Chapter 249
Translator: penny
Chapter: 249
Chapter Title: Birthday and Memorial Day
After safely wrapping up the drama promotions and enjoying some leisurely downtime, Yu-na's birthday was suddenly right around the corner.
And.
The year-end awards ceremony arriving at the same time.
Because of that, I'd considered making a brief return to the variety show Dad, I Love You!...
But I quickly shelved the idea.
Making a sudden comeback only to announce an abrupt departure? The viewers waiting for us would be disappointed.
On top of that.
While I was busy promoting the drama during my variety show appearances, rumors spread that I was leaving Dad, I Love You!.
Naturally, the PD contacted me.
And as the rumors said, I confirmed my departure.
'Talk about perfect timing.'
The PD nodded in understanding as soon as he heard the reason and expressed deep regret.
Kkuuk. Kkuuk.
"Ugh. That hurts."
Yu-na's voice snapped me back to reality, and I turned my head. Yu-na, who had been massaging my shoulders, wiped the sweat from her forehead.
"Dad, is that good now?"
"Yeah, it feels nice and cool. Thanks."
"Hehehe. Now I have one wish coupon and two massage coupons left. What's next?"
"Now just rest. Using massage and wish coupons back-to-back will wear you out."
Only then did Yu-na hop down from the sofa and plop right onto my lap.
"Dad! What are we doing for Yu-na's birthday?"
"Hmm, what should we do? Anything you want? Just say it. If Dad can make it happen, I'll do it all."
"Really? For real? Promise?"
Yu-na turned her head, her eyes sparkling brightly. Anxiety flickered as she fidgeted and lifted the corners of her mouth.
"...Yeah, is there something you want?"
"Going on a trip just the two of us! My friends said they went on trips with their mom and dad during break. Let's go too!"
Having said her wish, Yu-na huffed proudly through her nose.
It looked like she was going to ask for something grand, but it was such a simple request.
All the tension drained out of me.
As my response dragged on, Yu-na's eyes started to droop at the corners.
"For Yu-na's birthday this time... you're not going to that awards thing, right?"
I nodded slightly.
Just as Yu-na said.
'The Acting Grand Prize and Entertainment Grand Prize this time.'
I didn't prepare for anything.
I did get invitations to the awards shows...
But, well, no awards to receive, right?
So for the end of the year, I planned to spend some cozy time alone with Yu-na.
'Might as well celebrate her birthday too.'
Ziiing-! Ziiing-!
In contrast, my phone, which I'd set aside, was dancing noisily on the desk.
Was that a call?
I picked up the phone and checked the screen. Yoo Si-a's number was displayed.
'What could it be?'
I cleared my throat and answered right away.
-Hello.
"Long time no talk. How have you been?"
-Yes, and you?
"I've been well too."
Maybe because it had been so long since we talked, there was an awkward air lingering.
-It's not anything major... but your niece's birthday is coming up. What are your plans?
"Oh, I'm planning to go on a trip with Yu-na."
-Um, by any chance... could I join you...
I glanced over.
Yu-na, sitting obediently on my lap, stared intently at me and then beamed.
"Is that Auntie Sia?"
"Yeah, it's Auntie Sia. She wants to hang out with us for Yu-na's birthday too. That okay?"
"Yes! Auntie's family too."
-Family... Jun-seo! Could you put Yu-na on for a sec?
Right at that moment.
Yu-na snatched my phone.
"Hello! This is Yu-na! Hehehe. Right. Huh? Hmm... I don't know. Where does Auntie want to go?"
Grinning ear to ear.
Yu-na gripped the phone with her tiny hand and chatted happily.
"A sledding hill? Hmm... the beach?"
From what I could overhear, they were deciding where the three of us would go at year's end.
This might take a while...
I moved Yu-na to the sofa and quietly slipped into the bedroom.
Year's end was Yu-na's birthday...
And also my wife's memorial day.
'...It's about time I paid a visit, right?'
It was a good chance to tell Yoo Si-a where my wife was laid to rest too.
I pulled out a photo I'd found before from the drawer and smiled faintly.
'...Better prepare this in advance.'
The morning of year's end arrived, where Yu-na's birthday and my wife's memorial day coincided.
I'd finished preparing early in the morning and checked my reflection in the mirror.
'This looks perfect, right?'
Today, before celebrating Yu-na's birthday, I planned to pay respects to my wife.
'This is how it should have been from the start...'
I'd been too late getting my heart ready.
Oh, almost forgot something important.
I slipped the photo from the dresser into my inner pocket and turned around.
"Yu-na, you ready?"
Yu-na, in the middle of putting on her socks, lowered her eyes and hung her head.
"...Dad. Are we really going to see Mom?"
Her voice was extremely cautious.
"We have to go tell Mom in heaven how much you've grown. Don't you want to see Mom, Yu-na?"
"......"
I glanced over.
Yu-na peeked at me.
Anxiety lurked in her eyes.
'Afraid I'll turn back into how I was back then...'
Just from her expression, I could guess what she was thinking.
"...Dad's fine, so don't worry. Never. Ever. I won't change like that again. Didn't I always say I couldn't live a single day without my daughter?"
"Hehehe. Okay!"
Only then did Yu-na regain her smile.
I shrugged lightly and put my hands on my hips.
"Now let's go outside and wait."
