The uniformed man stood still until Ma-Ri ran straight to Su-Jin, then turned to leave without saying a word. However, a sharp voice stopped him before he could proceed more than two steps.
,,Why was she crying? What did they do to her this time?!" Su-Jin's words echoed throughout the hallway, whereupon the man turned back with an unreadable look.
,,Your father doesn't wish the situation to be explained to you in any way." He almost recited.
The room was filled with children's sobs, which were soon muffled by the t-shirt as Su-Jin cradled his younger sister in his arms.
This time it was he who left the area in front of the door in complete silence with Ma-Ri encircling her arms around his shoulders.
When my gaze moved again to the threshold of the front door, there was no one standing there.
After closing the door, I stood still for a short moment, wondering where my steps should lead.
I guessed that Su-Jin had gone into one of the rooms that I hadn't even been in yet, but instead of searching and discovering parts of this apartment, I decided to go into the living room again, where I headed straight for the radiator, which I sat down next to, on the ground so that I had the entire length of my spine resting on it. For some reason, I was extremely cold and even the radiator itself did not produce enough heat to keep me warm.
I had an urge to find out what happened to Ma-Ri. To go into that room and ask about it directly, but all I could do was walk over to my jacket on hanger and go back to my original place, where I then threw the piece of clothing over myself, to warm my legs as well, on which I only wore plain black leggings with knitted leg-warmers.
In this particular situation, I didn't feel welcome by Su-Jin´s side.
When my eyes fluttered open and afterwards had to get used to the sudden dusk in the room, only then did I realize that I must have fallen asleep.
Well, the reason I woke up was right in front of me.
My jacket was out of sight and instead I was wrapped in a shaggy blanket that Su-Jin was currently tucking my legs into.
,,The heating is broken. They said it might take a few days to find and fix the cause." His deep voice pierced the silence of the room.
The feeling of cold coming from behind me instead of the faint warmth that had been there not long ago only confirmed what I had been told.
Since I was still between waking and sleeping, my reactions were adapted according to that state. So my head fell back again until my top of the head rested against the icy ribbed surface that gave me fleeting chills.
I couldn't tell what time it was, but the only light source I could find was a small lamp by the front door.
The cold seeping in from behind was offset by the warmth of the thick blanket, creating a complex pleasant sensation that made my eyes begin to close again.
,,How is Ma-Ri?" I asked him with my eyes closed before I could fall asleep again.
After there was no answer from him, I noticed only a soft rustling of the fabric and then the lifting of my wrap, which after a little while fell back to its place, only with a greater amount of heat.
,,She fell asleep from exhaustion. I'm sorry I occupied your bedroom."
It was heard very, very close to me, and when I forced myself to open my eyes again, it was clear why.
Su-Jin was sitting next to me, also covered and with his head resting on the radiator.
His gaze was fixed on my face as he let his heat warm me.
I quickly raised my palm to my mouth, through which a sleepy yawn escaped. There were many more questions on my mind, but gravity was stronger than them, and I found myself leaning on Su-Jin's shoulder as I was unable to hold my head up.
If I wanted to immediately straighten back up to my previous position, which frankly didn't even occur to me at that moment, his hand pressed against the side of my head would prevent me from doing so.
,,The day you took care of me. I know you must have noticed the cut."
It wasn't clear to me if he said this because he thought I couldn't perceive it through my sleepy mood or if he really wanted me to hear it.
,, My memory of how I got that cut is hazy… nevertheless, I know exactly who was responsible for it." Following a brief pause, he continued. In the stillness of the room, his calm deep voice could be heard clearly.
,,His name is Nahm Ho-San."
The name he uttered began to echo in my head.
After briefly screening a few familiar faces, I was left with not a single one that could be connected to the man Su-Jin mentioned. But it was certain that I recognized the name.
Then it dawned on me. As I pictured several documents I often brought to Mrs. Kwack, that always had this name signed in the bottom corner, his face instantly came to mind, but only in a blur.
,,He's the CEO of our clinic, isn't he?" I needed to make sure because this man is the last person I would think of as part of what's been going on lately.
,,He is a half owner." Su-Jin corrected me.
As a sign of understanding, I was about to nod-
,,And my father."
With his sudden addition, he caught me off guard.
However, I remained in my original position.
,,I once told Ma-Ri she could come to me anytime if she wanted to. Well, she does that every single day after her mother can't stand her at home."
After this sentence, I slightly turned my face toward him.
