By Zephyria ‘You didn’t keep your promise to me.’
Suddenly, the words of the elderly woman he had forgotten came to mind. Frowning unconsciously, Sam’s voice echoed in his ears like a hallucination.
‘Didn’t you agree to listen to that child? Trusting that promise, I persuaded him. But what did you do? It’s all your fault that Yu-jin left you.’
Winston’s frown deepened at her words, which were filled with undisguised hostility.
‘I was a fool to trust you. Well, you can live your life regretting it too.’
And she added, as if cursing him.
‘Like me.’
Leaving those chilling last words, Sam turned and walked away. Winston didn’t bother to stop her. For some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to stop her.
Was I wrong?
That was nonsense. It was all Yu-jin’s fault. Betraying me and leaving me again. Even though I was willing to forgive him.
“Damn it.”
As he rubbed his face with his hand, he suddenly noticed the book on the table.
The title, written in cute drawings and rounded font, was particularly eye-catching, as it was a book for children. He hadn’t opened the book once since he brought it. He couldn’t easily reach for it, as if there was a monster hiding under the bed that he had imagined as a child. He vaguely knew the reason, but he deliberately ignored it. But regardless of his will, the words written on the back cover forced themselves into his eyes.
He suddenly felt strange. As far as Winston knew, Yu-jin was the person who had the least. He hadn’t received a proper education and was always alone in a remote Separate Residence/Annex, waiting for the only visitor who came to see him.The thought that he was his father brought a self-deprecating smile to Winston’s lips. He realized once again that he had been mistaken. Yu-jin had a father, didn’t he? And many other men besides his father. He was the only one who thought he had never had anything, and yet, knowing this, his heart still wavered.
That’s why he didn’t want to read that book. After all, aren’t novels all lies? How skillfully they deceive people with fancy words. If so, that book must be very well written.
‘Winnie.’
Don’t waver.
He gritted his teeth and shook his head. It was all because his head was messed up from insomnia. Maybe it was because of the pheromones. I will never be fooled by you again, never, ever.
I will never be hurt again.
Then what was he afraid of in reading that book?
Suddenly, a rebellious thought popped into his head. Winston stared at the book for a moment, provoked by the thought that had taken over his mind. He wouldn’t waver anyway. He was confident that he wouldn’t be weakened by anything Yu-jin said. Absolutely, he would never be fooled by Yu-jin’s words again and suffer such a miserable fate.
Winston slowly reached out. His fingertips trembled faintly, like a child checking that there was nothing under the bed, but he was an adult. Soon, Winston grabbed the book as if snatching it and opened the cover. A single line written on the very first page caught his eye.
For a while, he remained still, staring intently at it. For some reason, he couldn’t turn the page. After a few more seconds of silence, he slowly opened the next page. After roughly skipping over a few formal pages in accordance with the basic structure of the book, the book finally began. And for several hours after that, Winston read the book without moving. By the time he closed the last page, it was well past midnight and dawn was approaching.
Haa, he sighed, rubbing his tired eyes with his fingers. His fingertips were wet, and Winston realized he was crying.
A child who had everything. But a child who had nothing.
But the November child was finally happy. Could he, in reality, be happy too?
The November child was unhappy because he didn’t have peanut butter to put in his milk. How wonderful would it be if Winston’s life was that simple just because of that.
Nothing.
He sighed in vain. I have nothing.
It was then. That he discovered the large teddy bear staring at him.
Winston stared at it for a moment, then slowly reached out. The teddy bear in his arms felt like holding a child.
Yu-jin, and him and Angela.
Thinking that, he buried his nose in the teddy bear, and suddenly felt at ease. Even though there was no scent left. Winston sat there for a while, holding the teddy bear.
A few hours later, the Butler, who had cautiously come to the room, was startled. His master, who had been suffering from insomnia for years, was lying asleep on the sofa. Holding a large teddy bear in his arms.
* * *
For some reason, he didn’t feel well since morning. Forcibly enduring the constant fatigue, Yu-jin prepared to go out. He was running out of money, so he would be in trouble if he didn’t start preparing soon. Of course, the only place he could get money from was obvious. He would have to shamelessly ask Grant if he could get more royalties in advance. Yu-jin went to the front desk to ask if he could use the phone. Just in case, he had left the prepaid phone he had with him right before leaving.
“Of course, you can.”
Grant, who answered the phone, replied cheerfully. Yu-jin, delighted and grateful, told him the address of the motel he was staying at, and Grant wrote it down and continued.
“Yu-jin, I have good news for you. Your book is selling like crazy right now. It’s been the number one bestseller for over a month now.”
“Really? Really?”
Yu-jin, who had unknowingly raised his voice, hurriedly lowered his voice and asked again.
“Really, Grant?”
“Of course. Why would I lie?”
Grant, who laughed heartily, continued.
“You’ll be surprised when you receive the check. I was already anxious to pay you as soon as possible, but I didn’t know how. How is Angela doing?”
“Yes, thanks to you.”
Yu-jin replied with a smile, and Grant said, “Okay,” and then let out a short sigh.
“I’m sorry, my daughter made a mistake.”
“Oh, no. I’m the one who bothered you…”
“No, no. This is money I should have given you anyway…”
After exchanging “No, it’s okay,” “I’m sorry,” and so on several times, Yu-jin finally ended the call. He didn’t forget to thank the motel owner for letting him use the phone.
When I receive the check, I’ll go to the bank and exchange the money…
“Daddy, are you okay?”
Angela asked worriedly as Yu-jin, who had returned to the room and sighed, looked exhausted. Yu-jin forced a smile and nodded. It would be a disaster if he got sick.
They can’t even go to the hospital right now. Yu-jin watched the child drawing in her sketchbook and fell into thought.
It’s absurd to keep running away like this forever.
There are only a few months left in the will’s term. He just needs to avoid them well during that time.
How?
Suddenly, something flashed through his mind. If they keep going north, can’t they go to Canada?
It was such a good idea. Why hadn’t he thought of this sooner? If they had left for Canada from the beginning…
They would have been caught right away.
Yu-jin stopped thinking bitterly. Anyway, it was a relief that the book was selling well. He might get more money than he expected. Then he would look for a new house to live in with Angela…
“Daddy?”
Angela, who had been coloring a flower, looked back in confusion. Yu-jin had fallen into a deep sleep since some time ago. Seeing him breathing peacefully, Angela tilted her head, then soon pulled the sheet from the bed and covered Yu-jin’s body with it.
“Lullaby, lullaby.”
Angela, who even patted Daddy’s arm, stared at him for a while before turning her head. The door was still tightly closed. Suddenly, she felt like a huge man would open that door and come in. Along with the sweet scent he always had.
But no matter how long she waited, that didn’t happen, and eventually Angela gave up and lay down next to Yu-jin. And two days later, the check arrived.
* * *
“…Mr. Campbell!”
Winston finally opened his eyes to the sensation of being repeatedly called and shaken. Bright sunlight poured into the room, and he covered his eyes with his arm. His mind was still hazy from sleep, and he couldn’t think properly. The Butler, who was quickly speaking to him as he blinked several times and groaned softly, continued.
“They found him. Would you like to leave right away?”
It took Winston a few more seconds to understand the Butler’s words. And the moment it was finally engraved in his mind, Winston jumped up like a spring.
“Ah, shoot.”
Subsequently, the doll he was holding almost fell to the floor, so he desperately grabbed it. The Butler’s gaze went to the large teddy bear and then back to Winston.