Withered - Chapter 45: Chapter 45
You are reading Withered, Chapter 45: Chapter 45. Read more chapters of Withered.
We took a look.
We saw a nook.
On his head,
he had a hook.
On his hook,
he had a book.
On his book,
was "How To Cook"
We saw him sit,
and try to cook.
He took a look,
at the book on the hook.
But a nook can't read,
so a nook can't cook.
SO....
what good to a nook,
is a hook cook book?
Chaeyoung stops reading and peek to the girl who lay down on the bed, "Nook sounds like someone. Do you know who?" He asks jokingly as Mina responds with a death glare. The guy laughs before he leans down towards Mina's bump then covers his mouth secretively as he whispers something to their baby.
"I know how to read and she can't hear you" Mina roll her eyes playfully as she caresses her stomach.
"But you don't know how to cook and.. not really, the baby will start to hear between 23 weeks and 27 weeks" He defends as he pulls away to fix his position, getting down off the chair and sits cross-legged on the floor to makes it easy for him not to bend down each time he wanted to have any connection with the baby.
"Well, then she can't understand you"
Chaeyoung looks up and scrunches his nose "Bitter" He mutters then back again with the whispering thingy leaving Mina out of the conversation. It bothers her as he keeps glancing while nodding and laughing. Though the act looks stupid yet cute, it makes her feels like an outsider. She pouts and clicks her tongue while crossing her arms against her chest, sulking.
Mina's breath suddenly hitched when she feels a twitch in her stomach. She quickly gazes down and witnesses Chaeyoung's shocked expression. The guy shifts his eyes to her and back to her stomach before he breaks into laughter.
"Even she agreed with me! Look at her kicking" He laughs.
She affords him a deadpan look and a crack of sarcasm. "Yeah, yeah whatever. Don't tell the baby lies!" She complains in a rising whine.
"I'm not" He chuckles as he pulls away, picking up the book and turn to the next pages. Chaeyoung clears his throat and starts reading again to create a positive bond between him and their child as well as providing a wind-down before bedtime. It's a point that he has a poetic voice---a well-pitched, good rhythm---that sounds just perfect and pleasant to hear.
The moon was out.
and we saw some sheep,
We saw some sheep.
take a walk in their sleep,
By the light of the moon.
by the light of a star,
they walked all night,
from near to far,
I would never walk.
I would take a car.
A giggling sound is heard and Chaeyoung knows to well the reason for it. "And...that sounds like someone. I wonder who?" She mocks and now it is him shooting daggers at her.
"I've stopped sleepwalking okay. Only when we were kids" He explains which only earn a smirk from her. Mina shrugs and tilts her head to the side. "I'm just saying. But who is that boy that freaks out when he realized he just transported from his bedroom to the yard?" A grin creeps across her face. She uses her arms as a pillow and turns her body to the side while maintaining eye contact with him.
"Do you like gardening that much?" Mina snickers asking something that equally in the middle of a joke and real question.
Chaeyoung arcs his brows and lets out a scoff of disbelief "Gardening is an instrument of grace. It teaches patience, careful watchfulness and above it all, it teaches entire trust. Plus, it is about the joy to see them grow and bloom and it makes life more colourful and brighter. So, don't judge" He states while shaking his head, "What would a bookworm knows about gardening?" He unknowingly vocalizes his thought and Mina doesn't fail to catch his words.
"Yah! A Book can bring you to another dimension. Now, who's greater?" She disputed, and lift her body to sit but Chaeyoung pushes her lightly back to the soft mattress. He chuckles and flicks her forehead.
"That's why you always lost in that 'dimension' and can't find your way home" He notes pertaining to how Mina easily attached to a story whether it is emotionally or mentally, and to the fact that it is concerning since she couldn't simply get over it. Mina stays silent then open her mouth to reply but soon close it back, lose of words.
"See?" He suppresses his laugh and stops himself from celebrating his winning on the small debate between them. Mina hiss and looks away. "But, you're there. You brought me back to reality" She mutters.
"Hmm? Do you say something?"
Mina glance at him and shake her head. She starts to sigh, but pass it off as a yawn which gains his attention. He smiles before putting the book down on the table and walks to the wall on the left, switching the lights off. Then, he reaches out and flicks on the bedside lamp. The gloom is instantly replaced by a soft orange glow.
