Chapter 102
Chapter 102
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Late Birthday Celebration
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Kwon In-ju and I had dinner together awfully quickly while chatting about work.
We kept talking until we'd both cleaned our plates spotless.
Was it about time to settle the bill?
I handed my card to my manager sitting beside me and gave him a subtle signal.
As In-cheol stood up after taking the card, Kwon In-ju's manager rose with him.
Were they heading to the bathroom or something?
I nodded along to our ongoing conversation, not thinking much of it.
"So, you know what Senior Yoon So-hee said back then?"
"What did she say?"
He cleared his throat with a cough, crossed his arms, and furrowed his brow.
It looked like he was imitating the senior.
"She said, 'That's the moment when your conviction that the devil really exists takes hold. You need to focus on those trembling pupils...' Man, it was seriously scary."
Kwon In-ju shuddered as if recalling the scene from back then.
Swoosh.
Before I knew it, my manager returned with an awkward expression. I hadn't gotten the payment confirmation text yet—what was going on?
I leaned toward him and whispered just loud enough for the manager to hear.
"Did you pay?"
"......"
Nod. Nod.
If it was done, fine.
I refocused on Kwon In-ju's story and secretly slipped the card back into my wallet.
How much time passed after that?
By the time we'd finished dessert, we'd spent a full two hours at the restaurant.
I was ready to head out now...
"Doesn't Senior So-hee feel totally different today? It's the first time she's ever pointed out something wrong."
I smiled and answered the same question Kwon In-ju had asked earlier.
"Yeah, you're right. But bro, your acting form's improved, hasn't it? It's gotten better."
Five times.
I'd given that compliment a whopping five times.
No, maybe more? The corners of Kwon In-ju's mouth and eyebrows twitched slightly.
"I'm a quick study."
"Seems like it. Ahaha."
"Oh, right. I didn't expect even you to get called out by Senior Yoon So-hee. I was shocked."
Was that really shocking?
I tilted my head, steering us to a new topic.
"Why?"
"You always feel like this lofty senior, you know? Heh heh heh. You're not actually the senior, are you?"
I gave an awkward laugh at his words.
A brief silence.
Seizing the moment, I gathered my things, stood up, and shrugged.
"Bro, I covered dinner. So..."
Before I could finish, Kwon In-ju burst into a snicker.
"...Why?"
"Ahem! I figured you'd try that, so I already paid. You get the next one, little bro."
What? I shot a glare at my manager. In-cheol just fidgeted, avoiding my eyes as he stood.
And Kwon In-ju's manager...
Unlike mine, he rose with a perfectly relaxed expression.
Ah, only then did I piece it together. In-ju bro must have done the same as me—sneakily handing his card to his manager to cover the bill.
That's why I never got the payment confirmation text.
Right after my manager took my card and stood, his manager followed suit.
They probably went to the counter together, and In-ju's manager beat me to it...
I could picture it perfectly without seeing.
"Alright, let's go."
"...Bro. Thanks for the meal. I wanted to pay. Too bad."
"That's how it works—big bro always foots the bill. How dare a little bro try to pay? Do it again next time, and I'll give you an earful. Got it?"
He flashed a proud smile and patted my slouched shoulder.
I was definitely younger.
But in my past life by age, Kwon In-ju was the little bro. That lingering thought made me try to pay first.
I'd always gotten free meals in my past life too.
Same here...
On the way home, Shin Dong-hyun kept blowing up my phone with calls and texts nonstop.
Ignoring them and just reading made for some entertaining reactions.
Here's how the first one went.
Shin Dong-hyun: You didn't say the keyword 'friend' during the time limit, so our team lost! Couldn't you have picked up on it?
Shin Dong-hyun: And what? Bro? Your birthday's April 1st, right? I was born earlier than you! You punk!
Shin Dong-hyun: Sigh, do you know how much side-eye I got from the seniors?
Shin Dong-hyun: Hey, pick up.
Shin Dong-hyun: Hey!!
Imagining Shin Dong-hyun's reactions made me chuckle involuntarily.
Anyway.
Was that a team game?
If I'd known, I would've said the keyword without messing around.
Now I felt kinda bad.
Not for Shin Dong-hyun, mind you—for his teammates.
Bzzz!
Right on cue, a call from Dong-hyun came in.
"Heh heh, should I pick up now?"
-Hey!! Finally answering?
As soon as I did, Shin Dong-hyun's booming voice assaulted my ear.
-Our team lost because of you!
"What? Why are you mad?"
-Sigh... They loved your fresh side on the variety show shoot... You okay?
"What do you mean, 'okay'?"
When I asked flatly, Shin Dong-hyun hesitated before replying.
-The character you showed on recent variety and the one today don't match. What's with the student-like pranks?
What? I thought it was something heavy...
"So what? Don't friends pull pranks like that?"
