Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Neverland Free Pass
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By the time the sky had turned a deep indigo, the interminable shoot finally wrapped up.
Leaving the bustling staff to their wrap-up routines, I stepped out of the set and took in the view of the quaint village below the school. It was my little way of soothing my impatient heart.
"If this keeps up, I'll miss the last train..."
The sparkling, multicolored lights of the beautiful village didn't even register.
All I could think about was getting Yu-na, nestled in my arms, and heading home.
When would the director show up?
He'd asked me to wait because he had something to say, so here I was, stuck waiting... I glanced sideways.
My eyes met those of a middle-aged woman cradling a dozing Ha-yul.
"You're waiting for the director too, right? Mind if I wait with you?"
"Aren't you heading home? The shoot's over, and it's late."
"Ha-yul made a lot of mistakes during today's shoot. I want to apologize to the director myself."
Her voice was a bit loud, causing Yu-na to stir and mumble softly.
"Mmm... Daddy..."
"Yeah. Daddy's right here. Go ahead and sleep comfortably."
"Mmm..."
At this late hour, it was normally time for her to drift off on her little futon.
She'd been playing all day, so of course she was tired.
I was glad I'd brought Yu-na to the set today. If I'd left her behind... It made me realize I really needed a manager.
"Sigh..."
"And..."
She hesitated, as if not done speaking.
She stroked Ha-yul's cheek and spoke again, this time in a softer voice.
"...Ha-yul's still so young."
After that, she fell silent.
Just a bitter smile lingered on her face.
"People can change this much..."
Her actions today made her look like any loving mother to anyone watching.
During the eating scene, when Ha-yul kept messing up, she didn't scold her daughter—instead, she comforted her so she wouldn't feel guilty and encouraged her courage.
I smiled warmly in response.
"You've really changed a lot."
"Haha..."
She seemed embarrassed and changed the subject, gazing at the night view.
"It's really beautiful, isn't it?"
"Yeah."
As we chatted about this and that, I learned her name.
Yoon Si-won, 36 years old.
She'd married young and struggled for years to have a child, finally giving birth to Ha-yul at 30.
She said she wasn't used to parenting and had ended up using poor discipline methods.
"Ha-yul's the same age as Yu-na..."
Her mature demeanor had genuinely surprised me when I heard they were the same age.
"So, when did you realize Ha-yul had a talent for acting?"
"When she started imitating the dramas on TV. I uploaded a video of it online..."
"Oh, so does Ha-yul want to be an actor too?"
"She says she wants to be like the big sisters and brothers on TV. Her friends..."
She trailed off, then hurriedly changed tack with an awkward laugh.
"Ahaha. It's nothing."
What? Her sudden halt irked me.
Koreans see things through to the end. Unable to contain my curiosity, I pressed her.
"Come on, it's not 'nothing.' What were you about to say?"
She gave an embarrassed smile and cautiously continued.
"She said her goal as a child actor is to make a friend she can be with until she's old. You know that movie 'Friends Forever!' that came out about three years ago?"
"Oh... Yeah, I know it."
Truth be told, I had no idea.
That was around the time I was holed up at home like a shut-in.
But still.
Ha-yul had a reason for aiming to be an actor. I was honestly a bit surprised.
She flushed with embarrassment and turned her head.
"I..."
What was my reason for becoming an actor?
Racking my brains, I realized I didn't have one. At some point, I'd just been acting for the money.
"...That's a really great goal."
"It's not great. It's just embarrassing..."
"That's not something to be embarrassed about."
I hugged the soundly sleeping Yu-na tight and continued.
"Having a goal like that is truly wonderful. Sure, someone might hear it and laugh, saying it's funny..."
"......"
"But to me, it's admirable and a really good goal."
Silence followed.
Yoon Si-won and I just blankly admired the beautiful night view, stroking the backs of the little ones asleep in our arms.
How much time passed like that?
The director finally appeared.
"Aigoo, actor Jun-seo. Sorry to keep you waiting."
As if. Unable to voice my true feelings, I just smiled and shook my head.
"No, Director. You said you had something to tell me. What is it?"
Eager to get home ASAP, I cut straight to the chase.
He scratched the back of his head and silently handed me a paper envelope.
What the heck is this? I wanted to rip it open, but better to hear it from him directly.
I asked the director.
"...What's this?"
"What do you think? You got no hands? Just check it yourself."
"......"
With a sour expression, I tore open the envelope and pulled out the contents.
"Neverland free pass?"
Seeing the ticket for that famous fantasy kingdom amusement park, I whipped my head toward the director.
"Why are you giving this to me?"
"We'll have to pause shooting for a week. Our key actor Cha Eun-hyuk is out. Can't be helped."
"Huh?"
"So, take a break and come back."
"Oh... Thank you, Director."
"What's to thank?"
He turned away abruptly, gazing at the village's beautiful night view.
An odd silence settled in.
I stared at him for a moment, then shifted my gaze to the free pass in my hand.
"Amusement park."
I'd never been to one in my entire previous life. Honestly, I'd always wanted to go at least once.
Was it really a place overflowing with dreams and hope?
Suddenly turning his gaze aside, Han Mun-jin looked at Yoon Si-won and asked.
"By the way... why is Ha-yul's mom still hanging around?"
