By Zephyria It was Sung Se-han. The pretty child, squatting down and looking at the flowering tree with Grandmother (Paternal), was definitely Sung Se-han.
Oh my god…! To see a photo of Grandmother (Maternal) and Sung Se-han together. I never even wished for such luck.
“That’s when Se-han was eight years old. Mother and Se-han loved playing in the garden.”
I nodded diligently as Auntie explained how large and beautiful Grandmother (Maternal)’s garden was. Auntie doesn’t know. That I went there to find Sung Se-han before.
“Sung Se-han was really… pretty when he was young.”
The young Sung Se-han I left behind was really small and fragile like a baby, but the figure in the photo had grown in body and gained a lot of weight, looking unbelievably healthy.
Ah, I really shouldn’t be like this in front of Auntie, but my eyes keep getting hot.
“Eish, what the heck! I’ll show you my favorite.”
Auntie took the phone from me, swiped across the screen, and handed it back to me. The video was already playing, so I quickly brought the phone to my eyes.
The screen that first unfolded in the video was Grandmother (Paternal)’s garden, covered in snow. The focus of the video, which scanned the garden from right to left, was soon fixed on a child sitting on a garden bench.
The child, wearing a thick coat and dangling his feet, unfortunately only showed his back. His small feet, not yet long enough to reach the ground, were so lovely as he pointed the tips. I had no way to express it, so I just bit my lip.
⌜Se-han!」
I widened my eyes at the sudden call to Se-han.
⌜Come here and make a snowman with Grandmother (Paternal)!」
Even though I couldn’t see her, I immediately recognized her. The playful, affectionate voice was Status Window, whom I missed. It was Se-han’s Grandmother (Maternal).
The moment my butt wiggled without me realizing it, Grandmother (Paternal) in a coat entered the video. Grandmother (Paternal), who was gently rolling a small snowball, gestured to Sung Se-han.
⌜Grandmother (Paternal) will teach you how to make a snowman. Come here and make it together. Huh?」
Even with Grandmother (Paternal)’s affectionate request, Sung Se-han only dangled his feet and didn’t get up from the chair. Grandmother (Paternal)’s face wasn’t clear because it was taken from a bit far away, but I could still tell that she was wearing a warm smile.
⌜Then Grandmother (Paternal) will just make it alone. Our puppy can watch from there.」
Grandmother (Paternal) slowly rolled the snowball, which was getting bigger and bigger, to the bench where Sung Se-han was sitting. I opened my eyes as wide as I could, trying not to miss a single snowflake flying in the video.
Then, at some point, I took a big breath. It seemed like Grandmother (Paternal) had started humming, though I couldn’t hear it well yet.
⌜Mom, what does a snowman look like…? I blew on my hands and made it round… and it became my Winter Friend….」
My heart was full of another joy as Grandmother (Paternal)’s voice became clearer. This song was a children’s song I really liked when I was young.
⌜A white and pretty face… red cheeks and black eyes… It became my friend that I can only meet in winter….」
I used to sing this song with Mom, but you, Sung Se-han, did it with Grandmother (Paternal).
⌜Friend, don’t be sad. Let’s meet again next winter….」
Grandmother (Paternal), who had finished making the snowman by making lips with twigs, was seen straightening her back with a heave.
⌜Okay, done! Se-han, what do you think of seeing the snowman in person? Do you like it?」
Even with Grandmother (Paternal)’s question, filled with subtle anticipation, Sung Se-han only dangled his feet without any answer. The video ended the moment I covered my mouth with my fist because I kept laughing. I unknowingly let out a sigh of regret.
“Um, Auntie!”
I shouted urgently because Auntie had taken the phone away.
“Could you give me this video too? I want to have it too….”
Auntie made a troubled expression at my request, so I was disappointed even before hearing her answer.
“Later. When Tae-kyung and our Se-han become closer, I’ll think about it then.”
“Wow, really? Thank you!”
I stood up and bowed, hearing that I could have it later. It wasn’t a big deal that Auntie hadn’t accepted me yet. After all, Auntie would soon adore me like her own nephew. Just looking at Auntie’s eyes, full of favor towards me, I could guess that day wasn’t far off.
