Chapter 34
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 34: Touching Reunion (4)
*Ding dong—*
In the pitch-black darkness, a sharp bell sound scratched the eardrum.
'...'
I forced my heavy eyelids open. Dawn where only silence lingers. Didn't look at the clock, but it wasn't a time for a normal person to press someone else's doorbell.
*Ding dong—*
Didn't hear wrong. Who is it? No one to come at this time. Delivery? Didn't order. Parcel? Would have left it at the security office. Then...
*Ding dong— Ding dong— Ding dong—*
The bell started getting mashed crazily.
Felt a persistent will to press until the person inside comes out, or until the machine breaks down.
"No, what is it f*ck."
I spat out a curse with an annoyed voice and went out to the entrance. No time to check the intercom. The noise was so nervous, my only thought was to make it stop first.
*Beep beep-*
Unlocked the door lock, and flung the door open.
"Who is it?"
In front of the door stood Seol Ji-hye.
Wearing a white dress, holding a bouquet of red roses in one hand. Looking up at me with cheeks flushed pink like a shy newlywed bride.
"...Ji-hye?"
"Older Brother, happy birthday."
The punk smiled shyly offering the bouquet.
"......?"
My birthday?
"What bullsh*t. My birthday already passed this mont..."
*Stab-*
Before I could even finish speaking. A heavy and hot foreign body sensation was felt in my abdomen.
Slowly lowered my gaze.
A kitchen knife hidden behind the bouquet, was lodged deep in my solar plexus.
"......"
Vomiting blood *ulp*, I looked at Ji-hye with a blank expression. And admired without realizing.
"Wow... You just... hit the 'Core'."
A perfect strike passing exactly between the ribs, aiming for the vital spot between the heart and lungs. Did she invest in Assassin traits or something.
Then Ji-hye put strength into the hand holding the knife handle, and twisted the blade.
*Crack.*
"Ugh...!"
"Yeah, Older Brother. Pierced exactly."
The punk whispered burying her face in my chest. Voice was sweet like honey.
"People digging this deep like me are rare. Right?"
"......This crazy..."
"Older Brother is... mine now... Let's be together forever."
F*ck.
I let an enemy bastard into my house. Goodness.
Vision blacked out.
.
.
.
*Ding dong—*
'...?'
Before consciousness even returned, heard that sound again.
*Ding dong—*
'What is it...?'
Darkness. And familiar ceiling. But body wouldn't move. Like sleep paralysis.
*Ding dong— Ding dong— Ding dong—*
Frantic doorbell sound starting again. Deja vu? Or hellish time loop?
Before I knew it my body moved, and I was standing in front of the entrance again. Ominous energy crept up from beyond the door.
If I open that door a knife stab will fly in again. Will see that crazy smile again.
'Won't fall for it twice.'
This time I go first. First strike wins (Seon-bbang-pil-seung). That is an immutable truth.
Instead of grabbing the doorknob, I raised my leg high. Loaded my entire body's strength into my right heel.
With the single thought of blowing away the devil beyond the door, along with the door itself.
"Get lost, you devil!!!"
I squeezed out strength used to suck milk and delivered a front kick.
*Bang───!!!*
.
.
.
*Flap──*
Along with a heavy hitting sensation cutting the air, the blanket soared to the ceiling.
"Huff... Huff..."
I jumped up exhaling rough breaths. Cold sweat flowed down my spine. Looking around, it was the familiar scenery of the studio apartment.
'...Was it a dog dream (bullsh*t dream).'
To think I'd live to have a dream getting my 'Core' stabbed by my younger sister with a kitchen knife. As my birthday congratulatory hit at that.
Solar plexus still feeling numb, I swept down my chest, but an unfamiliar sound was heard in my ears.
*Sizzle- Pop, pop.*
Cheerful sound of oil splattering.
And a savory and spicy smell hitting the tip of my nose. The smell of kimchi stir-fried sweetly in sesame oil strongly stimulated my stomach.
'What...'
Turned my head with blank eyes. Saw a familiar back towards the kitchen.
"Uh? Older Brother woke up?"
It was Ji-hye.
Took off the loose white t-shirt worn yesterday, and was cleanly changed into her own clothes completely dried on the veranda.
The punk was smiling brightly holding a spatula in one hand.
A dazzlingly peaceful appearance, completely different from the devil standing holding a kitchen knife in the dream just now.
"Timing is exactly good. Wash your face and sit. It's all done."
The punk smiled softly and turned off the gas fire.
I blankly checked the phone placed at the head of the bed.
[ 09:57 ]
Almost 10 o'clock. Slept quite late.
"You... didn't go home?"
At my question, Ji-hye put down the spoon and said as if it was nothing.
"Yeah. Going to eat together and leave. Older Brother eat first, I'm going to make a fried egg for myself and eat too."
Looking at the dining table, a soft-boiled egg was placed beautifully on top of softly stir-fried kimchi fried rice.
"There shouldn't have been eggs in the house?"
"Went grocery shopping in the morning. Refrigerator was completely empty?"
Ji-hye clicked her tongue and placed a water cup in front of me.
"......"
Younger sister in the dream stabbed my solar plexus, but younger sister in reality is taking care of my empty stomach. Mood was strange.
I pulled out a chair, sat down, and muttered lowly.
"Ah... Yeah. Thanks. I'll eat well."
Popped the yolk with the spoon and took a big spoonful with rice.
*Munch munch.*
The spicy texture of kimchi, the savory taste of oil, and the soft egg harmonized in my mouth.
"......"
Delicious.
Honestly better than what I make.
"How is it? Okay?"
