Seoul Object Story

The quiet and peaceful backyard of the Sehee Research Institute, bathed in warm midday sunlight, looked like it had been plucked straight from a well-painted picture. It was so pretty!

I was sprawled on a fluffy mat with Yerin’s lap as my perfect pillow, and let me tell you, I was living the dream. The sky above was so big and blue, just like a storybook. The Golden Reapers were teaming up with the Black Reapers, happily running around the backyard like they had no care in the world. Even the cute puppy was busy scampering alongside a Golden Reaper, trying its best to keep up. Adorable!

Everything felt so comfortable, so cozy. I mean, sure, the James Research Institute had all these fancy gadgets, but the Sehee Research Institute? Ah, this place was where I truly felt at home. It wasn’t even close—people make all the difference, you know?

There was just something about the shabby, laid-back vibe of Sehee that I loved. It didn’t feel like a place where you had to be serious and smart. No, no, no—it was more like a little hideaway where you could just come to play and have fun, not at all like the suffocating, buttoned-up James Lab. Yuck.

A gentle breeze blew through, making the leaves rustle in such a lovely way that it sounded like nature had decided to put on a little concert just for me. Plus, the faint fragrance of flowers floated along with the wind, tickling my nose and making the backyard smell like springtime.

Om nom nom!

I stared up at the sky, munching on the snacks Yerin fed me (seriously, she’s the best), and I saw Cloud Fish swimming in the vast blue canvas above. They were so graceful, floating around like delicate little clouds shaped into fish—like, really, the name says it all. They moved in cute little waves, all together, and for a second, I felt like I was underwater, staring up at the surface. So dreamy!

I always got a bit jealous of those Cloud Fish, flying so freely up there. They almost never come down to visit, so I’ve never had a proper look at them up close. I kinda wanted to catch one. Maybe sneakily… and maybe, you know… nibble on it? Hehe. Just a tiny bite!

Imagine if I ate one and suddenly gained the ability to fly! That’d be so cool. As for the Cloud Fish, well… I’m sure losing one wouldn’t be too bad for them. I mean, with so many of them, it’s probably tough for them to find jobs anyway.

Just as I was lost in thought about flying fish (yum), the Black Reaper, who had been eyeing Yerin with obvious jealousy, scooted over to me, grabbed a potato chip, and shoved it straight into my mouth. Crunchy!

The sound of the chip crunching in my mouth echoed as the Black Reaper gave me a toothy grin, flashing its sharp little teeth like it was proud of itself. It was so cute, I almost forgot I was supposed to be the strong one here.

While I absentmindedly kept munching on snacks, split between Yerin and the Black Reaper, Yerin suddenly piped up, like she’d just remembered something important.

“Oh, by the way, I ran into James’s secretary at the hospital. She’s in a bit of a tight spot right now.”

Huh? A tight spot? My ears perked up. Was something wrong?

Yerin, always ahead of my thoughts, continued. “Turns out, she didn’t have any entry or exit records from either the U.S. or South Korea when she showed up out of the blue, so they’re treating her like an illegal immigrant. She might be stuck here a bit longer than planned.”

She popped a juicy slice of apple into my mouth as she told me all this, and I happily chomped down on it, savoring the sweetness.

“Oh, and since Secretary Unnie’s stuck and can’t tell you herself, she asked me to pass on a message: ‘Thank you for saving me.’”

Right after saying that, Yerin leaned in close and grabbed my cheeks, staring right into my eyes.

“And thank you for saving me, too!”

Her eyes were so full of gratitude that I had no idea what to do with myself. Ugh, so much emotion! It was too much!

So, I did the only thing I could think of—I shut my eyes tight and pretended to be asleep. Maybe if I didn’t see it, I wouldn’t feel so squirmy.