episode_0111

Late evening hours.

It was time for Amy, who had finished her paperwork, to climb into bed and go to sleep.

I let out a small sigh, hugging the book under the blanket.

When did time pass so quickly?

I could have looked up the content I missed today on the computer, but I couldn’t believe that I had been so absorbed in a small book like this.

It was fun.

But if you ask me if it’s better than Lucy, the answer would be, well, yes.

“Jeff.”

At that moment, a small whisper was heard from under the blanket.

The blanket was creaking, and what popped out from inside was Shine.

“Shine?”

“Yeah. It’s me.”

Shine answered like that and came closer to me.

The warm skin conveyed a gentle warmth.

“Weren’t you sleeping?”

“I woke up in the middle of it.”

Shine yawned, opening her small mouth wide.

As she was nibbling away, her eyes lit up when she noticed the book in my hands.

“What book is that?”

“This is…”

“Rain gave it to you?”

“Yeah.”

“Show me too.”

Shine sat up from her seat and held out her hand to me.

I checked on Amy, who was fast asleep, and handed her the book.

“Is it a picture book?”

“Yeah.”

I nodded.

I had no intention of telling Shine yet.

I mean, I’m a little interested in books that contain such content.

If Shine finds out about that.

I swallowed dry saliva and shook my head.

Shine began to flip through the small book.

Every time her fingers turned the pages, a faint scent of books wafted out.

Reading a book in a dark room is bad for your eyes.

I said to Shine with that thought in mind.

“Shine.”

“Yeah.”

“The book is later. See you in the morning.”

Shine didn’t answer.

As she was leafing through the picture book, she suddenly tapped a page with her finger.

Then the hidden letters quickly appeared.

The letters that rose like water spreading out showed the contents of the book without hiding anything.

As I opened my mouth in embarrassment, Shine smiled faintly and shook the book.

“I’ve already seen it.”

I felt a cold sweat running down my back.

“Was it fun?”

Shine asks like that.

Her voice, low and deep, enveloped my entire body.

Shine begins to approach slowly.

The sound of her body being swept by the blanket sounded as loud as thunder.

“How was it?”

“What…what?”

“I mean the book.”

Shine approached me quietly and wrapped her arms around my shoulders as if embracing me.

I was startled by her gesture and dug into the blanket.

“Don’t run away.”

Shine is chasing after you.

Deep inside the blanket, a rustling sound resonates in all directions.

Shine and I’s game of tag under the blanket came to an end in no time.

Because I was caught by Shine.

She held my arm tightly and looked down at me as she climbed onto my waist.

“Tell me. Was it fun?”

“Yeah.”

I hate lying.

So I don’t lie either.

A bright smile appeared on Shine’s face at the words that came out of my mouth.

“I had fun too.”

“Yeah…”

Shine quickly skimmed through the book in her hands.

The sound of books turning with a thud pierces my ears.

“Here. Here. And here.”

Shine showed me the contents of the book by pointing to them with her finger.

It was dark around here so I couldn’t see clearly, but I could see the picture.

“Here in the flower garden.”

As she said that, Shine carefully put the book down.

Her words brought to mind the contents of the book.

A scene that immediately comes to mind when you hear the word flower garden.

The younger sister, who was looking at her older sister who was resting while lying in the flower garden, unconsciously left a small kiss on her lips.

The content is about covering my mouth with my hand with a surprised expression, then running away while holding my pounding heart.

My sister opened her eyes in the place where the flower petals were scattered and got up from her seat while touching her lips.

Her gaze was focused on where her younger brother had run to.

That’s how the scene ends.

I swallowed dry saliva.

Because I felt that Shine’s gaze looking down at me from above was somehow scary.

Thump thump – The heart inside the small chest begins to beat loudly.

My head was so dizzy that I couldn’t tell if it was Shine’s or mine.

“Stay still.”

“Shine!”

“Shh.”

He waved his held hand wildly.

Shine’s body also shook violently with my power.

The blanket ripples. My breathing also becomes rough right away, and I start to hear panting sounds.

“That’s not weird.”

“That’s…”

Shine tried to convince me.

Shine’s words come to mind.

I learned from books what a family should do.

It’s not weird.

As for what was in the book, it was as if there was nothing strange at all.

Shine’s pure white face began to come closer.

The white hair pouring down obscures the surroundings like a curtain.

My gaze is only on Shine’s face.

“Stay still.”

A short yet long silence follows.

Now, when all I could hear was Shine and my breathing, a movement broke the silence.

Shine’s face, which had been slowly approaching, turns to the side.

A feeling of weight moving next to the bed.

The soft blanket she was covered with slowly moves, revealing Amy’s body.

“Jeff? Shine?”

Aimy’s eyes, still slightly closed as if still half asleep, begin to turn towards me and Shine.

I held my breath.

Like a child caught doing something bad, I couldn’t answer or move.

It seemed like the same thing happened to Shine, who froze in place as she climbed on top of me.

“Um…”

Amy rubbed her eyes and reached out to Shine.

Amy’s long hand slid between Shine’s armpits, lifting her up and pulling her into her arms.

“Jeff is asleep.”

Only then could I breathe.

Thanks to the relief from my blocked jaw, I was able to move my hands and feet carefully.

A tingling sensation remained in the hand that had been tightly held by Shine.

