episode_0065

We arrived at the house where Arin’s maternal grandfather lived after driving about an hour further.

“What, it’s so clean..?”

It was much cleaner and better organized than Arin expected.

I thought no one would touch me or come to me like I did.

It seems that it wasn’t as bad as I thought.

“I wonder who is continuously managing it.”

Arin looked surprised at something she had no idea about, and Seojun was quietly looking around the yard of the house.

Although it is not large, the simple yard shows occasional traces of things that were raised while alive.

“You must have grown a small garden.”

“Ah, yes. It was my grandfather’s hobby. You said you wanted to make your children, grandchildren, and granddaughters eat healthy vegetables.”

Arin, who was looking at the garden where a few weeds were blooming as if nothing was growing there, took out a key from under a flower pot placed nearby.

“When you were alive, you always kept your spare keys here. No matter who comes, please feel free to come in.”

There was a bit of cold air in the house when I opened the door and entered, but it still felt like someone had taken care of it.

A dust-free hallway, a cleanly organized room.

Even though there is no heat left, the kitchen is well-maintained enough to be used right away.

“It looks like electricity and gas are turned on.”

Seojun turned on the light in the room and lit the old gas stove and talked.

“No one is buying it, so why didn’t I quit it..?”

“Isn’t there someone staying there?”

“I guess… I should call my parents.”

After I decided to become a hunter, I had no contact with my parents.

This was because when Arin awakened, she was strongly opposed to becoming a hunter.

Turrr-

[Are you Arin? ]

My mother’s voice was trembling as she answered the phone without even hearing a single signal.

“Yes, Mom. Hello, how have you been?”

After asking for Seojun’s understanding, I went out into the yard and the voice on the phone seemed to be weaker than before.

[Mom is always the same. are you okay? Are there any pain or injuries anywhere? ]

“Yes, it’s me. Are you doing well, right. Well, I called because I had a question. Is it possible that someone continues to live where my grandfather lived?”

The reason why conversations that would have been natural before leaving the house felt awkward and suffocating was probably due to the gap in time we were not together.

[It’s not about who lives. My aunts and mom often go there to clean and maintain the place. ]

“Ah, it’s been a while since I remembered you so I stopped by. I was curious because it was clean and seemed to be connected to electricity and gas.”

[I went to take care of it once in a while, spent some time with it, and then came back and left it as is without disconnecting it. I heard that my aunt still goes there often these days, sometimes spending a day or two there. ]

Arin nodded as she said yes to her mother’s calm explanation.

He had finally gained the courage to go forward, but it seemed like the others had gathered the courage a little earlier.

[This time… I saw you enter the gate. You are still active as a hunter. ]

The reason why Arin kept quiet when the story about Hunter came up was probably because they always started fighting whenever a story related to this came up.

[It’s not that I still don’t want to do something dangerous, but I always wanted to apologize to my mom because I felt like I was pushing her thoughts too much. ]

Despite her mother’s apology, Arin felt uncomfortable just talking about this.

In the end, the words in front of it that it doesn’t mean that I still don’t want to quit were aggravating the uncomfortable feeling even more.

“Mom, I will continue to make a living doing this. There are many people who support me, and I am continuing to move forward.”

Arin quietly expressed her opinion without raising her voice for fear of being overheard by Seojun inside, and her frustrated heart felt even tighter.

[ I see. Yes, sometimes he comes home too. We contact each other often. ]

Her mother must have realized that feeling, and she didn’t talk about it anymore.

“Yes, take care.”

Pop-

Arin, who had no intention of making any more calls or searching for the time being, hung up and roughly stuffed her phone into her pocket.

“..If I give you a word of support, will something big happen?”

What I always wanted to hear was just a word of encouragement.

Words of support like, “You’re doing well,” or “My daughter has done her best.”

But the words that came back always didn’t say anything like that.

“I’m annoyed.. I called for no reason..”