-...Fine, whatever. Anyway! Just focus on your drama filming. And no more pranks next time.
Click!
'Heh, guy's embarrassed.'
I forced down my rising smile and turned to gaze out the window.
What I saw outside wasn't just anything—it was some unidentified car.
Huh?
Scanning around, I realized we were in the parking lot of our apartment complex.
"What? When did we get here? Hey, In-cheol. Say something when we arrive."
"You were laughing so hard, having a good time."
"......"
"Get out now. I have to head straight to the agency."
"Sigh, from now on, just tell me when we arrive. Time is money."
"Ahem! Got it."
I opened the umbrella Senior Yoon So-hee had given me, stepped out, saw the manager off, and strode forward.
It had been pouring buckets earlier...
The downpour, like a hole ripped in the sky, was tapering off.
Should I even bother with the umbrella?
It was light enough now that I didn't need to.
I'll just fold it.
The moment I went to close it.
"Daddyyy!"
"Yu-na! Running's dangerous! I told you not to run! Yu-naaa!"
Yu-na, in her yellow rain boots, was running toward me with Yoon Mi-so.
Splash!
"Owie!"
Seeing Yu-na trip into a puddle, I rushed over in a panic. I helped her up first and checked for injuries.
'No cuts or scrapes. Good.'
She didn't even cry after falling—impressively tough.
Most kids would've wailed.
'That's that.'
Relieved, I narrowed my eyes and flicked Yu-na's forehead.
"Didn't you hear Auntie? Running gets you hurt. Rainwater's so slippery. What if you got injured?"
"Tch..."
Yoon Mi-so, panting as she caught up, wiped away cold sweat and said,
"In-cheol let me know you'd arrived. So I thought Yu-na and I could come welcome you."
She had a bag on her shoulder.
Looked like she was heading straight home. I smiled brightly and bowed to her.
"Thanks for watching Yu-na today. You can head out now that I'm here."
"Oh, should I? Right! There's a cake Yu-na made in the fridge, and a letter too. Make sure to check them."
A cake and a letter...
It felt like getting a belated birthday wish on an ordinary day.
I awkwardly lifted the corners of my mouth.
"Got it."
Bow!
She smiled brightly, checked her watch, and dashed off without looking back.
"Yu-na-ya, shall we head in?"
"Hee hee hee. Yeah!"
As soon as we got home, Yu-na kicked off her yellow boots and bolted inside.
The reason for her mad dash was simple. In that short time before entering, she'd bragged about making the cake herself.
She wanted to show it to me.
"A cake made by Yu-na alone... It should be edible, right?"
Shaking off my unease, I put her discarded boots in the shoe closet.
"Daddyyy! Come quick!"
"Alright, coming."
Answering her impatient call, I strode into the kitchen. Yu-na stood grinning in front of the open fridge.
She stuck out her chubby belly, striking a weird pose like she was presenting something.
Did they teach her that at kindergarten?
"Hee hee hee. Yu-na made all of it."
Giggling loudly, I peeked inside the fridge.
On a plate covered in plastic was some lumpy, rock-like thing.
'Is that the cake?'
Only by lifting the plastic did I get a proper look. Whipped cream lumped like crumpled paper, with fruits scattered unevenly around it.
"How's it? Hee hee hee. Made it good, right?"
"...Yeah, you did great."
It looked utterly unappetizing.
But to me, it was prettier than any store-bought cake.
I could feel the love poured into it.
Was that letter next to it?
I reached for the neatly folded pink paper.
Then Yu-na said,
"You always forget your birthday, Daddy. So now Yu-na will take care of it."
"......"
Her mature words hit me hard.
I wanted to say something.
But my chest felt tight and choked.
Swallowing dryly, I carefully unfolded the letter.
[Happy birthday, Daddy, even if it's late. Yu-na loves you as much as the sky and the ground. So don't get sick and stay healthy. -From Yu-na-]
The handwriting was crooked and messy.
My vision blurred, and something warm wet my cheek.
"Hee hee hee. I made cookies too, shaped like working Daddy and helping Yu-na."
"......"
"Where'd I put them... I know I stashed them here. Ngh!"
Before Yu-na turned, I quickly wiped my tears and folded the letter.
"Daddy, look at this. What do you think?"
I checked the cookies she pulled out.
Crooked, ugly-shaped cookies...
I stroked the head of Yu-na, who was drooling and licking her fingers.
"My girl. You prepared all this for Daddy?"
"Hee hee hee. Yeah. You did Yu-na's birthday before. So Yu-na wanted to celebrate yours too."
I kept stroking her hair. She was still so small, yet felt all grown up.
"Wanna eat the cake together?"
"Nooo... It said only Daddy eats it... Gulp!"
Yu-na swallowed hard while staring at the cookie in her hand.
"Daddy can't eat much."
"Okay then... Hee hee."