Thank You
“Hey, Riha. You finished your homework, right? Let me copy it.”
“...Could you at least ask nicely?”
“Between us? Come on, man. Riha.”
“Hey!”
“O-oh, oppa...”
This was back when we were in elementary school. Daeho had shown up with Aju one day and suddenly demanded to see my math homework—the kind that always felt like a chore.
Back then, asking each other for favors felt embarrassingly awkward, so conversations like that were only natural. And that dynamic lasted all the way until we became adults.
I figured I’d never have to listen to this guy’s requests again in my life.
But then...
Daeho was asking me for something for the first time in his life. There was no way I could turn him down.
“What can I even do for you? Just so we’re clear, I don’t have money. My family doesn’t either.”
I know. Asking your family would be way too shameless.
“Then what?”
...I figured you wouldn’t tell me.
Having said that, Daeho climbed down from his own corpse and looked up at me. This perspective felt familiar. He was ten centimeters shorter than me, so I’d always been the one looking down at him like this.
It’s Aju. She’s been getting stalked by someone lately.
“...What?”
What I heard next was... honestly, just as shocking as the news that Daeho had died.
“What the hell do you mean? Aju’s being stalked?”
I don’t know who it is. One night after her late study session, she came home looking terrified and rushed straight inside. When I asked what was wrong, she said someone had been following her.
“...When was this?”
Around the time you went into the military.
“...”
That meant it had been at least a year and a half. So why... why hadn’t Aju said a single word to me about it?
“Why didn’t she tell me?”
How could she?
“Because I was in the military?”
Ask her yourself later.
“...Fuck.”
I was getting older and trying to cut back on swearing. This world just wouldn’t give me the chance.
A stalker? Who the hell...? Aju was quiet by nature. She never bothered anyone. With the way she got along with people, it was hard to imagine her making enemies.
Which meant...
“Is it a guy?”
That’s the first thing you ask...? I don’t know. She was so scared she ran home without looking back.
“...Haah.”
I felt bad for Daeho, but I was more shaken right now than when I’d first heard he was dead. His death still didn’t feel entirely real, but the thought of Aju being stalked by someone...
It made me feel like absolute shit.
“Did you report it to the police?”
We did, but there wasn’t any evidence so they couldn’t do anything. After that I started picking her up, so it stopped. But whenever I was too busy to go...
“Tsk.”
So that was it.
While I had no idea, Aju had been carrying unimaginable stress and fear because of some stranger stalking her.
So... can you help?
“Obviously. You want me to catch the stalker?”
Just stay next to her. I don’t know why, but the stalking started right when you left for the military. Your presence alone might be enough to keep them away.
“...Yeah.”
This was something I needed to do whether Daeho asked or not. With him gone... I was the only one left who could protect Aju.
“But how? Our place is too small for her to move in, and I don’t want her sleeping in the living room.”
...
“You know how it is. We only have two rooms, and both the master bedroom and mine are tiny.”
...
“Haah... It’d be perfect if I could just move somewhere near your house.”
...
While I was busy trying to figure out how to keep her safe, Daeho stayed completely silent. He just stared at me.
“Say something, damn it.”
You’re so stupid I don’t even know what to say.
“What the hell? You got a better idea or not?”
I do.
“What is it?”
You.
“Huh?”
You should just live at our house.
“...What?”
What was this cat even meowing about...? Live where?
Our house? As in the one Daeho and Aju lived in?
But Daeho was dead... so that would mean...
“You want me to live alone with Aju!?”
Crazy bastard.
Smack.
Even with Daeho inside it, a cat was still a cat. The little shit climbed up me in a flash and smacked my face with a paw.
...It didn’t hurt, but it sure as hell was annoying.
You think I’d leave a horny monkey alone with Aju? Of course I’m coming too.
“...What?”
Take me with you. The two of us will protect her.
“...”
After hearing him, I felt strangely embarrassed. Because the moment he said it, I had immediately pictured myself living alone with Aju. Honestly, in the back of my head, that fantasy version of co-living with her had already been going on for nearly ten years...
God, that was pathetic.
Besides, if you live at our place it’s close to your university. Two birds, one stone.
“That works for me. But what about Aju? Won’t she hate the idea?”
...You really are crazy.
“...Why does this bastard keep starting fights?”
What else am I supposed to call a crazy guy? Don’t worry. She won’t hate it. She might refuse, though.
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
...Crazy bastard.
“Why do you keep calling me that?”
If you’re having a serious conversation with a cat, what else would you call yourself?
Hitting me with cold facts like that. And right now I couldn’t even laugh at his jokes...
Haah...
“Fine. I’ll talk to Aju first.”
Good.
Daeho glanced back at his own body lying in the mortuary. He was probably looking at a face he would never see again. I wondered what was going through his mind.
