The Betrayer
The funeral lasts three days. During that time, I stayed right by Aju’s side the entire time.
Even when her uncle and aunt came.
“It’s been a while. Uncle. Aunt.”
“...You’ve been well?”
“Yes.”
“I see.”
“...”/“...”
The air grew heavy from the awkward greetings and the silence that followed, but if I hadn’t been there, Aju would have had an even harder time.
After that, a few of Daeho’s coworkers from the company came as well.
“Aju. It’s been a while.”
“Yes, it has. Jun.”
“Haha, I told you to call me Jun oppa.”
“...Thank you for coming, Jun.”
Among them was Jun, Daeho’s supervisor. The way he acted overly familiar with Aju left a bad impression.
In total, there were only about ten mourners—relatives, my parents, and his coworkers—but considering Daeho’s usual personality, even that many was a miracle.
The funeral itself ended, but the cremation, death registration, and everything else followed. Only after we placed Daeho’s urn did it truly feel over.
“You worked hard, Riha oppa.”
“You’re the one who worked hard. You barely slept even though there weren’t many visitors.”
“No... Having you beside me made it not hard at all.”
“Hearing that makes me grateful.”
Over those three days, Aju shed countless tears, and with each one she seemed to be sorting through her emotions. Just like Daeho, Aju isn’t weak.
Even the grief of losing her only family in the world— Aju will overcome it and keep moving forward.
My job is to stay by her side and let her lean on me when things get tough.
“Thank you as well, ma’am. I’m really in your debt.”
“I didn’t do anything... More importantly, Riha, are you moving today?”
“Yes.”
Of course, I had already told my parents that I would be living with Aju. Both Mom and Dad looked surprised, but since it was Aju, they didn’t hesitate to give their permission.
“Well, it was unexpected that you’d be the one to say it first. But it’s your decision, so do what you want.”
“I will. Also, about Daeho... I mean, Hahu. It’s fine if I take him too, right?”
“Sure. Last time I went to feed him, he refused to leave that house even if it killed him...”
Since Aju and I were at the funeral hall, we couldn’t feed Daeho. Mom, who already knew the way to their house, went instead.
She said the place was covered in tuna cans and Daeho was eating them.
...Please be more careful not to get caught.
Mom was surprised, but she tried to bring Daeho—Hahu to her—home. Naturally, Daeho refused and ran away. Even after several more attempts, Mom failed every time.
“That’s strange... Hahu followed you, but he always liked staying at our place too.”
“Maybe he knows Aju is having a hard time and wants to stay by her side.”
“Hahu did like Aju a lot. Sigh, then Aju, sorry, but I’ll be leaving both of our kids in your care.”
“Not at all. I’m the one receiving help from Riha oppa. And I’ll take good care of Hahu.”
“...I wish I had a daughter like you.”
Mom said that while glancing at me.
Ever since I told her I broke up with my girlfriend after finishing my service, she’s been giving me that look sometimes. Actually, she’s always done that whenever I didn’t have a girlfriend...
“Ask Dad. I don’t think the two of you could have a daughter like Aju.”
“Haah... This is what happens when the son you raised turns out like this...”
“Ah, hahaha...”
Mom sighed as if she had given up completely, and Aju smiled awkwardly. It felt like there was something only the two of them understood, but I had no way of knowing what it was.
“Anyway, I packed some clothes and underwear like you said and put them in a suitcase. If you need anything else, bring it yourself.”
“Okay. Are you heading straight home, Mom?”
“I should. Your dad will be getting off work soon. I need to make dinner too.”
After saying that, Mom rubbed her shoulders and got ready to leave. She finished packing, then smiled kindly at Aju once more and said goodbye.
“Aju, what I’m about to say might not help much right now, but... really, hang in there. If you get tired trying to be strong on your own, come to me.”
“Ma’am... Yes. Thank you so much. For everything, truly.”
“No, I’m just sorry I can’t do more.”
“No... Really, sniff... I know it’s a bit much to say this now, but Daeho oppa and I are truly happy people. Because there are people who care about us like this.”
“...”
Why is she looking at me again...
It felt like she was saying “Do something about it.” Or maybe that she really wanted a daughter like Aju.
Her expressions always showed her feelings clearly, and right now a lot of emotions were crossing her face.
“Well then, Riha. Take good care of Aju. Don’t make her cry or hurt her.”
“I wouldn’t do that.”
“Where does that confidence come from...”
Mom shot me a look of disbelief, then softened her expression for Aju and waved. Aju bowed her head once more, and Mom headed home first.
“Let’s go home too.”
“Yes, Riha oppa.”
And so we did.
Finally, we were heading home.
---
“We’re home.”
“...I guess I should say that too?”
“Hehe, that’s right. This is Riha oppa’s house now too.”
“Feels weird.”
Coming back with Aju, knowing this was now where I would live, felt different than before. It wasn’t the feeling of visiting anymore—it was the feeling of returning. And that feeling was a little awkward.
<>
Daeho greeted us. Of course, to Aju it probably just sounded like “meow meow meow.”
“Hahu, were you okay by yourself?”
<<...For now.>>
“Hehe, cute.”
<>
What am I supposed to do...
Aju, who could only hear Daeho’s meows, petted him fondly, while Daeho shot me a pleading look.
If I took Daeho away from her now, the atmosphere in the room would turn strange. So I left it alone.
“I’m going to unpack first... Is that okay? Using that guy’s room.”
“...Yes, please do. Daeho oppa would be fine with it if it’s you, Riha oppa.”
<>
“Hahu thinks so too, right? Hehe.”
<>
You’re not a person, so it’s fine.
I felt like saying that as a comeback.
“Then I’ll take it without holding back. Ah, that guy’s stuff...”
