The White Angel
That night.
Standing out in the yard, cigarette between his fingers as he gazed up at the sky, Seong-min found his mind crowded with thoughts.
Hyung, if this gets out, all hell will break loose. I'm an Awakener too, so I spend a lot of time on the SNS platforms where Awakeners hang out. You see a ton of talk about White Angels there. Every single one of them is a genuine miracle. Honestly, when you go into a Monster Hole or get caught up in a fight between Awakeners, you can end up with some pretty serious injuries, right? But having your energy recover in an instant and your body regenerate—that's a real miracle.
Becoming an Awakener was something special, something extraordinary.
But becoming something even more special than an Awakener—becoming a White Angel—was, in Min-hyeok's view, less a great thing than a cruel one.
Because you staked your own life every time you used the ability.
Of course, they said it was fine as long as you didn't abuse the power.
But figuring out where that line actually sat was nearly impossible.
Of the fifty-one known cases, the four who had already burned through their lives had all crossed that threshold at different points.
So there was no way to know what was safe and what wasn't.
To find out, you'd have to run the experiment—and even if you got an answer, you couldn't put things back the way they were. It was an experiment that simply couldn't be done.
All you could do was be careful yourself.
"Hooo..."
Seong-min drew on his cigarette, his feelings tangled.
Hyung, this has to stay an absolute secret. If the world finds out, Auntie will be in danger.
Seong-min agreed completely.
There was nothing good about the world knowing.
Keeping it secret was the only right call.
He finished the cigarette, crushed it out in the ashtray set off to one side, and stepped back through the front door.
He slipped off his shoes and headed for the bedroom.
Easing the door open and stepping inside, he found A-reum wringing out a towel she had just dipped in the basin prepared at one side of the room.
Min-hyeok had gone home, but A-reum had said she wanted to stay.
To Seong-min's surprise, Min-hyeok had told her to go ahead, and Seong-min had given his permission as well.
"Haaah... haaaah... haaaaaah..."
Hye-suk's breath came out in labored, feverish gasps as A-reum carefully laid the cool towel across her forehead.
"Want a cup of cocoa...?"
At Seong-min's question, A-reum looked up and nodded.
He rose quietly and left the room; A-reum sat on the sofa and waited.
Seong-min returned with a cup of cocoa and a cup of coffee and sat down.
"Aren't you tired?"
It was already past eleven at night.
"...Yes... I'm... fine..."
A-reum smiled, the corners of her mouth lifting.
"Here."
"...Seong-min... thank you..."
Cupping the mug in both hands, A-reum brought it slowly to her lips and took a sip.
"...It's good..."
Then she smiled, genuinely happy.
"I was a little surprised when you said you wanted to stay, Noona."
"...When Min-hyeok... was lying there... I thought of it... And when... Ji-ah... was helping beside me... I thought of it... I... want to help you, Seong-min... Auntie... I feel so sorry for her..."
"Ji-ah said something like that to me once."
"...What...?"
"She said A-reum Noona is like a gift that came down from heaven."
"......"
Color flooded A-reum's cheeks.
Watching her flush with embarrassment, Seong-min thought the words were true.
Just as Min-hyeok had said.
If it weren't for that noona, I wouldn't be living the way I am now. The reason I can work this hard and live this happily is because she's right here beside me.
And Yoo Ji-ah, too.
Thank you, Seong-min... Because of A-reum Unnie... I finally found the courage to want to smile and live again...
And he himself was no different.
When he had reunited with Yoo Ji-ah and learned everything that had happened to her, it had been crushing, almost unbearable. The one who had comforted him through it was A-reum.
More than anything, when A-reum said she wanted to stay here, a thought had crossed Seong-min's mind—maybe.
She had stayed at his side for a month, and Auntie had found a measure of stability, but she still carried a deep wound in her heart.
The heart of a mother who had lost her son did not heal that easily. It simply didn't make sense that it would.
And above all, that day—
It had left a deep scar on Seong-min as well.
He had never imagined Seong-jun hyung would leave them like that.
That night.
A-reum did not fall asleep until well past midnight, closer to one.
And the next day, when Min-hyeok came to pick her up for work—
"...I... want to come again... tonight..."
A-reum told them she would come back after work that evening as well.
Looking at her, Seong-min simply nodded and smiled.
And so, until the Awakening stage was complete, A-reum came every night after work and stayed at Hye-suk's side, nursing her.
Then Monday arrived.
Seong-min, who had fallen asleep on the sofa, sensed someone approaching and opened his eyes.
"Auntie...?"
Recognizing the figure as Hye-suk, his face filled with surprise.
"Did I wake you?"
"It's fine."
Seong-min sat up on the sofa.
Hye-suk carefully settled beside him.
"How are you feeling?"
"Mm... When I opened my eyes it was a little past five."
"That's a relief."
"Can you tell me... what happened to me?"
"You already have some idea... don't you?"
Hye-suk nodded.
"Auntie... you've entered the Awakening stage."
"......"
As expected, Hye-suk did not look shocked.
"A full week has passed as of today, so the body-ache symptoms should be completely gone."
"I feel fine right now."
