Chapter 9
The creature that had been circling around us for quite some time under our gaze moved through the shadows just as it had when it first appeared. Only after it disappeared and several minutes had passed did our rapid, shallow breathing slowly return to normal. I clutched my pounding chest like someone who had just completed a marathon and tried to regulate my stretched-out breathing.
But Kim Doyun merely sank into deep thought with a serious face, not showing the same startled reaction as I did. Feeling awkward, I swallowed my breath and rubbed the corners of my mouth. And only after a long while did I voice the anxiety that had been creeping up.
“…What do we do now?”
A sense of powerlessness swirled throughout my body. After seeing that strange monster, everything seemed bleak, and even walking became frightening. We had nothing to defend ourselves with. If we were to encounter that creature, which clearly didn’t seem friendly… Kim Doyun, who had been lost in thought, seemed to be thinking along the same lines. He came up with an answer surprisingly quickly.
“Given that we haven’t seen it during the day, and it only moves under shadows, bright light might be its weakness. I can’t be certain, but…”
We had to cling to this conclusion, even if it wasn’t certain. We might have been lucky not to encounter it so far, or it might be able to roam freely in broad daylight, but we didn’t have many options. We couldn’t just stay in the tree forever out of fear. I nodded.
“Rather than acting rashly, let’s stay here for a day or two and verify if that’s correct.”
Kim Doyun agreed with my suggestion, and we decided to stay here a bit longer. I just hoped my leg would heal quickly in the meantime. My still-aching leg intensified my anxiety.
I bit my lip and trembled. Due to my leg, my pace would inevitably be slow—what if the creature appeared behind me, anticipating that? The thought alone was terrifying.
“Ah.”
Kim Doyun’s voice caught my ear as it wandered through anxious thoughts. Perhaps because my thoughts were jumping around and we had just seen that creature, a chill ran down my spine. Kim Doyun shook his head as he held my trembling shoulders.
“It’s okay.”
“……”
“It’s alright.”
Kim Doyun soothed my shoulders as if comforting a child. The tension began to gently unwind under his large, warm hands. Only then could I clear my throat and regain my composure.
“It’s raining.”
I raised my head at Kim Doyun’s calm remark. I expected to see raindrops dampening the forest, but what was pouring from the sky was the meteor shower I had seen yesterday. Sharply crossing the sky and leaving long tails, the meteors scattered before even touching the ground.
Thinking of the bruise left on my face, I hid under the leaves, but Kim Doyun didn’t move an inch.
It was strange. The anxiety that had been continuously pressing in quietly subsided. His steadiness made me feel more solid too. I straightened my legs that had been curled up and looked at the sky.
* * *
Although Kim Doyun said it would be good to sleep deeply, sleep wouldn’t come. Kim Doyun also stayed up all night, looking outside. He occasionally checked on me, seemingly making sure I wasn’t in pain and was sleeping properly.
I turned over towards him after tossing and turning. Initially, I wanted to get up, but his gesture and restraint indicating I should lie down made me watch him from my reclined position.
“Can’t sleep?”
Kim Doyun asked. Leaves fell from under his palm with a rustling sound. He had been rubbing his fingers for quite some time, and I realized he must have been playing with the leaves. Knowing how uncomfortable it must be to sit on edge in the quiet night, I wanted to give him more leaves to hold.
“Shouldn’t we take turns now?”
My inability to sleep was partly due to my pounding heart, but largely because it was difficult to sleep comfortably while borrowing both his legs and jacket.
I tried to recall. Initially, he was sitting normally, and I seemed to have fallen asleep like I was passing out, but I wasn’t sure when I had borrowed his thigh. Even if I hadn’t wanted it, I had received his kindness and my body was comfortable because of it, so I thought I should repay him somehow. But… I needed to have something to give in return.
Not that I considered taking turns keeping watch as repayment. I just wanted him to rest a bit. However, Kim Doyun cleanly rejected my offer.
“I’m fine.”
“No, you must not have slept comfortably…”
“I’m fine.”
“…Excuse me.”
As I was trying to figure out how to change Kim Doyun’s mechanical repetition, he smiled, his eyes curving.
