episode_0043

The driver who got out of the driver’s seat was dressed neatly in a suit, looking like a servant you might see in a noble house.

“Are you Miss Min Chaewon?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“Please get in.”

With that, he even opened the door to the back seat for me.

“Thank you.”

I seated the sick Siwoo on the right and turned to the left seat.

The driver hurried to open the door for me, and I was more impressed than when we were welcomed by the maid brigade in our room.

It’s a good thing I studied in advance that this kind of service exists. If not, I would have definitely been flustered, saying, “Oh, you don’t have to do that!”

“How is it? Not bad, right?”

Siwoo looked around the car with a nervous look in his eyes.

The wooden interior, soft leather, and subtle air freshener that didn’t overwhelm the passengers.

“Enjoy them on the way.”

Even before we set off, they gave us jelly with the taxi app brand mark on it.

I saw it in the reviews. I didn’t think they would actually give it. I wonder how touched the reviewer must have been to record all the services in such detail.

“We will depart now.”

The comfortable ride was needless to say.

I felt like I was being healed for no reason while taking Siwoo to the airport.

Chaewon, who was cautious about burdening Siwoo too much. But I convinced her this morning that this was the right thing to do.

“Don’t worry.”

She was always passive and cautious due to our economic gap.

So, while appearing to take the lead, she always prioritized my choices when it came to important decisions.

“You started learning about the world properly… probably since last year, right? After Lady Aclert passed by, a new personality didn’t appear for a while.”

The lonely princess trapped by multiple personalities. There were many people who taught her about the world, but she had never experienced it herself.

… And the poor woman who knew nothing.

Fate is truly mysterious.

Siwoo waited for the princess at the top of the high castle to let down her long hair. The princess was even cautious about such a simple act.

We wasted a year that could have brought us closer by misunderstanding each other’s thoughts.

“Hey.”

In the quiet car, Siwoo poked me with his elbow.

“Aren’t you being too extravagant with your money…?”

I blinked and casually replied.

“It’s my money, isn’t it?”

“….”

“Well, it’s my money. I got permission for it. I said we’re together.”

“Isn’t Chaewon watching us bickering like this?”

“She’s probably watching.”

Siwoo lowered his head with a very complicated expression.

“Don’t worry. Chaewon likes it.”

“She likes it…?”

“Yeah. She seems happy that we can talk like this.”

“But we weren’t unable to talk before.”

“It was still a bit awkward.”

As we formed a mutual understanding, we nodded as if making a promise.

“Yeah.”

Siwoo smiled contentedly and leaned back comfortably in his seat.

Luxury cars are amazing. Even the back seat is adjustable in height.

As I adjusted my seat, Siwoo opened his mouth, facing the window.

“Thanks, Chaewon.”

The story he told was not directed at me.

“Thanks to you… I’m having a unique experience.”

The unseen alter 0 let out a small sigh.

He seemed so pleased to hear Siwoo’s gratitude.

See, I told you so. This is the right thing to do.

“Take a good look at who Jung Siwoo really is.

“What are you saying? The professor’s car that used to give us rides when we were young was better than this.”

“Well, that’s true. But it’s my first time riding in a car that I paid for myself.”

“It’s not your money.”

“Anyway!”

Siwoo, looking puzzled, looked straight at me and spoke in a steady manner.

“No one has ever taken care of me so meticulously before. It’s the first time someone has paid such close attention to me. The idea… it must have been mine. But if it weren’t for Min Chaewon’s background, I wouldn’t have even dared to dream. So, thank you… Min Chaewon.”

Repeated expressions of gratitude, almost to the point where I should say, ‘You can stop now.’

Recalling and expressing gratitude for every little thing that I was thankful for whenever we met.

A crazy guy who would go as far as to make a note of repaying every favor he received someday.

The man who was striving to become a pianist recognized by the world with a single-minded determination to repay what he had received, even after compromising with reality and starting to give small tokens of gratitude to his benefactors in his fourth year.

But before he could repay them all, he tragically passed away.

So, thank you.

I am thankful to Min Chaewon.

Thankful for giving me another chance.

Thankful for giving us the opportunity to repay our benefactors.

Thankful for allowing us to start again.

“Is that so?”

Although the 0th self is nowhere to be found.

I wanted to show Siwoo my joyful heart as it was.

I smiled brightly, more than ever before.

“I’m glad if Siwoo is happy.”

I see you.

You were there.

