Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: Surprise Trip to the Baby Dinosaur Museum
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As soon as we left the hospital, we headed near the school to meet Minji.
And right on cue, we were able to hitch a ride in Minji's car as she was coming out.
"Long time no see, everyone."
It had been almost two months since we'd last met.
Daeun happily greeted her back.
"Auntie! Daeun went to the dentith!"
"Yeah, the dentist."
"Yeah! But they did a ton of treatmentht on my teeth!"
"Wow, that's impressive. Daeun seems braver than Auntie."
Naturally, Daeun was bragging about her dentist visit, and Minji laughed as she responded.
Just listening to their conversation lifted my spirits.
Vroom!
As the car pulled out, Jungeun Park asked,
"But is it okay for you to be out like this?"
"Of course not."
"Yeah, no it's not."
"Yep. There's a ton of work for the pamphlet production. But if I didn't come out today, I really wouldn't get a break, so here I am despite being busy."
Jungeun sounded worried as he asked,
"But still, is that okay?"
"What can I do? If not now, I can't go on a date with you like this."
"Oh..."
"I'm out here today determined to spend time with you, so no more work talk."
"Minji..."
Tch. Should I just get out of the car?
I spoke up with a somewhat bored expression amid their exchange.
"I'm right here."
"Oh..."
"Yeah."
What the heck.
I knew they'd both been through a lot emotionally these past couple months.
Still, it felt a bit like I was intruding on their couple time and ruining their date.
The problem was, they didn't seem to mind at all.
I turned away, pretending not to notice, and said to the pair,
"But a graduation exhibition? Brings back all sorts of memories."
Minji let out a deep sigh and said,
"That's because it's all in the past for you. For the graduating students, it's hell."
"Well, that becomes a memory too. Oh! Then Aram must be in the thick of preparations."
"Yeah, how do you know Aram?"
"I didn't."
"What?"
"Aram Go, niece of the director at Arnia Gallery."
"!!"
Minji's face filled with shock.
As if she'd never heard it before.
"Don't lie."
"Why would I lie?"
She glanced at Jungeun, still unable to believe it, and asked again,
"Is that for real?"
"Yeah, it's true."
"Whoa..."
Yeah, Minji wouldn't have known.
Even Aram's friends didn't know.
"I really had no idea. The director from Arnia Gallery is coming to the graduation exhibition this time too."
"She probably will."
"Of course. She never misses it every year."
This time might feel a little different, though.
Since her niece's work will be on display.
"But the issue isn't her."
"Yeah, is something up with Aram?"
At that, Minji gripped the steering wheel and explained,
"Yeah, kind of. Aram hasn't been able to paint for a while. Then she started painting again at some point, but with the exhibition so close, she seemed really stressed."
Ah, is that what she was talking about?
When Director Yoon visited, she mentioned Aram struggling because she couldn't paint.
She probably started painting again after that.
"Well, Aram will do great. She's super talented."
Nod.
If it's the Aram I know, she'll pull it off just fine.
Then, as if to change the mood, Minji smiled and said,
"If you can make time, the graduating students would love it if you came."
"I've already promised Aram. I'm going to the graduation exhibition. With Daeun."
"Daeun wants to go too!"
"Oh! Professor really knows?"
"The professor probably doesn't. I haven't mentioned it regarding this."
"Awesome. The school's biggest star showing up at the graduation exhibition. The kids will freak."
Suddenly, Minji clapped and brought up something out of left field.
"Oh! Since you're coming to the graduation exhibition anyway, how about doing this?"
"This?"
"A special lecture."
"What?"
The words "special lecture" made my eyes widen.
"The professor was just looking for someone to give one, and you'd get an instant yes."
So...
She wants me to give a special lecture in front of the students?
"Th-that's a bit..."
"Why? The professor and students would love it. You might not know, but you're pretty famous at school."
I know I'm famous.
I've seen the painting in the practice room, and heard how my story circulates like legend around campus.
But even so, me giving a special lecture?
Jungeun chimed in, backing her up.
"Not a bad idea. Give it a shot."
"Now that you say that, I really don't want to."
"Why?"
"You're thinking of writing an article about it. Scoop of the century, right?"
Jungeun averted his gaze out the window and muttered,
"Nah, not at all."
"Totally are."
"Wh-what do you take me for? I'm not that kinda guy. N-no."
His reaction screamed guilty as charged.
Because of that, I really didn't want to do it now.
"Nah, I'll pass. What would I even lecture on?"
Daeun, who'd been listening from the side, asked curiously,
"Daddy! What's a thpecial lecthure?"
I smiled warmly, about to explain kindly.
But Jungeun's face changed, and he beat me to it.
"You know teachers, Daeun?"
"Teachers! Yeah!"
"Daeun's daddy's gonna be a teacher."
"Daddy ith?"
"Yeah, a super special teacher! That's why it's a special lecture."
Sparkle!
Uh... the mood's shifting weirdly.
Daeun's eyes sparkled intensely at the "super special teacher" bit.
