung Siwoo, you didn’t mention an important event that we should talk about and move on.

“…?”

Siwoo raised his voice enthusiastically.

— Guess. You should know what I’m thinking if you were me, right?

Three years ago, I’m giving a quiz to my future self.

It’s so arrogant, isn’t it?

What is he talking about?

Parents’ accident, meeting Professor Baek Jungeon, stalker incidents…

Haven’t we mentioned enough stories that only we know?

I quickly reviewed my past from a very young age. Just in case I missed an important story.

And then, a story that I deliberately didn’t mention, or rather, a story that I didn’t want to be misunderstood as a stalker, came to mind.

It was a life-changing event for Siwoo, not mentioning it would be disappointing.

“When I was 6, in Bin.”

— Right, right.

“The one Chaewon met.”

— What? You know it well, why didn’t you mention it earlier?

“Not all memories can be vivid all the time.”

— So, what happened in Bin?

What does he want?

I clearly remember what happened back then.

We went to see an orchestra performance with Professor Baek, but I couldn’t stay awake due to excessive drowsiness, so I sneaked out of the concert hall.

When I went out, a girl was frantically searching for something on the grass field nearby. Tears were still in her swollen eyes as if she had been crying for a long time.

“I lost something precious….”

I handed her all the candies I had been saving, telling her not to cry. I asked her how old she was, where her parents were.

It might not have been appropriate for a five-year-old to say to a six-year-old, but seeing a lonely child without parents touched the heart of a one-year-old brother who grew up without parents.

We spent about an hour together around the concert hall. Finally, she found a doll that had been lost around the walking path where she had been walking with her parents during the day.

“Magical Girl Acodia… It was that character doll, probably….”

Wait.

“Acodia… Accordion?”

A magical girl with an accordion on her back.

I’m sure I’ve seen it somewhere before….

“Ah.”

I brought the phone I had been holding up to my eyes.

“Right.”

The character doll that Chaewon cherished.

The protagonist of a children’s animation featuring various magical girls with musical instruments. Acodia.

That was the identity of the character printed on the back of Chaewon’s phone.

– Hello?

“Oh, sorry, I was just checking something.”

– Anyway, if you’ve remembered that much, it’s fine. I called to confirm that.

He spoke as if he was thanking someone for helping him recover precious memories.

“Sorry about earlier. I didn’t mention it on purpose…?”

– On purpose? Why?

“You were already being labeled as a stalker. Would it be appropriate to bring it up in that situation? It would only raise more suspicion.”

– Ah, I see. You’re right.

“Anyway, I’ll hang up now. Take care.”

– Sure. Rest well.

“You too.”

As I was about to end the call and close my eyes,

– Wait, just one more thing.

“No, really.”

Jung Siwoo suddenly gave an odd warning.

– You. Don’t get too close to Yoon Jichang.

What nonsense!

– Even if you seem harmless like an otaku, you’re a harmful otaku. Got it?

“Do you really think I wouldn’t know that…?”

– I know, but just in case. And it’s not just a warning about Yoon Jichang. Men in general. Be careful around all of them.

Telling a guy who used to be a guy to be careful around guys.

Does that make sense?

“Sorry, but if I were to say the guys I’ve met so far, it would only be you and Yoon Jichang…?”

I smoothly skipped over the topic of Song Seonghyuk.

Being considerate to avoid making the listener feel inferior. That’s also part of my kind nature.

“It’s just the two of them.”

– …… It felt like there was a strange pause just now.

“Why don’t you just warn me about Yoon Jiyu instead?”

– Right. That. The accompaniment?

“I’ll take care of it, so don’t worry about unnecessary things and heal quickly, you jerk.”

– Wait. I still have something to say—.

What was he trying to lecture me about now?

If we assume he’s the same Jung Siwoo as before, it’s easy to figure out.

He always helps out when asked. Don’t do that anymore. It’ll only lead to misunderstandings. Wasn’t that what he wanted to say?

Three years ago, Jung Siwoo could have easily thought like that.

I’ve become much more wicked compared to back then, but he doesn’t know that.

I don’t know what he imagined, but kind Jung Siwoo is no longer here. And the same goes for Min Chaewon who contains that Jung Siwoo.

I only show kindness to those who have been kind to me.

To those who have betrayed me. To those who harbor ill intentions.

They are all my enemies and targets of blocking.

