Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Daeun's Dolphin Hairpin
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How did Director Go Yunmi know about this project and recommend it to me?
It felt like there was something I didn't know.
'Well, at least it's not far from home.'
According to the director, the city hall's urban maintenance team was directly hiring people to paint murals.
That meant no worries about delayed wages—they paid daily, right after the work was done...
'They might assign tough jobs, but the pay is solid.'
I had money to repay Jungeun anyway, so this was actually a good thing.
Just to be safe, I asked if I could bring Daeun along, and she readily agreed.
It was probably because the director had spoken so highly of Daeun.
"Daddy, Daeun's heart is pounding! Thump thump!"
"Yeah."
Daeun, sitting to get her hair tied, shrugged her shoulders repeatedly to mimic her heartbeat. She even made the sound with her mouth.
"Thump! Thump!"
I chuckled at her antics and pulled the rubber band.
"Yeah, our Daeun wanted to paint on a wall."
She had a nice sketchbook, but she insisted on the wall.
"Yeah! Daeun will make the wall pretty! Like, whoosh, like doing makeup!"
"Makeup? Do you even know what makeup is, Daeun?"
Did she know what she was saying?
"Yeah! Mommy said so. Makeup makes you pretty!"
"Yeah, Mommy probably didn't mean that..."
At my words, Daeun whipped her head around to look at me.
"No!"
"W-wait, if you move..."
Pffft!
The hair I'd carefully gathered unraveled completely.
I laughed, turned her head back forward, and said,
"No, I didn't mean you don't get pretty. I meant you and Mommy are pretty enough without makeup."
"Hee."
I couldn't see her face, just the back of her head, but I could picture her expression.
Cheered up by my words, she started swaying side to side.
My hands naturally swayed with her.
'Ah, this is really tough.'
Hair-tying wasn't my forte to begin with, and the wiggling made it several times harder.
I'd aimed for cute twin pigtails, but when I finished...
"Hmm... Th-this is..."
"All done!"
"No, wait a..."
Something felt off, so I tried to stop her from looking in the mirror.
But Daeun was faster.
She jumped up and ran to the mirror to check her hair.
A moment later.
Sniffle, sniffle.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
'Haha, even I can see that's weird.'
The left one sagged low, the right shot up toward the sky.
It wasn't just the direction—stray hairs stuck out like she'd been in a fight.
"That's mean..."
I should've just done a single ponytail like yesterday... Shouldn't have tried something fancy...
"Daddy... that's really mean! Waaah!"
I'd made her cry.
I rushed over and hugged her.
"Ah, Daddy will redo it! This time it'll be really pretty! Daeun, let's stop crying!"
"Waaah!"
Once started, her cries wouldn't stop.
What to do? Then I remembered what I'd just said.
That would definitely cheer her up.
"How about this? Daddy will do the one Mommy used to love."
"Sniff, the one... Mommy loved?"
Nod.
"Yeah, you'll love it too."
Her sobs quieted a bit.
"Wanna try?"
"Sniff, yeah..."
She nodded cutely, so I got up and headed to the bedroom.
I rummaged through the corner vanity.
Clink.
It was a shabby vanity compared to our old one. If I hadn't had the accident, what would Hyorin's life be like now?
Rustle.
Lost in thought, I spotted something in the drawer corner.
"Huh, th-this is..."
A faded dolphin hairpin tucked away.
'She still has this?'
I couldn't pinpoint when, but vaguely remembered buying it from an accessory shop early on with Hyorin.
I'd bought it on impulse because she loved dolphins. It was cheap junk—I thought she'd tossed it after a few uses. Never imagined she'd kept it.
Click.
'Still usable.'
It seemed fine when I tested it. After a moment's hesitation, I took the dolphin hairpin to the living room.
Swipe.
Holding it, Daeun looked curious.
"Daddy, what's that?"
"It's Mommy's old hairpin. Did you ever see Mommy wear it?"
Shake, shake.
She shook her head.
If even her perfect memory didn't recall it, she'd never seen it.
Of course—she wouldn't wear such an old cheap thing anymore.
"She used to wear it a lot, but probably stopped after you were born. Wanna try it like Mommy?"
