episode_0176

The story after that. (4)

” So you’re taking this car? ”

Mr. Doosik asked me as I watched him blowing the snow off his car and the children playing with the snowballs that fell from underneath.

” Yes. Now that it’s all over, I’m thinking about going on a trip with those kids. ”

” Well, I don’t mind… No, from the moment I gave you the keys, this car… ”

The old man said as he scratched his head and looked at me. I looked at him and then looked at her as she slowly walked towards the two children.

” That’s what you said. But now… Your daughter, Yeong-i, is back too, right? That’s why I asked. ”

” Aha~ If that’s the case, then you don’t have to worry. I talked to her while we were staying in that camper van for a month before you guys came after Yeong-i came back, and she said it was okay. ”

” Are you sure it’s okay? ”

” Then! I hope you guys make happy memories like Ryeong and I made with that car. ”

” Thank you, mister. I’m so glad you were the first person I met when I came back from another world. ”

The old man laughed heartily and tapped my shoulder a few times.

” I’m so glad I met you too. Thanks to you, I was able to see my daughter again. When you get married next time, please invite me. ”

” Of course! I’m thinking about doing it when I get back from this trip. ”

As I was watching Yeong-i playing with the old man and the children, I heard barking from the side and when I looked, I saw Ara and Cerberus approaching.

Seeing her approach, Yeong-i slowly walked towards Ara, and the two children were running towards Cerberus through the snow, making a ‘crunch, crunch’ sound.

” What, is everyone else playing here except me? ”

” Sister. Come in quickly. ”

” Yeong-i, you… your hands are cold. And your body is weak too… ”

” This much is okay. And even if I’m in danger, I have my sister Charlotte too. ”

” Really… you… ”

I approached Ara, who was sharing warmth with Yeong-i while holding her hand.

” Are you here? ”

” It’s been a while. I can’t believe it’s already been a month since that happened. ”

” Well, happy times pass by so quickly. More importantly, as for Cerberus… ”

” It’s okay. My sister asked me to take care of it for a while anyway, right? It’s not really dangerous anymore. ”

” Yes. Thank you. For taking good care of me so far. ”

” Hey~ What did I do? Ah! Still, the children in the settlement will be a little sad. Cerberus played nicely with them. ”

Ara looked at the two children playing with Cerberus as she said that.

” More than that… Those two kids are like an older sister and brother… ”

” Yeah. Because I promised to be their mother. ”

” Then that’s good. Oh, I listened to the radio broadcast last time! ”

” Did you, did you hear that…?! ”

” Of course! Did you have fun listening to it too? Right? ”

” Yeah. It was amazing to see Charlotte like that. ”

” Ugh… Can’t you just forget about it… ”

As I raised both hands and covered my face, the two women standing on either side of me whispered softly in quiet voices the things I had said about him on the radio, and I just sat down in that spot.

‘ Ah… please someone get me out of here…! ‘

We cleared the snow from the camper van and started a fire together there, talking about how we would spend our time together in the future.

Mr. Doosik shook the glass he was holding slightly and took a sip as he spoke about his plans for the future.

Now that the devil has stopped coming out of the tower, you can do the work that was given to you with peace of mind.

” I… First of all, once Yeong-i’s body recovers, I plan to resume the ‘Paris Park’ settlement that I couldn’t finish. Of course, it’s winter now, so I’ll start again when spring comes. ”

” I want to follow my dad and go there and help people. I may not be able to do much. But I don’t want to see the tragedy I saw… ever again! ”

The tragedy of many people dying before our eyes in order to create Thanatos’ vessel. I don’t think he wanted to remember it, but the way Yeong-i endured it and talked about it was quite admirable.

” Then, is it my turn now? ”

After hearing the story between the old man and Yeong-i, Ara stood up from her seat and said it was her turn.

” I also want to help my dad and help with the settlements. And just like I helped out with Charlotte, Hyunseok, and Yeonseo when I traveled to various settlements, I want to travel with Pedro.

Of course, I’m not talking about going far or anything, but mainly the settlements around Mokdong Settlement…! ”

As she spoke confidently, Yeong-i, who was next to her, smiled faintly.

