Chapter 33: Sorting Things Out

Nicole flopped onto her bed upon arriving home.

“Kyaaa!”

Boing boing!

Rolling around like a caterpillar wrapped in blankets, her face flushed with excitement as she tossed them aside.

“Haa… I finally talked to him!”

Her heart had been racing since she proposed meeting.

Surprisingly, the tension eased during their time together, but now it surged again.

Eyes sparkling, she stared at her phone.

“Why hasn’t he replied yet?”

Is he driving?

She tilted her head.

He should’ve been home by now, so it was odd he hadn’t checked her DMs.

Did something happen?

They hadn’t exchanged phone numbers.

Both too shy at the time, they forgot entirely.

[@Nicole1512: Just got home! You?]

She sent another DM, having sent several since landing.

But he hadn’t seen any.

Worried something was wrong, she sent another.

[@Nicole1512: The food was so good! I’ll treat next time!]

[@Adele Louis4747: …]

Still no response.

Is something wrong?

Nicole grew anxious.

Never having loved someone so deeply, she feared something happened to him.

She kept sending messages until morning.

Over 400 notifications.

I hurriedly sent Nicole a DM.

My fault for forgetting my phone’s battery was dead while buying the kids’ textbooks.

[@Adele Louis4747: Sorry, my phone died, so I just saw your DMs.]

[@Adele Louis4747: You didn’t do anything wrong. I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again.]

I rarely contacted others, so I’d stopped charging my phone regularly.

[@Nicole1512: …]

She read my DM but didn’t reply.

I scratched the back of my head.

Is she mad?

I had no excuse if she was.

Just as I was about to send another apology—

[@Nicole1512: Can you give me your phone number?]

I nodded.

[@Adele Louis4747: Of course.]

I sent her my number.

If she’d had it, she’d have known my phone was off.

A call would’ve let us talk even while I was driving.

-Ring ring ring!

Right after sending my number, an unfamiliar number called.

It was Nicole.

“Hello?”

-…Author.

Her voice was different from yesterday’s lively tone—now low and heavy.

-I… I was so worried… sniff…

“I’m so sorry. I don’t charge my phone often. I’ll be careful from now on.”

Her voice wasn’t just low—it was trembling, almost crying.

Guilt hit me.

Making someone cry because of my mistake felt awful.

-Why’s your voice so hoarse… sniff…

“…Huh?”

-Are you unwell? Was it more than a dead battery? Did something happen?

In just a few words, she sensed my condition.

I was flustered.

“N-No, nothing happened.”

-No… Are you sure you’re not sick?

She was right—my health wasn’t great—but I couldn’t admit it.

If I said I was sick, she’d blame herself.

“I’m fine. I just slept too long yesterday, so my body’s stiff. Stretching will fix it.”

She fell silent.

After a minute, she spoke softly.

-Okay.

“I’ll reply promptly from now on. Sorry for worrying you.”

-If… you’re really sorry, can I ask for one thing?

“Of course. Anything.”

She paused, longer than before.

Then, faintly, her voice came through.

-…Baby.

“Huh?”

-Say… baby.

Her small voice dripped with embarrassment, so shy it was barely audible.

I smiled and replied.

“I love you, my baby.”

-Kyaaa…!

The call cut off instantly.

I rubbed my goosebump-covered arm.

Chills.

I wasn’t the type to say such things.

I ignored even fans’ requests—yet I said that?

Nicole must’ve hung up from embarrassment too.

“Never again. Too embarrassing…”

As I got up from bed, my eyes met Hye-yeon’s, who stood at the door with a tray.

“I-I mean, the porridge was done, and you didn’t come out, so I thought you were busy…”

“…”

I covered my face.

Saying that in front of my niece was mortifying.

“I-I support your love, Uncle! Really!”

“Stop…”

I couldn’t hide my embarrassment at her words.

I couldn’t eat porridge where the kids were studying.

Part embarrassment, part not wanting to disturb them, I holed up in my room.

The porridge isn’t great.

Marcello was great at Italian food, but porridge wasn’t his forte.

It felt different from risotto—too rich, not tasty.

Still, thanks.

Mijeong said Marcello rushed to make it before she could.

I’d thank him later.

At least I feel stronger.

It wasn’t to my taste, but two bowls gave me energy.

I hadn’t pushed my body to IV-drip levels, so this was manageable.

Can’t overdo it for a while… but I should keep writing.

I’d already written a chunk driven by emotion.

Light editing or drafting should be fine in my state.

-Ring ring ring!

As I went to check yesterday’s writing, my phone rang.

Loony.

No reason for him to call, so I was curious as I answered.

“Loony, what’s up?”

-Author, you okay?

He knew about my condition.

Mijeong must’ve told him.

“Mijeong told you, huh?”

-Yes. I was worried when she said you collapsed again.

“Not excited?”

-A little. Haha!

His honesty made me chuckle.

Better than hiding it.

“I’m getting old. Fainting takes a toll now.”

In the past, I’d write the next day after collapsing.

Now, even improved, my body felt stiff and unsure.

-Really? Are you that unwell?

“I’m okay now. Writing’s too much, though.”

-Hmm. We’ve got a meeting in three days. If you’re not up for it, I can reschedule.

I glanced at the calendar.

Three days meant leaving in two for an evening meeting.

Not sure…

I clenched and unclenched my fist.

Blood flow was back, but I wasn’t my old self.

Still, two days’ rest should do it.

“Keep it as is.”

-Alright… but don’t push yourself.

“I’ll rest until then.”

-Oh, and our party’s coming up…

“Already?”

A week had passed since bringing the kids.

Time flew.

“I’ll attend.”

-Really?

“Yeah.”

The words slipped out.

Going felt like a hassle, but somehow, I wanted to.

No—felt it was okay to go.

-Got it. I’ll prepare.

“Thanks.”

-Take care, Author. Rest well.

“You too, Loony. Watch out for colds.”

The call ended, and I sighed quietly.

A party…

Would she be there?

I shook my head.

Not why I avoided parties.

I skipped them because I felt inadequate.

Not anymore.

“Let’s check the writing.”

Slapping my cheeks to clear my thoughts, I turned on the computer—

“Oh? It’s already on?”

The screen saver had dimmed it, but the computer was running.

No one touched it.

Mijeong didn’t know it was on.

Or she knew but left it alone, knowing not to mess with it.

“Hmm… just check and shut it down.”

It’d been on too long, so I’d review briefly and turn it off.

Unlocking the screen saver, yesterday’s file appeared.

“Man… what a mess.”

A total disaster.

In my dawn frenzy, I thought it was a masterpiece.

Sober now, it was garbage.

Let’s at least unify the language.

The emotions were jumbled across languages.

I needed to streamline it.

“Here we go.”

-Tap tap tap!

Slowly typing, I began organizing my definition of love.