—Are you getting ready for work? Can you talk for a moment?
I had a strong feeling this wasn’t just a simple check-in call. I stood there with water dripping from my wet hair.
It’s fine. Go ahead. In response to my affirmative answer that flowed out like a thin moan, my aunt began to talk bit by bit. She said that before moving in together with him, he was transferred to Seoul, so they found a new house in Seoul.
—So I was thinking.
“Yes, Aunt.”
I was tired. I wanted to lie down and sleep like the dead. I didn’t want to open my eyes. I tightly closed my eyes, ignoring the screams coming from every part of my body.
—How about living together?
It was a cautious question. Naturally, my answer had been decided from the moment I felt this wasn’t just a simple check-in call.
“It’s okay, Aunt. I’m comfortable living alone now.”
—…Is that so?
“Of course. I’m twenty-seven now, Aunt.”
—Well, if you don’t want to, there’s nothing I can do…
Her cautious voice gradually changed to one that sounded somewhat relieved.
My aunt always thought of me as a burden she had to take responsibility for. It was like that ten years ago when I became her burden, and it’s still like that now. Even though I’ve been away for a long time, the fact that she couldn’t move away completely and kept hovering around me, as if relieved, was all my fault.
Of course, it didn’t only affect my aunt. The burden that my aunt couldn’t shake off made me feel like I had to be careful around her. Just as I didn’t want to hold my aunt back, she probably didn’t want it either.
I changed the subject.
“Then Young-jin will have to transfer schools? It’ll be hard for him to adapt when he’ll be a high school senior next year.”
—No, it’s fortunate for Young-jin. There’s a prestigious high school nearby. There was an opening, and luckily he got assigned there, so he just needs to go and study. Well.
“Really? Congratulations, Aunt.”
Suddenly, I had an ominous premonition.
“Which, which high school was he assigned to?”
My voice trembled. My throat became dry, and my ears felt muffled. Even time seemed to creak along, flowing too slowly.
“I, earlier, couldn’t, couldn’t hear.”
—Yes, he’ll be going to Seongjin High.
And my premonition was right.
—Do you know any teachers there?
“…I, I’m currently working at Seongjin High.”
—Oh my. Really?
Joy was evident in my aunt’s voice. Despite meeting my aunt happy for the first time in a very long while, I couldn’t share in her joy.
—Well, it’s reassuring to know someone there.
Without my knowing, the situation surrounding me was tightening its net, binding me. It was already hard enough thinking about losing my job, and it was painful to think I could cause harm to my senior. Just with that, I was already crawling on the ground like a swallow with broken wings.
—Jae-yun, could you look after Young-jin at school to make sure he’s doing well?
The thought that even my aunt—my only remaining family—might find out.
“…Yes, I will.”
—I’m counting on you, Jae-yun.
“Of course. Don’t worry.”
I had to engrave in my heart once more that I couldn’t escape from Woo Tae-seon.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
