Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: You, Become a Lodger
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Middle school first semester finals were over.
And that meant vacation was just around the corner.
Vacation is the moment most students adore.
Can't be helped. It's the time when you escape the rigid, somewhat oppressive space of school and enjoy a bit of freedom.
But the problem was, the cute girl next to me hated vacation.
"I hate vacation."
Seol-i said she hated it. Straight-up hated it.
Why? The reason was simple.
"'Cause I can't see Haneul."
Because she couldn't see me.
But thinking back to that winter break when she moved, that wasn't entirely true.
"I visited you a lot."
I went to her place pretty often.
But Seol-i shook her head like that wasn't enough.
"I want to see you more..."
Seol-i started whining. She wanted to see me more.
I decided to soothe and coax her as best I could.
"Aw, it's not like we won't see each other forever. Just for a little while..."
"Still hate it..."
Seol-i shaking her head looked so earnest.
All over not seeing me for just a month.
And it wasn't even every day of that month. I planned to go to her place at least three times a week to study together.
So how could I cheer her up? I pondered for a bit, and soon an idea popped up.
It was an idea that'd make me suffer a little, though.
"...Wanna go to the library and study every day?"
"Every day?"
"Yeah, every day. The whole vacation."
I figured this would make Seol-i happy.
Sure, from my perspective, biking an hour each way would wear me out.
Honestly, the first month after school started was brutal. Biking that long made me drowsy right when I got to school, and I'd crash from exhaustion the moment I got home plenty of times.
Luckily, I'd gotten used to it now, so two hours on the bike daily was no big deal.
...Still, I wanted to rest a bit during this break. Who wouldn't get tired biking two hours every day for months?
Meanwhile, Seol-i stared at me blankly after hearing my offer, then started shaking her head vigorously. Like she really hated the idea.
"Why, you hate it?"
"Yeah. Hate it a ton."
Deep down, that made me glad. I'd get some rest during vacation, after all.
But as if scolding my selfish thoughts, Seol-i revealed her kind heart.
"...Haneul would get super tired. Having to bike every day."
She hated it because I'd have to bike every day and get exhausted.
How could someone be so sweet and caring? Just moments ago, I'd been relieved at not having to visit daily, and now I felt ashamed.
"Seol, I'll come every day."
"You don't have to..."
"I want to."
Her eyes lit up the moment she heard that.
"Really...?"
"Yeah, I really want to. So let's meet every day."
"Hehe... Okay! Let's do it...!"
Seol-i nodded with a beaming smile, and watching her laugh made me feel healed.
Yeah, just having Seol-i around heals me. I felt so sorry for my brief selfish thought.
I got off my bike and walked her slowly to her house. As we were about to part, Seol-i suddenly said this with a grin.
"But if it's too hard for Haneul, you don't have to come. Got it...?"
"Yeah, got it."
"And when vacation starts, I wanna go to your place once."
"Why?"
"I miss Seung-ah and Ye-eun."
She missed Yoo Seung-ah and Ji Ye-eun.
If I told Seol-i this, she'd call me sneaky, but I'd actually seen Seung-ah and Ye-eun.
On the bike ride home, I'd run into them heading to cram school.
Each time, they'd ask how Seol-i was doing, and I'd say she was fine.
If Seung-ah or Ye-eun contacted her saying they'd seen me, Seol-i would've pouted jealously or enviously, whining "I wanna see you too!"
Good thing that hadn't happened. They'd probably just said they missed her.
Taking Seol-i to see them later sounded nice.
I waved goodbye to Seol-i, then biked home.
And...
"Haneul, how about staying at Seol-i's place for about a month if it's okay?"
...Mom hit me with a totally unexpected proposal.
*
Mom was in the late stages of pregnancy. Just one or two months until my little sister was born.
They'd even picked a name already: Kang Da-som. Such a pretty name.
To safely deliver the baby, Mom had to be hospitalized.
Dad struggled to care for both her and me, so lately I'd been fending for myself—cooking and cleaning alone.
I didn't mind. Parents had it tough too, and handling what I could eased their burden.
But they didn't seem thrilled seeing me do housework.
"Haneul, Mom's sorry...? Making you eat alone... clean alone..."
"I'm really fine. Come back safe and healthy with Da-som."
"Thanks, my son... Really, thank you..."
Mom hugged me and started crying. I patted my fragile mom and looked at Dad.
"I'll stay at Seol-i's and be good."
"...Yeah, Dad's sorry."
"I'm really fine."
Yeah, I was. If anything, I owed Mom and Dad thanks.
They'd cared for a kid who never knew parental love or care, and now they were swallowing their pride to ask Seol-i's family for help.
It must've taken real humility to ask.
No matter how close I was to Seol-i, she was a girl and I was a boy.
Handing me over like that—how embarrassing for them.
I was grateful to my parents for setting aside face for me, and to Seol-i's parents for agreeing despite the hassle.
"When should I start staying there?"
"From the first day of vacation."
"Got it."
After that talk, I told Seol-i...
"Mom!? Really!? Really!? Kyaa!!"
...And heard Seol-i scream with joy for the first time ever.
Our Seol-i had grown so much. Now she even yelled when excited.
This kid... no, this friend was truly happy now.
*
A week later, the closing ceremony ended.
After walking Seol-i home, I went straight home, then took Mom's luggage to the hospital.
"Mom, got your stuff."
"Thanks, son. Be polite at Seol-i's..."
"I will."
"Mom believes in you, Haneul."
Mom opened her arms.
I knew exactly what that meant and hugged her.
"My son... when did you get so big...?"
I was taller than Mom now.
Mid-160s for me, early 160s for her.
"...I'll visit often."
"Don't push yourself, okay?"
"Yeah."
Mom's due date was early September. I'd spend about a month at Seol-i's.
Mid-August... when school started, I'd come back, clean the house, prep Da-som's room.
That was for later. For now, off to Seol-i's.
"Son, how're you getting to Seol-i's?"
"Thinking bus."
Normally I'd bike, but I had a suitcase. Lots to pack for a month.
So bus it was.
"Dad'll drive you."
"No need. Stay with Mom at the hospital."
Dad was basically living at the hospital now to care for her.
Married 15 years, and their chemistry was still great. Nice to see.
"Then I'll head out first."
"Okay, Haneul. Thanks."
"Call if you need anything! Be safe!"
"Sure~"
I bowed to them, left the room, took the bus home, grabbed my pre-packed bags, and headed to Seol-i's.
About an hour later.
"Haneul, you're here...!?"
Seol-i came running down from the apartment entrance.
So adorably, so happily.