GTLTGIDES chapter 75

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“Oh, you’re awake?”

“Yeah…”

Judging by the textbooks spread across the desk, he must’ve been getting ready for school.

So diligent. I was proud of her, but also worried. No matter how excited he was about school, he still needed sleep.

Eunsoo closed the notebook he had been looking at and rushed over to me.

He handed me a cup of water.

Taking it as a sign to drink, I did.

As the cool water moistened my lips, my heavy body felt slightly lighter.

“Why did you wake up, Uncle? You should sleep more.”

“I will. I just woke up for a moment, but you weren’t here…”

Even now, if I let my guard down, I could fall right back asleep.

I tried to force my eyes open to stay awake, but it was useless.

I was afraid I’d drop the cup and break it, so I handed it back to Eunsoo.

“Sorry… I fell asleep… You probably didn’t get to have much fun because of me, right?”

“It’s okay. I came back long after you fell asleep.”

“That’s a relief…”

“Uncle, you should worry about yourself. After sleeping like that, and yet you’re worrying about me first?”

“I’ll be fine after I sleep a bit more.”

Even though I said I’d be fine, I knew he must have missed out on a lot of fun because of me.

I decided that next time, I wouldn’t make any plans to go anywhere.

The four of them should go without me.

‘Without me…’

It was the right thing, but a bitter smile tugged at my lips.

Not confident I could hide my feelings, I pulled Eunsoo into a tight hug.

Thankfully, my precious girl seemed happy to be hugged, as he hugged me back just as tightly.

“I had so much fun with you, Uncle. Let’s go again, okay?”

“…Okay.”

He was probably saying it to comfort me, knowing I was feeling guilty.

My sweet, thoughtful Eunsoo. He deserved all the love in the world.

Moved, I patted his back and gently stroked his hair.

Then Eunsoo looked up at me with his bright blue eyes shining.

“Uncle, I’m going to bed soon, but do you want to sleep in my room tonight?”

“No.”

“…”

I needed to go downstairs to sleep.

As much as I wanted to grant Eunsoo’s request, my body was in terrible shape.

Sleeping with his was nice, but I wanted to sleep without any distractions, and with his around, I would inevitably focus on his instead of resting.

‘How am I going to get down the stairs…?’

With no strength in my legs, I was sure I’d fall if I tried.

Would every day be like this when I got old?

My body didn’t feel like mine anymore. It was too heavy, and everything felt like a struggle.

“…Just hang in there.”

“Huh?”

Eunsoo muttered something, but I didn’t catch it.

I looked at her, asking his to repeat it, but he just smiled brightly and hugged my waist.

“I’ll take you to your room.”

In the end, I had no choice but to rely on Eunsoo’s help.

Half leaning on my much smaller girl, I barely made it down the stairs.

Self-loathing crept in.

I hadn’t brought Eunsoo into my life to take care of me…

But the feeling didn’t last long.

Even thinking was too much effort.

As soon as we reached my room, I collapsed onto the bed. I was so tired.

It felt like all the life had drained from me, leaving behind just a brittle shell.

“Uncle, can I borrow your hand?”

“…Huh?”

As my consciousness faded, I felt Eunsoo grab my hand.

I thought he just wanted to hold it like he often did, but that wasn’t it.

He was slipping something onto my finger.

On my left ring finger.

My mind snapped awake like I’d been struck by lightning.

“Eunsoo, wait. Not that finger.”

“Huh? Why?”

“A ring is fine, but not on that finger. That one’s a bit…”

“This one fits perfectly though? It might be a little uncomfortable, but if you’re going to wear it, it should go on the most visible finger.”

“But the left ring finger is…”

“It’s too late.”

As Eunsoo said, the ring was already on the ring finger of my left hand.

Stunned, I looked back and forth between Eunsoo and the ring.

“What is going on…?”

Does Eunsoo not know what the ring finger on the left hand means?

Since she’s not yet familiar with the outside world, he could be ignorant of social conventions.

Especially with his personality, he probably doesn’t care about things like dating or marriage…

The embarrassment from this absurd situation is entirely mine.

It feels like I’ve suddenly been proposed to by a kid.

I’ve thought of myself as a side character before, but I never imagined something like this!

However, there’s too much at stake to say anything outright.

