Observatory (2)
Observatory (2)
"Maybe the air is so clean because we're in the outskirts?"
"No. It's probably just because we're on a mountain."
We weren't far from the center of Seoul, so the air quality wouldn't be any different.
Wouldn't we only feel the difference if we went all the way down to the countryside where A-ra lived?
We were climbing an uphill path toward the observatory.
Since we were going up a mountain, it was technically a hike, but because it was just an uphill road, I wasn't sure I could call it hiking.
Actually, it was because we were walking on a road meant for cars.
"Is that so?"
"You were a country girl, noona, and you don't even know that?"
"Keung-keung... Even though it was countryside, it wasn't completely remote, okay? We even had a Lotteria."
A-ra began breathing in the phytoncides the mountain gave off.
Then she started bragging about the small town she used to live in.
"I'll have to ask Hwa-young later if that's true."
"It's true! I'm telling you, there really was a Lotteria!"
No, when did I ever doubt that there was a Lotteria where she lived?
What I was curious about was whether A-ra was truly a meek and well-behaved girl.
According to her, she listened well to her teachers at school and was a good child.
But looking at how she is now... well, she's good and cute, but I don't know about meek.
The A-ra who tries to undress and devour me every night isn't a meek herbivore—she's a carnivore.
She wasn't even a tiger or a lion, but an apex predator closer to a dinosaur like a T-Rex.
"As expected, there's a reason you're so healthy, noona. You've only been eating grass in the countryside since you were little... ...eek!"
As I tried to tease her more, A-ra gave my nape a quick lick.
The moment something soft and moist touched the back of my neck, I got goosebumps all over my body.
It was a good thing there were no people or cars around.
I nearly dropped Lil' One's leash.
Lil' One knows that letting go of the leash means she gets to run loose, so she'd bolt off—which meant I had to be extra careful.
"Hoo... you surprised me."
"Should I just carry Lil' One instead?"
"Yes, please do that."
When A-ra crouched down, Lil' One came running over.
She leaped into her arms, and the sight of her being lifted up and looking bewildered was really cute.
"Hey, little wriggler. Mommy's tired, so stay still."
"Kking..."
"Oh, you've calmed down. Do you like Daddy more than Mommy?"
Lil' One exercised her right to remain silent and didn't answer A-ra's question.
I could sense a firm determination not to respond, like an iron wall.
Or maybe she just didn't like being held.
"She says she likes Daddy."
"Woof!"
"Oh, she answered."
"That wasn't an answer to what you just said, okay? Anyone can see she was just belatedly saying she likes Mommy."
"Is that so?"
As expected, Lil' One didn't reply.
A-ra's arbitrary interpretations couldn't be trusted.
"Oh, we've already arrived?"
I thought she was trying to change the subject, but the observatory was actually already in sight.
It was a cool building, lit up with spotlights as if it were a cultural festival.
And... there was even a huge telescope.
"Wow... the lights are on even at this late hour."
"The lights are on because it's this late. Come on, let's go in."
"But can we take Lil' One inside?"
"I heard animals are allowed in here."
I heard they can't go where the machines are, but they're allowed in if you carry them.
Maybe that's why I heard large dogs can't go in, only small dogs.
***
We went inside, looked at the constellations quickly, and came back out. When we got there, they said dogs couldn't enter—maybe the rules had changed—so we tied her up outside for a bit while we went in.
Thank goodness it was summer.
If it were winter, our Lil' One might have frozen to death.
Anyway, we brought Lil' One and went further up to the back, to a spot where we could see the night view.
Since it was a high place, I was worried she might fall, so I held Lil' One tightly and used the leash to secure her to me so she couldn't get loose.
"Wriggler, isn't it pretty?"
"Woof!"
"Isn't it different from the view at home?"
"Woof?"
She made a face like she had no idea what I was talking about.
It probably meant she didn't know what kind of reaction to show to my expression.
I always say she understands my words and call her a genius dog, but Lil' One is probably just a dog that knows how to read my expressions well.
"Noona."
"Yeah?"
"Something just occurred to me..."
"What?"
"It's nice coming to the observatory, but wouldn't it be good to just buy an expensive astronomical telescope?"
"........Oh."
If you have a hobby of looking at constellations, maybe buying the equipment for it should come first?