"I'm not a good singer but I'll try to sing a lullaby," He says softly as he tidied the bed and gives Mina enough space and pillows for her to sleep comfortably. He closes the curtains then return to his seat on the chair.
"I'm not a kid" She grumbles.
"For the baby, not you" He corrected and let out a small laugh. Thanks to the dimming light, he couldn't see how she has blushed the colour of a cherry popsicle, wishing that she could have just shut her mouth earlier. And now, she is embarrassed.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Chaeyoung ends the songs and looks over the girl who has her eyes closed, smiling when he sees her sleeping peacefully. He stops tapping her hands and settles down on the bed beside the girl. He pulls his hand and brushes her hair back, then trail his hand to her forehead---putting his palm against it. He leans down and kisses the back of his own hand then draws away. He wouldn't dare to give her a direct kiss even if it's on her crown. He doesn't want to do something out of her consent and knowledge, even more after knowing she doesn't share the same feelings. He smiles sadly and swipes her bangs to the side.
Little penguin,
this is yours in icy waters,
on distant shores.
So be aware,
and treat it right through the dreary day,
or a lonely night.
If others come,
to tell you lies,
with tricks and traps,
to steal your prize,
you let them know,
just what is true,
that they are they,
and you are you.
When full with love,
please take great care,
and take great pains,
to love and share.
Please wake each day,
and give and try,
because---
Chaeyoung holds her hand and slowly lift it before putting it on his chest.
---this is yours,
and you're alive.
He ends the poem. Smiling as he brings the duvet up to her shoulder. "Night penguin and--" He kisses her bump and lightly pokes it "---Nighty little bean"
With a last glance at her, he closes the door and walks himself to his room, planning to fill the colourful book that he wishes to give to their child when she's growing. Although he isn't sure if choosing to stay is the right decision but one thing for sure, he is feeling painful happiness if that even makes any sense. But the guy figures out that if he can make Mina happy by his presence, then he couldn't leave. They are complicated and messy and as of, for now, he will just go with the flow and see where it brings him. Either to the bad side or to the good side, he could only hope for a better ending.
Just then his phone rings, interrupting his thought of life choices.
Irene is calling...
Reject | | Answer
* * * *
Jeongyeon walks over his desk, open his laptop computer and begins typing. He stops to read the stack of paper beside him then sigh when again he meets a dead end. He folds his hands behind his head and leans back in his chair. He looks up and stares at the pictures and small notes that stick on the wall in front of him frustrated that he couldn't find any conclusion even after years digging to the long-forgotten case. He picks his phones from the table and dials a number.
[Oh, Hyung] The other line answered.
"Do you got any information?"
[Yup. So, On April 29, 1993, He was found guilty of third-degree sexual assault on the sixth day of a harrowing trial at the High Court and was sentenced to life imprisonment. It was weird because he had denied all the allegations against him but soon agreed to the accusations after he met someone.]
"Met someone?"
[Yeah, but there is absolute confidentiality to whom he met. I couldn't find the person]
"It's okay. Lookup for the detective and the prosecutor who was in charge of the case. By the way, he was sentenced to life imprisonment? That's an unusual punishment."
[It's because the case was one of the most sensational in that time and it involved some of the well-known tycoons. The victim was also drugged beforehand. She was unconscious when the crime took place."
"I've found his daughter, she doesn't seem to have a good life. Finds me the best Oncologist in the States. We need to help her. Anyhow, Is he still alive?"
[That's good then. I'll introduce you to some of the best specialists. Well, he was expecting an earlier release for good behaviour but he died beca---Oh! The prosecutor is here, I need to go hyung]
"Ouh, okay then, just sends me the document via email for the information you got now, and thank you"
[Haha no big deal]
Jeongyeon ends the call and his eyes travel to the picture of a man in the far left on the wall. After a while, he looks over his computer when he heard a notification then read the document that just arrives. He takes a moment to study every word that is written on the pages and conclude that there's indeed a hole to the story. He gathers the important information that hopefully could be the next lead then takes a sticky note and write;
Bae Soo Bin
1963 - 2001
Sentenced to life imprisonment for sexual assault
Cause of Death: Suicide
We saw a nook.