Amy must have thought I was asleep because I was lying down.

Amy, hugging Shine, began to preach.

“Shine.”

“Yeah.”

“You shouldn’t climb on top of someone who is sleeping.”

“Yeah.”

“You answer well.”

Amy yawned sleepily and gently stroked Shine’s hair, then held her in her arms and lay down.

A flustered Shine struggled to get out of Amy’s arms, but Amy’s arms wouldn’t let go.

“I’m so frustrated. Amy.”

Shine, who had been twisting her body a few times, let out a sigh as if she had given up.

I looked at Shine with only my head out of the blanket and cautiously stuck my tongue out.

“You.”

Shine’s eyes land on my tongue and fall.

I hid under the blankets at the sight of Shine frowning as if she was under the influence of medicine.

Because I pulled the blanket over my head, the surroundings were dark.

Only then could I breathe a sigh of relief.

It was fortunate that the lights were off.

If the surroundings had been brightly lit, Shine would have definitely seen my face.

The skin on my face felt so hot, as if I had just come out of a bath.

I slowly took a deep breath as I touched my flushed cheek.

Only then does the pounding sound of my heart slowly subside.

I can’t forget Shine’s face as she slowly approached me.

I rubbed my eyes and buried my face in the pillow.

That day, thanks to Amy falling asleep with Shine in her arms, I was able to sleep deeply.

The next morning.

I woke up a little early and checked my body first.

It was to check for bug bite marks that had started to appear a few days ago.

I recalled the marks that had remained on my neck, cheeks, and even just below my navel, but this time I could confirm that there were no new marks added.

“I didn’t get bitten today.”

He sits on the bed and mutters absentmindedly.

Amy was already up and tapping away at her laptop, while Shine was fast asleep, wrapped up in her blanket.

I jumped out of bed and sat down in front of Amy.

“Jeff? Are you awake already?”

“Yes.”

Amy glanced at her watch and asked with a slightly surprised look.

I nodded and answered.

I woke up earlier than usual.

“Did you get bitten today too?”

“No, I didn’t get bitten at all today.”

“The new medicine seems to be working well.”

Amy said and took out a small spray bottle.

“Is this bug repellent?”

“Yeah. I like it because it doesn’t smell.”

Chick-

Amy said and sprayed the air once.

As she said, the spray had no scent.

“Are you going to keep sitting?”

“Hmm.”

“Go quickly and wash up.”

Amy said as I was just rubbing my cheek on the table without doing anything.

I frowned at her words, let out a small sigh, and headed to the bathroom.

I hate mornings.

I didn’t want to brush my teeth or wash my face.

I just wanted to lie down and sleep.

I think there were days like that sometimes.

I put some toothpaste on my toothbrush, put it in my mouth, and looked out the small window across the bathroom.

A large pair of dinosaur pajamas hung limply on a long clothesline.

It should all dry by today.

Can I wear this in the evening?

I loved the soft, fluffy feel of dinosaur pajamas, so I cherished the dinosaur pajamas that Amy bought me.

Because it’s my only one, I can’t wear it every day, but that’s what makes it special.

If something special becomes everyday, it’s not special anymore.

“Jeff.”

As I was absentmindedly brushing my teeth, the bathroom door opened and Shine came in.

His eyes were still half-closed as if he was still sleepy, and his steps were unsteady, making him feel uneasy.

Shine, who had been yawning profusely, came over to me and hung on to my leg.

“Wait. Shine. I’m brushing my teeth.”

I, who was on the step, lowered my body that was staggering at Shine’s movements and spoke to her.

But Shine didn’t even think about listening, and just stuck her face between my legs and rubbed her face hard.

“Ugh…”

I foamed at the mouth and cried.

I couldn’t stand properly because of the shine.

As I continued brushing my teeth in an awkward position, Shine started doing something strange.

“Sniff sniff.”

“What are you doing…?”

I stopped brushing my teeth and looked down.

There, Shine was sniffing around with her head buried in my feet.

“Smell it.”

I was the one who was embarrassed by Shine’s confident attitude.

The little toes wiggle wildly in embarrassment.

I jumped down from the platform, freeing my foot from Shine’s grasp.

Shine didn’t say anything.

She stared at me intently, smiled slightly, then climbed up onto the step and began brushing her teeth.

Aside from the fact that her behavior was strange, I was really nervous.

Smell.

She was smelling me.

I’m talking about a place called the foot, not an ordinary part.

Hesitantly, a small mouth opens and begins to call out to Shine.

“I… Shine. That…”

“Huh?”

I kept my mouth shut when I saw Shine looking back as if asking why I was calling her.

How should I ask?

What do my feet smell like? Is it really that bad of a smell?

I looked down at my feet.

The little toes wiggle and hide their appearance.

Eventually, I shook my head and left the bathroom, then went to sit on the bed.

Amy’s eyes were fixed on the laptop screen.

I watched her expression, then carefully lowered my head and picked up my foot.

Small white feet come into view.

I sniffed carefully.

Fortunately, there was no smell.

Then there is no shame.

I can be confident.

I put my feet down and walked confidently to the bathroom.

“Shine!”

“Huh?”

Shine was still brushing her teeth.

“My feet don’t smell!”

Shine opened her mouth blankly at my confident shout.

The toothbrush in her hand shook precariously and fell to the floor.