Chapter 128
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 128
After a brief silence, another expression was layered over the smiling face.
The grin that had filled Eun-chae’s face slowly began to take on a dazed quality, and before long, a veil of sorrow was draped over it.
A light glimmered in her eyes.
It was a light that shimmered with a sorrow full of unshed tears.
Seeing it, Dokyun realized that Eun-ah had returned.
His lips parted to say something, but no words came out.
He had no idea what Eun-ah must be feeling right now, no idea what he should say. He simply stared at her for a long moment, until a single tear traced a path of sorrow down her cheek.
“Ah…”
A soft gasp escaped Eun-ah’s lips. Her body trembled.
As she shivered, her gaze fell first upon him, then swept around the room, before finally landing on her own hands.
She stared blankly for a long while, then looked back at his face, her own on the verge of crumbling as tears streamed down.
Dokyun reached out to wipe them away, then pulled her into a firm embrace, patting her back.
“…It’s been a while.”
Not knowing what else to say, that was what he said.
They were words he had never once said to Eun-ah.
Words he could never have offered to the woman who had always lived trapped in her delusions.
Eun-ah flinched at his words, then curled into herself, giving a small nod.
*
It felt as if she had been dreaming a very long dream.
…No, it felt as if she had lived her entire life in a dream.
Even though she had been awake, that was how it felt.
Her memories were fractured. No matter how she tried to recall the missing pieces, even the memories that surfaced were a jumbled mess.
But amidst it all, there was one thing she knew for certain.
The fact that everything she had believed to be right had been wrong.
The path she had walked was a swamp, thick with mud.
Without her even realizing it, the muddy water had risen to her chin.
And whenever she struggled to escape the swamp, a ‘truth’ was there to shove her head back under the mire.
The truth, when it was finally revealed, took on a truly nauseating form and spoke to me.
You were wrong.
The life you have lived was entirely wrong.
Her gaze shifted to the kitchen.
She could see a broad back, clattering away while doing the dishes.
She remembered why that man was here.
…I did this.
He was the person she had imprisoned here.
I stole that person’s life.
At the thought, her body began to tremble again.
The air in the room was warm, yet she shivered as if she were standing in the middle of a snow-capped mountain during a blizzard.
She pulled the blanket draped over her shoulders tighter, but the chill refused to subside.
As she sat there trembling, the man, who had approached without her noticing, wrapped his arms around her.
When she flinched, he stroked her back and spoke.
“Hm… a little cold? Should I turn up the heat?”
She looked up to see him speaking to her with a gentle expression.
Feeling she should say something, she parted her lips, but the man just chuckled softly and stroked her back again.
“Just a moment. I’ll go turn up the boiler.”
He said this and started to get up. She belatedly reached out for him, but he was already too far away.
She had to say something, but the words just wouldn’t come.
*
She didn’t know how much time had passed.
She would just sit there blankly until she fell asleep, and when she woke, she would move as the man led her.
She would sit at the table and eat, then step outside into the garden, and then go back to the bedroom to sleep.
In the midst of it all, she would feel a sudden chill and look around, but her surroundings were always warmly heated.
“Eun-ah-ssi.”
Hearing her name, she looked up and saw the man.
Just as he had yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that, he was asking her a question with a gentle face.
“Would you like some coffee?”
Coffee.
That was something she knew.
She nodded her head in affirmation.
Seeing her nod, the man gave a small smile and continued.
“Just wait a moment. I’ll be right back with it.”
With those words, the man turned and headed for the kitchen.
Again, her lips parted.
Of course, no words came out.
*
Dokyun sat on the rocking chair in the yard, watching Eun-ah.
She was staring blankly into the air.
Ever since she had returned, she had mostly been in this state.
His heart ached seeing her look so confused, yet so utterly subdued.
Wanting to know why, he had called her doctor, who explained that she was under immense stress from suddenly realizing that everything she had considered reality was a delusion.
He had said to watch over her carefully.
Dokyun recalled the doctor’s words, then noticed Eun-ah dozing off again. He carefully lifted her into his arms.
“It’s still chilly, so let’s go inside to sleep.”
He said this with a smile, and Eun-ah, after her lips moved again, gave a small nod.
As he walked, Dokyun looked around.
It was the time of year when the last cold snap of winter was finally retreating.
The world was preparing to welcome the fullness of spring.
*
Sitting at the dining table, Dokyun watched Eun-ah pick up her spoon, a faint tension rising within him.
It had been like this ever since Eun-ah returned.
Before her delusions shattered, she had never once allowed him to cook, so he couldn’t help but worry that she wouldn’t be satisfied with his food.
‘Still, it’s a recipe from Chef Baek….’
It was a recipe from the master of home cooking himself; surely Eun-ah would find it satisfactory.
With that thought, Dokyun watched Eun-ah take a spoonful of soup and opened his mouth.
“How is it…?”
At his question, Eun-ah looked up. Watching her, Dokyun swallowed dryly and asked again.
“Is it edible? Uh, I’m not as good as you, so I looked up a recipe online….”
Dokyun poured out a stream of excuses, cautiously watching Eun-ah’s reaction. A moment later, seeing her give a small nod, his face brightened.
Then, a moment passed.
“I-it’s…”
“Hm?”
Seeing her lips move slightly, Dokyun tilted his head. Eun-ah ducked her head low and muttered.
