She threw on a random coat and was about to leave when she suddenly seemed to remember something.
“What were you about to say?”
But I had already buried my emotions.
“Nothing. We’ll talk when you get back.”
But the next morning, the other side of the bed was untouched.
Since I’d be leaving soon, I simply quit my job.
I had packed up a lot of things last night—most of them were for donation.
When I stepped outside to hand the packages to the courier, I noticed a commotion at the apartment across from mine.
Workers were moving in brand-new furniture.
Even with all the people around, my eyes landed on Zelda in an instant.
She was leaning against Eugene’s chest, directing the workers as they arranged the furniture.
Zelda had always cared about these details.
Back when we first moved in, she did the same—took time off just to oversee everything.
She once said, “If you don’t put effort into setting up a home, it’s just a rental.”
But now, my home hardly had any trace of her left.
“Sir? Sir? Your shipping code?” The courier’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
The people inside the next apartment had clearly heard as well.
Just as the courier left, Eugene walked over with a bright smile.
“Dude, Zee said I keep having nightmares, so she bought this place. From now on, we’re neighbors!”
He stepped closer and then patted my shoulder, looking all cheerful and friendly.
This guy took my place—there was no way I’d ever like him, so I ignored him and turned to go back inside.
But suddenly, that lunatic punched himself in the face and stumbled backward—right into a worker carrying a cabinet.
His lower back slammed against the sharp edge of the cabinet.
“Ah!” he cried out in pain.
Hearing the commotion, Zelda rushed out.
She lifted him, her eyes overflowing with concern.
She gently blew on his injured face.
Then, she turned to me, looking completely stunned.
“The heck, Wallace? Are you some kind of psycho? You just go around hitting people?”
Eugene’s face was pale.
“Zee, don’t scold Wallace. It’s me—I shouldn’t have moved in and disturbed you. He’s only upset because he cares about you. Me? I’m just a burden.”
“How could you be a burden? You’re my little brother!”
Suddenly, a sharp pain throbbed in my temple.
No matter how many times I witnessed their sibling-like bond, I only found it irritating and nauseating.
Unexpectedly, a hand pressed against my door.
“Wallace, apologize to Luigi!”