Hello? My name is Manager Kang! Of course, my French name, Lilli, is more familiar than Manager.
Because I had been weak since childhood, I ended up going to France for treatment when I was eight years old. Ten years later, I arrived in Korea.
'' Ha... I miss my hometown. ''
Now when I go home, will my cute little dog and rabbit, who used to fly in and out of my window like they did 10 years ago, welcome me?
Are you curious about my dog and rabbit?
They are very special kids, those two...
It's Suin.
'' Bienvenue en Corée. {Welcome to Korea.}''
I heard a familiar French voice, one I hadn't heard in Korea. I immediately turned my head to find someone welcoming me.
"French has improved a lot, hasn't it?"
I walked towards my twin brother, Taehyun, who greeted me with a smile in French. It had been ten years since I'd seen him, but perhaps because we spoke on the phone every day, it didn't feel awkward.
Taehyun took off the sunglasses he was wearing and smiled at me.
'' I learned it to use when talking to my older sister. {I learned it to use when talking to my older sister} ''
''That's amazing.''
''How is my pronunciation?''
"100 out of 10. Accuracy rivals that of a local."
I gave Taehyun a double thumbs-up. Taehyun chuckled and led the way, dragging my carrier along.
''Let's go for a ride''
"What? Do you have a license?"
''No way''
Taehyun simply smiled at my question. I quickly ran to his side. Walking side by side with him, I felt our eye level, which had been so low, rise.
"You've grown tall?"
"Well, a little bit since the last time I saw you?"
"Oh, wasn't today a school day?"
Taehyun chuckled at my question and gave me the sunglasses he was wearing.
"It's winter break, right?"
As the automatic airport doors opened, a blast of cold hit me. I bundled up, but it was even colder than I'd expected. As I shivered, Taehyun wrapped his scarf around my neck.
"Ugh, it's cold"
"That's right, I told you to take it off."
"This is what I'm wearing!"
Taehyun shook his head and even helped me put on the padded jacket he was wearing. The sleeves were long and too big for me, making me look awkward.
"Hey, you're cold. Put it on."
When I tried to take it off, Taehyun said while zipping it up.
''Oh, don't take it off''
''You? You're cold.''
"It's better for me to catch a cold than for my sister to catch one."
"What a wonderful guy."
I spoke, ruffling Taehyun's hair. Taehyun bent down slightly so I could touch it. When I removed my hand, Taehyun straightened his messy hair, took my hand, and started walking again. Judging by the coldness in Taehyun's hand, I guess he must be cold too.
...
"Arrived."
I started walking down the street, my voice trailing off. Taehyun seemed flustered at first and tried to grab me, but soon he slowly followed behind me.
One house, two houses, three houses. And my longed-for home.
I opened the door and went inside.
"Welcome, my daughter"
When I opened the door, a familiar sight greeted me. Nothing had really changed here. I ran to my mother, who was holding me in her arms in the middle of the garden.
" mom!!! "
My mother's body heat touched mine. It was the embrace I'd longed for. As I was celebrating with her, I saw my father, wearing oven mitts and an apron.
My father put down the plate in his hand with an expression on his face as if he was about to cry, and slowly approached me and my mother.
"Did you have a good trip?"
" huh! "
We talked for a long time about what had happened. Of course, we met occasionally over the past decade, traveled to France, and video chatted frequently, but we still had a lot to talk about.
''Okay, then unpack and relax.''
I nodded, gave my father a kiss on the cheek, and went into the house.
''The luggage is in the room.''
Taehyun said to me as we came down the stairs to the second floor, “When did you come in?”
'' thank you ''
I smiled faintly and untied the scarf Taehyun had tied for me. Then Taehyun grabbed my hand, stopped me, and then neatly tied the scarf back up.
''Is this your home?''
''...I don't know. I think my sister is going to go out again, so just stay still. If you go out like this, you won't be wearing a scarf.''
''You never know~''
''I know~''
'' Chii... ''
In the end, I obediently kept Taehyun's scarf tied around my neck. I was angry, but Taehyun was rarely wrong.
"Go up. I'll go to school."
I waved at Taehyun, and he gave me a vague wave back. Judging by the way he was leaving in a hurry, I guessed he was late.
''Is it because of me?''
I started to feel a little sorry for Taehyun. But I pushed that aside and went back up the stairs.
"Oh, nothing has changed here."
I turned on the lights in the room and looked around. The warmth and cozy atmosphere made it seem as if someone had lived there for a long time, and I could guess how much my parents had thought of me.
As I was reminiscing and packing my things, I heard a strange noise coming from the window. I stopped what I was doing and looked out the window. I saw a stranger outside.
"Master!!"
He was waving his hands, just like when he was a child.
"I told you not to call me master!"
''Are you my master?''
'' Choi Yeonjun!!! ''
At my shout, Yeonjun chuckled and put his hands in his pockets as he spoke.
"Come down."
''Go down?''
'' huh, ''
''Really? Really?''
"Ah, come down quickly. I miss you."
I slammed the window shut with a hiss and hurried downstairs. I was worried that my little dog, whom I hadn't seen in so long, would feel awkward around me, and that I would feel awkward around my dog.
As I ran with such worry, step by step, I found myself in front of the front door. Just before I opened the door, I heard the doorbell ring.
"Get out!!"
I flung open the door. My little rabbit, Subin, was standing there, eyes wide, perhaps startled by the sudden opening or by my appearance.
"Huh, huh...? Manager?"
"Subin!"
I was so happy that I unconsciously hugged Subin. Subin was frozen in place, so I couldn't even hear her breathing.
'' how have you been doing? ''
'' ...... ''
'' Um... uh... huh ''
Feeling embarrassed, I slowly relaxed my grip on Subin's neck.
''I'm glad to see you... That's enough,''
''Don't take it out''
Then Subin pushed my arm back towards her neck and hugged me tightly.
''Don't take it out, okay?''
''Okay, uh... I understand.''
As I wrapped my arms around his neck again, Subin buried his face in my shoulder. Then he spoke in a whisper, a voice so small it wouldn't be audible if we weren't so close that our breaths were touching, if his face wasn't right next to my ear.
"Yes, master, I missed you so much."