Dark Drawings and the Heart of Home
The important things were the people bleeding and the crumbling city. It was in the child's characteristically cute drawing style, but the content was the complete opposite. Han Yeoreum hadn't studied psychology, but she could tell that Winter's drawing was anything but ordinary.
"Uh..."
"Hm..."
Sophia and the others seemed to share the same thought, staring down at the picture with shocked expressions. Only little Levi Nas failed to grasp the situation, completely absorbed in her own drawing.
"This is..."
Who should speak first? As the adults exchanged awkward glances, Winter started on a new drawing. A child hiding behind a tree, hands clamped tightly over their mouth. Nearby, bleeding people wandered aimlessly.
Han Yeoreum felt her breath catch in her throat, but for the child's sake, she decided to ask.
"...Winter, what's happening in this one?"
"A situation where they're hiding quietly."
"Hiding?"
"Yeah. If they get caught, they die."
Caught by the bleeding people means death. Was it some kind of metaphor? Pondering this, Yeoreum recalled that Winter had been living in the forest not long ago. Deep in the woods, avoiding people's eyes. Hiding in safe burrows whenever someone came by.
Yeoreum quickly realized the drawing reflected those circumstances.
"Hm..."
Should she take the child to a hospital? Things were getting a little better, bit by bit. While Yeoreum hesitated, Sophia cautiously spoke up.
"Did the other people turn into bleeding ones like these too?"
"Other people?"
"Yes, the ones right beside you now."
At Sophia's question, Winter glanced around. Everyone was looking at her with strange expressions. Winter thought that if a zombie apocalypse ever hit this world, she hoped these people wouldn't turn into zombies.
"I hope they don't."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah."
The only people in this world whose names she could call turning into zombies? That would be incredibly sad. Winter felt a bitter pang and picked up the red crayon. Zombie apocalypses were best enjoyed in fiction, after all.
"Alright, then. Let's work hard so we never turn."
"Y-yeah..."
Never turn? Was there a zombie virus in this world or something? Winter tilted her head in confusion just as Jeong Yu-na cleared her throat and headed to the kitchen.
"Oh, right. We have drinks."
Han Yeoreum followed Jeong Yu-na to the kitchen. Once there, she cast a sound-blocking spell so Winter couldn't hear, and the two began talking.
"What do you think?"
"...We should watch for now."
"Watch? Is that okay?"
"Yeah. Winter said she hopes we don't turn into monsters."
She had said that. But what did it mean? Yeoreum felt like she half-understood, but it was too vague, so she waited for Yu-na's explanation.
"I think it means she hopes we don't become bad adults."
"Ah... yeah, probably."
"Exactly. And it's not all bad. It means she still sees us as good people, at least for now."
"Oh, right."
She hopes we don't betray her. Yeoreum resolved inwardly to try harder.
"I'm not perfect myself, so I'll ask an expert."
"You don't need to bring Winter along?"
"Nah. She's way too smart and suspicious for her age. Forcing her would just make her rebel."
True enough. Being dragged by someone else's hand instead of going on her own feet.
"Got it. Thanks."
"Sure."
Finishing their talk, the two returned to the living room with drinks. There, Choi Jin-hyeok was judging the completed drawings.
"The winner is..."
"The winner is...?!"
Levi Nas clenched her fists, eyes sparkling. Winter looked subtly expectant too.
Drumroll...
In the building tension like beating drums, Choi Jin-hyeok spoke.
"The winner is Sophia."
"Eh...?"
"......"
The two children's ears drooped. Sophia looked flustered at the sight. Shouldn't the winner have been one of the kids, at least? Even Sophia, having beaten the children, didn't feel great and just watched their dejected faces.
"Hey, Choi Jin-hyeok. Come here."
"W-why...?"
"No chit-chat. Follow me."
Winter watched Choi Jin-hyeok being led away by Yeoreum's hand and thought, He really seems fair. Sophia's drawing was so incredible it was hard to believe it was done with crayons.
