No one came until closing time, so I worked leisurely and came home. I had no appetite and no energy, so I made porridge with what strength I had left. After eating a few spoonfuls and washing up, I sat on my blanket. These days, I only kept sleeping except when I was working part-time at the cafe, so I picked up my phone, thinking I shouldn’t keep putting this off.
I called my aunt. I was going to ask her if she really knew about the past, if that was why she was doing this.
Click.
“Hello. Aunt…”
[Tap, tap tap. Tap.]
“Aunt?”
It was the sound of someone knocking on something.
[Scrrrratch, screeeech-]
Then I heard the sound of fingernails scratching a door. Thud. After that, the call was completely cut off. I looked at my phone and called again. But the other side rejected the call several times. Hah… I pressed firmly on the corners of my eyes, then lay down and pulled the blanket over me. Strangely, it seemed to be getting excessively cold as the days went by.
* * *
“Hansol, is something wrong?”
“What? No…”
“Sol-ah. Don’t work too hard, just do it half-heartedly. Got it?”
If there was something wrong, there was. I’d come here after leaving my house for work and seeing scratch marks on my front door. I didn’t even remember how I got here with what state of mind, shocked by the marks that looked like they were made by a beast. I pushed the back of the boss, who was trying to stay at the cafe past midnight because he was worried about me, and only after he finally left work did I greet him and plop down in a chair. I was planning to rest a bit and then clean the floor.
Ding-a-ling.
“Welcome.”
I got up from my seat and greeted them, but I couldn’t see anyone. I came out from the counter and looked around, then opened the door. There was a familiar flower scent. I saw the Mountain God bowing toward me in front of the door.
“Mountain God-nim.”
I checked if Bihyeon was around, then approached closer. Somehow it felt like it had been a long time since I’d seen that affectionate smile. I tried to smile back, but then I remembered that unlike that three-eyed woman, he was close with Bihyeon, and I barely managed my expression. This is something I really can’t do either. I should hurry and finish the handover, quit my job, and wait for death alone at home.
“Would you like a fruit drink?”
“…Yes. Lemon, please.”
“Sure.”
His eyes were full of worry. I could see him deliberately holding back his words for my sake. I put on my service smile and went inside the cafe. I made a drink and brought it outside. I thought it hadn’t taken long, but there was a man with a familiar face standing next to the Mountain God.
Bihyeon-nim…
“Here, I’ll give you your drink.”
I deliberately avoided eye contact and handed over the drink. The Mountain God took the drink and plucked a beautifully bloomed flower and held it out to me. Anyone could tell at a glance that it was a sacred flower full of the mountain’s power. That’s why I didn’t take it.
“Your card, please.”
“…Child.”
“Don’t you have one? Then I’ll pay with mine today.”
Please go safely. I bowed and tried to go inside the cafe. A dry branch wrapped around my arm.
“Will you let go? I have to work.”
At my cold voice, he smoothly, weakly let go of my arm. Throb, my chest hurt. I’m sorry… But please don’t be hurt because of someone like me. Hoping for that, I stared inside the cafe without even making eye contact.
“Put it on my card.”
Bihyeon approached and grabbed my arm, heading into the cafe. I went to the counter, pressed the lemonade menu, and waited for him to order. He who had been silent for a long time grabbed my hand and carefully pulled it in front of him. I staggered and my body tilted forward. I was about to frown and get angry. If I hadn’t discovered the bandage with some blood on it wrapped between his sleeves. My eyes widened and my lips twitched before I bit down hard on them. He who had been staring into my eyes placed a talisman on my hand. It was made of golden cloth resembling him.
Thud!
His energy came out strongly from the talisman. I instinctively realized that he had made the talisman for me even while injuring his own body. That’s why anger surged up.
“…I said I was sick of it.”
His expression became cold. It felt like my head was cooling down icily. Now I understood clearly. You’re so kind that even if I’m not that child, you’ll be hurt because of my death. You’ve already grown attached to me, so no matter what reason I use as an excuse to push you away, you’ll approach again… What’s the big deal about fate. What is fate to you people anyway.
“I’m tired of it. I said it’s terrible!”
I raised my voice and tried to throw the talisman at him, but then I struck it down to the floor.
“Stop it now. I threw away everything you gave me. The talisman you gave me before too!”
No, I didn’t throw it away. I was still treasuring it preciously. I had hidden it deep in my bag, anxiously worried I might drop it. He looked expressionless, but his eyes told me he was hurt by my words. Ah… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…
“I understand, since you understand…”
Bihyeon who had been holding my hand smoothly, weakly let go.
“Don’t cry.”