” Heung~ Even if you say that, don’t you want to travel alone with Pedro? ”

” That, that’s… well… that’s one reason, but… all, next! What about you, Unnie? Oh, you said you were going on a trip with the kids? ”

I smiled slightly at Ara, who was looking at me, scratching her nose as if embarrassed, and, like everyone else, I confessed what I wanted to do in the future.

” I want to create a settlement where people can live happily, just like my brother and sister did and like you, my uncle, are trying to do.

Of course, right now… I want to spend time with him and the kids… ”

After saying that, Ara leaned her head on his shoulder and covered her mouth with her hand, raising the corners of her lips.

” Oh… As expected, it’s you, unnie. You’re acting cute naturally. Yeong-i, did you see that too? And yet, Yeonseo unnie got pregnant first? ”

At Ara’s words, Yeong-i blushed and stayed still as Ara hit her shoulder, and next to her, the old man dropped a cup on the floor.

” Hey, wait? What? Right now… Who, who’s having a child…?! ”

” Huh? Uncle, you didn’t know? That Yeonseo had a child? ”

” That’s it… I have no reason to contact Yeonseo… ”

” Really? But my dad knew…? Oh, did you find out after talking to Yeonwoo? Well, what do you think? Now that I know, it’s okay. ”

Mr. Doosik picked up the fallen cup with a look of surprise on his face.

” Oh… I can’t believe that kid is already pregnant and a mom… ”

” Right? I was so surprised when I came back and saw Yeonseo’s belly full… ‘

” I guess I should contact you later… You helped us, so it would be an adult’s duty to at least congratulate you. ”

” I’m sure Yeonseo will like it too. ”

” That would be great. ”

*****

After that, the fire we had lit went out, the sun that had been shining in the blue sky set, and the cold moonlit night greeted us, so we decided to part ways.

While we were talking to everyone about what to do next, the kids who were playing with Cerberus had runny noses, so we quickly gave them a bath and asked them how their day was.

” I made a snowball fight with my sister! And I ran around with my dog and… ”

” Did you have fun? ”

” Yeah! ”

After taking a warm bath, Haneul continued to talk about how much fun she had had playing with Cerberus all day.

As I watched her talking happily, I felt a sense of warmth seeping into my heart, thinking that it was a good idea to come here, and I hugged Haneul and rubbed her cheek.

” If the sky was happy, so is your sister. How about sleeping here today? Isn’t it great? ”

” Yeah! It’s different from where I’ve been before, but it’s even better because of that! ”

The child started to hug me tighter. I slowly stroked his head and patted his back, and before I knew it, he had fallen asleep in my arms, perhaps because he had been playing so hard.

” Is the sky sleeping…? ”

” Yeah. Looks like you were tired from playing. How was Su-ah? Did you have fun? ”

” Yes! That… I was happy that I could make a snowman with the sky, just like my mom and dad made when I was little. And I can sleep in such a wonderful place… ”

” Do you like Suah too? ”

” Yes. So… Are you traveling with this? ”

” Yeah. I’ll probably be able to move soon. Cerberus will be with you, so if you feel dizzy or anything, just tell me. I’ll let you ride on top of Cerberus. ”

” Yes! ”

As I was talking to Su-ah while holding the sleeping Haneul in my arms, he approached me.

” Should I hold you now? ”

” No, it’s okay. Thanks for clearing the snow and cooking. ”

” What can you do with that? Was the food delicious, Su-ah? ”

” Yes! What was that thing that you put in the fire and roasted…? That thing that was pure white and sweet…! ”

” Oh, marshmallow? Was it delicious? ”

” Yes! This is my first time eating something like this! It melted in my mouth and it was really good for me and the sky! ”

” Haha! That’s good. Did you brush your teeth well? ”

” Haneul didn’t want to do it, but she said it would hurt later, so she started doing it! ”

At those words, he sat next to Su-ah and smiled slyly while drying her hair.

” Where’s Suah? ”

” Of course I did! ”

He wrapped Su-ah’s hair in a towel and pressed it down as if it was nothing, shaking her slightly damp hair and speaking confidently.

” Okay, good job. And it’s better to dry your hair like this. Got it? ”

” Thank you! Oppa! ”

When Su-ah called him oppa, the child didn’t know, but in my eyes, the look on his face was a little lonely.

