Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: My Daughter Is a Genius Painter
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It had been a series of mistakes, but it must have been a really fun moment for Daeun alone.
Seeing how adorably she hugged the bunny made me smile without realizing it.
"Daeun really loves bunnies, huh?"
"Yeah! Daeuni wuvs it suuuuper duper!"
Hearing that, I chuckled and checked a text that had just come in on my phone.
[Pickup complete!]
Swipe.
It was a message from Jungeun confirming the pickup.
He'd grabbed the food from our house and was probably heading straight to the promised spot.
I quickly replied with [OK], then checked the current bus location.
'About ten minutes left, I guess.'
Tonight's dinner—Daeun's birthday party—was at 6:00 p.m. Until then, I planned to spend a special day with just the two of us.
As we rode the bus together, with Daeun beaming over her beloved bunny...
-Next stop...
The station announcement came on, and I smiled at Daeun.
"Time to get off."
"Yeah! We get off now, this isn't our stop!"
As expected from Daeun—she knew.
Well, even without her smarts, anyone riding the same route every day would know.
"Yeah, we're not going to the studio today. Somewhere else."
"Somewhere else?"
"Yeah, so let's hop off quick."
Beep-!
With that, I hurried off the bus with Daeun.
Thud.
I held Daeun's hand, and she clutched her bunny's paw as we stepped off. I checked the bus display board.
Then I pointed at the one we needed to take next.
"We're getting on that bus."
Daeun, holding my hand, looked up at the display and suddenly remembered.
"Oh! Daeuni knows that one! Daeuni knows that bus!"
I'd figured she'd remember.
I'd heard she sometimes came this way with Hyorin.
"You remembered, huh."
"Yeah! That's the one to Grandma's!"
Right. The place I'd decided on for our special day with Daeun was none other than Sky Orphanage.
My first visit back in months.
I should have come many times by now, but...
'Easier said than done.'
I just couldn't.
Thinking of Hyorin still brought tears to my eyes—how could I go easily?
Well, it wasn't much different now. I might cry again seeing her stuff.
But today, I mustered the courage.
Because it was no one's birthday but Daeun's.
Looking at Daeun bouncing happily in place, I said,
"Let's go say hi to Grandma."
"Yeah! Yay!"
And so, for our special day together, I headed to Sky Orphanage to see Mother Superior after far too long.
Waaah-!
The kids were still racing around the orphanage yard, full of energy.
Things I hadn't noticed when I first arrived came into sharp, clear view, like a foggy veil lifting.
The children's bright smiles and laughter, the trees swaying gently, the breeze from the distant mountains, the scent of grass.
"Daddy! Daeuni wanna play too!"
Seeing the kids running around, Daeun was itching to join.
I shook my head with a smile.
"First, let's say hi to Sister. We have to show our faces since Daeun's here."
Daeun went "Oh!" and bonked her own head.
"Oh! I forgot!"
With her memory, she probably hadn't really forgotten, but I played along with a grin.
"Then shall we go in and say hi together?"
"Yeah!"
With that, I took Daeun's hand and went inside. It had been ages since I'd seen Sister.
"Grandma! Daeuni's here!"
"Oh my! Kanghyeok! Daeun!"
Unlike a few months ago, Sister greeted us with a much brighter expression.
"How have you been?"
"Grandma! Daddy gave this to Daeuni! It's suuuuper cute, right?"
The moment she saw Sister, Daeun showed off her new bunny doll.
"Oh, it's adorable. Has our Daeun been good? Grandma missed you so much."
"I missed you suuuuper duper too!"
"Really? Seeing you like this makes Grandma so happy."
Hee-!
Daeun grinned ear to ear. Sister and I grinned right back.
As we all smiled at each other, Daeun said,
"Daeuni gonna play with fwiends now."
"Oh! Everyone's been missing you too."
"Really?"
Nod.
"Of course. The other kids are out in the yard—want to go see?"
"Yes! Daeuni does!"
Then she scampered over to me and asked,
"Daddy! Daeuni go play?"
"Yeah, of course. Go have fun. Daddy's gonna chat with Grandma a bit and join you soon."
"Mm! Got it!"
With that, off she scampered!
Straight to the yard where the kids were playing.
Watching her go, I smiled at Sister.
"You've been well?"
"Yes, I've been fine. I was worried since I hadn't heard from you lately, but it was just needless concern."
I'd meant to call, but my schedule had been a whirlwind.
