A Girl and A Hitman - Episode 9

I didn’t understand because I had never been in love. I thought so seriously about it, was called a stalker, was the target, but I didn’t kill her. No, I couldn’t kill her. It was different from the first time I couldn’t. I didn’t want to kill her.

If that’s the case, it’s simple. I thought about finding a reason why “she must be killed” and trying to eliminate her.

She hasn’t touched people like the client, who are considered “people of the country.” So why not? Is it because she kills too much? I called the client.

“Tell me the reason why the girl became the target.”

“Because he’s a dangerous person.”

The existence of a JK (high school girl) feels far removed from that of a dangerous person. A dangerous JK, unimaginable as it may be, might exist somewhere in the world.

“I don’t understand. Make it so I can understand.”

“It means exactly that.”

I gave up, thinking I wouldn’t get any more answers, and hung up the phone.

While holding the usual candy in my mouth, I headed straight to the bookstore, took out a few books from the shelf of foreign authors, and bought them. Today was a perfect day for reading, and the moderate brightness made me feel a sudden happiness in the pleasant touch of the paper and the leisurely time. For the first time in a while, I forgot the time and read a book.

I read O. Henry’s “The Green Door” before going to bed. Although it was a translation, I was somehow caught on the word “fate” in this story. However, I didn’t understand it. It might be more accurate to say that I knew but didn’t want to think about it. I turned off the lights in the room and slowly closed my eyelids.

A story always has an ending. Sometimes, it comes suddenly. It’s the same as “death.” There might have been a way to continue a slow life with the girl as it was. However, I didn’t rush to a conclusion. Therefore, what happened next can be said to be the result of that.

I realized it was my day off a little while after I woke up. I finished breakfast and was watching TV when the doorbell rang. The next moment, the door opened. The girl, taking off her shoes, said.

“Excuse me for intruding.”

“Well done for coming.”

I said that while thinking I had been outdone. The girl entered my room without permission and was surprised by the large number of books. As we were sitting side by side on the sofa watching TV, the girl, after seeing a theme park commercial, said, “Let’s go there.” Having never been to an amusement park before, I was hesitant but agreed. I guess I can enjoy myself for a day.

After purchasing the tickets and entering the amusement park, the girl took my hand. When I said, ‘This makes us look like close siblings,’ the girl forcefully linked her arm with mine. The girl’s body that touched my arm was pleasantly warm. I thought I wanted to stay like this forever. Even when riding the spinning merry-go-round, and even when riding the roller coaster that plunges from a great height, I was looking at the girl’s face. Upon closer inspection, the girl had a petite and youthful face. And yet, she possessed a fragility and beauty that seemed as if she might shatter if touched.

“The girl said, ‘I’m embarrassed, but please don’t stop,’ so I replied, ‘As much as I can.'”

It was a day that could be summed up simply, with nothing particularly noteworthy, but spending the day with the girl made it the most enjoyable day of my life. It was the first day in my life that I hated the length of the day being predetermined.

“Let’s ride the Ferris wheel.”

The girl said that very slowly.

“This is the last one.”

It slipped out naturally. The girl seemed like she wanted to say something, but in the end, she didn’t say anything until she got on the gondola.

The gondola rose, and the ground grew distant. The girl said, “I could kill you right now, hitman,” and rested her face on my shoulder. I said, “You’re a hitman too, aren’t you?” The girl took out her camera, saying, “Wow, it’s beautiful. A film camera, huh… You’re using quite an old one,” I said.

“This too, is something you gave me.”

“That too?”

“As I thought, you still can’t remember, can you?”

The girl said this while looking at my face through the viewfinder, a bit disappointed but still somehow happy.

“Shall I tell you my story?”