Chapter 99 – Episode 99

I think I’ve felt something similar to this once before. It feels like the genre is changing. It’s like a peaceful romantic comedy that suddenly turns into a thriller…

“…”

I felt fortunate that the sound of me swallowing was covered by the sound of the shower pouring outside.

“Huh.”

Once her mood had cooled down, Aebom did not even try to cheer her up with alcohol or anything like that. She just continues the story in a calm voice that suppresses all of her emotions.

“Mr. Hyunwoo.”

“Yes!”

“What image usually comes to mind when you think of ‘genius’?”

“A genius?”

“Yes.”

Genius, genius, genius…

I repeated it in my head about three times and spit out the image that immediately came to mind.

“It feels somehow different from an ordinary person, right? It’s something that someone like me can’t get over. No matter what I ask you to do, you do it well and confidently. Since you have that kind of skill, wouldn’t you sometimes feel a little arrogant?”

To be honest, when I heard the word ‘genius’, the first thing that came to mind was Han Ae-bom.

Isn’t she truly a genius? As well as what I saw at the bowling alley today, I think that if you were to set the standard of ‘perfection’ for a person, Han Ae-bom would be the closest to it. I think I’ve had this thought once before.

“Me too… There was a time when she thought so. But, it wasn’t.”

“… ?”

“Well, each person may have a different type. At least the geniuses I saw looked worse than ordinary people on the outside. I’ve never felt cocky before. If anything is true, wouldn’t it be the fact that no matter what you do, you achieve results beyond your imagination?”

Han Ae Bom speaks in such a sad voice.

Maybe.

“My brother… He was quite a genius. In some ways, I may have been hiding myself because I was too smart. “She had such a passive personality that it was so unpleasant that even I, her younger sister, thought it was pathetic.”

If she had hidden herself that much… I thought, she must be a genius. Because she is impossible for an ordinary person.

“She was a weak-hearted person, and her only hobby and enjoyment was writing novels alone at home.”

“…”

“Mr. Hyunwoo.”

“Yes…”

“What do you think will happen if such a genius is born into your family?”

I do not know. Because I’ve never experienced it before. But… Wouldn’t you like it?

Because a dragon grew out of a stream.

If he becomes a big success, we as a family will be happy, and at the same time, I think we will be able to receive a little bit of soybean juice.

“Wouldn’t you say it’s amazing?”

“There are people who do that.”

I hear there are people who don’t.

“Checks are being kept in check, but the funny thing is, there are a lot of things we want… Ha!”

A Bom ran down her face with one hand and smiled her wicked smile. She had the saddest and most painful smile in the world.

“About people’s greed. There is no end. The funny thing is, after I found out that my brother was a genius, I started hoping for him again and again! The standards I have for my brother have become the harshest in the world. Eyes, personality… “Sometimes I even say I don’t like breathing.”

As I listen to Han Ae-bom, I feel like I can’t breathe for no reason. Just hearing her words makes me think that military life must be funny.

‘Now that I think about it, I think I saw a family like that when I was young…’

Was he first or second in the whole school?

Ah, I was in second place.

When I was in my second year of middle school, there was another classmate who always stayed in the English library with me during lunchtime.
She was a smart and kind friend.
One day, she said, her mom hit her because she was second in class, and she pulled up her pants and showed her thighs. It was such a shocking sight that I still remember the image clearly. Both of his thighs were purple and had deep bruises.

I was surprised and said something, and then he said something.

‘Are you okay. Because it doesn’t work if you get first place in the whole school. It’s my fault.’

… I think it was said.

When I remembered that, I thought that genius people might not be as strong as I thought.

In some ways, stupid people are… Because I don’t know anything.

“For my brother who has such a hard time… In some ways, I was probably the only breathing hole.”

The voice became calm again. But why?

That calm voice was much scarier than the scary voices I had seen so far.

“So, let me not be a fool…”

Lightning flashed again.

Because of that, Han Ae-bom’s voice could not be heard for a moment.

“… When told to take responsibility for something. My brother…”

“Mr. Aebom!”

「Gurrrr!
Once again, a message appeared before her eyes with lightning.

[Part of the quest was cleared to find out the purpose and circumstances of the people living together in the studio.]

[2/3]

[As compensation, 1 million won will be deposited into your main account. You are given stamina +1, stamina +1, and strength +1. You will be able to spread a believable sense of intimidation.]

The completion message for the quest I had been waiting for so long appeared before my eyes, but I did not feel good at all. Because at that moment, Han Ae Bom’s complexion turned pale blue.

Even though crying right now wasn’t enough, Han Ae-bom continued to force herself to act calm. It felt like she was punishing herself.

“I guess I should add one more reason she writes novels. Maybe she was trying to shake off her own guilt. That’s a very selfish reason. Hehe.”

“…”

“…”

There was an uncomfortable silence. If it were normal, I wouldn’t have been able to endure this silence first.

This time it was the opposite.

“After! I didn’t mean to talk about it like this. I guess alcohol definitely ruins your cool. Sorry. Because of me, the atmosphere is just gloomy…”

“It’s okay.”

A child flinched, and her body trembled.

“It’s okay. I created this atmosphere by bringing up a depressing story first. Mr. Aebom even said kind words to me.”

“I don’t really…”

“Did you cry?”

“What is that…”

From earlier, Aebom Han had been unable to finish her sentences neatly. Her breathing also became a little rough. She continues biting her lip.

“I went through something sad like that. “Did I cry?”