**
"Next time, Levi Nas will win."
"Yeah."
Drawing pictures. This was pretty fun, huh? I sipped the drink Yeoreum had brought me and flipped to a new page in the sketchbook.
Guess I'll draw more.
This time, with more detail. Just as Levi Nas and I started a new picture, Yeoreum approached with a slumping Choi Jin-hyeok in tow.
"Winter, drawing more?"
"Yeah. It's more fun than I thought."
"F-fun?"
"Yeah."
Was she happy that I found it fun? Yeoreum leaned in close and peered at my sketchbook. Even though my skills weren't great, she examined it like a masterpiece.
"This time... a pond?"
"Yeah. Sophia suggested trying a brighter mood."
It made sense. I'd been stuck on zombie themes. Remembering Sophia, I decided to draw her in the pond—swimming freely like a shark.
"Winter's got real drawing talent."
"R-really?"
"Yeah. Your skill's improving right before my eyes. That's Sophia, right?"
"Y-yeah..."
Did I have drawing talent? Embarrassed, I bowed my head and stared at the sketchbook. My wildly wagging tail, though, was impossible to hide. It was shaking so hard it bumped Yeoreum and Levi Nas on either side.
"Hehe."
Yeoreum glanced back at my tail and smiled with her eyes. Mortified and silent as I kept drawing, she pulled out her smartphone.
"Winter, I posted that photo you took earlier? The reactions are amazing."
"R-really?"
"Yeah. Wanna see?"
"Sure..."
Yeoreum tapped her phone and opened the SNS app. At the top was the moth caterpillar photo I'd snapped on a whim while passing by.
"The comments on this are insane. They say you take great photos."
"...That good?"
I glanced up at Yeoreum, then checked the comments. There were reactions, but no praise for the photo itself. Maybe too many to notice.
There were way more "lol"s than I'd imagined. In the awkward moment, I looked up at Yeoreum.
"Lots of lols in the comments."
"Yeah. Means they're laughing."
I knew that. The issue was why they were laughing at my photo.
"They're probably mocking it 'cause it's so bad."
"N-no! They're laughing 'cause it's so good."
"...You laugh at good photos?"
"Y-yeah! Your photos have this childlike innocence that tickles adults' hearts! It's so heartwarming they can't help but laugh!"
Heartwarming laughter. Like reminiscing about catching bugs as kids? I didn't know, but if Yeoreum said so, then okay. Deciding not to dwell, I gripped the crayon—only for Yeoreum to gently pat my shoulder.
"Hey, Winter."
"Yeah?"
"How's it feel living in the house?"
Yeoreum glanced at me cautiously. I looked up at her and slowly replied.
"Eh? It's all the same to me."
"R-really?"
"Yeah. No different from the container."
Was my answer weird? Yeoreum flailed her hands vaguely, stumbling over her words.
"B-but hot water comes out? And we can draw in the living room like this?"
"Yeah. Hot water's nice, but the people are the same."
"People...?"
Yeoreum looked down at me puzzled, her outstretched hand pointing toward the bathroom.
"I don't care how nice the house is. Who I live with matters more."
"Ah...!"
Yeoreum's eyes widened. She looked shocked.
"The container's not as nice as here, but I can be with everyone either way. So both places are the same to me."
"R-right!"
Clap! Yeoreum clapped, flashing a bright smile. But her gaze drifted to empty space, like she was deep in thought.
"Money matters, but people always come first."
I'd realized something crossing dimensions. The house and valuables I'd cherished so much didn't even cross my mind. Only longing for family and friends remained. That was why a poor kid like me started donating to free meal programs.
"...Winter thinks so deeply."
"Y-yeah."
Sophia gazed at me with a warm smile. Yeoreum blushed and fidgeted with her fingers. I stared at them blankly, then picked up the crayon. Now I was really going to draw.