Like Ordinary People
The first thing I did after the sun rose during our walk was to go strolling with Han Yeoreum. I had a lot to do in the morning and tried to refuse, but she pleaded so earnestly that I just went along with it.
"Gyeowol, thanks for walking with your big sis. I'll help you with all that backlog later."
"It's fine. I can handle it myself."
"Nope, since I asked, I'll help out this time."
"Mm..."
It really was okay, but I had no intention of turning down her offer to help. And so, Han Yeoreum and I wandered around the neighborhood.
Doing this makes me feel like such a normal person.
Come to think of it, what do normal people talk about on walks? It felt like ages ago, so I couldn't remember. Looked like I'd need Han Yeoreum's help after all.
"Um..."
"Yeah?"
"Let's talk like normal people."
My words must've sounded weird, because Han Yeoreum paused for a second. But she was kind, flashing a gentle smile like nothing had happened.
"Sure. What should we chat about?"
I wanted to have a conversation like normal people. After pondering, I decided to just comment on whatever caught my eye.
"They sell fish over there..."
I pointed to the seafood shop and looked up at Han Yeoreum. I liked the briny smell unique to fish, so I often passed by whenever I went out. But was this the right way to chat?
I glanced up at her a bit tensely, but...
"Whoa, do they sell a lot of fish?"
"Yeah. I saw more than in our pond."
"Whoa, and our pond has tons of fish already."
Han Yeoreum chuckled like it was impressive. Was this what normal people talked about? Feeling better, my tail swished as we headed to the seafood stall.
Fish, shellfish, shrimp, and all sorts of marine life were on display. As we browsed with Han Yeoreum, the shop owner grumbled in a dissatisfied tone.
"Aigoo, that damn cat stole another one—stole it again."
"What'd it take this time?"
"Mackerel!"
Again? Did cats around here steal fish often? I found myself staring at the mackerel, and that's when my eyes met the approaching owner's.
"......"
He froze in place upon seeing me. From his flustered expression, I realized the truth: I was the very feline he despised so much.
Ah.
Now that I thought about it, people working at seafood shops must really hate cats. The moment the realization hit, my ears and tail drooped.
How unfair is this world? I wasn't even a real cat, and here he was with that look.
I frantically waved my hands at the owner.
"S-sorry... but it wasn't me..."
"R-right, why would a cute kid like you steal mackerel? I said something dumb—sorry about that..."
"Y-yeah..."
It wasn't even something I'd done, and I wasn't the one getting scolded, but I still felt down for some reason. As I turned to leave with slumped shoulders, the owner placed a hand on my shoulder.
"H-hey, kid, hold on a sec."
He grabbed a few shrimp from the stall and put them in a bag. Without hesitation, he handed the precious shrimp bag to me.
"This is my apology. They're tiger prawns—go ahead and eat 'em."
"N-no, it's okay. You don't have to."
"Aigoo, don't make this old man feel bad—take it."
The owner forced the bag into my hands. Flustered, I looked up at Han Yeoreum, but she was just grinning.
"Th-thank you..."
"Yeah. Sorry again for my weird words."
"Y-yeah..."
He was such a kind person. I figured I should buy some fish after all.
Han Yeoreum and I walked along with the bag of seafood. I'd picked mostly fish not in our pond, but she was the one who paid.
"Gyeowol, can we eat it together?"
"M-me...?"
"Yeah. Eating with you makes your big sis a hundred times happier."
"Ah..."
I see. Sharing food was a happy thing. I could understand why she'd spend her precious money just to eat together.
"Sure. Let's eat together."
"Thanks, your big sis... Huh? Yu-na and Jin-hyeok?"
Han Yeoreum's head turned to the side. I followed her gaze, but all I saw was a tall wall. I stood on tiptoe, but still just the wall. Being this small was really inconvenient sometimes.
Regretfully, I perked up my ears. I heard footsteps—one light, one heavy. They matched the two people I knew.
"Gyeowol, your big sis and oppa are over there."
