Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Han Yoo-jung (1)
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Han Yoo-jung asked with a prim expression on her face.
"Um, can you teach me that game?"
I thought for a moment.
It was a rare vacation after two full months. And it was only twelve hours long.
It was just like the situation that bastard president always dreamed of... his wife taking the kids and heading off to her parents' house.
Who knew when another vacation like this would come around? Should I really spend all that precious time just playing games? For real?
I loved the idea.
"Should I? I did promise, after all."
I agreed readily, and the corners of Han Yoo-jung's mouth curved up ever so slightly.
"Uncle, you were at the PC bang, right?"
"Yeah."
"Let's go quick."
"Why the computer? Wanna play in the living room?"
"Yeah."
"Nah. When are we gonna move it and hook up the cables? We'd burn the whole day setting it up. Let's just hit the PC bang."
I wanted to get some fresh air for once. Lee Ji-ah was such a homebody. We'd been living together for two months now, and I could count the number of times she'd gone out on one hand.
I wasn't exactly the active type myself, but she took it to another level. I'd started worrying mold might grow on her knees or something. Perfect timing. We had to get out now.
It was that transitional season, so the daytime breeze was still cool. I threw on a light spring coat, but Han Yoo-jung—who was wearing just a single, shabby-looking blouse—stood there blankly waiting for me.
"...Aren't you putting on more clothes?"
"I am wearing clothes."
Han Yoo-jung grabbed the hem of her blouse and shook it side to side for emphasis.
"It's not summer yet. Wind's pretty strong outside—throw on a coat."
"It'll get hot in the afternoon."
"Stuff it in your bag then. Actually, you always shove everything into your shadow anyway."
"......"
She averted her gaze slightly at my observation.
No way she hated wearing clothes... She wasn't a cat or anything. Come to think of it, she always seemed to wear the same outfits.
A sudden thought flashed through my mind.
No. No way.
Right?
Still, just in case, I asked.
"Yoo-jung."
"Yeah?"
"You don't... have any clothes, do you?"
Han Yoo-jung's ears turned bright red. She tried to play it cool, pretending to be totally fine with a little fake cough, but her embarrassment was already obvious.
"......Yeah. I don't."
She finally managed to answer. How do you not even have one coat? I asked, dumbfounded.
"What about the allowance I gave you before?"
"I bought stuff I always wanted."
"What, how expensive could it be?"
"Just... a game console and some accessories and stuff......"
She trailed off. She'd blown all that cash on games in the meantime? To the point where she couldn't afford even one outfit?
"You should've bought clothes first, not games!"
"It's almost summer anyway. If I buy now, I can only wear 'em for a month."
"Wear 'em again in the fall! That's not a good excuse......"
I cut myself off. Thinking like that wouldn't change until she died and came back to life. Rubbing my forehead, I asked.
"So, how much money you got left?"
Han Yoo-jung reached out her arm toward me and splayed her fingers wide.
"Five hundred thousand won?"
She shook her head vigorously.
No? Then...
"Fifty thousand won?"
Shake shake.
Not that either?
"Hey, then you..."
As I started to guess the answer, she beat me to it with a tiny, mouselike voice.
"F-Five... thousand won left......"
"...You sure have a lot left."
Lee Ji-ah was like this too. Why did every girl in this house have zero financial sense? My vision went dark.
"You... seriously... Fine, at least throw this on."
I draped the coat I was wearing over Han Yoo-jung's shoulders. Better than nothing. It was so oversized on her that it almost looked like a trench coat.
I grabbed another coat from the closet and threw it on over my clothes.
"Let's go."
I bumped her shoulder lightly and headed out. The moment we passed through the gate, our footsteps diverged.
She went right. I went left.
Han Yoo-jung—who'd started walking the opposite way—hurriedly latched onto me.
Like a cicada clinging to a tree trunk.
She whined.
"Ah, Uncle, where are you going? The PC bang is that way."
"We're driving."
"Driving?"
She tilted her head quizzically.
"It's a quick walk. Why drive?"
"Got a stop to make first. PC bang after."
I grabbed Han Yoo-jung by the nape of her neck—like she was a cicada—and planted her in the passenger seat. I shut the door and turned the key, but her gaze bored into me from the side. I turned, and she was staring with huge round eyes.
Where are you going?
It was written right there in her eyes.
I sighed and buckled up, but the warning chime went off.
Beep. Beep.
Please fasten your seatbelt.
Despite the annoying beeps, Han Yoo-jung just sat there motionless.
"You... seatbelt..."
Come to think of it, she hated wearing seatbelts. I leaned over and buckled hers by force.
