GTLTGIDES chapter 66

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Eunsoo was smiling brightly as he looked at the fish.

It wasn’t the usual blank expression as if he had built a wall around himself, but a radiant smile, like sunlight.

This was a face that Eunsoo would never have shown at this time, under normal circumstances.

I remembered the first time I met him. Standing at the counter of a convenience store, his hat pulled down low, head lowered, his expression blank.

Even when he first told me his name just by mouthing the words, and when I first saw him properly after waking up in the hospital, Eunsoo always had the same impassive expression.

But now… when did he start showing so many emotions?

‘Was it since he came to my house?’

I think… it started on the night he first came to my house.

That’s when Eunsoo began to smile little by little. He had received a kiss on the cheek and had smiled softly, in such a cute, gentle way.

In less than a month, he had changed so much.

He laughed easily, cried easily, was full of charm, said “I love you” openly, and even helped with cooking and other household chores.

He even declared he would protect someone without hesitation.

I felt a surge of pride, thinking he had become the most lovable child in the world.

My heart was full.

Everything I had done since becoming ‘Yang Heewoon’ had not been in vain.

Everything was for Eunsoo’s smile, and now, seeing his smile so brightly and beautifully, I knew it was worth it.

Lost in overwhelming happiness, I thought slowly.

…It seems I’m no longer needed.

I was only given half a year to live, and I had done everything I could in that time.

Eunsoo will be happy even without me. I’ll leave him in the care of the three Espers who will love him.

This must be the happiest ending possible for someone like me, who’s only been given a short, terminal life.

A faint smile appeared on my lips.

Today… was truly a good day.

.

.

.

“…Uncle.”

I felt warmth in my hand.

No, maybe it was more like ‘heat.’

As my body floated, I was anchored by that heat.

“Uncle, uncle!”

Slowly, I opened my eyes.

Eunsoo was calling me desperately.

He should’ve been over by the pond… when did he come here?

And… was it my blurred vision, or did his face seem paler than usual?

I inhaled slowly, though my breathing felt unfamiliar.

My body lacked strength, so I responded two beats too late.

“…Yes.”

“Uncle, just now…”

“Just now…? What…?”

Just now?

What did I do just now…?

Eunsoo’s blue eyes, looking up at me as he knelt before me, wavered.

But soon, he smiled. It was a sad smile.

“No, it’s nothing. Uncle, remember? We promised to go to the amusement park together.”

“Oh….”

That’s right.

I had promised Eunsoo that we would go out together.

But I had been too caught up with the Polwel case, preparing for the move, and handling his school admission paperwork, that I had completely forgotten.

The fog in my vision slowly started to clear.

“I really want to go to the amusement park with you. I have to.”

“Yes… we have to… keep that promise.”

A promise must be kept.

If a child becomes disappointed in their guardian for breaking promises, trust diminishes.

And without trust, important conversations that need to happen may never occur…

But why was Eunsoo now frowning, as if on the verge of tears?

He had been smiling just moments ago…

“Uncle.”

His voice was trembling with emotion now.

Eunsoo grabbed my hand even tighter his lips touched my fingers. His breath was as hot as his grip on my hand.

“Don’t leave me…”

“…”

“Stay with me. I can’t be without you.”

“…Yes.”

That’s right.

Even if Polwel helps, they won’t be there for Eunsoo in Korea.

Eunsoo may be smart, but he’s still a child.

He won’t have the authority to manage the inheritance from Polwel, and just attending school will be overwhelming.

He’ll need someone by his side.

He still seems uncomfortable with the three Espers, so he’ll need time to open up to them while working alongside them on missions…

‘Oh, that’s right… Eunsoo lost his abilities, didn’t he?’

Without me, no one will be able to guide the three Espers.

Though he could still live well even withouthis powers, it was my fault that he lost them.

So, I should take responsibility until he regains them.

Just a little more… I’ll hang in there a little longer.

Although my body felt weak, I forced a smile.

