Empty House (2)
The teacher's wary gaze fixed on me, and I froze, unable to utter a single word.
"You're not her guardian, are you?"
"Ah... I'm just someone who knows her."
"Someone who knows her?"
When I hesitated with my answer, the teacher immediately pressed further while studying Ji-an. Her eyes were filled with suspicion, but before I could even begin to explain, Ji-an jumped in with a loud voice.
"Onni is Ji-an's friend! She's someone Ji-an really likes!"
The teacher looked at me with even more puzzled eyes, and my face flushed bright red.
"Ah, well... we met at the hospital last time, and..."
As I stammered, the teacher swallowed a short sigh. Her gaze toward Ji-an was gentle, but the look she gave me was full of caution. With no other choice, I turned to Ji-an.
"Ji-an, let's play together next time. Not today."
At those words, Ji-an gripped my hand tightly and shook her head.
"No! Don't gooo!"
Both the teacher and I exchanged awkward glances as Ji-an looked ready to burst into tears at any moment. In the end, the teacher seemed to relent, shaking her head as she spoke.
"Then... please come inside for a bit. I'll contact Ji-an's father just to be safe."
"Ah... yes, I understand."
I nodded at the teacher's suggestion and followed Ji-an further inside. Leaving the teacher behind as she went to make the call, I trailed after Ji-an toward the playground where the other children were. Ji-an refused to let go of my hand, murmuring in a small voice.
"Onni..."
"Yes?"
Ji-an hesitated for a moment before gripping my hand even tighter and asking with serious eyes.
"Just for today... could you be my mom?"
My eyes widened in shock.
"Mom...?"
Ji-an nodded, lowering her head.
"Yeah... the kids keep teasing me, saying Ji-an doesn't have a mom so she only goes around with her dad... so just for today..."
Hearing the sorrow thick in Ji-an's voice made my heart sink. I didn't know what to say and could only open and close my mouth helplessly.
"...Ji-an."
When I finally called her name after a long moment of hesitation, the child looked up at me with anxious eyes. I took a deep breath and gently held her small hand.
"Alright. Just for today... I'll be Ji-an's mom."
The moment I said that, Ji-an's face lit up instantly. She threw herself into my arms.
"Really? You promise?"
"Yes, I promise."
The warmth of her little body pressed against me. Strangely, a part of my own heart grew warm too. It felt like something empty was being filled, as if mending a long-lost place.
Ji-an's eyes were slightly red as she smiled brightly and held out her pinky finger.
"Promise!"
I smiled softly and hooked my finger with hers.
"Yes, promise!"
Ji-an walked toward the playground with much lighter steps than before. The children were noisily playing—some on the swings, others building sandcastles. Still holding my hand tightly, Ji-an strode confidently toward where her friends were gathered.
"Hey everyone!!"
At Ji-an's voice, the children turned their heads.
"My mom is here!"
The bold declaration made me freeze on the spot. I'd expected it, but hearing it out loud still made my face burn. Just as I panicked and tried to say something, the children's eyes widened like saucers.
"What? You don't have a mom!"
One boy crossed his arms and stared at Ji-an. Ji-an's face stiffened, and she squeezed my hand harder.
"I do too! She's right here!"
Ji-an looked at me and declared proudly.
"She's my real mom! Right, Mom?"
"Uh?... Uh... y-yes, that's right..."
Saying the words myself made my face grow even hotter. I worried my trembling voice might make the kids laugh, but to my surprise, they spoke with pure curiosity.
"Really? Ji-an's mom is super pretty!"
"She looks like a celebrity! Are you a celebrity?"
"No way! She's prettier than the people on TV!"
A wave of envious voices poured out from the children. I lowered my head in embarrassment and waved my hands dismissively.
"Ah... no, I'm not."
The children chattered excitedly without pause.
"Her voice is amazing too!"
"This is awesome! I'm so jealous of Ji-an!"
Before I knew it, four or five kids had gathered around us. The boy who had first shouted at Ji-an was now watching her with envious eyes.
"Sorry..."
The boy who had been mocking her finally lowered his head and apologized to Ji-an. Ji-an quickly broke into a smile, grabbed my arm, and declared triumphantly.
