# Chapter 124
## 11. Between Futures (Part 1)
“So you two started dating?”
“No, that’s not it, I keep telling you.”
D.S’s workshop had the sound of machines running in the background like ambient music today as well. Iyeon sat on the edge of the desk where she worked, arms crossed, with a blank expression.
“Why does everyone keep trying to make this about romance? It’s friendship. Don’t you have friends, D.S-ssi? Oh, you said you don’t. Sorry.”
“Are you picking a fight with me right now?”
“No, look. It’s not like he confessed that he likes me.”
“Some people have to taste shit to know it’s shit.”
“Shit? Did you just call Je Sano shit?”
“No. I’m saying you’re the one eating shit.”
D.S continued working without even making eye contact with Iyeon while throwing all sorts of snide remarks. It’s really not like that. She’s saying that because she doesn’t know Je Sano. Iyeon pushed out his lips in a pout. Of course, D.S pretended not to notice.
‘So don’t leave me behind.’
Sano’s voice was still clear. Urgent, emotional, and somewhat desperate. It was a tone Iyeon never thought Sano would use. The content was also something he had never imagined, not even in dreams.
Sano had been looking for him all this time.
Only after hearing his story did Iyeon finally understand his behavior. Why he suddenly talked about repaying a debt, why he was so enthusiastic not just about work but also about going out to have fun.
Sano still thought of him as a friend. Even after leaving the research facility, he hadn’t forgotten him.
‘I won’t detach from you.’
Recalling those words made him feel strangely elated. It was like finding a tiny, sparkling fragment in a corner of a floor that had been completely shattered with not even debris remaining. If you think about what those words meant, it suggested Sano had been through tremendous hardship. It wasn’t something to be happy about at all. Iyeon gently rubbed the back of his neck, which had grown slightly warm.
Since Sano never said empty words, he would truly keep his promise. It seemed like Sano had made some room for him in his life, and that made Iyeon feel excited. Even if they returned to their normal lives later, it felt like it would be okay to contact him occasionally.
That would be enough. It was a luxury beyond what he deserved.
He didn’t dare hope for anything more.
“So where is this guy who won’t detach?”
“His secretary called him away for a bit.”
Although he was unusually reluctant today, Sano eventually left his seat. It must have been something important. Thanks to that, Iyeon had time to visit D.S’s workshop and chat.
“If you’re done with your business, you should go too.”
“Why? Play with me a little longer.”
“Do you think I’m easy? I’m a busy person. You’re being a huge nuisance right now.”
“Ah, you’re so rigid.”
Iyeon grumbled but didn’t get up. Since Sano had said it was fine, it probably wasn’t anything serious, but he was still worried and was subtly sticking around D.S’s workshop. Plus, he had nothing else to do… Iyeon silently muttered excuses to himself while secretly putting strength into his rear that was leaning against the desk.
Beep, beep, beep.
Just then, a loud mechanical sound went off.
“Hm?”
Iyeon turned his head toward the sound. Among D.S’s numerous pieces of equipment, a small cone-shaped device on a large computer desk with six monitors arranged together was flashing.
“What’s that?”
“Ah.”
D.S let out a sigh as if it wasn’t a big deal. She got up, abandoning the work that hadn’t stopped throughout her entire conversation with Iyeon, and approached the desk to press a button on the cone-shaped device.
All the monitors turned on simultaneously, broadcasting a large video. The screen automatically adjusted its focus, repeatedly blurring and clearing. Only after going through this process a couple of times did a clear scene unfold before their eyes.
“…”
Iyeon’s eyes narrowed as he checked the screen. The display showed the interior of a room. A small bed, a colorful bookshelf. A carelessly thrown book bag and homework papers scattered and left unattended.
What was peculiar was the angle capturing these items. It was a chaotic composition, as if someone were holding a camera they didn’t even know was on.
The image quality was clear enough to show the owner’s name written on the notebook cover. It was a name Iyeon knew.