"Wait, hold on!"
Yu-na hurriedly finished getting ready and rushed over to grab my hand tight.
"Dad! Let's go now!"
"All ready? Nothing forgotten?"
"Yes! Nothing forgotten."
"Then let's go outside and wait."
We stepped out hand in hand, and a fierce wind greeted us first.
Brrr-!
Our bodies shivered involuntarily.
Yu-na, holding my hand, was the same.
"...Should we just wait inside?"
She shook her head vigorously and stretched her hand forward, pointing somewhere.
Where her finger pointed.
It was the playground.
Even from far away, children's bright laughter rang out nonstop.
"Wanna go play?"
"Can I play while we wait?"
She wanted to play.
How could I say no?
I adjusted Yu-na's hat.
A cute chestnut-shaped knit cap.
It warmly covered her reddened ears peeking from the sides, so adorable.
"There, gotta stay warm like this."
"Yes! Yu-na will go ahead!"
Dash-!
"You'll get hurt running! Yu-na!"
"I won't! Yu-na's a big girl now!"
Who'd want to play in this cold...
I followed Yu-na's receding figure with my eyes, then shrugged lightly.
Can't stop her.
Step. Step.
I slowly followed her into the playground. Even on a weekday, it was packed with kids Yu-na's age.
Well... it's late December.
'Winter break season for school.'
Yu-na quickly joined a group of her peers to play. And guardians gathered around me.
"Hello?"
"Did you come to play before heading to a shoot? Aren't you cold in that?"
"Oh! Min-su's mom, get that out."
"We have some warm tea. Want some?"
The neighborhood moms I occasionally saw at the playground looked at my outfit with worry.
A black suit that didn't match the biting cold making my face sting.
I straightened my tie and accepted the steaming paper cup.
"Today is my wife's memorial day. I'm going to visit her after a long time."
As I smiled faintly, the moms glanced around awkwardly with strained smiles.
In the suddenly chilly atmosphere.
Yu-na came running and hugged my waist tight.
"Dad, push me on the swing. It's no fun when my friend does it."
"Want me to? One sec..."
I downed the now-tepid tea and tossed the cup in the trash.
"Thanks for the drink. I'll head out first."
"Oh, yes. Hohoho! Go ahead."
"If you want more tea anytime, just come by."
Bow.
I bowed to the moms and let Yu-na's small tug lead me to the center of the playground.
"Dad! Push me quick."
Yu-na sat holding the chains, wiggling her plump bottom. A signal to push her back quick.
"Alright, alright."
I smiled and gently placed my hand on her tiny back.
Creak-! Creak-!
As I pushed, the metallic squeak mixed with Yu-na's voice echoing out.
"Eee! Harder!"
"Like this?"
"More! More!"
We were enjoying some quality father-daughter time when I felt a presence and intense gaze right behind me.
"...How long are you gonna play? You're going there today, right? If we want to hit the beach too, time's tight today, isn't it?"
She wore a gray turtleneck with a black long coat draped over her shoulders, shivering violently in the harsh cold.
"Oh, you're here... shoulda said something."
"How could I interrupt when Yu-na's having so much fun? Let's go once you're done playing."
"...Okay. Yu-na? Time to go."
"Yes!"
I'd expected her to beg for more playtime.
But Yu-na hopped right off the swing.
"Auntie! Hold Yu-na's hand."
"Y-Yeah? But first..."
Yoo Si-a rummaged for something and knelt down.
She wrapped a warm-looking gray scarf around Yu-na's bare neck.
"This is your birthday present. Warm, right?"
"Thank you! Auntie! Hehe."
At Yu-na's innocent smile, a subtle smile settled on Yoo Si-a's face.
We borrowed Yoo Si-a's car and headed to the columbarium where my wife rested.
A pristine white building.
I retraced Lee Jun-seo's memories slowly, looking around.
Because it was year's end?
Quite a few people were visiting.
"Where do we go?"
"...Let's stop by the office first."
"Why the office?"
"To drop this off."
At her question, I pulled the photo from my inner pocket and held it out.
The photo Dong-hyun had found for me before.
Yoo Si-a's expression hardened as she saw the hospital photo.
A moment later.
A faint smile appeared.
"They look so happy, all three of them."
Right then.
Yu-na bounced over and reached for Yoo Si-a.
"Auntie! Auntie! Yu-na wants to see too!"
"Here, wanna look?"
Yu-na tilted her head, squinting hard at the photo.
Like lasers were about to shoot from her eyes.
"Is this... Yu-na? Is it really Yu-na?"
She apparently couldn't recognize her grubby self from tougher times.
"Chuckle, yep."
"Liar. Yu-na wasn't ugly like that baby. Yu-na's all sparkly now, but this baby..."
"Then what about Dad? Dad's not sparkly in that photo either?"
"Urgh..."
Yu-na went quiet.
I looked just as grubby as Yu-na in the photo.
It was back when all our living expenses went to my rapidly weakening wife's hospital bills.
"Sigh... Jun-seo. Let's hurry. We'll waste all our time here."
"Oh, right."
We strode toward the office next to the parking lot.
Screech-!
As soon as I opened the door, the male staffer widened his eyes and shot to his feet.
His pupils trembled like there was an earthquake.
"I-Is that... actor Lee Jun-seo... and singer Yoo Sia? What brings you here..."