"Sorry about that."
"Oh, what for? Seeing you and Daeun doing well is all the relief I need. Have a seat—tea?"
"Ah, sure."
"Just a moment, I'll brew some."
With that, Sister went to the kitchenette and brought back a cup of green tea.
Swipe.
"Hope it's to your taste."
"I'll enjoy it. Thank you."
Slurp.
The slight bitterness coating my tongue was quite good.
"Oh, it's tasty."
"Glad to hear it."
She sat across from me and asked,
"So, how have things been? Has Daeun been asking for Mommy a lot?"
"Hmm, she cried a few times waking up at first, but after a few days, she settled down."
"Oh, I see."
And so I gave Sister a brief rundown of the past few months.
The part that surprised her most was my TV appearance.
"You were on TV?"
"Yeah, just a short guest spot, but people seemed to like it."
"Wow, that's amazing."
Seeing her genuine shock, I smiled and showed her some saved photos on my phone.
"Here's Daeun from the shoot."
"It's real! She looks so cute on camera."
"Right? Turns out she's got that screen presence. Eats up the spotlight."
"Really. I thought she was just a painting prodigy, but I didn't know she had this talent too."
With painting coming up, we naturally shifted topics.
"Did you know about Daeun's drawing ahead of time?"
"Of course. She drew so many while she was here."
"She drew here too?"
Nod.
"Yes, but the first day wasn't the time to show them. I was going to show you later and discuss, but here we are. There's some in the room she stayed in—I'll show you later."
"You might've heard earlier, but we're having her exhibition. Mind if we include some?"
"Her... paintings in the exhibition?"
Sister seemed pretty surprised, so I tilted my head.
"Were they just wall scribbles or something?"
"Oh, no, not that..."
She hesitated a moment, then said,
"I think it might be best not to include those in the exhibition."
"Why?"
"Well... maybe it's better to see them yourself than hear about it."
Sister seemed a bit uneasy about Daeun's drawings.
I had no idea why.
"I'll take a look and decide. It's her artist showcase, so any of her work is fine."
"Well, if you insist... but I doubt you'll be so quick to decide once you see them."
Now I was really curious.
But the conversation wasn't over.
"From what you've said, it sounds like she hasn't started daycare or kindergarten. Any plans? She'll need basic education at least."
I nodded at Sister's words.
"Basic education makes sense. But you know better than anyone about her bad memories with daycare."
Sister was the one who'd told me.
Then, a bit cautiously, she asked,
"Have you talked to Daeun about it?"
"With Daeun?"
She always changed the subject whenever daycare came up—strong aversion.
Shake shake.
I shook my head, and Sister said it couldn't be helped.
"I know it's tough, but for her sake, you should try talking. Daycare might not teach much, but it's a mini-society. Social skills are essential."
Hearing that made me think I should have a proper talk with her.
I'd never really discussed it with Daeun.
"Got it. I'll talk to her when we get home."
Smile.
Sister beamed and looked at me approvingly.
"I was worried you'd fumble a lot and make mistakes, but you're doing great. Dads are tough, huh?"
"Eh?"
Surprised, I stared, and she smiled kindly.
"You're doing well. Both you and Daeun. I'm proud of you two."
Daeun would've been thrilled to hear Sister praise her.
Of course, I was happy too.
Just hadn't gotten praise in so long, I didn't show it.
'Ah, got praised.'
I just scratched the back of my head without a word.
We talked with Sister for quite a while after that.
Parts of living with Daeun that puzzled me as a dad, things I couldn't provide...
Talking openly with Sister felt good—like a weight off my chest.
Thankfully, she listened well too.
Swipe.
"Shall we go see Daeun's drawings now?"
At her words, I stood and glanced toward the yard.
"Why not grab Daeun on the way? She'd love seeing her own art."
Sister shook her head.
"Hmm, better not."
"Pardon?"
"Shall we go?"
No more explanation.
She just smiled and headed to the room with Daeun's drawings.
Step step.
I followed Sister deeper into the orphanage to the room Daeun had used.
At the door, her name was still cutely posted.
"Oh, her name's still up."
"Yes, I left it to show you and discuss later. Let's go in and see."
With that, Sister opened the firmly shut door.
And at the sight inside...
Gulp.
I was speechless.
The room was covered wall-to-wall in Daeun's drawings.
All the same image.
Hyorin's smiling face.
Packed in without a single gap...
'Daeun...'
Filling every inch of the walls.