Chapter 46

46. That's the best house.

It was the day to leave the cozy home where he had crawled around since birth and move to a new nest.

The moving company staff arrived early in the morning.

"Please gather the things you want to throw away on one side. It's better for the child to be outside because of the dust. We'll start the work now~!"

The staff in uniform began the packing work.

Hyun-ju waited in the car with Si-woo, Bok-sil, Nero, and then came out to take Si-woo to kindergarten on time.

"Si-woo, today is the all-day class. Are you okay with that?"

Si-woo answered confidently.

"Yep~ There are many friends in the all-day class~ Mom~ Good luck with the move~ Be careful~"

"Are you worried about me? Our Si-woo has grown so much~"

Si-woo laughed out loud, waving his hand, which was holding his mother's, back and forth.

Although he still had a baby face, Si-woo had grown taller and more talkative since turning four.

It wasn't a coincidence that he was called a genius at the Go academy; lately, he could recognize quite a few letters.

The vague feeling that he was a bit different from ordinary children gradually became more apparent after he turned four.

Not only Do-jin and Hyun-ju, but also Aunt Hee-ju, Jung-tae's mom, Seung-hyun's mom, Ji-ho's mom, Jin-a's mom, Gyeong-ho's mom, and the kindergarten teachers—many people were now aware of Si-woo's special qualities.

"Hello, ma'am! Is Si-woo in the all-day class today?"

"Yes. Please take good care of him."

"Sure, don't worry about Si-woo. Have a good move~"

"Thank you~ Si-woo, bye! Mom will make your room pretty and wait for you."

Si-woo waved his hands vigorously at his mom and got into the car.

Sitting in the seat next to Gyeong-ho, which had become his designated spot, Si-woo buckled his seatbelt by himself with his small hands.

The kindergarten teacher clapped for him.

"Our Si-woo is really amazing~ He can buckle his seatbelt by himself~ Well done~!"

"Yep~"

"Aww, so cute! From tomorrow, you'll be riding a different car, not this one. Gyeong-ho might feel lonely."

Watching Si-woo buckle his seatbelt, Gyeong-ho, who looked like he wanted to try it too, fiddled with the belt, smiled widely without understanding what was said, and reached out his hand to Si-woo.

"Hand~ Shake~"

Si-woo held Gyeong-ho's hand and patted his head.

Starting tomorrow, Si-woo would ride the same car as Jin-a, not Gyeong-ho.

Leaning against the backrest, Si-woo gazed out the window at the old alleys passing by and thought.

'I'm really moving. I thought I would live in that house forever. It's small, but it's the house where I was born, so I'll probably remember it for the rest of my life.'

It was also the house where his parents had lived as newlyweds and where he met Nero.

He might miss it for a while.

Si-woo couldn't take his eyes off the scenery of the alley he would no longer see.

'From this afternoon, it's a new house. Having my own room is really great. I finally have my own space. I wish I had a computer and a phone. Ah, Mom said she would buy me a kids' phone when I turn five, right?'

In the afternoon after lunch.

The moving company staff were moving non-stop, sweating.

The move was almost over.

After moving the yellow baskets stacked in the living room to the bedroom and kitchen and organizing the items inside, the house began to take shape.

Vroom!

A middle-aged female staff member was vacuuming the floor.

Hyun-ju took out the drinks she bought from the convenience store and distributed them to the staff.

"Thank you for your hard work~"

Do-jin, who had gone to the real estate office to finalize the contract, transferred the money to the moving company's account.

The moving war that started early in the morning was finally over.

"Live happily~"

After the moving company staff left with their good wishes, the bustling house became quiet.

Do-jin, sitting on the sofa, said,

"It's done? Phew. Let's take a breather now."

Hyun-ju said,

"Where's the time to take a breather? We're just starting."

"What? Why?"

"We need to clean again."

"Oh, didn't you just use the vacuum cleaner?"

"That's not enough. We have Si-woo, you know. We need to sweep and wipe again."

Do-jin got up from the sofa.

"What... what should I do...?"

