A Long-Missed Ceiling
It had been a long time since I'd seen this ceiling. If only someone had come to help and I'd passed out, waking up after the treatment was all done—how nice that would have been.
"Aah! Ah! It hurts! It hurts!"
"Hey now! Hold still! If we don't do this, the poison from the wound could fester! There, disinfection's done. Now I'll stitch it up. It'll sting a bit. Sti—ng!"
Squish!
"Argh! Fuck! That hurts like hell, aaah! What do you mean 'a bit'? Argh! Mom! Mooom!"
"Son! Son, Mom's right here! Sir, do we really have to do this? Son! Just hold on a little! He says it'll be over soon!"
"Mooom! Go get the sewing machine! Go home and bring the sewing machine! This doctor's stitching is shit! Argh! Argh! He's a quack!"
My mind was perfectly clear. Even as Eori's father carried me on his back to the doctor, even as the doctor disinfected and stitched my wounds—it was all crystal clear through the agony. Only after enduring every torturous moment did my mind finally grow hazy. At some point, I'd lost consciousness, and I opened my eyes in a tidy room.
"……."
It had been a long time since I'd seen this ceiling. Since I'd been chased off to Hwacheok Village four years ago, it was right to say it was the first time in four years.
Waking in what I assumed was Kim Jin-sa's house, I quietly sat up. My blood-soaked body had been changed into clean clothes, and my head was wrapped so tightly in bandages it felt constricting.
"Snooore…… snooore……."
Beside me, Mom was sleeping turned toward me. She'd stayed by my side until she dozed off without realizing it. I quietly pulled the blanket I'd been using over her.
But a pain like sandpaper scraping my fingertips shot through me.
"Ah! Hiss!"
I inhaled sharply like I'd eaten something spicy and examined my hand. My nails were gone, exposing raw red flesh underneath. On my right hand, it was the index and middle fingers; on the left, middle and ring.
It made sense. With this kid's body, I'd grabbed their collars and sleeves and pulled with all my might—nails coming off was par for the course.
"Mm, ngh. Son! Son! Are you okay?"
My groan woke Mom from her sleep. She bolted upright, grabbed my cheeks, and forced me to look at her.
"Do you know who I am? Can you recognize me? Who am I?"
"Y-yes."
"Who am I? Huh? Say it. Who?"
"You're a fairy."
"Huh? Son!"
She rolled her eyes like she didn't get it, then realized it was a joke and scowled in anger. But her fury didn't last long.
"Yes, son. It's Mom. Thank goodness. Thank goodness. So, so glad……!"
With a tearful face, she hugged me tight, sobbing whispers in my ear as she gently patted my back.
"No, Mom. I'm not some baby……."
"You are a baby. My son will be Mom's baby forever."
Apparently, maternal love didn't change even in the Joseon era. I let myself lean into her and relaxed.
"But, Mom."
I waited until she let go, then looked around and asked.
"Is this Kim Jin-sa sir's house?"
"Yes. He heard our son was hurt and said to let you rest here."
"Ah, ah! Aaaah!"
"What's wrong! What's wrong, son!"
"I, I don't know! My head suddenly hurts! B-but, if we go home, maybe it'll get better……."
"Son! Do you know how worried Mom was?"
"……Got it. Sorry."
My plan to whine my way back home failed. And seeing her genuinely worried face, I couldn't keep teasing.
"Yes, good boy."
Mom, who'd been glaring sternly with furrowed brows, seemed to remember something. She walked toward the fully closed sliding door.
"Son? Hungry? Sir Jin-sa sent some porridge."
"Porridge?"
Porridge? Come on, a guy with a thousand-seok fortune and he sends porridge? Meat's the best for healing. But contrary to my thoughts, I kept my mouth shut and waited for Mom to bring the tray.
She set it down beside me, picked up the porridge bowl, scooped a small spoonful, and fed me.
"Hoo, hoo, here, son. Ahh~"
"Ahh, slurp. Mom."
"Yes? More? Hoo, hoo, ahh~"
"Slurp. Why are you blowing on it?"
"Huh? To cool it so it doesn't burn your mouth, silly. Hoo, hoo, ahh~"
"Slurp. It's cold."
"Huh?"
She'd been holding the bowl herself but hadn't noticed it had cooled. She tried a spoonful and immediately smiled.
"Pfft! Look at me. Didn't even realize it was cold. Wait a sec. I'll get some warm."
She set the bowl and spoon back on the tray and stood. I thought I'd eat once she left but called out anyway.
"Mom."
"Yes? What?"