"See? I told you she's my mom!"
Those words made my heart stir in a strange way. I'd only agreed to play the role of mom for one day, yet Ji-an's eyes sparkled as if she truly had a mother she could be proud of.
Just then, footsteps approached the playground. I turned to see the teacher from earlier walking over with her phone in hand. Her expression was softer than before, the wariness gone, as she said.
"So..."
"Mom!"
As the teacher hesitated over what to call me, Ji-an spoke up beside me, clearly wanting to show off. The teacher paused for a moment, looking back and forth between us.
"...Are you her mother?"
The word slipped from the teacher's lips, and I froze solid. Ji-an, still holding my arm, answered with a bright smile.
"Yes! She's my mom!"
The teacher gave a small nod. The suspicion that had filled her eyes moments ago had completely vanished, replaced by trust as she looked at me.
"Haha, you should have told me earlier~"
The teacher had clearly misunderstood, just as I'd feared. Before I could say anything, she continued.
"You're Seoyeon, right? I spoke with her father, and he said he'll be here soon. You can play with Ji-an until then~"
"Ah... yes..."
I nodded in a daze. The words 'I'm not her mom' echoed in my head, but they never made it out.
As the teacher walked past, leading the children away, Ji-an looked up at me again with a radiant smile. That smile was filled with relief and pride.
"See! The teacher called you mom too!"
I was momentarily speechless.
That's what I thought, but seeing Ji-an's happy smile immediately erased the suspicion.
Feeling guilty for even thinking that, I smiled and held Ji-an's hand tightly. As if she'd been waiting for it, Ji-an buried her face in my chest and rubbed it against me.
"I like this so much!"
I'd only agreed to play mom for a day because I felt sorry for the child. Seeing how happy it made her left my mind in a whirl. While Ji-an's smile warmed my heart, a wave of guilt washed over me at the same time. The word 'mom' carried far heavier meaning than I'd realized.
"Mom! Let's go over there!"
Ji-an pointed not toward the playground with her friends, but deeper inside the kindergarten. I hesitated briefly, but her earnest eyes made me nod in the end.
Once inside, the hallway walls were covered with drawings the children had made. Colorful crayon skies, houses, and names written in childish handwriting seemed to reflect each child's personality.
"This one! Ji-an drew this!"
"...It's really good."
I smiled and nodded. The drawing wasn't all that different from the others—a blue sky, a square house, and a person standing beside it.
But unlike the other drawings, there were only two people. Ha-jun and Ji-an. Ji-an hesitated before speaking to me.
"Next time... can I draw a mom too?"
The question left me speechless. Those few words carried all of Ji-an's longing.
"...That..."
I couldn't answer easily. The words 'you can't' circled in my mind, but I couldn't say them. At the same time, agreeing with a quick 'sure' felt too heavy.
Ji-an looked up at me, waiting for my answer. I forced a smile and gently stroked her hair.
"I'll tell you next time... I'll let you know next time."
It was an evasive answer, but Ji-an beamed.
"Okay! You have to tell me next time!"
Seeing the child's smile made a corner of my heart uneasy. I realized that the temporary spot I was borrowing held far greater meaning than I'd understood.
Ji-an continued walking down the hallway, still holding my hand. She pointed at each drawing on the wall as if showing them off.
"That one's Min-ji's! That one's Dong-woo's! And that one..."
Her bright, quick voice echoed through the hallway. I nodded along, responding to each one.
"Everyone draws so well."
Ji-an smiled brightly as she walked, then stopped for a moment.
"This is Ji-an's classroom!"
She opened the door, revealing an empty classroom that welcomed us. Blocks were neatly arranged in the corner, and books stood orderly on the shelves.
As soon as we entered, Ji-an ran straight to the bookshelf, grabbed a book, and held it out to me.
"Mom! Read this to me!"
Looking at Ji-an's expression, I couldn't help but think, 'This must be something she's always wanted.'
"...Alright."
I couldn't bring myself to refuse. I sat on the floor with Ji-an. She snuggled into my lap, settling in as she waited eagerly for me to read.
"Once upon a time, in a certain village..."
The moment I spoke the first line, I heard the sound of the door opening behind us.