On his head,
he had a hook.
On his hook,
he had a book.
On his book,
was "How To Cook"
We saw him sit,
and try to cook.
He took a look,
at the book on the hook.
But a nook can't read,
so a nook can't cook.
SO....
what good to a nook,
is a hook cook book?
Chaeyoung stops reading and peek to the girl who lay down on the bed, "Nook sounds like someone. Do you know who?" He asks jokingly as Mina responds with a death glare. The guy laughs before he leans down towards Mina's bump then covers his mouth secretively as he whispers something to their baby.
"I know how to read and she can't hear you" Mina roll her eyes playfully as she caresses her stomach.
"But you don't know how to cook and.. not really, the baby will start to hear between 23 weeks and 27 weeks" He defends as he pulls away to fix his position, getting down off the chair and sits cross-legged on the floor to makes it easy for him not to bend down each time he wanted to have any connection with the baby.
"Well, then she can't understand you"
Chaeyoung looks up and scrunches his nose "Bitter" He mutters then back again with the whispering thingy leaving Mina out of the conversation. It bothers her as he keeps glancing while nodding and laughing. Though the act looks stupid yet cute, it makes her feels like an outsider. She pouts and clicks her tongue while crossing her arms against her chest, sulking.
Mina's breath suddenly hitched when she feels a twitch in her stomach. She quickly gazes down and witnesses Chaeyoung's shocked expression. The guy shifts his eyes to her and back to her stomach before he breaks into laughter.
"Even she agreed with me! Look at her kicking" He laughs.
She affords him a deadpan look and a crack of sarcasm. "Yeah, yeah whatever. Don't tell the baby lies!" She complains in a rising whine.
"I'm not" He chuckles as he pulls away, picking up the book and turn to the next pages. Chaeyoung clears his throat and starts reading again to create a positive bond between him and their child as well as providing a wind-down before bedtime. It's a point that he has a poetic voice---a well-pitched, good rhythm---that sounds just perfect and pleasant to hear.
The moon was out.
and we saw some sheep,
We saw some sheep.
take a walk in their sleep,
By the light of the moon.
by the light of a star,
they walked all night,
from near to far,
I would never walk.
I would take a car.
A giggling sound is heard and Chaeyoung knows to well the reason for it. "And...that sounds like someone. I wonder who?" She mocks and now it is him shooting daggers at her.
"I've stopped sleepwalking okay. Only when we were kids" He explains which only earn a smirk from her. Mina shrugs and tilts her head to the side. "I'm just saying. But who is that boy that freaks out when he realized he just transported from his bedroom to the yard?" A grin creeps across her face. She uses her arms as a pillow and turns her body to the side while maintaining eye contact with him.
"Do you like gardening that much?" Mina snickers asking something that equally in the middle of a joke and real question.
Chaeyoung arcs his brows and lets out a scoff of disbelief "Gardening is an instrument of grace. It teaches patience, careful watchfulness and above it all, it teaches entire trust. Plus, it is about the joy to see them grow and bloom and it makes life more colourful and brighter. So, don't judge" He states while shaking his head, "What would a bookworm knows about gardening?" He unknowingly vocalizes his thought and Mina doesn't fail to catch his words.
"Yah! A Book can bring you to another dimension. Now, who's greater?" She disputed, and lift her body to sit but Chaeyoung pushes her lightly back to the soft mattress. He chuckles and flicks her forehead.
"That's why you always lost in that 'dimension' and can't find your way home" He notes pertaining to how Mina easily attached to a story whether it is emotionally or mentally, and to the fact that it is concerning since she couldn't simply get over it. Mina stays silent then open her mouth to reply but soon close it back, lose of words.
"See?" He suppresses his laugh and stops himself from celebrating his winning on the small debate between them. Mina hiss and looks away. "But, you're there. You brought me back to reality" She mutters.
"Hmm? Do you say something?"
Mina glance at him and shake her head. She starts to sigh, but pass it off as a yawn which gains his attention. He smiles before putting the book down on the table and walks to the wall on the left, switching the lights off. Then, he reaches out and flicks on the bedside lamp. The gloom is instantly replaced by a soft orange glow.