There’s no way I’ll let anything bad happen to Chaewon, who I value the most.

No matter what happens, I’ll protect her.

“…Acodia.”

Feeling tired, I ran my thumb over the magical girl Acodia on the back of my phone,

closed my eyes, and made a forced wish.

“Make Chaewon like me.”

Vienna, Austria.

A bench outside the concert hall.

“Thank you, oppa.”

“It’s nothing.”

“And I’m sorry for crying all the time….”

“No, it’s okay.”

Young Jung Siwoo smiled brightly as he received the handkerchief from Min Chaewon.

“I’ve always lived alone. I’ve imagined what it would be like if I had a younger sister. Well… I do have a girl who lives with me, but she’s too young for us to do things together. So… I was happy to be able to search for Acodia with you.”

Rambling on.

Remembering the time he was tormented by a one-year-old Baek Cheongha, Siwoo chuckled.

“So just spending time with me was enough. It was a fun time.”

“Oh. Yeah….”

“Your face is red. Are you cold? Should I take off my jacket for you?”

“………. Yeah. I’m cold.”

Siwoo took off his sky-blue jacket and wrapped it around Chaewon.

The night air was definitely a bit chilly, perhaps because it was still spring. Chaewon huddled her body, wrapping herself tightly in Siwoo’s jacket.

“Hey, want to come over to my house later?”

“Your house?”

“Yeah. Actually, it’s my birthday today!”

“Wow… really? I want to congratulate you, but… can I come?”

“Yeah! My dad and mom will say it’s okay if you come!”

Siwoo smiled widely and patted his chest.

“But it’s strange. My birthday is also on April 9th.”

“Really?! Th-that’s amazing…!”

Was it still cold? Chaewon’s face turned even redder than before.

Worried, Siwoo, like when he comforted a crying white puppy at the professor’s house, spread his arms wide and enveloped Chaewon.

“I’ll stay like this until your parents arrive. Feeling a bit better?”

“I-I’m… fine… without… it… Do you… feel… cold?”

“Me? Yeah, I’m fine. I don’t really feel the cold.”

“I see…”

Chaewon’s body trembled slightly. Thinking she was cold, Siwoo’s arms tightened around her.

Their body temperatures exchanged through the thin fabric. Emotions transmitted through the touch of their necks.

Time passed. Fast yet slow.

“Astrid?”

“Mom!”

After the performance, the harmonious Minseokhyun couple and Professor Baek Joong-eon came out of the venue together.

Chaewon ran to her mother, wearing Siwoo’s jacket, and hugged her. The two continued a rapid conversation in German, which Siwoo couldn’t understand.

Professor Baek Joong-eon approached Siwoo, smiling and nodding.

“Kids these days are fast…”

“Huh?”

“Did you get enough sleep?”

“Yes. I walked around outside for a while. But what do you mean by fast?”

Baek Joong-eon didn’t answer. Instead, Chaewon, who had run over, dragged Siwoo under the bench.

“Let’s go! To my house!”

“Got permission, huh.”

“Yeah! My brother said he found the doll for me and played with me. Mom is grateful!”

Chaewon hugged Siwoo’s arm, smiling like a spring daffodil.

“Do you like seaweed soup? My mom makes it really well!”

Seaweed soup.

Seaweed soup… Come to think of it, I didn’t eat it in 2023.

After the bus accident, I was disoriented and living alone, with no one to take care of me.

“Yeah… seaweed soup… I’ll eat.”

So, I went to Chaewon’s house. I remember hanging out with her for a while.

I don’t remember exactly what we did for a while.

As Professor Baek Joong-eon and I were about to return to Korea, Chaewon, who had come to see me off at the airport, whispered a sentence in my ear.

“I… want to marry Siwoo oppa….”

I see.

She wanted to marry Siwoo oppa.

….

“What did you say?!”

I blinked and saw the ceiling that was starting to become familiar.

When I turned my head, Kang Hwi was blushing and looking unsure.

“Are you serious just now? Do you like Siwoo-kun? Oh my.”

“Wait. What did I just say…?”

Like a high school girl, Kang Hwi tapped my shoulders with a flower-like smile.

“You said you want to marry Siwoo-kun! Oh no, what should we do!”

My dazed mind suddenly cleared.

I realized what I had just said, at least twelve beats too late.

“Huh? Wha…?”