Chapter 7: The Ordinary Life

For an hour, I had been selecting what Jaeseong needed at the stationery store. I had accompanied them, initially believing we only needed a few school supplies, but even choosing a simple notebook proved unexpectedly difficult.

“Oh! We need a notice book too. Jaeseong, pick one out here.”

I had no idea how many times this had happened already. Why were there so many types of notebooks for elementary school students? We had already picked out over ten different kinds since we arrived: diaries, basic practice books, dictation notebooks, English notebooks, music notebooks, observation journals, composition books, comprehensive notebooks, and various grid notebooks with eight or eleven squares—it was endless.

Though I desperately wished to finish quickly and go home, I couldn’t bring myself to stop my enthusiastic aunt. And then,

“I’ll… choose this one.”

“This one? Alright, let’s get it.”

Jaeseong looked happier than at any other point during our outing today.

Of course, they had seemed happy at the department store too, but not to this extent.

Located near the Children’s Park, this place lived up to its title as the nation’s largest stationery center, boasting a vast interior and an extensive array of items. As soon as we entered, Jaeseong’s eyes widened, and they gazed around the store as if utterly captivated. A familiar sensation washed over me, a feeling that didn’t easily fade.

Jaeseong had remained in a state of continuous happiness from that moment until now.

“Now, only the pencil case is left. Jaeseong, pick the one you like best.”

“Okay.”

Their small body hesitated, peering around the section where the pencil cases were displayed. They seemed a little more cautious than when choosing other school supplies, and perhaps because of this, despite there being only a few types, they couldn’t make a decision as easily as before.

Aunt pointed to the display case on the opposite side from where Jaeseong stood.

“Jaeseong, look, there are character pencil cases over there too.”

Seeing where Aunt’s finger pointed, Jaeseong subtly shifted their steps in that direction.

“Ah! That’s our best-selling item these days. The character in the middle is especially popular!”

A nearby staff member, unprompted, launched into a detailed explanation. They claimed the cartoon, which children Jaeseong’s age absolutely couldn’t *not* know, had revolutionized the stagnant animation industry, describing it as an ordinary hero cartoon where five protagonists fought for peace.

Even if it was the talk of elementary schoolers, to my adult eyes, it was nothing more than a childish, boring cartoon, giving me no reason to care. Yet, my gaze kept drifting towards it. The cartoon the staff member described was the very one Jaeseong had put on that morning before falling asleep.

“Does our friend like Glow too? Glow is so cool, isn’t they?”

“Oh my, is this character’s name Glow? What a cool name. Jaeseong, do you want this one?”

“Yes.”

Jaeseong hesitated for a moment but then nodded, a faint smile gracing their lips.

“Here, please ring this up along with the others.”

“You’ve made an excellent choice. Glow is so popular with kids these days that we’re always running low on stock every time a new shipment arrives.”

While the staff member scanned the item’s barcode, I turned around.

‘What’s wrong with me?’

The buoyant feeling from a moment ago had subsided. Jaeseong’s pale face was clearly smiling, yet the emotions I sensed within them told a different story.

“Don’t ring that up yet, wait a moment.”

“Huh?”

I returned to the pencil case section we had just left. There, I picked up a pencil case from the very end corner. Adorned with a character in a black uniform, it was, frankly, utterly drab.

“Take this one.”

Both Aunt and the staff member simultaneously looked up. Their gazes immediately fixed on the pencil case in my hand.

“Oh? That character is…”

“What are you doing? Jaeseong said they wanted the other one!”

“Just take this one.”

“What’s with this sudden stubbornness? Why are you acting like this?”

“Fine… It’s fine. Then just buy both.”

Unwilling to engage in a pointless argument in such a public place, I placed both pencil cases on the counter.

“Honestly, what is this? Why the sudden greed for pencil cases?”

“I’ll take both, please.”

Despite receiving a suspicious glare from Aunt, I steadfastly presented the two pencil cases.

*Beep- Beep-*

The endless procession of barcode scans continued, and then, when only a few school supplies, including the pencil cases, remained to be scanned.

“Um, I’ll… I’ll take this one….”

“Huh?”

Jaeseong had reached for the drab pencil case I had chosen.

“Oh? This one? You want to buy this?”

“Yes.”

“Not that one, but this one?”

“Yes.”

Despite Aunt’s repeated questions, Jaeseong consistently pointed to the same item.

“Jaeseong, you can buy what you want. You don’t have to listen to Junseo.”

“I… I like this one. I’ll get Knight.”

‘Was this character’s name Knight? Even the name is drab.’

“Really? You’re not just saying that to be polite, are you?”

*Nod.*

In the end, we put back the initial choice and purchased the pencil case Jaeseong had selected. Jaeseong, holding the jet-black pencil case, seemed incredibly happy.

****

Having finally emerged from the stationery store after a full hour and a half, it was already past five o’clock. Being summer, even with the sun halfway down, the air outside remained thick and warm.

“Jaeseong, are you alright? Aren’t you tired?”

“I’m fine.”

Jaeseong shook their head. However, contrary to their assurance, their complexion looked a little fatigued.

‘We’ll have to walk a bit to reach the parking lot.’

“Stay here. I’ll get the car.”

“Ah, wait a moment. Before that, I’ll quickly go to the restroom. Take Jaeseong and sit on the bench in front of the theater. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.”

“Junseo, don’t lose Jaeseong; keep a close eye on them.”

After confirming Aunt was heading in the opposite direction, we walked towards the theater. As it was a bright weekend, the streets lined with restaurants and the theater district were bustling with couples and families, all wearing cheerful expressions. Among them, many children who appeared to be Jaeseong’s age caught my eye. Come to think of it, this was also the first time I had seen so many children.

