Chapter 162 – Favorite Child (2)
Hoshino Ai’s life was faded in monochrome.
A world where only gray is visible.
She grew up in a single parent family.
Since her childhood, her father didn’t exist, so she didn’t know her face, name, or even whether she was alive or dead.
She honestly didn’t even want to know.
Well, in the eyes of others, she might think that she has at least her mother, but she wasn’t to her at all.
Because her mother was a scumbag with a personality that couldn’t make a good parent.
The child has lived with domestic violence from her mother since she was very young.
Growing up under parents who only inflicted violence and abuse on her, she eventually couldn’t understand the feeling of loving people.
In the first place, the first thing her child builds a relationship with is her parents.
However, even though the author could not give love and affection to the parents, they treated them with abuse, so they had no choice but to know the feeling of love.
That’s how the kid couldn’t laugh sincerely.
She lived with a fake smile when she had to laugh.
Then one day, the gray world gradually regained its color by a boy.
***
“Hi?”
A small space of 6 pyeong.
A change came to her life, where she was trapped in this place and her mother’s abuse was repeated endlessly.
What I saw through the window was a boy of about the same age.
‘Pretty.’
She was such a pretty boy that she inadvertently harbored such sentiments.
Still, the child answered cautiously.
“… Hi.”
“I am Seojun Lee. What’s your name?”
“Ai Hoshino.”
“Oh, that’s a pretty name.”
Smile
Boy, Seojun laughed.
“If you have nothing to do, why don’t you play with me? I’m bored because I don’t have anyone to play with.”
“Sorry. I can’t get out of here Mom told me not to go out.”
The child answered darkly.
But Seojun didn’t care.
“Are you okay. You don’t have to listen. Come on, come quickly.”
“…”
The child looked at the front door and hesitated.
Can I really go out?
If they get caught, they might be beaten with a club this time…
However, there was a strange attraction in the words of the boy who introduced himself as Seo-jun.
Moreover, she herself has also thought about it.
That I can’t live like this forever.
‘… I feel like I’ll regret it if I don’t go out like this.’
The child made up his mind
Then he grabbed the doorknob and opened it.
Kiik-
Bright sunlight came inside.
And,
“Good job.”
Backlit by her, Seo-joon welcomed her.
“Come on, let’s go.”
He reached out and led the child.
So the two of them ran through a quiet neighborhood.
That day, the child opened his eyes.
For her, her life is pain itself.
However, the time spent with Seo-jun was not painful at all.
The fake smile was gone, and for the first time in my life a genuine smile appeared on my face.
How long have you been playing like that?
The time has come for the twilight to sneak up on its face.
“I must go soon.”
“Ah.”
A sad sound came from the child’s mouth.
At that, Seojun smiled brightly.
“Let’s play together tomorrow too.”
“Uh? Will you play with me tomorrow too?”
“Of course. Could it be that the child only saw today and not see me?”
“Oh no!”
“Then what is it? Let’s go back quickly before we get scolded by our parents.”
“Huh!”
A few hours after returning home.
Her mother is back
Her mother, a saloon girl, was irritated even today, muttering her expletives about her true identity.
The child watched her silently from her corner.
“Yes? What are you looking at?”
“…”
“Tsk, bad mood bitch. I shouldn’t have given birth to something like you. What is that love? Aah, my life is really ruined because of you.”
Muttering that, the mother disappeared into her bathroom.
The child she breathes a sigh of relief at him.
‘Thank god. It didn’t fit today.’
On a day like this, it’s rare
It was a very lucky day.
‘Jun.’
Yeah, I was very lucky.
Because she also had a relationship that changed her world.
A faint smile crept across her lips.
The child thought she wished that tomorrow would come as soon as she could, until just before she went to sleep.
***
The happy times flowed like a torrent.
A year has already passed since I first met Seo-joon.
During that time, the child experienced a new world.
Seojun never hit her or cursed at her, and always treated her with sincerity.
Thanks to that, her closed heart has been opened a lot.
But the parting came suddenly.
Her mother was arrested for theft and sent to a facility.
The police explained the situation to her child with a bitter expression.
Her mother was arrested and detained for theft.
The child was delighted at first.
Even if she didn’t have a girl like that, it would be okay, but it would have been better if she wasn’t there.
However, that opinion soon changed.
“So, since I couldn’t leave a child without parents alone, I left you in a facility. By the way, I will lead you to the facility on behalf of your parents.”
“Yes? What about the facilities? What is it?”
“Hmm. An institution is a resting place for children who, like you, cannot be cared for by parents or other adults.”
“… Uh, then I can’t continue to live here?”
“Well, you don’t have to worry about that. Your mother is free and will come back to pick you up.”
“… Is that so.”
Ai Hoshino thought.
Will her mother, the author, come to pick her up again?
At least, if it was her mother that she had been through so far, the answer would definitely be ‘no’.
“… Uncle Policeman.”
“Huh?”
“… Shouldn’t we be leaving right now?”
“Um, do you have any business?”
“… I want to say goodbye to my friend before leaving.”
“Ah.”
The policeman touched his chin for a moment. And he quickly gave an answer.
“Okay. Then I will come back at this time tomorrow, so be ready.”
The child nodded her head.
After looking around the messy house for a while, the police sighed.
“This is what you eat.”
Then she took two 1,000 yen bills from her pocket and handed them to her child.
So the police left.
And a few minutes later, as always, Seo-joon came.
“Hey, how have you been today?”
“Jun-kun…”
“Huh? What’s the matter?”
“That is…”
Ai explained the situation she was in.
The child continued talking to Seo-joon, who was still listening.
“We may never see each other again. Lol.”
The child gave an awkward smile.
A fake laugh made because I didn’t want to worry the other person.
Her Seojun opened her mouth toward her.
“Kid. Why do you think we won’t see each other again?”
“Uh?”
Seo-joon clasped her hands with her.
“We can meet again. I’ll pick you up.”
“… Really?”
“Of course. Have I ever lied to a child?”
“… Doesn’t exist.”
“Okay. So let’s have fun today and blow away all the gloomy mood.”
Seojun led her and gave her the best day ever.
And on the day of going to the facility, Seo-joon, who came out earlier than usual and met the child, made a promise with a finger.
As I said yesterday, I will definitely pick you up.
“… Huh! You must come pick me up!”
Her starlight, which had turned black, soon regained its original color.
The eyes with a brilliant radiance like the morning star captured the appearance of Seo-jun. As if she would never forget, she would imprint.
***
Hororok-
The facility’s reception room.
Seojun and Ai sat face to face and drank tea.
“Sorry. Did I take too long?”
“Yes. No.”
The child shook her head.
It’s been months since she came to the facility.
Many things happened.
It’s because of his good looks, so many people approached him.
However, the child put up a thorn and kept everyone away, only waiting for the day Seo-joon would pick him up.
“No big deal, right?”
“Huh. But I was so bored without Jun.”
“Haha.”
Seojun smiled brightly at the child’s words.
Her efforts to open her heart were worth it.
That’s how the two resolved their meeting after a long time. After dozens of minutes, Seo-joon brought up the main topic.
“Kid. Would you like to come out of the facility and live with me?”
“Good.”
She answered without a second’s hesitation.
Her mother had also run away, and she had no intention of following even if he had come to pick them up.
That’s also because Seo-joon said he was coming to ‘pick me up’.
It was very natural for her to go with Seo-joon.
“Then shall we go?”
“Huh!”
Seojun held out his hand.
As if the child wouldn’t let go of it again, she held onto it tightly.
Ai Hoshino (16-20 years old)
