Today's Bosu is a Porter. What a Sad Affair.
"Sorry."
I used Bosu's power to move the shopping basket and the collapsed Jeong In-ah to the front door. Then I rang the doorbell. No response. I rang it five more times, but still nothing. A quick glance through the window showed all the lights were off. It looked like no one was home.
"Jeong In-ah."
"Huh...?"
"Can you get inside on your own?"
"Huh...."
Jeong In-ah repeated the same hazy response with her eyes closed, her consciousness drifting somewhere between awake and asleep. I couldn't just stand here waiting forever for her to wake up, and I'd already escorted her all the way to her door—that was as much as I could do. But leaving her like this didn't sit right with me either. The biggest issue was not knowing when she'd come to. If she snapped out of it soon, great. But if she passed out again like this, it could be bad. It was spring, but the night breeze was still chilly, and there were risks like crime too.
"Ah, whatever."
I'd just stick around until I saw her get up and walk inside on her own two feet. I didn't have time to spare either, but I couldn't just abandon her like that.
While I kept watch by her side, she cracked her eyes open slightly. Her focus was still blurry, her gaze half-lidded—she'd barely woken up, and it seemed like it would take a while longer before she could even sit up.
"When are your parents coming back?"
"They're not...."
Jeong In-ah blinked laboriously as she forced out the words.
"Then when are you going inside? Gonna sleep out here?"
"Huh...."
"Great answers. You pretending to be out of it?"
"......"
No matter how I looked at it, she seemed perfectly sober. At least she had enough energy left to respond.
I reached out to her again.
"Get up. Let's go inside."
She grabbed my hand and barely managed to stand, but her legs were shaking like jelly. She looked ready to collapse again any second. Stumbling unsteadily, Jeong In-ah made her way to the door and punched in the code with trembling fingertips, opening it.
"Go in and rest. Eat something too. Don't skip just 'cause it's a hassle."
She didn't answer, just stared blankly at me.
"You listening?"
"...Huh? Yeah."
"What'd I just say?"
Jeong In-ah tilted her head as if pondering.
"...'See you tomorrow'?"
"You weren't listening. Eat and rest."
"Oh, got it."
She nodded faintly this time, seeming to actually register it.
I picked up the basket to head home, but Jeong In-ah grabbed my wrist. Her grip was so weak it was more like holding on than pulling. She clutched it for a long moment in a daze, then suddenly spoke.
"I can't eat."
"Why? Stomach bothering you?"
"No food. And I can't cook."
"What's there to cook? Just boil some rice porridge or something."
Jeong In-ah dropped her gaze, her lips trembling downward.
"Don't wanna eat alone...."
Her voice quivered on the verge of tears as she tugged weakly at my wrist. Seeing her like that gave me a sudden headache, my hands and feet turning ice-cold. My heart stuttered like a malfunctioning machine, making a dry clunk.
I forced my sealed lips open.
"Doesn't mean I can eat with you."
"Why not?"
"What, watch you eat?"
"I don't mind."
Jeong In-ah said it casually, her eyes vacant as if she'd lost all judgment, but she didn't let go of my wrist. I could shake her off easily if I wanted, but there was no need—and honestly, I didn't want to.
"Come on in."
*
Jeong In-ah's house felt almost holy. It was huge for starters, and every corner of the spacious rooms was filled with sacred paintings and icons. No ghost would dare set foot here.
[My stomach's not feeling great.]
Legba voiced his discomfort, but that wasn't my problem. He was the uncomfortable one, not me.
As I cautiously wandered the house, Jeong In-ah slumped onto the sofa like melting. She closed her eyes again, on the verge of drifting off.
"Jeong In-ah."
"Ugh? Huh, yeah."
She'd dozed off in that brief moment and jolted her eyes open. I knelt by the sofa where she lay and spoke to her.
"What about food? Not eating?"
"I will."
"Then don't just flop down like that."
Jeong In-ah blinked as if forgetting what to say, then fully closed her eyes.
"Too much hassle.... Can't I skip?"
"I told you to eat even if it's a hassle. Get up. Now."
"My cooking tastes bad. Makes me feel worse...."
"If I make it, you'll eat?"
She nodded silently. I rummaged through the basket for ingredients. I'd use what we'd bought earlier to whip up something simple like porridge or thin gruel.
I could hand her the ingredients and make her cook, but I didn't want to burden a sick person with that. If she collapsed mid-chopping or handling fire like before, it'd be a disaster. Better if I did it myself.
Whoosh—
I started cooking. First, microwaved some instant rice, then prepped veggies while it heated. Porridge might be too thick for her state, and plain gruel too bland to season well. So I'd aim for something in between.
I diced carrots and zucchini small, minced the beef finer. While stir-frying the prepped ingredients in a pot, I mashed the rice to fine grains. Added rice when half-cooked, water at the right moment. Now just simmer till the consistency set.
"Time to get up."
I woke the still-lying Jeong In-ah. She rubbed her bleary eyes and barely sat up.
"Dizzy."
I fetched warm water from the purifier and handed it over. Dizziness was often dehydration, especially with gastritis—you needed fluids.
She took the cup in both hands but just stared blankly at the water instead of drinking.
"Sip slowly."
"Mm."
Jeong In-ah nodded while drinking, truly savoring each tiny sip. I washed the empty cup, checked the porridge—nearly done. Scooped it into a bowl, let it cool a bit, waited. When it was lukewarm, I gave it to her.
"Might be hot."
"Whoa. You cook well."
I didn't reply, just watched her. Jeong In-ah paused mid-scoop, looked up at me. Our eyes met.
"You not eating?"
"Nah. I ate dinner."
A lie. I'd eat alone at home. Eating at someone else's place felt awkward.