"You would. The vessel finishes forming in a week. It was the same for Min-hyeok."
"So I can go back to my normal activities, then...?"
"More or less. But..."
From Seong-min's manner, it was clear he had more to say.
Hye-suk waited for him to continue.
"Auntie, you're not an ordinary Awakener."
And so Seong-min began to explain.
Hye-suk listened quietly to everything he told her.
When the whole story was finished—
"I see..."
"So Auntie, you absolutely must not let anyone find out you're an Awakener. You must not... use that power."
"...Suddenly I feel a little regretful."
"What?"
"I keep thinking... if only this change had come to me before Seong-jun died..."
"......"
"I know it wouldn't have been easy even if it had, just because he was in America..."
She gave a bitter smile, and Seong-min knew how deeply it must hurt.
She had gained the power to heal Seong-jun hyung—only after he was already gone from the world.
Of course it would feel cruel.
Hye-suk rose from her seat.
"Is A-reum in the study, then?"
"Yes... she should still be asleep."
Hye-suk started toward the study, and Seong-min followed.
She gently opened the study door and stepped inside. Careful not to wake A-reum, Hye-suk approached quietly.
Gazing down at the girl sleeping so soundly, she carefully sat on the edge of the bed.
For a long moment she simply looked at her, then slowly reached out and brushed the stray strands of hair from A-reum's forehead, smoothing them into place.
After that, Hye-suk continued to look down at A-reum for some time.
Seong-min stood off to one side, watching.
A little later, Hye-suk rose and walked toward him; Seong-min stepped back and went out first.
Hye-suk followed and softly closed the door behind her.
"She's sleeping deeply..."
"She usually stays by your side until one before she comes out."
"She's truly such a good child..."
"She is..."
"Seong-min."
"Yes?"
"Be good to A-reum. You must never hurt a girl like that..."
"You don't have to worry. On that point, at least, I'm certain."
"Good..."
Smiling, Hye-suk stood.
"Where are you going?"
"I need to make breakfast."
"Are you sure you're all right?"
Hye-suk turned, clenched both fists, and raised her arms to show him.
"I feel great."
Then she smiled brightly.
At the sight of it, Seong-min let out a small laugh.
While Hye-suk prepared breakfast, Seong-min went into the bathroom and washed up.
Starting today, he would be going back to work.
When he came out clean and fresh, the smell of stew was rising from the kitchen—soup simmering on the stove.
Hye-suk was at the cutting board, working the knife.
By the time the sun had risen and the table was set with dishes and a pot of steaming fresh rice, the study door opened and A-reum appeared, rubbing her eyes.
"You're up?"
Seong-min, who had been sitting on the sofa watching TV, turned it off with the remote and asked.
"...Yes..."
As she answered, A-reum turned her head toward the scent of food drifting in through her nose.
"Did you sleep well?"
Then she saw Hye-suk standing there in an apron, and her face filled with surprise.
"Go wash your face and come out... breakfast is ready..."
A-reum blinked, her lips parting slightly.
"Noona, just rinse off quickly and come out. You can wash properly after breakfast..."
Only then did A-reum head for the bathroom.
"She looks pretty startled, doesn't she?"
"She does."
After washing her face, A-reum came out and sat awkwardly at the table.
On it was soft tofu stew and an assortment of side dishes.
"There's plenty of rice, so just say if you need more..."
"I'll eat well..."
"...Thank you... for the meal..."
Seong-min picked up his spoon and tried the soft tofu stew.
"It's good~"
Then he looked at A-reum.
"You try some too, Noona."
At his words, A-reum carefully scooped some with her spoon, blew on it, and took a cautious taste.
"How is it?"
A-reum opened her mouth.
"...The stew... is delicious..."
At that, Hye-suk smiled without a word.
A-reum truly ate with relish.
She cleaned her plate of rice and emptied her bowl of stew as well.
After the meal they prepared for work and waited for Min-hyeok to come pick them up.
There was still a little time left, so Hye-suk brought out three cups of tea.
Two coffees and one cocoa.
"Seong-min told me... you like cocoa."
"...Yes... I... like cocoa..."
Holding the mug in both hands as she drank, A-reum's expression was genuinely happy.
Hye-suk simply watched her for a while.
Time passed.
Min-hyeok arrived to pick them up.
"It's been a while."
"Yes, hello...!"
"Seong-min told me you've been working really hard."
"Yes, I've been working hard to help hyung... Right now I'm even covering his share too, haha...!"
"Hohoho... Good, keep at it. As long as you feel a sense of fulfillment and value in whatever you're doing, that's enough."
"Yes, I will...!"
"Well, we're off."
"All right..."
"...Goodbye..."
Watching A-reum press her hands together in a polite farewell, Hye-suk stepped closer.
"A-reum?"
"...Yes...?"
Gently wrapping an arm around the puzzled girl's shoulders, Hye-suk drew her slowly into an embrace.
At the gesture, Min-hyeok's face registered surprise.
"Thank you... for taking care of me..."
When Hye-suk released her and stepped back—
A-reum's face had gone completely red.
"Have a good day today..."
Hye-suk looked at the flustered A-reum with warm eyes and smiled with her gaze alone.