Feeling awkward for bringing it up, I muttered casually as I passed by.
"Department store first."
"Huh? Why the department store?"
"Gonna buy you some clothes. How old are you, not even owning a coat?"
Like that dad who came home with chicken and said he'd "found" his daughter on the way. I grumbled without thinking.
Han Yoo-jung mumbled her lips for a bit before bowing her head.
"Thank you."
So awkward it was killing me. I cleared my throat and hit the gas. Should've just gone gaming? But after seeing that, how could I head to the PC bang? It'd nag at me the whole time.
The car shot down the road. Quiet. Actually, when was the last time it'd just been the two of us, talking at length like this? Thinking back... never.
Lee Ji-ah was always around—no room for silence.
Unable to stand the awkward vibe any longer, I spoke up first.
"Uh, Yoo-jung?"
"Yeah?"
"Studying going okay lately?"
"Yeah...?"
No, wrong topic.
Why would she be studying? Total waste of talent. I tapped the steering wheel with my fingers before finally switching gears.
"Y'know, besides your convenience store runs, I don't think I've seen you leave Lee Ji-ah's place much. You good not seeing your parents?"
I regretted it the second it left my mouth.
Han Yoo-jung's face darkened in an instant.
She forced her stiff throat to move, swallowing dryly. Everything I said today was a landmine.
"R-Right. When I was driving last time, I saw a dessert cafe opened up near the station."
"Dessert cafe?"
"Yeah. Dessert cafe."
She perked up with interest. Good. I let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"I used to work at a cafe, so I'm kinda into that stuff."
"I know."
"How?"
"Fr-From the assassination profile......"
She mumbled, embarrassed, and suddenly a chill ran down my spine.
"...Brr, cold. Wanna roll up the window?"
"Huh? Doesn't feel cold."
"Nah, I'm cold. Just for a sec."
My shoulders shivered. Gotta watch my mouth. Flashed before my eyes: a knife plunging into my throat. I glanced carefully at her eyes and suggested obliquely.
"If you like desserts, we can hit the department store then the cafe."
"I only have five thousand won."
Haha. Dry laugh.
What did she take me for?
"You think I'd drag you out and make a kid pay? I got money."
"H-How much are you gonna buy?"
Her eyes lit up at the promise of no money worries.
Good lord, she was practically drooling.
Seemed more excited about this than clothes. Not wanting to show off, I tossed out a blank check.
"Pick whatever you want. Get some to go, too."
"Really?!"
How much could that little body hold anyway? I nodded with a smile.
I could see the gloomy mood lift, and it made me feel good, too.
But with clothes shopping and the dessert cafe, when the hell were we hitting the PC bang?
Whatever.
Plenty of time left, probably.
Brunch Cafe.
The owner rubbed his arms dramatically.
"...Almost got goosebumps."
"What's up, boss?"
"Why's the vibe at that table so off?"
The employee peeked her head out. Two women sat facing each other, eating a simple meal. Lee Ji-ah and Han Ye-rim.
They stared silently at their phones, scraping forks and knives along their plates.
The employee let out an exclamation.
"Wow."
"What?"
"Couple came in once when you were out, boss."
"...?"
"Guy must've cheated or something—the vibe there was chilly, but this is even worse. Did they kill somebody?"
"...Scarier 'cause it doesn't sound like a joke. Don't seat anyone near them. Bad for the store's image."
"Got it. I'll be careful."
Lee Ji-ah and Han Ye-rim half-ignored the exchange, focused on their meals.
"......"
"......"
Lee Ji-ah stabbed her sausage with a fork and frowned. Juice splattered onto her sleeve. In a cold tone, she said.
"Tissue."
Han Ye-rim, who had been munching on toast, yanked a wad of tissues from the next table over and handed them across. Lee Ji-ah snatched them and scrubbed at her sleeve.
Clink, clank.
Only the sound of utensils clashing. Han Ye-rim sipped her coffee and grimaced. It was empty. She shoved her cup toward Lee Ji-ah and said.
"Water."
Pop! Lee Ji-ah uncapped the water bottle and poured into the cup. It filled to the absolute brim without spilling a drop.
Lee Ji-ah gave a small smirk and slid the cup back. A mischievous smile she'd never show around Kim Hyun-woo.
"Tsk."
Han Ye-rim clicked her tongue sharply. She carefully lifted the cup to keep from spilling. A few drops still plinked onto the table.
Competitive fire lit in Han Ye-rim's eyes. She chugged the water in one go.
Thud!
She slammed the cup down hard on the table, glared at Lee Ji-ah, and spat out a single word, full force.
"Water."
"......"
Lee Ji-ah poured the water.