As a young child, it was difficult for me to understand what kind of situation this was. But I thought I knew what Mom wanted to say. That hyung isn’t an ordinary human, and he’s probably….
“Yes, I’ll like him just the same.”
I didn’t want to think about it complicatedly. Whoever Bihyeon was didn’t really matter much to me. He was just a kind hyung who kept me company. If I suddenly changed my attitude just because he wasn’t human, I felt like he would surely be sad.
“Okay, go on then.”
“Yes!”
This time I needed to be careful not to get caught by Aunt. Mom didn’t show it, but lately she’d been finding Aunt difficult too. The image of Aunt smiling and mingling with the villagers felt like the distant past. As if the person inside her now was someone else. Ugh… anyway, I need to be careful.
I sprang up from my seat and headed to the mountain. As I left the village, I checked my surroundings several times. I saw the uncle next door who always smiled when we met walking somewhere with a stiff face, staggering. Is it because it keeps not raining… The village atmosphere had definitely become ominous lately. I ran quickly toward the mountain. I didn’t have anything to offer today, but strangely my heart felt full. I thought this must be what it feels like to go see a friend you’ve missed after a long time.
“Even though it hasn’t been that long.”
It’s only been two days. Giggling, I climbed the mountain and stopped by the stone pile first. Rustle, there was a sound from behind.
“Oh!”
It was Bihyeon. He approached quickly with a worried-looking expression.
“Bihyeon-nim.”
No matter how young I was, I knew that Bihyeon was a special existence. When I was beside him, there were really many mysterious things like animals approaching first or insects sitting on his shoulder, and especially the air around him felt clear. Even if he was a god, my attitude wouldn’t change.
What bothered me was that I had called him hyung. So I added ‘-nim’ after his name instead of ‘hyung.’ In case I’d get punished for being rude. At that title, he flinched. His wavering eyes seemed a little hurt.
“…Did you not come because you found out who I am?”
“Huh? No. I was sick.”
“Sick? Where?”
At the word that I was sick, his eyes widened as he placed his hand on my forehead. I felt a cool temperature and smiled sheepishly.
“I had a fever. Mom said when you’re sick like this, you grow taller… so I’ll grow as tall as Bihyeon-nim too.”
When I stood on my tiptoes and said that with a smile, he also chuckled weakly.
“What does it matter who Bihyeon-nim is? Still, I really didn’t know, so please don’t scold me for calling you hyung….”
“I won’t scold you.”
He answered my words immediately. As if he really had no intention of doing so. Satisfied with that answer, I smiled brightly.
“I don’t know when I started waiting for you like this. At first, I was satisfied just watching. I didn’t even know that was waiting….”
His muttering voice sounded a little sad. Bihyeon looked over my body with worried eyes. It seemed like I’d lost more weight because I couldn’t eat anything but water while the fever was burning. Bihyeon held out his hand to me.
“Let’s go eat something.”
“Eat?”
“Yeah. Eat until you’re full.”
I looked at the sky. It seemed like there would be plenty of time before the sun set. Maybe he means to go around picking up fruit or something. I readily took that large hand.
Thud!
At that moment, there was a loud sound and the ground trembled slightly. Gasp, I trembled and peeked out my head to look behind Bihyeon. A huge door had appeared behind him.
“Bihyeon-nim.”
When I looked as if asking what that was, Bihyeon wore a very gentle smile.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
A door appearing in the middle of the mountain could have been creepy, but I smiled and walked briskly beside Bihyeon. Whether it was because I was beside him, or because I knew this mountain wouldn’t harm me, I don’t know, but nothing was scary. When we passed through the door, a wide yard appeared. My eyes met with a fox that was sweeping the yard.
“Um… hello…?”
“Oh my! A human, it’s a human!”
“Haru. This is my guest.”
“Y-yes…? Isn’t that child a human?”
The fox jumped in surprise. The fox that had been about to drop the broom and run away hesitated at Bihyeon’s voice.
“It is a human. Tell Hyeonwoong to prepare a meal. Something that won’t be hard on the stomach.”
“Yes….”
I watched the fox rush past us, then tugged on Bihyeon’s clothes.
“Um… Bihyeon-nim. I don’t need to eat!”
“Why?”
“It feels a bit wrong for only me to eat my fill while leaving Mom and Dad behind.”
My mom and dad can’t eat much every day because they give their portions to me. I couldn’t come to such a nice place and eat lots of delicious food alone. When I fidgeted with my fingers, Bihyeon spoke in a somewhat gentle voice.
“Take the leftovers. I’ll pack them for you.”
“Really?”
My eyes sparkled as I smiled brightly.
“What did you say!”
That’s when it happened. A roar-like sound came from inside the building. What came out from inside making thudding sounds was none other than a bear. It approached with tremendous momentum and I gasped, holding my breath. Too surprised to run away, I belatedly remembered that Bihyeon was behind me and stood in front of him.
“Get away!”