There was no need to go far or leave a video behind.

In Siwoo’s eyes, reflecting my surprise, was a mirror.

When I became one with Chaewon, I realized that I just had to look into those eyes.

Bright and beautiful.

It couldn’t be anything other than a smile as vibrant as the blooming cherry blossoms.

“I almost got caught in a lie just now.”

Please, don’t break the atmosphere at such an important moment, Jung Siwoo.

***

“I thought your blood pressure had risen and worsened. I’m glad it didn’t.”

“What’s there to rise?”

“Let’s be honest, didn’t you almost have a heart attack sleeping in the same room? Admit it.”

“Not at all.”

Siwoo’s recovery speed was faster than I expected.

Didn’t I mention before? Originally, it was a wound that would heal in a month.

Unlike the past me, who would lie down all day except for eating and bathing, he seemed unable to continue being in pain, even if he wanted to.

“Come back for a check-up every week. If you’re feeling better by the third week, you don’t have to come anymore. Let’s go back.”

Before we go back to rest.

We have something to do.

“Let’s go eat seaweed soup.”

“…Seaweed soup?”

“Yes.”

There are many foods that aid in bone recovery, but among them, I chose seaweed soup.

“Let’s have a modest birthday party. It’s sad to be injured on your birthday, and you couldn’t even eat seaweed soup, right?”

“No need. It’s already been a week since my birthday.”

“Then let’s at least congratulate Chaewon on her birthday.”

Siwoo flicked his finger on my forehead and said softly, pointing with his finger.

“Don’t keep talking in the third person. People might think it’s weird.”

Honestly, even if Chaewon spoke in the third person, I could understand.

She might look like a woman with princess syndrome. So what? Min Chaewon really did grow up like a princess.

“Oh. Is that so? But I felt like I needed to distinguish between what’s real and what’s fake…”

“Where is the real one and where is the fake one? To others, Min Chaewon looks the same. But it feels like I need to take her to the hospital for no reason, so pay attention to how you address her. Even the taxi driver kept glancing at her earlier.”

It would be better to listen to what Siwoo, who had been watching from the side, had to say. I don’t want to tarnish Chaewon’s image for no reason.

However, at least between Siwoo and me, I want to leave some distinguishing features.

We need to differentiate between the Min Chaewon we love and the Min Chaewon tainted by Jung Siwoo—.

“Anyway, until April 9th, three years from now, you’re still you, right? Well, there’s no way you’ll switch with Chaewon in between, right?”

Realistic stories from Jung Siwoo poured out.

“I already know that the real Chaewon exists somewhere. So, at least until then, don’t differentiate. By then, you’ll probably know that Chaewon has returned even without you having to say it.”

“… Yeah. I guess so.”

Then his wish was conveyed with a hesitant gesture.

“So until then, just be Chaewon. Just call yourself Chaewon, knowing exactly who you are. You know. You are me. I am you.”

It was the right thing to say.

We know each other the best.

The reason why Jung Siwoo believed in the dream-like story three years ago.

It was because he felt himself living inside Min Chaewon.

“There’s no real or fake. To others, Min Chaewon looks the same.”

The words that there is no real or fake.

[ You must act like 0-ho.

You must do your best in place of 0-ho.

It’s okay not to think that way.

0-ho, 26-ho, all your actions and words are Min Chaewon.

Whether it’s 0-ho or 26-ho, they are all the same Min Chaewon.

And this is just my opinion, but honestly, wouldn’t 0-ho be the one that leaves a strong impression in other people’s memories?

I haven’t learned philosophy so I don’t really know! ]

It was similar to what Chaewon said, so my obsession with distinguishing between me and 0-ho was starting to soften a bit.

‘Yeah. As long as there’s one person who recognizes me.’

Let’s not forget the determination to become a perfect Min Chaewon.

As someone who has been given another chance at life, all I have to do is wait for the return of Chaewon while protecting Jung Siwoo.

I’m just a detached spirit from the main body.

“Call me by my name.”

“… Out of the blue?”

“Quickly.”

Siwoo cleared his throat and called my name.

“Min Chaewon.”

It changes. The color of the self.

The gathered black crowd turns pink.

Like spring coming after winter.

“Great! Shall we go eat seaweed soup? We should celebrate your birthday.”

For a moment, the past me reflected in Siwoo’s eyes.

A somewhat weary-looking man with dark circles under his eyes.

But he’s smiling. It was a smile that couldn’t be seen before.