I was a little worried that A-ra sometimes forgot the most obvious things.
Once A-ra picks up a hobby, she goes all in.
She doesn't get bored or quit halfway through.
So if we bought one, she'd keep using it and it wouldn't turn into a useless item.
There was no reason to object.
"You spent a lot of money replacing your car, right? I'll buy you a telescope."
"Really? It's been a while since Seong-hwan bought me a gift."
I'd poured a lot of money into the orphanage construction. They said it would be finished soon, and it would look weird for a husband to suddenly give his wife a thank-you gift for no reason. So this was really good timing and a good excuse.
"Hmm... I'm torn..."
She said she couldn't decide which one to get, and started browsing on her phone.
Lil' One tilted her head, watching her mom.
"Lil' One, is there anything you want too?"
"Woof!"
"Okay, okay, when we get home, Daddy will give you a tasty treat."
I didn't know what she was barking about, but she was probably barking for food.
As expected, since she was female, it seemed she liked to eat.
"Shall we start heading down? I want to wash up too."
"Can't we stay just a little longer?"
"For the night view?"
"That too... and I want to spend some cozy time alone with you, Seong-hwan..."
"Noona..."
I was touched.
As expected, my wife was a woman who knew romance.
"Then, give me a piggyback ride when we go home."
"Huh? Then I might die..."
"No?"
"Ah... no... I'll carry you..."
Going down was hard, so this was a relief.
As I said, a strong wife was the best.
***
"What is this."
I got a notification that a package had arrived and went down to the ground floor lobby. Since delivery drivers couldn't go up to the residential floors, the system was that we had to pick things up from the unmanned parcel locker—a bit inconvenient, but I understood it was for safety and security. However.
Right now, I thought I didn't understand.
I was saying I thought it would be better to get rid of this security.
Because the size of the package sitting in front of me was unbelievably huge.
Moving this alone was absolutely impossible.
"Haa... whose package is this..."
It probably wasn't from Mom.
Mom sent things from time to time, but for the most part, she only sent salted mackerel for A-ra to eat.
In that sense, she was totally an old lady.
Even though she was only thirty-six.
"It's for A-ra Noona... the sender is... Real Photo?"
Did A-ra buy a camera?
I did pay for an astronomical telescope for her.
"Don't tell me, is this the astronomical telescope?"
Not knowing what a telescope looked like, I had imagined something like binoculars.
It seemed the telescope was inside this huge box after all.
"How am I supposed to move this..."
I let out a sigh and looked around.
Usually, the desk staff helped move large packages, so I would be able to take it somehow.
"What's the matter?"
"Ah... hello."
As expected, seeing that I was struggling, the friendly desk staff member came over.
She looked at the package in front of me, smiled brightly, told me to wait a moment, and headed to the desk.
It felt a bit weird to say this, but I thought I was glad I was a man.
I'm physically weak, so if people around me didn't offer to help first, I'd have been standing here all day waiting for A-ra.
Did I wait about 2 minutes?
She came back with a cart that could carry the box and lifted the box with one hand.
Seeing her lift it so effortlessly, I thought I'd give it a try and pushed it, but it wouldn't budge.
"This would be hard for a man to move."
"...Thank you."
"Thank me? It's just my job."
The staff member laughed heartily and pulled the cart toward the elevator.
She took out the key card hanging around her neck and held it to the elevator reader.
*
"I'm home~"
"You're back?"
"Yeah, oh? The package came?"
"Seeing it's from Whatever Photo, isn't it the astronomical telescope?"
"Oh? They said it would be a while before it arrived."
A-ra tilted her head, wondering why it arrived already when there was still a lot of time left.
At the same time, a small smile started to spread across her face.
I don't know why it came already, but I don't mind. Actually, I love it! That was probably how she felt.
"Are you going to start assembling it first?"
"Yeah, fill the bath for noona."
"Okay~"
I stretched my arms and went into the master bedroom.
I should run the water slowly.
Since it would take a while to assemble that thing.
A telescope, huh...
As expected, Noona bought whatever she became fixated on.
Should I ask to assemble it together?
Yeah, that would be good.
"Noona~ Is it okay if I assemble it with you?"
"Of course. Come on."
Naturally, Noona permitted it.
I scampered over with little quick steps and sat down next to her.