Hyun was momentarily at a loss for words at Yoonhwa’s confession.
His gaze turned serious for a moment.
“I see… That’s what’s been tormenting you.”
Yoonhwa lowered her head and nodded slightly.
“Uh-huh… but I’m okay…”
“It’s manageable enough…”
Hyun carefully nodded at Yoonhwa’s words and met her gaze again.
In his eyes, there was both concern and an unmistakable desire to help.
“Yoonhwa… does eating liver make the smell weaker?”
Yoonhwa paused to think at Hyun’s question.
Her eyes seemed to focus on something far away, deep in thought.
“Well… Yes. But it’s only temporary.”
“After eating the liver, the smell is less intense for a short time.”
“But after that, it feels even stronger…”
Hyun listened to Yoonhwa’s answer and pondered for a moment.
He looked back at Yoonhwa and carefully suggested,
“Then, how about looking for other foods that can mimic the taste or texture of liver?”
“If we can find such foods, it might help reduce the cravings a bit.”
Yoonhwa’s eyes sparkled at Hyun’s suggestion.
“R-Really, could there be such foods??”
Hyun’s heart lifted at Yoonhwa’s reaction, and several ideas popped into his head.
“Hmm… How about other types of offal or raw meat?”
“And there are dishes that can mimic the flavor of liver using certain spices or cooking methods.”
“I’ll see if I can find some out tomorrow.”
“I’m sure we can find a good substitute!”
“Just hang in there for today, Yoonhwa…”
Hyun’s voice was filled with sincerity, and Yoonhwa felt warmth in his care.
“Hyun, thank you!!”
“I really appreciate how much you’re looking out for me…”
Yoonhwa’s voice was brimming with gratitude.
Her eyes sparkled with trust and thankfulness towards Hyun.
Seeing Yoonhwa looking a bit relieved, Hyun spoke again.
“Can’t sleep?”
At Hyun’s concerned question, Yoonhwa looked as if she was pondering for a moment.
She slowly lifted her gaze to Hyun and softly said,
“I’m still not sleepy… I want to talk more, just the two of us.”
Her voice was timid yet filled with anticipation.
Hyun seemed a bit surprised by Yoonhwa’s words but soon smiled as if he liked her request.
“Really? Then let’s do that!”
His voice was gentle, filled with interest for Yoonhwa.
She hesitated slightly, and noticing, Hyun spoke gently.
“Don’t just stand there, come sit comfortably on the blanket!”
“I’ll spread it out for you…”
His voice was warm.
Hyun approached where Yoonhwa stood, wide arms holding up the blanket.
He lightly shook the blanket in the air before carefully laying it on the ground.
Watching the blanket softly settle down felt like preparing a cozy bed.
While Hyun spread the blanket, Yoonhwa felt grateful for his thoughtfulness.
She slowly walked over and sat on the blanket, and Hyun adjusted it a bit more so she could sit comfortably.
“Here… it’ll be more comfortable to sit.”
Hyun smiled as he said.
Yoonhwa walked slowly onto the neatly spread blanket and carefully lowered herself as he suggested.
She lay down comfortably on the blanket, her long tail naturally spreading over it.
The soft fur of her tail shimmered on the blanket, highlighting Yoonhwa’s relaxed demeanor.
Hyun watched her, feeling his face grow warm unknowingly.
In his heart, this quiet and peaceful moment with Yoonhwa felt precious.
He carefully pulled a chair near the blanket where Yoonhwa was lying.
Sitting on the chair, Hyun leaned toward Yoonhwa and met her gaze.
Her eyes were filled with gentle anticipation.
“Hyun, I want to hear your story!”
“I want to know more about the path you’ve walked until now.”
At Yoonhwa’s words, Hyun was momentarily taken aback.
He thought his story wouldn’t be that interesting, but seeing Yoonhwa’s sincere gaze, he began to share.
There was a slight quaver in Hyun’s voice.
“Well, my story…”
“There’s nothing particularly special about it like yours…”
“But…”
His words paused for a moment.
Memories from the past flashed through his mind.
Yoonhwa noticed the change in Hyun’s expression and seemed a bit flustered.
Her ears perked up as if to represent her feelings.
“Hyun, are you okay?”
“If, if it makes you uncomfortable, you don’t have to share!!”
Hyun smiled wryly and reassured Yoonhwa.
“It’s okay, really.”
“It’s just a bit of a dark story; is that alright…?”
Yoonhwa gulped and carefully responded.
“Uh-huh… I’m fine.”
*
That night, our family was enjoying a cozy time at home after closing the store as usual.
Father was organizing the account book behind the register.
I had my homework spread out on the desk in the main room.
Mother entered the room, kindly bringing over sliced apples and asked,
“Son, is your studying going well?”
Mother’s voice was warm and comforting as always.
I looked up briefly to see her.
Her smile always brimmed with love and care.
“Yes, Mother!”
“It’s a bit hard, but I’m managing.”
I smiled as I accepted the apple. Mother’s sliced apple was sweet and refreshing as always.
“Don’t worry. You’ll do well.”
“If you run into any problems, just call for me.”
Mother gently patted my head with words of encouragement.
That was how our home was always filled with warmth.
We were a family that cheered and supported each other over even the smallest of things.
Such ordinary evenings brought us the greatest happiness.
Outside, the gentle spring breeze wafted in.
The breeze coming through the window felt refreshing, and even the occasional distant noise seemed like a peaceful part of the evening.
