Chapter 98: Even the Absolute Being Is a First-Time Dad
Absolute Dad is New to This - Episode 98
A heavy silence had settled over the daycare center when—
"Daddy, can we play before we go?"
Seol's question shattered the stillness.
Kang-jun turned his gaze toward Kazan.
Kazan, in turn, addressed the teachers.
"What exactly are you all doing?"
The teachers, unable to hide their bewilderment, stammered, "Huh?"
"Open all the play facilities immediately."
'What in the world is happening?'
Lee Ji-hee stared blankly at the children and parents playing energetically in the newly opened play area.
Her mind was a whirlwind of questions, so she had volunteered to supervise the play area just to observe the two of them.
'They seem so ordinary...'
No, scratch that—they didn't seem ordinary at all.
Because they were ridiculously affectionate.
"Seol, what are you doing over there?"
"Hmm...?"
"The concert starts in ten minutes! Come get your makeup done!"
Kang-jun beckoned, and Seol scampered over.
"Okay! Got it!"
Kang-jun pretended to apply makeup with toy blocks before casually asking,
"Sally, you'll do great today, right?"
"I'm not Sally..."
"Idols have two names, remember?"
Seol muttered, "Oh, right," then clenched her tiny fists and declared,
"Yeah! I can do it!"
Watching silently, Lee Ji-hee found herself smiling without realizing it.
"He's amazing..."
At Seol's age, most kids were just starting to show interest in things like "beauty" and "makeup."
Even if it was just pretend play, she'd be thrilled—but Kang-jun had gone a step further, incorporating the "idol roleplay" that was every little girl's dream.
No wonder Seol was over the moon.
"He's perfectly fulfilling her needs..."
Now she understood why Seol had been chattering nonstop about her dad all day.
"Huh?"
Just then, Kang-jun stopped in front of a newly installed play structure—a steep ramp leading to a bell at the top, with cushioned mats piled at the bottom for safety.
"Seol, wanna try that?"
Lee Ji-hee murmured under her breath,
"It might be too hard for her..."
The slope was steeper than it looked, and even if she managed to climb it, ringing the bell would take serious upper-body strength.
Another teacher plopped down beside her and asked,
"Staring a hole through them, huh? What's so interesting?"
Lee Ji-hee smiled faintly.
"I'm learning from one of my students' parents. He's amazing at playing with his kid."
The teacher followed her gaze.
"Oh, Seol's dad?"
"Yeah."
"He's seriously skilled."
She added,
"Honestly, I've been sneaking glances too. The way he plays with her—it's like he pours his whole heart into it."
Then, lowering her voice:
"The other kids are jealous."
"I'd be jealous too."
"But that one's too hard for her..."
The two teachers sat side by side, watching Seol standing at the base of the ramp.
"Daddy, let's try!"
Seol took a few steps back, then sprinted forward—
Thud!
She barely made it a meter up before sliding back down.
"Sniff... I can't do it..."
Lee Ji-hee nodded knowingly.
"That ramp's way too steep for kids her age..."
Just as they assumed the father-daughter pair would give up and move on—
"Seol, let's try again."
Seol pouted.
"Seol scared..."
Kang-jun said, "Watch this," then lifted her and gently dropped her onto the cushioned mat—over and over.
"Again! It's fun!"
Seol giggled uncontrollably as Kang-jun scooped her back up.
"Did it hurt?"
"Nope! So fun!"
"Then why were you scared?"
He added,
"Daddy'll help. Let's try a few more times."
Lee Ji-hee and the other teacher gaped.
"Oh, they're really going for it."
"Yeah..."
"But she'll never make it."
Seol and Kang-jun stood before the ramp again.
"Your socks might be making you slip. Wanna try barefoot this time?"
Seol nodded eagerly. "Okay!"
Kang-jun peeled off her socks, rolled them up, and tucked them into his pocket.
"Go!"
Seol charged up the ramp with renewed vigor—
Thud!
She slid down from a slightly higher point this time.
Sliiiide...
Seol pouted.
"Waaah... Seol can't do it..."
Kang-jun shook his head.
"Daddy thinks you should start further back and run harder..."
They kept trying, inching their record higher each time—but that was it.
Thud, sliiide...
Thud, sliiide...
Thud, sliiide...
Each time, Kang-jun encouraged her gently while suggesting new approaches.
Before they knew it, the two teachers were secretly rooting for them, palms sweating.
"Please, let her make it this time."
"Me too..."
"Oh, so close that time..."
"Yeah..."
"Ah! Almost!"
So absorbed were they that other teachers started gathering, curiosity piqued.
"What're you two watching?"
Soon, they were all hooked.
"Please, please, please..."
The audience grew rapidly.
"This time, Daddy'll push from behind. Let's work together, okay?"
"Togesser?"
"Yeah. If you feel like falling, I'll catch you. Don't worry, just climb."
Even with Kang-jun supporting her, Seol kept sliding down after a few seconds.