Having manifested my abilities at such a young age, leading to my isolation from society, it was rare for me to even see someone a year or two younger than myself, let alone a child. Furthermore, since my aunt, who was seven years younger than my father, had married before him, my cousins were older ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters,’ not younger ones. Dealing with anyone younger than myself was therefore inherently difficult for me.

For someone like me to become Jaeseong’s guardian, and to be in a place like this on a weekend evening, it would be strange not to be surprised.

After passing several shops, an alley appeared, lined with benches stretching in a straight line. I found it odd that all the children passing by were holding identical ice cream cones. And sure enough, a large white sign with an ice cream illustration caught my eye in the distance.

I stopped walking and turned my head.

“Wait here for a moment. I’ll be right-”

…

…

‘Huh?’

Instead of Jaeseong’s familiar face by my side, an unknown child was eating an ice cream.

“Jaehoon, it’s time to go in. Stop playing and come here.”

As the child I had never seen before walked away, holding the middle-aged man’s hand, I stood rooted to the spot, utterly stunned. My mind suddenly went blank, unable to form a single thought.

*Thump.* ‘The sound of my heart plummeting.’

First, I turned around and retraced my steps.

‘Where are they?’

My mind was in chaos. I tried to regain my composure, but my heart kept racing with urgency.

Initially, I was angry at my own useless incompetence. But as Jaeseong remained out of sight, a heavy sense of guilt and fear washed over me. It was a terror I had never experienced before.

After a few frantic, hurried steps, I spotted a pale face anxiously looking around in the distant, bustling crowd. I rushed towards them, my heart pounding erratically, just as it had three months ago, with every step closer. Jaeseong was trembling with fear.

“Ha… Come here.”

“…!”

Upon seeing me, Jaeseong hastily rushed over and grabbed the hand I offered, then exhaled the breath they had been holding. They looked as though they were about to burst into tears.

The moment their trembling fingertips touched mine, a pleasant sensation, enough to make my hair stand on end, spread through me. Instantaneously, a sense of comfort enveloped my entire body, bringing with it an almost unbelievable tranquility. This was the unique stability only a Guide could provide, the sole beacon capable of leading an Esper. My chaotic mind and anxious heart instantly quieted.

‘Such a feeling just from holding hands. It’s astounding.’

The ice cream shop I had seen earlier was packed, both inside and at its outdoor tables. Moreover, the benches in front of the theater that Aunt had mentioned were also occupied by entwined couples and young children. Jaeseong looked tired.

Normally, a child would have whined at least once, but after five or six hours of walking around, Jaeseong hadn’t complained about being tired. Aunt would likely be a while, and there was nowhere to sit. It bothered me to just leave them standing, so I eventually let go of their hand. Jaeseong, who had been eating ice cream, immediately looked up as I released them. Their dark eyes flickered with anxiety.

“Wh-where are you going?”

“Nowhere.”

“Then what?”

“Here, hold tight.”

“Huh?”

I picked Jaeseong up. I deliberately chose to carry them rather than give them a piggyback ride, thinking the height might scare them. At first, Jaeseong seemed awkward, but with time, they settled into a comfortable, familiar position.

Holding a small child for the very first time, I realized that Jaeseong was even smaller than I had imagined. I had felt it yesterday, but honestly, I was afraid of touching such a fragile being, one that seemed like it could break with just a little force.

“Whoa, look over there.”

“Wow…”

“Is that their dad?”

“I can’t see their face clearly… Aren’t they an uncle and nephew?”

Everyone passing by was staring at us. Remembering the sensation I had felt earlier from holding their hand, a sudden wave of guilt washed over me. It wasn’t an action with any particular meaning, yet a thought flashed through my mind, making me feel dirty, as if I were a pedophile.

Unconsciously, my expression soured.

Even as I wrestled with complex thoughts, Jaeseong continued to breathe calmly. Just like the first time we touched, my senses naturally sought out their breathing.

‘Is this truly normal?’

“…”

After about five minutes, I subtly turned my head and saw Aunt looking at us with an incredulous expression.

“What? If you arrived, you should’ve said something.”

“I’m so dumbfounded, I can’t even speak.”

“Why?”

“Earlier at the department store, you said you hated people staring, but don’t you think this draws even more attention?”

“It does.”

“Honestly, you’re impossible.”

“We’re late. Let’s go quickly.”

As I stepped towards the parking lot, Aunt quickly followed behind me, asking,

“Are you going to keep carrying them like that?”

“Yeah.”

“I thought you were going to get the car.”

I pointed to the small head resting on my shoulder.

“…They fell asleep.”

At my words, Aunt clucked her tongue once more.

As expected, Jaeseong didn’t wake up even after getting into the car. The sun had set during our drive home, and by the time we arrived at the center, it was quite dark. Aunt whispered her goodbyes before getting out of the car. Even when we reached the residence’s underground parking lot, Jaeseong remained asleep, curled up in an uncomfortable position in the backseat.

I recalled the scenes I had witnessed in front of the theater earlier.

The child smiling brightly, holding a favorite ice cream. The child running around a small fountain. The child clinging to their mother’s hand, whining that their legs hurt. And the child asleep on their father’s lap, a candy in their mouth.

Watching those ordinary sights, I thought.

Everything listed on the pages I had read since before sunrise. The things a ‘normal’ child thinks, likes, and desires. All those things that had been denied to this child until now.

—’I want to show Jaeseong all of those things.’

Greeting someone upon waking.

Eating breakfast face-to-face with someone.

Taking a nap while watching a cartoon.

After experiencing all those obvious things, one by one, I hoped to one day see Jaeseong running around excitedly, smiling brightly.

Only then did I realize.

The reason I brought you here.

‘I want to give you an ordinary life.’