"You know you're super cute, right?"
"……Hmph."
She stared blankly for a moment, then her lips curved up. Before leaving, she dropped a line I'd care about.
"My son. You take after your dad, huh?"
"Huh?"
"Wait just a bit? I'll be right back."
Me, like Dad? Kim Jin-sa? Watching her go, I pictured him. The Kim Jin-sa I knew wasn't one for honest praise. More like, "Hah! Go count the ceiling stains!"
Anyway…….
"Slurp!" I grabbed the porridge bowl and spoon Mom left and shoveled it in. I'd puked up dinner and skipped breakfast—my stomach was begging for food.
"Slurrrp! Slurrrp!"
Not satisfied with small scoops, I pressed the bowl to my mouth and pushed with the spoon. Spilled a bit, but I emptied it satisfactorily. Satisfying, but not filling. I put the empty bowl and spoon back and waited for fresh porridge.
"Ahem! Awake, are you?"
Not waiting for Kim Jin-sa, no.
"Ah, yes. Sir Jin-sa. I'm awake."
"Good. I'll come in briefly."
Who enters without permission? Is this your house? Oh, right, it is.
"Yes, sir."
No matter how much I hated the sight of my bio-dad, I couldn't greet him sitting on the bedding. But as he entered, he spotted me and gestured urgently to lie down.
"Why are you sitting up? It's fine. You need rest."
"No, sir. I'm okay."
"I'm not okay. Lie down. A half-broken body like yours."
"Yes, sir."
One refusal is manners; two is real. When the village head like Kim Jin-sa says lie down, you lie down.
"Good. Si-jin, how's the body?"
He sat beside me as I lay back like when I woke. Looking down with pitying eyes, I answered sincerely.
"I won't die."
"Haha, fortunate indeed. When I heard you were hurt, I thought the world had ended."
He thinks of me as his kid after all, huh? Saying the world collapsed. Nah, maybe not. Could be plotting organ harvesting later if he gets sick. Even if it's Joseon era.
"But seeing you come to your senses—truly fortunate."
"Thank you, sir."
"Mm. Anyway. Si-jin, I've a question……."
"Yes, sir."
"Did you really do it?"
"Do what, sir?"
"That, well, I heard the story, but really—you took down five grown men?"
Grown men? Aren't grown men over twenty?
"No, sir. They were all under twenty."
"Haha! Then the tale is true!"
I just said no.
"Hahaha! A fighter in our house at last!"
Seemed thrilled I'd beaten five guys. Couldn't sit still, bouncing in place.
"Hiss, however. Si-jin."
Then his face hardened.
"It was fortunate you bravely took them on and won, but it was sheer luck. See how badly you're hurt now? From next time, seek help from adults nearby. Understood?"
"Yes, sir. I'll remember."
"Good. And, when your body's a bit better, I meant to give you this……."
Like the lecture was over, he stood. Instead of leaving, he went to the chest of drawers nearby, opened a drawer, and pulled out a bamboo rod.
"Si-jin. Next time, don't fight with your body—use this."
"Hit them with that, sir?"
"Hm? Don't you know what it is?"
"No, sir."
"Hmph. Watch."
Kim Jin-sa wedged the bamboo rod between his thighs, twisted it taut, tied the ends with thick string, and pulled his legs out to reveal a bow.
"It's a bamboo bow."
"A bow?"
"Yes. A bow. Take it."
"No, I……."
No matter how much I despised Kim Jin-sa, who could keep a straight face when handed a bow? I sat up and took it, inspecting every inch.
"Whoa……!"
"Haha. Like it?"
"Not bad."
"Then give it back."
"I never said I didn't like it. Why?"
Petty! Giving then taking back! To a kid! Even if my mind's a 23-year-old vet college grad!
I cradled the bamboo bow I'd protected and examined it again. If my nails weren't gone, I'd have drawn the string right then.
"Mm. Right. Can't just give a bow."
With a pleased smile, Kim Jin-sa pulled out several arrows and what looked like a ring, explaining at once.
"This is a thumb ring. Wear it on your thumb like this—it helps draw the string."
"Ooooh……!"
"Here. Take it."
"Thank you, sir."
I set the arrows down and slipped the thumb ring on. My kid-sized thumb made it loose.
"Si-jin."
He sat beside me again, watching me fiddle with the bow, arrows, and ring with fond eyes.
"Like it?"
"A little."
"Hahaha."
He chuckled warmly and reached to stroke my head. But I tilted away, dodging.
Think a little thing like this'll win me over? Want to touch my head? Bring a sword or gun at least!