Chapter 19

(Hyun Seo’s POV)

“It must have been hard.”

On hearing that remark, I grew a little emotional.

I was still young when I lost my parents. However, an old man who turned out to be my maternal uncle appeared. He didn’t work, but my life wasn’t hard.

Although he grumbled that it was expensive, he had given us all the money we needed and didn’t starve or abuse us. Of course, it was difficult to claim that he was a good guardian, but life beneath him wasn’t so bad.

My older sister, Eun Seo, always seemed a bit anxious. However, she never shared her troubles because she had to take care of me.

And so, I lived under the assumption that I had a normal life until our maternal uncle caused trouble…

After entering the orphanage, our life was no longer as comfortable as it was before. Since the orphanage was sponsored by Sungwoon, it wasn’t in dire straits but it wasn’t very affluent either.

There was almost nothing that could be considered solely yours because everything was shared. Furthermore, the orphanage kids were quite mean to newcomers.

In particular, the fact that Eun Seo and I were related by blood and had this relationship to rely on, filled the other children with envy.

On the third day of living at the orphanage, Yoon Jae appeared.

He came with a wide board and let each of us touch it. When Eun Seo and I touched it, a light appeared. It was at that moment that Yoon Jae took us out of the orphanage.

At least I thought so.

Leaving the orphanage behind and living at his mansion instead was amazing enough that I could cry. I was able to have a room of my own; our living conditions improved.

Also, being able to earn money as a minor was a great advantage. Although I wasn’t greedy for money, I knew that I needed some money in life.

I realised that whenever something unexpected occurred in life, it was better to have a little cash on hand than to be embarrassed because I had none.

So I was very grateful to Yoon Jae for giving me such a life.

He wasn’t this kind before…

I looked up at Yoon Jae’s sleeping face. When he took us out of the orphanage, I really felt like I was seeing an angel.

However, Yoon Jae had a bad personality and was chilly despite his beautiful appearance. So, unless it was Hyun Joo or Jae Hyuk, who had known him for a long time, he kept to himself.

Still, I liked Yoon Jae. Even if it was just a one-sided affection. I acted cute and hugged him to leave a good impression, but I only ever received his expressionless gaze in return. Even so, I was satisfied with the fact that he hadn’t outright refused physical contact.

But he suddenly changed.

Yoon Jae had changed since the day of the big attack. It was the first time I had ever heard a word of thanks from him.

I knew well what Yoon Jae thought of me and the others. A tool that he could use whenever. It was clear that Yoon Jae felt that way because nobody ever said ‘thank you’ to a tool.

He paid good money for what had caught his eye, so there was no need to care beyond that.

That was why Jung Yi Joon hated Yoon Jae, and the relationship between the two wasn’t good. They were just forced to stick together because of the contract.

But when Yoon Jae changed, everything changed.

Yi Joon no longer hated Yoon Jae. He stopped arguing with Yoon Jae and was instead anxious over not being able to take care of him.

Yoon Jae, who had changed, was a bit dense, so he was dragged along by Yi Joon. Consequently, Yi Joon was no longer afraid to touch Yoon Jae.

I’m a little upset…

Before that, I, Hyun Seo, was the only one who hugged Yoon Jae or held hands with him. Yoon Jae, who hated physical contact with others, was only ever generous to me, not rejecting my hugs or my requests to hold hands.

After the change, it had been a first for Yoon Jae to reach out with his hand and stroke my hair, which made it more intimate, but I was a little upset because he had shared that gentleness with others too.

What was once only allowed to me was now allowed to others, so I felt less special.

On top of that, he’s been hanging out with Jae Hyuk Hyung a lot these days…

I knew that Yoon Jae and Jae Hyuk had known each other since young but they hadn’t seemed that close… rather, it looked like Jae Hyuk was just unilaterally following Yoon Jae.

However, Yoon Jae, Yi Joon, and Jae Hyuk looked really close these days. When they met, they quarreled, but when they went out, the three always went together.

