After breakfast was over, Saehee took the dishes and I followed her into the kitchen. Saehee placed the plates that were practically licked clean by Rangii and Baduk, and spoke to me without even turning around.
“Did you bring your book report?”
“What book report?”
“Young Master, was your memory wiped in just one night? How pitiful.”
Ah, she was talking about that.
“If you wanted me to do it, you should have given me a pen.”
“So since you do not have a felt-tip pen, you must not plan on taking the CSAT, Young Master.”
“But I still have a ways to go before I take it?” (tn: CSAT: Think SAT but where your entire future hangs in the balance)
I don’t want to think about such a terrible thing already. Even with absentee parents, I’ll definitely have to study for it, so why’re you making me worry about that for no reason? Besides, teachers these days give out felt-tip pens for the students on test day.
Though I’m not sure if that was the case a long time ago.
“What could you be thinking about?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
She’s as sharp as ever.
“Then I change this conversation into an interview.”
Without waiting for a response, she became an examiner. After submerging all the dishes in water, she thoroughly dried all the water off her hands and spoke to me.
“I am now ready for your response. Please speak, Young Master.”
I told Saehee what I thought of. I spoke for a while, but Saehee listened seriously to the very end and I said,
“And that’s all.”
After I finished speaking, she frowned. The heck’s with that reaction?
“You get 40 points.”
“That’s a harsh grade!”
“Isn’t it only natural that you must come prepared with complete answers in an interview for a perfect score?”
My grade’s already too low to be talking about getting a perfect score!
“However, I want to compliment you on one part.”
Hearing that from the person who only gave me 40 points doesn’t make me happy at all.
“About what?”
“You nearly aced the portion about the baby magpie. It seems you are more observant of others than I thought.”
I felt awkward at Saehee’s compliment and waved my hand.
“Anyone would notice that much if you give so many hints.”
“Granted, that is true.”
You sure do know how to discourage others, don’t you.
“However, I complimented you because you seemed to understand Kkachi-nim’s nature even before that.”
“It was obvious.”
“Yes, it was.”
You’re really laying into me.
“However, there are many in this world who fail to see even with their eyes open. Meaning that the Young Master has eyes that can properly see and judge others. It is okay to feel proud.”
This time, I decided not to say a thing. Saehee spoke, as if unsatisfied.
“Don’t you feel bad for me, Young Master, when I’m more than ready to insult you?”
“The one who should be saying stuff like feeling bad is me.”
“So you have other things to say?”
“How about I speak with my fist?”
Saehee changed the subject.
“However, Young Master. If you pay too much attention to the magpie alone, someone else may become very angry. Because there are two main characters.”
What in the world is she talking about? Still, I could roughly tell what she was saying.
“I know. I’ll be sure to pay attention to Rangii as well.”
“You can understand my words like that as well.”
Saehee looked at me with eyes as if she were smiling. It doesn’t fit you at all, so stop.
After finishing my, for whatever reason, uncomfortable conversation with Saehee, I grew bored of walking around my room and looked through the bookshelves in the room for something to read. But all the books were all the same shade of yellow, and the insides were filled with Chinese characters I couldn’t read. In the end, I took a folding fan I found while looking for a book and walked out into the courtyard.
Even in the mountains, summer is summer. The sun was shining as if it would be a waste to not be out during summer vacation, and the sun wasn’t holding anything back. I sat on the porch and fanned myself off as I sweat. Baduk was underneath me, lying down under the shade of the porch. She was, of course, in human form.
“Baduk.”
“What is it, Young Master?”
“Is it nice in there?”
“Incredibly nice. Would you like to come here, Young Master?”
Human dignity and the mid-summer heat. I still had a number of ways to beat the summer heat, so I’ll save that as my very last option given that I’m not driven mad by the heat and begin strutting around naked.
“No, it’s fine.”
“Is it because of me? Should I leave?”
Baduk poked her head out and asked me that. I tapped her on the head and spoke to that goofy dog…no, I mean, I spoke to Baduk.
“It’s okay. I can still handle the heat.”
Patting you on the head was enough to make me forget about the heat for a moment. Baduk blushed a little and giggled. What am I going to do about the suddenly warmer air?
I collapsed onto my back. Ah. Air conditioner. If only there was an air conditioner.
“Are you planning on going out, Young Master?”
Even Saehee’s sudden spine-chilling appearance wasn’t enough to stop me from sweating. Though she was standing above me, right before my eyes, I thankfully didn’t have to avert my eyes at all. If it were Rangii or Chii…why am I thinking about them right now?
