As they walked to the hospital entrance, Lola suddenly seemed to remember something important.
“Dear, can you wait here for a moment?”
“Why?”
“I have something for you. It won’t take long. Just a moment.”
Her voice, pleading, and earnest, made Dylan nod his head without much choice.
“Okay.”
As soon as Dylan replied, Lola opened the entrance door and went inside. Ten minutes later, she reappeared, holding a paper bag in her right hand.
“Dear, this….”
Lola shyly said, fumbling as she handed him the paper bag.
She felt very empty returning without being able to give it to him, so she was relieved to be able to give it to him now.
“Well then, Deaar, drive safely.”
“Okay!”
Only after Lola’s figure disappeared completely did Dylan move toward the parking lot. As soon as he got into the driver’s seat, curiosity got the better of him, and he opened the paper bag. A pretty note written on a sticky note caught his eye.
“Dear, if you crave a cigarette, try some chocolate. ^^”
“This is plum tea. They say it’s good for insomnia. It’s also good for stomach health, liver detox, calcium absorption, hangover relief, and colon health. Drink it regularly.”
“I don’t know if you’ll like the rice cakes. I bought some just in case you get hungry while working overnight.”
After scanning the contents of the sticky notes one by one, Dylan took out a piece of chocolate and put it in his mouth.
The chocolate melted sweetly in his mouth.
His heart was pounding.
His feelings were subtle yet complicated.
********
The hot summer sun of August shone down on a wide, green garden covered in lush grass. Two women, dressed in cool short-sleeved t-shirts and hot pants, were laughing joyfully as they blew soap bubbles. As they blew through their mouths, large soap bubbles spilled out. Bright smiles spread across the faces of the two women.
After blowing bubbles, the two women took turns taking pictures of each other with a camera.
When Gia struck a cute pose, Lola quickly raised the camera, focused, and clicked the shutter. As Lola made a V sign with her hands and smiled brightly, Gia clicked the shutter repeatedly. Then the two women burst into laughter as they looked at the photos stored on the digital camera, sometimes frowning when they didn’t like a picture.
Having fun taking pictures, the two women then went to a clear stream and splashed water on each other, playing with the water. Their appearance was innocent and pure, like children.
“It reminds me of school days.”
As Gia opened her mouth, recalling old memories, Lola quickly followed up.
“Studying was tough back then, but it was still fun.”
“Looking back, that was the happiest time.”
“You’re happy now too. You have a kind husband and a bunny-like child. There’s nothing to envy now.”
Lola tilted her head as she spoke.
“Oh! I hope you and Big Brother are happy too.”
“Sure. Let’s be happy together.”
“Yeah. We should.”
Gia laughed and chimed in, then splashed water on Lola again.
“Hey…!”
Lola retaliated, splashing water back at Gia. The cheerful laughter of the two women filled the wide, green garden.
******
While the two women were joyfully splashing around like fish in water, the two men were grilling meat at an outdoor barbecue table.
As he grilled pork belly on the charcoal grill, Hamza casually asked, “When do you plan to marry Lola?”
Dylan frowned slightly, and a grumbling-like remark slipped from his lips.
“It seems like my brother-in-law is quite interested in me!”
“Of course. You’re my brother.”
To an outsider, it might seem like the two were very close, but in reality, they were more like rivals.
A short chuckle escaped Dylan’s lips.
“You should get married soon and live happily so that our father-in-law, mother-in-law, and Gia won’t have to worry anymore.”
What kind of nonsensical talk is this?
Hearing Hamza’s words made Dylan feel like a burden to his family.
Dylan’s expression darkened as if displeased.
“I don’t know what nonsense you’re talking about. Look at that! Gia is laughing happily without a care in the world. All I can hear in the garden is her laughter.”
After glancing at Gia, who was playing freely on the lawn, Dylan shifted his gaze back to Hamza and countered.
“Sometimes, you seem a bit dull, brother.”
“I’ve never heard such a thing in my life.”
“You just heard it from me.”
“I don’t know what kind of nonsense you’re blowing!”
Thinking back to the past when Hamza had upset Gia and made her cry, Dylan still couldn’t bring himself to speak kindly.
Even though he must have been uncomfortable, Hamza slightly frowned but didn’t get angry and calmly replied.
