The sound of footsteps echoed through a quiet, dark room. A house furnished with only the bare essentials. Each room contained no more than two or three items. That was the owner's definition of comfort—and emptiness.
Her steps were unsteady.
Slow.
Filled with hesitation.
Every so often, she stopped.
RING!
The message notification from her phone shattered the silence. The woman merely read it from the notification displayed on the lock screen.
“Don't pretend you didn't see this message. Your older brother knows you read it without even touching your phone. I'll call you in five minutes. So make sure you answer.”
“He's acting up again. Should I ignore him like usual?” the woman muttered.
Mae—that was the name of the house's owner. She lived alone. More accurately, she chose to be alone, unwilling to be bothered by anyone, including her family.
Five minutes passed. Mae's phone rang again. This time, it was an incoming call from her older brother, Ren.
“Thank goodness you answered. How have you been?”
“Is that all you wanted to ask? Why not just text me?”
“Hey, this is called small talk. Besides, talking on the phone feels completely different from texting. You know that, don't you? You've been ignoring my calls for a whole year. Don't you remember?”
“Who knows? So what do you want?”
“Hah! Ugh... you're doing it again. I'm on my way to your house.”
“What?! Why all of a sudden?!”
“So you'll feel bad if you turn down my visit.”
“You're such a pain.”
Ren merely laughed at his sister's reply. “You know what? I'm bringing your niece to stay over there, too. She's all grown up now. I think she'll make a good companion for her lonely aunt for a while. Right, my daughter?”
“Absolutely, Dad! Hi, Aunt! You still remember me, right? Your beloved niece, Luna—beautiful, kind, humble, and good at saving money~” Luna replied loudly.
“Since when are you good at saving money? Delivery drivers come to our house every single day.”
Mae chuckled. “Pfft, you two are exactly alike.”
“Oh my gosh! Aunt, your face still looks exactly the same as it did ten years ago. Please tell me what kind of recipe you use to stay young!”
“No way. You're making that up, aren't you?”
“All right, it's time for me to say goodbye. Please take good care of each other,” Ren remarked.
“My older brother's feet haven't even been on this house's floor for five minutes. What's going on?” Mae asked.
“Starting today and for the next two weeks, I'll be overseas for work. That's why I'm asking Luna to stay with you.”
“Fine. At least serve the food I worked so hard to make first.”
Ren started his car again.
“Aww... It feels so sad leaving my two little daughters behind to go overseas.”
“Seriously? I'm a forty-year-old old maid, and I still look like a little daughter to you?”
“Dad! I'm going to miss you! Please take care of your health while you're there, okay?” Luna cried as she hugged her father, Ren.
Ren smiled. “Of course, my daughter.”
The three of them waved goodbye to one another.
Mae and Luna remained outside the house until Ren's car disappeared from view.
“Come on, we need to go inside the house,” Mae urged.
The house, which had once felt dark and empty, now seemed more colorful with Luna there.
“Aunt... Do you remember the promise you made to me ten years ago?”
“Ah, so you still remember it?”
“Yes. I've been hoping that you're finally ready to tell me everything. I'm old enough to hear it now. Don't keep all that pain and guilt bottled up inside, Aunt...”
Without realizing it, a tear slipped from Mae's left eye.
Luna gently hugged Mae. “Don't worry, my dear Aunt. I'm ready to face whatever happens after this.”
To be continued...