Chapter 10: Shelter in the Rain

“You won’t take the money? Why?”

“…That’s, I mean.”

To Miryeong, who was looking at her with an expression of incomprehension, Kangeun couldn’t easily bring herself to say that she felt like she would have to give up something precious to her if she took that money.

“This is your dad’s money. I told you I borrowed it.”

“…I know.”

If she continued to tutor without a break like now, she could somehow manage to pay for her tuition and living expenses.

If she got a job right after graduation and was frugal, she would probably be able to save up for Siheon’s college tuition as well.

So even if she took this money, what would really change?

Her dad was already living soaked in alcohol.

The main reason her dad had fallen into despair was more because of the disappearance of her mother’s jewelry than the money.

The rings, necklaces, and earrings that her mother had cherished were one of the few remaining mementos that kept her father alive.

Miryeong, who was staring blankly at Kangeun, who couldn’t bring herself to reveal her true intentions for not taking the money, chuckled and tapped the table with her long fingernails.

“Kangeun-ah.”

“…Yes.”

“Our poor Kangeun.”

“…”

“You’re doing this because you’re afraid I’ll take Siheon, aren’t you?”

Miryeong let out a long sigh as she watched Kangeun lower her head, pressing her palms against her hot eyelids.

“That kid Siheon, he’s my son.”

“…I know.”

“You two, you’re not blood-related.”

“…”

“Well, you two were a bit affectionate.
And your atmospheres were strangely similar.”

‘The fact that you’re both so frustrating is what makes you two so alike,’ Miryeong muttered and crossed her legs.

“Ah, I’m craving a cigarette. You’re making me feel like a real b*tch.”

“…”

“That kid Siheon, how did he grow up? Is his personality not a pain in the ass?”

“What…?”

“His dad’s personality is a real pain in the ass. He’s in the middle of puberty, so it’s the perfect time to act up. Is Siheon tall? What’s his build like?”

“…He’s tall. His build is good too. And, he’s kind.”

“Kind? He was unusually stubborn even back in the day.”

“Phew, even a mute kid, when he shut his mouth and endured, there was no stronger willpower than that.”

“You think I wouldn’t know, I gave birth to him.”

“But it’s amazing that he’s tall and has a good build.”

“You probably just fried eggs for him every day, you probably didn’t feed him much meat either.
Funny, Yoon Siheon.”

“He even takes after his dad in that way.”

Miryeong, who was giggling as if something was so funny, bent down and met Kangeun’s gaze.

“Good.”

“What…?”

“I said it’s good. You can raise him a little longer. To be honest, I was a little uneasy about it too.”

“No matter how tall and well-built he is, fifteen is a bit much. I looked it up, and it’s originally from the age of twenty.”

“…What is?”

“That’s none of your business, Kangeun.
Anyway, it’s not an urgent situation right now, so I’m giving you two more time to be together.”

“…Yes.”

“The money, you’re the one who said you wouldn’t take it, right?”

“Yes.”

“No taking it back later. Got it?”

“…Yes.”

After getting a firm answer from Kangeun, Miryeong put the thick envelope of money and the crumpled bills back into her handbag.

After staring at Kangeun in silence for a long time, she stood up abruptly as if she couldn’t stand it anymore.

Click-clack, the sound of Miryeong’s heels grew fainter.

But soon, Miryeong’s red enamel shoes came into the view of Kangeun, who had her head down.

“Ha, I’m so soft-hearted.”

With a sigh, Miryeong plopped back down in her seat, placed a piece of paper on the table, and seemed to be writing something.

“Our good Kangeun.”

“…”

Miryeong, who was quietly watching Kangeun, who was suffering from the guilt of choosing Siheon over her own father and the guilt of blocking the opportunity for a better environment for Siheon, clicked her tongue with a “tsk”.

“Kangeun-ah.”

“…Yes, Imo.”

“If it gets hard raising Siheon, contact me.”

What Miryeong held out was a note with a phone number on it.

Miryeong’s handwriting, which she had pressed down hard with a ballpoint pen she had probably gotten from the cafe owner, could only be described as terrible by anyone who saw it.

“Well, he’s fifteen, so he’s all grown up and it probably won’t be hard, but if you ever need money or anything.”

“…”

“The money I was going to pay you back today, I can give it to you from within that amount.
You know what I mean, right?”

“…Yes.”

With those last words, Miryeong left the cafe.

Kangeun, who had been spacing out for a long time, came to her senses thanks to the long vibration of her phone in her bag.

It was an alarm she had set for herself.

Belatedly realizing that she was late for her tutoring session, Kangeun hurriedly left the cafe and had no choice but to take a taxi.