She fiddled with her hair and nodded faintly.
"Wanna try..."
Maybe excited to see a new side of Mommy.
She stood nervously in front of the mirror.
I smiled at her cuteness, gathered one side behind her ear, and clipped it on.
Click.
The little dolphin perched above her ear, like leaping from the sea.
A bit faded, but not ugly.
Actually, more than pigtails...
Gulp.
'C-cute.'
Way cuter.
Just one side made it moodier, somehow.
The dolphin suited her perfectly.
Just like when I first gave it to Hyorin.
'Whose daughter is she to be this cute?'
Mine, obviously!
I swear I heard Hyorin's playful voice in my head.
Daeun, staring in the mirror, asked timidly with quivering lips,
"Like... Mommy?"
I nearly burst out laughing at the "Do I look like Mommy?" question.
Bloodlines don't lie.
She took after Hyorin and me in so many ways.
Especially that question—it was so her.
'Pfft, just like Hyorin's daughter.'
I knew the perfect answer from experience.
What made Hyorin happy.
With a serious face, I replied to her cute question.
"No, Daeun is much prettier than Mommy! And super cute!"
Was that the right answer?
Whoosh!
Her face lit up happier than ever.
And her response was identical to Hyorin's.
"Daeun thinks so too!"
Prepared, we arrived.
Screech.
'Whoa, there's another place like our neighborhood.'
Worn-down alleys with steep uphill paths like the way home, lined with crumbling walls.
A short walk up, and we saw a few people already waiting.
A suited official approached warmly.
"Ah! Are you the ones Director Go Yunmi recommended? Hello! I'm Officer Kim Sucheol, in charge of this project."
"Ah, yes. Kanghyeok Lee, here to work today."
"Director Go recommended you highly—I remember. Art major, right?"
'Art... major.'
To them, I was just an art major turned laborer.
I was flustered but it wasn't a lie.
Before the accident, I was an artist, a painter. Now? Just an art grad worker.
"Ah, yes. Thanks for calling me."
He took my humility as modesty.
"Nah, we're grateful. It's a government project, so pay isn't great. Without volunteers' goodwill, we couldn't get anyone."
He turned and led us to the group.
"Come this way. You'll work together a week—better to greet and get acquainted."
He strode over and introduced us.
"Everyone, say hi. These are the last ones joining."
Three workers waited: a young woman, a middle-aged woman, and an elderly man with white hair.
The young woman greeted first.
"Ah! Hello. Aram Go, working with you this week. Nice to meet you!"
I smiled faintly.
"Hello. Kanghyeok Lee. Looking forward to the week."
"Since we're greeting, let me introduce. This is Professor Kwon Woochul—former professor."
"Haha, not professor anymore. Quit ages ago."
"Come on! Once a professor, always one! He just said all famous painters studied under Teacher Kwon."
Professor Kwon looked awkward as he greeted me.
"Heh heh, what're you saying. Welcome. Not easy to join—thanks for helping."
'It's for the money...'
The volunteer vibe felt off, but I played along to avoid awkwardness.
"No big deal. I enjoy this work."
"Young folks these days... Let's grab coffee sometime."
"Thanks."
Next, Aram pointed to the middle-aged woman.
"And this is Painter Son Jeongsun, Teacher Kwon's wife. Held her own exhibition—super famous."
Painter Son laughed heartily.
"Famous? Just painted a few. Painter title embarrasses me."
Aram shook her head.
"If you say that, who deserves it? In the news? That's huge!"
Their status aside, Aram's energy was intimidating.
In under 10 minutes, she made everyone feel like old friends... That overflowing friendliness was palpable.
And she...
"But..."
Whoosh!
Couldn't ignore Daeun scanning faces with wide eyes.
Introductions done, all eyes—as if scripted—locked on cute Daeun.
Four pairs staring.
Gulp.
What was she about to say...
Tense, I waited. Aram, grinning ear to ear, asked me.
"But... what's this cute, adorable, lovable kid's name?"
Stroking Daeun's back, I said,
"Daeun, wanna say hi?"
After staring back, she swallowed and shouted,
"Goodbye!"
...In 10 minutes, Daeun sent them all away.