"I'm not a good singer but I'll try to sing a lullaby," He says softly as he tidied the bed and gives Mina enough space and pillows for her to sleep comfortably. He closes the curtains then return to his seat on the chair.
"I'm not a kid" She grumbles.
"For the baby, not you" He corrected and let out a small laugh. Thanks to the dimming light, he couldn't see how she has blushed the colour of a cherry popsicle, wishing that she could have just shut her mouth earlier. And now, she is embarrassed.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Chaeyoung ends the songs and looks over the girl who has her eyes closed, smiling when he sees her sleeping peacefully. He stops tapping her hands and settles down on the bed beside the girl. He pulls his hand and brushes her hair back, then trail his hand to her forehead---putting his palm against it. He leans down and kisses the back of his own hand then draws away. He wouldn't dare to give her a direct kiss even if it's on her crown. He doesn't want to do something out of her consent and knowledge, even more after knowing she doesn't share the same feelings. He smiles sadly and swipes her bangs to the side.
Little penguin,
this is yours in icy waters,
on distant shores.
So be aware,
and treat it right through the dreary day,
or a lonely night.
If others come,
to tell you lies,
with tricks and traps,
to steal your prize,
you let them know,
just what is true,
that they are they,
and you are you.
When full with love,
please take great care,
and take great pains,
to love and share.
Please wake each day,
and give and try,
because---
Chaeyoung holds her hand and slowly lift it before putting it on his chest.
---this is yours,
and you're alive.
He ends the poem. Smiling as he brings the duvet up to her shoulder. "Night penguin and--" He kisses her bump and lightly pokes it "---Nighty little bean"
With a last glance at her, he closes the door and walks himself to his room, planning to fill the colourful book that he wishes to give to their child when she's growing. Although he isn't sure if choosing to stay is the right decision but one thing for sure, he is feeling painful happiness if that even makes any sense. But the guy figures out that if he can make Mina happy by his presence, then he couldn't leave. They are complicated and messy and as of, for now, he will just go with the flow and see where it brings him. Either to the bad side or to the good side, he could only hope for a better ending.
Just then his phone rings, interrupting his thought of life choices.
Irene is calling...
Reject | | Answer
* * * *
Jeongyeon walks over his desk, open his laptop computer and begins typing. He stops to read the stack of paper beside him then sigh when again he meets a dead end. He folds his hands behind his head and leans back in his chair. He looks up and stares at the pictures and small notes that stick on the wall in front of him frustrated that he couldn't find any conclusion even after years digging to the long-forgotten case. He picks his phones from the table and dials a number.
[Oh, Hyung] The other line answered.
"Do you got any information?"
[Yup. So, On April 29, 1993, He was found guilty of third-degree sexual assault on the sixth day of a harrowing trial at the High Court and was sentenced to life imprisonment. It was weird because he had denied all the allegations against him but soon agreed to the accusations after he met someone.]
"Met someone?"
[Yeah, but there is absolute confidentiality to whom he met. I couldn't find the person]
"It's okay. Lookup for the detective and the prosecutor who was in charge of the case. By the way, he was sentenced to life imprisonment? That's an unusual punishment."
[It's because the case was one of the most sensational in that time and it involved some of the well-known tycoons. The victim was also drugged beforehand. She was unconscious when the crime took place."
"I've found his daughter, she doesn't seem to have a good life. Finds me the best Oncologist in the States. We need to help her. Anyhow, Is he still alive?"
[That's good then. I'll introduce you to some of the best specialists. Well, he was expecting an earlier release for good behaviour but he died beca---Oh! The prosecutor is here, I need to go hyung]
"Ouh, okay then, just sends me the document via email for the information you got now, and thank you"
[Haha no big deal]
Jeongyeon ends the call and his eyes travel to the picture of a man in the far left on the wall. After a while, he looks over his computer when he heard a notification then read the document that just arrives. He takes a moment to study every word that is written on the pages and conclude that there's indeed a hole to the story. He gathers the important information that hopefully could be the next lead then takes a sticky note and write;
Bae Soo Bin
1963 - 2001
Sentenced to life imprisonment for sexual assault
Cause of Death: Suicide
End of Withered Chapter 45. Continue reading Chapter 46 or return to Withered book page.