Chapter 20
Chapter 20: My Ex-Boyfriend Clears Out Memories
* * *
After the MT trip ended, summer break began not long after.
Outside the window, the sound of cicadas filled the air. Si-hyun, feeling the cool air conditioner breeze, was busy rummaging through his closet and drawers.
“There’s more than I thought…”
There was the sky-blue photo album filled with pictures of them together, the dolphin-shaped keychain she’d given him on their aquarium date, and the wallet he’d received from her for his birthday. A whole array of mementos packed tightly into a medium-sized box, which he now regarded with mixed feelings.
Is it time to throw these away?
With Yerin’s recent confession, Si-hyun felt it was the right time to let go of the remnants of his first relationship.
There were good memories among them, despite the hardships, and he felt a pang at the thought of letting them go.
Or maybe I should return these? Some of these were expensive.
He remembered reading on a breakup forum about exes asking for their gifts back.
It sounded petty, but he knew that if she asked later and he’d already thrown things out, it could be awkward.
For now, I’ll just keep them here and decide later.
He sighed and pushed the box into the corner of his room, leaning back on his bed. His mind cluttered with memories, he closed his eyes, listening to the faint ticking of the clock, which eventually lulled him into sleep.
* * *
Si-hyun’s parents ran a Chinese restaurant. It wasn’t famous, but it was a local favorite known for its delicious fried rice, and the restaurant boasted a solid base of regular customers.
As their only child, Si-hyun often roamed the restaurant when his parents were busy. He’d carry a water pitcher around, refilling customers’ glasses with his small hands.
“Our little Si-hyun, helping out your parents today?” one customer asked once.
“No… I’m just bored,” he’d reply casually.
Guests often found him adorable and gave him tips. But Si-hyun, who had little use for money, would always sneak the tips back into his parents’ pockets.
It was a typical evening at the restaurant—quiet after the dinner rush, as his parents finally took a breather.
Ding-dong.
A girl about his age entered the restaurant alone, with natural brown hair and chubby cheeks that made her look pouty. Si-hyun’s mom approached her, curious.
“Honey, where are your parents?”
“I came alone.”
“What?”
She looked about kindergarten age—maybe early elementary school. A child coming in alone this late at night was unusual. Sensing something was off, his mom decided to feed her first and ask questions later.
“What would you like to eat?”
“Double order of fried rice, please.”
“Double? That’s a lot… Can you eat that much?”
“I can eat it all!” she replied confidently.
A girl with such a bright spirit—Si-hyun’s mom couldn’t help but feel curious about her family. She certainly couldn’t charge a child for food, so she sighed, thinking she’d end up with a lot of leftovers.
Si-hyun, who had been wandering around the restaurant, noticed the girl and went to sit across from her, pouring her a glass of water.
“Did you come here alone?”
Ignoring him, the girl drank her water in large gulps. When she finished, Si-hyun refilled her glass. Soon after, his mom brought over some pickled radishes and onions.
“Si-hyun, she looks about your age. Why don’t you chat with her a bit?”
With few customers in the restaurant, Si-hyun was more than willing. However, the girl only gave him a cold look before biting into her radish and staring at the TV.
“Where are your parents?” he asked again.
“Why do you want to know?”
“Well… because you’re alone.”
The girl frowned, tapping her glass.
“Why does it matter? Whether I’m alone or not, that’s my business.”
“You’re right. I eat alone sometimes too when my parents are busy.”
Her gaze finally shifted toward him. She raised an eyebrow as she tapped her cup, looking oddly intrigued.
“Can’t you ask them to eat with you?”
“When we start eating, more customers always come in. They have to leave halfway through the meal to go work.”
She looked at him with an expression that Si-hyun couldn’t quite place.
The food finally arrived: a double order of fried rice for the girl, and a regular-sized bowl for Si-hyun.
“I’ll be back after I finish the dishes, so we can eat together, okay?” his mom said.
Si-hyun nodded, but the girl picked up her spoon with a doubtful expression, glancing down at the fried rice with its neatly cooked egg on top.
“This fried rice is supposed to be really good, right?”
“I eat it all the time, so I don’t know, but people say it is.”
The girl nodded thoughtfully, breaking the yolk and mixing it with the rice. When she finally took a bite, her eyes lit up.
“Mmm…!”
Smiling brightly, she kicked her legs under the table, eating quickly without pause. Si-hyun couldn’t help but stare at her in amazement.
“You sure can eat a lot.”
Ignoring his comment, she drank water whenever she felt her throat getting dry and used the onions to balance the flavors. When she finally finished, she sighed contentedly, patting her stomach.
On the other hand, Si-hyun, who had barely touched his own food, handed her a napkin.
“You got some sauce on your face.”
“Where?”
When she struggled to wipe it off, he finally reached over to dab the sauce away himself. The girl’s eyes widened in surprise at his unexpected gesture, but just then…
“Oh my… you really ate it all?”
His mom, who had just returned from the dishes, was shocked to see the girl had polished off the double portion—a feat some adults couldn’t even manage.
“You must have been really hungry…”
“Actually, this is just normal for me.”
His mom couldn’t help but smile at the girl, who praised the fried rice with an expression of pure satisfaction. She was struck by how young this child looked, alone and in the dark.
“Where do you live? I’ll walk you home since it’s dark out.”
“It’s really close by. I’ll be okay.”
But Si-hyun’s mom wouldn’t hear of it. With a child alone at night, she felt she had no choice. Holding Si-hyun’s hand in one hand and the girl’s in the other, she walked them through the narrow alley for about five minutes until they reached a small house.
The house was dark, without a single light on. Si-hyun’s mom patted the girl’s hair, her heart heavy at the thought of her alone.
Suddenly, the girl gasped.
“Oh! I forgot to pay! It’s on my card, but I think you don’t take cards outside the restaurant?”
As she frantically apologized, Si-hyun’s mom smiled and held her small hands warmly.
“Don’t worry about it. Come by anytime if you’re hungry.”
“But…”
“But I have one favor to ask in return,” she said, pulling Si-hyun close to her side.
“When you come, would you mind eating with my son? His dad and I are usually busy and can’t eat with him much.”
The girl studied Si-hyun for a long moment. She understood all too well how lonely it felt to eat alone, and after a moment, she nodded with determination.
“Then I’ll come back tomorrow!”
* * *
Ring, ring! Ring, ring!
A loud ringtone jolted Si-hyun back to consciousness.
That dream… it felt so familiar.
Disoriented, he fumbled around for his phone, bringing it to his ear.
“Hello?”
[Did I wake you?]
The voice was Yerin’s.
“Yeah…”
[Hah, so lazy now that it’s break.]
Since MT, just hearing her voice sent his heart racing. Clearing his throat, he replied.
“It’s probably the heat. What’s up?”
[Well, I had a favor to ask.]
“What kind of favor?”
Her voice grew soft.
[My grandma’s farm needs help, and she asked me to bring a guy along. You’re the only guy I could think of, so…]
“Of course, I’d be happy to help.”
[Really? Her place is on the West Sea, so we’d have to stay a few days. Is that okay?]
“No problem. Just let me know when.”
[Thank you, Si-hyun! You’re the best!]
Yerin hung up, her voice leaving a lingering warmth in his ears. He leaned back, letting out a soft laugh.
Honestly, I should be thanking her.
Since he realized he liked her, he’d been too nervous to ask her out. But this opportunity to spend a few days together felt like it had fallen right into his lap.
Please, let this trip give me the clarity I need…
With renewed resolve, Si-hyun began carefully choosing clothes that might catch her eye.
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