Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Yu-na's Precious First Gift
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Time flew by, and before long, Christmas Eve had arrived. We'd originally planned to find a new place and move right away, but...
The matter with Kim Tae-seok wrapped up smoothly, so there was no rush anymore.
The latest info I'd heard was that Kim Tae-seok had been hospitalized after getting hit by a stone thrown at him during his transfer to prison.
They caught the thrower on the spot, but surprisingly, it was the parent of one of his victims.
‘The natural rage of a parent, I suppose.’ As soon as that incident broke, the attention that had been on me shifted to the victim's parents. It was heartbreaking. Not just me—another student who'd been bullied... Had passed away due to severe trauma. That tragic news had come in. ‘And then there were the others.’ The ones caught breaking into our house were slapped with the maximum sentence for burglary. Of course, they'd wait until Kim Tae-seok's treatment was done before transferring him to prison. ‘It's a relief, really...’ I glanced at Yu-na. She was slumped over, desperately pressing buttons on her thoroughly shattered toy. The intruders had trashed our place, wrecking everything. Including Yu-na's toys. Every last one of them smashed beyond repair. Even though some time had passed, Yu-na wouldn't give up. She kept poking at it, hoping it would work again.
"Yu-na, honey. Let's let it go now, okay?"
"...We can still fix it."
Her fixation on that one laptop-shaped toy felt off. It was just a toy, after all. I'd bought her an identical one, but she wouldn't even look at it. I let out a soft sigh. I needed to cheer her up as soon as possible. Christmas was right around the corner. It was a special day. Plus, we had to watch that Christmas special we'd filmed together. I approached Yu-na slowly, crouching down to her level before speaking quietly.
"It's beyond fixing."
"...We can fix it."
Click! Click! I couldn't break her stubbornness. Was it because the same song wouldn't play? No, that couldn't be it. Then why? No matter how hard I racked my brain, I couldn't understand.
"Yu-na, look at this one? It plays songs just like that toy. And the sound is even clearer and nicer." *Beep-beep! Chirp-chirp! Cock-a-doodle-doo!* Click! Click! Even with the cheerful tune playing, Yu-na showed no interest. She just kept pressing the broken toy.
"Sigh. Yu-na."
"......"
I'd been catering to her every whim, and now I was exhausted. Rubbing my throbbing head, I spoke again.
"We've done enough. It's not fixable. Time to throw it out and..."
"......!"
The moment I said "throw it out," Yu-na clutched the toy and shot to her feet. Was she finally ready to let it go? Yeah, we'd tried hard enough.
"Right, just put it in here."
I grabbed a small bag where I'd collected the plastic pieces and opened it wide. ‘Sometimes you have to let things go.’ But contrary to my expectations, Yu-na backed away slowly. This wasn't working. I reached out quickly, intending to take it by force. Pat-pat-pat! Dodging my hand at the last second, Yu-na fled into the bathroom. She... just dodged me? Shocked by her actions, I froze. A heavy silence settled over the living room. ‘How did things end up like this?’ Just a few days ago, she'd been clinging to me, saying I was the best dad in the world. Lately, she wouldn't even speak to me.
"Sigh..."
I closed my eyes and tilted my head back. Even after all this time, the image lingered in my mind: Yu-na hugging the wrecked toy tight and sobbing. ‘Was it that precious to her?’ Even if it was precious. I thought time would heal it, but no.
"What should I do?"
To lift Yu-na's spirits, I disguised myself completely and we headed out for a walk.
Snow dusted the streets here and there.
The market lined with decorated street trees.
Carol music drifting from everywhere.
We entered the market near our house, but we walked on in silence, saying nothing.
We didn't even hold hands like usual.
"Hey! Yu-na's dad...!"
"Shh! Watch it."
The shop owners who always greeted us warmly now avoided us.
Probably because of the recent news and our gloomy expressions—they didn't want to intrude.
‘Just talk to us casually.’
But whenever our eyes met, they'd slink away.
We wandered aimlessly until we'd passed the market and entered downtown.
Even prettier decorations than the market.
Moms and dads out enjoying the eve with their kids. Just watching them looked fun and happy.
If that incident hadn't happened, we could've been like that too.
I'd come out to mend our strained bond, but it only made me feel more wistful.
‘If she'd just say something first...’
Instead, she just walked, stopping to stare blankly at things. She didn't even notice me trailing behind.
Crunch. Crunch.
Yu-na started moving again.
I followed.
I'd tried talking, but she wouldn't respond, so I'd given up on conversation.
‘What now? Stopped again?’
She halted once more.
Staring at one spot, just like before. But this time was different. Her lowered head trembled slightly.
...What was wrong?
Sensing something off, I closed the five-step gap between us.
"...Yu-na?"
"Waaah!"
What? Crying out of nowhere?
She tore off her mask and hat, her tear-streaked face fully exposed.
Snot and tears everywhere.
Her wails drowned out the song from the nearby store.
