A Painful Obsession

The three days and four nights flew by.

Just as they were beginning to grow close to the children and were finally getting used to life there, it was time to leave.

The farewell came so quickly that it left not only the children, but also Director Ji Yeonsuk, feeling deeply saddened.

Their train was at 11 am, so after breakfast, they all packed their belongings and gathered in the yard.

“Are you really going to come back?”

Having spent the most time with Taeyun, Choa stepped forward, her voice trembling.

Taeyun crouched down to her level and met her gaze. A small smile curved his lips.

“Choa, starting today, count exactly seventeen nights. After that, your uncle will come back.”

“Liar.”

There were about seventeen days left until the weekend in two weeks’ time. Perhaps that felt too long. Large tears spilled from her wide eyes, one after another.

The sight pierced him somewhere deep in his chest.

“I’m serious. And next time, I’ll bring you a pretty doll too. Promise. I really mean it.”

He held out his pinky finger. Even as she cried, Choa hooked her tiny finger around his.

“Stamp it. And sign it. Okay?”

She nodded reluctantly.

After wiping the tears from her cheeks, Taeyun stood up.

Everyone was saying goodbye to the children.

The regret on Director Ji’s face was clear to see.

“You’ve all worked so hard. I feel sorry that we only received so much. Thank you. I’ll never forget this.”

“We’ll be back soon, Director.”

Nari, who had spoken to her more than anyone else, stepped forward and embraced her. Although only three nights and four days had passed, they had grown deeply attached.

This was thanks to the children, who were so clear-eyed and pure.

“Let’s get going. I’ll drive you to the station.”

“Thank you.”

“Still, I’m so relieved it isn’t snowing today! At least the weather will be good for your journey home. The bus is parked outside.”

Everyone gathered their luggage and headed towards the vehicle.

Just then, Taeyun glanced around and suddenly grabbed Hyeseong’s arm.

“I’ll be right back. I left something in the dining hall. I’ll be quick.”

“Brother!”

Ignoring Hyeseong’s calls, Taeyun ran straight into the dining hall where they had eaten breakfast that morning.

He quickly searched for someone.

After breakfast, she was always the one who cleaned the dining hall. But she was nowhere to be seen.

“Where did she go?”

Had she gone back to her room yet?

There were too many people around for him to shout her name. His heart began to beat unevenly with impatience.

“Auntie, here—”

At that moment, Ina appeared at the door, carrying an armful of dishcloths. She looked slightly startled when she saw Taeyun.

Taeyun strode towards her without hesitation.

“What’s your phone number?”

Caught off guard by the abrupt question, Ina blinked.

“I’m asking what your number is.”

“I don’t have a phone.”

His lips parted slightly at her answer.

He had expected her to either refuse curtly or agree reluctantly.

But this—he had not seen this coming at all.

No phone? In the twenty-first century?

This response left him momentarily speechless.

While he stood there, stunned, Ina brushed past him.

Taeyun quickly stepped in front of her again to block her path. He shrugged off his backpack and hastily pulled something out.

“This is my number. Contact me.”

He pressed a small piece of paper into her hand. On the roughly torn white slip were eleven digits.

“If you need anything while studying, call me.”

“That’s—”

“Don’t say you don’t need it. If there’s something you don’t understand, call.”

He cut her off before she could refuse.

Ina slowly lifted her gaze. Her dark eyes met his.

“If you want to hear my voice, you can call. Anytime.”

A smile tugged at his lips.

How could someone’s smile be that bright?

For a moment, Ina found herself staring at him, as if bewitched.

“Take care of yourself. Don’t catch a cold. Dress warmly.”

Suddenly, her heart began to pound wildly in her chest.

She hadn’t intended to reply, but before she could think of anything to say, he had turned and left the dining hall.

Looking through the window, she saw him run across the yard and out of the orphanage grounds.

Ina fanned her heated face with her hand.

***

“……”

While studying, Ina’s gaze fell on the white slip of paper lying before her.

She had no intention of contacting him.

Yet she could not bring herself to throw it away.

‘I’ll come back in two weeks. On the weekend.’

His words echoed in her ears.

His voice had been certain. As if he would absolutely return.

“Liar.”

It must have been a lie.

Everyone said they would come back.

But nobody ever did.

Not even her own mother returned.

What made him any different?

Ina picked up the paper and tossed it into the far corner of her desk.

She reached for her mechanical pencil again, then paused.

If she got into the university she longed for, might she bump into him on campus?

After a moment’s thought, she scoffed softly.

“As if he’d even recognize me. What am I thinking?”

It had only been three days.

Just three days.

He had stayed briefly and then left.

So why did he linger in her thoughts like this?

While studying. While working.

Even when she went to sleep, her mind was filled with random thoughts about him.

“Ha.”

She slapped her cheeks lightly with both hands.

“Get a grip.”

It was March now.

Until the college entrance exam, she needed to focus solely on studying.

In a few days, he would be forgotten anyway.

Shaking her head, Ina forced herself to steady her heart once more.

***

Two weeks passed like that.

Just when it began to feel as though nothing had ever happened and she was starting to forget, Ina stopped short at the entrance to the dining hall after finishing work.

The children were sitting at one of the tables.

And there was Han Taeyun.

Some of the men who had come with him before were there too.

“Sister! Sister!”

Choa, who had been sitting beside him, beamed brightly and ran toward Ina.

“Why are you so late today?”

“Ah, I…”

Flustered, Ina raised her gaze and looked him in the eye again.

His whole face lit up with a smile.

It was as if he was saying, ‘See?’ I told you I’d come.’

Ina quickly turned her head and sat at another table.

She deliberately chose a seat with her back to him, but she could still feel his stare on the nape of her neck.

He really had come.

She had not expected it at all.

“Sister, I’m going to eat with Uncle Taeyun!”

“Choa.”

“Uncleee.”

Choa slipped away from Ina and hurried back to Taeyun’s table.

The atmosphere in the dining hall was warmer than ever. The children were delighted, their laughter ringing out brightly. Even the children Ina usually looked after had gathered around him.

“Ha…”

Why does this bother me so much?

She frowned and sighed inwardly.

She hadn’t even taken any food for herself, planning to feed the children first. But now, the thought of getting up to get her own tray somehow felt awkward.

Maybe it would be better not to eat at all.

She rose and approached one of the staff members.

“I’ll go upstairs and wash up.”

“Without eating?”

“Yes. I don’t feel like it. I’ll be back.”

With a slight bow, she left the dining hall.

A persistent gaze followed her retreating figure.

***

“Haaam.”

Ina yawned widely.

She had caught a cold during the early spring chill, and it had been at its worst for days. Working part-time in the mornings and afternoons while studying at night was steadily exhausting her.

She lifted her cup to her lips, then paused.

“When did I finish it?”

She had brewed a cup of warm green tea, yet it was already empty.

“Should I go get more?”

The water dispenser was located in the center of the second floor, quite far from her room at the end of the corridor.

The cold medicine had made her drowsy. She needed the cool air to wake her up.

Ina stepped quietly out of her room.

“Ugh…”

She stretched as she walked slowly down the corridor.

Grrr!

The sound of her rumbling stomach echoed through the quiet hallway.

She let out a small, embarrassed laugh.