Chapter 53

A vacant lot next to the building.

After Eunwoo picked up the torch, he lit a fire on the charcoal.

“Open the package and light it up in a circular motion.”

“Wow.”

Sun watched Eunwoo with admiration.

Eunwoo playfully shrugged and placed a thick piece of pork belly on the grill.

“I’ll go and bring people in.”

Sun turned and went toward the building.

She looked at the room where Gyeonhui had been until a while ago.

When she saw that the lights were off, she thought that he had already left.

Sun sighed unknowingly.

“If you’re looking for me, I’m here.”

With his familiar voice, Sun quickly turned her head. A slightly subdued Gyeonhui was looking at her.

“Come for dinner. It’s almost ready.”

She answered in the lowest tone possible and tried to invite the others.

“Wait. I need to talk to you.” He called to her. “What were you trying to say in the classroom?”

“… Nothing.”

“Tell me. What was it?”

Sun felt conflicted when he asked her again, but she shook her head to hide her feelings and started to speak.

“Did you grew up here?”

Sun struggled to ask. Gyeonhui furrowed his face upon hearing that unexpected question from her.

“For a while. When I was young.”

When she confirmed this fact with him, Sun’s heart instantly ached.

“Is that what you were going to ask me?” He asked in disappointment.

Sun couldn’t say anything as she bit her lower lip.

“Don’t worry, it’s no big deal,” Gyeonhui said.

“… I don’t care.”

His eyes shook after hearing her words.

“How dare I care for you.”

She turned her body at the end of the speech, fearing that he would notice her trembling voice.

“Hey, Sun!”

He called her name in hindsight, but she had already gone away.

***

Time to eat.

Sun put the grilled meat in a bowl with vacant eyes. Eunwoo, who was watching her from a distance, slowly approached.

“Wow, the meat’s gone as soon as it’s served on the table, eh?” Eunwoo put down an empty plate as he spoke.

“What?” She asked Eunwoo again since she had not heard anything because her mind was going elsewhere.

“The kids eat so well.”

“I’m glad they like it.” Sun smiled and put the well-cooked meat back on the empty plate.

“Now, I’ll grill them.”

“No, you have grilled a lot today. I’ll do it. It’s okay.”

As Sun smiled, Eunwoo slowly nodded and picked up the plate.

As Eunwoo moved away, Sun’s expression sank again.

She tried not to worry about Gyeonhui, but it wasn’t as easy as she thought.

Then the charcoal blared, and the fire sparked on her hands.

“Ouch! It’s hot!”

“Are you okay?” Eunwoo, who heard Sun’s cries, asked.

“Oh! Yeah, I’m okay. I’m wearing gloves.”

Sun covered her hand, pretending to be okay.

“Hey, Sun, we need more meat here!” Ari shouted.

“I guess we have to get some more meat for them right now.”

“Oh, yes.”

After hearing Sun’s words, Eunwoo reluctantly picked up the plate and headed toward Ari.

“Ouch…”

She took off her gloves and checked the wound. Her index finger was burnt and swollen.

As she looked around, Gyeonhui and Ojae were caught in her eyes.

“Mr. Ojae. Please take over this grill for a second. I’ll be right back after I use the restroom.” Sun pushed out the tongs and requested.

“Sure? Oh, sure.”

When Ojae quickly rose up and took over the tongs, Sun promptly headed to the building.

As Gyeonhui watched Sun’s back, he held his index finger with a firm face. The pain was quite severe and throbbing.

He stood up silently with a shallow sigh.

“Where are you going?” Ojae asked while holding the tongs in one hand and putting the meat in his mouth.

“I don’t know.”

Gyeonhui followed Sun to the building while limping on one of his legs.

***

“Ouch…”

She put her finger under the cold tap water and tried to cool the burn.

However, the wound seemed much worse than she thought, and the burning feeling in her fingers felt never-ending.

‘Drrr.’

The door opened, and she heard someone entering.

She looked up. It was Gyeonhui. She slowly turned off the faucet and picked up the plate as if she had used the restroom for something else.

After a while, Gyeonhui approached her and handed her a towel.

“Hold your finger tight with this towel. It’s going to feel a little better.”

After hearing his blunt words, Sun unfolded the towel.

There was ice that was just pulled out of the freezer wrapped in it.

“… Stop. I’m feeling uncomfortable about this.”

She tried to put the ice down while biting her lips tightly. Gyeonhui grabbed her arm and shoved the ice onto her hands.

“Take it.”

“… No. I don’t want it.”

“Stop being stubborn!”

Gyeonhui was so frustrated and raised his voice. Sun looked at the ice and looked up at him again.

“Why the hell are you doing this?”

“Is it wrong to get some ice for you when you get injured?” He asked.

“Yes, it’s wrong.”

Sun looked up at him.

“Gyeonhui, you’ve never done this before. You once told me that I have to deal with my pain on my own.”

“That’s because…”

She turned and tried to leave the room without hearing his answer.

“Sun! I’m not finished yet.

He grabbed her arm but couldn’t finish what he had to say because her eyes were shaking painfully. She looked at him still and slowly started to speak.

“I regret asking if you grew up here.”

His eyes shook upon hearing her words.

“Because I just realized that I really don’t need to hear anything from you anymore.”

The words she just let out exhaustedly was shocking to Gyeonhui. He couldn’t say anything.

“Hey, Sun! Huh?”

Then Ari stepped in and stopped after seeing Gyeonhui.

“… What do you need?” Sun asked.

“Come out and eat with us…” Ari responded cautiously as she looked at Sun.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

Sun looked at Gyeonhui, and she quickly followed Ari. Gyeonhui remained alone, and he seemed to linger there as if he was frozen.

***

The orphanage after the darkness set in.

A group of people lined up in front of the car after they finished cleaning up.

“Thank you so much for what you’ve done today.”

Andrea looked at the people with a gratifying smile.

“You’re welcome. We’d love to come back. It was so rewarding for us too.” Eunyoung responded on behalf of everyone.

“By the way, where is Mr. Woo?”

“He left a little while ago; he said that there was something that needed to be taken care of.”

Andrea smiled after hearing Eunyoung’s question. Sun’s expression darkened when she heard it.

“He’s like a hedgehog. Please help him a lot.”

“Yes, I know. The thorns are a little stingy.”

When Ari responded with a sarcastic tone, Eunyoung thrust Ari’s side with her elbow.

“Did I say something wrong?”

“No, you didn’t. I know exactly what you mean, that’s why I was telling you about him.”

People laughed awkwardly as Andrea put in a helping word for Ari.

“Oh, Miss Sun,” Andrea called Sun separately.

“Yes?”

“Take this.”

Andrea put out a sketchbook.

“It’s a sketchbook from when Gyeonhui was a kid.”

Hearing that it was Gyeonhui’s sketchbook, Sun felt surprised and opened her eyes wide.

“Why are you giving this to me…”

Sun asked since she was in doubt.

“I wanted to have at least one person look at him the right way in this world. His drawings and him.”

Andrea smiled as she said those words. Sun could no longer refuse and reluctantly accepted it.

“Well, We’re all late. Let’s get in the car.”

Everyone got into the car upon Eunyoung’s hurried request.

Sun held up the sketchbook and bowed her head toward Sister Andrea.

After a few moments, Sun got in the car and began to leave the orphanage playground.