Chaotic Nights — Chapter 204. Grow Up

Translator: Atlas

Weekly Chapter 1/4

Jihak gently took Eunha’s hand.

Robin set aside the medical instrument he was holding and pulled out a small notebook. He jotted something down on a piece of paper he had torn out.

“You need glasses for your eyes. My colleagues will be here soon. But they are expensive…”

“Will my vision improve if I wear the glasses?”

“No. They only help to keep your eyes from deteriorating further during treatment.”

Jihak nodded in satisfaction. Then he stood up with the paper. Eunha nodded toward Robin.

Robin added that he should avoid vices such as alcohol, and that he should apply compresses over his eyes every seven days. The two left the clinic in silence.

As they walked onto the forest path, Eunha started crying. She halted like a lost child and hid her face in her hands.

Jihak hugged her silently.

“Why are you so scared? If I go blind, will you leave me?”

His jest angered Eunha.

“Yes! If you go blind, I’ll pack my bags and leave. I really will.”

Tears streamed down her face. Jihak kissed her cheek.

“I guess I’ll have to look for you again.”

“How will you ever be able to find me blind?”

“Have you forgotten?”

His breath brushed her cheek. Eunha wrapped her arms around his back.

“There’s no way I can’t find you.”

“I don’t want you to lose your sight. I want you to see me grow old. I want you to watch our child grow up. Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking. Keep looking at me for a long time.”

Her tear-filled eyes glistened like a winter lake. He had the strong desire to kiss her.

It was soothing to hear her mournful voice.

He kissed her under an oak tree. An unknown bird was singing. Her warmth made him feel alive. When their lips separated, Jihak softly touched her tear-stained cheek with his trembling hand.

When their lips met again, Eunha had stopped crying.

***

“Rest so you don’t faint.”

The workers were occupied with salting the fish delivered by the boat. Her eyes were about to close. But Yongi did not stop.

The summer heat has started in Airi town. To prevent the fish from being spoiled by the weather, they needed to act quickly.

She had changed.

The day’s work ended only after 30 wooden boxes were filled with fish. Although her body smelled fishy, Yongi received a satisfactory wage.

“You don’t look good.”

Dolsoe’s mother approached her with a worried expression.

Yongi struggled to her feet.

“Alright. I’ll return early tomorrow morning.”

“Get some rest.”

“You should rest as well.”

Yongi wiped her sweaty face.

What began in the early morning ended when the morning sun rose. In the months when she couldn’t stand the hard work, she received a lower wage. But her persistence allowed her to survive. After Eunha left, Yongi lived this way.

Throughout the day, she assisted the priests with patient care, and worked as a laborer in the early mornings. She didn’t even have time to feel sad.

Yongi ignored Eunha’s letters, fearing that homesickness would overwhelm her. She did not want to add her problems to Eunha’s life.

She had to prove that she was her older sister.

After struggling to walk home, Yongi went to the stream where she used to wash her hair. It had been a long time since she had been there. Usually, she lacked the energy to wash her body, but today she felt the need to freshen up.

She still didn’t know that someone would visit her today.