I grew up with a venomous spirit and was seventeen years outdated. When it was time to enter highschool, I purchased a college uniform. I advised my dad I might use a second-hand one, however he insisted on spending a fortune on a brand new one. He mentioned it was price each penny for his solely son.
“My son, you look nice!”
“Actually? I feel it’s a bit of large.”
“If you’re rising up, it’s good to put on large garments. Your dad out of the blue grew taller when he was in highschool.”
Dad mentioned he met Mum in highschool and it was love at first sight. I keep in mind listening to this story as a child, however by no means requested. I didn’t need to convey up my mum on such a cheerful day.
He’s been good-looking and articulate ever since. Whereas he was complimenting me, he out of the blue pulled out his cell phone.
“I don’t recognise this quantity….”
“Take it, simply in case.”
“I’ll. Wait a minute.”
After he went out into the lounge to reply the cellphone, I checked my hair within the mirror. It was a bit of large, however as Dad had mentioned, it was new, so it regarded neat. However there will need to have been a cause for the costly faculty uniforms. He was frightened that somebody would inform me that I didn’t have sufficient as a result of I used to be from a single-parent household.
“I don’t actually care about that….”
I sighed closely and put the jacket on. All of the sudden, a wierd textual content appeared in entrance of my eyes.
[Fate to Die] was transferred from the Awakener Lee Yoo-yeon.
Lee Yoo-yeon. Despite the fact that I attempted to neglect it, it was my mum’s identify, so what does ‘destined to die’ imply? The second I rigorously positioned my hand on the letters, I understood the unusual curse.
If the curse is on you, you’ll die in 10 years.
Till then, it doesn’t matter what you do, you’ll by no means die.
And that the second you die, the curse will probably be transferred to the individual you’re keen on probably the most.
“…Switch… transferred?”
My mum’s curse had metastasised to me. That might solely imply one factor.
“Dad.”
Dad, who had been staring blankly into area as I walked out into the lounge, turned to me urgently. The pale, worn face, the unfocused eyes, they belonged to somebody who had fallen into the deepest depths of despair. I attempted to fake to not discover, however I couldn’t.
“Mum, is she lifeless?”
“How might you…”
Dad blurted out, unable to cover his bewilderment.
“No method. No… It’s Hajae, isn’t it?”
I couldn’t hear what he was asking, however I might sense what he wished to know. I remained silent, after which he sank to the ground, sobbing the tears he’d been holding again.
“No, no. You promised handy it over to me.”
It was a determined cry.
“You must have liked me extra, not Hajae!”
It lastly hit me. I understood why Mum was leaving dwelling, why Dad by no means caught her, why Dad didn’t hate her, why you regarded so harm every time I advised you I didn’t need her.
You left dwelling to cease the curse from spreading to me, to neglect about me, your son, to cease loving me.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Hajae.”
The sound of a pressured swallow of tears rang in my ears, and the hand holding my shoulder trembled unworthily. For the primary time, my dad, who had at all times placed on a powerful entrance, confirmed tears in entrance of me, however I wasn’t unhappy. It wasn’t as a result of I wasn’t unhappy about my mum’s demise once I was seven.
“Dad. I’m okay.”
I used to be the one she liked most earlier than she died, and I used to be glad to know that.
“Actually… I’m okay.”
I felt redeemed. She hadn’t left me as a result of she didn’t like me, or as a result of I used to be a burden, however as a result of she actually liked me. And but, ten years later, she hadn’t forgotten me, so her curse got here again to hang-out me.
‘Hajae, your mum is leaving as a result of she loves you.’
The phrases she uttered as she left me weren’t a contradiction, however the good fact.
From that day on, I put again one after the other the traces of my mom that I had erased. Once I tidied up the home the place she lived alone, I anticipated to discover a will, however my dad was adamant that there wasn’t one. So I rigorously put the remaining gadgets in a drawer.
A 12 months handed. I didn’t thoughts that Dad’s eyes have been full of mourning when he checked out me infrequently. Above all, the thought of dying in 10 years didn’t appear so actual to me. I used to be comfortable to have the ability to train, which helped my bronchial asthma, which had plagued me since childhood.
“Why are you appearing like I’m a sinner? I don’t go to the physician and I really feel high-quality.”
“Hajae.”
“I don’t suppose it’s a curse.”
I intentionally smiled brighter, however the shadow on Dad’s face didn’t go away. I do know it’s not straightforward for folks to let go of their kids, however I assumed I might stay fortunately ever after with Dad for an additional ten years.