And she had just finished her tutoring session, flustered in a way that was unlike her.

Kangeun didn’t even notice the intensifying raindrops staining the asphalt black.

She was so preoccupied with thinking about the thirty million won, her dad, Imo Miryeong, and

Siheon floating around in her head that she didn’t even realize her body was getting soaked as she walked.

There was no time to feel the usual creepiness.

“Ah…?”

Then, at some point, Kangeun, who had bumped into a large figure blocking her way, quickly lifted her head.

Kangeun’s round eyes widened and her lips slowly parted.

“You’re all wet.”

“…Siheon-ah?”

Kangeun looked up at Siheon, who had taken a step closer, tilting the umbrella towards her.

“Why are you…?”

“It started pouring, so I thought I’d check just in case.
Good thing I came.”

“Ah…”

“It’s my first time in this neighborhood, so I got a little lost and was late.
I’m sorry.”

Just in case, Kangeun would write down the address of her tutoring place and leave it on her desk.

It was because of Siheon, who worried about his noona to a degree that sometimes felt excessive.

Whenever Kangeun started a new tutoring job, Siheon would always come to meet her once, as if to check the location.

He would say he was bored, but it seemed he was worried about Kangeun’s safety.

Kangeun didn’t dislike Siheon coming to meet her either, so she would secretly look forward to it.

But recently, Siheon had seemed unusually busy with his studies and other things, so she hadn’t expected it, but it seemed today was that day.

“What do you have to be sorry for.”

“Noona, you must be cold. Hold on.”

Siheon held out the handle of the umbrella he was holding.

As Kangeun took the umbrella in a daze, Siheon took off the hoodie he was wearing and draped it over Kangeun’s shoulders.

It was a season where the mornings and evenings were getting quite chilly.

“I’m fine. You wear it.”

“I’m really fine. You’ll catch a cold like this, Noona. Let’s go quickly.”

Siheon, who had taken the umbrella again, stood close to Kangeun and hurried her.

Come to think of it, the sound of the rain hitting the umbrella was quite rough.

A gentle smile spread across Kangeun’s lips as she quietly listened to the sound of the rain and looked down at Siheon’s feet, walking in step with her.

The anxiety, the guilt, the feeling of her stomach hurting and stinging as if she had indigestion, all of it was forgotten after she met Siheon who had come to pick her up.

“Did you come after seeing the address I wrote down? It’s dangerous to wander around at night like this.”

“You walk around at night alone too, Noona, what’s so dangerous. But it’s a bit dark here.”

“The streetlights are all covered by the trees. Weren’t you scared?”

“Scared? Am I a kid?”

“Sometimes, you seem younger than me, Noona.”

“What?”

“You’re short. Your hands and feet are small too.”

“You’re the one who got big. Who was it that couldn’t sleep without holding my hand when they were little?”

“Me. Anyway, that’s why I have to protect you now, Noona.
Because I’m bigger.”

Siheon, who had even taken Kangeun’s bag as she burst into laughter as if it were absurd, grinned.

Kangeun felt the tension that had been on edge melt away in the warmth of Siheon’s coat wrapped around her shoulders.

‘Just a little longer.’

‘Just a little longer.’

‘I won’t ask for much, if I can just see you smiling by my side a little longer.’

Kangeun knew that Imo Miryeong would come back one day.

She also knew that if Imo Miryeong said she was going to take Siheon, she wouldn’t be able to say anything.

She had no power, no right to keep Siheon by her side.

‘Siheon-ah, what about you?’

‘What choice would you have made?’

‘You would have naturally said you would go with your aunt.’

‘You’ll resent me later.’

‘You’ll blame my selfishness for not telling you that your aunt came looking for you… I know, I know… I’m sorry, I’m sorry.’

‘But…’

‘I’ll, I’ll do better.’

‘I’ll do my best to take care of you.’

Kangeun had always thought she was someone without any desires.

But she was wrong.

It was the day she faced her own selfishness, her own dark desire to keep her young brother by her side under the pretext of having no one else to rely on.

****

Two years passed.

Kangeun, who had now turned twenty-two, was on her way out of the house of the student she had been teaching for over two years.

“Thank you for everything.”

“That’s what I should be saying.”

“Thanks to you, our Hayoon was able to get into the university she wanted.”

“Take this home and eat it. I made a lot of food.”

“Ah, I’ll enjoy it. Thank you for thinking of me.”

Kangeun, who had received the lunchbox from the student’s mother, smiled with a grateful heart.

On top of the lunchbox, which would have had a few of the dishes from dinner packed inside, there was also a thick-looking envelope.

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