Paper Lilies | Jeong Yunho

02

"W-what?"

I asked, shivering when another strong breeze passes by. The unfamiliar man stands at the far end of the bridge. He chuckles before walking towards me.

"I said, are you attempting to freeze yourself to death."

Riri notices an unfamiliar presence, raising her head and seeing the tall man come closer to the both of us. She jumps out of my lap before hissing at the stranger.

"Riri-"

I lift up my feet from the edge and rush to Riri to stop her from hurting the stranger. Picking her up, I pat her back to calm her down.

"Shh, it's okay. He's not a threat." I hope so.

I went back to my spot to get the scarf. I wrap it around the little cat so she won't feel cold.

"Let's bring you home, little one."

I grab my bag on the floor before placing it on my shoulder as I held Riri on my arms. I turn my head to see the tall man standing a few meters away from me. Judging by his height, he must be older than me.

"Uh- mister tall man, I'll get going now. Sorry."

Without waiting for a response, I bowed to him for the last time before sprinting away from the bridge.

Huff, huff.

Seeing that the bridge was out of sight, I slowed my paced. I turn my head back to the direction I'm heading, sighing before hitting my head with my fist.

What was I thinking?

"Meow."

I look at Riri who was wrapped in the red scarf on my arms. She lifts her head up to look at me. I frown at her knowing what she meant.

"I know. I shouldn't have left like that."

Erasing what just happened in my thoughts, I walk further across the asphalt road. A few more minutes passed before I arrived in front of a big gray house. I stare at it from the outside, preparing myself as I opened the red metal gate with my right hand while I held Riri on my left arm.

I walked pass the grassy front yard. Climbing up the terrace before slowly opening the wooden door.

"Hey! Give me back my watch!"

I hear a shout from a distance before I was pushed back as someone sprinted passed me.

Ah-

"Meow!"

A slipper hit my face which caused a frightened Riri to jumped out of the scarf and out of my arms, running around the house.

"Oops, sorry cuz."

I rubbed a certain location on my forehead before closing the open door.

"It's okay San-"

"Choi Nari!"

The two of us tilt our heads to the entrance of the kitchen. A middle age woman enters the living room wearing an apron while she had both of her hands resting on her waist.

"Did you bring that stupid cat of yours again?"

I bit my lower lip as I stood there looking at her angry face. San glances at me with worry.

"It's not stupid, she was cold and I-"

"And you brought that thing to mess with the house."

I widen my eyes, trying to come up with a sentence in my mind.

"I had to bring her inside or she will freeze to dea-"

Smack!

Oh. I guess I deserve that. I look down holding onto my now bruised cheek.

"Auntie, it wasn't her fault I scared th-"

"This is none of your business, San."

She leaves to the kitchen and returns back with a locked cage and a terrified Riri inside it.

"Put that thing on your room and don't ever try to open it. I have the key."

With that, I lift the cage looking at Riri with a frown before continuing my journey to my bedroom.

I'm sorry.

I walk up the stairs with my head hung low, ignoring San's calls.