Chapter 230
Chapter 230
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 230
Chapter Title: Quality Time with Dad
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"No! You can't do that."
The child's laughter prompted a warning from his dad.
It was just a laugh, but seeing him scold the kid made me feel unnecessarily guilty.
After all, it was because of us that the child was getting in trouble.
So I smiled and said,
"It's fine. He can laugh. Honestly, it is a funny title."
At my words, the dad apologized to me with a serious expression.
"I'm sorry. The kid eavesdropped on the conversation."
Such a sudden apology.
"Oh, no, it's okay."
The child seemed a bit deflated by his dad's scolding and turned his gaze back to his phone.
I couldn't say anything about another family's parenting style.
Still, since it felt like the kid got scolded because of us, I kept feeling bad.
But the atmosphere was too solemn to do anything about it.
That's when Daeun asked me,
"Daddy!"
"Yeah?"
"Daeun wants to read a book with oppa!"
"Yeah, o-oppa's reading a book."
At her request to read together, the kid looked up from his phone and glanced at Daeun.
Then he started checking his dad's reaction.
He must have been taught not to butt in rudely, which explained his response.
"Still, okay?"
"Uh... I think you'd have to ask first..."
I glanced at the kid and his dad, who seemed a little conflicted.
Then the dad said to me,
"If it's not too much trouble, it's fine, but somehow..."
Was he about to refuse?
It was a good opportunity Daeun had created.
So I didn't let it slip away.
"We're fine with it. Would it be okay if we read together?"
His expression was still uncertain, but he gave permission anyway.
"Yes, well, if you insist."
"Dad, I'll go."
"Yeah, don't be a bother."
"Yes."
He didn't seem like an elementary schooler at all.
Even being generous, he looked like a low-grade elementary student.
But his behavior was more like a middle schooler.
He must have received pretty strict home education.
He bowed politely.
"Hello."
The kid who approached us—had he been bored out of his mind killing time?
His face was beaming brightly.
It was as if he'd been waiting for this.
"Oppa will read it with you."
"Yay! Oppa likes books too!"
"Yeah, I like books."
"Then let's read! Daeun likes books too!"
Seeing him chat with Daeun like this, he still felt like a kid.
Daeun brought the boy back to our spot and opened the book she'd picked.
I thought she'd start reading right away, but instead she asked something else.
"But, what's oppa's name?"
"Yeah, my name's Junsu Kim."
"Junsu, wow! Cool name!"
"Y-yeah."
"So is oppa in elementary school?"
"Yeah, fourth grade. You?"
"Daeun's five!"
Fourth grade.
For a fourth-grader, he was smaller than expected.
"Five years old—way younger than I thought."
"Hee! Then let's read!"
"Got it."
And so the reading session began.
Junsu started reading to Daeun clearly, word by word, like he was reading aloud.
"Squish! But Dad! How is poop made? Dad answered that. Yeah, poop is what happens when the food we eat gets digested in our stomachs..."
He read steadily, in a way that didn't seem like a typical elementary schooler.
Then Daeun asked curiously,
"But Junsu oppa, does your dad read a lot to you?"
"Yeah, me—"
He glanced at his dad every time before answering.
Then he quietly said,
"No, I've read a lot by myself."
"Why doesn't Dad read to you?"
"Yeah, my dad's busy."
"Dad's busy?"
Daeun peeked out and looked at the boy's dad, who was sitting there staring at his phone.
...Staring like that might make anyone embarrassed.
But since he's a kid, it should be fine, I thought.
"But he's not busy now."
At that, Junsu panicked and said,
"Ah, today is Dad-and-me time."
"Dad-and-me time?"
"Yeah, once a week, we have time to spend with Dad."
"Why? 'Cause Dad's busy?"
"Yeah..."
He said it was Dad-and-me time because Dad's busy, but here they were, killing time in a department store VIP room.
From Junsu's perspective, it probably felt no different from other days.
Hearing the whole story, it made sense why he'd reacted that way when we first saw them.
Then Daeun pouted and said,
"Oppa, this isn't fun."
"...Me?"
"Yeah, Dad-and-me day should be super exciting! If it was me, I'd be so thrilled! But oppa doesn't look like he's having fun!"
At Daeun's words, Junsu blinked without looking at his dad.
As if something had clicked in his mind.
Since it was time set aside for the child, it would be great if he spent it properly with him.
Then Junsu said to Daeun,
"I'll go talk to Dad for a sec."
"Yeah! Okay!"
Junsu got up and headed straight to his dad.
Since he'd been paying attention all along, he immediately acknowledged Junsu approaching.
"Dad."
"Yeah, what?"
"Today's play-with-me day. Play with me."
It seemed Junsu didn't want to just hang out like this.
