LIGHTNOVELWORLD 9.
9.
Jian sat with Sehun at a table chair. During a brief lull in work, he opened a food delivery app he had downloaded earlier and clicked on the list of restaurants available for immediate delivery.
“Is there anything you want to eat? I’ll buy you anything. Choose whatever you like.”
He held out the screen displaying various food photos to Sehun. Sehun looked at the screen once, then at Jian, before pointing to one with his index finger.
“Pizza? Pizza is delicious.”
Jian thought it might be too high in calories, but looking at the child’s arms and legs, he figured it would be fine.
Moreover, the toppings on the pizza were all extraordinary. A whole lobster was placed on top of the pizza in the main photo.
‘The cheapest pizza is 80,000 won… Crazy.’
While he was selling Americanos for 10,000 won, his fingertips trembled slightly as he pressed the screen.
He suddenly remembered why he had only been buying triangle kimbap all this time. The price that was good when selling became intimidating when buying due to the murderous cost of living.
However, Jian had already experienced paying large sums when buying things for the child.
Usually, the second time is easier than the first. Unlike his hesitation, Jian chose the most expensive pizza in the store with quite a solemn expression and placed the order.
“They say it’ll take about 20 minutes for the pizza to arrive.”
Seeing the child’s eyes still fixed on the phone screen full of food pictures even when spoken to, Jian swallowed quietly. He hadn’t given Sehun the phone even when busy dealing with customers.
In the past, he had seen videos of small children staring blankly at smartphone screens. He had also seen statistical data showing that children’s literacy was declining due to addiction to videos.
Fortunately, Sehun had been well-behaved and quiet while Jian worked. For some reason, he seemed content just fiddling with a plastic cup he’d gotten from Jian and watching Jian work as if watching TV.
But now, seeing Sehun show interest in the phone, Jian felt a small sense of crisis.
‘I should buy toys and books suitable for a child to read.’
He couldn’t tell how much education Sehun had received, but judging by his immature pronunciation, there was a possibility he hadn’t learned to read yet.
‘Maybe I should visit the city hall too.’
Although he had possessed a character with the same name and appearance, there was a faint fear. The fear that someone might discover he had possessed this body. So he tried his best not to stray too far from this café and home.
If Sehun was really ten years old, he should be attending elementary school.
To go to school, they needed to check if his birth was properly registered and who his parents were, which necessitated a visit to the city hall.
It seemed better to close the café early today. It would be too late if they waited until the end of business hours, though he felt sorry for potential customers.
“Delivery!”
A welcome sound was heard just as he was discreetly removing the phone from the child’s sight. Jian hurried to the door to receive the pizza.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Enjoy your meal.”
After seeing off the delivery person, he returned to the table and placed the package bag he was holding. Even without opening the box, a delicious smell was already wafting out.
He couldn’t help but smile seeing the child swallowing hard. Curious if the pizza would look like the picture, Jian quickly took out the box and opened it.
“Wow…”
“Wow…”
They both exclaimed at the same time. The lobster, looking even larger than in the photo, showed off its glossy appearance sitting whole on top of the pizza.
Suppressing the urge to eat immediately, he went to the sink with the child to wash their hands. Then they returned to their seats and spread out the ordered food.
Sehun held the box with both hands and looked up at Jian with desperate eyes.
“Just a moment. I’ll put it on a plate for you.”
The pizza was cut into eight slices, but the lobster was whole. He used the plastic knife included in the box to cut the lobster into manageable pieces.
He placed what looked like the most delicious part on Sehun’s plate. Saliva glistened under the light at the corners of his half-open mouth.
“It’s hot, so blow on it before eating.”
Thinking it would be cruel to make the child wait any longer, he stuck a fork into the lobster and handed it over.
The maple leaf-like hand gripped the fork tightly. Unfamiliar with using utensils, his fist clenched with excessive force.
Sehun puckered his lips and blew as Jian had instructed. After blowing a few times, Sehun immediately put the fork in his mouth, and one cheek quickly puffed out.