"Daddy, Seol really can't..."
Kang-jun sighed.
"Alright, let's take a break."
As they plopped down at the ramp's base, the onlookers murmured in disappointment.
"Hmm, guess they're giving up."
"I'm weirdly invested..."
"But she got pretty far!"
"Still, for her age..."
Then Kang-jun looked up at the ramp and spoke.
"Seol, in life, there'll be lots of things that feel impossible—just like this."
"Sniff..."
"If you give up or run away every time, it might feel easier now... but later, it'll hurt."
His gaze met hers.
"Remember what Daddy taught you about promises?"
Seol nodded and hooked her pinky with his.
"Yeah! Daddy showed me!"
Kang-jun continued,
"Remember when learning to pinky-promise felt too hard at first?"
"Yeah, 'member."
"But you kept trying, and now it's super easy, right?"
Seol puffed up proudly.
"Now it's baby easy!"
Kang-jun smiled softly.
"Things that seem impossible are usually like that."
"Huh?"
"Once you do them, they're never as scary as you thought."
He gently ruffled her hair.
"If you give up once, you'll keep giving up. Maybe even when you're grown."
Then he added,
"Losing is a habit too."
Seol, too young to fully grasp his words, just tilted her head in confusion—
But Lee Ji-hee, eavesdropping, felt her heart clench.
She wasn't the only one.
The other teachers also seemed lost in thought, expressions dazed.
"Wanna try ten more times with Daddy?"
"Waaah... Seol scared..."
"Daddy'll take responsibility. I'll help."
After a brief hesitation, Seol nodded.
"Okay! Yes!"
They stood before the ramp again—
And resumed their challenge.
Thud, sliiide...
A little higher this time.
Thud, sliiide...
Higher still.
Thud, sliiide...
Her fingers almost brushed the bell's rope.
"Please, please, please..."
Everyone was rooting for her.
Thud, sliiide...
This time, she grabbed the rope—but lost her grip.
"Seol, you've got this..."
Some teachers even clasped their hands in prayer, eyes squeezed shut—
Thud, sliiide...
Thud, sliiide...
Thud, sliiide...
Thud, sliiide...
This was it—the tenth try.
Their last chance.
"Seol, you can do it."
She sprinted forward—
Ding-dong-ding-dong-ding!
The bell rang out—
"WOOOOO!"
"SHE DID IT!"
"SEOL, CONGRATS!"
Seol, still dazed by her success, blinked in confusion—while the teachers whooped in triumph.
Victory.
As the saying goes—the first time is always the hardest.
Ding-dong-ding-dong-ding!
Seol rang the bell again and again.
"Seol can do it now!"
The teachers watched fondly, murmuring among themselves.
"What a wonderful memory for her."
"Right? Her dad's parenting is next-level."
"And Seol followed through so well!"
"Honestly, he's really handsome too..."
"Ugh, I'm low-key jealous of Seol now."
"I almost cried when she rang the bell."
As the pair prepared to leave—
"Guess they're heading out."
Kang-jun and Seol approached the teachers gathered in the cafeteria.
"We'll be going now."
"Oh, of course, sir..."
"See you tomorrow."
Kang-jun bowed slightly.
"Goodbye, teachooors!"
Seol copied him, hands on her tummy as she bent at a perfect ninety degrees.
Lee Ji-hee smiled, stroking Seol's hair.
"You were amazing today, Seol."
"Really?"
"Yeah, the coolest."
Seol hugged her thigh, nuzzling her cheek against it.
"Seol likes teacher."
"I like Seol too."
Seol looked up.
"Then teacher be Seol's mommy."
"...Huh?"
"'Cause Seol no mommy."
Lee Ji-hee's face turned crimson. "S-Seol...!"
For a brief moment, her eyes met Kang-jun's—
She buried her burning face in her hands.
'He's so kind...'
And when she thought about it—was it really that impossible?
'Our ages aren't far apart, and single parents remarrying is common these days...'
Then Kang-jun spoke.
"Excuse me, teacher."
Startled, she accidentally let slip a fragment of her thoughts.
"B-But marriage is still too soon—"
Kang-jun blinked. "Huh?"
Flustered, she waved her hands. "N-Never mind! What is it?"
"I wanted to ask something."
He voiced a question that had been on his mind for days.
"Is there a child here named Banana?"
"...Huh?"
"Seol's best friend, I think."
Lee Ji-hee frowned. "Banana...?"
Just then—
"Hey! It's Banana!"
A little girl—also prepping to leave—dashed over.
"Seol!"
"Nana!"
The two best friends hugged excitedly.
"Ah, Ha-na."
Realization dawned on Lee Ji-hee. She pointed to the name embroidered on the girl's backpack.
"I think he means Ha-na."
Kang-jun's gaze landed on the neatly stitched name:
- Sarang Class, Ban Ha-na
He muttered,
"Not Banana... Ban Ha-na..."
Then suddenly clutched his chest. "Ugh."
Too cute.