episode_0017

” She’s sleeping so deeply… ”

Arriving at the underground parking lot, Ju Eunhye was still deeply asleep.

It must have been about an hour ago. Eunhye, who had been arguing with Suma about how I would be bored driving if she fell asleep, eventually grabbed onto my sleeve and fell asleep.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable driving with her asleep, I gently removed her hand, but Eunhye began to whimper with an anxious voice.

Not knowing what to do, I hesitated, but when I took off the coat I was wearing and covered her, she fell asleep with a peaceful smile on her face, as if saying, “When did you become so caring?”

As I got out of the car, feeling sorry for waking up the sleeping Eunhye, who was still light despite gaining some weight compared to before, I carefully held her delicate body and locked the door.

It was a somewhat awkward position, like holding a princess, but there was no one around, and most importantly, Eunhye was sleeping so peacefully that it didn’t feel embarrassing at all.

” She looks really beautiful like this… ”

I found myself drawn to the sight of Eunhye sleeping soundly, as if led by her soft breathing.

Her short brown hair had grown down to cover her chest, and her once pale complexion seemed to have a hint of color.

Who would have thought that I, a complete stranger, would end up taking care of Ju Eunhye like this?

Although I had been full of resentment towards her grandfather for trying to force her into marriage, when I actually faced her lying unconscious in the central entrance, I couldn’t bring myself to leave her outside.

At that time, Eunhye’s clothes were tattered as if she had been in an accident. Looking back now, I feel that I was too harsh, as I didn’t take her to the hospital thinking that she wasn’t injured anywhere.

If there was anyone to blame, it was her grandfather for trying to marry her off forcefully. What fault could a child under seven years old have to deserve such treatment?

But fearing the scolding from her grandfather and parents if I treated Eunhye harshly, I reluctantly drafted a contract stating that we would part ways at an appropriate time without interfering with each other.

I had my own lover, and Eunhye was also brought here against her will, so I didn’t want to force her into anything. That was the reason.

However, when I handed her a bankbook containing living expenses and pocket money, her subsequent unexpected behavior was beyond comprehension.

But even after that, Ju Eunhye continued to exhibit strange behavior.

Her mother had described her as quiet and passive, but after writing the contract, she would run out of her room in her underwear the next day, or ask for help surrounded by cats… causing me a lot of trouble.

There were times when I scolded her for fighting and coming back.

On the day her grandfather found out that Eunhye was injured, he had warned me not to let her show any signs of being hurt again, fearing that he wouldn’t let me off the hook, but looking back now, it seems like a rather awkward statement.

” But she wasn’t always causing trouble. ”

During our time together, I learned that Ju Eunhye was a woman with a deep sense of consideration.

When I lived alone, I would often have quick meals or eat out, but living with Ju Eunhye completely changed that.

Although she would sometimes serve dishes I didn’t like, my favorite side dishes would always be on the table, and every morning, breakfast would be ready by the time I woke up.

Being able to have a warm meal every morning was a joyful experience, thanks to Ju Eunhye.

There were times when I told her that she didn’t have to go to such lengths for me.

Every morning, getting up early to prepare meals isn’t an easy task, right? Moreover, with that skinny body of hers, I genuinely worried about her going to such lengths for me.

But she insisted that she was doing what she wanted to do, saying it was her choice, and from the next day on, the variety of side dishes increased.

And that wasn’t all. The house that used to be a pigsty once a week became so clean that it was hard to find a speck of dust, and the backlog of dishes and laundry disappeared as well.

There was a time when I doubted Jueunhye’s intentions for taking care of me so well, but it was all unnecessary worry.

Stuffing my mouth full of food and showing a foolish smile, there’s no way I could be deceived by the fact that she falls asleep so defenselessly in bed when we arrive home.

From the start, I only saw this kid as a younger sister with a significant age difference, so I will never see Jueunhye as a woman in the future.

Even though I feel she’s the most attractive among the women I’ve seen, it’s true. I will never see Jueunhye as a woman.

