Episode 9. Destiny rather than coincidence (9)
Jeong Hee-seong turned to Do-hyeon at Do-hyeon’s incoherent words.
Surprised by what he said, Do-hyeon paused a little and then added hastily.
“Well, if the lump says there is no other way. then… .”
Dohyeon was silent for a moment. Jeong Hee-seong slowly waited for Do-hyeon’s words.
Dohyeon, who had been calmly choosing his words, opened his mouth.
“The days I spent after meeting my brother still feel like a dream.”
“… … .”
“I didn’t know that walking down the street holding hands with someone could be such a happy thing.”
Dohyeon looked at the hands they were holding and smiled. Rather than hastily answering, Jeong Hee-seong chose to listen to Do-hyeon’s words.
“It was my first time buying delicious food, eating my share, and coveting someone else’s. “Seeing plays, going to the movies, going to amusement parks, everything.”
His eyes, as if he was reminiscing about the past, took on a mature glow that was not typical of a child.
“ah. “I will also add appreciation for violin playing.”
Dohyun added playfully.
“Living was more fun than I thought. “Do you think it’s funny if I say this?”
Jeong Hee-seong burst into laughter at Do-hyeon’s words. She was the little girl who not long ago said she had nothing to lose.
It was natural to find it funny that a small thing spoke like that, but my heart ached.
“It will continue to be fun.”
It was something he said to Dohyeon and a promise he made to himself.
Do-hyeon, who had been silent in response to Jeong Hee-seong’s answer, opened his mouth.
“brother. “I had enough fun.”
Jeong Hee-seong frowned as if he did not understand what he said.
Even as he spoke, Dohyeon wasn’t sure.
I was worried about what I would do if my brother got angry.
Dohyeon closed his eyes tightly.
“therefore… “Unless you are willing to receive my soul.”
The words poured out as if sighing.
“Should we do it like this?”
For the past few days, every day has been new for Dohyeon.
This was the first time I knew that waiting for tomorrow could be so exciting.
It was scary that time was getting shorter as the days passed, but he was not alone.
I even laughed out loud for the first time.
I giggled about something trivial.
It was all something Dohyun had given up on.
That’s why I decided not to be greedy anymore.
I have already enjoyed so much.
My brother is not the one to receive my soul. I realized this a lot over the past period.
But Do-hyeon did not want to live in this world with his brother’s soul.
Then there is only one thing left.
“Without sacrificing anyone. Just like this. If we end here… .”
Dohyeon, who was speechless for a moment, spoke in a clear voice.
“I think I’ll be satisfied.”
It would be a lie to say that I have no regrets.
However, when I said I was satisfied, I was sincere.
Jeong Hee-seong did not answer. He looked like he was lost in thought.
‘I told you.’
I thought there was nothing I could do about getting angry.
I’m also nervous.
Do-hyeon carefully observed Jeong Hee-seong.
Contrary to Do-hyeon’s worries, Jeong Hee-seong readily agreed.
“okay.”
“yes?”
“Let’s do that.”
A face that neither smiles nor frowns. Do-hyeon, who could not read the meaning of the expression, was unable to find the words to reply, but Jeong Hee-seong spoke in an exaggeratedly bright voice.
“Ah, I lived a long time.”
Jeong Hee-seong walked forward while holding Do-hyeon’s hand. Dohyeon naturally followed suit.
Jeong Hee-seong walked a few steps forward and turned around.
“There are some children who say that 8 years old is enough. “Haven’t you lived enough to live at 28?”
“Aren’t you angry?”
“Yes, I won’t pay.”
“why?”
“You said back then that there was no need to live because you had nothing to lose.”
Dohyeon’s mouth closed.
“You said that you are enjoying life so much now that you can end it with satisfaction.”
Then that’s it.
As Jeong Hee-seong said that, the corners of his mouth curled up and he smiled cheerfully.
It was a smile so bright that it brought tears to my eyes.
* * *
The day the lump was supposed to arrive arrived.
Do-hyeon and Jeong Hee-seong spent their daily lives peacefully in the hospital room without going out.
I played games with Do-hyeon and also listened to Jeong Hee-seong play.
