21. Harmonious Mother and Daughter (1)
21. Harmonious Mother and Daughter (1)
21. Harmonious Mother-Daughter (1)
Kolok.
As I opened my eyes to the stinging sensation in my throat from the cold, I could see the warm morning sunlight streaming in through the window. What time did I fall asleep last night...?
Kkeomppuk, kkeomppuk, as I lifted my heavy, sleep-filled eyelids and looked around, even though the scenery was the same as always, for some reason, I felt a strange sense of incongruity.
Wondering just where this sense of incongruity was coming from, as I racked my still-groggy brain, that's when I noticed the blanket I was covered with.
...It wasn't the blanket I usually used.
Clearly, the blanket I had been covered with when I went to sleep last night was a thin gray one, but somehow it had been replaced with the sky-blue one from inside the wardrobe.
Staring suspiciously at the blanket that had been changed at some point, as I tried to sit up, the muscle pain in my waist dragged up memories from last night.
"Ah... Ah—!"
The moment I realized why 'the blanket I was covered with had been changed,' my face didn't just heat up—it felt like it was about to explode.
As I recalled what I had spilled—not, 'squirted'—in front of Mom last night, heat rushed to my face, and I unwittingly brushed it with my hand.
'...I'm definitely crazy.'
Even though I had boldly told Kaho that I would forget about that night, I ended up in her arms again? Even if Kaho had been forceful about it?
It made me newly realize just how shallow my resolve was. I had sworn over and over that I would never repeat what happened that night...
'...What an idiot.'
When I turned my head to look at the mirror on the wall, I could see the traces from last night still vividly left on my skin. The marks left by Mom as she fondled my breasts and imprinted on my lips.
As I carefully traced the traces left by Mom with my finger, my body shivered with a jolt, as if the sensations from last night were reviving.
...Now, even if I tried to forget, I couldn't.
Kaho's expression as she smirked while toying with my breasts, the soft feeling of her tongue gliding down my nape, the touch of Kaho's hand groping the inside of my thighs.
Just recalling the memories from last night made my lower abdomen throb dully, and I felt my nipple tips stiffening.
As I clamped my legs together at the itchy feeling down there, my dampening panties stuck between my legs, creating an unpleasant sensation.
...Since when did my body become this lewd?
The fact that it was because of 'Mom' made me feel self-loathing and miserable.
But even amid that self-loathing, Kaho's face kept coming to mind.
I missed the touch of her hands caressing and teasing me.
The fact that Mom loved me made me insanely happy.
Even though I knew I shouldn't, there was a part of me hoping, 'Maybe there'll be a next time?' That's why I had tried so hard to ensure nothing like 'that night' would happen again...
"Huu... What can you do? It's already done."
I gathered strength in my sore, aching waist and got out of bed. Whether it was the aftermath of last night or not, just standing made my legs tremble unsteadily, which was troublesome.
Still, feeling like my condition wasn't too bad, I checked my temperature with the thermometer. Fortunately, the fever had gone down a lot, leaving only a slight one.
"Khm, mm, ah, ah—"
My throat wasn't in bad shape either. It still felt itchy, like I might cough again, but it didn't sting or burn like yesterday.
At this rate, I could probably head straight to the filming set and work...
[Unni, I'm feeling much better today, can you tell me today's schedule?]
[You planning to come in? Don't. Rest thoroughly today. Just because you're a bit better doesn't mean you're fully recovered, so don't overdo it. You know an actress's body is her asset, right?]
Thanks to Manager Unni pushing my schedule back another day, I ended up with a full day off again. Just as I was thinking maybe I should catch more sleep with this floating sensation...
Kkorureuk— kkoreuk—
My stomach growled loudly, like a beggar demanding food. Come to think of it, the nutritional jelly I ate for lunch yesterday was my last meal...
Was it because my condition had improved? I felt hungry for the first time in a while. Wondering if there was anything edible in the kitchen, I opened the door and stepped into the living room—
"...Huh?"
Kkeunkkeun-
I could sense a savory smell I'd never smelled before and sounds I'd never heard filling the house.
From the kitchen came the sound of something bubbling away, and a warm, fluffy aroma wafted throughout the entire house.
Sniffing the warm smell tickling my nose, I moved toward the kitchen where the boiling sounds were coming from...
"You're awake?"
The scene unfolding before my eyes was one I'd only seen in dreams.
Wondering if I was still half-asleep, I pinched my cheek jjuuk-, but all I got back was the stinging pain on my cheek and Kaho's gaze looking at me like I was an idiot.
As I rubbed my stinging cheek, Kaho chuckled softly, took off the apron she was wearing, and hung it on a chair. Then she approached me and gently stroked my reddened cheek.
"Still not fully awake, huh?"
"Ah, no, it's not that..."
As Kaho's finger touched my cheek, memories of last night flashed back, and I unwittingly stepped back, avoiding her touch.