"Yeah, but I can't see."
"Oh, sorry. Hang on."
Han Yeoreum slipped her hand under my arms and hoisted me up to the top of the wall. Now I could see them, and my tail started wagging happily.
The wildly swishing tail smacked Han Yeoreum's face from behind. I wanted to stop, but I couldn't control it.
"Whoa, Yeoreum's doing the jealous thing?"
"It's not jealousy, right?"
"Hehe, who knows?"
Jeong Yu-na smiled and approached us. Han Yeoreum handed my body over to her. The wall was high, so they passed me from one side to the other. I didn't know why they had to hand me like that.
"Hey, Gyeowol."
"Hi. Hello."
Even after the greeting, Jeong Yu-na didn't put me down. I decided not to ask her to—I didn't want to make her feel awkward.
"What were you up to with Yeoreum?"
"We were walking."
"Mind if I join?"
Walks were better with more people. No reason to refuse.
"Sure. Let's all walk together."
Strolling with everyone. That was something normal people did. The thought that I was improving made me smile naturally.
We wandered the neighborhood without a set destination, just going wherever.
"I met some guys with carp and dragon tattoos in that alley over there."
"...Scary folks?"
Choi Jin-hyeok cracked his neck with a loud pop. He looked ready to charge in and fight the tattooed men any second.
"No, they were really kind and nice. Last time Levi Nas and I got lost playing, they showed us the way."
"Oh, okay."
Realizing they were good people from my words, Choi Jin-hyeok relaxed. Only Han Yeoreum beside me poked my cheeks.
"Gyeowol, didn't your big sis tell you not to follow strangers?"
"Ah."
Right. I should've kept that a secret. I averted my eyes from Han Yeoreum.
"If you get lost next time, call your big sis first?"
"Y-yeah..."
It was clearly my fault. I'd nearly put little Levi Nas in danger. Without excuses, I nodded to Han Yeoreum.
"Still, glad you didn't run into anyone dangerous."
"Yeah. I made sure to avoid places with bad people."
"Bad people? Places with bad people...?"
Han Yeoreum looked down at me curiously.
The concept of "danger" was something only the weak understood, so it was natural she didn't know. Jeong Yu-na and Choi Jin-hyeok probably didn't either.
"You know where I used to live?"
"Yeah, by the valley, right?"
"Yep. Lots of dangerous people hang around there."
"...Like what?"
What example should I give? There were too many to choose from.
"Mm... They'd curse at you as you passed or splash water on you."
"...Those are some awful people."
"I don't think they're bad people, though."
"R-really?"
My answer must've been unexpected, because Han Yeoreum's eyes widened.
"Lots of people cursed at me. Maybe I did something bad first."
"N-no, how could you? You're so sweet."
"Me...?"
"Yeah. If you were bad, your big sis would've avoided you first."
True enough. Yeomyeong Guild was full of better people than I'd thought. I pursed my lips in agreement, and Jeong Yu-na placed a hand on my head—right on my ears.
"You just had some bad luck, Gyeowol."
"I don't think so. I'm not that unlucky."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Because I got to meet all of you."
If I were truly unlucky, I'd still be living that harsh, lonely life alone. Meeting Han Yeoreum had erased my bad luck. She'd become my goddess of fortune.
"Gyeowol, thanks for saying that."
"For what...?"
Was being lucky something to thank me for? I tilted my head, but she just shook hers.
"Nothin'. Never mind."
I didn't get it, but Han Yeoreum seemed in a good mood. We ended our pleasant walk on that note.
"We're heading back, and your big sis is helping with work, right? What're we doing?"
"Today, expanding the tunnel more. It'll get dirty with dirt—okay?"
"Sure. Your big sis'll dig super deep."
"Super deep...?"
"Yeah! All the way to the other side of the Earth!"
Han Yeoreum joked playfully. I knew she was kidding.
"Then let's walk on the other side of the Earth too."
"Wanna?"
"Yeah."
Where was the other side of the Earth, anyway? I'd have to look it up when I got home.