Gentle Forest

Chapter 47

As soon as my dad dropped me off at home, he left, saying he was going to run errands in the village. I had promised to eat all the white porridge he had boiled in the pot because of Minhyuk's snitching. Due to not eating anything all day, I felt dizzy. Slowly, I placed the heated porridge on the table and
video-called Aiden, who still seemed worried.

"Are you on your way home?"

- Yeah, I left early.

Even though it was late, Aiden was walking alone in the night streets. Naturally, thoughts about gun possession and crime rates in the United States crossed my mind. Despite his imposing figure, I still worried.

The night streets of New York, with sporadically lit street lamps, were occasionally noisy but generally quiet. As Aiden reached the depths of the residential area, the surroundings quickly became silent.

"Take a taxi or something."

-I can talk with you while walking.

"I'm about to eat porridge now."

-You mean, eat it all?

"I'll show you emptying the bowl, so endure it even if it's boring."

-It's not boring. I really enjoy watching you eat.

Memories of the times we were together, with my neglected meal and his gaze fixed on me, flashed in my mind. It felt as if, even now, he could pop out of the screen, lean his chin on his hand over the table, and sit across from me. With a bitter taste, I avoided his gaze and slowly finished the porridge. It had no discernible taste, tolerable, yet emptying the bowl still felt daunting.

-Seowon.

"What?"

-If you're in pain, don't hide it. Tell me everything.

"Today wasn't really a big deal, so I didn't say anything..."

-Even if we're far apart, I want to know first. Is that too much to ask?

"...No. It's not too much."

The distance between us, not close enough to sense each other's presence without words, felt unfair. If he were here, even if I tried to hide it, he would quickly notice and comfort me. Revealing the hidden fact was awkward yet appreciated and warm. When I was hugged and fell asleep, it felt like being surrounded by an invisible shield, both comforting and soothing.

-So, tell me everything

Aiden insisted. His face, brought to mind by the chilly dawn breeze, was remarkably tender.

Despite his repeated requests, I was determined not to freely discuss the unpleasant events. I didn't want to see Aiden making 10 phone calls and catching Minhyuk like he was catching a mouse.

While it might be a crude approach, flipping the situation yielded a quick conclusion. I couldn't even imagine what I would do if Aiden told me he was in pain. Still, I couldn't speak the truth to him.

Yet, I responded to Aiden's persistent requests with a dignified assurance. Though it felt like I was a liar, as long as the truth remained my secret, there was no problem.

-Finished eating?

"Almost."

Thanks to the conversation with Aiden, the porridge, which I had been swallowing spoonful by spoonful, quickly disappeared. He was truly a cure-all. With a sense of accomplishment, I wiped the remaining bits clean in one go. Holding the empty bowl to the camera, Aiden seemed relieved, as if sweeping away any worries from his chest.

-Eating is cute. Like a bird.

I shrugged, unsure if it was a compliment or an observation. However, considering Aiden watching over me like a mother bird, I could somewhat accept the analogy.