He stepped back weakly and covered his face. Thud. He who had placed his card on the counter just left the cafe like that. I slowly sank down, stared blankly at my toes, then pounded on my chest. I wish it would just tear apart. I wish this aching heart would be torn to shreds and just die already…
After doing that for a while, I got up and looked for the talisman I had struck down. My eyes blurred with tears, so I bent over at the waist, and then sat down because I was tired. I squeezed out my remaining strength and crawled to find the talisman, then grasped the talisman in the corner tightly in my hand. Pat pat. I brushed off the dust and put it in my pocket. After curling up my body for a long time, I finally got up. I forced my body to move and worked until closing time. I baked more cookies than usual and cleaned more thoroughly too.
“Hansol-ah. Get ready to leave work.”
“Boss-nim.”
I greeted the boss who came 30 minutes before closing time and approached closer. As if sensing something ominous, the boss suddenly retreated hastily backward.
“No, don’t say it…”
“I think I have to quit.”
“…Is it… is it hard? I knew night shifts would be hard. Bidan, that guy is nocturnal but finds it hard to work during the day. How about if you two switch times? Huh? There are many customers during the day, but these days the perception of humans isn’t too bad either.”
The boss laughed haha and avoided my eyes. Tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke as if spitting out words quickly.
“I wrote down the cookie recipe in the notebook. Please pass it on to the other part-timer.”
This isn’t what I decided to die for. I didn’t resolve to hurt and make everyone cry… I closed my eyes because I felt like my heart was weakening, then forced a smile.
“Please definitely find a part-timer. I’ll work until then.”
I greeted him and went into the staff room. I took off my apron and packed my things, then headed for the door without looking back.
“Hansol-ah. Don’t come in today, rest well. It might be because you’re too tired.”
I heard the boss’s weak voice from behind. I held the doorknob and my lips twitched before I bit them. My lips seemed to have split again. I tasted blood, so I lifted my hand and smoothly wiped my lips.
“If you want to rest tomorrow too, rest. I can wait anytime until you change your mind. So…”
“…I’ll be going.”
I said quietly with my head lowered and opened the door and left. I felt like I was going to cry. I tapped my chest, then headed home quickly.
“Cough…”
I coughed. My body felt chilly, so I rubbed my arms and climbed the stairs to my house.
“…Huh?”
I entered the password and opened the door. Inside, I could see the inside of someone else’s house, not mine. I could tell at a glance. A wide yard, a pavilion in the center. A place as wide and large as an old palace… It was Bihyeon’s house.
“Munmun-ah. I told you not to.”
I didn’t even have the strength to say anything. I tried to close it again, but the door didn’t budge. As if telling me to come in quickly, the door opened wider with a creak, but I shook my head and stepped back. I made eye contact with Bihyeon who was coming out from the kitchen area while arranging his hanbok. His eyes widened as if surprised, and his lips twitched before he quickly approached me.
Thud.
And I heard footsteps from the stairs. My heart became more urgent. What if someone comes and sees this? I grabbed the doorknob and pulled with all my might. As expected, it didn’t budge. The sound of footsteps climbing the stairs got louder and louder.
“Someone’s coming. Please, Munmun-ah…”
My hands trembled as I had no more strength. Even at my desperate voice, the door didn’t move. Bihyeon approached closer to me and stretched out his hand. Why does he have that expression? It was an urgent face as if something terrible would happen. Thud thud thud thud! I heard the sound of someone running up the stairs. Huh? In that moment, I made eye contact with the person who came up the stairs.
It was my aunt who I had called several times.
“Au…”
The moment I tried to call her, I felt terrible pain in my stomach with a squelch sound. When I lowered my gaze, I saw a knife half-embedded in my stomach. Stab. I heard the sound once more and my body swayed. It was because she had pulled out the knife.
“W…?”
I dropped the talisman I had been clutching tightly in my hand and staggered greatly. The talisman that fell on the floor began to burn fiercely. Bihyeon who crossed the door caught my collapsing body and hugged me tightly. His hands trembled as he looked at my stomach, then pressed firmly on the wound. Keke keke. Several voices mixed together came out of my aunt’s mouth as she laughed with her mouth split wide.
“Finally, I finally killed you. Now there’s nothing that can stop me!”
She held her stomach and burst into loud laughter. Then she hastily grabbed the kitchen knife and ran away from the spot, rushing down the stairs.
“Yeonho!”
At Bihyeon’s voice, a tiger leaped out from inside. The moment he came outside and became human, he quickly chased after her and went down the stairs. Bihyeon who was holding my body tightly looked around, gestured at the CCTV, then crossed the door just like that.
I stared blankly at the air. Even so, I thought I’d have a little more time, but I didn’t know death would approach this quickly. Ah, it hurts… Beyond the pain, I felt a strange feeling as if sensation was gradually disappearing.
