Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Clingy
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“Where did you get this?”
“From Lola.”
Lola...
“So, that conversation with the cafe waiter yesterday?”
She remembered Torra chatting casually with the waiter.
Torra nodded. Jain, still not satisfied, asked,
“How did that waiter know that woman’s contact info?”
“He’d seen her come to the shop a few times before. She’s quite the beauty, so he secretly saved her number when she paid.”
Jain stared at Torra.
“That’s a crime.”
“Arrest him then.”
Anyway, that was police business. Jain shook the memo.
“But the waiter just handed this over?”
“You think so?”
Torra peeled a mango, asking back as if to say, *Look at this naive guy.*
“Of course?”
“In exchange, I gave him another contact.”
“Whose?”
Torra held out a slice of peeled mango on the knife. Jain waved it off. Torra popped it into her own mouth. In that moment, Jain realized.
“Mine?”
Torra continued peeling the mango.
“You’re popular.”
Jain furrowed her brow. Honestly, she’d never lacked boyfriends when she wanted one, but hearing it from Torra felt like teasing.
Torra said casually,
“Pick up if he calls. He seemed like a nice, sincere guy.”
“With that much sincerity doubled, he’d start stalking.”
Phone numbers were easier to change than underwear anyway, so if that was the price for the info, she didn’t mind.
Torra shrugged, as if there was nothing more to say.
“Anyway, let’s go.”
Once they finished eating, Torra stood up.
***
The woman recognized Torra the moment she saw her.
“Hey, you?”
“Twins.”
If she’d slept with Rato, she’d spot the difference right away, so Torra just said it.
“Twins?”
The woman scanned Torra up and down.
“Yeah, you are. The vibe’s totally different.”
Then she gave a languid smile and approached Torra.
“So, what’s up? Did your twin recommend you because I was that good?”
That was when Jain suddenly wedged herself between them. The woman stopped talking. Jain’s action was statement enough. Besides, Jain didn’t look like easy prey even if provoked.
Torra cut straight to it with the woman.
“My twin’s gone missing.”
“Missing?”
The woman blinked in surprise, then her face hardened with suspicion.
“Nothing to do with me. It was just a one-night thing.”
“I know. I just want you to tell me anything you remember.”
“What I remember... He was kind of indifferent. Didn’t really listen to what I said.”
She hadn’t believed Torra when she said her twin was different, but clearly he was.
“He was talking to some guys. That’s all I remember.”
“What kind of guys?”
“Not the type to ask for directions or bum a smoke. Two of them.”
“Description?”
The woman described their features.
As they stepped outside, Torra asked,
“What was that about earlier?”
“If you wanted to sleep with her too, sorry for interrupting. I just didn’t want to waste time.”
Jain said flatly.
“Jain’s not being honest.”
“Being too honest is the problem.”
Jain spoke in a skeptical tone and voiced the thought she’d had since earlier.
“But that woman... doesn’t she kinda look like Gammal?”
“You know how pretty our Mati is when you say that?”
Torra sounded incredulous.
“No, of course she’s not as pretty, but the vibe, the build...”
Jain realized something and looked at Torra.
“Could it be...”
Torra shook her head firmly.
“Rato wouldn’t betray Mati. That much is certain.”
Jain fell silent for a while, then suddenly said,
“You know, I’ve been thinking since last time, but the names Torra and Rato...”
*Here we go again.*
Torra thought. Everyone reacted the same to their names.
“They’re like palindromes—read the same either way. Feels connected, perfect for twins.”
Jain looked at Torra. Torra was staring back as if she’d said something weird.
“What?”
Jain asked, not hiding her unease. Torra snapped out of it.
“Amazing. Most people think Mati named us half-assedly.”
Under a night sky thick with the Milky Way, by the campfire, Gammal had sat between them, holding their hands, whispering,
“You two are connected.”
Jain said indifferently,
“You can tell how much Gammal treasures you just from her eyes. I figured she wouldn’t give someone like that a half-hearted name.”
***
At that moment, Do Yeong stood holding the doorframes, leaning slightly forward with his eyes closed.
Clinging to his back like a leech—no, it was Gammal, arms locked tight around his waist. No strength in her grip, but clearly not letting go.
Captain Tao stood before them, looking troubled.
“Gammal, the colonel...”
“No.”
Gammal was firm. She tightened her arms around Do Yeong’s waist.
“No. Don’t go. You can’t.”
“It’s just a trip home. You haven’t seen your parents once since coming back.”
Captain Tao said, but Gammal pleaded almost desperately,
“Then I go too. Okay?”
“But Gammal, you have promises and therapy...”