"Go get the kids from the car. I fed them and took them to the bathroom, but they must have been bored. Go play with them in the small room. Since it's our first move after getting married, I don't know much. Next time, we should look for a pet hotel or something to leave them at."

"Right. The kids have worked hard too. I hope Si-woo is playing well with his friends at kindergarten."

"We need to clean everything before Si-woo comes. We need to install the light in Si-woo's room too..."

"I'll do the light."

"Okay. Thanks, honey."

Just as Do-jin and Hyun-ju were almost exhausted, Si-woo came back from kindergarten.

The kindergarten bus stopped in front of the new home, Uju Apartment 107.

"Si-woo~ Bye~ See you tomorrow~"

"Yep. Bye, Jin-a. Have a good day."

After saying goodbye to Jin-a, Si-woo got out of the car, and Do-jin and Hyun-ju were waiting.

'...Wow, your face is half gone.'

Si-woo, holding his parents' hands, cast a generous healing spell.

Do-jin, tilting his head, said,

"I was really tired until just now, but seeing Si-woo, I suddenly feel energized. We cleaned for this moment of showing Si-woo the new house, right? Don't you think so, honey?"

"Yep, me too. Si-woo must be a human vitamin."

Si-woo smiled.

'Both of you are feeling better, so... then...'

"Whoosh~ for me~ Whoosh~"

Do-jin and Hyun-ju each grabbed one of Si-woo's arms and lifted him into the air.

Swinging like a swing, Si-woo flew high and came back, laughing with his messy hair.

Ding!

Riding the elevator to the 5th floor, Si-woo stood in front of the door with the number 501.

It was a tense moment.

Hyun-ju entered the password and opened the door.

Taking off their shoes and stepping into the living room, Si-woo looked around the new home.

Although it was an old apartment, the owner had remodeled it four years ago, making it quite cozy and beautiful.

The living room was a bit bigger than the previous one, and Si-woo had his own room.

There were also a few differences, such as the addition of a balcony and a bathtub in the bathroom.

'Good. It's not amazing, but... with the whole family together, it's the best house.'

"Wow~!"

Si-woo walked around the house with a big smile.

He checked out the master bedroom, which had more space after the loft bed was removed, the small room with a piano and bookshelf, and the kitchen, which would become his mother's battlefield...

'Mom, bear with it a little longer. When I turn 10, I'll do the dishes and even cook for you. I'll use magic to do the cleaning and laundry too. Hmm, should I start using knives in 4th grade? Then, when I'm 11?'

The last place he arrived at was his room.

"Here! Si-woo, this is your first room!"

Do-jin looked unusually excited.

Hyun-ju was also excited.

Si-woo must like it, he must like it—!

"Ta-da!"

Hyun-ju opened the door.

"Wow~!"

Si-woo cheered with a happy expression.

The room was newly wallpapered in a pretty pastel blue.

The loft bed given as a gift when he turned one was placed inside, and opposite it was a sunny window. Below the window was a pine wood drawer-type wardrobe that matched the loft bed.

"Si-woo, let me show you. Look at this. Mom picked it out herself."

On top of the wardrobe, which was about the height of an adult's waist, were cute succulents in various colors, greeting Si-woo.

"And this is what Dad picked~ Since Si-woo is in the Star Class."

On one wall was a star-shaped light.

"Pretty~ Thank you~!"

Clap clap clap!

Si-woo, with a big smile, clapped his hands.

Do-jin and Hyun-ju felt very happy with Si-woo's reaction.

- Woof woof woof!

Bok-sil, who followed them in, seemed to understand the atmosphere and playfully stood on her hind legs.

The family couldn't help but laugh at her cute behavior.

Suddenly, Si-woo, looking around the floor, asked Do-jin, who was holding him.

"Dad~ Where's Nero?"

"Huh? Now that you mention it, I haven't seen Nero. He hasn't been around since we picked up Si-woo, right?"

The family started looking for Nero.

Hyun-ju checked the bathroom and the small room, Do-jin went into the master bedroom, and Si-woo searched the living room.