Negative feelings kept rising to the surface. Yoon Jae Hyung wouldn’t like it if he knew I was not as nice as I appeared and was harbouring these thoughts. I dug further into Yoon Jae’s arms. Yoon Jae’s chest, and his bare skin which was exposed slightly due to the open robe, touched my face.

I could smell the subtle scent of body lotion and feel Yoon Jae’s body temperature.

I hope Yoon Jae Hyung will always like me.

So that he can always remain good to me. I prayed in Yoon Jae’s arms.

* * *

Ha Hyun Seo continued to sleep in my room once every three days since then. There was another kid who tried to sleep with me, but I kicked them out. However, as I didn’t want to sleep alone, I chose to sleep with Ha Hyun Seo instead. It was this scene that Jung Yi Joon happened to catch.

“What are you doing?”

“Wh-what is it…”

“Why are you sleeping with him!?”

I was just sleeping… I was not doing anything else but sleeping, however, Jung Yi Joon got angry, stamping his feet as if he were looking upon cheating scum.

Then, in the midst of his anger, he disappeared…

This crazy guy…

“

When I laid down to sleep the next night, someone opened the door freely, and I saw Jung Yi Joon. On the other side, he appeared with a pillow he had brought from his room.

“What…”

“I’m here to sleep.”

Jung Yi Joon rolled his eyes in an unreserved manner and asked if it could be only Ha Hyun Seo. Apparently deciding I would never sleep with him, Jung Yi Joon rolled his eyes.

It’s narrow…

Ha Hyun Seo was as small as a chestnut, but Jung Yi Joon was like a boulder in comparison. I meant that he was quite big. Of course, my bed was not narrow, but I didn’t want to sleep with a boulder.

“You… too big to sleep together…”

When I answered with a sour face, Jung Yi Joon’s face, in the process of getting angry, turned strange. Then, suddenly, he smiled and nodded.

“Well, I’m a little big.”

Jung Yi Joon, who burst into laughter asking if it was too much of a burden, said okay, and contrary to how he had come, quietly retreated.

As I contemplated in the now empty room once Jung Yi Joon left, I realised the alternative meaning of our conversation.

No way… it’s not THAT right?

We were not even in a relationship, why did I think THAT? However, the annoyance remained. It seemed that Jung Yi Joon had said something to Kwon Jae Hyuk.

“Yoon Jae.”

“Huh?”

The sound of Kwon Jae Hyuk’s voice calling out to me was unusual. He approached me smiling and whispered,

“It’s a pity.”

“What is?”

“I’m big too.”

“…”

“I thought you’d be burdened.”

Then he left. What, you crazy guys…

Anyway, it was fortunate that the two of them didn’t suddenly break into the room. And then…

“Here. The one you asked me to investigate last time.”

“Um, thank you.”

“As you said, there seems to be a problem. It looks okay so far, but…”

I asked Ki Hyun Joo to investigate Ha Eun Seo and Ha Hyun Seo’s maternal uncle. It hadn’t been long since I asked for it but the gifted Ki Hyun Joo had already finished the investigation.

I opened the folder file she handed over.

Along with the photo, his name, life and criminal history were written one after another.

I was right about this bastard.

His criminal history was spectacular, rife with violence, theft, and robbery. Fortunately, there were no cases of sexual assault. However, it could be assumed that he had kept his older sister’s property and insurance money from her two children – the Ha siblings.

In fact, it was written that the Ha couple had not communicated with him for 15 years prior to their deaths.

But when the couple died…

It seemed that he originally approached the two siblings for their property and the insurance money. He had since been released from prison and was apparently currently squandering the rest of their money.

If that money runs out… he will approach the siblings.

It was still okay. It wouldn’t happen just yet… but there wasn’t much time. I should find the right time to speak with Ha Eun Seo.

I closed the file after I finished reading it all. Ki Hyun Joo waited by my side until then before she asked,

“Should I take care of it?”

“No, I’ll do it.”

Ki Hyun Joo nodded without any objection to my words. Everything would be according to Ha Eun Seo’s decision when she was ready.

That was how time passed, and winter came to a close.