“Tomorrow, I have to go to work, so should I go to sleep too…”

Knowing that washing up would only wake me up, feeling uneasy, I lay down on the bed and took out my smartphone to check the KakaoTalk message Jueunhye had sent.

[There were many demerits, but you passed. Clueless Uncle! The photo is a gift!]

The photo she sent was of me grabbing her arm with a foolish face and her holding me tightly with a smile. The bright flames together in the picture made Jueunhye’s figure particularly… today.

“Beautiful…”

– Thump, thump

Again. When the fireworks started earlier, and every time I see Jueunhye, my heart pounds as if it’s going to burst.

When I met an old internet acquaintance and was embarrassed by my past, I thought that’s why.

[Just cool~]

Her words when she saw the cosplay photo.

Friends mocked me, and family gave a cold response, but Jueunhye sincerely said I looked cool.

[She’s not my girlfriend!]

Her response to the question from my old acquaintance Rachel.

On one hand, I was relieved, but for some reason, my heart sank, and I tried to kill this uneasiness with alcohol.

[I’m Uncle’s wife!]

And her following words.

Spitting out the beer in shock at her shocking statement, but deep down, I felt a sense of relief. Her figure, rushing to me and wiping my face with a tissue, was just like a puppy.

[I won’t laugh at what Uncle does, and I won’t say anything I don’t like]

And her warm words that are shaking my heart right now.

Even my family opposed everything I wanted to do. My girlfriend, Sujeong, always interfered and criticized everything I did.

But who is this kid Jueunhye?

Why did she say something to me that even Sujeong, my girlfriend, has never said?

The bright flames bursting and her gentle smile shining brightly still lingered in my mind, making it impossible for me to fall asleep.

A strange warmth I’ve never felt before… What is this feeling?

“Hey, Kang Sunwoo. I can’t stand a man without ambition. You know that, right?”

But when I remembered Sujeong’s habitual remarks, that warm feeling quickly faded away.

Still, now that strange feeling no longer lingers, I sighed and fell asleep.

And just as I was about to drift off into a state similar to enlightenment…

– Click

Suddenly, the sound of the door opening made me open my eyes.

Grace was clearly deep in sleep. Then who on earth could have opened the door to my room and come in?

Feeling a slight unease, I turned my gaze towards the darkness, and through the familiar sight beyond, Han Inyoung came into view.

From the hair cascading down to her shoulders, resting on her chest, to the slender arms cradling a pillow the size of her upper body, and even to the eyes that seemed on the verge of tears and the lips that looked as if they were biting down forcibly.

“Joo Eunhye…?”

Even though the room was dark due to the extinguished light, her appearance, as if she were terrified, was vividly reflected.

In that moment, as she slowly approached me, her sleeve brushed past my leg.

As she laid the pillow next to my head, her face flushed at the sight of her white camisole. Thankfully, I was wearing dolphin pants underneath, but even that was too tempting for me.

“Sir…”

Her voice calling out to me. And the gaze I felt from her as she held my left ring finger with two fingers made it impossible for me to open my eyes.

What in the world is going on? Why did Eunhye suddenly come into my room?

Why is her hand, holding my ring finger, trembling?

“Why are you so scared?”

With that question in mind, I cautiously began to open my eyes, only to be greeted by Eunhye’s smiling face with closed eyes. Was it a pretense?

But unlike her, I felt like I was going completely insane.

If I moved my finger that she was holding, this child seemed like she would wake up, and my gaze was fixed on her sternum, unable to turn away.

What filled my panicked eyes was Eunhye’s chest protector.

Looking at it this way, it seemed quite sizable despite her small stature.

“C? No, at this rate, is it a D? Oh, now that I see it, there were two dots on the upper left part of her chest… Oh no!?”

Suddenly, as Eunhye pressed her body against mine and wrapped her arms around my head, my vision was blocked, and a soft sensation spread across my face.

– Thump thump thump thump thump thump thump

Her breathing tickled my ear, and the sound of my heart pounding in the silent room began to echo, as my body started to heat up.

It seems like I’ve slept through the night.

“What about work tomorrow?”