The captain trailed off awkwardly, and Gammal buried her face in Do Yeong’s back, refusing to budge.
Finally, Do Yeong sighed, released the doorframes, and straightened up. He asked Captain Tao,
“Can I bring this?”
“Well...”
The captain hesitated.
“It’s fine.”
That’s when Rex appeared. Captain Tao saluted sharply beside him, and Do Yeong straightened and saluted too.
“Commander.”
But Gammal still hung off Do Yeong’s waist. He tried pushing her off, but she was too strong.
Rex looked at Gammal and said,
“He listens to the colonel well, so no trouble.”
“But the commitments he’s already missed...”
“That’s us owing him help, so no reason to hold him. Everyone needs leave.”
No arguing with the commander. Gammal beamed.
“Thanks, Alex!”
“Rex is fine.”
Rex, who never cracked a smile, spoke with a faint warmth in his eyes.
“Okay. Rex.”
Gammal didn’t hesitate. Do Yeong muttered,
“Damn bootlicker.”
“Huh?”
Gammal turned, but Do Yeong was already walking. She waved to Rex and hurried after.
“Bye, Rex!”
***
“Do Yeong!”
Do Yeong’s parents were at the airport.
His father Elio sat in a wheelchair, lower body paralyzed, with his mother Sarang beside him. Their faces lit up seeing their son in person after so long, but turned puzzled at Gammal emerging with him.
Then Gammal spotted Elio and grinned.
“Western Do Yeong.”
Do Yeong flicked her forehead.
“Greet them first.”
Gammal went, “Oh,” as if just realizing, and said,
“Hi. I’m Gammal.”
“She doesn’t know honorifics. Or maybe chooses not to. Anyway, bear with it.”
Do Yeong added. Sarang and Elio, stunned, asked,
“Who...?”
“Baggage.”
At Do Yeong’s blunt words, Gammal nodded vigorously.
“Yeah. Baggage.”
Then she turned to him.
“But what’s baggage?”
***
Elio and Sarang gaped.
“No way. Three thousand three hundred fifty years old?”
“Just aged.”
Do Yeong said, but Gammal corrected,
“Eaten a lot too.”
“Such a brag. Put the napkin there.”
“Napkin?”
“Square tissue.”
Do Yeong explaining words Gammal didn’t know came naturally. Elio watched, then said dazedly,
“Not exactly the vampire image for three thousand three hundred fifty years.”
Do Yeong glanced at Gammal.
“Guess island hikikomori turns out like this.”
“Oh, hikikomori. That’s me. Do Yeong said.”
Gammal said proudly, like it was something. Sarang asked Do Yeong quietly,
“Her speech... always like this?”
Do Yeong shrugged.
“After all that talk with me, she knows more words than when we met, but her speech hasn’t improved at all. Just her style. Never uses honorifics.”
“I’ve lived long.”
Gammal declared proudly. Meaning no need for honorifics. Do Yeong muttered blankly,
“Wow, super boomer.”
“What’s boomer?”
She knew common words now, but slang was still weak.
“You.”
“What’s it mean?”
“Ugh, annoying. Sit.”
Do Yeong said irritably, and Gammal obediently sat on the sofa. Elio finally voiced what he’d held back.
“Bit rude to say, but...”
“Don’t say pet. If I had a choice, I wouldn’t keep something like this.”
Elio froze mid-lip-purse. Gammal jumped up indignantly.
“Keep me!”
“No.”
Do Yeong was firm.
“Why not!”
“Who keeps a pet that eats so much and doesn’t listen?”
“I’ll listen.”
Gammal mumbled sulkily.
“Don’t like without Do Yeong.”
Elio and Sarang glanced at Do Yeong with scolded-child faces. Do Yeong grumbled,
“Ugh, this thing’s making me the bad guy.”
Gammal shook her head.
“Do Yeong’s not bad.”
Do Yeong nodded toward the table.
“Sit.”
Gammal scurried to her seat. Elio and Sarang took theirs too. Gammal waited till they picked up utensils, so Sarang said,
“Eat a lot.”
Gammal smiled.
“Yeah. Lots.”
Elio and Sarang wisely stayed silent. They got her character now.
“Let’s eat.”
***
Do Yeong tidied up and said,
“Good night.”
“Yeah, sleep well. Gammal, guest room...”
Elio started, but Gammal was already following Do Yeong upstairs. Sensing something off, Elio trailed off, and Gammal said defensively,
“Sleep with Do Yeong.”
Lately, too many questioned her sleeping with him.
Elio and Sarang eyed Do Yeong knowingly. He raised a hand. And repeated the line he always said lately.
“No misunderstanding. Duckling imprint effect.”