Is that a bear? Mom had once told me the appearance, saying to be most careful of things that looked like that. Mom said bears were scarier than tigers! She said that mountain was protected by the god so humans would almost never encounter them. I never thought I’d encounter the most fearful being here.
“You, this human brat! Get away from Bihyeon-nim!”
“Don’t hurt Bihyeon-nim! Eat me fir—! Huh? The bear is talking….”
“Huh? Don’t hurt Bihyeon-nim…?”
As soon as our eyes met, we both stopped talking at the same time. The bear talked…?
“This human just now said….”
I blinked and turned around. Bihyeon, who had been watching us with his arms crossed, belatedly reacted with “Ah” and looked at me.
“He’s a cooking bear, so he probably hasn’t tried eating humans. Probably.”
“What do you mean probably? That’s unfair! You know I’ve never even encountered a human!”
At Bihyeon’s words, the bear squealed indignantly. When my ears rang from the noise and I covered one ear, Bihyeon grabbed my arm and gently pulled it toward him.
“Don’t speak so loudly. I heard young children have sensitive ears.”
“That… that kind of human is nothing…!”
“That kind?”
Bihyeon’s gaze turned cold. It wasn’t terribly scary, but the bear flinched and stepped back.
“I-I don’t like that human! Even though it was a bit cool when that small and skinny thing blocked you…!”
“Right, I’ll ask you to pack lots of food to take later too.”
Bihyeon, who only said what he wanted to say as if used to the bear’s words, took my hand. It seemed like he was going to take me to a room, but instead I pulled his hand and smiled brightly. The empty yard seemed perfect for running around.
“Let’s play here.”
“Go inside. You were sick.”
“I was cooped up lying in a room, so I felt stuffy.”
“Just for today. Next time you come, I’ll let you play.”
“Huh? I can come next time too?”
As if only now recognizing what he’d said himself, he went “Ah” and looked at me. Our eyes met and I smiled.
“I don’t have to come. I just need to see hyung… Bihyeon-nim.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Bihyeon-nim is the first friend I made on the mountain.”
Wait, is it also rude to call a god a friend…? I touched my chin and glanced at him with serious eyes.
“I mean you’re precious to me. Not that we’re really friends….”
“Let’s be friends. You’re my first friend too.”
Hehe. When I smiled broadly because I felt good, Bihyeon, who had been staring at my face, slowly tilted his head. Then he pressed the corner of his mouth with his hand and slightly raised one side of his lips. I also tilted my head and pressed my cheek with my hand to raise my lips. Is this making funny faces? Bihyeon-nim’s face shines so much that it doesn’t look funny at all.
“What are you doing?”
“No, I tried to imitate you smiling.”
“Why?”
“Because when you smile, my heart seems to feel warm.”
It was difficult words so I couldn’t understand, but it seemed like he meant it was good that I smiled. Is it good?
“Just… I guess I like that you smile.”
That I smile? Does that mean we’ve really become close? Mom and Dad said they’re so happy when I smile too. At those words, I felt good again and smiled brightly.
“Then I’ll try my best so Bihyeon-nim can smile more too.”
“How?”
“Hmm, is this funny?”
I frowned in thought, then pressed both cheeks firmly to make a funny face. He wasn’t laughing and just blinked at me as if wondering what I was doing.
“Not this? Then how about this?”
“Don’t. Your cheeks turned red.”
“I need to find another way.”
“Yeah. If you feel stuffy inside, wrap yourself in something and stay here.”
Bihyeon, who sat me on the veranda, took off the durumagi draped over his shoulders and covered my body with it. Because it was so big, it covered my whole body and then some. I felt good because it smelled like him, and it was warm and cozy. I smiled “hehe” and touched the durumagi. As if that still wasn’t enough, he even brought a thin blanket and wrapped my body. It was heavy and stuffy, but beyond the wall where I could see a bit of the mountain scenery, and watching the maple leaves on the tree beyond the wall fall into the yard, my eyes were delighted.
“Eat your food!”
I heard the bear’s voice, and a delicious smell seemed to waft from somewhere. I sniffed and sprang up, grabbing Bihyeon’s hand.
“Yes! Let’s go.”
“Okay.”
The bear, who had been glaring at me with displeasure, made a “tsk” sound and turned his head sharply.
“Wooow.”
When I went inside, there was a large table full of food. My eyes sparkled as I approached. The table was too high for me. When I stood on tiptoes to look at the food, the bear came behind me, put his hands under my armpits and lifted me up. Kyaah. When I flailed in surprise, Bihyeon called the bear from behind.
“Hyeonwoong. The kid’s scared.”
“I’m trying to put him on the chair. Really, being so small.”
I see, he did that to seat me. His words were rough but his actions were kind. He’s like the grandfather who lives in the house across from us. Yongsik Grandfather also grumbles a lot but takes care of me tremendously. He gives me rice cakes when passing by, and dried persimmons too…. I smiled sheepishly while looking at the bear who grumbled and seated me on the chair.
