I've Been Possessed, But What If I Get Pregnant First? - C49
#49
I burst into laughter with an embarrassed face, hugging the hot dog with crispy batter sprinkled with sugar like a treasure chest. I did spend a lot of money on the first day of running away because my appetite returned, but I can make money quickly anyway. Perhaps because I had been starving for so long, I had a strong urge to eat when I had an appetite.
‘I’m still young and healthy, so I should be able to find a job quickly. But I need to eat before it gets cold.’
Having come all the way to Gangneung, I wanted to see the ocean. I probably couldn’t even dip my feet in the seawater because it was late at night, but I at least wanted to see it from afar. So I asked people around and got on a bus to Gangneung Songjeong Beach. Passing through the crowded market and entering a deserted road, I perked up my ears to the announcements in case I got off at the wrong stop.
[The next stop is Gangneung Songjeong Beach. Please exit after the bus stops.]
“Wow, we’re here.”
Fortunately, I was able to get off safely at the stop without getting lost. I hugged the hot dog tightly while waiting for the crosswalk light with the ocean visible across the street. I gulped, sniffing the still-warm hot dog. I was about to move my feet when the light changed, but someone called out and stopped me from behind.
“Wait a moment, student.”
Perhaps because it was by the sea, the spring breeze was quite fierce after the sun set. I blew into my hands at the unexpected cold and turned my head.
‘Huh? Who’s that?’
“Uh… hello…?”
I bowed my head and greeted absentmindedly, making eye contact with a lady. The lady suddenly handed me a thick jacket.
“Student, it’s cold so put this on quickly.”
“Pardon?”
Me…? I just blinked in confusion, and the lady frowned slightly and took the hot dog from my hand.
Oh no, my hot dog…!
“I’m doing this because you remind me of my son, so hurry.”
“Ho- hot dog…! Oh, but why the clothes all of a sudden… I’m fine!”
I did sniffle a bit because it was slightly cold, but it wasn’t cold to that extent. But I guess that wasn’t the case in the lady’s eyes. The lady held my hand with the hot dog as collateral and put the jacket on me.
“Then, wear it well and stay warm~”
By the time I came to my senses, the zipper was zipped up to my neck. The hot dog also returned to my arms.
“Thank you…”
I mumbled a thank you towards the lady who had walked far away before I could even open my mouth. It was a bit embarrassing, but thanks to that, my body was warm. The people in Gangneung seem to have a really good heart.
“Hello, um… I want to stay for a night today.”
On my way back to the bus stop from the beach, I was lucky enough to find a motel advertising rooms for 10,000 won on weekdays.
“Did you come alone?”
The owner asked with a suspicious look, perhaps finding it strange that I came with just my body, without any luggage.
“Yes.”
Actually, it’s not alone, but two including our baby, but I just nodded wanting to rest quickly. Of course, I apologized to the baby in my heart.
‘Baby, I’m sorry, but we’re one body anyway.’
As I rubbed my belly and bowed my head, the owner’s eyes narrowed a bit more.
“Hmm… You’re not going to do anything weird, right?”
Anything weird?
I couldn’t answer because I didn’t know what he meant, but the man clicked his tongue as if the mere thought made him feel bad.
“I’m saying this because there are people who come all the way here to die alone, tsk tsk- What an inconvenience to someone’s business.”
Ah… I pressed my lips together and shook my head, and the man held out his thick hand.
“Then I’ll trust you and rent it to you. You don’t look like the type to do that.”
The man stared at my face intently and nodded.
‘What does he mean by not looking like the type to do that?’
I lowered my head at the blatant gaze and lightly rubbed Cha Yuwon’s face.
“Boss… um… It says 10,000 won in front… Is that right?”
I asked, fiddling with the crumpled 10,000 won bill I had taken out before entering the motel.
“Ah, the 10,000 won room?”
The owner looked at the 10,000 won in my hand and smirked.
“That room is a bit shabby. Is that okay?”
“Oh, that’s fine. Give me that one.”
My eyes did wander a bit towards food, but now was the time to cut back on spending. The situation was uncertain as to when or how it would turn out, and there would be more than one or two places money would go once the baby was born, from diapers to formula. Thinking that way, I regretted the money I spent today so much.
“The room is 201 and check-out is at 11, so come down on time.”
“Yes, thank you.”
I took the old key and bowed my head. Then the man waved his hand and turned his attention back to the old CRT TV. I passed the dimly lit corridor and climbed the stairs covered in cobwebs to find room 201. I inserted the key into the doorknob, which looked so old I wondered if it would lock properly, and opened the door.