Saying something like, ‘Oh, you’ve lived in isolation for so long that you don’t even know what it means to wear a ring on the left hand’s ring finger?’ could hurt his delicate feelings and pride.

It might be better to just let it slide…

“I’ll just switch it later when no one’s looking…”

While my mind was in turmoil, Eunsoo was happily turning my hand back and forth, clearly pleased.

He just accidentally proposed to someone, and yet he looks so happy…

“It’s pretty. It suits you. Do you like it?”

“Where did this come from?”

Silver?

The design is simple, with a small gemstone.

It’s a pale blue stone, just like his beautiful eyes.

Ye Eunsoo, a ring… Did such a ring appear in ‘The Genius Guide’s Melancholy’?

I tried to recall the details carefully.

The first thing that comes to mind is the rings given by the three espers.

They give different types, in different colors, but that happens much later.

Eunsoo shouldn’t have any of those at this point.

So what is this?

Eunsoo smiled shyly.

“It’s a keepsake from my parents.”

“Oh… right. The keepsake ring.”

As soon as I realized the identity of the ring, I felt my breath catch.

This was the only item that Eunsoo had cherished throughout the story.

The one thing his parents left behind.

It wasn’t something that appeared frequently or served a major narrative function, but at the end, Eunsoo threw away this keepsake ring and wore the three rings from the espers, symbolizing his acceptance of their love, his inner growth, and his resolve to move from the past to the future.

It’s quite a symbolic item.

“Are you sure it’s okay to give this to me?”

“Yes. It’s yours now. Actually, I’ve been wanting to give it to you for a while, but the timing was never right.”

Eunsoo continued to fiddle with the ring on my thin, bony fingers, still looking pleased.

He tightly held my left hand with both of hers and spoke again.

“There was an accident when I was with my parents, and I was the only one who survived. The gemstone got a little cracked at that time.”

He pointed to a small corner of the gemstone. Looking closely, I could see a tiny crack.

“I kept thinking about it, and it felt like the ring was hurt in my place. So maybe if something happens to you, the ring will take the hit for you.”

“Such a precious item…”

“I can’t protect you yet, but I hope this ring will keep you safe. Even when I’m away at school, wear it and think of me. Don’t forget. And never take it off.”

I felt a lump in my throat.

A child with scars grows up too fast. Not physically, but emotionally.

At an age when he still needs protection, he worries about me.

It must be because I’m such a weak, unreliable guardian.

I wish I could be someone he could depend on more.

“It’s okay. He has the three espers, after all…”

You all will end up loving each other enough to save the world.

I stretched out my arms and hugged the child. He was still so small.

As his guardian, I had no choice but to accept the depth of his thoughts, given by such a small child.

“Yeah. I’ll never take it off.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, I promise.”

“You’re so good. I should reward you.”

…Again.

Why does it feel like the roles between the child and the adult have switched?

But before I could question it, a warmth hit me, wiping away my thoughts.

Something soft, warm, and tender touched my cheek.

“…I love you.”

It took me a moment to realize that Eunsoo had kissed me on the cheek.

Surprised, I turned to look at him.

He was blushing, smiling shyly, his face flushed red.

“When I’m an adult, I’ll give you a kiss instead of just a peck. So until then, keep wearing the ring.”

More talk about kissing.

Does he think becoming an adult means being allowed to kiss?

…He’s adorable.

He’s turned into such an affectionate little darling.

When he actually becomes an adult, he’ll probably find kissing gross and won’t even give me a peck, building up his own cringe-worthy memories in the process.

Maybe I’ll tease his about it when the time comes.

Just imagining his being embarrassed makes me smile again—he’s too cute.

…Of course, the chances of me being around when he becomes an adult are slim, so it’s only a hopeful thought on my part.

“Yeah. I love you, too.”

As I held the child close, I glanced at the ring on my left hand.

A keepsake from his parents…

Does receiving something like this mean I’ve been acknowledged as his guardian?

If he entrusted me with something so precious, I guess I have to stay strong and keep going.

At least until exam day, no—hopefully until the new year when Eunsoo becomes an adult.

I’ll hold on until then, no matter what.

Ye Eunsoo regretted it.

He had just realized that he’d been under a massive misunderstanding.