“Are you screwing with me?”
“If you are concerned about that child, I can simply break her legs.”
“You’re sure saying some scary things nonchalantly.”
“If you heal her, she may come back in a year with a pumpkin seed.”
“You’re talking about a swallow.” (tn: Traditional Korean story. )
“Or a goblin can appear and…”
So you’re not even listening to me.
“Strike the Young Master with its bat.”
“Why would it hit me?!”
“That aside, it is quite hot.”
Saehee changed the subject by saying something completely unexpected. I stared at Saehee’s face. She looked like a ghost, not sweating even a single drop, just like usual. She looked like she belonged in the dead of winter. But what did she say? That it’s hot?
“Of course, I am completely fine.”
Saehee looked away. I turned my head to see what she was looking at.
Should I say that it looked like a piece of Mongolian decor? I forget its name, but what I was looking at looked like a tiger skin rug, the kind that belonged in a king’s huge tent. In a position similar to that, Rangii had her belly on the porch, lying down completely limp with only her head up, looking at us. And, of course, that wasn’t all. Chii was there as well, the hair above her ears flapping and creating a breeze.
It seemed, in this lethal heat, Chii didn’t have the leisure to be bothered by Rangii’s presence. She looked like she was having a hard time continuing to create a breeze with her hair. If you’re going to work that hard, then fan yourself off normally.
“…You look hot.”
“Because they are weak to the heat.”
Come to think of it, that tiger was avoiding the heat by staying in that cave.
“Don’t you have an air conditioner or something here?”
“I got rid of it because it isn’t good for children.”
In other words, she does have one.
“You can set it up, right?”
“That is within my capabilities, yes.”
“Then at least save me from the heat.”
“Does it seem as though Master will simply ignore that?”
“Couldn’t you just tie her up?”
“Do it if you can.”
“Do you think I would?”
I gave up on persuading Saehee and looked at Rangii and Chii again. Rangii had at some point gotten up and sat closer to Chii, inching closer. And not only that, but Rangii was beginning to smile delightedly, as if she had found an oasis in a desert. Why is she smiling? The answer was Chii’s fanning hair. By getting closer to Chii, Rangii was able to secretly take advantage of the wind created by Chii’s hair.
If there were rankings for being a pain in the butt, you’d be a rank 1 tiger. I’ll give you an official stamp of approval right on your butt.
However, Chii, as if uncomfortable at Rangii’s inching towards her, began scooting away from Rangii. And Rangii inched towards her in return.
Geez. They sure are getting along…not well. Rangii’s eyes were saying,
“Where are you going? The heat’s killing me, now come over here.”
Meanwhile, it looked like Chii was saying,
“Awooo. Why’re you sticking so close to me? Please go away! You’re scaring me!”
This was all in my head.
While I was thinking all this, Chii was eventually backed into a corner. She had other places to run away to, but the shade ended almost immediately. I was curious about what Chii would do so I kept watching, but she just continued resolutely flapping her hair. Keep that up, and you might end up flying towards the sky. In contrast, Rangii had on a happy smile, content that Chii wasn’t running away and that she could enjoy the stronger wind. I thought that her smile looked like that of a tiger who successfully caught her prey, but that was probably my imagination. Hm. Yeah, it was my imagination. Still, I felt bad for leaving the two of them alone, because it seemed like Rangii’s the one who always ends up bullying Chii. Though all Rangii was doing was instinctively looking for a place to cool off.
“Saehee.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Is there any way we can play with water inside the house?”
“There is.”
I mean, what wouldn’t you have.
“Like what?”
“What would you like?”
Oh, so you’re the one asking me now?
“Well, a water gun or something. Or a kiddy pool would be nice as well.”
“I will prepare a pool.”
When Saehee said that, I remembered how Rangii and Baduk were dressed when we were playing in the stream. And the four of us are going to be in a small pool while they’re like that?
Absolutely not. I reject such an outcome.
“No, just give me some water guns.”
I can prepare swim wear.”
That was a tempting offer, but I doubt they’d be totally willing to put on swim suits. And them wearing swim suits is dangerous in itself!
“Please just give us water guns.”
“Can you not feel the grudge of all the phantoms in this country who wish to see Master in a swim suit?”
“That’s your grudge. If you want to see it that bad, then put one on yourself.”
“Do you wish to see me in one?”
“Yeah, right. With your flat body…”
My words caught in my throat, and I turned my head, unable to find the courage to finish that sentence. I could feel Saehee staring painfully at the back of my head.