Chapter 4

I woke up to a sharp pain.

A ceramic shard was embedded in my palm.

The pain made my fingers tremble.

Charlie was standing right next to me, and he reached out both hands to me.

I didn't reach out to hug him this time.

His face looked a little odd.

But he still went on.

"If you'd owned up earlier, you wouldn't have had to go through this," Charlie said.

I finished my IV antibiotics.

Charlie took me home.

I told him, "I want the housekeeper to help me tidy up my room."

He nodded in agreement.

I called the movers again.

I had the movers sort and pack everything.

I walked out of the room.

Vivian was there, too.

Charlie shot me a look.

"Now that you know you were wrong, go apologize to Vivian," he said.

Vivian's hand was wrapped in a bandage. She glanced at Charlie with a playful pout and said, "She didn't mean it yesterday. Don't be so hard on her."

Charlie's expression was cold. "She was the one who bullied you first."

I wasn't backing down this time.

I asked, "Are you gonna lock me up again if I don't say sorry?

"So you want to make me obey you again, huh?"

My hand still ached where the ceramic shards had cut me.

"If you admit you were wrong, I'll let you keep living at the Rivers Estate," Charlie said.

It was like he thought I'd die if I ever left the Rivers Estate.

I stared at my toes and took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry," I said.

I felt bad for bothering him all these years.

As soon as I finished, tears started streaming down my face.

Charlie tried to pat my head, but I silently dodged his hand.

His hand froze in midair.

"We're heading out for a few days. Behave yourself and stay home alone," he said.

"Okey," I answered.

I sat in the chair and overheard Charlie taking a call.

The balcony door was left ajar, so I caught every word.

"Are you bringing that idiot to the hot spring resort?" someone asked.

"No, just Vivian," Charlie replied.

"Yeah, that kid always makes you embarrassed at the most inopportune," the person scoffed.

Charlie didn't deny it.

So he thinks I'm an embarrassment.

Guess that's why he doesn't want me tagging along.

As he was about to leave, I wanted to remind him that Dad's death anniversary was in three days, so he wouldn't forget about it.

Vivian stood in front of Charlie.

Charlie warily stepped in front of her, shielding her.

Charlie asked, "What are you trying to do now?"

I opened my mouth. "In three days..."

Charlie replied coldly, "I'll be back in three days."

*****

I watched as the car drove away.

The movers were already inside.

Sophie Veyra looked at me.

"You should've gotten over it ages ago. Or, if you pay me, I can look after you from now on," she said.

I shook my head.

I first met Sophie at the club when I was with Charlie.

Back then, she was getting bullied by a bunch of people.

I stepped in and protected her.

Later, she started working for a moving company and gave me her number.

She said I could call her if I ever needed anything.

"Alright, we're done moving everything. Just hit me up if you need anything else," she said.

"Thanks," I replied.

Back when I used to fight with Charlie and didn't want to talk to him, he'd hand me a voice recorder.

He'd tell me, "Go ahead, say whatever you want about me in there, I'll listen to it all."

Every time I ran away from home, I'd leave him a message.

I always hoped he'd come and make up with me as soon as possible.

This time, I thanked him for taking care of me all these years and let him know I'd decided to move out of the Rivers Estate.

But unlike before, I didn't tell him where I'd be heading.

I couldn't remember how many years it had been, but I knew I'd spent nine birthdays here.

This year, I'd decided not to spend my birthday here.

I went back to my old place.

The little tree by the door had grown up, but now it was leaning to one side.

The yard was overrun with weeds.

I pulled them out slowly, one by one.

While I was trimming the branches, I accidentally fell out of the tree.

I guess I'm dumb after all.

Maybe that's why Charlie hates me.

My stomach was growling.

I found some noodles, but I couldn't even turn on the gas stove.

I was so hungry that I ended up falling asleep.

When I woke up again, I flipped open my calendar.

The pages had already been torn away to reveal the latest date: Dad's death anniversary.

I went out early and bought a bunch of things.

I set everything up like Charlie always did.

I lit three sticks of incense.

I talked to Dad for a long time.

I waited from morning until sunset.

Charlie was never late before.

He always said Dad had saved him, and that Dad meant a lot to him.

That's why he came every year.

I wanted to ask if he'd forgotten.

So I called Charlie.

As soon as I punched in 521, Charlie's number popped up.

A girl's voice came through the phone.

She said, "Didn't I tell you? Charlie doesn't even like you. He thinks you're gross.

"Why haven't you left the Rivers Estate yet?

"It's all because you keep using your dad to guilt-trip him and make him feel like he owes you.

"If I were you, I would've left already.

"He's never going to marry you.

"Stop bothering him."

With that, she hung up on me.

So that's what that pretty girl really thinks of me.

Feeling a little dejected, I reached out and touched Dad's tombstone. "Charlie's got someone else now. I won't cling to him anymore.

"Don't worry, Dad. Tell Mom not to worry either.

"I can take care of myself.

"I really, really miss you and Mom."

As I spoke, I felt tears welling up again.

Then I faintly heard a disdainful scoff nearby.

"Tsk, still crying like a baby at your age," the man scoffed.

I shot a wary look at the guy standing in front of me.

He looked kind of familiar.

But I couldn't remember where I'd seen him before.

"Hey, little one, looks like no one's looking after you. Want to come with me?" he asked.