"Yes, Mom. I arrived safely."
"Oh, yeah, yeah, okay. Okay."
I came into my old house. I got off the taxi near here and didn't see them while walking. I was under the illusion that I'd see them as soon as I got here. I tried calling Korea on my old phone a few times, but they didn't answer.
I guess everyone gets busy now that they're adults.
***
"Ha... living alone is surprisingly lonely."
"Should I raise a puppy..."
Being alone in this empty house, where I was the only one, made me feel even lonelier than usual. Five years ago, I felt like I hadn't known what loneliness was. But after parting ways with those kids and becoming an adult, I felt loneliness more and more.
"Let's not stay like this and go out and buy some food."
***
"Brother, today is your day off, right?"
"That's right."
"Why? If you want to go out, you can go out."
"Then I'll go out."
"Where are you going?"
"I don't really have anywhere to go. I just want to go out today..."
***
I told Jisoo-hyung I'd be out for a bit. The weather hadn't cleared yet, so I went inside in the chilly weather, grabbed a coat, and came out again. I walked, looking up at the sky, not looking ahead. My steps naturally led me to Mir's house.
Five years have passed since Mir left, but during those five long years, the house remained empty. No one came here, no one came looking. If Mir had moved away, the house would have been sold long ago. Why is it still empty?
I stood in front of Mirne's house, my steps neither light nor heavy. Light and a faint TV noise streamed through the window. I was astonished. The house hadn't been quiet for five years, yet the lights were on and the TV was blaring.
Mirne knocked on the door.
Bang, bang, bang.
"Mirya! Jomir!!"
"It's Soonyoung, open the door!!!"
No matter how much I knocked and shouted, the door remained firmly shut. For some reason, I assumed Mir had returned to the house. He must have gone out for a moment. I considered waiting in front of Mir's house, but I was so desperate to see him as soon as possible that I just ran.
Not knowing where Mir might be.
The owner of this house might not be Mir.
***
I ran and ran without a set destination. I went to every place Mir might go. But in the end, I never saw him. There was no way to know if we'd missed each other or if the owner of the house wasn't Mir.
Oh, you can find out if you call me on my cell phone.
I rummaged through my bag. I checked my coat pocket, my jeans pocket, but my phone was nowhere to be found. I must have left it at home.
With no other choice, I headed to the supermarket Mir often visited, holding onto the last curtain.
"There must be... something there."
***
I stood at the last crosswalk. The traffic light changed, and the supermarket was just across the street. I waited anxiously, tapping my feet.
"Change quickly, change..."
I peered through the store. Mir was still nowhere to be seen. I glanced at the traffic lights and then looked inside the store again.
It was quite a distance, but I saw it clearly.
Mir was standing on the other side.
I waited for the light to change and then turned right. That road also leads to Mirne's house. Eager to catch it, I kept stamping my feet, waiting for the light to change.
As soon as the light changed, I ran like crazy. Towards Mir.
Even though his appearance had changed significantly, I recognized him. I don't know how, but my heart knew. It was Mir. Run to Mir.
My heart pounds, pounding, pounding, pounding, as fast as I run. I don't know if it's because I'm running so hard I'm out of breath, or if it's because I'm excited and thrilled at the thought of seeing Mir again after five years. All I know is that my heart is filled with longing to see him.
***
"Why do you call me every hour?"
"Yes, uh, uh, I bought it. I did it all with my mom. Uh, should I hang up? ... Phew, okay~. I'll hang up."
I hung up my mom's phone call, which came every hour, and looked inside the bag I was holding. Inside were snacks, alcohol, and side dishes.
"Oh, I'm hungry. I should go eat quickly."
Mirya! Jomir!!
I kept hearing someone calling me from behind. When I turned around, there was no one. Frightened, I ran home. My running speed was almost like walking, but I ran anyway. It was better than walking, I thought.
***
Even as I ran home, I kept hearing it. I knew the voice, but I'd forgotten who it belonged to. Turning around, I couldn't see the voice's owner. No one was there. It was truly terrifying.
Now, if I just turn around here, it's home. I ran as fast as I could.
Someone grabbed my shoulder. Then I heard a gasp behind me. Fearful, I closed my eyes and didn't look back.
"Mirya... Open your eyes. Have you forgotten me..?"
It was a truly familiar voice. Who was it? Who was it?
no way,
I opened my eyes, doubting it. There it was, standing before me, sweating profusely. If I'd known it was him, I wouldn't have run over.
"Mirya... You've become more and more beautiful, which is unsettling."
"I should be angry, but I can't."
I missed you so much. The face I longed to see was right before my eyes. More mature. More handsome.
My heart aches.
***
I knew the first thing I'd do when I saw Mir was to get angry. Ask him why he hadn't contacted me, why he hadn't come in a year. I was going to get angry. But when I saw his face, I couldn't. How could I be angry at him like this...
I couldn't be angry at Mir.
"Don't cry, stop. Don't cry, Mirya. I'm here."
Mir is crying, but the corners of my lips are rising to the sky. I can't hide my admiration for Mir. It was so good. It was so good I could die like this.
It's been a while, so I'm not good at controlling the portions...
I'm really, really sorry for being late... You must have waited a long time😭😭😭