Even with all the stares.
She wouldn't stop.
I rushed over, pulling tissues from my pocket to wipe her face.
"Y-Yu-na, why are you crying? Did Daddy do something wrong? If so, I'm sorry."
She shook her head no.
"Then are you hurt somewhere?"
No again.
Onlookers recognized her and pulled out their phones.
"That's Yu-na, right?"
"Yeah. Look, matches my phone wallpaper exactly."
"Quick, snap some pics."
Seriously, these people...
Fuming at their tactlessness, I scowled and scanned the crowd with my phone in hand.
That's when Yu-na spoke.
"Sniff... Yu-na was bad."
"...What?"
What could she have done wrong?
Staying calm, I stroked her cheek and asked gently.
"What did you do wrong?"
"Sniff... I got mad at Daddy."
"Did Yu-na get mad? Daddy doesn't remember that. Did our cute, lovable Yu-na have something to be upset about?"
Sniffling, she confessed her misdeeds toward me. I heard murmurs about how adorable she was, but I ignored them.
Ah, so that's why...
Now I understood her obsession with the broken toy.
It was the first toy I'd ever given her.
That meaning had become paramount to her.
‘I had no idea.’
I'd told her to throw away something precious.
No wonder she was so hurt.
I was failing as a dad.
"I see. Then Daddy was wrong to you too. I told you to toss the toy you cherished."
"It was the first... sniff! toy from Daddy... sniff!"
I'd vowed to be a great dad, but I hadn't understood her feelings at all.
I'd tried to fix it with money.
‘Oh, right...’
A memory from my past life surfaced.
The first gift from my parents—I'd treasured it like gold.
Even though it was just a fake show of family harmony for others.
Back then, I'd been overjoyed.
When that precious gift broke.
The grief was overwhelming...
I'd forgotten those feelings.
"...I get it now. Daddy's sorry."
"Waaah!"
"We'll fix that toy, no matter what. Daddy will figure it out. So..."
I stopped mid-sentence.
I bit my lower lip. Tears threatened to spill.
Because in Yu-na, I saw my past self overlapping.
After that little friction was resolved, we spent Christmas Eve even clingier than usual.
"You like it that much? Then I can't walk properly. How about holding hands instead?"
"No way. I want it like this. Hehe."
With Yu-na stuck to my leg like a cicada, I could barely move.
I shouldn't indulge her...
"Want Daddy to give you a piggyback ride?"
"Really? Wooow!"
Finally, the clingy Yu-na detached. She bounced around, urging me to hurry.
‘This is how Yu-na should be.’
Smiling, I bent down.
Confirming her on my back, I supported her bottom securely and stood.
"Up we go! Comfy?"
"Daddy! To the pony! Pony!"
Pointing with her finger, she seemed fine.
"Shall we?"
"Hehehe. Yes!"
Pedestrians who'd been tailing us from afar.
When I gave Yu-na a piggyback, they groaned and buzzed excitedly.
‘Of course. They've been following.’
Makes sense.
We'd hugged it out like a movie scene in a crowded street.
I'd expected this.
So we roamed freely, faces uncovered except for masks.
"Wooow! So high!"
Come to think of it... was this the first piggyback?
I'd always just carried her in front.
"Daddy! Pony to there now."
"Hmm, over there?"
A crowd gathered where she pointed. Amid the heads, a young guy in a Santa suit held a mic, chatting casually with folks.
"The next song is... Huh? Why so many now? All here for me? Thanks a ton."
Our followers had merged with the busking crowd.
Yet no one came near me.
Like an invisible wall.
Fine by me.
Meant I could enjoy in peace.
I shrugged and looked ahead—locking eyes with the mic-wielding young man.
"Huh...? Huh? Huh!!"
He rushed over, mic in hand.
"Hello! Lee Jun-seo, right? Seeing a celeb up close like this—lucky day! Mind doing a song?"
"...Pardon?"
"You just said 'yes,' right? Grab this mic and come on up! Everyone! Lee Jun-seo’s gonna sing one! Applause!!"
Clap-clap-clap-clap!
Caught in his whirlwind, I ended up with the mic in front of the crowd.
‘I barely know any songs.’
My mind went blank.
"Yu-na wants to sing with Daddy too!"
"Haha! Then bro's got an extra mic for her. No dropping!"
Suddenly Yu-na had a matching mic.
His pushiness irked me, but it was Christmas Eve.
A day for joy.
No choice.
‘I’ll let this slide generously.’
The young guy, mic-less now, boomed.
"Alright! Something Yu-na can easily sing along to? Perfect for today—here we go."
The song started.
An all-too-familiar intro.
"Yu-na. Ready?"
"Yes!"
*Look out the window! Look out the window! White snow is falling! Look out the window! Look out the...*
First time singing it.
My voice overpowered hers. I softened, and hers took over.
I'm neither great nor terrible at singing.
But from this, I'd get the "tone-deaf" label stuck forever.