lack of affection
The twentieth story
As promised, I waited for the old man at noon at the place we met yesterday.
윤정한
"You're here"
하여주
"Uh...but why did you call me?"
윤정한
"Did you forget? Let's go for a walk~"
하여주
"Oh right, let's go out quickly!"
윤정한
"You have to get permission from your father before you go out."
하여주
"..unnecessarily firm"
윤정한
"Let's get permission quickly and go out."
After receiving permission from my father, Ajassi and I went out the gate, escorted by the maids.
하여주
"Wow~ The weather is really nice today too~"
윤정한
"Shall we go there?"
하여주
"Huh? Where?"
When I looked where the old man was pointing, I saw a small orphanage I had seen when I was young.
I walked there slowly with my uncle.
윤정한
"Do you know what the kids inside here are feeling?"
하여주
"...mister"
Our voices trembled. Both mine and the old man's.
윤정한
"The orphanage you saw back then is still there. This orphanage, teeming with children desperate for love... still remains."
The old man's voice began to tremble a little more.
하여주
"Uh..don't cry.."
Looking at the old man's eyes filled with tears, I could tell how much he had suffered.
하여주
"But...why did you pretend like nothing happened back then..."
윤정한
"when..?"
하여주
"When I first met you"
윤정한
"I didn't want to look dirty to other people."
하여주
"Dirty...what are you talking about?"
윤정한
"Just like you, most people don't understand others. That's why I wanted to seem normal only to the person who approached me first."
I think I finally understand a little bit now.
I realized what the old man meant when he asked me to explain what love was, and that I was wrong in thinking that no one was unloved.
More than anything, I felt sorry.
하여주
"I'm sorry, mister...so don't cry..."
윤정한
"Why do you have to be sorry.."
The old man, seeing me start to sob little by little, hugged me warmly again like before.
윤정한
"How can I abandon such a kind and gentle girl..ㅎ"
The old man's small whisper completely changed my mind.
When I returned from a precious walk that was the most rewarding experience of my life, I saw Seol-gi doing laundry in front of the front gate and Ji-hoon standing guard next to her.
하여주
"I'm back..."
이지훈
"Why are you so weak?"
강슬기
"Why are you coming in alone, Princess?"
하여주
"Ah... I don't know, just the old man will be in soon."
강슬기
"Oh, by the way, I heard His Majesty is having a very important meeting with his subjects right now..."
하여주
"What...meeting?"
강슬기
"I don't know. Would you like me to look into it for you?"
하여주
"Uh... that would be appreciated."
After Seolgi readily agreed, I let her finish doing the laundry and spend time with Jihoon.
The next day, someone shook me from my sleep in my room and said,
강슬기
"Princess, wake up. Princess.."
하여주
"Uh..uh why..?"
강슬기
"That...the contents of the meeting..."
하여주
"What is it? Did you find out?"
강슬기
"...They're sending all the trainees out."
It felt like someone was hitting my heart with a hammer.
하여주
"then...."
강슬기
"Yoon Jeong-han... trainee... too..."
I left Seolgi behind and ran with all my might towards where Abamama was.
Okay, okay, okay, I'll be releasing a new work around 3 o'clock today!
You'll watch it a lot, right?♡I love you^3^