Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Loneliness
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It's been about twenty days since I started living at Seol-i's house, and now it's time for me to head back home.
With only two days left until school starts, and Dasom-i's due date just two or three weeks away.
Actually, Seol-i's parents said it was fine for me to stay until Dasom-i's birth even after school began.
But even so, I felt bad sticking around past the start of school. They'd already taken care of me for nearly a month, and if I stayed any longer, my guilt would keep me from relaxing.
On top of that, Dad and I needed to clean the house and prepare a space for the new baby.
The day to leave had arrived, and I stood in the entryway with all my bags packed, wearing the same clothes I'd arrived in.
"Haneul, do you really have to go? If you're home alone... it'll be... lonely..."
Yeah, it would be lonely. But I still had to go.
Staying longer at Seol-i's would just be a burden, and I had things to do at home. I couldn't stay just because of loneliness.
"I'll be heading out now."
"...Okay."
Seol-i nodded and looked at me again.
She looked so fragile, like if I stepped out the door right now, she'd burst into tears any second.
Even so, I had to go. I had to go home.
"Haneul, take care on your way back."
"Come visit anytime. You know that, right?"
"Yes, thank you so much."
I bowed to her parents one last time, then said goodbye to Seol-i.
"Seol-i, see you at school."
I gave her a light wave, but Seol-i didn't respond.
She just stared at me blankly, showing no other reaction.
It stung a little, but I decided to understand and let it go.
While staying at her house, I'd grown so much closer to Seol-i. I'd thought we were already super close, but now she felt like someone I couldn't imagine my life without.
If even I felt that way, how must Seol-i feel? She was surprisingly affectionate and sensitive, which actually worried me.
I waved to her one more time and stepped outside, taking the elevator down.
I headed toward the bus stop to catch a ride home...
"Haneuuuuuuul!"
A voice calling me from afar made me turn around.
There was Seol-i.
She'd run out into the night street in her thin pajamas.
"Seol-i?"
I was a bit startled. She appeared at the most unexpected moment.
I saw the bus approaching but walked toward her without hesitation.
Seol-i kept running with those cute little steps, even as I approached.
Finally, when I stood in front of her, she stopped, panting heavily.
"Did you run the whole way?"
She was too out of breath to answer and just nodded instead.
-Vroooom
The bus drove off, and hearing it, Seol-i glanced over to check.
She confirmed the number and looked at me with wide eyes.
"Why..."
I knew what she meant without her finishing. Why didn't I catch the bus?
I gave her the obvious answer.
"You were running toward me. I can skip this one, right?"
It wasn't too late, and another bus would come in ten minutes.
But if I ignored her now and left, I'd have to wait until school started to see her again.
Wasn't the choice clear?
Seol-i heard my answer and made a strange expression.
Part happy, part touched.
Was missing one bus really that big a deal?
I waited for her to catch her breath, and once she did, she spoke right away.
"Thank you..."
"You've got a lot to thank me for lately."
In truth, during the short time I stayed as a boarder, she'd thanked me endlessly.
I liked that about her. It showed her kind heart, grateful for every little thing.
"...Sorry about earlier."
"About what?"
"Not... saying goodbye..."
As I'd guessed, she'd run out here to apologize for not responding to my farewell.
Seol-i really was so kind. She seemed so pure for her age.
"Aw, come on, it was just that?"
"Still..."
Her fidgeting was so cute, I was tempted to tease her a bit.
Of course, I let that thought pass. Teasing her for real might make her cry or hurt her feelings.
Seol-i's like a baby. Gotta protect her.
"Now we both have to go back to school, so no sleeping in too late."
"Okay..."
"No picky eating, right?"
"I... didn't do that even before you came..."
"Yeah, yeah."
Talking to her, I realized most of what I said was nagging.
Worried she'd hate it, I changed the subject.
"Hey... Once Dasom-i comes to our house, want to come see her?"
"Dasom-i?"
Seol-i's eyes sparkled.
She loved cute things, so I knew inviting her to see Dasom-i would excite her.
"Can I...?"
"Why not? She's your friend."
"Friend..."
Seol-i bowed her head slightly, then nodded.
"Yeah... friends... okay..."
She mumbled something, then looked up at me.
"Later... call me later, okay? I'll come play and see Dasom-i."
"Got it. Well, now I really have to go."
I waved lightly as the next bus approached the stop.
"Seol-i, see you at school."
"Yeah...! See you at school...!!"
Unlike before, she waved back with a bright smile.
Seol-i really was cutest when she smiled.
Her cuteness multiplied like crazy.
Back home, I started cleaning with Dad, whom I hadn't seen in a while.
For Dasom-i, who would bring new life to our house.
At the same time, school started, and I began my school life faithfully with Seol-i.
And finally, that day arrived.
"Haneul, Dad's heading to the hospital and staying overnight. You can get up and go to school alone tomorrow, right?"
"Of course. Take care."
Dad went to the hospital to stay the night, leaving me alone in the big house.
I thought it'd be fine at first. I'd felt loneliness plenty of times before.
But it wasn't. Not even a little.
In that short time—less than a third of my past life—I'd felt so much warmth, and now it made me lonely all over again.
When I came to, I was already calling someone on my phone.
-Click
The dial tone cut off, and a voice so cute... so pleasant to hear flowed out.
"Hello? Haneul?"
"...Seol-i, you asleep?"
"No, not yet. What's up?"
What's up...
Saying I called because I was lonely would hurt my pride too much.
So, for my pride's sake, I made up some excuse instead of admitting it.
"Just curious what you're up to."
"Me? Hmm... doing worksheets, about to sleep."
"Oh, sorry."
"No, why? Actually..."
"Actually?"
Seol-i trailed off, hesitating, then let out her signature cute laugh as she said something shy.
"I'm so thankful you called. Hehe..."
Hearing that made me think, 'I should've just said I was a little lonely.'
It would've been embarrassing, but not awkward like this.
But it was too late, so I kept the conversation going amid her bashfulness.
It was the most mundane stuff.
What happened after school today, what I had for dinner, what was hard on the worksheets, plans for the weekend...
Utterly trivial, but so enjoyable.
When the chat hit over an hour...
"Haneul... aaaang... snnnnnore..."
...Seol-i started snoring while calling my name.
"Seol-i?"
"Snnnnnore... snnnnnore..."
Hearing her snore made me want to laugh. But I felt a bit guilty too.
Had I kept her up too late just to ease my loneliness?
I whispered a goodbye she couldn't hear in her sleep.
"Sorry, Seol-i. Thank you so much."
For staying up late for me, for filling my loneliness.
With all that gratitude, I hung up and finally slept in the quiet house.
Thanks to the cute Seol-i who'd fallen asleep mid-call, I slept more comfortably than before.
When I woke up, Dad had sent a photo.
It was of my little sister Dasom-i, eyes closed, bawling her lungs out.