“...I’ll leave it to you, Riha oppa.”
“Got it...”
<<...Tch.>>
When I started dragging my suitcase toward Daeho’s room, Daeho jumped out of Aju’s arms and walked ahead as if guiding me.
<>
“Yeah, let’s go in together.”
“Hehe, Hahu really likes you, Riha oppa.”
“Don’t say that.”/<>
Hahu liking me was whatever, but the thought of that guy liking me made bile rise in my throat.
“Is there anything I can help with, Riha oppa?”
“Nah, there’s personal stuff too. I’ll handle it.”
“Okay, just let me know when you’re done.”
“Sure.”
After hearing my answer, Aju went into her own room. Daeho jumped up and opened the door to his room.
Pretty agile. Well, he is a cat, so that’s normal. Or should I say he’s agile because he’s a cat?
“Been a while since I’ve been here too. After I went to the army, I stopped coming as much.”
<>
Daeho almost mentioned my ex’s name, but the strange sense of nostalgia I felt stepping into his room for the first time in so long kept me from dwelling on it.
Come to think of it, it had been a year since I last came here.
I hadn’t contacted Aju in that whole year, and Daeho had insisted on meeting outside, so I hadn’t been able to come recently.
<>
“Why?”
<>
“Then why the computer?”
<<...Because this is more urgent.>>
“...Ah.”
Right. When a guy dies, the first thing you have to delete is “those videos.” This was definitely a job for a friend.
“Just asking in case... Is it locked?”
<>
“You crazy bastard.”
<>
“Fair enough.”
If Aju ever found those videos, it would be dangerous...
Aju would probably understand, but I didn’t want that situation to happen in the first place.
“Computer’s on. Where do I go?”
<>
This guy had camouflaged his folders properly. No one would ever guess what was inside just by looking.
Well then... Let’s see what this guy’s tastes are like.
“...You like some pretty hardcore stuff.”
<>
“Huh... Hey, why do you like tall girls so much? Short ones are better.”
<>
“Don’t suddenly switch to combat mode. It’s scary.”
Daeho had quite the collection. These days people usually keep stuff on their phones, but he’d gone and saved everything on the computer.
Oh, even the videos I recommended are all in one folder. There must be hundreds of gigabytes here.
<>
“This is why you’re a forever-alone...”
<>
“Why would becoming a wizard turn you into a cat after you die?”
<>
While joking around and looking through Daeho’s porn collection, I forgot for a moment that he was dead and had become a cat. It felt like a normal, everyday moment.
Because of that, we both let our guard down.
So we didn’t notice the footsteps approaching the room.
Knock knock.
“Riha oppa, are you done organizing?”
“!”/<>
Both Daeho and I jumped at the sudden sound of Aju’s voice.
<>
Especially Daeho—he took on a defensive cat-like posture and... pressed the Enter key on the keyboard.
What came from the computer after that was—
<いや～ い、行く、いっちゃえ！>
...
In that moment, I experienced the heaviest silence in the world.
Thanks to pure male instinct, I managed to turn off the video with speed I’d never shown even during military training...
“Ah, um... Ri-Riha oppa. I’ll come back later.”
Of course, the sound from the already-playing video had reached Aju’s ears. Realizing that, I called out.
“Aju!”
“Ri-Riha oppa. Wh-what is it?”
Aju’s face was red as she avoided my gaze. Seeing a side of her I’d never seen before was incredibly cute, but that wasn’t what mattered right now.
“Actually, that was—”
This was all Daeho’s fault to begin with. So—
“Daeho asked me to do it. He said that after he died, I had to delete all of it. So... the video that just played and everything else on that computer—all of it belongs to Daeho. Want to come take a look?”
Time to throw my friend under the bus.
I didn’t do anything wrong.
“Here, look. It’s disguised as a company folder... and there’s a ton, right?”
<>
“B-but... Daeho oppa said he didn’t watch stuff like this...”
“There’s no guy who doesn’t, Aju. Look at this. See how hardcore Daeho’s collection is?”
<>
What else was I supposed to do? Otherwise Aju would misunderstand me!
This was all your fault, so take responsibility yourself!!!
“Wow... Th-that’s... Hmm... I won’t say anything.”
“Well, what’s the point of saying anything to someone who’s already dead.”
<>
The one who died first has no right to talk.
At least the misunderstanding about me was cleared up. That was a relief.
“Oh, but... um, Riha oppa. Do you... watch this kind of stuff too?”
“Huh? Me? Haha, there’s no way I’m like Daeho.”
<<...What?>>
I couldn’t lie in front of Aju to begin with, so I tried to brush it off like it had nothing to do with me. But at my words, Daeho looked incredulous and approached the computer.
Click.
I heard the sound of a mouse click...
“Huh? Hahu just pressed something... Ah, another folder... Huh... Eek!?”
“What? What folder is it... uh...”
While we weren’t paying attention, Daeho had clicked on another folder inside the video folder.
And the name of that folder was—
‘Videos Recommended by Riha.’
<>
...Son of a b*tch.
Swallowing the words I couldn’t say out loud in front of Aju, I glanced at her.
“...”
Aju stared at the folder filled with videos I had apparently recommended at some point, her expression complicated.
Then—
“...Uuu.”
She pouted slightly and—
Click, click.
Deleted the entire collection folder. Then she glanced at me and said—
“You don’t watch this kind of stuff, right, Riha oppa?”
“...”
I’ve said it many times—I can’t lie in front of Aju to begin with.
So—
“Riha oppa?”
...The ending was already decided.
“Haah. There’s no guy who doesn’t.”
“...Uuu.”
In the end, in a situation where there were no winners, only losers, I thought about how cute Aju looked with her lips pursed—
<>
—while also thinking that I wanted to get that cat neutered right this second.