Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Alexithymia (3)
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"My little sister~ My little sister~"
Time passed, and we returned to the PICU. Whatever was so fun about it. Since I didn't refuse her touch, So-yun clung to me like she was caring for a baby, always hugging me tight. Was it fun for her? I had no idea.
"Today, I've come up with a fun game~ So-yun, A-yeon."
Lee Professor must have been conscious of So-yun, because he started calling me A-yeon instead of "patient." Scrawled across the paper he'd brought were all sorts of words in different colors. Good.Dislike.
"Alright, let's start with the basics: good and dislike. How about it?"
"Teacher~ How do we play?"
"It's simple. If you're feeling good right now, So-yun, how would you express it?"
"I'm feeling good right now! Because I'm with my little sister!"
"So hugging A-yeon expresses that you're feeling good?"
"Yes!"
"And what about you, A-yeon?"
"...Huh?"
"If you're feeling good, how would you show it?"
"That I'm... feeling good?"
"Right. What would you want to do if you felt good?"
"...I don't know."
"Our ice-cold little sister is such a dummy! Just copy me!"
So-yun hugged me and pressed her cheek against mine. Was I supposed to do that too?
"How's that? Feels good, right!?"
Strangely enough, I did feel a bit better. The next day, Lee Professor brought a sketchbook, colored pencils, crayons, and the like.
"How about we try drawing pictures today?"
"Yay! I love drawing!"
So-yun concentrated intently, her tiny hands working away, and soon she'd drawn a person. Ah, that was her father. It was a classic kid's drawing, but she'd captured his features spot-on.
"Great job~ A-yeon, why are you just sitting there? Give drawing a try. Anything you want."
Drawing, drawing. I was terrible at art—what should I do? For starters, what should I even draw? I had no clue.
"If you can't think of anything, draw me! Me!"
"Huh? Oh, uh, sure."
So-yun flashed a pretty smile, and I used her as my model. My drawing, no matter how I looked at it, was even worse than hers. I really should have paid more attention in art class.
"Is this... me? Hmm, it's okay! Even if my little sister can't sing great or draw great, it's fine! I'll make up for it! Here, let me see!"
So-yun snatched my sketchbook and drew what was unmistakably me right beside her picture. We'd used the exact same tools, but the difference was night and day. Anyone could see it was my current self—white hair, transparent eyes. That was me now.
"What do you think? Pretty good, huh?"
"Yeah."
As playtime was winding down, Lee Professor mentioned some good news.
"So-yun, you said you wanted to learn to sing, right? Tomorrow, a singer teacher is coming."
"A singer teacher!? For real!? Really really!?"
"Really really really."
"Wooow! Who is it? Who?"
"You'll have to wait until tomorrow."
"Teacher~ Can't you tell me secretly, just me~?"
"Sorry, you'll have to hold out a little longer."
Hearing a singer was coming didn't spark much in me. Just, a singer's coming. That was about it?
/
"Hello~ My little friends~"
She showed up with a camerawoman in tow, and she was someone I remembered. The Busan Whales' madman Min Hong-taek's little sister. Freya group's Seolgi.
She used a stage name because her real one felt too rustic, but wasn't Seolgi kinda rustic too? She'd named herself after Snow White, apparently.
Her real name was... Min... Ah, got it.
"Min Hye-suk?"
"Huh?!"
"Gasp."
I'd never seen someone's face turn beet red in real time like that. Blood's thicker than water, huh? Her parents who named her and her brother Hong-taek and Hye-suk must be something else, and even she named her stage name Seolgi. The camerawoman behind her was barely holding back laughter. Had to be it. But why was it funny?
/
Seolgi stared at the kid who'd just unleashed a sneak attack of rudeness the moment they met. That level of impoliteness on a first meeting? A worthy opponent. ...Well, honestly, she knew better than anyone that her real name was rustic. She'd even considered changing it, but it was the name her parents gave her. Back in the day, there was that superstition that ugly names meant long life, so people even called kids "Dog Poop" or whatever. Hye-suk wasn't that bad.
Wow, she's seriously cute. Put some meat on those bones... she could debut for real.
One-of-a-kind visuals. Natural silver hair that no bleach could replicate. White eyebrows and lashes. Big, transparent eyes. A nose not too high, perfectly balanced. Small lips and ears. And crucially, a tiny head size. The small head made her small lips and ears fit just right, perfectly proportioned. Everything packed into that little face.
Even better in person than in photos. If this tiny kid grew up just like this, she'd evolve into Freya's main visual rep—no one could compete. She'd be insanely cute if she smiled a bit. Couldn't she smile just once?
Her big eyes had slightly upturned corners, giving her a puppy and kitten vibe. Was this what it felt like to be bewitched by a fox? The only flaw was no baby fat. A little chub would've made her even cuter right now. Or maybe not. Was this face already perfect? Anyway, the kid's body was way too skinny.
No, she's in this state and they don't feed her at the hospital?
"...Did you just say that to my face, sis?"
