Chapter 19: A Friend’s Comfort

Eunhae carefully emerged from the stall she had been in. Fortunately, it was the women’s restroom.

‘Before, I was so frantic that I once stumbled into the men’s room. It’s a relief that didn’t happen today.’

She exhaled a sigh of relief, replacing the hat she clutched in her hand. Even though she had lacked the energy to put it back on earlier, she hadn’t let go of it.

It was a fortunate outcome.

It wasn’t merely because Jung Seunghee had bought it; it was simply a hat she cherished. She would have been deeply disappointed had she lost it.

Stepping out of the restroom, Eunhae found the map application’s GPS pinpointed her location with relative accuracy.

“Oh, Jung Seunghee. I checked the app; it says this is the College of Music building.”

Despite her diligent walking, she had only covered half the distance to the library.

–Understood. If you’re comfortable, wait in the building’s lobby. If not, you can wait in the restroom.

“The lobby seems empty, so I think it’ll be fine.”

–I’ll be there soon.

“Okay… drive safely.”

Though the occasional sound of instruments and footsteps suggested students were still practicing, no one descended to the lobby.

Nevertheless, Eunhae remained on edge.

‘My head feels like it’s going to shatter.’

Seeing too many fates always brought on a headache. She pressed her throbbing temples, but her feverish head refused to cool.

‘I was too complacent.’

If she was going to be away from Jung Seunghee for an extended period, she should have proactively sought out less crowded places.

Eunhae deeply regretted her arrogance.

One saving grace was the sheer noise and multitude of people, making it highly unlikely anyone would hear her if she muttered to herself.

Revealing fates didn’t bring back karma, but merely surprising people or making them wary of her was penalty enough.

In elementary school, Eunhae, without a second thought, told a close friend about their future. At first, her friend found it fascinating, but over time, they grew to fear and dread her.

Eventually, her friend blamed Eunhae for not preventing the future.

It was also the first time she despaired over an unchangeable future.

“Eunhae noona!”

“Jung Seunghee!”

She rushed towards Jung Seunghee as he opened the lobby doors and entered, immediately embracing him.

“Eunhae noona?”

“I really, really hate it.”

Jung Seunghee gently stroked her trembling shoulders and back.

“I’m sorry for leaving you alone.”

The soft concern in his voice tugged at Eunhae’s emotions.

Her tears suddenly streamed down.

“Huh, what? Why are you crying?”

“I think I was just startled.”

“You’ve never cried before…”

Jung Seunghee leaned down, wiping away the tears that stained Eunhae’s cheeks. This only made her sob even more bitterly.

“I must be crazy. I don’t want to cry, but I keep…”

“It’s okay to just cry. What’s wrong with crying?”

Because no one would wipe her tears, even if she cried.

After her parents divorced, Eunhae went with her father. Her father was kind, and she loved him, but realistically, a child in a single-parent household inevitably spent a lot of time alone.

So, Eunhae had grown accustomed to not crying.

Sleeping was far more effective at calming her emotions than crying.

“H-hoo…

“Cry. It’s okay to cry.”

Jung Seunghee held Eunhae close, letting her bury her face in his chest. She didn’t resist, simply leaning into his embrace.

“Because of me, h-hoo, your clothes are all wet.”

“It’s fine.”

“What if my snot, *sniff*, gets on you, h-hoo?”

“Ah, that might be a bit much.”

Even as he said that, Jung Seunghee did not loosen his arms around Eunhae.

“H-hoo, thank you…”

Thanks to Jung Seunghee, she wouldn’t see any fates until she got home. However, that didn’t feel important at the moment.

She was grateful and sorry that he had found her in her panic and comforted her.

“Truly, thank you…”

Until Eunhae stopped crying, Jung Seunghee silently and gently stroked her.

–Noona, are you going to play that game again this weekend?

“No.”

–Then what are you going to do?

“A new game. I finished the ending of that one.”

Jung Seunghee sighed over the phone.

–If you rested last weekend, play with me this weekend.

“I want to play with you too. But… everywhere is so crowded on weekends…”

Ever since her panic attack on the festival day, Eunhae had been living with extreme caution.