“I’m still here.”

At my words, Eunsoo’s lips trembled before he burst into tears. He cried like a child, uncontrollably.

I hugged his small head tightly and patted his back as I whispered softly.

“Tomorrow, we’ll definitely go to the amusement park. I’m sorry I forgot our promise.”

---

After crying his heart out in the garden, Eunsoo didn’t want to leave my side.

He followed me around like a little duckling, even into the bathroom, making things awkward for me.

Despite how I had always scolded.

He never come in when I was bathing, today he barged right in and insisted on bathing with me.

It was an absurd situation, but because of it, I was able to check off one thing from my bucket list: ‘Give Eunsoo a soapy bath.’

I lathered his back with bubbles, and his tiny, delicate shoulders seemed almost angelic.

His spotless, white back looked as though wings might sprout from it any moment.

“Uncle, don’t look if you’re done with the soap!”

“Hmm? Why?”

“Just don’t! Absolutely don’t!”

For some reason, Eunsoo’s face was flushed red, and he hated it when I glanced in his direction.

Yet, if I tried to leave and give his privacy, he clung to me, demanding I stay with him.

It was a strange and difficult pattern to deal with, leaving me unsure where to direct my gaze the entire time.

Eventually, I hurried through the bath and got out.

Though it had been an incomplete bath, lying down on the soft, warm bed afterward felt good.

…It would’ve been even better if I was alone in bed, though.

“Uncle….”

Eunsoo hugged me, whining softly like a child as he nuzzled closer.

Despite having separate rooms, Eunsoo had naturally claimed my bed, so I had no choice but to let him sleep with me tonight.

Luckily, the bed was huge, as spacious as the one in Cha Junseong’s house, so there was no need to worry about feeling cramped like before.

The only problem was that Eunsoo was clinging too closely to me.

The large bed didn’t seem to matter.

Still, what could I do?

After crying so sorrowfully, how could I heartlessly push him away? I gently hugged him and stroked his hair.

Despite my efforts to comfort her, Eunsoo continued to look at me, his eyes swollen and red.

He was normally so resilient, rarely showing signs of swelling even after crying…

“Why did you cry so much in the garden?”

Though I had avoided asking. His about it, sensing that he didn’t want to talk, his clinginess now made it impossible not to ask.

Even after my question, Eunsoo remained silent for a long time, simply staring at me.

Then, as if recalling something dreadful, he shuddered. I was startled and about to ask what was wrong when his blue eyes welled up with tears.

“I thought you were dead.”

“…What? Me?”

“I suddenly turned around, and the man had his eyes closed and head lowered. He was smiling, and it looked like he was deeply satisfied, as though he had no lingering regrets and was ready to leave this world.”

“Oh.”

Finally, everything made sense.

Why Eunsoo cried so bitterly.

And the strange feeling I had at that moment.

‘I almost… died, didn’t I?’

I hadn’t realized it because there was no pain.

For me, death always came with suffering.

But it made sense.

Death could come quietly to a body that was already so weakened.

Exhausted from all the preparations, my body was in terrible shape.

I had lost even the last glimmer of hope for extending my life.

In that despair, I had seen Eunsoo so happy, in a beautiful moment.

In that instant, I must have been so content that, without realizing it, I thought, ‘I could die now, and it would be okay.’

‘That would have been… an ideal death.’

A peaceful, painless death, satisfied with life.

For someone with a terminal illness, that’s the happiest ending they could hope for.

But… not for Eunsoo.

If Eunsoo hadn’t held onto me, my poor child would’ve had to clear away my body the very moment they had just happily settled into their new home.

I can’t just die wherever I want, no matter how content I feel.

I have to think about who’s left behind and the mess they’ll have to clean up.

‘Even dying is hard…’

…And it’s not like I can avoid it forever.

With a heavy heart, I closed my eyes, and Eunsoo took hold of my hand.

“But uncle, there are so many things I want to do with you. So, so many.”

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