episode_0031

After finishing breakfast with the uncle, I returned to the room.

As the uncle tried to follow me in, expressing concern, I told him if he planned on watching me change clothes as well, he should just sit on the sofa looking cool. It was quite a sight to see him sitting there with a smug look on his face.

However, it took me quite a while to change my clothes, as it felt quite uncomfortable to wear underwear since yesterday. It felt like wearing them for the first time… I forced myself to put them on, but my reflection in the mirror looked very unnatural.

Although it would be fine to leave them lying around since they would be washed anyway, while neatly folding the t-shirt full of the uncle’s scent, I suddenly felt worried about causing concern to my mom, who I had left the house without a word yesterday.

Honestly, my own mom, and even Joo Eun-hye’s mom, although not really, they both have the title of being a new mom, and their genuine concern for me is evident, so I trust them for now.

Most of all, as soon as she answered the phone, asking about my well-being, it seemed like she was really nervous. I didn’t expect her to start breathing heavily as if she was hyperventilating, trying to calm her down would make me break out in a cold sweat. Maybe she’s even more overreacting than the uncle?

“Yeah, sorry for causing unnecessary worry. Mom. Tell Min-jeong that everything is fine with me, so she doesn’t have to worry.”

Even though she’s my mom, Min-jeong is also worried.

I don’t know what her intentions were, but if she brought a monkey wrench when visiting the house, she would be classified as a top priority dangerous person. She didn’t seem to have any intention of hurting me, but just in case, I should be careful in the future.

[Yes, Eun-hye, if that’s the case… If anything happens, you must contact your mom. Got it?]

“Yeah, yeah, I got it… Oh, and next time, I’ll come to visit— [Hey, you!] Oh, she hung up.”

After barely calming down my mom and finishing the conversation calmly, I felt a little worried because of her flustered voice before hanging up.

But the fact that my mom and Min-jeong are there… meaning, it’s my family home now.

I don’t remember it clearly now, but having glimpsed Joo Eun-hye’s memories, I know how much she despised and belittled that place.

So if I, who has become Joo Eun-hye, go there, I know exactly how I will be treated. Honestly, I don’t want to go.

But it’s not right to call my mom and Min-jeong back to this house. Besides, I’m not really Joo Eun-hye, so even if I’m ignored, I don’t think I’ll get hurt. Well, it’s not polite to go empty-handed, so should I prepare a special gift?

*Knock knock knock*

“Eun-hye, is everything okay?”

Lost in thought while sitting on the bed, I was startled by the uncle’s voice knocking on the door. Checking my phone, it was already past 11 o’clock.

“I don’t know why this uncle is so worried when it’s not even lunchtime yet.”

Although I muttered as if it was bothersome, I was secretly pleased that there are people who care about me.

With a smile on my face, I stretched briefly and opened the door, facing the uncle wearing a sky-blue shirt over a white t-shirt.

As our eyes met, his complexion turned pale, then flushed with crimson, and he quickly turned his head away. In response to his reaction, I chuckled, and suddenly the uncle started scolding me loudly.

“You, you! Why aren’t you wearing clothes again?”

“Huh? Oh…”

My face wrinkled with surprise at the unexpected teasing, but as I scanned my body in response to the man’s words, I realized that I was only wearing my top and underwear.

Just underwear…

So… the bra and panties I struggled to put on earlier…

—

“Ah!! Don’t look this way! I told you not to look! You foolish, perverted old man!!”

I quickly covered my chest and lower body with my arms, feeling as if steam was rising from my head as I rambled on to the man.

“Perverted? Hey! Is that my fault? The person who opens the door wide without any warning in that state is at fault—”

“Ah, okay! Okay, just turn around and disappear quickly! How long are you going to keep staring!”

“Ugh, okay! Then I’ll quickly change clothes and come out!”

Although pretending to cover my eyes with my hands, I could subtly sense his gaze directed towards me with his fingers slightly apart. Seeing me react so strongly, the man seemed to hide his appearance as if he were crouching on the floor.

