Chapter 203
Chapter 203
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 203
Chapter Title: Real Friends
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The performance was more fun than expected.
The actors' performances were quite good, and the princess in the glass slippers, who played the lead role, truly captivated the children's attention.
Especially the moment when she put on the lost glass slipper, the lights suddenly went out, and her outfit magically transformed into a dress.
The kids screamed in delight.
The quality was beyond imagination, making me wonder why it wasn't sold out.
"Alright! See you next time, friends! Bye-bye!"
Clap! Clap! Clap!
From the man in the mouse costume to the wizard, the princess, and the prince, everyone came forward and waved enthusiastically to the audience.
The children—and even the parents who came with them—burst into thunderous applause at the sight.
"Wow, that was so fun!"
"It was awesome!"
The audience kept applauding, sharing their enjoyment, and the cheers continued until the curtain finally fell.
Snap!
With the curtain fully down and the lights popping on in the audience, it was over.
Then!
Peek!
A man in a mouse costume poked his head out from between the closed curtains and shouted toward the seats.
"Alright, friends! Now it's time to take photos with our princess, prince, and all the other characters! It's five thousand won per photo! If you have cash ready, we can take them smoothly! Come on down, line up, and we'll snap them one by one!"
I'd seen it mentioned when I searched for the show.
After the performance, the actors would pose in costume for photos with the kids.
It cost five thousand won, but plenty of children were lining up for it.
These photos would let them cherish the memory later.
So I asked Daeun.
"Daeun, honey, want to take a picture with the princess and prince?"
I probably didn't even need to ask.
Daeun was already standing up.
"Yeah, Daddy, what?"
She was heading down to get in line for photos.
Shaking my head at her, I said,
"No, I mean, let's go take pictures."
Forgetting she was even mad, Daeun replied energetically.
"Yeah! Daeun's gonna take pics!"
Then she dashed off toward the growing line below.
Just then.
"Oh, Daeun's dad!"
Jiyul's family approached with smiles, greeting me warmly. Were they going for photos too?
"Jiyul's dad, you here for pictures too?"
"Yeah, we take them every time and save them."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah, looking back later brings those memories flooding back. It's nice."
Sure, Daeun would remember everything vividly thanks to her memory.
But for most kids, photos or videos were needed to relive the moment.
Smiling, I asked,
"Want to line up together?"
"Oh! Sure!"
And so Daeun and Jiyul, thrilled to reunite, got in line for photos.
"Jiyuri!"
"Daena!"
Even in line, the two girls chatted cutely, overjoyed to see each other again.
Watching them, a thought crossed my mind.
If Daeun had gone to daycare or kindergarten,
She'd have made friends like other kids.
This year was all about preparing for her solo exhibition, so it was unavoidable.
But starting next year, I should talk it over with her and at least send her to kindergarten.
No matter her perfect memory making studying unnecessary,
She needed to build social skills.
Jiyul's dad, who had been watching the girls fondly, asked,
"But is this your first time at a show like this?"
"Oh, the performance? Yeah, first time."
"I see. Honestly, I haven't been doing this long either. I'd love to make time more often, but work keeps me so busy I hardly play with Jiyul enough."
He seemed like a typical dad.
I was a freelancer, so my time was flexible.
If I had a packed schedule, I might not spend as much time with Daeun either.
Moments like this made me grateful for my situation.
Smiling at him, I said,
"You seem to play with her plenty. You can tell how much she loves her dad."
"Haha, no way. We fight all the time."
"You fight?"
My eyes lit up at the mention of father-kid arguments.
"So Jiyul sulks a lot too?"
He looked at me like it was obvious.
"Of course. She sulks more than ten times a day."
"Really?"
I'd spent all this time with Daeun and rarely seen her sulk.
This might be the first time, and that wouldn't be an exaggeration.
I shared what happened with him.
"Actually, this is my first time too. I was busy with work and only met Daeun recently."
