“Then I’ll do it, so don’t move.”
As I nodded, Midsummer started applying the disinfectant using a cotton swab.
When I woke up to the unpleasant sensation of pricking my palm with a sharp needle, I was letting out a pathetic voice involuntarily.
“Ugh.”
“Be patient. It will be over soon.”
It’s difficult, that’s it.
“Now take off your socks.”
“Wait, even if it takes a little break.”
“I have to do it now.”
With those words, Midsummer wiggled and took off the left sock.
“100 million… … .”
What was revealed was a broken toenail that was just one step away from falling off. Dangling in blood is even grotesque. It was a little stinging, but I didn’t expect it to be this serious.
“What’s wrong with taking a break like this?”
After a few more minutes of more pathetic voices, I was finally freed.
“If it is bright tomorrow, go to the hospital immediately. This is an emergency measure anyway. You may have been injured somewhere you can’t see.”
“okay… … .”
With the strange feeling of fatigue I felt all over my body, I lay flat on my back and picked up my smartphone.
“What do you want to eat?”
In response to my question, Han Yeo-reum blinked only her eyes with an expression that she did not understand English. Was the explanation insufficient?
“It’s dinner. It’s a difficult time to even go to a restaurant, so I thought it would be better to have it delivered. What do you want to eat?”
“… … .”
“Then do anything.”
“there.”
Midsummer grabbed the hem of his sleeve with one hand and opened his mouth a few times as if hesitatingly.
“Think again.”
“Think again, what?”
“Think about what he said earlier. Well, there was a time when I suddenly left, and it seems like we were both so excited that we ended up going the wrong way.”
“Did you say we should think about it together?”
Midsummer nodded quietly instead of answering.
“It’s a decision I’ve already thought about and made. There is no turning back.”
“… … You may be reported to the police.”
“It will be.”
“It’s not something to be taken lightly. Life will be ruined.”
“There is no such thing. We’re going to hire a bunch of expensive lawyers.”
“No, it doesn’t make sense. What reason do you have for that?”
reason
I turned my head and looked up at the ceiling. Yes, I was looking at this ceiling last night and thinking.
“I thought I couldn’t help it even if I died.”
A lonely voice echoed through the ceiling. Midsummer was looking at this side with a firm expression, but there was no sign of surprise on her face.
“And I found out today that it was a stupid idea.”
I know there’s still a lot of work to be done, no, there’s a mountain of work left to do, but I can’t die.
“Without you, I would never have known. Isn’t it strange to want the benefactor to do well?”
“Benefactor, I am so great… … .”
“No, that’s great.”
Midsummer, who seemed to be at a loss for words, managed to open his mouth while fiddling with the hem of his sleeve, as if he was at a loss for words.
“It’s going to be annoying. I’m going to meddle in everything and pick out only the things that offend me.”
“okay.”
“I’m just going to spend the money. I will eat everything I want to eat, and I will buy whatever clothes I want to wear.”
“So. comfortable and good for each other Why don’t you stop talking like that? I saw you earlier, and you said it secretly, but why are you suddenly being respectful again?”
I answered in a dry voice on purpose, but he sounded a little angry,
“Don’t be joking, answer me seriously! I really can’t-“
“Then stop talking nonsense from you. If I had been such a careless person, I would have done it sooner.”
At my point, Midsummer lowered his gaze as if resentful.
“… … You’ve missed your last chance now. I don’t know if I will regret it in the future.”
Contrary to the thorny words, there was a slight moisture in his voice, but he decided not to point it out.
“Yes, please.”
After saying those words, I turned to the wall and laid down, closing my eyes. A sniffling and snoring could be heard over the distant consciousness.
* * *
“ah.”
My eyes fluttered open at the loud sound of the doorbell. Estimated delivery time must have been a little over an hour, but it seems like he fell asleep for a while.
Midsummer stopped me from getting up, rubbing my stinging eyes.
“Okay, I’m leaving.”
I thought he was really going to say something.
It doesn’t matter, because it’s better than wearing a silly mask. Now, let’s get up and set the table.
It was the moment when I got up and picked up the paper box in the corner.
“Hey… … .”
As I hurriedly ran to the sound of a slender scream from the front door, there was a figure of midsummer trembling with his wrist grabbed by a man wearing a motorcycle helmet.
“Hey, what are you doing-”
“swimming… … . Up close, it looks much cuter… … .”
The assailant murmured and took off the helmet he was wearing.
“To think that I’ve only been playing alone with a kid like this up until now, Dojin is too much… … .”
Chestnut-colored hair that rustles like a broom. And drooping like a sloth, but an ominous voice that seemed to have sharpened his tactile sense.
yes i know this guy
“Oh Min-seo.”
