Chapter 152 – Chapter 4: Ruby – 9
“… “Is it your birthday?”
As Tia asked that question, her pupils gradually began to get bigger.
If you think about it, that time was slowly approaching.
The season when the fierce winter wind of the devil of a blade gradually ceases, and you can vaguely feel the salty scent of the sea blowing from afar in the deep mountain valleys.
The time has come when the ice in frozen streams begins to melt and the sunlight becomes particularly warm.
The last chapter of winter. And the birth of spring.
In the midst of joy, those who endured the harsh cold finally survived.
In this small town of Brisden, a precious life was born.
Tia Antheer.
February 2nd.
That day was always a festival.
Birthday parties were held with surplus plantings left over from all winter, and people blessed Tia as if she would bring abundance for the new year.
Tia looked very happy after receiving all kinds of gifts. Tia’s love for the village was so deep that she celebrated everyone’s birthdays, so she had many good fortunes.
Tia would share her leftover food with Luyev and me, saying she couldn’t eat this much on her own. And she went down to the village below and looked around together, and when the people disappeared at night.
Tia looked at me with her eyes sparkling.
Because it’s her turn to receive the most important gift on her birthday.
And I took out her birthday present that I had hidden all along.
It wasn’t particularly expensive, and it wasn’t an item with romantic meaning. I’m not very good at choosing gifts, so the only thing I could do was buy Tia clothes or matching accessories that I thought would look pretty.
Tia was overjoyed with tears in her eyes.
It was his birthday, but the person who was in a better mood than anyone else was… To the point where I wonder if it’s me.
It’s a birthday that only leaves us with good memories.
But.
Challang-.
The night that birthday came.
Now in Brisden there is no one to give blessings.
On Tia’s naked neck, one of her sapphire brooches is loosely worn.
The person who gave gifts at night was no longer me, but Posao.
“It’s the second day of February. T, Tia’s birthday.”
“I didn’t think it happened already… “I didn’t know.”
“Hee-. Tia’s bird, her birthday must be celebrated.”
Posao said while touching the sapphire necklace.
“How is it? “The bird I gave you, a birthday present.”
“…”
I thought she would be happy if she knew it was her birthday. Perhaps it was because of the contrast with the happy birthday party he enjoyed last year, but his face was rather calm and composed.
The table full of food was gone, and all that was left was a few pieces of sloppy biscuits with a little salt.
The villagers who had said congratulations were gone, and the only one was the fat Posao sitting naked across from him.
Tia answered in a low voice.
“… Thank you.”
“Uh, huh? Don’t you like the gift?”
“No. I really like it. I just realized that it’s my birthday… “I was just embarrassed.”
Even though she said that, Posao, seeing her still listless face, asked softly.
“Then, shall we have a birthday party?”
“Are you okay. In our current situation, there is no place to party.”
“Yeah, that’s true, but…”
Posao scratched his cheek shyly and spoke again.
“Then next time, for Tia’s birthday, I’ll prepare a nice party.”
“If possible, do it.”
“Is it possible! Yes, really. “I promise.”
Was it funny to see a grown adult yelling and making promises? Suddenly, Tia burst out laughing.
“All right. “I do that.”
And she lay down next to Po Sao with her body still wet with semen.
“By the way, when was your birthday?”
“Better-? “I’m already past it.”
“It’s over? I don’t remember taking care of it… When is it?”
“Three, the day after the baptism.”
“Was it ‘at that time’?”
Tia seemed to remember ‘that time’ for a moment. She soon blushed and lowered her head.
I knew why.
Because that was the day when Tia had her first night with Po Sao.
With that, Posao has already received a birthday present.
No, it was like receiving the most precious gift in his entire miserable life.
However, Tia seemed to think that she had not been able to celebrate his birthday properly.
“Sorry. I should have congratulated you…”
“No, no- dog, Ganchana. Anyway, I’ve never been congratulated, so it’s awkward. Hehe.”
How many times has Posao, who has lived alone for over 20 years, been congratulated by others? It wouldn’t have been a sad thing for him.
As if nothing had happened, Posao stroked Tia’s head.
“Because Tia’s birthday is more important than mine right now. Oh, you don’t have to be sorry. “Congratulate me next time.”
Tia reluctantly nodded her head.
“If next time… Okay.”
“Then shall we sleep?”
“Yes.”
The two settled down to sleep as they always did. Tia didn’t seem as uncomfortable as before, even though there was still sticky semen on her body. Even though his body smelled like semen, he didn’t seem to care much.
It was time for Posao to hesitantly pull up the blanket. She suddenly started coughing loudly.
“Kuhm! Big!”
Covering her mouth with her hand. It was a cough so severe that it shook his huge upper body.
Tia asked with a startled and frightened look on her face.
“Mister?”
“Kuhuk! … Hmm.”
Posao said it was okay and waved his hand. Then he took a deep breath and calmed his chest.
