Magic Academy's Bastard Instructor

Chapter 50: Resolute [3]

Chapter 50: Resolute [3]

Pitter. Patter.

The steady drumming of rain echoed against the window as it filled the quiet room with its rhythmic sound.

Chae Eun-woo stood frozen in place. His eyes were locked on the small figure before him. His breath hitched as his chest rose and fell unevenly.

"Eun-ah.…" he whispered.

His heart pounded. His fingers trembled at his sides.

She was there.

A little girl, no older than six, stood a few feet away, tilting her head in confusion. Her round eyes blinked slowly.

"Oppa?" 

His mind blanked. His throat tightened as a surge of indescribable emotions hit him like a tidal wave.

"Eun-ah…!" His voice cracked, and he stumbled forward.

His feet moved before he could think. 

"Eun-ah…!"

Tak. Tak. Tak.

His hurried steps echoed across the room. He reached her, falling to his knees as he pulled her into his arms. 

His body shook as he held her. His arms wrapped tightly around her small frame.

"Oppa…?" Her small hands pressed against his chest, confused by the sudden embrace.

Tears streamed down his face. His chest heaved, and his breath hitched with every sob. His heart felt like it would burst.

"Eun-ah…." he gasped. 

His grip around her tightened, as though afraid she would vanish at any moment. 

"Eun-ah…! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

Her small hands tugged on his shirt, still confused. "....Oppa, why are you crying?"

He choked on his breath. He couldn't stop. He didn't want to stop.

Nineteen years. It had been nineteen long years since that day.

The rain outside had been just as heavy that day. He could still hear the sound of it if he closed his eyes.

But it wasn't the rain that haunted him.

"...."

It was the silence that followed. 

***

On that day, two men appeared in their small rented apartment. 

Loan sharks.

They said his aunt's debt had been long overdue. It wasn't their problem, it was their aunts.

Yet…. as a collateral…. they asked for Eun–ah….

Chae Eun–woo was furious. There was no way he would allow that. His aunt, however, thought differently.

——....Eun–woo, listen to me. It's only a collateral, we'll get her back, okay? Okay!?