Daldal: Main story

Chapter 60

Tap-Tap.

The logs inside the fireplace crackled, releasing sparks as they burned. Leaning against the wall, Kang-hee, who had been waiting for the water to boil, murmured softly.

"Just like me...."

Kang-hee couldn't believe he felt sympathy for firewood destined to burn and soon become ashes. To put it in a good way, it was sentimental, and in a bad way, it was a miserable situation. He had never been like this before, but perhaps it was due to losing his composure. Lately, he found himself often immersed in such pessimistic sentiments.

He knew the reason well—all too well.

Kang-hee closed his eyes tightly.

When he closed his eyes like this, what came to mind was him.

Chae Yoon-sa.

Beautifully depicted, but internally a man full of flaws.

The center of his life.

Kang-hee had been watching him for a long time. When he couldn't see him, he recalled and thought of him like this. Moreover, something stronger than time existed between them. That's why Kang-hee could boast that he knew him better than anyone else.

For Chae Yoon-sa, the significance of a person wasn't much different from that of an animal or an object. Therefore, he harbored no emotions towards others. Without affection, there was no hatred; without expectations, there was no disappointment.

Emotion and human relationships—these were his deficiencies.

His deficiency brought despair to Kang-hee.

He placed Chae Yoon-sa at the center of his life, moved for him, and simply gazed at him.

What was the reward for those efforts?

A New Year's money received twice a year.

It wasn't what he wished for...

It couldn't be done. Not because Chae Yoon-sa didn't give emotions but because he couldn't. He wasn't someone who couldn't give love; he was someone who couldn't love.

Perhaps he would go through life not understanding what affection truly was.

But it wasn't the case now.

It seemed not.

That boy, Eun-oh. Chae Yoon-sa showed interest, kept him close, and watched over him. Looking at him every day.

Through observation, Kang-hee could feel it.

That it was deepening and changing.

I tried so hard... I hoped that I would be the one to fill that deficiency, ruthlessly shattering it..... But it was taken away by someone who suddenly appeared.

"Pathetic, truly Pathetic, Yoon Kang."

He felt not anger but emptiness. Maybe it was natural. To deny the past efforts as utterly worthless. He was even considering giving up and letting go. It had come to the point of contemplating surrendering everything.

He had dedicated his body and soul without hesitation to achieve his goals. He had never considered giving up before. Now, he wanted to abandon it all. It indicated that he was crumbling. However, no matter how many times he thought about it, the conclusion was always the same.

It couldn't be done.

Yes, it couldn't be done.

Unfair because there are things to do. Until the goal is achieved, death was not my answer.