Ji-hye came holding the frying pan and gauged my reaction. I nodded pretending to be indifferent.
"Yeah. It's delicious."
"Thank god! Eat a lot. Made a lot of rice."
Ji-hye's face blossomed brightly.
We sat facing each other and ate a late breakfast. No special conversation, but the clinking sound of spoons filled the narrow studio apartment.
It was a peaceful time making last night's commotion feel like a lie.
After finishing the meal, I forcefully stopped Ji-hye who was even trying to do the dishes and sent her back.
"I'm going, Older Brother. Lock the doors well."
"Yeah. Go safely. Text me when you arrive."
"Yeah. Won't take a taxi this time, taking the bus. Gotta save money."
The punk waved her hand at the entrance and left.
*Click.*
Along with the sound of the door locking, silence visited the room again.
I looked at the empty dining table, and let out a chuckle.
'Seems her obsession has become... somewhat crazy b*tch level.'
Don't know well.
Compared to her past uncute self, she definitely became kinder. No, beyond becoming kinder, overprotection became severe. Because she treats me like a newborn baby put out by the water.
I took out the phone from my pocket. And pressed her CocoaTalk profile.
[ Kind Southern Barbarian ]
A name that brings out a hollow laugh every time I see it.
I pressed the edit button and erased the text.
*Tap, tap.*
[ Seol Ji-hye ]
Cleanly three letters of her real name.
'Yeah. Taking care of meals and worrying like that, barbarian is a bit much.'
Since she acts like a human now, should treat her like a human.
I pressed the save button and glared at the screen.
'But if she acts like a crazy b*tch again, no mercy then.'
If she makes me have a dream of her running wild with a kitchen knife next time, or tries to chop the front door with an ax.
Then I'll rename her to [Crazy Girl (Gwang-nyeon-i)].
I clicked my tongue and exited to the chat room list.
Since I'm here should I check the group chat too.
[ Class of '20 Computer Engineering Freshman Group Chat (107) ]
Here the festival atmosphere already ended and it was the mood of closing up.
[Kim Su-jin(Rep)]
: Everyone worked hard at the Welcome Party~!
: Everyone worked hard at the Welcome Party~!
: Go home safely, and see you at the opening general assembly on Monday! ^^
[Lee Min-ji]
: Wow lolol Yesterday was really fun.
: Wow lolol Yesterday was really fun.
: But couldn't catch Rabbit Man in the end? ㅠㅠ Shame.
[Choi Yu-na]
: (Photo)
: I safely put our cute Hyun-woo-nim in a taxi and sent him off~ ^^
: (Photo)
: I safely put our cute Hyun-woo-nim in a taxi and sent him off~ ^^
: Hyun-woo-nim worked hard yesterday!
One photo was uploaded.
The image of Park Hyun-woo sitting crumpled in the back seat of a taxi.
Glasses half slipped down, and unfocused pupils staring into the void. Countless lip marks on his face... fortunately there were none, but his expression looking as if his soul was threshed in a thresher was the highlight.
Eyes like a citizen who lost his country, or a cow right before slaughter.
"Aigo... Hyun-woo-ya..."
Sigh came out automatically.
How much he must have suffered performing the tanker role instead of me, it was obvious just looking at one photo.
'Sorry. But what can you do. Thanks to your sacrifice I lived.'
I offered a silent tribute to the guy in my heart, and quietly turned off the phone screen.
When I go to school on Monday... should buy him a delicious meal at least.
Of course, if the guy is alive to come to school, that is.
"Got nothing to do today so should rest."
I flopped onto the bed. After eating the kimchi fried rice younger sister made until my belly burst, food coma rushed in like a tsunami.
Stared blankly at the ceiling and rubbed my belly. Warm back and full belly, nothing beats this idle life (Sin-seon-nol-eum).
But, while counting the wallpaper patterns on the ceiling, something suddenly came to mind.
'...Who lives up there.'
Above my head, Room 703.
Come to think of it, on the day I moved in, spent a fortune and left steamed rice cakes hanging on the doorknobs asking them to bear with floor noise. Not only Room 703 but my floor, and floor below, all of them.
"......"
But why is there no reaction.
It's been a few days since I came here. Quite some time passed since I distributed rice cakes. Usually if you bump into them in the elevator saying "Oh my, ate the rice cake well", or putting a few tangerines on an empty plate and leaving it in front of the door is the national rule, isn't it?
Did the people in this officetel not just eat the rice cake, but digested their conscience along with it? Eat and run (Meok-twi) as a group?
"The world is really... cold-hearted, cold-hearted."
Just as I was about to grumble, one fact brushed by.
'Wait.'
Thinking about it, have I ever seen my neighbors' faces? No.
Why?
Because I don't go outside.
Been almost completely shut in since the day I moved in. Went out briefly to the convenience store at dawn at most, never took the elevator in broad daylight when people are active.
There was no timing to bump into them in the first place. Others might think I'm an earthbound spirit stuck to Room 603, not a person living in this officetel.
"...In the end, I was the culprit."
Still. Even if you can't bump into the person, couldn't you stick a note in front of the door at least.
Is saying just one phrase [Ate well. ^^] that hard.
Especially above my head, Room 703. That place holds my right to sleep so I chose the rice cakes with special care. Even offered a bribe but no sign of presence. A ninja? Or is it still vacant?
I left the discomfort behind and pulled the blanket to the top of my head.
"Don't know. Better not to bump into them."
Let's think no news is good news.
If there's an occasion to distribute rice cakes again next time, then I should put plenty of wasabi inside the rice cake to check life or death at least.
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