...I really was good-looking.
“Crazy bastard.”
Guess we really were two of a kind.
When we left the mortuary, I went straight to Aju. Daeho had slipped back inside my hoodie.
“Ah, Riha oppa.”
She spotted me and walked over. Having Mom beside her must have helped her calm down; her expression looked a lot better than when I’d first seen her.
“Did you... greet him properly?”
“...Yeah. More or less.”
“He’d be happy about that.”
“...I’m not so sure.”
“Hehe. Well, you two always acted like you couldn’t stand each other on the surface.”
With Daeho literally right next to me, I’d meant it sincerely. But Aju, unaware of that, probably thought I was just feeling awkward.
Still, if Aju could smile, that was enough.
“But oppa... weren’t you supposed to meet Hwayeon unnie today?”
“Ah...”
Choi Hwayeon. My ex-girlfriend—the one I’d broken up with today. Since Daeho, Aju, and I hung out together so often, Aju knew her too.
Actually, Hwayeon had seemed to adore Aju. She kept saying she couldn’t get over how cute she was.
“We actually broke up. Today...”
“What? ...Why?”
“I don’t know either.”
“Ah... I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. You’ve got enough on your plate right now.”
“Yeah...”
Aju was kind to a fault. The moment she heard we’d broken up, her face filled with guilt, like it was somehow her fault. I gently stroked her hair.
“Don’t worry. I was surprised, but... it’s not that big of a shock.”
“Even so, Hwayeon unnie will probably feel hurt.”
“I doubt it. She was the one who suggested breaking up first.”
“...”
Her expression still hadn’t brightened. I needed to change the subject. What could I talk about...?
Oh.
“By the way, how’s school been? We haven’t talked much lately, so I haven’t heard anything.”
A completely harmless topic.
Or so I thought.
Poke, poke.
Daeho started pressing against me from inside the hoodie, clearly trying to stop me. I realized I’d messed up.
“It’s... everyone’s a senior preparing for the exams now. It’s a little... awkward.”
“Ah, I see...”
I didn’t know the details. But one thing was certain.
Aju didn’t want to talk about anything related to school right now.
...Just what had happened during the year I hadn’t been in touch with her?
After failing to lighten the mood, I just stood there scratching my head. Aju stepped closer and lightly tugged at my sleeve.
“Riha oppa. The condolences will probably start soon. Can you stay with me?”
“...Of course.”
The moment I answered, relief washed over her face and she gave me a small smile. Having me nearby seemed to comfort her at least a little.
That was good.
Maybe it was because I hadn’t seen her in a year, but had Aju always been this mature...?
Of course, she was still small and had that same cute face. That hadn’t changed.
Still, she felt somehow more... grown up than the last time I saw her.
“Riha oppa?”
“Huh? Ah... sorry. I spaced out for a second.”
I must have been staring. Feeling awkward, I looked away—only to see Mom walking toward us.
“They said the funeral hall setup will take a while. What do you want to do until then, Aju?”
“Ah... right. I was thinking of stopping by the house for a bit.”
“Hmm. Then maybe we should all go home, change, and come back? Now that I think about it, Riha and I are dressed pretty casually.”
I looked down at my clothes. Yeah, a hoodie really wasn’t appropriate for a funeral. Mom was wearing bright colors too, and Aju was in everyday clothes.
“Let’s head home first and meet back here.”
“Sounds good... Oh, Aju, have you eaten?”
“Not yet. But it’s okay. I don’t think I can eat anything right now.”
“...Still, try to eat something. Alright?”
“Yes...”
After talking with Aju and Mom, we decided to go home, change, and return.
“Then Aju, go on ahead.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll see you soon.”
“Alright...”
“Riha oppa. See you later.”
“...Yeah.”
Aju said her goodbyes and flagged down a taxi.
I couldn’t stop watching her as she left alone. Once she got home, she’d be all by herself in that empty house.
A house her family would never return to.
The moment that thought hit me—
“Mom, can you get my suit ready?”
“What? Hey, Riha!”
I was already running after Aju.
Just as she was about to climb into the taxi, I called out.
“Aju.”
“Riha oppa? Weren’t you going home?”
“Ah, well... I thought I’d go to your house with you.”
“Huh? Why...?”
But once I was actually standing in front of her, I couldn’t come up with a good reason. In moments like this...
Haah. No point overthinking it.
“The thought of you going back to an empty house by yourself... it just hurts.”
“...”
“Is that reason enough?”
“...Hehe.”
...Ah. It really had been a long time.
I’d ended up realizing something I already knew all over again.
I’d known it since we were kids.
“Thank you, Riha oppa.”
As always, when Aju smiled... she was incredibly beautiful.