Chapter 9 – [Part 1]

Afterwards, Min-ha, who sent Wanda back to do her duties, focused all her attention on fixing the doll.

It was much older than she thought, so she added a new cloth, fixed her drooping eyes, and filled it with cotton. Although it doesn’t seem new, Min-ha, who fixed it enough for it to have no problem, looked at the lion doll as if she was satisfied.

‘This is enough, right?’

She finished by putting a red ribbon around the neck of the lion doll, and organized the sewing tools that filled the table.

But before Wanda left, there was a lot more thread and fabric left than I thought, so I suddenly paused. Perhaps it’s because it’s been a long time since I did something I liked, but I felt a little sad for it to come to an end.

‘…..There must be some materials left, so let’s make something else.’

Min-ha calculated the remaining amount of cloth, cotton, and thread. She thought she could make at least a small doll with the remaining amount she has estimated.

So, she changed her mind and picked up the needle again. Then, with a pen on the table, she made a pattern on the cloth, cut it with scissors, and focused on making the new doll for a long time.

It was not until the next morning that Min-ha, who was confined in her room all day, completed the small doll. Min-ha looked at the little rabbit doll she had just completed with satisfaction.

“…..Ah, it’s over.”

She wondered if she was totally focused on what she liked without any restrictions for a long time. While she was concentrating, she finished her meal of some bread and soup someone brought over, and although she didn’t sleep at all, she wasn’t tired, she thought.

Instead, her shoulders were a little stiff because she continued to sew in a receding position. Min-ha stretched lightly, squeezed her stiff shoulders with her hands, and placed the completed rabbit doll next to the lion doll.

When I saw the two dolls that I fixed and made together, I felt proud. And at the same time, I thought of the little boy.

“It’s all right in my eyes….. Will he like it?”

Min-ha mumbled, putting a red ribbon on the rabbit doll that was identical to the lion doll’s.

Thereafter, I put the two dolls in a small basket nearby, left the room, and went outside. The destination was, of course, the northern annex.

***

Min-ha, who was walking in the direction she walked with Annie yesterday, was able to reach the northern annex after wandering around again and again.

As she was someone who was not good with directions, she condemned herself for forgetting where she passed by yesterday, and opened the door to the annex and went inside. Then, she cleared her throat and shouted towards the tranquil annex.

“Hey, kid? Are you here? I’ve arrived!”
“…….”
“Have you come yet?”

However, when there was no response, Min-ha sighed briefly and around the empty annex.

He said they would see each other at around this time, but he didn’t set a specific time, so it was only natural for him to not be present right now. Min-ha walked towards the stairs, determined to wait for the child to come.

At that time, suddenly, someone pulled Min-ha’s skirt slightly. She screamed in surprise.

“Ack!”

Oh my! Is it a ghost?!

Min-ha, who looked down screaming in surprise, opened her eyes and smiled as if she was relieved.

It was the little boy who pulled her skirt. The child, who was wearing a uniform that was as colorful as yesterday, was looking up at Min-ha with his green eyes wide open. Perhaps because he was quite surprised by the scream she made.

Min-ha thought that even his surprised expression was cute and matched her eye level with the child. Then, she waved her hand slightly to the child who blinked his eyes cutely.

“Hi?”
“……Right.”
“Huh?”
“……I thought you weren’t coming.”

The child, who seemed a little embarrassed by her greeting, said, squeezing Min-ha’s hand with a low voice like yesterday. Min-ha smiled, looked at the child, and replied with an exaggerated look on her face.

“Oh, why? We promised.”
“…..But still.”
“I have to keep my word. Besides.”
“………..?”
“Why wouldn’t I come when such a cute prince is waiting for me?”
“…….!”
“Oh, you’ve been waiting for a long time. Your hands are so cold.”

Min-ha was so moved by the redness of the child’s fingers, which were half the size of hers, that she put down the basket she was holding in one hand and blew her breath towards the child’s two hands that she held in both hands. Then, the child blinked as if he were embarrassed. As if this is the first time this has happened to him.

“It’s a little warmer now. Kid, it’s not cold, is it? Tell me if it’s still cold, alright?”
“………Yes.”

Min-ha, who had been blowing on his hands for a while and warmed the child’s cold hands, slightly let go when the child’s hands got warmer.