JERS 06

CHAPTER 06

Go Outside and Get Some Fresh Air (2)

I walked around the neighborhood with Ji-woo.

It was the first time he’d stepped outside in ages, and I couldn’t help noticing how worn-out his sneakers looked.

Those shoes are falling apart.

The toe box bulged awkwardly, and his steps looked painful.

Too small. His toes must be crushed.

I sighed.
Guess I’ll have to buy him new ones.

Would he even accept them if I just handed them over? Maybe — he hadn’t refused the groceries and supplies I’d brought before.

I picked up my pace, testing him.

Sure enough, after a few minutes, he started limping.

Knew it.

I stopped walking and turned back.

“I don’t see anything around here. Maybe we should drive around or put up flyers instead.”

Ji-woo halted beside me, bit his lip, and squeezed his eyes shut as if holding something back.

“Ugh…”

“Are you hurt?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

He shook his head quickly.

“N-no, I’m fine.”

Of course he’d say that. Probably too embarrassed to admit it.

“Sit here for a second,” I said, steering him toward a bench. “What’s your shoe size?”

His ears turned bright red.

“Uh… 265.”

No way. His feet were easily 280 millimeters. No wonder his toes looked tortured.

Luckily, I spotted an open shoe store down the street.

“Stay right here. Don’t go anywhere. And if anyone offers you candy, don’t follow them.”

I stopped myself mid-pat on his shoulder — out of old habit.

Right. I wasn’t an older adult anymore. To everyone else, I was just another twenty-year-old kid.

If anyone saw me doting like this, they’d think I was weird.

I quickly jogged off toward the store.

Inside, I picked out a simple but high-quality pair of sneakers — neat design, neutral color.

When the clerk announced the price, my eyes widened.

Wow, when did shoes get this expensive?

If Kwon-hyung saw this, he’d probably faint. But I couldn’t help it — I wanted to do something for the kid.

Maybe it was guilt.
Maybe it was because I’d watched him grow up and felt responsible for how he’d ended up.

When I came back, he was still sitting obediently on the bench.

“Try these on. They’re the most popular style right now — comfortable too.”

He blinked at the box like it was a bomb.

“T-these are too expensive!”

He probably expected me to bring back a cheap pair of slippers.

I didn’t want to argue, so I lied without hesitation.

“Oh, don’t worry. They were sponsored.”

“You just said you bought them.”

“Right. Sponsored by my wallet. Same thing.”

Before he could protest again, I crouched down and pulled off his old shoes.

“W-wait—!?”

Too late.
I slipped the new pair on.

“Perfect fit. Now, you can put the other one on yourself. Touching someone else’s feet isn’t exactly my favorite hobby.”

I stood up, brushing off my hands.

He stared up at me, speechless, like I’d just performed a magic trick.

“Anyway,” I continued, “I think we’ve checked everywhere nearby. I’ll call the animal clinics around here — maybe someone reported a found dog.”

If not, then we’d make flyers.

“If that doesn’t work, we’ll go back to the office and print posters. I’ll stop by every evening to check in. Once the posters are up, we’ll circle the area again each day.”

Then I added firmly:

“So until we find it, don’t ignore my calls or the doorbell. Deal?”

I sounded like a kindergarten teacher, but it got the point across.

He hesitated, then raised his hand shyly.

“Um… can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“How old are you?”

Ah.
Fair question. To him, I probably looked about the same age — yet here I was, lecturing him like a parent.

I couldn’t exactly explain that I was a thirty-something CEO reborn in a twenty-year-old’s body.

“Older than you,” I said simply.

That seemed to satisfy him — for now.

At least I’d gotten his promise not to ignore me. That was enough for today.

***

Now came the real problem: how to actually find Dust.

If this turned into a “Sorry, we couldn’t find him” situation, Ji-woo would retreat right back into his shell.

I couldn’t let that happen.

We have to find that dog.

The neighborhood was full of fenced-off lots and half-demolished buildings from a stalled redevelopment project — plenty of places a stray could hide.

We’ll need a car to check them all.

I called Kwon-hyung, who showed up already pouting.

“Hyung, seriously, why are you doing all this? Wouldn’t it be better to just hold new auditions? You were a top producer once — people would line up!”

I waved that off immediately.

“We can’t talk about new recruits before taking care of the ones we already have.”

He groaned.

“Still, this is way too much—”

“Then go home,” I cut in. “I’ll borrow the car.”

“No, no! You’re kidding, right? You don’t even have a license now — you’d be driving illegally!”

“…Oh.”

Right.
This body didn’t have a driver’s license.

“Guess that means you’re driving,” I said flatly.

He grinned.

“Gladly. I’ll take the wheel, boss.”

I rolled my eyes but let it go.

***

We spent the next few hours combing through empty lots and calling every nearby animal hospital.
Nothing.

Maybe someone took the dog in.

The worst-case scenario — a road accident — didn’t seem likely, or someone would’ve posted about it online.

Scrolling through local community apps, I saw new posts popping up:

[Has anyone seen Dust today?]
I run a small shop near the market. Used to give him leftover bones sometimes. Haven’t seen him in over a week, and I’m really worried.

Comments:
– Probably got adopted. I hope so.
– That’d be nice, but no one’s posted updates… I can’t stop thinking about it.

One of the newer posts even mentioned my flyers.

– Someone put up “Missing Dog: Dust” posters. Maybe contact them?

I snorted.

Yeah, that’d be me. And no, no luck so far.

Every evening, I had to watch Ji-woo’s hopeful face crumble a little more.

Then, finally—

“Hello, are you the one looking for a dog named Dust?”

The call I’d been waiting for came.

***

We rushed to the location — a rural hill about twenty kilometers from Ji-woo’s neighborhood.

It was far out on the edge of the city, surrounded by fields and a single road cutting through.

If he’s been missing that long, he could’ve wandered this far.

I didn’t even think twice. My body just moved.

“I really hope the poor thing’s okay…”

Kwon-hyung muttered from the driver’s seat, glancing at the backseat where Ji-woo sat pale and tense.

Through the mirror, Ji-woo caught my eyes.

“W-we won’t be too late, right?”

I didn’t sugarcoat it.

“Can’t promise that. But at least we know where to start. In a small town like this, people notice strays right away.”

His hands clenched tighter.

I added softly:

“If we’re lucky, he’s just been hanging around somewhere safe — maybe someone’s been feeding him.”

He still looked terrified.

“You know,” said Kwon-hyung, “kids that age don’t respond well to reality checks followed by comfort speeches.”

I shot him a look.

“You’re not helping.”

Then — movement.

A tuft of scruffy gray fur poked up from the weeds on a nearby hill.

Both of us shouted at once.

“Hey! Over there! Isn’t that him!?”

“Looks like it!”

Ji-woo’s head snapped up. His eyes widened.

“Dust!”

“Pull over!” I barked.

We found a shoulder to park on and jumped out.

“Stay put, Ji-woo— don’t run into the road!”

But he didn’t listen.

Heart racing, he bolted straight across — and a car came speeding down the opposite lane.

There was no time to think.

I threw everything in my hands to the ground and lunged.

We hit the pavement hard as the car whooshed past — close enough that I felt the rush of wind on my face.

My voice came out sharper than I intended.

“Are you out of your mind!? You could’ve been killed! You look before crossing, understand!?”

Ji-woo stared up at me, eyes wide and trembling — startled not just by the near miss, but by my outburst.