# Chapter 94
We promised each other, don’t give up. The following words sounded almost like childish whining. But Jeongyeon sincerely hoped those words would come true.
Despite his brave determination, there seemed to be no significant improvement in Sano’s treatment. Since Sano didn’t tell him anything, Jeongyeon often hid near where the researchers held meetings to listen to their conversations. The words that came out were always similar. No progress. No hope. Future plan changes…
When he heard such talks, Jeongyeon would silently go to Sano’s room and sit beside him as he sat by the window, basking in the sunlight until he fell asleep. Around that time, Jeongyeon became particularly sleepy. Sano didn’t bother to wake him, but quietly stayed with him.
Peaceful days passed by. Unlike the beginning of vacation, his uncle was somewhat puzzled by Jeongyeon’s dejected attitude, but seemed to attribute it to side effects of the collection. Whenever his uncle saw Jeongyeon, he would give him red ginseng candy. Eating them absentmindedly only made him twice as depressed.
Still, there was progress. Picking up bits and pieces of conversations, Jeongyeon became convinced that Sano’s treatment was a process to create a “superpower.”
Though he didn’t know much, it seemed that Jeongyeon’s superpower was necessary for Sano’s superpower to manifest. Will he get the same superpower as me? Then we’d be like twins. The thought of standing side by side using the same superpower seemed fun, making Jeongyeon grin mischievously.
However, while spying on the research facility’s conversations, Jeongyeon noticed something strange. The number of people at the facility was gradually decreasing.
It had never been a place with many permanent staff, but the faces of researchers he often saw began to disappear one by one. When he asked another researcher, they said they had gone on vacation. The number of people decreased so much that the meetings Jeongyeon frequently eavesdropped on were no longer held. No matter how much he lingered around the conference room, it had been completely empty at some point.
The much quieter research facility seemed as if only Sano, his uncle, and Jeongyeon remained.
During this time, the day Jeongyeon had been eagerly waiting for arrived.
“Dad, Mom!”
Jeongyeon’s parents visited the research facility. Jeongyeon, who came out to greet them with his uncle, recognized his parents’ car from afar and jumped up and down.
“Brother, glad you made it. Take a rest.”
“Yeah. Jeongyeon, have you been well? Have you been diligent with your homework?”
“Yes!”
His father’s generous hand stroked his small head. The embrace of his mother was so comforting that Jeongyeon smiled dopily.
“Have you been well? I’ve been fine! Wow, Mom, your clothes are so pretty.”
His face, cheerful for the first time in a long while, chattered away. Despite the content being not much different from what he said on the phone, his parents faithfully responded with “yes,” “I see,” and similar acknowledgments.
He actually wanted to talk about Sano, but he couldn’t since his uncle said it wasn’t allowed. I made a friend. He’s a child receiving treatment here, and he’s extremely handsome. Jeongyeon swallowed the words that had risen to his throat.
“Brother, I’d like to talk to you later.”
His uncle approached his father and whispered. Jeongyeon, who was sticking close to his father, heard it but didn’t think much of it. Adults always have such conversations. He wasn’t very interested.
After eating, he told his father and mother about what had happened during his time there. That he was helping his uncle well, that he was given red ginseng candy when finished but it tasted really bad, and that his uncle had praised him a lot…
“Jeongyeon has been doing really well.”
His uncle smiled and patted Jeongyeon’s head. The red ginseng candy tasted bad? Since there was no malice in the playful question, Jeongyeon nodded awkwardly. Laughter erupted among the adults.
Jeongyeon continued to chatter after that. When he boasted that he would show them every corner of the research facility, his father said they had planned to talk with his uncle today, so they would go tomorrow. Jeongyeon nodded like an obedient puppy.
That night, perhaps because he was so excited about his parents’ visit, he couldn’t fall asleep at all. He needed to give a tour of the research facility tomorrow. After tossing and turning for a long time, Jeongyeon eventually got up and left the room. He thought he should have a glass of juice before going to bed.
The corridor of the research facility at night was completely dark, with only faint moonlight shining through. Jeongyeon tiptoed down the corridor, not wanting to wake others up.
“…I think we should.”
“Okay… I understand…”
‘Huh?’
Jeongyeon’s ears perked up. It was the voices of his uncle and father. It seemed they were still conversing despite the late hour.