Maybe… he was thinking… of his little sister.

” Su-ah, should we go to the bed you share with Haneul now? ”

I got up from my seat while holding Haneul and spoke to Suah.

” Huh? Oh, now that I think about it, I think I’m a little sleepy too. I actually dozed off a little bit when my brother was drying my hair… ”

” Hehe, it’s okay. My sister was like that sometimes too. ”

Su-ah followed me, holding my hand, and looked at me as if she found me curious.

” Sister, will you dry my hair for me? ”

” Huh…? ”

” My sister is also a spoiled brat like me! ”

” That, is that so…? ”

Su-ah looked at me and smiled with an expression that said, “Of course, that’s right.”

‘ Uh, of course, after doing that together… I’m talking about when I couldn’t move my body properly even after taking a bath… Yeah. Let’s just stay still… ‘

I feel sorry for the children, but there are also adults who don’t want to be caught.

Yeah, that’s what it is.

I took Haneul and Suah to the bedroom where Yeonseo was sleeping and laid Haneul down. Suah opened her eyes wide and looked around, then grabbed my clothes and pulled.

” Am I really going to sleep here? ”

” Why? Not really? There are two floors in the front, but… ”

” Oh, no! It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s that I like it too much… Can’t my sister and brother sleep here too…? ”

” Sorry. I still have some things to organize and look at, so I don’t think I can do it today. ”

” Yeah… ”

I sat down next to Soo-ah, who was climbing up the bed with her shoulders slumped in disappointment.

” It’s hard to sleep together, but I’ll stay by your side until you fall asleep. What do you think? ”

” Then… Okay! ”

After turning on the small lamp to make it not dark, I covered him with a thick blanket so he wouldn’t get sick in the cold weather, sat next to him, held his hand, and hummed a song.

Granditas’ lullaby that I met when I was sent to another world.

She couldn’t sing perfectly the song she used to sing when she put children who had become orphans due to war or an attack by the devil to sleep in a building, but she could hum it to this extent, so she played it for Su-ah, who couldn’t fall asleep yet.

” It’s a really… good… song… ”

Slowly I closed my eyes and the child’s hand that was holding mine released itself, and I heard the sound of him breathing deeply as he slept.

” What about the kids? ”

A view of him slightly lifting the curtain dividing the living room from the room.

I quietly put my index finger on my lips and made a ‘shh’ gesture towards him. He nodded and followed me out. I watched the kids sleep and then went out to the living room.

*****

A small glass on the table. And the reddish-purple liquid it contained. It contained wine.

” Hey? Where did you get this? ”

” This? I got this from a friend before I left Nodeul Island. ”

” I see. ”

I sat across from him and quietly flicked my glass and took a sip. A sweet yet slightly bitter taste lingered in my mouth.

As I slowly savored the taste and thought about whether I should ask him this question, I exhaled and a faint scent of alcohol wafted out.

Was it because I was drunk? I quickly decided to ask him and took a deep breath.

” Hoo… You know, can I ask you a question? ”

” Anything I can answer. ”

” When I was drying Suah’s hair earlier… did you think about the time you spent with your little sister…? ”

He took another sip of his drink without saying a word to me.

” Honestly… I can’t say no. That’s right. When I was very young, I used to dry her hair like that when I was taking a bath with her. I’m pretty good with my hands, you know? So she likes me drying her hair too? Of course, in bed too. ”

” Ahem… T, you don’t have to say that. ”

” Huh~ Then shouldn’t we do it next time? ”

” I, really… I told you it’s mean… ”

As I was having a few drinks with him and talking about what to do next, it got pretty late, so after cleaning up and heading to the bedroom, he hugged me from behind.

” Oh, today… ”

” Just once… Just once. ”

Seeing his lonely appearance and sorrowful voice for a moment, I had no choice but to give my body to him.

Well, to conclude…

Of course, his one time was followed by his actions of tormenting my body with words like, ‘One more time. Just a little more. ‘, and when I closed my eyes… the dark night had passed and the sun was rising, signaling a pure white morning.

Just as he said, his hands drying my hair after I washed it, even in bed… were awesome.