Thank You for Giving Birth to Me. Is This How It's Done?
After playing with the sand for a good long while, the sun was setting—it was time to head home. The unexpected part? Min-ji didn't want to go.
At Mom's firm insistence that we had to leave, Min-ji started bawling her eyes out, saying she wanted to play more with me. It took some serious coaxing to calm her down. She'd never had fun like this before, so her reaction was even more dramatic than usual. Mom looked flustered by this stubborn side of Min-ji she'd never seen. I'd always figured she'd be glued to Mom...
Who knew she loved playing this much.
I'd started going to Hanlim Taekwondo Dojo in the evenings mainly so I could play futsal afterward. After crushing it at futsal too, I'd shower and grab the snacks I'd stashed in my room, then head to the living room.
While munching on snacks with Min-ji and watching TV, a drama commercial came on. Watching the preview jogged my memory about Yu-bin.
"Ah, shit!"
I'd promised to take Min-ji to see her. I was counting the minutes even more than Min-ji was—waiting for Mom to get ready.
Early that morning, our family prepped to see Yu-bin. Mom double-checked we hadn't forgotten anything and slid into the driver's seat. No car seats in this romantic era. I glanced at Min-ji clutching her usual doll. Even as an adult, she'd be known for her beauty, but as a kid now, she shone so bright that passersby did double-takes. She'd even gotten scouted for kid modeling at six, which said it all. Back then, we turned it down because of our finances, no way to get there, and Mom not feeling well.
Despite the sweltering heat, the AC blasting from the car was pure bliss. In this era, even a fan spinning well was a luxury, let alone AC... Money really changes everything.
A train station rolled by outside the window. Public awareness was getting better, but there was still some uncle puffing a cigarette as he stepped out. I didn't bother looking around much, but it hit me why they called this time "the wild days."
We arrived at Yu-bin's shoot location. Mom asked a passerby to snap a photo with the disposable camera she'd just bought. After thanking them and getting it back...
"It would've been nice if your dad were here too..."
"We go to the river valley together on his days off anyway."
"Still..."
Off in the distance, Yu-bin spotted me in her hanbok and waved frantically.
"Do-hyun!!!"
She came running and threw her arms around me. Mom gasped, hand over her mouth in surprise. Yu-bin's mom smiled from afar. She seemed so warm now... but I couldn't forget that look she'd given me after school soccer practice—like I was trash.
"Oh, Yu-bin, you're so pretty~"
"Thank you! Hi, Min-ji~!"
"Hi..."
Min-ji gave a tiny wave. Then a guy who looked like staff came over and crouched down. With his rough face, Min-ji immediately hid behind Mom.
"Is this Yu-bin's boyfriend? He's a looker~"
"Director! He's super handsome, right!?"
"Haha, looks like Yu-bin really likes him, huh?"
Yu-bin's mom gave an awkward laugh at the director's words.
"She's still young~"
Classic. Just say something nice. That line implied it'd change when she grew up. Aunt had a talent for making people uncomfortable without trying. It was so ingrained, it subtly pissed everyone off. Even Mom noticed and smiled awkwardly.
The director eyed me, then spotted Min-ji peeking from behind Mom and looked shocked.
"Your little sister?"
"The cutest in the world, right?"
"...Huh? Y-yeah, that's what I was gonna say... She's adorable."
I'd beaten him to the punch, leaving him flustered. Mom took Min-ji's hand and said,
"Say hi to the uncle."
"H-hi..."
Min-ji made it as short as possible—she clearly wanted no part of this chat. The director, finding even that cute, rummaged in his pocket and pulled out candy. Min-ji's eyes lit up at the sight, and she edged forward a bit. Grinning ear to ear, he firmly placed it in her little hand.
He pulled Mom aside for a quiet word. I held Min-ji's hand as Yu-bin showed us around the set. She was clearly the star here, showered with love. We watched her act peacefully for a bit. Mom heaped praise on her—"She's a genius!"—goosebumps and all. That loosened up Yu-bin's mom, and they started chatting.
After the shoot wrapped, we headed to our cars.
"Mom! I wanna go with Do-hyun!"
"Hmm... You sure?"