They’re talking for a really long time. Has something happened? Thinking this, Jeongyeon turned towards the direction of the voices. There was a room with faint light seeping through the crack of the door. It was his uncle’s office.
“Is there anything else to worry about?”
“Not really. We’ll probably have to start over from the beginning, but it’s not a big problem.”
“Then that’s a relief…”
“It’s okay. It’s not an unexpected issue.”
His uncle’s voice soon mixed with concern.
“You should be careful taking Jeongyeon back. He might not want to leave since he’s been enjoying his time at the research facility so much.”
“Looks like you’ve been playing with him well?”
“I know, right? His talent is frightening.”
After his uncle’s light joke, his father’s seemingly troubled voice followed.
“Yes… I’ll have to pacify him well.”
Jeongyeon blinked. Start over? What? Go? Where? Going home? …Why?
What about Sano?
As he remembered, there were more than a week left before he was supposed to leave the research facility. Since Sano still hadn’t manifested, he needed to provide more collections. He had promised to help until manifestation. But now they’re saying they have to leave already?
Of course, he knew he would eventually have to leave the research facility to go to school, but he had never thought it would end so abruptly. His mind was in chaos, unable to process it. Jeongyeon backed away from the door as if in a trance. No, this can’t be happening. Sano has to become a butterfly.
A butterfly…
The next day, Jeongyeon was noticeably subdued during breakfast. Concerned by his attitude, completely different from the previous day, his parents looked at him with puzzlement.
“What’s wrong?”
“Did you not sleep well?”
Jeongyeon answered in a small voice.
“No…”
“Weren’t you going to give us a tour of the research facility today? Aren’t you looking forward to it?”
At those words, Jeongyeon raised his head.
“Um, could I maybe introduce you tomorrow? I’d like to rest today.”
“Of course, that’s fine.”
His parents nodded, albeit bewildered. Jeongyeon focused on eating again. If he made eye contact with his parents, they might suggest leaving the research facility right away. He couldn’t allow that. Not yet, not yet.
After that, he couldn’t tell how time passed. Half-listening to his uncle and parents exchanging words, Jeongyeon headed straight to the room where he used to meet Sano.
Click. When he opened the white door, their eyes met. Fortunately, Sano was sitting in his usual spot.
He couldn’t remember when Sano had started sitting without turning his back.
Jeongyeon leaned against the door and stared blankly at the handsome face that looked like a child actor’s. Silence fell. Neither Sano, nor Jeongyeon, nor anyone opened their mouth.
It was the first time such heavy silence had settled between the two. But not knowing what to say, Jeongyeon just gazed endlessly.
“You said every caterpillar becomes a butterfly.”
It was then that a quiet voice flowed out.
“What if I’m not a caterpillar?”
There was no despair or sadness in that impassive face. Only calm, dark eyes.
“What if I’m nothing at all?”
To reach such an assumption, Sano must have thought a great deal. While enduring treatment, curled up alone, swallowing anxiety and worry. Until finally voicing it to Jeongyeon, making it real.
Jeongyeon was about to hastily say something, but suddenly feeling like he might cry, he gritted his teeth. Only after slowly inhaling to control his breathing did he speak.
“It’s okay.”
His articulate voice was filled with clear pronunciation, as if trying to imprint the words.
“Even if you’re nothing, it’s okay.”
Whether he became a butterfly or not didn’t matter. With or without becoming a butterfly, Sano was still Sano. Taciturn, hating to lose, quick to tease others, honest, and yet with a tiny bit of kindness.
That fact would never change.
That evening, Jeongyeon’s parents called him and said they would go home together tomorrow. They explained very methodically that due to circumstances with his uncle, Jeongyeon could no longer stay here. They explained it so a child of his age could understand without any room for objection.
That made it even more devastating.
“But, I worked so hard…”
His voice, on the verge of tears, was pulled into a warm embrace.
“I know. Your uncle also praised how well you’ve been helping.”
“The research is okay, right? Nothing went wrong, right? I did all the cooperation your uncle asked for. When he said he needed more, I even doubled the collection, and also…”
The hand that had been slowly comforting him suddenly stopped.
“Collection?”
Trembling brown eyes detached Jeongyeon from the embrace to look him in the eyes.
“What do you mean by that?”