Father interjected while organizing the account book.
“Sometimes it’s okay to take a break.”
“You shouldn’t stress too much.”
We spent a peaceful evening, finding solace in each other’s presence even while being caught up in our tasks.
Occasionally, Father would throw out a little joke, making the whole family laugh.
Every time that happened, our home was filled with laughter, and that sound seemed to seep beyond our house into the tranquility of the night.
Mother would sometimes come over to my desk and check my homework.
Her touch was always gentle, and her advice was always wise and warm.
“What if you think about it this way?”
Whenever Mother suggested something, the answers to the problems suddenly became clear.
When dinner time came, Mother busily moved around in the kitchen.
Preparing a warm meal for the family always brought her great joy.
After closing the store, Father came home, cleaned up, and sat down for a moment on the sofa in the living room to relax.
I finished my homework and went to help Mother in the kitchen.
Seeing me, Mother smiled brightly.
“Working together will help us finish faster. Thank you.”
I also smiled at Mother’s suggestion as I helped with washing vegetables and little tasks.
On the table were various dishes prepared by Mother’s hands.
The family-style dinner table was always filled with simple but nutritionally balanced foods.
I stood next to Mother, placing the rice bowls and soup bowls on the table in order.
Father took his place at the table, waiting for us.
“Wow. Today’s a feast.”
Mother smiled and said.
“Today, we have your favorite bulgogi and seasoned spinach.”
Our family gathered at the table. Before starting the meal, Father always bowed his head for a brief moment of gratitude, as he always did.
“Thank you for letting our family be together today.”
The moment Father picked up his spoon, the door of the store burst open, hinting that something unexpected was about to happen.
In an instant, our family froze.
The previously peaceful dinner time suddenly turned filled with anxiety.
The sound of the store door opening was far too different from the usual footsteps of customers visiting our shop.
It was like a signal that something had gone wrong.
Father set his spoon down and stood up with a serious expression.
Mother looked at Father with a worried gaze.
I felt like my heart was sinking.
Seeing Mother’s hands tremble, I unconsciously grabbed her hand tightly.
As Father cautiously walked toward the store, we still had no idea what was happening.
The moment he crossed the threshold of the store, his voice filled with tension echoed into the shop.
The store door burst open, and two masked robbers stepped in.
They were armed and took a threatening stance as if demanding something from our family.
Mother quickly looked at me, conveying everything with just a glance. That look was saying, “Run away, hide.”
She grabbed my hand, quickly leading me to the room.
As soon as we entered the room, Mother locked the door.
“Stay here, no matter what happens, don’t open the door.”
“If anything happens… escape through that window.”
Mother’s voice was firm yet trembling.
After locking the door, she left me behind and went back out.
I had no idea what was going on outside, trembling with fear and holding my breath.
I hid behind the door, quaking in terror.
The room was quiet, but the occasional sounds from outside heightened my unease.
Crash! A chilling sound came from the store, as if something was breaking inside.
Heavy footsteps mixed with low, threatening voices echoed.
Within the stillness of the room, outside, dull noises and screams continued.
At first, I couldn’t distinguish the sounds.
But the moment I realized what they meant, my whole body froze.
This wasn’t a fight. It was one-sided noise.
After the first few crashing sounds, a brief silence followed.
And when that silence was broken again, it was only the robbers’ rough breathing and the sound of their footsteps.
No matter how much I strained to listen, I could no longer hear my parents’ voices.
I pressed my hand tightly over my mouth.
I wanted to scream out for someone, but I couldn’t make any sound.
Fear had lodged deeply in my throat, swallowing every word.
My mind was filled with chaotic thoughts, and the sudden silence felt even more agonizing.
The air in the room was cold and heavy. Every sound from outside pressed heavily on my heart.
Though it was summer, without turning on the fan, a chilly breeze crept up my skin.
The quiet silence filled the room, making me lose track of how long it had been.
I held my breath and tried to escape reality.
How much time had passed, suddenly I heard police sirens from outside.
The sound of the sirens grew closer, finally stopping in front of our house.
That sound gave me a bit of comfort, but simultaneously a new wave of fear washed over me.
What had happened to my parents?
I remained hiding behind the door, unable to move.
The siren continued to wail, and the sound of police footsteps drew nearer.
But the robbers’ sounds had already disappeared.
Voices from the police could be heard outside the door.
“Is anyone in there? This is the police!”
I took a deep breath and, with trembling hands, opened the door.
The serious gaze of the police officer met mine.
He gently supported me, telling me to calm down.
Their rough hands felt soft, but the chaos and fear in my heart wouldn’t settle easily.
I sobbed as I looked for my parents.
“Mom, Dad, where are you!?”
My voice was desperate.
Just then, the ambulance arrived. I pushed away from the police and dashed outside.
Inside the store, I saw medics covering two bodies with a cloth. I froze in that spot, feeling as though the world was crumbling around me.
It was clear that my parents were beneath that cloth.
The police quickly tried to restrain me.
“Stay away from here!”
“What you need right now is to be calm!”
Their voices carried a tone of comfort, but none of them could ease my pain.
The medics carefully lifted the bodies, moving them toward the ambulance.
From a distance, I watched the scene, and I cried out at the realization that I would never hear my parents’ voices again.
My cries cut through the night sky, echoing far and wide.
I could hear the whispers of neighbors who had gathered around.
The police was trying to calm the surrounding crowd, growing frustrated.
But my heart had already shattered into pieces, falling apart tragically.
*