Chapter 163
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 163
Dokyun watched Eun-byeol as she sat at the table, fiddling with her smartphone, and continued to ponder.
What is it?
What was the reason for Eun-byeol’s existence? What was her lingering regret?
It was a question whose answer he simply couldn’t deduce.
It wasn’t that he didn’t know what kind of person she was. He could list off any number of her traits and preferences: she liked to wander around, loved dressing up, and was a huge baseball fan.
But when he tried to pinpoint her lingering regret from within those traits, he couldn’t find an answer.
It can’t be her team winning the championship.
In the first place, the young Eun-ah hadn’t been the type of child to like baseball. Baseball was clearly a taste that had attached itself to Eun-byeol after she came into being, influenced by some other factor.
A celebrity?
That, too, was a word far removed from the young Eun-ah. Eun-ah was extremely averse to being the center of attention. Didn’t she always wear a hat and mask whenever she had to go outside?
Suddenly, a low groan escaped Dokyun’s lips.
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t get a handle on it. If he had to pick just one thing…
Friends?
Because she wanted to make friends. Of all the possibilities he’d considered, that seemed the most plausible. But he couldn’t be sure, because if you set aside her sociability and outgoing nature, Eun-byeol wasn’t someone who showed much interest in other people.
The more he thought, the more he felt like he was getting lost in a maze.
As Dokyun was wrestling with his thoughts, Eun-byeol, who had shifted her gaze to him at some point, tilted her head.
“Hm? What is it, honey?”
“I was just wondering why you came to be, Eun-byeol.”
It was a conversation they’d had several times before.
And each time, Eun-byeol’s answer was…
“I get embarrassed when you try to strip me bare like that…”
…some kind of sly, teasing reply. She traced a finger along the tabletop, a blush coloring her cheeks.
Dokyun watched her for a moment before letting out a deep sigh and shaking his head.
“…Never mind.”
It was probably best to give up on hearing it from her directly. As Dokyun came to this conclusion and rose from the sofa, Eun-byeol giggled and began to put on a deliberately gloomy expression.
“Aww, how sad. Looks like my honey’s already tired of me.”
“Ugh, please stop that. You’re just trying to make me feel guilty.”
“Oh? Then I’ll stop.”
Just like that, her expression brightened again.
Dokyun let out a hollow laugh at how her face, so rich with expression, changed in an instant. Watching him, Eun-byeol stood up from her seat and continued.
“Shall we get going, then?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll go get changed!”
“Take your time.”
With that, Eun-byeol headed for the dressing room.
Dokyun watched her retreating back as she entered the room, then let out a small smile and started walking.
Today was the first time in a long while that he was going out with Eun-byeol.
*
It wasn’t a planned outing. It was just another ordinary day when Eun-byeol’s turn came, and she’d wanted to go out, so they’d arranged it on the spot.
Since it was a rare long weekend for him, Dokyun had readily agreed. And this was where they had ended up.
“A museum?”
It was the city museum.
The museum before him and the smiling Eun-byeol standing beside him were such a mismatch that Dokyun tilted his head and asked the question. Eun-byeol just giggled and answered.
“Yeah. Why? You don’t like places like this, honey?”
“No, well… I don’t particularly dislike them.”
He rarely had a reason to visit a museum, so there was nothing to like or dislike.
Dokyun stood at the museum entrance, staring blankly at the building.
A large banner hung over the entrance, emblazoned with the words: [Special Exhibition: Mesozoic Era Expedition].
“Oh, dinosaurs.”
“Classic,” she said.
So, Eun-byeol liked dinosaurs. Dokyun chuckled at her response and played along.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been to a place like this. Has it been about eight years?”
“Oh, you can remember things from eight years ago?”
“What’s that supposed to mean? I don’t have dementia.”
Dokyun retorted playfully to her teasing remark, then added, “I was obsessed with dinosaurs for an elective back in college. I came to places like this a few times back then.”
“So my honey was a model student?”
“Not really… The class just happened to suit my tastes.”
It was the only course he’d gotten an A+ in that semester, which was why he remembered it.
As Dokyun gazed at the museum with a nostalgic expression, Eun-byeol let out a soft “pfft” of laughter and continued.
“Shall we go in, then? Ah, you know they don’t have the glow-in-the-dark kind, right?”
“Aww, that’s a bit disappointing.”
Heh heh. A laugh escaped Dokyun’s lips. He began to walk slowly toward the museum entrance.
*
Even if it was a dinosaur exhibition… that was just the nature of things in Korea.
The country didn’t have the means to excavate and display actual artifacts, so the main exhibits were mostly models and illustrations rather than real fossils.
Aside from those unavoidable shortcomings, the museum visit itself was a rather satisfying experience for Dokyun.
And why wouldn’t it be? There was something about dinosaurs that stirred a man’s soul. It was what you might call a boyish sense of wonder—a thrill that came from seeing the massive jaws of a carnivorous dinosaur or the stable, reassuring body of a herbivore.
After enjoying the museum for a while, Dokyun heard a giggle from beside him and turned his head to look at Eun-byeol.
At the end of his gaze was Eun-byeol, her shoulders shaking as the corners of her mouth twitched.
“My honey’s having fun, isn’t he?”
“Yes, well…”
A wave of awkwardness washed over him. Dokyun scratched the back of his head, then noticed Eun-byeol’s gaze was focused more on him than on the exhibits and posed a question.
“Aren’t you going to look around, Eun-byeol? You’re the one who brought us here.”
“Hm? I am looking.”
“You’ve been looking only at me this whole time.”
“Exactly. I’m looking.”
Dokyun tilted his head. It felt like they were talking past each other. Seeing the question on his face, Eun-byeol’s lips curved into a deep smile as she continued.
