# Chapter 90
“What’s this?”
Since it was a low window that barely reached his calves, Jeongyeon sat down with a thud and bent his upper body as much as possible to look inside. When he poked his head out, the space beyond the window came into view through a narrow field of vision.
A boy about Jeongyeon’s age was lying down, resting his chin on his hands and looking at him.
Though it was the first time seeing his face properly, Jeongyeon instinctively knew it was that boy from before. Wow, but… Jeongyeon opened his mouth in admiration. He had never seen such a handsome kid before. Was he a celebrity? An actor? Despite his impassive face that seemed indifferent to the world, he appeared to shine brilliantly.
His uncle had said it would be better not to meet the child as he might be startled, but he seemed unmoved by Jeongyeon’s presence. So that meant it was okay, right? Jeongyeon nodded to his own logic and opened his mouth.
“What’s your name?”
The boy on the other side tilted his head slightly as if he couldn’t hear well. Jeongyeon shouted a bit louder.
“I’m asking what your name is.”
The boy’s lips moved saying something. Because of the glass window, only muffled syllables could be heard. Jeongyeon focused intensely as if taking a listening exam, staring at the lip movements. San, o. Sano? It was a unique name.
“So you’re Sano. I’m Jeongyeon. Lee Jeongyeon.”
Sano’s eyebrow twitched as if something displeased him, but even that expression was so handsome that Jeongyeon stared at him in a daze. He wanted to talk with Sano a bit more.
“How old are you?”
The other hand that wasn’t supporting his chin held up four fingers. He really was the same age as Jeongyeon! Jeongyeon exclaimed excitedly.
“We’re the same age then. I’m 14 too!”
Sano mumbled something again. But it was difficult to understand, so Jeongyeon went “hmm” with a serious face, pondering. Maybe they couldn’t meet inside?
“Is that your room? Can I come in to play?”
At Jeongyeon’s question, Sano was about to say something but then firmly shut his mouth. Why is he doing that? Jeongyeon looked at him with expectant eyes until he would open his mouth again, but Sano instead got up and left. Huh? What? Left behind alone and confused, Jeongyeon’s eyes blinked rapidly.
After that, Jeongyeon wandered around trying to find Sano’s room. Since he had been exploring the research facility anyway, no one stopped him as he roamed around every corner.
Even excluding the restricted areas, the research facility was quite spacious. Jeongyeon tried to open new doors whenever he found them, but many wouldn’t open by themselves or were empty rooms.
Eventually, his uncle realized that Jeongyeon was searching for something. During dinner time, he asked Jeongyeon:
“What have you been up to lately?”
Jeongyeon hesitated a bit, but honestly confessed.
“You know the kid you said I could help? I saw him.”
“What? Where?”
“While taking a walk…”
At the hesitant answer, his uncle pressed his brow as if troubled and remained silent, as if deeply contemplating something. Jeongyeon carefully gauged the situation and cautiously opened his mouth.
“Can’t I play with him? I’ll listen to you more. I’ll play just a little and go to bed early.”
“Hmm…”
With a serious face, his uncle contemplated various thoughts before finally speaking with difficulty.
“It’s not normally allowed, but since you’ve been so helpful, I’ll give special permission.”
“Wow! Thank you!”
Jeongyeon bowed his head with an excited expression. His uncle emphasized that he must really listen well to what he says, and added that while going to the boy’s room wasn’t permitted, he would arrange for them to meet in another room.
As long as he could meet Sano, anything was fine. Jeongyeon, who had been nodding continuously at everything his uncle said, went to bed especially early that night. In his dreams, that handsome face flickered.
“Sano!”
The next day, after hastily eating breakfast and pestering his uncle, Jeongyeon finally met Sano. The room his uncle guided them to was an enormously large space. It was much bigger than Jeongyeon’s classroom.
When Sano noticed Jeongyeon waving with an excited face at the entrance of the spacious room, his eyes widened a bit. But his expression fell again when he saw the uncle standing behind Jeongyeon.
“Number 3. How are you feeling today?”
“Not bad.”
Number 3? What a strange nickname. As Jeongyeon approached Sano, his uncle waved his hand playfully and closed the door. Jeongyeon quickly sat down beside Sano and asked about his curiosity from earlier.