“I-it’s good… b-but next time… a little… a little more red pepper flakes….”
The critique struck him square in the chest.
Realizing he had once again failed to meet her standards, Dokyun gave a small nod.
“Yes, ma’am….”
It seemed his skills were still lacking when it came to pleasing the palate of one Go Eun-ah.
*
Eun-ah looked up at the man reading a book beside her.
He had strong features.
A high-bridged nose and straight, sharp eyebrows made for an impressive face.
At first glance, he might seem fierce, but looking back, he had never once gotten angry.
She wanted to ask.
Don’t you resent me?
Don’t you hate me?
Why are you being so kind to me?
…She wanted to ask, but the words wouldn’t come out.
So again, her lips just moved, soundlessly.
She held the words in for a long time before finally lowering her head.
She was afraid that if she asked, his answer might be ‘yes.’ She lowered her head in fear.
It was so selfish of her, to lower her head like this because she was afraid to hear those words.
Her fists clenched.
She had to say it.
No matter what answer she received, she had to confess her wrongdoing.
And yet, even though she knew she had to, the words wouldn’t come.
She had to let this person go, but she was too afraid.
A whisper told her that if she just kept her mouth shut, she could stay with him forever. A wicked thought took root, and she kept her mouth shut.
She was truly a pathetic and selfish person.
She remembered the tears this man had shed on the first day she imprisoned him here.
She remembered his face, stained with terror.
She remembered how he had flinched and trembled at her slightest movement.
He must resent her so much, yet he showed no sign of it.
Somehow, he had erased his fear and was holding her.
Her gaze turned to the man again.
She wanted to borrow just a little of his courage.
So she bit her lip hard and finally managed to force out a single word.
“…Excuse me.”
“Hm?”
The man’s head lifted.
His eyes met hers directly.
Her body flinched again at the contact.
“What’s wrong?”
A gentle smile formed on the man’s face again.
Seeing that face, her lips parted and her fingertips twitched. The man took her hand and held it firmly.
Her body trembled at the warmth that spread from his touch.
Noticing this, the man let out a small laugh and continued.
“Is there something you need?”
There it was again.
Again, he spoke words meant only for her sake.
Suddenly, she felt her eyes grow hot.
How could he be so kind? She was so grateful for his heart, and yet so resentful of it, that her eyes burned.
I forced down the rising emotions, met the man’s eyes, and opened my mouth.
I had to say it.
No matter what answer I received, I had to ask.
With that thought, I spoke.
“A-aren’t you… angry with me…?”
And so, I was finally able to spit out the question.
“I-I locked you up here, Honeybee…. I-I hurt you….”
My throat tightened, and the words came out in broken fragments.
Again, my eyes grew hot, and tears began to fall.
“I-I hurt you…. A-aren’t you angry with me?”
The question was finally out.
The man—Honeybee—looked at me, his eyes widening in surprise, and then stared at me blankly.
My eyes squeezed shut.
I closed them, afraid of the answer that would come.
Silence fell, and what followed was a warmth that enveloped me.
I flinched, and Honeybee’s lips parted.
“Do I seem like I hate you?”
A question was returned with a question.
When I looked up at Honeybee, I saw the same gentle smile he always wore.
Honeybee looked at me for a long moment, then his eyes darted as if in thought before he spoke again.
“At first, yes. Um, I disliked you… quite a lot.”
Flinch.
My body trembled.
Seeing me shiver, Honeybee let out a soft laugh, patting my back as he continued.
“I was shocked. I was tied up in some weird room, getting poked and prodded and hit.”
“I-I’m sorr—”
“But, as I just lived here, I started to see other things.”
I was about to say something, but he continued.
“Like the way you were always looking at me, your anxious gestures, or your body, so thin it looked like it could collapse at any moment.”
The hand that had been patting my back was now stroking my face.
Honeybee was wiping away all my tears, taking them for himself.
“I’m also a real softy, you know. When I see things like that, I can’t help but feel sorry for people. I’ve been like that since I was a kid… It’s why I dreamed of being a social worker.”
His tone was now tinged with a bit of playfulness.
“Well, I gave that up when I thought about having to make a living.”
Honeybee chuckled at his own words, then looked me straight in the eye and continued.
“Anyway, because of that, my heart would soften whenever I saw you, Eun-ah-ssi. Why is this person all alone in this house? Why is she so obsessed with me?”
As he spoke, Honeybee pinched my cheek.
The hand that pinched my cheek pulled gently, stretching it out.
“As I was thinking about those things, I started to figure it out, one piece at a time. The reason you were alone, the reason you clung to me. Once I knew, I couldn’t just pretend I didn’t see. And that’s why I didn’t resent you anymore.”
The hand stretching my cheek let go, and with a few soft chuckles, Honeybee stroked my head and continued.
What followed was spoken in a truly mischievous tone.
“And besides all that, the fact that you’re pretty played a big part. You know that saying, right? A beautiful woman’s tears are a weapon.”
They were clearly teasing words, but my heart was pounding in response.
“What could I do? Resentment and all that flew out the window, and my head was just filled with the thought that I had to make you smile, so I just followed my heart.”
He spoke while letting out little giggles.
“So, no, I’m not angry with you, Eun-ah-ssi. I don’t resent you, either.”
Honeybee moved closer.
Our foreheads touched.
“If I had to put it into words… yes. I like you. A whole lot.”
That single phrase seeped into my heart.