Ignoring the sensations from last night trying to resurface as best I could, I glanced toward the kitchen. That's not what's important right now...
What mattered more were the porridge and side dishes on the table, looking like Kaho had prepared them herself. I alternated between looking at the food on the table and Kaho as I asked,
"...Did you make this food yourself?"
"I wish that were true... I just warmed up the stuff I bought."
At my question, Kaho gave a wry smile and gestured for me to sit. As I sat down following her gesture, Kaho brought a bowl of warmly heated porridge in front of me.
As soon as I sat, Kaho started quickly placing the porridge and side dishes on the table, as if she'd been waiting for me to come out of the room.
Was I still dreaming? As I blankly stared at Kaho preparing food in front of me, she asked with a slightly worried expression,
"By any chance, do you not like porridge? If there's something else you want to eat, just say so now."
"Ah, no... I like porridge. H-Here goes..."
I picked up the spoon, scooped some porridge into my mouth, and swallowed. I could feel the warm porridge sliding down my throat into my stomach.
I swallowed another gulp of porridge and blankly looked around.
The warm food smell filling the house, Kaho and I sitting across from each other at the table having a meal, and Kaho's gaze that seemed to worry about her sick daughter.
'Ah, what do I do.'
The moment I took it all in, tears welled up, and I bit my lower lip.
Because... I'd never experienced anything like this before.
This was the first time I'd had a meal like an ordinary family.
A scene I'd only seen in dreams my whole life suddenly unfolding before me—it was inevitable that tears would come. What on earth had changed in her heart for her to become such a different person?
After ignoring me all this time, hating me and calling me a monster, why was she suddenly acting like a normal 'mom'?
Because of that, I couldn't even hate Kaho anymore. This moment felt more precious and happy than all the long years she'd ignored and despised me.
If I confronted her now about why she'd treated me so cruelly all this time, it felt like this hard-won happy moment would shatter, so I couldn't bring myself to open my mouth.
So...
'...How is it? To your taste?'
I pushed down the boiling resentment with the porridge.
I hid my hatred for Kaho behind a smile somehow.
"...Yes, it's delicious. You saying you bought it was a lie, right? Mom made it, didn't you?"
"I-It was just following a recipe. I figured even I could make porridge..."
To maintain this relationship, to get even closer to Kaho.
I hid the wounds I'd received all this time deep in my heart.
If only I endured, if only I held back this resentment...
"...Thank you. It's really delicious."
"R-Really? That's a relief."
Kaho and I could become a 'family.'
This time for sure, I could become Kaho's 'daughter' and be loved.
**
"Kolok."
That cough just now didn't come from my mouth. As I paused with the spoon holding porridge and looked at Kaho, she cleared her throat khm khm- like someone who'd fake-coughed.
Come to think of it, unlike usual, her complexion didn't look good. I'd thought it was just because she wasn't wearing makeup... Could she have caught it from me...?
With a 'no way' feeling, I asked Kaho,
"...Did you catch it from me?"
"You're making a fuss over one cough. I have no cold symptoms at all, so don't worry and take care of yourself."
Her firm denial only made me more suspicious.
Should I have pushed Kaho away somehow last night after all? It would be trouble if she caught my cold because of me. Kaho had a tight schedule too...
"...Why don't you take some of my medicine? You should prevent it."
"Seeing you worry about me now, looks like your cold's all better."
"It's thanks to Mom 'thoroughly' nursing me last night."
Of course, last night wasn't nursing—it was toying with me.
Perhaps catching the implication in my words, Kaho's face flushed slightly. So even Mom knew that last night was something embarrassing.
"...Khm! I'll take care of my own body, so don't worry."
"Still, at least take some medicine—"
"Miyagi."
At Kaho calling my name in a firm voice, I unwittingly flinched, shoulders trembling. As if telling me not to say more, Kaho stared at me intently before turning her head away.
It was just pure worry, but I couldn't understand why she reacted like that. If she'd caught a cold, shouldn't she go to the hospital before it got worse?
'I didn't infect her on purpose...'
The warm, harmonious atmosphere between Kaho and me just moments ago had vanished completely, replaced by a cold silence at the table.
As I watched Kaho cautiously, perhaps feeling sorry for speaking so firmly to me, she offered me some side dishes and placed some on my spoon.
Seeing this, she didn't seem particularly angry.
What was it... like she was getting mad to hide her embarrassment?
Was she embarrassed that I was worrying about her? I wasn't sure, but the chilled atmosphere soon thawed, and we started chatting about this and that again.
"So, you're resting today?"
"Yeah, Manager Unni said it's better to take one more day off. I could go in..."
"Miyagi, an actress's body is her asset. You know what happens if you abuse it, right?"
It was such a happy time, but...
As the conversation continued, for some reason, a strange sense of incongruity crept in, making my chest feel uncomfortable. It was such a tiny incongruity that I thought it was just my imagination...
'...Must be my imagination.'
I dismissed this sense of incongruity as my imagination and continued talking with Kaho.