She didn’t grow overconfident just because Jung Seunghee’s presence kept the fates at bay. When at school, she clung to him like gum stuck to the pavement.

She didn’t even consider going out on weekends.

Jung Seunghee, knowing she needed time to rest, also told her to stay home on weekends.

“You told me to stay home for a while? Is ‘a while’ exactly one week to you?”

–I miss you, noona.

His voice was earnest.

Eunhae’s face flushed crimson. Even though her father hadn’t returned from work yet and she was alone at home, she didn’t know how to react.

“You, you, you really play with people’s hearts! Amazing!”

–So, if I say I miss you, your heart wavers?

“O-of course it does!”

–Then, would you like to come over to my place this weekend? It’s indoors, so you won’t have to worry about other people.

“Oh… is that allowed? What about your parents?”

–I told you before. My father is in New York.

Hearing that, it seemed to jog her memory.

“You said he was a professor there?”

–Yes. So I live alone.

“Th-then, maybe it’s fine…”

Jung Seunghee, sensing her hesitation, pressed on.

–Come and help me make the PPT for ‘Understanding East Asian Classics,’ too. Our presentation is next month.

“I guess I should!”

The next morning, Eunhae prepared to leave as soon as she finished a late breakfast. Her father, who had been lying on the sofa, flipping through TV channels, sat up in surprise.

“Eunhae, where are you going?”

“To a friend’s house.”

“You have friends?”

“Yes. I have friends.”

“When did you make this friend? Are they the same age? Did you meet them in college?”

Eunhae waved her hand at her father’s barrage of questions.

“We became close because we took several classes together at the beginning of the semester. They’re a year younger than me. A junior in the same department.”

“You’re making friends now… You’ve grown up so much. It was a good decision to go back to school, wasn’t it?”

“Well…”

Eunhae didn’t deny it, beginning to put on her sneakers.

Her father shot to his feet.

“Eunhae, wait a moment.”

“Why?”

“I’ll drive you.”

“Huh? It’s fine. I can just take the subway. I don’t think there will be many people at this time.”

“It’s a weekend afternoon; why wouldn’t there be many people?”

“…Is that so?”

“Dad will take you. Just wait a moment. I’ll change and be right out.”

“Okay.”

Her father’s expression as he headed down to the underground parking lot seemed quite cheerful.

“Seriously, I’m the one going to a friend’s house, so why do you look more excited, Dad?”

“Because I’m happy that my Eunhae has a friend she’s close enough to visit.”

Indeed, in middle school, she used to call her father at school, asking him to check if she was being excluded or didn’t have close friends.

‘Dad must have worried a lot because of me too…’

Even though he eventually separated from her mother, her father said he loved her even for being a shaman. So, he silently accepted Eunhae’s innate destiny.

But even so, wouldn’t a father be distressed watching his child suffer?

‘It would be great if this vision never returned, and I could make other friends like this.’

Eunhae sighed deeply, buckling her seatbelt.

“So, where’s your friend’s house?”

“I haven’t checked yet… but they said the address is here.”

“Hmm? It’s by the Han River?”

Her father fell silent for a moment.

“Your friend… seems quite well-off.”

“That’s what I thought. They drive a really nice car…”

“They’re already driving a car?”

“Apparently. I’ve gotten a ride in their car a few times, and it was nice. Oh, Dad. I think I might get my driver’s license.”

“Didn’t you say it would be hard because you have to have someone else in the car with you during practice?”

“But if I drive my own car, I can be alone during that time, right? The subway is too crowded.”

“Getting a driver’s license is good. If you’re going to get it, I’ll even cover the test fees.”

“Really?”

“But you’ll have to buy your own car. I’ll go with you if you buy a used car, but it has to be with your own money.”

“Isn’t that just telling me not to buy one at all?”

“Eunhae, you can buy one once you’re able to work part-time.”

“If I can’t even get a part-time job, don’t even dream of buying a car?”

“My daughter, you’re so smart.”

The road was packed with cars, likely due to many people heading out for recreation. It seemed she would have arrived around the same time even if she had taken the subway.

Still, thanks to her father, she could move without being jostled by crowds.

Eunhae prepared to get out as they arrived at the entrance of Jung Seunghee’s apartment complex.

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