“Why does my uncle call you Number 3?”
“Uncle?”
Sano’s eyes instantly turned cold. The noticeably pervasive hostility was completely unexpected. Jeongyeon flinched.
“So you’re the same type of person.”
“What, what do you mean?”
“Get lost.”
With those words, Sano turned his back completely. It was a completely different cold treatment from when they had met before. Caught off guard, Jeongyeon floundered, not knowing what to do.
“What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong? I didn’t do anything…”
Even when Jeongyeon tried to see Sano’s face by moving around, Sano stubbornly avoided his gaze by turning his head away. Jeongyeon eventually gave up and sat down again a little distance from Sano.
“My name is Lee Jeongyeon. I’m fourteen.”
“…”
“Your name is Sano, right?”
Jeongyeon chattered enthusiastically to the back that gave no response.
“I came because my uncle asked me to help during the vacation. He said you were sick. He told me I could help you. I’ve been working hard, co-cooperating too.”
“…”
“You’re the only one my age here, can’t we be friends?”
“…”
“…You don’t want to?”
Jeongyeon’s tone gradually became dejected. Did he already figure out that I’m adopted? I didn’t say a word about that. He felt a bit wronged that nobody would be his friend. Since he had absolutely no regrets about getting new parents, it made it even more frustrating.
“You’re going to help me?”
Suddenly, a fierce voice burst out from Sano. Jeongyeon tensed up at the unexpected response he hadn’t been waiting for.
“Yes. My uncle…”
“Are you saying you’ll turn me into a butterfly?”
“…Butterfly? I can’t do that…”
Jeongyeon mumbled in confusion. With his ability, he could create a butterfly, but he couldn’t transform a person into one. At this blank response, Sano snorted derisively. The sound echoed vividly through the room, which was excessively large for just two children.
“…”
Jeongyeon’s eyebrows rose steeply. His patience was gradually reaching its limit. This was such a different attitude from when Sano had knocked on the window and called for him not long ago.
If he had known Sano was like this, he wouldn’t have begged his uncle. Even without Sano, there were mountains of things Jeongyeon could do at the research facility!
Do you think I like you so much that I want to be your friend? I just wanted a friend because my parents would be happy about it. Jeongyeon fumed inside. After mentally rehearsing deliberately selected annoying words, he felt a bit calmer.
Jeongyeon stared at the back of the head that stubbornly turned away from him. In such a spacious place, he could play well by himself. No problem at all. As his small hand twitched, the floor glowed white.
Soon, coldness rose from the entire floor except where the two of them were sitting.
The ice rink sparkled in the sunlight. Jeongyeon even created and put on ice skates that fit his shoe size. Sano’s gaze momentarily turned around, perhaps unable to ignore the suddenly changed floor and the rustling sounds from behind. Jeongyeon turned his head sharply as if to express his anger.
He had only been to an ice rink once last winter with his parents. He had impulsively created this because he suddenly remembered how fun it was to glide on the ice together. Thanks to his innate athletic ability, he quickly got used to keeping his balance after circling the smooth ice a few times.
Finding enjoyment in sliding with momentum, Jeongyeon excitedly raced around, leaving Sano behind. He occasionally glanced at Sano sitting alone in the center, but he absolutely wasn’t concerned about him.
He deliberately didn’t make ice skates for Sano. Jeongyeon didn’t want to play with Sano anyway!
‘If he asks what this is, then I’ll make some for him.’
This childish thought wrapped around his heart as tightly as the ice beneath his feet.
As he circled the ice rink, the cold rising from the floor seeped into his body. Shivering, Jeongyeon created and put on a fur coat and gloves. It was also interesting that while it was blazing summer outside the window, inside was such a cool space.
Yet Sano showed no reaction at all. After briefly watching Jeongyeon put on his skates, Sano’s gaze never returned.
For some reason, that made Jeongyeon feel wronged and hurt. Is he dozing off while sitting there? Jeongyeon glanced at Sano, who was sitting alone as if staging a protest.
And then, with a screeching sound, Jeongyeon came to a stop.
“Uh…”
