—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Xrecker
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
It wasn’t a blind date or anything. The kids were sitting there, reading, and Blue and I chatted, but our conversation was limited. We weren’t close enough for deeper discussions, so we started reading our own books.
Reading is a wonderful thing. Gaining knowledge is like filling the gaps in your life, enriching your understanding. Even if it’s a comic book, it still represents a part of a nation’s, a planet’s culture, and holds literary value.
I chose a fantasy manga about a hero fighting a demon lord, and seeing the demon minions getting struck down by the hero’s sword, I felt a sense of camaraderie, reminded of my own performance in the recent duel.
I empathized with the minions as I read, but as always, the story ended with the hero being celebrated.
Engrossed in the manga, I lost track of time, and it was almost evening. I couldn’t see the sun because of the rain, but the dimming light indicated the approaching night.
“Shall we get going?”
I couldn’t keep Blue here indefinitely, and Kirk had asked me to watch Eun-ji until the evening, so it was time to leave.
“I want to play more.”
Eun-ji wanted to stay longer at the manga cafe but didn’t protest and closed her book, along with Ho-yeong.
“It’s time to go. Your mom and dad will be waiting. And Ho-yeong needs to go home, too.”
“Okay. Let’s play together again like this next time.”
I said reassuringly to Eun-ji, and Blue echoed my sentiment. Eun-ji, who had been pouting slightly, brightened at the prospect of another outing.
“Okay!”
We left the manga cafe. After seeing Blue and Ho-yeong off, Eun-ji and I, each holding our own umbrellas, walked to her apartment. While she was mature for her age, I couldn’t let her walk home alone in the dark, especially in the rain.
“Did you have fun? Just reading at the manga cafe?”
“Yes! There are no manga at kindergarten, and Mom only lets me read one book a day at home.”
Though Kirk enjoyed manga and likely owned a collection, much of it wasn’t suitable for a child as young as Eun-ji. Graphic action scenes and violent themes were hardly appropriate reading material. Her mother had probably taken it upon herself to filter through the collection, allowing only select books.
“When are you going to tell your dad about your boyfriend?”
“When Dad grows up?”
To hear such a comment from his daughter… I wondered what kind of life Kirk led at home.
“I want to proudly tell him I have someone I like, but Dad’s too childish.”
To proudly declare having someone you like. Those words, coming from a child, resonated deeply.
I liked Yu-bin. But I couldn’t say it proudly.
As for Yu-ra… I wasn’t sure how I felt yet. Did I genuinely like her, or was I just drawn to her because of her forward personality?
But I didn’t feel any resistance when we were intimate, so I figured I liked her, too.
However, I couldn’t be open about my feelings for her either, just like with Yu-bin.
I was Spacetroe, and they were Hunter Killer.
“Don’t you have someone you like, Uncle?”
“Huh? Why?”
“Just curious. Dad’s married to Mom, but you’re not.”
“…I guess. Someone I like…”
Her question made me think of Yu-bin and Yu-ra, then I wondered if I truly liked them.
I’d been seeing superhumans as sources of information, and that bothered me.
“Tell me if you find someone you like, Uncle. I’ll keep it a secret.”
“Do you like Ho-yeong, Eun-ji?”
“Yes! I like him a lot. We’re going to get married someday.”
Kids could be unpredictable. What felt like forever to them one day might be nothing more than a passing thought the next. I still believed that.
But even a fickle child could be certain of her feelings in this moment. I was clearly lacking compared to Eun-ji, even though she was only six.
If I’d met Yu-bin and Yu-ra under normal circumstances, not as Spacetroe and Hunter Killer, would I have been able to confess my feelings?
Or would we have even met?
I didn’t know. Was it the rain? My mood dampened, and my thoughts turned somber.
Then, seeing Eun-ji excitedly talking about Ho-yeong, I smiled again.
“Okay. I’ll tell you first if I find someone I like, Eun-ji.”
“Promise!”
Eun-ji stopped walking, held out her pinky finger, and looked at me.
“Promise.”
We arrived at Eun-ji’s apartment, and Kirk opened the door when I rang the bell.
“Did you have fun?”
“Thanks to you. Did you have fun with Uncle, Eun-ji?”
“Yes! It was so much fun!”
Kirk, a large man, lifted Eun-ji into his arms, and I smiled, seeing the happy father-daughter duo, then turned to leave.
“Then I’ll be going.”
“Okay, take care.”
“Bye, Uncle! See you again!”
I waved to Eun-ji one last time, left their apartment, and headed towards the station.
Yu-bin would probably be at my place. I quickened my pace, eager to see her.
I felt a sense of urgency, even though no one was rushing me.
I couldn’t openly express my affection or declare our relationship.
Perhaps because of that, we expressed our hidden feelings more intensely when we were alone together.
We had a secret we couldn’t even share with each other, but that didn’t change the fact that we liked each other.