“Hoo-hoo-.”
“Would you like me to bring you some water?”
“Ugh.”
I hurriedly got some warm water from the kettle. Posao, who was handed a glass of water, gulped it down and wiped his mouth.
“Are you okay? As expected, I overdid it today…”
“No.”
He said, bending his back.
“Well, it’s just because I’m old.”
Since moving into the big house, Posao has said a lot about how old he is.
Those words were said by really old people, close to their 60s, in self-deprecation. When death is truly just around the corner. When the body doesn’t move properly, they say ‘it’s because I’m old.’
Posao is now forty-five. It’s definitely too early to say he’s old.
From Tia’s perspective, it was a difference that still had a long time ahead.
“Really… “It’s okay, right?”
“Huh. Fine. Well, don’t worry and sleep.”
Posao lay down again.
Perhaps out of concern, Tia watched him for a while and then lay down next to him.
Time passed.
As the night deepens, Posao’s snoring gets louder, and the fire in the brazier subsides little by little.
But for some reason, Tia kept her eyes open.
She was lost in her thoughts with her eyes closed for a single moment, her face unable to sleep.
Rustling-.
Tia got up carefully so as not to wake Posao and sat down on the edge of the bed.
Maybe I haven’t gotten used to Posao’s loud snoring yet.
Or maybe I’m thinking a lot because today is my birthday.
After sitting like that for a while, Tia suddenly said to herself.
“I’m still young, but… “You don’t have much left.”
The reason Tia couldn’t sleep wasn’t because of her snoring or because it was her birthday.
This guy… He was depressed over the fact that he would not have much time to spend with Posao in the future.
Jiggle.
I saw her small hand resting on her chest, a sapphire necklace.
Tia, who had been staring blankly at the sparkling blue gem, turned around and saw Posao.
“…”
A huge bear growling like it’s sleeping.
Seeing that, Tia smiled faintly.
She held the sapphire brooch tightly as if she had decided to do something.
Slurp.
Then she lay down on the bed again and hugged Po Sao’s back tightly.
The beautiful baby angel… It felt like I had finally fallen asleep.
* * *
As soon as the next day dawned, Tia left Posao in a deep sleep, put on her coat and left the house by herself.
She went to the stream and thought she was going to get some water, but her steps were towards the village.
Sabak. Sabak.
Stepping carefully on the frozen ground, Tia finally arrived somewhere.
It is… It was my home.
“Ritz.”
Soft breath escaped from the lips that called my name. It was a voice filled with deep longing.
Tia stretched out her hand and slowly pushed the door of my house, which was now very worn out.
Kkeikik-.
Tia’s shadow was drawn long through the dim light of dawn.
He looked around the house a couple of times and then bit her lip. But when she took two steps, even that wasn’t enough, and she covered her mouth with one hand.
Tuk.
Before I knew it, a clear teardrop rolled down the guy’s cheek and fell to the floor.
Like a person who has lost the strength of his legs, I stagger and enter the bedroom where I have been sleeping for decades.
Whisk.
As soon as she saw the small spread bedding and blanket, Tia sat down in her seat.
“…”
With her trembling hands, she took ‘it’ out from inside her coat.
I always had it on my body.
And I always secretly kept posao in a corner… It was my ‘ruby necklace.’
“… Ritz.”
Tia said, suppressing her sobs.
“To give it back… “I’m here.”
My ruby necklace, swaying in the girl’s white hand, was like a body shaking on a gallows.
“It was heavy… This necklace is too heavy, so… I just couldn’t walk. This is a ‘sin’… I gave up after not being able to save Ritz… A sin to bear for the rest of your life…”
Sinner.
I knew he wasn’t a sinner, but Tia called herself that.
No matter what the process was.
Even though I know that I am still breathing and ‘alive’. In the end, Tia put me in a cold coffin and buried me in the ground.
Yes, he was buried alive.
Tia was weighed down by the heavy guilt that she had buried me alive and tried to commit suicide.
Even now that I barely survived and somehow managed to live with Posao.
Every time I saw the ruby necklace, I would gasp at the thought of burying a living friend myself.
“Sorry… Really… I’m so sorry, Ritz…”
Tia prayed with her trembling hands.
It seemed as if she was praying towards where I was watching.
Tuk-.
A ruby necklace falls on my blanket.
“… I won’t ask you to forgive me. Furthermore, I am… “
No.
I can forgive you, Tia.
I can forgive you. I am… Furthermore, I know there is nothing wrong with you.
It’s not because of you.
All of this… It’s because of that pig right next to you.
Therefore…
“Because I am a sinner who cannot be forgiven.”
That’s how the stigma was engraved.
Tia ripped off the beautiful wing ridges spread out on her back.
She forever thought of herself as a murderer.
“Hi… Ritz.”
That’s how the memories contained in the ruby ended.