A red flush spread across his previously pale cheeks like watercolor paint soaked with water. Only after seeing the child eating well did Jian taste a piece of lobster himself.
‘I’m glad to be alive…’
The joys and sorrows of life exploded in his mouth. The combination of rich, strong butter flavor and sweet yet salty seasoning was absolutely the best.
The springy flesh crumbled between his teeth while maintaining its texture to the last bite. Seeing Jian eating well, the corners of Sehun’s mouth curled up in a smile.
Finding it cute, Jian occasionally touched the hamster-like puffy cheeks with his clean hand while eating pizza.
When he did, Sehun would pause his vigorous chewing and gently rub his cheek against Jian’s fingertips.
The delivered food disappeared in no time. Jian marveled anew at Sehun’s appetite.
Usually, stomach size is proportional to the amount one typically eats. Both Jian and Sehun had lived lives accustomed to hunger.
Yet Jian had eaten five slices and Sehun three. They had also shared the side dishes evenly, leaving only a little sauce in the packaging containers. Jian felt so full that his stomach felt tight with each breath.
“Did you enjoy the food?”
Nod, nod.
Jian secretly smiled seeing Sehun’s belly protruding like a tadpole under his t-shirt.
He felt good thinking that seeing him eat so well meant he would soon put on weight in his arms and legs too.
“Shall we go out for a bit then?”
“Where are we going?”
Sehun looked anxiously at the outside of the café. The outside world was a scary place for Jian too, and it seemed the same for Sehun.
Come to think of it, Sehun had clung to Jian’s leg as soon as they left the house. He had thought it was simply because the child didn’t want to be separated, but now…
Feeling sympathetic, he patted Sehun’s back. Though looking glum, Sehun got down from the chair and stood next to Jian. His heart ached seeing the child’s hand tightly gripping his clothes, as if preparing himself mentally.
“You said you’re ten, right? That means you should be in elementary school. So I thought we’d go to the city hall and check things out.”
Sehun’s eyes trembled slightly at Jian’s words. Seeing Sehun’s face suddenly turn pale, Jian grabbed the child’s shoulders in alarm.
“Sehun, what’s wrong?”
“…don’t.”
“Huh?”
His voice was so small that Jian barely caught the end. Jian leaned his head towards Sehun.
“I don’t want to…”
Sehun shook his head and squeezed out his voice. Seeing the terrified face, Jian’s expression also turned serious.
“Can you tell me why not?”
At Jian’s question, Sehun pressed his lips tightly and just clenched his fists until his knuckles showed.
“I don’t want to go to school… I don’t want to go anywhere… Can’t I just stay with you, big brother…?”
There was clearly a reason, but the child seemed afraid as if something terrible would happen if he spoke.
Jian thought that the secret the child was harboring might be quite significant. Was he perhaps wandering the streets to escape from someone?
Instead of pressing for answers, Jian stroked the child’s head to calm his startled heart.
“Okay. If it’s difficult to talk about, you don’t have to.”
There must be a way for the child to receive the education he needs at this age without going to school.
Relieved, the child nestled into Jian’s arms. Feeling the warmth pressing close, Jian silently patted the small back for a long time.
* * *
“You’re our last customer. I’ll give you an extra drink on the house.”
“Really? My fortune today said I’d have good luck with money, I guess this is it.”
The unusually long day was coming to an end. After the customer, whose face brightened at receiving the free service, left the café, Jian quickly changed the sign to ‘closed’ in case another customer came in.
Jian let out a small sigh and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. The muscles around his mouth, which had been smiling all day, trembled slightly.
“Sehun, wait a moment. I’ll clean up quickly and then we’ll go home.”
It was already 9 o’clock. The child nodded slightly, showing no signs of fatigue.
Jian moved busily, cleaning up. Thanks to washing cups intermittently throughout the day, there wasn’t much left to tidy.
Usually, he would check each receipt to see how much the day’s sales were and if there were any order mistakes or calculation omissions, but today he decided to skip that.