I arrived at my apartment, entered the passcode, and as soon as I stepped inside, my eyes met Yu-bin’s. She was sitting on the sofa, watching TV.
“Oppa, welcome back.”
She smiled and greeted me, and I instinctively opened my arms. Yu-bin, understanding my intention, got up from the sofa and rushed into my embrace.
We hugged tightly, our arms wrapped around each other, sharing warmth.
“You got a little wet. Are you okay?”
It felt a little awkward to ask after having initiated the hug, but even with an umbrella, you couldn’t completely avoid the rain. My clothes were damp, and I was slightly sweaty from the humid weather, but Yu-bin just shook her head.
“I’m fine.”
I could feel her burying her face in my chest, inhaling my scent. Did she like it? I hugged her tighter, inhaling her scent from her neck.
“Have you eaten?”
“I was waiting for you, Oppa.”
“Is there anything you want to eat?”
“Pizza.”
“You’re craving pizza today?”
“Yes.”
We pulled away slightly, our eyes met, and we kissed.
Did she sense my desire? The kiss deepened, and Yu-bin pulled away.
“No, we have to eat first.”
“You’re right.”
I knew if we continued, we’d forget about dinner and even showering, lost in each other’s embrace.
And we’d complained about being hungry afterwards enough times to know better. We weren’t that foolish.
“Oppa, you seem busier than usual lately.”
“Yeah, it’s been a bit hectic.”
We placed our order and sat down on the sofa, Yu-bin leaning against my shoulder. I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her closer.
“We haven’t been able to go on any dates.”
“Sorry. Want to go somewhere after the monsoon season ends?”
“Let’s go to a swimming pool.”
A swimming pool… even I, having lived on Earth for years, had never been to one. I’d only seen the ocean, the vast expanse of the Pacific, not exactly a place for leisure.
While I lived above sea level, I hadn’t gone swimming on Earth.
Not even once in 20 years.
“A swimming pool sounds…”
I was about to agree when a thought crossed my mind. Yu-bin was beautiful. I could confidently say that. And she had a great figure.
And swimming pools were full of men.
“How about somewhere else?”
That was my conclusion. I’d rather go to a secluded beach than a crowded swimming pool. It was too risky.
It wasn’t Yu-bin who was at risk; it was the men who might try to hit on her.
I wouldn’t be able to control myself if someone tried something.
“Somewhere else?”
Yu-bin thought for a moment before listing several places she wanted to visit. A valley, an aquarium, and a lake for water sports….
Just hearing her talk about the things she wanted to do and the places she wanted to go made me happy.
“Anything else?”
I enjoyed listening to her enthusiastic chatter and encouraged her to continue.
She talked about her plans for autumn, winter, and even next year.
I couldn’t say for sure if we’d still be together then. If my situation changed, or if my identity was exposed, we wouldn’t be able to see each other anymore.
And I didn’t think I could keep my secret forever.
I suddenly envied Kirk. His wife knew he was from Spacetroe, and she’d still chosen to marry him.
Perhaps it was possible because she was an ordinary human, not a superhuman. But regardless of their status, I envied their relationship, their ability to accept and understand each other despite their different backgrounds.
I hadn’t thought about such things before meeting Yu-bin. She’d made me think more deeply about relationships.
As Yu-bin continued her excited chatter, the intercom buzzed. The pizza had arrived. We put on a movie and ate, enjoying each other’s company.
I wished this moment could last forever.
“Oppa.”
“Yeah?”
Yu-bin called out to me as we were watching the movie, and I turned to look at her. Her red eyes shone brightly even in the darkened room.
Was it the light from the TV? I felt drawn to her gaze, the colors shifting and swirling within her eyes.
“Tell me if you have any worries.”
“Huh?”
Her unexpected words made me tilt my head, and she leaned closer, her face inches from mine.
“I’ll tell you mine, too. So tell me yours. Okay?”
“Okay.”
We kissed, our bodies pressed close together, and then we slowly undressed each other.
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
We confessed our feelings as our lips parted, and I knew tonight would be another passionate night.
Blue arrived home and let Ho-yeong inside before taking off her shoes.
“Aunt! I’m hungry!”
“What’s for dinner?”
Her two older nephews, home for summer break, greeted her, demanding food.
“What do you want?”
“I want pizza!”
“I want chicken!”
Blue frowned at their requests for delivery food, and Ho-yeong, who’d come in with her, went straight to his room.
She took out her phone, checked her bank account balance, and sighed, then spoke to her nephews in a gentle voice,
“How about aunt makes you something delicious tonight?”
“What are you making?”
“Um…”
She hadn’t thought that far ahead and racked her brain.
“How about kalguksu?”
“I want pizza.”
“I want chicken.”
Her nephews repeated their demands, and Blue sighed, then smiled warmly.
“Okay, I’ll order pizza and chicken.”
She glanced at her phone screen again, saw her remaining balance of 80,000 won, and sighed once more.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