Then she looked at me and yelled,
"Daddy! Do it!"
"Uh, you want me to?"
"Yeah! Be a thpecial teacher, Daddy!"
Daeun's insistence was a tad forceful.
Behind her, Jungeun smirked meaningfully, mouthing silently at me:
Me. Get. Played! Using Daeun like that? Low blow! But... "Daddy's a thpecial teacher! Daeun's heart's going doki-doki!" "Ah, alright." Damn, her cuteness got me without thinking.
It was a bit early for dinner.
But Minji kept driving somewhere.
Curious, I asked,
"So, where are we headed?"
"To eat dinner."
"But we seem pretty far out."
Minji smiled faintly and said,
"Yeah, since I'm eating with you and Daeun, I found a good spot."
I checked the time: still only 3 PM.
"Won't it be too early if we go now?"
At this rate, we'd be stuffing food in before the donkatsu from lunch even digested.
But Minji, who had plans, laughed and said,
"Just follow me. I've got it all figured out."
Where the hell was she taking us?
Just then, Jungeun noticed the direction and asked, a bit surprised,
"Wait, no way..."
"Figured out where?"
"You probably will too."
"Where?"
As I wondered where we were going, Jungeun asked Minji,
"You're not taking us to that volunteer spot, are you?"
"Oh, you remember."
"Volunteer activity?"
That jogged my memory of the past.
The volunteer work Minji and Jungeun had done together.
I whipped my head to look out the window.
And realized where we were headed.
"Ah, there..."
The volunteer activity with me, Hyorin, Minji, and Jungeun.
"How's that for a surprise?"
I smiled awkwardly at Minji's words.
"You're something else. How'd you even think of going there?"
"I was searching for a good place since we're eating with Daeun, and it popped up. Plus, it's a memory with Hyorin too, and I figured Daeun would love it. We probably had shabu-shabu after last time."
Nod.
Right. I remember.
That's when I first learned Hyorin loved shabu-shabu.
Daeun, unable to contain her curiosity any longer, asked me,
"Daddy! Where we going?"
I grinned and told her,
"Somewhere Daeun will love."
"Where?"
"The Baby Dinosaur Museum."
"Baby dinothaurs?"
The baby dinosaur cartoon from way back.
Turned into a museum-like exhibit.
That's where we'd done volunteer work.
"Yeah, Mommy loved it a ton too."
Daeun's face lit up as she said,
"Wanna go! Daeun wants to see!"
Screech!
Minji parked in the lot and announced,
"And that's why we're here! Baby Dinosaur Museum!"
Old memories flooded back happily as we arrived at the Baby Dinosaur Museum.
Chatter chatter.
"Wow, it's exactly the same. It was packed back then too."
"Yeah, really crowded."
Even on a weekday afternoon, tons of kids were there.
Seeing them got Daeun all excited too; she grinned ear to ear, looking thrilled.
"Daddy! Daeun wants to go in!"
"Yeah, yeah, tickets first."
But Minji stopped me.
"I'm buying today, so you just chill."
"Aw, you're getting dinner, let me get these."
"Ehehe! Jungeun, hold Kanghyeok back."
"Uh, got it."
Then Jungeun came behind me and bear-hugged me tight.
I tilted my head at him and asked,
"What are you doing?"
"Holding you back."
"Why?"
"'Cause Minji said to."
Sheesh.
He said that, but he hugged with all his strength, not letting go.
Daeun thought it looked fun and came over, hugging my leg.
I smiled awkwardly and asked,
"D-Daeun, what're you doing?"
"Daeun wants to too!"
She hugged my leg even tighter with a mischievous grin.
Haha, sheesh.
It was funny and cute at the same time; I just chuckled as Minji, apparently done buying tickets, waved them and approached.
"Alright, let's head in."
She went to Jungeun, patted him, and said smiling,
"Good job."
"Uh, th-thanks."
I'd felt it before, but you could tell Jungeun really loved Minji.
Smiling at that, I said,
"True love right there."
They both turned to me and said,
"Says the pot calling the kettle black."
"Yeah."
"You were the same."
"With what?"
"Back at that volunteer thing. You and Hyorin were just like us."
"Exactly. Made our eyes hurt."
They grinned at each other.
"Nah, probably not."
They snorted at me.
"As if. Wanna hear how you two were?"
Minji gazed into space, reminiscing, and said,
"You were all flustered over Hyorin, and she had no clue."
"W-wait, you get it now, so no more..."
Bad feeling.
I tried to stop it, but...
One person derailed that.
"Daeun's curious! Tell me!"
"Daeun wants to know too."
"Yeah!"
"Guess we have to tell then."
She shrugged at me and continued,
"So, Daeun's daddy back then, right?"
"Yeah!"
"Total idiot. You know that?"
Daeun turned to me and asked,
"Daddy idiot?"
No, Daeun...
But Minji laughed and agreed.
"Idiot for sure. Only had eyes for Daeun's mommy."
Ugh, felt like I'd opened Pandora's box.