After glaring at him for a while, I closed the door with a bang, unable to bear the embarrassment, and covered my face with both hands.

Ugh… why does that foolish old man seem to be getting weirder as time goes on?

Even the way he looks at me is strange.

“…Embarrassing.”

My face burning hot, I frantically fanned myself.

Everything has become so strange.

…

..

.

After changing clothes and coming out of the room, the man casually suggested going on a trip. I wondered what had gotten into him to suggest such a thing, but I felt sorry for him spending his vacation at home, and since it had been a while since I went on a trip with someone, I gladly accepted.

“Are you not tired, sir?”

However, after watching the man hold onto the steering wheel for a good two hours, I started to worry.

Even if I had a driver’s license… I didn’t even have a car to begin with, so I never thought about getting a license before becoming Jueunhye. Should I give it a try?

“It’s okay, we’ll be at a rest stop soon, so you can take a break. By the way, it’s already past lunchtime, Jueunhye, are you hungry too?”

— Gurgle~

Before I could answer, the sound of my stomach rumbling echoed in the car. Yes, I’m extremely hungry. The porridge I had for breakfast has long been digested, and it’s already two o’clock.

“Haha~ Okay, let’s hurry before your stomach sticks to your back, Jueunhye!”

“R-really, sir! Please stop teasing me!”

As I pretended to clench my fists and make a striking motion, the man just laughed.

I actually wanted to hit him for real, but it’s dangerous to disturb the driver, so I’ll settle this score later. Be prepared, Kang Sunwoo!

“Alright, now that we’ve arrived, relax, Jueunhye. I’ll buy you whatever you want to eat.”

As the car stopped, the man made an unexpected offer, crossing his arms and turning his head towards me.

“…Really, sir?”

I was a bit skeptical, but looking at his face, he didn’t seem like he was lying. Although he seemed to be suppressing a laugh for some reason.

“Okay, but you have to buy something tastier than rest stop food for dinner!”

“Haha, alright, I understand. Miss Jueunhye. So, shall we get off the car first? …You’re too easy to handle.”

“What did you just say, sir?”

“Oh, it’s nothing~ I was just trying to say that dinner is something to look forward to~”

It feels strange to use formal language that doesn’t suit me, but you can expect me to say it, so I’ll trust you for now. Actually, it’s my first time stopping at a highway rest area, so I’m kind of excited!

…Huh? No, I feel like I’ve been here before, not just today. When was it?

I remember walking hand in hand with a girl my age and an adult woman who looked like that girl. It feels like the three of us were walking together… I was so young back then that I can’t remember it well.

— Hehehe, Oppa~

What’s even stranger is the title the girl in my memory calls me.

I did have an older brother before, but I didn’t have a younger sister. And among all the girls I’ve met, including my ex-girlfriend, none of them were younger than me.

No, even if I did meet them, it was just a casual encounter. We never spoke comfortably as if we were siblings.

— …Eunseok, don’t let go of my hand, hold it firmly. Got it?

And who was that adult woman who always looked at me with a mix of fear and disgust every time she looked at me? She wasn’t my fake mom who took my breath away. But it feels like she’s not completely gone, leaving behind a sense of longing.

I feel like I’ve forgotten something important that shouldn’t be forgotten.

Who are those two people? Who are they that just imagining them makes my heart feel empty?

“Hmm? Why are you acting like that, Eunhye?”

As I recalled the girl with light brown hair who seemed on the verge of memory and the blunt-speaking adult woman, I met the gaze of the man passing by.

“Oh, it’s nothing, sir.”

It seems like I made the man worry for nothing because of my useless imagination. Although the memory bothers me a bit, I forced a smile and held the man’s hand, leading him towards the restaurant.

“Hehehe, let’s go quickly, sir, I’m hungry~”

So, let’s put this memory aside for now and show the man my usual self.