“Yes… … . Hello, Dojin-ah… … .”
Minseo Oh smiled broadly and waved her hand.
“What is all this doing?”
“Whatever, houses… … . But with a little surprise… … ? Dojin surprised you both… … ?”
“Address, did you know?”
“Yes… … . That’s what I found out on the day of the move… … . But what, Dojin wants you to have some alone time, so I was thinking about when to come, and I think today is the perfect day… … .”
Oh Min-seo entered the room as it was and started looking around.
“Hey… … . Clean, pretty… . You’ve chosen a very nice house… … ? Oh right… … .”
Oh Min-seo handed me the chicken box he was holding.
“This is a housewarming gift… … . Don’t worry, Dojin sent the money to your account… … .”
“I didn’t come here just to give you one of these.”
“Oh~. That’s right… … .”
Oh Min-seo, who stood up with the spirit of “Ouch,” opened her mouth as if whispering into my ear.
“I want to report you.”
“What?”
“You’re going to report… … . A runaway teenager, isn’t that kidnapping a high school girl, now… … . Hey, I’m looking forward to it, I’m looking forward to it… … . I don’t know if our Dojin is riding the news… … .”
Midsummer, who was standing blankly at the front door, ran and grabbed Minseo Oh’s forearm.
“It’s not like that. He said he didn’t like this person, but he came in because I threatened him. He, if you don’t want to be a sex offender, let him in, like that.”
“a… … . Who would believe that… … . Even if it were true, the court wouldn’t listen… … ?”
Minseo Oh lightly stroked Midsummer’s arm and continued talking.
“I don’t like it… … ? At that age, already being indebted to a cage… … .”
“So I’m going to threaten you.”
Hearing my words, Min-seo Oh twisted her body and licked her lips as if embarrassed.
“Baby, knowing it’s not… … . How can I intimidate Dojin, I need to know the subject… … .”
“Then what are you doing now?”
“Please… … . It is also a request from Eul’s point of view very thoroughly… … . I wouldn’t be scared if I said I’d report it anyway… … .”
“I will.”
If it were, I wouldn’t have even started.
“Yeah, so it’s something that can go on as a win-win relationship… … . deal? Let’s deal… … . I’ll do anything you want if you just listen to my little favor… … . For example, security of identity for that girl… … .”
“How do you do that?”
“Ah, you know that there is nothing in this country that cannot be solved with money… … .”
“Even so, it’s not at a level that can be solved with money.”
“It’s a bit complicated if you go into detail… . Ummm, just know that my house has a deep connection with that one… … .”
I spoke to Min-seo Oh, who looked up at me as if to rush an answer.
“Listen to something first.”
“What!?”
Minseo Oh frowned at the screams that came out of Midsummer’s mouth. Midsummer, who made his face blue, was waving his hands as if he couldn’t understand, trying to say something.
“why?”
“No, you, you, are you crazy? What, if you’re doing this because of me. If you do that, it will only become a burden—”
“It’s not like that. There are more important reasons.”
Min-seo Oh twisted her lips as if interested in my answer.
“What the heck, I’m very curious… … . But it’s late today, and I’m tired of riding a motorcycle uselessly, so let’s listen to it tomorrow… … ?”
I just nodded my head without answering.
“Then come to my house around lunch tomorrow… … . Then let’s keep talking… … .”
“Previously.”
I decided to put in my mouth what I was worried about all the time.
“I want to know why you are doing this.”
“Oh~… … . It’s really bad for Dojin, because he’s tired… … . But, well, you said you would listen, so I guess I have to do something like this… … .”
Min-seo Oh, who yawned lightly as if tired, pursed her lips and slowly opened her mouth.
“I mean, it’s not fun to be alive… … . I can’t die though, so I bought toys, bought luxury goods, went on a trip, packed a lot of movies and dramas, tried drugs, etc. … . I’m tired of it after all… . But, but… … .”
A deep abyss stared at me as if swallowing my eyes.
“Only one… … . Watching you guys unpack the shovels together makes me feel like I’m going to explode… … . I mean, how fun… … . Because there is no drama like this… … ?”
Oh Min-seo lightly stroked the back of my hand with those words.
“But, someone who lives somewhere is trying to put an end to it. I mean, I don’t like that… … .”
Oh Min-seo spoke in a very cold, very sharp voice.
“Anyway, I’m too lazy to say more, so I’ll just say this for now… … . I’ll tell you more tomorrow if you want… … .”
“okay.”
As I answered, I could finally realize that the fog that existed inside me had disappeared.
okay.
Now is the start.