Regardless of who lives there or not, Arin thinks she should have just not called, but the reason she is trying so hard to keep her composure is because she doesn’t want Seojun inside to be like this.

“Haa..”

Let’s look up at the clear sky and think only about good things.

Arin, who had worked hard to control her mind, came back into the house.

“Are you finished calling?”

Seojun was there, and the way he welcomed them as they entered the house made them feel like they were newlyweds.

Arin momentarily forgot all about her bad mood and blushed.

“Uh, yes..! It’s done! They say my aunts often come and sleep over. So they say they connected it.”

“Ah, I see. Then, will you let me take a look?”

“Yes yes! There is also a second floor. Let’s see the second floor first!”

On the second floor was Arin’s favorite attic when she was young.

Like most children, she also remembers being very fond of the attic because it felt like her secret base.

“I used to pull the blanket over me and play here every day.”

The toys were in disarray every day, and the memories of being noisy with my cousins and older sisters were still unforgettable memories.

“Playing covered up with a blanket is a rule for kids.”

Seojun also had similar memories, so he smiled in sympathy.

“I don’t think Seojun did that.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I think I must have been very mature even when I was young!”

In Arin’s opinion, Seojun seemed very calm and mature.

“Ah, I was a complete naughty person when I was young.”

“Wow, really? I can’t even imagine it…!”

Maybe that’s why it was difficult to imagine what it was like as a child to be naughty.

“I’ll show you the video later when I get a chance. My mom’s hobby was taking photos and videos of her children, so I have quite a lot left.”

“Wow, I love it! I’m really curious! It’s naughty Seojun!”

Seojun couldn’t help but be a little surprised to see himself casually talking about his mother.

Before I met you, I couldn’t even say the word ‘mother’.

Now, when I say that word and talk about that hobby, I don’t feel terribly sad or empty.

“When I was little, there was a time when my cousin and I fought over a toy over which toy was ours, and we cried so hard. At that time, that bastard Shiki…”

Because it’s a house full of childhood memories.

While we were talking about our memories, we came down to go see the sea.

“I came all the way to Gangneung, but it would be a shame to go again without seeing the sea!”

After locking the house door, the two decided to walk slowly to the sea.

“You have to walk for about 15 minutes, but it goes quickly.”

“15 minutes is definitely close.”

Walking along the winding country road felt like a healing experience just by walking.

Now, it was very quiet because it was a neighborhood where not many people lived, but hearing the noises of everyday life made me feel even better.

“I have a lot of memories in this neighborhood.”

“It seems so. Next time, let’s go to the place where my memories are.”

Arin quietly nodded to Seojun, who was unknowingly making plans for the next time.

“Yes, I really hope so.”

I wanted to know more about Seojun.

The frustration I felt when I spoke to my mom on the phone earlier has long since disappeared.

The reason why the frustration that would normally last for several days was able to disappear so quickly.

‘I guess I like Seojun a lot.’

It was probably because this time with Seojun was sweeter than I thought.

“Oh, I can see the sea over there.”

After walking a bit, I started to see the sea from afar.

The sea, shining blue in the blue sky, looked cool enough to open your stomach.

“I see. It doesn’t seem like there are many people.”

Arin took off the sunglasses and mask she was wearing.

“Wouldn’t it be okay to relax a bit?”

“Hmm, that’s definitely the case here.”

Seojun also took off his glasses and mask.

If someone were to see the two people smiling while looking at each other, they would definitely be mistaken as a couple on good terms.

“Would you like to make a running bet to see who will reach the sea first?”

“Suddenly?”

Seojun looked embarrassed at Arin’s sudden suggestion.

“I’m not confident in sports.”

“Hmm, I’m definitely a combat hunter. Then, I will leave one minute later than Seojun. How do you feel?”

“Hmm, why are you making this bet?”

Seojun, who didn’t really feel like running, opened his eyes and asked.

“What, Seojun, was it T? I just felt like T!”

Arin also followed Seojun, opening her eyes and asking.