“D.S-ssi, are you spying on Mirae?”
D.S frowned.
“Spying? Watch your words. Don’t you know what a baby cam is?”
“Why would an elementary school student need a baby cam?”
Instead of doing this, you should be spending time with Mirae… What kind of creepy behavior is this? Iyeon instantly transformed from a pitiful nuisance to a respectable normal person. However, D.S insisted on her point.
“It’s a simple safety measure.”
“Didn’t you say Mirae’s house has extremely tight security? What more safety do you need?”
“You clearly don’t know, but when it comes to safety, you can never have enough.”
It was recent that D.S had given Mirae a stuffed toy with a camera as a gift. The child’s condition was the same as usual, but it was some kind of intuition that bordered on a superpower. D.S had met with Mirae, even calling Heesu whom she disliked so much, and when giving her the doll, she had instructed:
‘If anyone scares you, hug this doll and call for mommy. Think of it as a substitute for me.’
The structure was such that when the doll recognized Mirae’s voice calling for her mother, the camera would automatically turn on. The recorded video was transmitted to D.S’s workshop in real-time.
“Wait, does that mean Mirae is in danger right now?”
Iyeon asked in surprise. This wasn’t the time to be sitting around; they needed to go to Mirae… But D.S calmly shook her head.
“It’s been about two weeks since I gave it to her, and this is the 182nd call. I gave it to her to use when she’s in danger, but she calls me all the time. It’s become her comfort doll.”
“Ah.”
Well, she is a child, so it might be too much to expect her to understand the intention perfectly.
[Mom…]
A faint voice came from above the camera. Judging by the constantly shaking camera view, she seemed to be continually hugging the doll.
[I had dinner with Grandma yesterday, and she told me not to eat with my left hand. Uncle never said anything about it until now… So I tried eating with my right hand, but I kept spilling food, and she said I was messy.]
D.S listened to the child’s softly flowing voice, then leaned toward the monitor. A gentle voice emerged quietly.
“…Is that so?”
[So I told Grandma that using my left hand would be better than spilling food, but she scolded me for talking back…]
“Grandma is being mean.”
[Hic, if Uncle had been there, he would have taken my side.]
“What’s keeping that guy so busy?”
[He hasn’t been home lately. I miss Uncle.]
D.S’s face, as she spoke gently to Mirae, was slightly relaxed. A faint hint of a smile mixed into her voice.
“Kick his butt when he gets back.”
[…Actually, I miss you more, Mom.]
“…”
[When can I see you?]
D.S couldn’t answer anymore and closed her mouth. Her sunken eyes just stared at the monitor. Iyeon spoke softly, as if to comfort her.
“Still, it’s nice that there’s a conversation function.”
Only then did D.S take her eyes off the monitor and chuckle as if she’d heard a joke.
“No. I signed a contract agreeing not to contact Mirae privately. If I added a call function, the risks would increase in various ways. That’s just for detecting danger, so there’s no need for her to hear my voice.”
“…Then…”
D.S turned her gaze back to the screen. What filled the large display was not Mirae’s face but the view from the doll that Mirae was hugging, yet her gaze was persistent, as if she could actually see her daughter if she looked carefully enough.
“It’s okay.”
That statement seemed less directed at Iyeon and more like she was repeating it to herself.
“This much isn’t so bad.”
Because Iyeon couldn’t even begin to imagine D.S’s feelings, he closed his mouth, unable to speak rashly. While she maintained her silence, Iyeon idly stared at the monitor.
The large screen displayed the child’s room. Each time she adjusted her hold on the doll, the angle changed slightly, allowing him to infer the general layout. The neatly organized, fully packed closet and colorful bookshelf were attached to the wall, matching Mirae’s height, and the wallpaper was a bright mint color. It was an interior that seemed not just ordinary but even somewhat luxurious.
Still, it showed signs of care for the child in many ways. Fortunately, it didn’t seem like she was being mistreated.
“In that household, you get treated without discrimination only until middle school.”
“What?”