“You’re as big as a dinosaur too, honey. It’s more fun watching a live one than a dead one.”
Dokyun’s eyes narrowed at her words.
Is she making fun of me?
The thought popped into his head.
Seeing Dokyun looking at her with a suspicious glint in his eyes, Eun-byeol’s signature sly expression deepened as she added, “Honey, do you know how cute you are when you narrow your eyes like that?”
Dokyun flinched.
“…Please don’t say things like that. It’s seriously embarrassing.”
A grumble naturally escaped his lips.
“Aww, look at my honey getting all shy. Looks like I’ll have to pat-pat you better tonight, hmm?”
A look of trouble deepened on Dokyun’s face.
After wearing an awkward expression for a long moment at her words, Dokyun felt a sudden surge of defiance. A crooked smile formed on his lips as he retorted, “As if you even know how.”
“…”
Eun-byeol’s mouth snapped shut. Her body went rigid.
Feeling a smirk tug at his own lips at her reaction, Dokyun patted her shoulder and added, “That’s, uh… a little pathetic.”
Who does she think she is, challenging me about the bedroom? She’s never even done it.
As Dokyun spoke in a tone dripping with sarcasm, Eun-byeol flinched again. She forced a laugh so stiff it was painful to watch and shot back, “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about…?”
With that, she quickly walked ahead. Watching her, Dokyun shook his head.
Truly, there was nothing more unsightly than a loser’s desperate struggle.
*
After they had seen the entire museum, the two headed to a nearby cafe.
It was too early for dinner, and with nowhere else to look around nearby, a cafe was the easiest choice.
Sitting in a corner of the cafe, Eun-byeol watched Dokyun’s back as he ordered at the counter far away, lost in thought.
A back so broad it wouldn’t lose out to anyone, no matter where he went. Standing next to him, that fact became even more apparent, giving her a strange sense of security.
It was a curious thing, when she thought about it. He had a rugged face and a huge frame, so it should have been natural to be scared of him up close, yet for some reason, standing next to Dokyun felt reassuring.
Eun-byeol mulled over the reason and concluded that it must be because of his kindness.
…Though he can be so petty.
He was a man who fit the word ‘petty’ perfectly, getting worked up at the slightest provocation. And yet, he was also a kind man with such a soft heart that he’d get a troubled look on his face at the slightest hint of tears and fret over how to make her feel better.
To Eun-byeol, that was the kind of person Dokyun was.
Hmm…
Looking at that back, a question always surfaced in Eun-byeol’s mind.
Would he cry if I disappeared?
The question lingered, and as always, the answer came back as ‘yes.’ Of course it would. This was a man who sobbed while reading some strange novel; it would be weirder if he didn’t cry.
A small smile crept onto Eun-byeol’s lips as she continued her thoughts.
She really didn’t want to make him cry. How had things gotten so twisted? But even as she had that thought, she found herself accepting it, thinking, ‘Still, having someone who would cry for you… doesn’t that mean it was a pretty good life?’
…What a shame.
It had been fun.
A sense of regret arose at the thought that her allotted time was shrinking. Eun-byeol clenched her fist slightly, shaking it off.
It’s not right away.
There was still time left. It wouldn’t hurt to enjoy it a little longer, would it?
Just as Eun-byeol was lost in these thoughts, Dokyun, who had gotten their coffee, returned and sat down at the table.
“What were you thinking about to have that look on your face?”
“Hm?”
“It’s just, you looked a little dazed.”
Eun-byeol blinked at Dokyun’s question, then burst out laughing and waved her hands dismissively.
“Oh, no, I was suddenly thinking about baseball. After all, we didn’t make it to the postseason this year either.”
“Ah…”
A look of pity crossed Dokyun’s face.
“Right… Well, hang in there.”
“Ugh, when will those sons of… when will those guys ever get their act together?”
Eun-byeol said, then glanced at Dokyun.
He’s so damn sharp.
I can’t even think in peace.
At the thought, a smile formed on Eun-byeol’s lips.
*
The outing ended in much the same way as any other. They chatted away at the cafe for a while, then had dinner and came home.
Feeling a strange ache in his shoulders, Dokyun took off his shoes and entered the house.
“It feels good to get some fresh air for a change.”
“You go out every day, don’t you?”
“Is going to work the same as this?”
“Then you can just quit.”
At Eun-byeol’s words, a hollow laugh filled with futility escaped Dokyun’s lips.
“You’re right. What kind of fortune and glory am I chasing by going to that job?”
Well, he said that, but he would keep going.
Continuing his train of thought, Dokyun turned his head to check Eun-byeol’s expression.
He couldn’t stop thinking about the dazed look she’d had at the cafe a few hours ago.
He could have dismissed it as baseless anxiety, but something inside him wouldn’t let him just brush it aside.
Eun-ji was gone, and so was Eun-sam. Eun-ah’s condition was improving by the day, and her life was changing accordingly.
Amidst all this, for Eun-byeol to show a side he’d never seen before, Dokyun couldn’t help but watch her carefully, wondering if she was preparing to leave.
It wasn’t that he intended to stop her now.
It was just that, if Eun-byeol was really planning to go, he needed time to prepare himself, so he could at least say goodbye to her with a smile. Dokyun needed that space to steel himself.
Lost in these thoughts, Dokyun watched Eun-byeol go to the kitchen to pour a glass of water and opened his mouth.
“…If you have any worries, you can tell me. I can at least listen.”
“Hm?”
“I’m just saying.”
Blink, blink. Eun-byeol blinked her eyes, then let out a small laugh and replied.
“Hmm, I’ll think about it?”
The answer that came back was the same sly one as always.