Then, when I got tired, I peeled fruit and ate it or lounged on the bed and rested.
Just like that, the sun that was high up gradually slid down and a red light fell on the hospital room.
He seemed to be dozing off, but at some point, Do-hyeon’s head fell on Jeong Hee-seong’s shoulder.
“Little one.”
My brother’s voice sounded faint from afar.
“Kid. “Get up.”
“eww… . brother?”
Dohyeon opened his eyes, trying hard to shake off the sleep.
“When did you fall asleep…?” . “What about you, lump?”
Dohyeon blinked a few times in a half-asleep state.
“In front of you.”
Dohyeon’s eyes opened brightly.
When they opened their eyes, they could see the mass waving in front of them.
“H-when did you come here?”
“just now. “So I woke you up right away.”
Those words made Dohyun want to bite his tongue a little.
Not any other day, but today.
It’s a day when a lump is expected to arrive, but I can’t believe I went to sleep without thinking about it.
‘Was I such a nervous person?’
Dohyeon reprimanded himself for being foolish and completely drove away the sleep energy.
Do-hyeon looked at Jeong Hee-seong.
“Did you ask what we were supposed to ask?”
“No, not yet.”
Dohyun took a deep breath.
I tried to calm down, but my voice was shaking slightly.
“Hey, lump. “Is there really no way for both of us to survive?”
Do-hyeon’s face was earnest as he looked at the lump.
Although I said I was satisfied with this, there was no way I wouldn’t have any regrets.
If you can buy it,
If only I could live with my brother.
Dohyeon had some hope.
however.
【Unfortunately, that is not possible. Either one lives, or both die.】
The answer I received right away was resolute.
Dohyeon closed his eyes for a long time and then forcefully pulled in the corners of his mouth.
‘If I’m sad, you’ll be sad too.’
I didn’t like that. Dohyeon tried to pretend that nothing had happened.
I want to live.
There are many things I haven’t done yet, and many things I want to try. But my greed kept growing.
However, something more important than life came to Do-hyeon, so he was able to say it with a smile.
“Then I’ll just live as long as I have and end it like that.”
After speaking, Do-hyeon looked back at Jeong Hee-seong. Jeong Hee-seong, who was facing Do-hyeon, nodded her head.
Dohyeon saw the lump again.
“No one will die. So it’s okay if you don’t help me.”
Jeong Hee-seong’s eyes darkened, but Do-hyeon, who was looking at the lump, could not find it. Only the lump saw his expression.
【You won’t regret it, right? Even if you cry and throw a tantrum later, you can’t turn back then.】
“yes.”
Dohyeon said as if he was making a promise to himself.
“I don’t regret it.”
[The liberation of the soul from the body means the death of existence. What used to be your soul has lost all memory, meaning, and value and is just wandering around. Do you know what that means?】
“No, I don’t know. But knowing it won’t change your choice.”
【You are a reckless person.】
The mass stirred. Despite the lump’s words, Do-hyeon’s resolve was firm.
The lump let out a long, noticeable sigh.
【I am the ‘facilitator’. You can’t touch it if you don’t want to. So I’ll follow your choice… . I hope you don’t regret it later.】
The lump that said that seemed to inflate its body, and then disappeared in the air in an instant.
Dohyeon, whose entire body was tense, leaned back on the bed and sighed.
‘I’m glad it went more smoothly than I expected.’
Dohyeon, who knew nothing, thought that and was relieved.
Do-hyeon turned his head and was a little embarrassed to see Jeong Hee-seong looking at him with a serious face.
“Kid, no, Dohyun.”
“yes.”
“Do you remember what the lump said last time?”
“What the lump said… ?”
Dohyeon’s head tilted slightly.
“You said I have about a month or three weeks left.”
Dohyeon’s face hardened.
Come to think of it, the lump said that.
thud.
My heart sank.
“I will go before you.”
“What is that… .”
“We already made our choice. We can’t stop the future from coming now. You know that.”
“brother! Even now… !”
Do-hyeon couldn’t bear to continue speaking as Jeong Hee-seong’s face suddenly turned cold.
“I said I didn’t regret it. yes?”
“… yes.”
Dohyeon forced out a voice that wouldn’t come out. Jeong Hee-seong, who saw her sad face, revealed a trace of her sincerity.
