Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: A Warm Gift
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After blowing out the candles on the cake together, I was watching a movie with Seol-i while taking care of Dasom.
Dasom, who had just woken up from her nap, was nestled in Seol-i's arms, clutching her doll tightly.
"Haneul, this doll... it's that one, right? The one we got at the amusement park."
"Yeah, that's the one."
"It's become Dasom's total attachment doll."
Just as Seol-i said, the doll nestled in Dasom's arms was indeed the one I'd bought her at the amusement park.
The moment I gave Dasom the doll, she hugged it tight and fell asleep with it—and before long, it had become her beloved attachment object.
Just like Seol-i's Teddy Bear.
"...But she's too attached. That's the problem."
"Why? Isn't being attached a good thing? She treasures it so much and loves it tons..."
"Sure, but... she won't even let us wash it because she loves it that much."
"Ah..."
Once, Dasom's drool had soaked the doll so badly we had to wash it. But the second we took it away, she burst into tears.
And she got so sulky about it that every time Mom—who had taken the doll—came into view, Dasom would whip her head away.
In the end, we had to run just the doll through the dryer to dry it fast and give it back right away. That was the only way to calm her down.
Only then did Dasom finally stop being mad and forgive Mom. But ever since, whenever it's time to wash the doll, Mom sneaks out at night to the coin laundry to handle it.
The moment Seol-i heard the story, she let out a soft chuckle and gazed down at Dasom.
"Dasom, do you like your doll that much?"
Whether she fully understood the question or not, Dasom nodded vigorously and flashed a beaming smile.
"Yeah! So cute!"
"Unni loves dolls a ton too. You and unni have so much in common."
"Kyaaa~"
She was grinning so brightly, it felt like she'd be dancing around if she were on her feet.
Seol-i was gently stroking Dasom's hair all the while.
They looked like the perfect pair of sisters. You could easily believe they were blood-related.
Thankfully, Dasom takes after our parents' looks so well that her cuteness holds up perfectly even next to Seol-i.
Maybe I see her as extra cute since she's my real little sister, but Dasom was plenty adorable—not a bit less than Seol-i.
I reached out toward Dasom in Seol-i's arms and poked her soft, chubby cheek.
"Kyaaaa~"
Seol-i stared at Dasom, who was giggling happily, then raised her finger.
As if steeling herself for something huge, she poked Dasom's cheek too.
-poke
Seol-i's small hand prodded Dasom's squishy cheek, and Dasom smiled even brighter, clearly delighted by the finger.
More than that, she seemed to love it so much that she lifted her tiny hand and grabbed Seol-i's finger.
"Dasom?"
"Heeheehee."
She clutched the finger tight and pulled it to her chest like it was the most precious treasure. It was unbearably cute.
Just as Seol-i and I were melting completely from Dasom's overflowing charm, Mom approached us.
"Hey, Seol-i."
"Yes, Auntie...!"
"You got time right now?"
"Time? Oh..."
Seol-i glanced at the clock. The hour hand had passed 4 and was heading toward 5.
Our house to hers takes about an hour, so Seol-i usually heads home by 5 at the latest.
In other words, it was about time for her to go.
Seol-i wore a reluctant expression, but there was no changing it. She handed Dasom back to me.
Dasom had been all smiles just moments ago, but the instant she was back in my arms, she reached out for Seol-i.
"Unniii... Unniiii..."
"Dasom..."
Seol-i stared helplessly at Dasom calling for her.
Seeing Dasom cling so desperately to her tugged at my heart too, but Seol-i still had to go.
She wasn't part of our family. Her own family was waiting.
Seol-i gently took Dasom's outstretched little hand and apologized.
"Dasom, sorry... But I'll come visit lots from now on, okay...?"
"U... uuuu..."
The second Dasom started sniffling, I began patting her back.
"Dasom, Seol-i unni has to go home. Okay?"
"Waaahhh...!"
Hearing "has to go home" set her off into full-blown wailing right away.
I shot Seol-i a quick wink—hurry up and go.
But she didn't bolt. She did grab her bag in a rush, but then she started fidgeting even more.
I was starting to get flustered myself when Mom stepped in.
She scooped up Dasom, who was sobbing in my arms.
"Haneul, I'll watch Dasom. Go walk Seol-i home."
"Ah... Okay."
I glanced at Dasom still crying in Mom's arms, then at the fidgeting Seol-i.
Seol-i bowed her head low, then greeted Mom.
"Auntie... Th-thank you so much..."
"No worries~ Gotta have a bodyguard or two, right."
"Dasom, unni promises to come again next time."
Dasom didn't even look her way despite that. She just kept crying in Mom's arms.
Seol-i looked apologetic as she gathered her bag, and I slipped on my shoes to see her off.
"Auntie, I'll come by again."
"Sure thing~ Come whenever, no pressure~ Dasom, say bye-bye to unni."
"Uu... uuu... hu... b-bye... b-bye..."
Seol-i gave a gentle wave to Dasom, who managed a teary "bye-bye," then I opened the front door and stepped out with her.
We walked to the bus stop together.
Slowly. Leisurely.
"Today too, just walk me to the bus stop. No need to come all the way home."
"Got it, got it."
Once we were out of the apartment, Seol-i repeated the exact same thing several times.
Bus stop only. Don't come to the house.
To be honest, I'd planned to see her all the way home. She still felt like a little sister to me, and I wanted to make sure she got inside safely.
But she'd gone home alone plenty of times before, and if she was insisting this much, the respectful thing was to let her go by herself.
So every time she said it, I just replied, "Got it."
We reached the bus stop before long, and Seol-i checked the time—about five minutes until her bus.
She turned to me.
"Haneul, thank you so much for today."
"I'm the one who's thankful. You came all this way."
"Hehe... No way. I had to. And... um... I still haven't given you your present from me..."
"Present?"
"Yeah. Your birthday present."
Seol-i nodded slightly, readjusted the bag slung across her front, and pulled something out.
It was a little surprising.
"......A scarf?"
"Yeah... Winter's almost here... I wanted you to stay warm through it too..."
It was a perfectly ordinary white scarf.
A plain white one, with no frills or features at all.
"Sorry. All I could give you is something this plain... Truth is... I wanted to make it prettier... but it didn't turn out right..."
I didn't hesitate a second—I wrapped the scarf around my neck right away.
Honestly, just having her come over today felt like the biggest gift ever.
Spending my birthday with her had been pure joy.
But on top of that, Seol-i gave me this scarf to keep me warm all winter.
A handmade one, at that.
She'd poured her heart into this warm, heartfelt gift—yet instead of being proud, she was apologizing. Calling it plain.
Even though to me, it was the warmest, coziest, most precious gift imaginable.
So for Seol-i's sake, I decided to show her just how much I loved it—with actions, not words.
I had it on in an instant. Looking at Seol-i, who was staring wide-eyed, I told her:
"I love this present. It's so soft and warm—it just makes me happy. So I'll treasure it forever and always wear it."
"Forever..."
"Yeah, forever. It's the one-of-a-kind scarf you made just for me."
At my words, Seol-i broke into the happiest smile I'd seen all day—so radiant with joy.
"Thank you, Haneul..."
Perfect timing—the bus pulled up. Seol-i looked back at me and waved frantically.
"See you next week...! Happy birthday for real, Haneul...!"
"Yeah. Get home safe."
I kept waving as she boarded, right up until the doors closed and the bus vanished from sight.
Once the bus carrying Seol-i was gone, I leaned in and sniffed the snowy-white scarf around my neck.
It carried a fresh, sweet fragrance.
A sugary, heart-fluttering scent of happiness... one I wanted to savor again and again.