Chapter 73

They say the world is a series of unexpected events, don't they?

From that day on, the man naturally began to freeload in my house.

When the sun rose, we went to the beach together, and when it set, we returned home together.

And the man said,

"There's a hole in the left side of the roof from the storm last night. Can you go up and fix it? I'll get you a ladder."

"I don't know how to do that."

"You don't?"

"I've never done it. Well, to be precise, it's been so long since I did it that I don't remember how."

He was so shameless and brazen, but he turned out to be completely useless.

I can't believe it. For a guy over 190cm tall, he acts like a princess who's been pampered?

"Why do you keep replacing the bucket for collecting rainwater with these small, cute cans? The water overflows and makes the room dirty."

"Because they're pretty."

I did all the housework and cleaning.

"Today, you sleep on the floor."

"My body is stiff from old age. You go down."

He was trying to sleep in someone else's bed!

"Get up and stop sleeping. I told you to look for some boots and a dog tag, didn't I? Did you look?"

"Yeah, in my dreams."

He didn't even help with the beach search!

"Can you take the fish head off for me?"

"Take the head off? Isn't that a bit barbaric? I don't know how to do that."

Even the cooking was done by me? I had to feed this stranger with my terrible cooking skills?

While cutting the fish's neck, I couldn't hold back the rising sense of injustice and confronted the man.

"How long do you plan to follow me around?"

Ruga, who was putting unknown wildflowers into a tomato stew can, smiled.

"I don't know."

"Why are you following me?"

"Because I like it?"

"Why do you like it?"

"Just because you're cute."

Everything he said sounded like a joke and a lie.

Suddenly, I got so angry that I slowly waved the kitchen knife.

"Don't like me. If you don't want to get hurt."

He shivered as if he was scared and replied with a grin.

"What a disappointment. I thought you'd open up more after three days of living together."

"Don't talk like that either."

Still, there was one good thing about having a friend.

On calm, windless nights, we would lie side by side on the narrow bed and have pointless conversations.

The conversations were superficial, but I enjoyed how the long, boring nights passed by quickly when I talked to the man.

"Uncle."

"Yeah."

"You said you were looking for something on Queen Island. What are you looking for?"

There was no answer. Maybe he didn't want to talk about it. I didn't want to pry.

Actually, living so closely with someone was something I hadn't done in a very long time.

'Is that why I can't easily get rid of this strange, useless man whose name I don't even know?'

Maybe I was a little lonely without realizing it?

I had been living alone on Queen Island for more than a month.

After the black flames fell from the sky like bombs. The residents who survived by luck became refugees and fled to the mainland.

All that remained on Queen Island were scorched earth, sparse grass, the ruins of the village, and the graves of the residents covered in stones.

And me.

"I'm looking for my brother."

The man's body moved slightly.

"My brother's ship sank in this area. Since this is the closest island, I think I can find him if I search thoroughly."

"Ah, so that's why you were walking around the beach? What a kind sister. Even if you can't cook well."

"Originally, cooking was my brother's job. I can't help it if I'm not good at it."

"Of course. I believe you. Don't worry."

"Today, while we're walking along the coast, I'll help you look for what you're searching for."

The man laughed softly, as if mocking my words.

"Of course, you're kind. ...I can't keep my mouth shut when I'm with such a kind lady. What I'm about to say is a secret, so don't tell anyone."

Then he took off one of the earrings dangling from his ear and handed it to me.

"What I'm looking for is something like this."

A small, pale cream-colored bead. Smooth and fine.

A pearl.

"Unfortunately, our island doesn't produce pearls. There aren't even large clams."

"Does it look like a pearl? It's different. It's just a crystal with a similar color and shape."

"Is it a fake, then?"

A small voice whispered in my ear.

"No. A heart."

...A heart?

This small, smooth bead?

'Maybe he means it's as important and precious as a heart.'

Feeling guilty for holding it, I quickly returned it.

"You shouldn't lose your heart. It's best to find it as soon as possible."

The man, with a grateful expression, put the pearl, or rather, the heart, back in his ear.

The next day was the first time the man helped with the search.

"Uncle! Look at this!"

After several days, we finally found something.

On the northern coast, we discovered a worn-out military boot in the seawater. The man, who had been walking the beach leisurely as if on vacation, asked me.

"It just looks like a regular military boot. Is there any special mark?"

"Regular military boot? Have you ever seen such a large boot? I told you, my brother is as tall as you. His feet wouldn't fit in any other boot. He might be hiding around here."

My brother is a soldier. The ship he was on sank with Queen Island.

My brother and I lost our parents early, so we were each other's only family. That's why I didn't build a grave for Andert.

I knew better than anyone that he would return someday.

The man, who had been staring at the horizon, finally spoke while looking at the military boot.

"Do you think your brother is alive?"

"Of course."

"Ah, right. Of course. I can see you're excited, but let's go back today."

"Why?"

"It looks like it's going to rain heavily."

As if on cue, thunder rumbled in the clear sky.

"The wind..."

As he said, it looks like it's going to rain heavily. Reluctantly, I returned home, holding the boot to my chest.

The next day, it rained heavily from morning.

'This can't be. Andert must be around that coast.'

He must be in a weakened state, so I need to find him as soon as possible.

"Uncle! I'll be back in a bit."

I rushed out of the house, leaving the man busy putting dry firewood into the fireplace.

After a while, I arrived at the beach, where something I hadn't seen before was floating.

A military boot.

I hurriedly ran to the beach and confirmed the boot lying there. It was the same size as the left boot I found yesterday, and it was the right boot.

'So he is around here.'

Andert is around here.

He must be alive, waiting for me.

Excited, I searched the beach and even climbed up a cliff. From a higher vantage point, I could see better.

Between the waves crashing against the cliff, something shiny caught my eye.

A necklace.

Could this be...

'a military dog tag?'

The moment I was sure of its shape, I didn't hesitate to jump into the sea.

SPLASH!

Sharp waves pierced my skin like bars. Meanwhile, the waves, which had grown higher, crashed violently and poured down.

After swimming against the current for a while, I finally held the dog tag in my hand. The familiar name was neatly engraved on it.