Whisper Chapter 4

The sudden sharpness in her gaze didn’t seem to be lying, but there was an instinctive feeling that it wasn’t the whole truth either.

 

Looking at the candle illuminating the suddenly darkened room, he wondered if things could possibly get worse than this.  

 

…But it’s not impossible.

 

The voice, buried under the sound of the rain, sounded sorrowful.  

 

Cha Gyeol suddenly became curious about who was seeking out this shaman. He had only received the job through Broker Chief Kim, but he didn’t know who was behind it. He’d never been interested in the background of the jobs that came his way—just the work and the money.  

 

Think it over until tomorrow.

 

Though the rain wasn’t likely the shaman’s doing, it certainly felt that way. Cha Gyeol didn’t rashly open his mouth. He felt that if he spoke, only curses would come out. The miserable situation kept fraying his nerves. He hated such unclear emotions. Being dragged along wasn’t something he allowed. Even so, he refrained from acting on impulse.  

 

…Goodnight, sir.

 

The soft, powdery scent of a baby wafted over him, white and tender. It was damned annoying.  

 

Cha Gyeol pulled his arm out from under his head to cover his eyes.  

 

That’s what didn’t sit right with him. The girl was barely out of adolescence. She was light-years away from his type. They hadn’t even known each other for half a day.  

 

As the rain played like background music, Cha Gyeol muttered curses under his breath like a chant.  

 

***

 

Lee Heewoo stared at the closed door before crawling into the blanket where her grandmother was lying. Normally, faint murmurs would be heard, but it seemed the guest had silenced them. Heewoo’s gaze kept returning to the door.  

 

“Grandma, it’s raining too much.”  

 

Her grandmother lay straight and still with her eyes closed. Heewoo lay on her side, watching her.  

 

“Heewoo.”  

 

“Yes?”  

 

Though she thought her grandmother was about to sleep, she turned her head and met Heewoo’s eyes. In the darkness, the two pairs of eyes sparkled faintly. Heewoo placed her hand atop her grandmother’s hand resting on her chest. Her soft hand gently stroked the hardened one.  

 

“You’re not seeing things, are you?”  

 

Even in the dark, Heewoo’s widened eyes were visible, and a bitter smile formed at the corners of Heo Gwiryeon’s mouth.  

 

Had she known it would come to this, she wouldn’t have forced herself into marriage or had children.  

 

The sins were so vast and heavy. Heo Gwiryeon removed her hand from beneath Heewoo’s and lightly patted the girl’s hand. She worried whether she could even cross the threshold of the afterlife with this child weighing on her mind.  

 

“…Grandma, that guest is strange.”  

 

Heewoo whispered in a voice so low it was unlikely to be heard over the rain. That voice was filled with curiosity and excitement.  

 

“Not scary?”  

 

“…”  

 

Heewoo rolled her eyes as though thinking it over, then nodded.  

 

“A little? Just a little, maybe.”  

 

Her body felt as if it were floating, her heart pressing tightly against her chest. Even lying down, her entire body squirmed as if she couldn’t stay still. It didn’t seem like she would get any sleep.  

 

Goodnight, kid.

 

The deep voice kept replaying in her chest.  

 

Ah, what do I do? Her toes curled tightly. Thank goodness it was dark. If her grandmother saw her flushed face, she’d think it odd.  

 

“Grandma.”  

 

“Hmm?”  

 

“Why is it like this?”  

 

Perhaps because a new world had opened up for her, Heewoo was brimming with excitement. And why wouldn’t she be? From the moment she was born, she had thought of strange things as normal, unable to live a proper life. Even so, the child who accepted such things as natural broke Heo Gwiryeon’s heart countless times.  

 

Such a beautiful, precious child. If she had been born into a different lineage, she would have been cherished, loved, and led a radiant life.  

 

“Heewoo.”  

 

“Yes.”  

 

“Didn’t I tell you that there are things you need to stay away from?”  

 

“Yes…”  

 

Heo Gwiryeon stroked Heewoo’s hair as the girl pouted in dismay. The only thing she clung to was the belief that the man in the room across from them would protect Heewoo. The warmth beneath her palm felt unbearably pitiful.  

 

“Follow that guest.”  

 

“…?”  

 

“His soul is too pure and his energy too strong for anything malevolent to latch onto him.”  

 

“So…”  

 

“By staying with him, my Heewoo might become normal.”  

 

“…But.”  

 

After Heo Gwiryeon stopped performing divinations, she frequently hinted to Lee Heewoo that the time had come for them to live apart.  