Having him finally tell me all this was pleasing, because thanks to it I could fill in all the missing parts that would otherwise make my attitude toward him unclear.
,,What I'm trying to say is not that it bothers me, but when an eight-year-old girl wanders around a big city alone, it often turns into something very dangerous." After briefly gazing into my eyes, he looked away as if ashamed.
He took his talk in a direction I didn't like so much that for a little fraction of time I thought he was making it all up.
I expected once he started explaining, I would finally recognize the real Su-Jin. But paradoxically, I started to get the feeling that this was Su-Jin, who was molded by the circumstances he was involuntarily surrounded by.
Not the real and true one.
Then a humourless chuckle escaped his lips bringing me back from my thoughts.
,,I'd like to at least hope you're back to sleep because this is a section of my life I really don't want you to be a part of."
,,Please continue." His confession triggered a fast reaction from me.
,,I'm not sure if you verily want to know everything, Millie."
I could make out how his shoulders tensed.
,,But I do want you to know that I'm truly sorry for what happened that night." He added after a short moment of silence.
In place of Su-Jin, I leaned again against the radiator to meet his eyes.
,,The one who should hear this most is not me."
I watched his eyes, which almost never reflected anything, but now I saw it there. And I could only see it because he wanted me to.
Instead of answering, he raised his chin so that the top of his head was touching the radiator and his face was directed towards the ceiling.
,,It's the least you can do for what you've done." Although I wasn't certain what the consequences would be, I couldn't keep my thoughts behind my mouth.
When Su-Jin stayed in the same position he was in until then, I didn't plan to talk any further. I was aware I couldn't push him.
It was only in that silence that I realized that my knees had been shivering from the cold for some time, which caused the entire length of my legs to be involuntarily covered with chills.
My hands slid down to my thighs, which I gripped underneath and pulled them closer to my chest, but that didn't stop the regular sound of my teeth rattling.
,,You need to take a hot shower." His voice wasn't as clear this time. I had the impression that it was coming from a much greater distance than Su-Jin actually was.
,,I thought it was broken…" I remarked sleepily as I tried to immobilize my knees.
,,For now, the water is still warm. Make use of it." It was an instant response from him.
Then I felt him start to get up from his previous sitting position and within a few seconds was heard quiet footsteps moving away from me.
,,I'll let the cold water drain, come as soon as possible, okay?" That was the last thing that rang in my ears before I let my head fall to my bent knees.
My head snapped up. The brief micro-sleep was replaced by the sound of running water hitting the tiles.
With a strong desire to replace cold with warmth, I found myself on my feet with the help of all my limbs and dragged my way to the bathroom, which I discovered using my hearing and the dim light coming from around the corner of the living room.
As I crossed the threshold of the door, I was forced to cover my eyes with my palms due to the sudden bright light.
,,Take off your clothes."
If I was half asleep until then, after his words I was fully awake. Having uncovered my eyes, I gazed directly into those of his, which were looking at me with total seriousness. As always.
,,I will. When you leave this room." I spoke with a hint of startle.
,, I've planned on doing it. Let me get you some warmer clothes in the meantime." He walked past me disinterestedly, but focused at the same time.
My cheeks took on a redder hue. At once I wanted to take back my previous words to avoid the following feeling of embarrassment.
,,Su-Jin, I'm not a child you have to take care of." I swallowed the unpleasant stomach clenching and turned to his figure, who was just about to walk out the door.
,,You're definitely not, Millie."
I pretended not to notice his imitation of my tone of voice, but I didn't have time to react. He was already gone.
My next steps led to the shower stall, where I reached out to test if the water was really warm. It was. That's why I started to gradually take off pieces of clothing, which then ended up folded on the sink.
Feeling full of anticipation, I slowly stepped onto the wet tiles and put my head under the wonderfully hot water, then my whole body.
I didn't even know exactly how long I stood there, however, after a while I succumbed to the urge to lower my body and sit down. It was unimaginable for me to come out from under that satisfying water at such a stage.
My lower back was leaning against the transparent folding door, which did not quite fit, so a puddle formed in front of the shower. My forehead rested on top of my knees and I couldn't get enough of this heaven.
After a few minutes, I finally forced myself to stand up again and before turning off the running water, I wanted to secure another source of warmth that would immediately replace the current one.
So I quickly pushed the door open and was about to run into the cold when I was surprised by a tall, muscular obstacle I bumped into.
And yes, it couldn't be Ma-Ri.