However life, alas, didn’t go in response to plan.
“Sure…? A hospital…?”
Tragedy struck once more. They are saying that when one in all them dies, the opposite will comply with of their footsteps within the close to future. As if to show the parable, Dad was in a automotive accident that winter. Once I heard the information from the institute and rushed to the hospital, he was shattered past recognition.
Once I lastly obtained my arms on him, he was respiratory closely.
“By the mattress… Examine the chest of drawers. ……I’m sorry.”
That was it. I stood there, unable to imagine the demise in entrance of me, after which, as Dad’s face was lined with a white material, a flood of feelings poured out of me. I begged him to not depart me alone, and that I might die with him. However lower than three seconds after I mentioned these phrases, I realised that I might by no means die.
I realised that I used to be by no means going to die. I used to be going to spend the subsequent 10 years in hell.
“…I’m again.”
Once I returned dwelling after the funeral and opened the chest of drawers, I discovered a small envelope.
[To my beloved son].
It was in Mum’s handwriting, with lengthy vowels. Dad had mentioned she didn’t have a will, but it surely turned out that Dad had been hiding all of it this time. I opened the letter, desperate to see what he needed to say to me.
But it surely mentioned,
[Hajae, I’m sorry].
The letter started with an apology,
[And if you do fall in love with someone, please don’t love them].
Bitter regrets and
[Give it up as soon as possible, that’s the last advice I can give you].
Solely a warning remained.
‘Please don’t love me.’
Clutching my mum’s final phrases in my arms, I headed in the direction of the church like I used to be possessed. The spires on the cliffs above the crashing waves have been simply as I had seen them once I was a baby, typically accompanying my father to Mass. Sitting on the sting of the cliff and listening to the crashing waves was surprisingly soothing.
From that day on, every time I might, I volunteered on the church’s nursery. Solely right here, I’m not known as “highschool scholar Shin Hajae” however “instructor John”. Despite the fact that I used to be nonetheless in highschool, I used to be comfortable to listen to the kids name me “instructor” as a result of it made me really feel like I had completed one thing.
Then in the future, I noticed a face I hadn’t seen earlier than.
“Instructor. Don’t play with him.”
“Why?”
“One thing’s flawed with him. He doesn’t speak to you.”
The kid was a stranger. He was the one outsider in a nursery that was as shut as household and not using a drop of blood between them. Because it seems, he wasn’t alone from the start. Silky black hair, lengthy eyelashes, and truthful pores and skin that framed each second of his face. The kids, fascinated by his attractiveness for a person, tried to get near him. However he wouldn’t even make eye contact with them.
As they continued to be ignored, they started to unfold unhealthy rumours about him.
“Somebody mentioned. He sees ghosts.”
“That’s proper. That’s why he was deserted right here.”
It was not the sort of behaviour one would anticipate from kids being educated by a compassionate priest in a holy cathedral, however the boy didn’t reply to any of the insults. He didn’t even deny that the rumours have been false; he merely learn in silence from a tattered maths textbook on his bookshelf.
With out firewood, a scorching fireplace goes out. Quickly the rumours died down and he turned like air. At lunchtime, when the boys have been taking part in soccer and the ladies have been out for a stroll, he would learn within the classroom by himself.
I used to be relieved to see him out of the limelight.
“Hello.”
I lastly had an opportunity to speak to him alone.
“I lastly obtained to speak to you.”
Within the brief time I’ve been volunteering on the orphanage, I’ve met so many kids who’ve been taken from their households, and they’re understandably hungry for love and a focus. Having misplaced my very own mother and father not lengthy earlier than, I felt lonely myself, however this little one was particular. I couldn’t assist however be curious as I dismissed the oncoming favours.
“Do you want math?”
Once more, he didn’t reply. However my curiosity about him grew and grew, not pale. Sure, he was like a stray cat that refused to let me contact it. And, alas, I’m a persistent bastard who, every time there’s a cat that’s cautious of me, will go to it till it permits me to the touch it.
From that day on, I hovered round him and talked to him day by day. I stored asking him what his identify was, what meals he didn’t like, and if he appreciated to play video games. However he by no means answered. He would simply flip via his sun-bleached ebook, as he at all times did.
“Is it scorching at the moment? Would you like some ice cream?”
Nonetheless, I didn’t suppose I used to be being ignored, and neither did he, as a result of his eyes flickered subtly with every query I requested. Typically his forehead furrows, generally his lips twitch as if he’s about to say one thing.
He’s clearly listening. However he doesn’t reply. Possibly he’s simply hiding his face.