‘I guess I can’t be forgiven.’
Still, I wanted to say something before I lost the opportunity.
“Sorry.”
Dohyeon lifted his head at the sudden apology.
“Why are you apologizing?”
“I didn’t want to be the ugly older brother who caused you loss. But I feel like I’m an ugly older brother right now.”
“brother.”
“It will be painful. It will be painful. “You will be so lonely and sad that you will want to die.”
“… … .”
“And they will blame me.”
“no!”
Dohyeon hurriedly denied it.
“How can I blame you? “Don’t say that!”
Jeong Hee-seong laughed at Do-hyeon’s words.
The face looked strangely lonely, making Dohyeon uneasy.
“Dohyun, make one promise with me.”
Do-hyeon nodded without hesitation as Jeong Hee-sung’s mood seemed to disappear at any moment.
Otherwise, I had a strange feeling that he would fall apart.
“Fill the rest of your life to the end.”
“brother! Without my brother, I… .”
“Use it!”
Jeong Hee-seong made a stern expression.
“If you don’t fill it up, I won’t even look at you.”
“brother!”
“I won’t even let you call me brother.”
On the day they first met, Dohyeon was speechless at the playful tone he spoke to, just like in front of the hospital room.
“So, live the life given to you to the fullest. got it? You can’t just live. “Do your best and live happily.”
I can’t do that.
I don’t have the strength to do that.
I wanted to say that, but my brother’s face, voice, and tone were so sweet and warm that I didn’t want to disappoint him.
“I’m making a promise to my brother. got it?”
“… yes. “I promise.”
Jeong Hee-seong, who finished all the promises and placed a ring with Do-hyeon’s little pinky, smiled brightly.
After that, they spent time laughing and talking and listening to Jeong Hee-seong’s performance as usual, but something kept getting on Do-hyeon’s nerves.
Today, Jeong Hee-seong didn’t want to leave Jeong Hee-seong’s hospital room, so he slapped Do-hyeon’s back and kicked him out. He smiled and waved when he saw Do-hyeon turning the doorknob.
Dohyun, standing in front of the door, hesitated and then opened his mouth.
“Brother, are we going to see each other tomorrow too?”
“So you weren’t going to see me?”
Seeing Jeong Hee-seong accepting naturally, Do-hyeon suppressed his anxiety a little.
I’m about to leave the hospital room, Dohyun. A small voice was heard.
Dohyeon looked back.
Jeong Hee-seong was smiling at Do-hyeon. Strangely enough, the smile was faint.
“good night. Have a nice dream. “Tomorrow, the day after, and always will be happy days.”
Dohyeon understood those words as an extension of the conversation they had earlier.
Dohyun, whose earlobes turned red as if he was a little embarrassed by the tickling words, answered in a low voice.
“Brother too. “I’m sure there will only be happy days ahead for you, too.”
“… okay.”
Do-hyeon, embarrassed, left the hospital room in a hurry, saying good night.
Jeong Hee-seong’s eyes turned to the closed door.
He muttered softly.
“You lied again.”
The moment Do-hyeon fell asleep, a lump appeared in front of Jeong Hee-seong’s eyes.
* * *
Just now.
Jeong Hee-seong, who was comforting Do-hyeon, who had suddenly fallen asleep, stared at the empty space distorting before his eyes.
Jeong Hee-seong spoke calmly without any sign of surprise.
“Did you put him to sleep?”
【Well, that’s right. It would be a bit difficult if I stayed awake.】
Jeong Hee-seong stroked the hair of Do-hyeon, who was sleeping soundly. It was a careful move, as if handling something very precious.
【so. You have no intention of changing your mind?】
Jeong Hee-seong looked at the lump with sunken eyes.
“Change your mind and try to prolong your life with the little boy’s life?”
【Isn’t it the same for small humans? I might resent you when I wake up.】
“I don’t want to be hated by the little guy.”
The sleeping face is young.
He poked his cheek with his finger for no reason, then lowered his finger to Dohyun, who was frowning with his closed eyes.
“Isn’t it an adult to put up with things you don’t like?”
【From what I see, you are just as young as a small human.】
“You are not human.”