Considering the day he spends entirely with Daeun, even this precious time off was just being wasted.
But Dad replied with the same expression.
"We're playing right now."
Being together wasn't the same as playing together.
It was about making the child happy and enjoying it.
At his dad's words, Junsu clenched his fist as if making a big decision.
Grip!
"Play with me for real! Super fun!"
Daeun's single remark changed the atmosphere in the VIP room.
The proof was that Junsu's dad, who had been glued to his phone the whole time, was now asking me a question.
He was a dad after all.
Seeing him step up like this.
"Um... what should I do to make the kid have fun?"
Why are you asking me?
If it were my kid, maybe.
Not knowing what his own child likes was a problem.
But since he really seemed clueless, I planned to answer.
"How about thinking back to what Junsu usually enjoys?"
"Hmm... he seems really happy at mealtimes... but otherwise, not sure..."
This dad, really.
No matter what, a parent should remember what their kid likes, right?
But Junsu's dad racked his brain and still came up empty.
"He smiles so brightly when eating. Should we go get something tasty?"
"Hmm... that's not bad, but we can't eat all day, so how about thinking of something else?"
At that, Junsu's dad pondered deeply.
Then he scratched his forehead and said,
"Sigh... I guess I've been neglectful toward Junsu. I can't remember anything."
Neglectful.
We were in a VIP room.
To even be here, you needed serious credentials.
I didn't ask, but Junsu's dad probably lived a busier life than I could imagine.
Considering that...
'No way it's not that he can't remember, but that he never had the time.'
That seemed to be it.
He was so busy that the only time he saw his kid was probably at meals.
So I came up with one idea.
"How about trying various things?"
"Various... things?"
"Yeah, like going to the toy shop, or..."
I glanced at Daeun with Junsu.
"Going to the exhibition on the top floor of the department store."
I invited the two into our space.
The four of us left the VIP room and took the elevator.
Maybe because it was the last day, there were far fewer people than the day before.
Naturally, hardly anyone recognized us.
Ding-.
I asked Junsu's dad,
"Do you go to exhibitions often by any chance?"
"Ah, exhibitions? Not often, but sometimes for business."
"I see. Does Junsu like paintings then?"
"..."
He couldn't answer that question.
Not even caring what he likes.
No matter how busy, he should know at least that much.
Since this conversation wasn't yielding info, I needed to change tactics.
I thought about asking Junsu directly, since he was with Daeun...
'No.'
I was about to, but.
That didn't seem like a good way.
So I quietly asked Junsu's dad,
"How about asking Junsu directly?"
"Directly?"
"Yeah, nothing beats talking to get close to your child."
At my suggestion, Junsu's dad thought for a moment, then asked Junsu,
"Junsu."
"Yes, Father."
"Do you like paintings by any chance?"
"Paintings!"
Junsu's face lit up at the word.
"Yes! I've been going to art academy since I was little! I've entered contests a few times and even won awards!"
"Awards... you won?"
"Yes! It wasn't amazing enough for grand prize, but I got honorable mention! Here! This is my painting!"
Thrilled by his dad's interest, Junsu opened his photo album and showed pictures of his artwork and him holding the certificate.
"Junsu, you... you draw really well."
At his dad's praise, Junsu's expression changed in an instant.
"You think it's good?"
"Yeah, really good. Dad didn't know you could draw like this."
Interest starts with conversation.
Just being together isn't interest.
Truly caring means learning bit by bit through talk what he likes and cares about.
"I'll draw even harder! And me! I got silver in the math olympiad this time! Here's the pic!"
Once the conversation started, Junsu poured out stories about himself nonstop.
But Junsu's dad didn't mind; he listened calmly to it all.
Even after we arrived at the exhibition hall.
"You know, Father! Last week I went to an experience school with that auntie... Ah..."
We'd arrived, so the talk had to pause.
Maybe they should've just kept chatting in the VIP room instead of coming here.
But Junsu's dad soothed his disappointment.
"Don't worry. After we're done here, I'll listen to the rest."
His face lit up!
"Yes! Father!"
Junsu grabbed Daeun's hand and entered the exhibition hall.
Watching them, Junsu's dad said to me,
"Thank you. Thanks to you, I learned more about Junsu."
This probably wouldn't end here.
At least on Dad-and-me days, things would be a bit different from now on.
I said to Junsu's dad,
"Someone once said, when the child needs the parent, the parent isn't there, and when the parent needs the child, the child is gone. At least for Junsu, it seems like now's the time he needs his dad."
At my words, Junsu's dad seemed to ponder...
"Hey, Junsu."
"Yes, Father."
He called out to Junsu entering the hall.
"Call me... Dad, more casually."
His face lit up!
"Yes! Dad!