She nodded and quietly ate. I watched the whole time. She must've been starving—devouring it. But slowly enough not to upset her stomach.
After a while, she suddenly looked up again.
"What. Why keep staring?"
"'Cause you're ugly."
I teased, and she shot me a betrayed glare.
"You're ugly too, dummy. Idiot. Dummy idiot."
"Kidding. Eat up."
"Always 'kidding.'"
She grumbled tsundere-style and finished the bowl.
"Good?"
"No. Tastes bad."
"You ate it all?"
"Dunno. Tastes bad."
Her eyes wavered, shoulders stiff—obvious lie. Probably sulking over the ugly comment. Anyway, glad she ate well. Color was returning to her pale face.
Glanced at the clock—around 9 PM. She'd perked up, I'd fed her, time was late. Better head out. Lingering alone with her late at night looked suspicious.
I tidied up, did the dishes, got ready to leave.
"Leaving?"
Jeong In-ah stood and asked. Legs still shaky, but not on the verge of collapse anymore. She recovered fast, body and mind.
"Yeah. You stole all my time cooking. Exam period too."
"Hey, don't say it like that...."
"Kidding. Wasn't studying anyway."
I grinned.
"Kids who study well always say that. Annoying."
"I suck at studying."
She furrowed her brow in disbelief. I smiled back, and her face brightened, laughing along.
"Seriously, you."
It was just an exasperated chuckle, but a bright one.
I knelt on one knee to retie my loose shoelace—dunno when it'd come undone. Tied it tight so it wouldn't slip again.
"Do Seon-woo."
As I stood and half-opened the door to leave, Jeong In-ah called me. She smoothed her tousled brown curls and continued.
"That porridge-or-gruel-whatever. Tasty."
"Obviously. I made it."
"Show-off. ...Call you next time I'm sick. Porridge delivery."
"Sure. But charge next time."
Her eyes widened in surprise.
"What? Today's free."
"That was a sample. 30,000 won from next."
"30,000 what? You're a total scammer—"
"Then don't get sick."
I straightened my shoe heel, smoothed my clothes. As I stepped out, she stood there blankly watching me.
"Come tomorrow."
I gave her an order instead of goodbye and left.
*
On the way home, basket in hand, I waddled along chatting with Legba.
[She seemed desperate to find her sister. Why not just hand her over as a zombie?]
"That's a selfish thought."
[What's selfish? She should be grateful you found her sister at all.]
It wasn't really conversation—more debate, or argument. Legba was my steadfast ally and advisor, but we clashed sometimes. Especially on morals, where he was brutally cold. Rationally detached, or selfish and inconsiderate, depending on the view.
"How'd you feel finding your sister after all that, only as a zombie?"
[Who cares. Zombie or human, a sister's a sister. She'd be happy.]
"Put yourself in her shoes. Imagine finding Mom, but her brain's shriveled, she can't speak, just screams like a monster. How'd that feel?"
[Oh dear. That's tragic.]
"Exactly."
Finally got through to him. Not sure if the analogy fit perfectly, but if Legba bought it, good enough.
[Fine, fair enough. But your guilt over that girl is excessive. Not your fault.]
"It is."
[Han Su-yeop turned her sister into a zombie. Not you. No reason for guilt.]
"Han Su-yeop was Voodoo executive. I'm the Voodoo Cult Leader."
[So?]
Legba sounded incredulous.
"Leaders take responsibility for subordinates' mistakes."
[What kind of leader are you kidding?]
'What kind of leader are you kidding?' Not sure if intentional, but a dizzyingly double-edged jab. I chuckled dryly.
"You always go on about a cult leader's dignity. Saying that now contradicts."
[True. Leaders must maintain dignity. No need to shoulder executives' sins. Especially no guilt.]
"Without that responsibility, where does dignity come from?"
Legba fell silent at my question.
[Dignity comes from power. You have that power.]
"Can't rule by force alone. That's a dictator, not a leader."
[Leaders must show dictatorial traits at times. Thus, no need to bear every burden.]
"Not now. And if a leader takes perks but shirks duty, what's that make us but a cult?"
Legba chuckled briefly.
[Hilarious. The world already sees Voodoo as a cult.]
"'Cause the Papal Court labeled us that way."
Voodoo's a cult, I'm the third leader of that cult. That's how the world sees us. But we can't act like one—that'd confirm it.
"Doesn't make us actually a cult."
Legba went quiet for a while after that. I'd become leader young compared to Dad, but that didn't excuse dodging responsibility. Age was no excuse. Three or seventy-three, what mattered was being leader.
That's why Han Su-yeop's sin was mine too—why I felt guilt toward Jeong In-ah, why I worked to restore Jeong Yun-ah to human.
[Your rhetoric's improved.]
"You've declined."
[Haha. Bickering's the same. Moments like this, you take after your mother.]
Legba laughed heartily. I laughed too, trudging silently down the empty alley. My steps and the basket weighed heavy. The air pressed thick and murky, like I might sink into the asphalt. But I pressed on stubbornly. Each step slogged like through thick mud, exhausting, but bearable. If you think you can endure, you can.
"Ah, please don't come this way. Take the side road."
Less than 50 meters from home, a Holy Knight blocked my path. Absurd. No explanation, just blocking the road.
"What's going on?"
"Fire. Suppression's ongoing—please detour."
"Fire?"
I looked at the distant burning building. Unquenched flames lit the surroundings. Thick smoke blotted the moon, ash everywhere. Acrid smoke stung the air.
Crack.
Something broke in the dropped basket—probably eggs.
Baron Samedi's cheerful, mischievous voice echoed in my ears. The fire he'd warned about wasn't the Eden Hill blaze or Kim Jin-seo's cigarette.
"That's... that's our house...?"
Our house was burning.
(To be continued in the next chapter)