“I really am fine. I think Seongho-ssi needs to rest more than I do.”
And he pointed to my leg. Unable to counter that, I hesitated for a long time. You need to rest well to heal. That’s what Kim Doyun was saying. Although embarrassment made me want to be stubborn, I knew that wouldn’t be right. If my leg didn’t heal soon, it would be harder for Kim Doyun, and my safety wouldn’t be guaranteed either.
I wanted to tear at my hair. When we left the hospital, I hadn’t anticipated this situation. I was surprised by the flood damage around the hospital, but I thought it would be manageable even if a bit difficult. Even though the world had become strange, this was still the heart of Seoul, and familiar scenery had persistently remained in my mind. I had planned to meet people, explain the hospital situation, and then contact my parents… But all of it had become a futile delusion.
The forest we stepped into seemed endless, with unknown dangers lurking.
I regretted not turning back when I saw the flood damage at the edge of the forest. I should have stayed at the hospital, getting help to prepare safely, and remained there until my leg healed. Some food and water, cooking utensils, and things to make fire. A blanket to protect the body and a knife. The things we immediately needed kept coming to mind.
“Even if you’re not sleepy, close your eyes. It will help you fall asleep more easily.”
A thin twig broke in Kim Doyun’s hand. But I couldn’t close my eyes. Without being able to see, all my thoughts leaned towards the negative. In my mind, those creatures were climbing up the tree, or tearing at me as I lay down. And I also saw Kim Doyun leaving me behind as I slept.
The moment I imagined that strong back turning away, I felt my heart pound. I just now realized my heart could beat this forcefully. I curled up, rubbing my chest that was pounding so hard it made my ears buzz. Then something warm and large touched my eyes. It was Kim Doyun’s hand.
“Don’t worry. Even if you fall asleep, I’ll remain by your side.”
He whispered softly and didn’t remove his hand. Despite the uncomfortable posture, Kim Doyun seemed determined to wait until I fell asleep. My pounding heart gradually subsided with the warm touch.
* * *
As soon as morning broke, Kim Doyun left the tree. Not abandoning me as I had feared, but with the purpose of surveying the surroundings.
Even knowing this, watching Kim Doyun’s back as he left the tree felt frightening. The thought that he might leave and never return was terrible, and the image of me endlessly waiting for Kim Doyun was equally horrible. As self-loathing welled up and I desperately wished my leg would heal quickly so I could contribute my share, Kim Doyun, whom I thought had gone down, returned.
He took off the jacket he had put back on and searched through the pockets. What came out with his hand were a wallet and car keys. Kim Doyun placed them down along with his jacket, watched me for a moment, and then descended the vines. I was puzzled by his actions for quite some time, not understanding. I looked down below the tree, but Kim Doyun had already disappeared.
“What’s this?”
I wondered, clutching Kim Doyun’s belongings. Why did Kim Doyun suddenly return, put these out, and disappear? Was he worried about losing them? He didn’t seem like such a timid person. They’re not very useful right now anyway… I fiddled with Kim Doyun’s wallet.
I got up to place Kim Doyun’s belongings safely inside, but while trying to hold them with one hand to support my uncomfortable leg, I lost my grip in a careless moment. The car keys and suit jacket remained in my arms, but the wallet fell.
“Oh!”
The wallet that left my hand tumbled to the floor, revealing its contents fully. I didn’t want to see the private details of someone else’s wallet. Even though I tried not to look, as I bent down to pick it up, the contents caught my eye. Various cards, a business card that had slipped out, and an ID card.
Kim Doyun. 32 years old. Executive Director.
Though I hurriedly organized the wallet and placed it in a safe spot, the fragmentary personal information that had entered my mind wouldn’t leave.
I worried about my physical condition, which I had momentarily forgotten. Although the weather was good, it felt a bit chilly today, and my once-turbulent stomach had calmed down only to turn into heartburn. I shouldn’t be starving. I also wanted to change out of my damp clothes… I tried to distract myself by pulling out all the concerns I could remember, but my mind started to fill steadily with thoughts of Kim Doyun.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