“…They say you get what you pay for.”
He said it was shabby, but the room condition was worse than I had braced myself for. As I opened the door and went inside, there were things quickly running away with a rustle. Ugh. I reflexively squeezed my eyes shut.
“I got all my sleep for today…”
I sighed deeply and trudged into the room. The bed sheet in the corner had all sorts of unidentifiable stains. Feeling icky, I ended up lying down curled up in a ball with the jacket still on.
“I couldn’t even imagine this at Taebeom’s house…”
I recalled the luxurious times as my body suffered. If things were normal, I would be eating a delicious dinner and receiving fruit from Taebeom around this time.
Unconsciously thinking of Taebeom made me feel gloomy. Should I just go back…? If I apologize and say I was wrong, would he forgive me?
My heart weakened for no reason and I sighed, burying my face in my hands. Right then, the image of Yoon Seolah smiling brightly and the two of them standing together affectionately came to mind. They were a good-looking couple anyone could see.
“Cha Yuwon, get it together. It’s only been a few hours since you ran away. Plus, that bad guy is…”
I shook my head at the pointless thoughts.
Right. Let’s get it together, get it together!!!
I slapped my soft cheeks to come to my senses and jumped up from my spot. First, I need to wash up and make a plan for how to live from now on. With firm resolve, I walked vigorously to the bathroom. I turned the old shower lever to the warm side and slowly took off my clothes before entering the bathtub.
I crouched my toes in the cold water and waited for the warm water to come out. But even as time passed, no warm water came out and my body temperature kept dropping.
“Brrr… Co- cold.”
I looked in the mirror and Cha Yuwon’s lips had turned blue. Worried something might happen to the baby if I stayed like this, I hurriedly put on the clothes I had taken off. After warming my hands and wrapping my belly warmly, I went downstairs to the counter.
Knock knock-
“B- Boss…”
As I lightly knocked on the small window, the man’s gaze turned to me.
“No refunds.”
“Oh, that’s not it. There’s no warm water in the room… and the room is a bit cold too…”
I couldn’t mention the bed situation in good conscience at the 10,000 won price. I requested, hoping he could at least do something about the warm water, and the man’s face crumpled.
“Press the boiler switch next to it.”
“Oh, thank you.”
“What do you expect for 10,000 won. Young people these days are so brazen-”
Feeling pressured by the owner’s words, spoken like a monologue or not as he sighed, I deeply bowed my head and moved my feet. I faintly heard the sound of someone entering the motel, but I hurried up to the 2nd floor without turning my head.
Returning to the room, I firmly pressed the boiler switch the owner mentioned, but still nothing changed. The screen didn’t even light up as if it was completely broken, making me gloomy.
“…I’ll just wash up roughly.”
I considered going back down and telling him, but the owner’s scary eyes came to mind and I shook my head. In the end, I started showering, biting my trembling lips.
“Phew…”
I washed my body roughly in a hurry and turned off the shower. Even staying still, my body trembled and I felt chills.
‘The baby shouldn’t be cold…’
I felt like I was making the baby suffer by running away hastily. I’m such a fool, really…
I sighed deeply as if the ground would cave in and filled the sink with water. I lightly wet my hands with water and wiped my body bit by bit. I washed my body clean and meticulously wiped off the remaining moisture. I hurriedly picked up and put on the clothes I had taken off as my lips trembled more and more. I wanted to wash my hair too, but I felt like I would really catch a cold if I did.
I zipped up the jacket the unknown lady had given me earlier up to my neck and let out a weak laugh. If I had known, I should have brought my fuzzy jacket too. I regretted it for no reason. Sniffling, I laid down on the bed and a pitiful emotion washed over me.
“Hic… Tsk, that jerk… Bastard…”
Seeing as he hasn’t even looked for me and is just leaving me, he must really be in that kind of relationship with Yoon Seolah. They say even people worry when the dog they raise at home runs away, but Taebeom seemed to have already forgotten about me. Feeling gloomy like that for a while, I turned off the light and forcibly closed my eyes, thinking I should sleep.
In the quiet stillness, the rustling sound of something I didn’t want to know the identity of grated again. I ended up turning the light back on and tearing off a bit of tissue to crumple into a small ball. I plugged that into my ears and laid down curled up. I closed my eyes slowly, thinking I should find a job that provides room and board tomorrow.
***