"What? You haven't been with her since she was little?"
"Yeah."
No wonder he was surprised.
Normally, dads were there from the moment their kid was born.
"So we've only been together a few months, and like I said earlier, she got upset when I wouldn't marry her. She's been sulking since yesterday, not even talking to me."
He laughed instead.
"That's even better then."
"Pardon? Better how?"
"The sulking!"
What was he getting at?
I couldn't understand why sulking was good.
He explained with a grin.
"Kids don't show their feelings easily if they're shy or uncomfortable with you. So when they sulk at Dad, it means they're emotionally open, comfortable—that's a good thing!"
Sulking was actually normal—healthier, even.
She'd been hiding her feelings from me before.
Staring blankly at Daeun, who was giggling nonstop with Jiyul, I thought,
'Comfortable... with me'
Hearing that made it click.
She'd been desperate to hide her emotions not long ago.
But lately, it felt like she was slowly opening up.
She smiled brightly.
'So that’s it.'
Looking at her, I said,
"That's really great."
Thanks to Jiyul's dad, my whole perspective shifted—from how to fix her sulk to appreciating it.
I might even be grateful for these emotions.
"Still, make up with her properly. This could bring you closer."
"I'll do that. Thanks to Jiyul, Daeun's mood seems way better already. I'm relieved."
"Haha, glad to hear it."
We kept chatting.
Things only a dad could say—or do.
Not just for Daeun, but for me too; talking with him felt like growth.
Our turn for photos came naturally after a while.
"Next group! Come on up!"
The staff called, so Jiyul's family stepped forward first.
Jiyul's dad smiled and asked,
"Mind if we take one together? We met like this—might as well make a memory."
I knew we'd think alike.
I'd wanted to suggest it but worried it'd be a bother.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
"Of course!"
He asked the girls,
"Hey, Jiyul and Daeun, want a picture all together?"
Whoosh.
Their faces lit up instantly.
"Yeah!"
"Gonna take it!"
Knew it.
I quickly paid the staff.
The girls scampered over to the actors, who were already posing.
Then—
Halt!
As if on cue, both stopped and looked up at the handsome prince actor.
Girls would naturally be drawn to the prince.
The staff smiled at them.
"Come on, friends, get closer!"
They whispered something.
Then they spun around and yelled at me and Jiyul's dad.
"Daeun with Daddy!"
"Jiyuri too! Jiyuri with Daddy!"
We blinked in surprise.
"Yeah? Let's take it together?"
"Yeah!"
"Why?"
"Wanna take with Daddy!"
There were people waiting behind.
No time to drag it out.
Reluctantly, we paid and joined the actors beside the girls.
They each grabbed their dad's hand.
Right in front of everyone.
Staring straight at the prince.
"Daddy's handsomer than prince!"
"Our daddy's the prince!"
Whew, probably the most flattering—and a bit embarrassing—moment of my life.
Thanks to the girls, we made an unforgettable memory.
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We said reluctant goodbyes to Jiyul's family.
But getting Jiyul's dad's number beforehand, promising another show sometime, made it better.
Leaving the theater with Daeun, I remembered.
"Oh, right. Daeun, we need to buy that doll."
She shook her head vigorously.
"Daeun no need anymore!"
Was she hiding her feelings again? But her beaming smile said otherwise.
So I asked,
"Why? You wanted it before."
Shaking her head, she said,
"Daeun no need doll now!"
"No need for a doll?"
"Yeah!"
"Why suddenly?"
Giggling like it was the funniest thing, she said,
"Daddy! Daeun wants to do something now!"
"Do something?"
From dolls to sudden wants—kids were unpredictable.
"What do you want? Daddy'll help with whatever Daeun wants."
"Really?"
"Yeah! Really!"
She looked me straight in the eye.
Maybe something she truly needed.
Grinning proudly, I replied. "Let's do it. Daddy'll help you make real friends." "Yeah!"