© GREY | exopink

Eternal Daisy

Part Two|

I put Lily in her chair and sat on my own. She stared at her food and sighed

Lily-Scrambbled egg?
Jongin-Why, you don't like it?

Lily pouted

Lily-Where is mama? Why isn't she home yet?
Jongin-She has to see a friend
Lily-Which friend? Uncle Myungsoo?

I bit on my cheek

Jongin-Lily, quickly finish your food and I will take you to the nursery
Lily-Is mama going to pick me up later?
Jongin-No, I will
Lily-Why?
Jongin-Because I can do that
Lily-But you never do that before
Jongin-Now I can

I smiled at my daughter, messing her hair

Lily-Is that mean mama will not come back?

I swallowed my saliva bitterly. Lily saw how my expression changed. She dug into her food and did not waste any more time

I put Lily in her car seat and got into the driver side

Jongin-Let's get you to the nursery now. It's Haenmil Nursery right?
Lily-It's Haenmul. You don't even know the name
Jongin-Ah, I'm sorry

I searched for our destination using waze and drove off to Haenmul Nursery. I would remember the name from now on

After sending Lily off, I returned home. I spent some hours completing the draft until my stomach growled. I was hungry

I dragged my legs out to the kitchen. I opened the lid and found nothing beneath

Jongin-Ah, I forgot Naeun is not here anymore

I took my phone and ordered for delivery

Jongin-Thank you

I paid and brought the food to the kitchen. It felt strange to do everything on my own. Usually Naeun would cook and serve the food on the table. All I had to do was sit down and eat. But it seemed like things had changed now

Jongin-Oh, the laundry!

I rushed to the laundry room, collected them from the washing machine and hung the clothes under the sun. Later I was able to eat my food

Jongin-Tch, it's already cold

I lost appetite to eat. Everything had cooled down when I was doing the laundry just now. I stared blankly at the empty seat in front of me

Usually I would eat with Naeun sitting there, but she wasn't eating. She would be busy feeding Lily instead. She always made sure our little four-year-old to eat her meals. Only later Naeun could eat although she would be left alone eating her late breakfast, lunch and dinner

I sighed

I put the food inside the fridge and walked up to my bedroom. I lied down comfortably. Then I noticed the emptiness beside me. Again, it was a space that supposed to be Naeun's place

I had never gone to sleep without her. Every day I would come home late so Naeun would be asleep in her place. And every morning I would leave to work early so Naeun would still be in her place

It was always her who had to sleep without me and woke up without me

This was the first time I'm trying to sleep without her presence. I didn't know if I could ever fall asleep

I moved to lie on Naeun's side. I smelt familiar scent which always comforted me to sleep. It was the smell of her

I took my phone to see if Naeun ever texted or called me. But my call log was empty without her name. I tossed my phone, groaning