"Ha-yul made so many mistakes on set today... I wanted to apologize personally. I'm truly sorry."
Caught off guard by the sudden apology, Han Mun-jin froze in surprise before bursting into laughter.
"Ahahaha!"
His loud laugh made the sleeping Yu-na and Ha-yul mumble softly.
"Mmm... Daddy... Daddy..."
"Mommy... You eat first. Hehe."
Yu-na flailing her hand in the air toward me, Ha-yul smiling innocently in her sleep.
"They look alike when they're asleep."
As if by agreement, we both clamped our mouths shut and kept our eyes fixed on the sleeping Yu-na and Ha-yul.
On Sunday morning at the crack of dawn, I was bustling about. First time at an amusement park—I had no clue what to bring.
I just crammed whatever I thought might be needed into the bag.
"Do I need this too?"
I grabbed a towel from the drying rack and imagined all sorts of scenarios. I'd heard there were rides that get you wet, so yeah, probably.
Right. In it goes.
Before I knew it, the bag was stuffed to bursting.
"Daddy, can we take ZingZing?"
Amid the frenzy, Yu-na's innocent question rang out. I made space for the towel in the bulging bag and replied.
"We can't bring ZingZing into the amusement park. Give up on it."
"Aww."
Now even a single marble wouldn't fit.
You might say I overpacked, but this was my first time taking Yu-na to an amusement park...
I wanted to make it an unforgettable, joyful memory.
"Alright, Yu-na. All set?"
"Yes!"
Seeing her donning her mask and hat by herself, I smiled in satisfaction.
With the war-like preparations finally done, a nagging feeling made me double-check if I'd forgotten anything.
"Oh, right. Almost slipped my mind."
I rummaged through the laundry basket and pulled out the envelope from the director yesterday.
Tucking it deep in my pocket so I wouldn't forget, I shouldered the bulging bag.
"Alright. Let's head out?"
"Daddy! Daddy! It's dirty here."
"Sigh, I told you to be careful."
A black stain had formed on Yu-na's bright yellow bumblebee dress.
And there was chocolate smeared around her tiny mouth.
"What did Daddy say earlier?"
"Hmm, now let's go?"
"......"
I looked straight into Yu-na's pure, innocent eyes. She had no idea what she'd done wrong.
Sigh.
After wiping her mouth with a wet wipe, I opened the wardrobe and grabbed a fresh outfit.
It wasn't Yu-na's fault, after all.
Couldn't scold her on a fun day.
I strode over, knelt to her eye level.
First, off with the hat and mask...
"Yu-na, hands up!"
"Yay!"
I whisked off the dress and dressed her in a white shirt and green overalls.
Didn't forget the hat and mask again.
"Now that it's about time, shall we head to the meeting spot?"
"Yes!"
Last time, when we missed the last train and got a ride home from Yoon Si-won's husband...
We'd chatted and ended up promising to go to Neverland together.
To avoid awkwardness at first, we'd do mornings separately and meet up in the afternoon.
After meticulously checking the doors and windows, I headed to the front door.
How many times I turned back because Yu-na trailing cutely behind was adorable—that's a secret.
I masked up and hatted myself for disguise, added non-prescription glasses, and stepped out.
Prep had made us late.
"Yu-na, you keeping up alright?"
"Yes."
Plenty of people must recognize Yu-na these days. My account followers hit six figures, after all.
Wandering the park bare-faced would be a hassle.
We arrived at our meeting spot in front of the police station and caught our breath.
Anyone seeing our getup might think we were suspicious.
But this was practically our turf.
Even with hats and masks, people recognized us left and right.
"Oh my! Yu-na, long time no see. Out with Daddy for something fun?"
"Going to the amusement park with Daddy. Hehe."
"Oh, really? Have a blast."
We exchanged greetings with passersby while waiting for Yoon Si-won.
"She said they'd be here soon..."
With the crowd growing, I awkwardly kept checking my phone.
When the heck are they coming?
Then it happened.
A plump officer started shooing away the gathering crowd.
"Come on, folks! Blocking the sidewalk means you'll have to come with me. Please head on."
After dispersing everyone, he gave me a thumbs-up and flashed his teeth.
"Police uncle! You're so cool!"
Yu-na's praise had his grin ear-to-ear. He cleared his throat and spoke.
"If you're ever in trouble, just let me know. I'll sort it out."
"Ahaha. Thank you."
"Uncle! Uncle!"
Yu-na had dashed up to him and was rummaging in her pocket.
She pulled something out with her tiny hand and handed it over.
"Here, have this. Hehehe."
"This is... candy, huh? Okay for uncle to take?"
"I have tons. It's fine."
When did she stock up on candy?
I changed her clothes myself.
And I'd watched her the whole way out. Which means someone we met outside snuck her the candy.
"Darn, I should've watched closer."
I generally kept candy and chocolate from Yu-na.
One a day—that was our deal. No mercy for me, huh...
I inwardly cursed whoever slipped her the candy.
Honk honk!
Soon, a black sedan pulled up in front of the station.
The window slid down, revealing Ha-yul and Yoon Si-won.
"Jun-seo, hop in quick. Cars are backing up—we can't linger."
"Yu-na, in you go."
"Oh, okay."
I turned and bowed to the officer.
"Take care."
"Bye-bye!"
He waved with a warm smile.