I savored my taste and smiled cautiously.

“Why? I don’t think Aebom would have cried even in that situation. So… I think it would have been sadder. It would be better if I cried…”

“Me!!”

With a clunk, Han Ae-bom stood up so violently that she knocked over the chair she was sitting on.

I looked at her quietly.

“I am… Why are you crying so shamelessly? What shame! Hey, Hyunwoo.”

“…”

“Because I told you my true story! Just because we mixed it up! That doesn’t mean you can talk like you know everything. Do you know that feeling?”

I didn’t want to see Aebom’s new side like this.
As I watched Abom shaking her shoulders and shaking her head, I carefully opened her mouth.

“I don’t know.”

“…”

“I don’t know. How would you know? She hasn’t even experienced it herself. But, you just heard Han Ae-bom’s story.”

“…”

“Didn’t Aebom listen to what I said and sympathize with it to some extent and also give me some advice? It might be funny for me to say something like this, when the only high point in my life is being single. At least it’s difficult and depressing… “The amount of time I have lived while holding it in is probably much longer than Mr. Aebom.”

In the studio that felt so spacious when I lived alone.

Ever since I was a college student, I felt that my life was gradually becoming unraveled, and I don’t know how many times I sobbed alone under the blanket.

Please, I hope tomorrow morning doesn’t come. I hope the world will perish tomorrow. I hope a meteorite falls on my head.

If I fall asleep like this, I hope I never open my eyes again.

Please… I don’t know how many times I prayed to God.

Nevertheless, ‘tomorrow’ and ‘tomorrow morning’ always come…

How despairing I felt every time I encountered them. I may have blamed the sinless God and the world.

“It must be really absurd to hear something like this from such a pathetic bastard. “I, too, am speechless.”

“…”

“But. It’s funny because I shed a few tears in that situation. I felt a little relieved. Maybe, instead of crying, I would have pretended to be strong… I don’t think I could have lasted.”

I said as I watched Han Ae-bom’s head fall.

“Therefore. You’re crying. Just.”

“…”

“There’s no way I’m going to tell Ohana what happened today. Keep it a secret…”

With a patter, tears fell on the table.

“Ugh, uhuh…”

A baby shook her shoulders a few times, then she raised her head slightly and spoke to me in a trembling voice.

“… A little bit. “Can you please lend me your shoulder?”

“Of course.”

One baby, Bom, was hugged by me and burst into tears. While she cried for a long time with the sound of her rain.
I just quietly patted her on the back and looked at her ceiling.
There are people in the world who are trustworthy and who do not seem to have any difficulties in life… Everyone has their own circumstances.

That thought occurred to me as the images of a baby I had watched over and over again passed by, along with her sad cries.

Life isn’t that easy.

I wondered how we all survived such a difficult life.

* * *

The rain has stopped.

As if it was a lie, the moment Baby Bom stopped crying, her rain also stopped. At this point, I wonder if the guy who gave me the quest made it rain on purpose? I think it’s a reasonable suspicion. Hmm.

“Mr. Aebom?”

“…”

“Mr. Aebom, you can leave now!”

The crying has definitely stopped, and her shoulders are no longer shaking, but a baby won’t fall off my shoulder. Did she glue it, this girl.

“… Not now. “I’m in a state where I can’t fall.”

“What is embarrassing about having sex and seeing each other naked?”

“It’s more embarrassing than sex or nakedness. “No.”

It seems that Han Ae-bom is also a woman. No, it would make even less sense if this beauty’s gender wasn’t female.

Shit. It’s so cute that there’s a gap between it and its usual appearance.

“True.”

I had no choice but to continue talking like that.

Today, after listening to Han Ae Bom’s inside story. All doubts about Aebom’s behavior patterns are resolved.

“How often do you read books?”

“It was for reference when writing a novel.”

“What made you particularly happy about your part-time job at the study café?”

“Not only did I have time to read books, but I had enough time to come up with a plot for the novel.”

“I used to type on the keyboard at night.”

“Writing a novel.”

And the reason she was depressed looking at the computer was because she failed at the contest.

“I didn’t need to watch an unpopular movie today…”

“Unpopular works have a reason for being unpopular. That was the only comment left to me.”

An Aebom whispered in her uncertain voice.

“I read a lot of books and worked hard on writing a novel. But the result was different from what I expected. That’s the worst.”

“…”

“For the first time, I thought that even if I tried, it wouldn’t work. I think I’ve been a bit on edge these days. Actually, I’m still a little scared now. Even for her brother and for me. And I have to do it to get revenge on my family. I’m afraid I won’t be able to do that.”

Now I feel like I look a bit like a 24-year-old.

Because Han Ae-bom always felt like a much more adult person than Yoon Su-ah. However, only today did it hit me that she was 24 years old and in her early 20s.

“Isn’t that what life is all about? There are failures and successes. How can a person succeed every time?”

“I did that?”

Unlucky.

For a moment, I thought about hitting this woman’s butt, but then I held back and said.

“Then I’ll guarantee it this time.”

“…”

“Mr. Aebom will succeed. I will also be by her side and help her as much as I can. Let’s do our best together. Mr. Aebom is a novel! I am employed! If possible, a large company!”

At my words, Han Ae-bom hugged me tightly and said.

“I think this is probably what my brother wanted to say.”

“…”

“Because it really cheers me up.”

For a moment, my back felt wet again, and then Han Aebom whispered in my ear.

“Kiss… “Can I?”