"Hey, Nero~!"

He even checked behind the TV, Nero's usual hiding spot, but he wasn't there.

"Nero~"

No answer.

Bok-sil answers when called.

What a cat-like guy.

The family, who failed to find Nero, gathered in the living room again.

"Is he anywhere? Did he maybe follow us when we went to pick up Si-woo?"

Do-jin said with a worried look.

"No, he didn't. I checked."

Hyun-ju shook her head.

Si-woo called Bok-sil.

"Bok-sil~ Where's Nero~?"

- Woof!

...Didn't I tell you not to say anything?

Si-woo went behind the sofa and quietly called Bok-sil again.

"Bok-sil~"

Bok-sil ran over.

Si-woo asked in a low voice so his parents wouldn't hear.

"Where is he? I won't tell if you tell me."

- Meow...

"Got it. You won't tell? I know. But Mom and Dad are worried. They show it in their eyes. Their eyes."

- ...

Bok-sil took a few steps back and quietly pointed to the refrigerator with her eyes.

Si-woo got up and walked to the refrigerator.

Arriving at the refrigerator, Si-woo closed his eyes and listened carefully.

He heard a small breathing sound.

Behind. The. Refrigerator.

'...I told him not to go into dangerous places. Well, are you a cat if you listen?'

Si-woo whispered a spell very quietly to the refrigerator.

It would be heard by Nero's ears, but not by his parents'.

"Chirp... Chirp... Chirp..."

Bang.

Rustle.

Thump thump thump!

Nero, who had been as quiet as a mouse, came out with a loud noise.

Nero, who had been stuck to the old refrigerator's ventilation port, came out with a lot of dust.

As soon as he came out into the light and met Si-woo's eyes, Nero...

- Meow~

Realized he had been tricked and ran away.

Si-woo, who tried to catch Nero quickly, ...

"..."

Maybe because it was a new house, Nero was lying flat on the floor, crawling away.

There was no need to catch him directly at that turtle speed.

"Ah! Nero, why are you covered in dust again! Come here! You need a bath! You're making trouble, really!"

- Gasp! Gasp!

Crawl crawl crawl-

Nero, understanding the word "bath," gasped and tried to escape by sticking to the floor.

* * *

The new house, which was initially unfamiliar, soon felt like home.

Nero, who used to crawl around, now ran around energetically.

He seemed to be addicted to looking down from the 5th-floor apartment.

Bok-sil also made many dog friends while walking around the apartment complex.

Si-woo was also receiving a lot of affection from his older brothers and sisters at the Go academy.

The scorching summer passed quickly, and autumn arrived.

It was early September, still with the remnants of the late summer heat.

Hyun-ju came to pick up Si-woo from the Go academy at the end of the class.

"Si-woo, you did well today~?"

"Yep! I even beat my older brothers~"

While waiting for the elevator, Si-woo asked his mom, looking at the music academy.

"When are we going to the music academy?"

"I'm scared to go in case they try to sign me up again. Let's wait until you're more comfortable with the Go academy and then go when you're five. Si-woo, it's tough."

"Yep~"

In the elevator, Si-woo hugged his mom's legs tightly.

Ding!

The elevator stopped at the floor below.

Rustle.

Children in Taekwondo uniforms rushed in.

The Taekwondo instructor skillfully managed the children.

Ding!

1st floor.

"Please go first."

"Yes. Thank you."

Hyun-ju, grateful for the instructor's consideration, got off with Si-woo.

Walking out of the commercial building towards the crosswalk, Hyun-ju took out her phone and rechecked the text conversation with Seung-hyun's mom.

"By 2 PM tomorrow. The schedule is really tight. Si-woo~ Do you remember we're going to an audition with Mom tomorrow?"

"Yep! I remember~"

"Are you really sure you want to do it?"

"Yep, I'll do it with Seung-hyun's brother~"

"Got it. We don't know if you can do it with your brother, but since Si-woo wants to, let's try our best!"

"Yep~!"

It was his first audition.

He was quite eager for the role.

'A fantasy blockbuster...'