"Yeah!"
After a moment's thought, her mom got in a different car alone—the one I'd seen at their house before was a two-seater. Her dad drove something else too... Guess she had her own ride.
Once Yu-bin hopped in our car, she played dolls with Min-ji. She stared at Min-ji clinging to my hand, then hesitantly offered hers to me.
No one could miss how much Yu-bin liked me—she made it obvious to the world. Still, it felt weird to just indulge it. The kid was more sincere than I'd expected... I'd never given a damn about third parties' feelings in my past life. If they got upset, I'd tell 'em to fuck off and keep doing my thing.
But seeing her genuinely hurt, even as a little kid... it felt wrong. Especially since she reminded me of Min-ji.
I took Yu-bin's hand naturally.
Back home, Min-ji switched to Mom's trailing car.
"Bye~ See you next time, Yu-bin."
"Today was fun!"
Yu-bin waved, and Min-ji waved back from beside me. Then Yu-bin's mom hesitated before speaking to our mom.
"Do-hyun's mom."
"Yes?"
"If you're thinking of having Min-ji do modeling, give me a call."
"Oh! You heard!?"
I recalled the director pulling Mom aside. He must've pitched Min-ji for modeling.
"Do-hyun's mom. Can I borrow your phone?"
Mom handed it over, dazed. Yu-bin's mom saved her number, handed it back with a smile.
"I'll slot them both as models for our department store banners. One shoot should cover Min-ji's college tuition."
"What!?"
"Look forward to it. Head on in~"
She flashed a bright smile, waved, and left. Huh... People can change fast. That was cool as hell. My mental favorability for Yu-bin's mom ticked up a notch. Damn, they must be loaded.
Time flew, and summer break was winding down. Around this time every year, we'd do our family ritual trip. Dad even took time off for it.
The river valley we always hit. For me, it held only good memories. We'd go every summer in elementary school, just Dad and me...
I watched Mom packing.
"What else do we need...?"
"Tubes and boat for Min-ji to ride, life vests, our tent."
"Gotta buy it all... Wanna go shopping, Mom?"
"Let's do it."
Back in the day, a gas stove and mat were all you needed. But with a fat bank account and our own car, Mom had no qualms splurging on trip prep.
"Grab beef or pork belly."
"And?"
"Cooler to put it in, sausages, kimchi, onions, mushrooms, cooking oil, lettuce, ssamjang, garlic, ramen..."
Mom held up her palm for me to pause, pulled out a notebook, and jotted it all down. I waited.
Dad came home on his two-day leave. He'd gotten even leaner and meaner—good to see he was sticking to my training tips.
He checked the valley gear and nodded, satisfied. I greeted him and headed to bed. Mom took Min-ji off in the distance.
Next morning, early as hell. Dad took the wheel, Mom shotgun. She turned back.
"Do-hyun, hold Min-ji tight."
"She's already buckled in."
"Even so."
"Got it."
Her fussing seemed overkill. But when Dad suddenly floored it, I tensed up.
"......"
Min-ji sensed the vibe too and gripped my hand tight, quiet as a mouse. Mom's nagging about safe driving had Dad easing off, going slow but steady.
"We making it today...?"
Once Dad sped up a bit, Mom was yelling at him from shotgun in no time.
"Who taught you to brake like that!"
"...S-sorry."
"Think of the kids!? How do you even drive like that daily? Miracle we haven't crashed."
Mom's lecture continued, and Dad's driving got smoother, with some actual ride comfort. But fed up with the snail pace, she finally swapped seats.
"Your dad's so damn frustrating."
She huffed to the driver's side. As always... Mom loved highway speeds. Not her place to talk.
Vroooom!
We blew past 160 km/h easy. Min-ji's hands shook on her seatbelt.
The empty river valley. It'd blow up on YouTube later thanks to vloggers, but this was our family's secret spot for generations. Barely any current, with deep pools perfect for Min-ji.
"Kyaaa!"
I splashed her with cool water, and she giggled wildly. She splashed back. I pretended to fall—thought she'd worry up close. Nope. She stomped a massive splash right in my face without mercy.
Look at that personality. Like a true Kim.