【Humans discriminate against lumps!】
The lump was furious. Jeong Hee-seong ignored the lump and continued speaking.
“But can you delay it a little? “Taking your soul.”
【Hmm. I have stopped time for your soul now, but when time starts flowing again, it will quickly fall apart. It is better for small humans to do it in as intact a state as possible.】
“no. I don’t plan on delaying it that much. “I’m just asking you to come and get it in a few hours, not now.”
【why?】
Jeong Hee-seong looked at the lump with dumbfounded eyes.
“You read all my thoughts before, but why are you still acting like you don’t know anything?”
I shrugged my shoulder, which didn’t even have a lump in it.
【I heard your name. The thoughts of the person whose name I heard do not flow in.】
“what? By what principle?”
【I have a lot of questions. Even if I try to explain it, it is difficult to understand through human concepts. Please tell me why you are asking me such a favor.】
Jeong Hee-seong looked at the lump with slightly disapproving eyes and then opened his mouth.
“How scared would a little boy be if he opened his eyes and saw a dead body next to him? I’ll probably never forget it for the rest of my life. That’s because I don’t want to create such terrible memories. “I just want to go back to my room like usual, sleep, and wake up like that.”
The lump that was silent for a moment spoke.
【Perhaps it’s because the souls fit well together, but I only think of small humans until the end.】
“Sum of souls?”
【You and the little human soul, you are surprisingly compatible. You resemble a sunset that burns fiercely and brilliantly. On the other hand, small humans are like the cold and dynamic sea or the calm and vast sky.】
Hearing those words, Jeong Hee-seong looked at Do-hyeon who was sleeping.
‘It seems like a good expression.’
While Jeong Hee-seong was thinking like that, the lump continued speaking.
【Actually, I said it suits you, but it also has characteristics that make it difficult to suit. However, because the small human was born with a huge soul, he was fully equipped to contain the intense sunset. Because the soul was so large, the body collapsed too early. Anyway, mixing souls in the first place was impossible if the sum of your souls did not match. It’s really rare to find souls that fit together that well, it’s a huge coincidence!】
Somehow, the lump’s last words seemed to be stuck in my ears.
“Well, I thought so too at first.”
Jeong Hee-seong smiled infinitely softer than usual.
“Kid, no, I think Dohyun and I are meant to be rather than chance.”
【You say something very sentimental.】
“Is it because it’s time to die?”
Jeong Hee-seong said as if making a light joke.
But the lump felt the emotions contained within.
I opened my mouth even though I couldn’t understand why I was being so generous to this person.
【still… . You might be right. Strange things like yours happen in this world. It was created by a coincidence that cannot be repeated. A flow that follows nature even though it goes against it. That’s called fate.】
Jeong Hee-seong laughed as if it was fun.
“I felt it a little bit last time too, but you’re surprisingly kind.”
The lump that stopped for a moment trembled.
【Strange sound! That’s because there’s no need to be mean to a poor soul who is in a situation that no ordinary life should have to go through!】
“Okay, whatever. Let’s say yes.”
【Your tone is arrogant!】
Jeong Hee-seong, ignoring the lump making trembling gestures, turned his gaze to the window.
Meanwhile, the sun was sinking further and further down.
The last minutes he had left were dwindling.
Jeong Hee-seong said to the lump.
“First, wake Dohyun up. And just pretend not to know what Dohyun says and move on.”
【Huh, they even make me act.】
“If you haven’t played with Dohyeon, be quiet.”
Jeong Hee-seong said in a playful tone.
“And when Dohyun goes to his room and falls asleep, then he will take my soul.”
【I have never encountered a troublesome soul like you in my entire life.】
Jeong Hee-seong raised one eyebrow.
“So you’re not going to listen?”
【Isn’t it okay if you do it? If you do it!】
A lump that lost its temper for no reason passed Dohyeon’s forehead.
When the lump that passed through Do-hyeon without hitting him returned to its original position, Do-hyeon’s eyelids fluttered.
I opened my mouth and called out to the sleeping child.
“Little one.”
* * *
Jeong Hee-seong took his eyes off the tightly closed door.
A deathly silence settled in the lonely hospital room.
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