 

Thinking she had been alone here, Heewoo parted her lips. Whenever her grandmother acted this way, there was always a good reason, but a part of her chest felt heavy.  

 

Her grandmother never set a specific period. It felt like it could mean they might never see each other again, which terrified Heewoo.  

 

“Things that come easy to others are so difficult for us. It’s unbearable, truly.”  

 

Since birth, Heo Gwiryeon had grown up seeing nothing but this life: performing divinations, predicting fortunes and misfortunes, writing talismans, and offering prayers. Her body, once devoted to the gods, was now exhausted.  

 

Approaching the end, Heo Gwiryeon prayed again and again for Heewoo’s well-being after she was gone.  

 

“Didn’t I always tell you? Act like you don’t see it even if you do, and act like you don’t hear it even if you do, hmm?”  

 

“Yes, I’ll try. But, grandma, will we not see each other?”  

 

Heewoo’s voice, soaked in moisture, drooped weakly. She had never left this mountain, nor had she ever thought of living with someone other than her grandmother. Even for Heewoo, who had always gone along with things, this felt like a world-shaking event.  

 

“Not see you? As long as you eat well and sleep well, we’ll see each other.”  

 

Heo Gwiryeon hugged Heewoo as she burrowed into her embrace. The wrinkled old face with closed eyes grew damp.  

 

***

 

The rain that had poured as if the sky had been punctured finally stopped late into the night. Cha Gyeol sat on the porch, looking at the blue sky as if it had never rained. The air, already clean, had become even cleaner, and the view, once clear, now boasted even greater clarity. The smell of nature after the rain also intensified.  

 

Having finished washing up after breakfast, Lee Heewoo shook her wet hands and, seeing Cha Gyeol sitting languidly on the porch with his arms stretched behind him, flinched.  

 

What was so surprising every time she saw him? Sunlight seemed to pour only on Lee Heewoo’s head, making her glow.  

 

“Sit here for a moment.”  

 

Cha Gyeol gestured with his eyes to the spot next to him. After staring at him for a while, Lee Heewoo hesitated and approached, perching awkwardly on the edge of the porch.  

 

“Sharing a blanket but acting so reserved, kiddo.”  

 

Heewoo sharply inhaled, spinning her head around in disbelief, her eyes and mouth wide open.  

 

“S-sir! Why do you say things like that?”  

 

“I shared your blanket, so it’s true. Why is your face so red? Our little one is quite bold.”  

 

Her fair skin flushed red, making her look even more appealing. Cha Gyeol smirked at his own thoughts. Seriously, was there something about this mountain?  

 

“There’s no electricity here. How do you live like this?”  

 

Dressed differently from yesterday but still in the same style, Lee Heewoo stared at Cha Gyeol’s profile. She wondered if this was what perfection looked like. How could a person look like that? The thought crossed her mind that maybe he was a ghost—though she quickly dismissed it, realizing she’d never seen a male ghost before.  

 

“You keep staring. Is my face that interesting?”  

 

Cha Gyeol asked without turning his head, causing Lee Heewoo to shift her wide eyes nervously and lower her gaze to her slippered toes.  

 

“…It’s fascinating.”  

 

Surprised by her unexpected answer, Cha Gyeol turned his head. Heewoo, staring at her toes with her head down, had a faint blush on her nape. Her pointed ears were even redder.  

 

“You’re the first person I’ve looked at so closely and for so long, aside from Grandma and Janggun Auntie.”  

 

“I’m the first?”  

 

“Yes. And… you’re so handsome it’s hard to believe. But… the way you address me… feels… strange.”  

 

“You think I’m handsome?”  

 

A gaze that seemed to say, “How do you not realize this?” pierced him. Cha Gyeol chuckled, looking down at Heewoo, who stared up at him. His eyes were drawn to the beauty mark near her nose.  

 

Honestly, the fascinating one was you, little one.  

 

Despite the shitty situation, Lee Heewoo’s appearance was enough to astonish even Cha Gyeol, who was rarely impressed by women’s looks.  

 

“…It feels inadequate, though.”  

 

“Hmm?”  

 

Cha Gyeol’s sharp gaze widened. Inadequate? His looks?  

 

“The word ‘handsome’ feels… insufficient, like it’s not enough.”  

 

Quietly whispering as she fidgeted with her clasped hands, Lee Heewoo made Cha Gyeol burst into laughter.  

 

Startled by his laughter, Heewoo froze, unsure why he found her words funny. As she stared in confusion, Cha Gyeol couldn’t help but reach out and press his hand against the top of her head.  

 

“You are such a baby.”