Today seems to be a day worth commemorating in many ways. It was worth coming to meet Auntie, even after being scolded by Team leader and Hyung the manager.
Also, as I counted the many things that would come in the future, my heart warmed with overwhelming anticipation.
Is it really okay to be this happy…?
The call from Tae-min came when I had just returned to the company.
After checking the ringing phone while waiting for the elevator, I changed direction and walked to the stairs. I was planning to walk up slowly while talking to Tae-min.
―Hyung, don’t use the internet for a while.
I stopped walking after climbing three steps.
“Tae-min.”
I suddenly felt out of breath and had to catch my breath for a moment.
“You have to explain what’s going on first.”
I don’t like these situations where a short time of a few seconds feels like hours. So, I was a little annoyed with Tae-min.
“If you suddenly tell me not to use the internet, how am I supposed to take that? Do you think I’ll just say, ‘Yes, I will!’ without thinking?”
―Hyung….
The moment Tae-min’s suppressed voice was heard as if it would break off, I felt like I was falling into a distant place. As I tried to feel the fear of the ground sinking under my feet without knowing why, anger surged.
“Okay, let’s hang up for now.”
―Hyung! Wait, just wait! Hyung!
Because of Tae-min, who was desperately holding onto me, I clenched the phone in my hand tightly.
―Hyung, I’ll tell you! Please don’t use the internet…!
“Tae-min, calm down… and speak slowly. Hyung is listening.”
Tae-min’s excited voice was getting worse and worse. I had to calm down and soothe my younger brother calmly, but nothing was working properly.
―Hyung… today, the photos from the survival show were uploaded… I was really happy because there were a lot of Hyung’s photos, you know? At our school, Hyung’s name was mentioned a lot like that Sung Se-han… It felt like Hyung became the best idol in just a few hours….”
While listening patiently to Tae-min’s rambling, I stood on the stairs without moving at all.
―But… but earlier, Hyung’s photos were uploaded to an idol fan community… that’s….
Tae-min was talking at length about unnecessary things and couldn’t get to the point.
“Tae-min. Hyung’s photos were uploaded, and those photos are strange photos? Ugly and unpleasant? So you don’t want Hyung to see the fans’ reactions?”
I knew that Tae-min wasn’t the type to lose his composure over just that, but that was just my wish. I just wished it was just that kind of thing.
―Hyung.
Tae-min’s voice, calling me, suddenly sank.
―It’s not a strange photo, and it’s not ugly or unpleasant.
Somehow, my heart ached at Tae-min’s calm appearance.
―When Hyung was young, you went to ‘Suseong Apartment’ with Mom, right?
“Ah.”
At Tae-min’s words, vivid scenes popped into my mind as if Pandora’s box had been opened. That’s right. There was a day when I went to Suseong Apartment with Mom when I was young.
―It’s a photo of Hyung sitting in front of the apartment with Mom… Hyung and Mom….
“Wow, this is really crazy. That photo was uploaded? That was when Hyung was ten years old…?”
Mom and I had promised to forget everything about that day we went to Suseong Apartment. But now, the fact that the photo from that day was uploaded was just absurd.
“They’re really vicious. Those bastards, they’ve been holding onto the photos they took back then? Wow, unbelievable.”
―It seems like Hyung’s friend who took the photos back then posted it.
“What friend. Tae-min, wait a minute. Hyung will check and call you back.”
Perhaps because of Tae-min’s anxiety, my fingers trembled as I opened the community. For some reason, I didn’t want to search, so I quickly skimmed through the posts with a lot of views.
Title: Anyone want to see Sky Blue Tae-kyung’s elementary school photos?
The moment the title caught my eye, my heart plummeted to the floor. A hollow laugh escaped at the number of 453 comments on the post. Even though I was smiling, it felt like my blood was chilling.
I didn’t want to go in, but I had to check my photos. That way, I could tell Mom and Tae-min….
“….”
The moment I saw the photo, my heart sank coldly.
It was a photo I knew. Mom was sitting in front of the apartment, sobbing, and next to her, I was hugging Mom’s face, not knowing what to do.
I only found out later that the classmates who lived in Suseong Apartment had discovered me and were taking photos indiscriminately. I only found out that they were sharing the photos among themselves after another friend told me.