A bit embarrassed, but on the other hand, she cheered inwardly. They'd gotten usable footage right from the start. They were filming two videos today. The hospital YouTube one focused on PICU and organ donation promotion—heavy stuff. Seolgi was only slated for a quick cameo in the organ donation part at the end.
The Freya official channel video, though? Just play around with the two kids and have fun—light and breezy. This meeting scene would work perfectly.
"Yeah. Your name's Min Hye-suk, right?"
"Kuh! Hnngh! Hnnngh...!"
"Exactly, but sis, why not just laugh it off? No need to hold it in like that."
"Waaah! I know you too, sis! You're Freya!"
"Whoa, you know me?"
"Yes! I do!"
"You know my stage name too?"
"Huh? Uh. Hye-sukie!"
Puhahaha—! The manager noona clutched her stomach and rolled around, forgetting all about filming. Seolgi's face burned as she swiftly changed the subject.
"Not my real name—my stage name! I'm Seolgi. I lead Freya group."
"Wooow! Nice to meet you. I'm Jin So-yun!"
This kid was plenty cute too, especially without the other one's out-of-spec looks stealing the show. But as briefed, the brain tumor surgery and chemo had left her bald, so she wore a beanie—which was a shame.
"What are you doing! Sis!"
"Doing what?"
"You have to introduce yourself too!"
"Oh. I'm Seol A-yeon. Please take care of me today."
The white-haired girl gave a blank-faced greeting. Seolgi recalled her chat with the director.
- The guardians really want to see that child smile. She's been hospitalized so long, it's affected her mentally... She's lost her ability to smile.
Seolgi had researched ways to make kids laugh in her short time, even crowdsourcing ideas online for actual plans. But things were going sideways from the jump.
Normally kids would at least smile or act surprised when they see me... Is she really a fan?
Kids didn't lie well. Well, these two weren't that young. Usually, they smiled like So-yun or showed some liking. This reaction was a first—disorienting.
Idol. Simply put, an icon. Idols? Obviously, they were all good-looking. Kids and adults alike showed instant fondness. Even if not their type, the baseline was high. She wasn't the top in her group, but she'd never been called ugly. She'd gotten seven confessions in a single day before...
"Yeah, nice to meet you. Call me Seolgi sis?"
She greeted the two with her warmest eye smile, but only one responded.
"Yes! Seolgi sis!"
"..."
"Uh, A-yeon?"
"? Yes."
"Could you say 'Seolgi sis' just once?"
"Seolgi sis?"
What was this? Seriously, what? This emotionless sis? Seolgi's confidence plummeted in real time. Make this level of blank-faced kid smile?
What do we do, noona?
We'll figure it out somehow.
Exchanging glances, Seolgi and the manager reignited their resolve. For now, they'd shelve A-yeon's goal and focus on So-yun's first.
"So-yun, A-yeon. You know we're learning songs from me today, right?"
"Yeees! I couldn't sleep last night!"
"I know."
"Uh, A-yeon. You can talk casually to me."
"Okay."
Her resolve evaporated in an instant. Was this even possible?
"Alright, how about singing your favorite song? Who's first?"
"Me first, 'cause I'm the big sis!"
"Sure, give it a go?"
Seolgi handed over the prop mic she'd prepared, and So-yun cleared her throat before launching into song. Surprisingly good. Even the filming manager looked shocked.
"Wow... So-yun, you're actually great at singing? We need applause!"
-Clap clap.
Seolgi and the manager clapped. A-yeon just watched blankly, as usual.
"For real? Hear that, sis? They said I sing well!"
"I told you you were good."
"Clap! Clap for me!"
"Clap..."
-Clap. Clap.
The slow claps ended, and naturally, it was A-yeon's turn.
"Your turn, A-yeon?"
"I can't sing. No favorite song either. Sing first, and I'll try to follow the best I can."
"No, confidence is key! Give it a shot!"
"...Okay."
"Here's the mic!"
"Alright."
A-yeon took the mic from So-yun without clearing her throat or anything and started singing right away.
"Run, Min Hong-taek, run."
Laughter erupted from everyone at once. Even the medical staff watching intently from outside turned away, slapping the floor.
"...I told you I can't sing."
Her voice and expression were the same as before, but the mood had sunk. After laughing her fill, Seolgi finally pulled herself together.
"Kuh. Kh-hn. It's fine, it's fine! Sis'll teach you properly! But isn't that our mom's cheer song for her son?"
"Yeah. I'm a Whales fan."
"What? No way—let's root for Changwon Dinosaurs instead. That team's hopeless."
"Nope."
"Why?"
"Dad says switching teams midstream kills the romance."
"Oh."
Who knew this side existed. Genuinely impressed, Seolgi began her ideology check.
"It's spring now, right, A-yeon?"
"Yes."
"Where do you think the Whales will place?"
"They'll make at least third, right? It's only early April."
"They're dead last right now."
"Those bastards. Disband."
Alright, as a top-three Whales fan myself, I approve. You're a real Whales fan!