Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Daeun's First Zoo Trip
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The call with the director had ended, but I was still lost in thought.
'Well, exhibitions aren't only in Seoul.'
The director I knew wasn't someone whose influence was limited to Seoul.
She was a nationwide figure.
That was probably why she was so busy. Just participating in exhibitions across the country left her short on time.
She was probably planning to send us to a few of those places, I speculated cautiously.
'Still, it's her way of looking out for us.'
She might come off brusque on the outside, but she had a warm heart.
Having sorted out my thoughts, I stretched and got up from my chair.
Scrape.
'Alright, time to get moving.'
Daeun still had at least an hour or two before she'd wake up.
I'd woken up early partly because of the director's call, but there was other business to attend to anyway.
Swoosh.
A quick glance around the room showed Daeun still fast asleep.
She wouldn't wake even if I stepped out for a bit.
'Got to shop quick and get back.'
Click.
To keep the promise I'd made with Daeun the day before, I headed out.
Jungeun Park had come into work at the crack of dawn to organize the article he'd researched the day before.
[Mauricio Cartiran's domestic exhibition draws massive attention...]
Swoosh.
Mauricio Cartiran was an Italian artist who'd caused quite a stir.
A few years back, one of his pieces at a prestigious international art fair had skyrocketed his popularity worldwide.
When Park heard rumors of him holding an exhibition in Korea, he'd barely slept for days, relentlessly making contacts until he finally connected with Cartiran's side.
After a long conversation, he'd secured the exclusive rights to the story.
It was the fruit of his labors, but Park's expression wasn't exactly thrilled.
It seemed to be because of another article floating next to the one he was editing.
'Man, his presence is just on another level.'
[In this art contest jointly hosted by multiple universities, Painter Kanghyeok Lee—who'd been absent due to health issues—made an appearance alongside his daughter...]
He hadn't been able to reach out lately because of the Mauricio Cartiran buzz, and now this—Lee revealing himself here of all places.
Of course, knowing what kind of person Kanghyeok Lee was, Park couldn't blame him.
Still, it felt a bit premature, and that worried him.
Their relationship with Daeun was still fresh, and there were so many loose ends to tie up.
'Not like he's lacking in a way that I need to worry.'
There was just one thing that gnawed at him.
Bae Changshik, the guy who went around calling himself Kanghyeok Lee's rival.
Smack.
Park paused his writing and pressed his palm hard against his lips.
It might not happen right away, but he could picture it eventually coming to a head.
Staring at the monitor with a face full of worry, he finally muttered.
"Whew. Time for a coffee."
He got up, hoping to cool his throbbing head.
Right then.
Bzzz.
Life had a way of doing that.
The things you worry about? It's like the universe plays a prank, making them happen right then and there.
[Bae Changshik Painter]
Seeing the name on the screen, Park plopped back into his chair and picked up awkwardly.
"Hey, Changshik. Long time."
Click.
I'd filled the prepared lunchbox to the brim and grinned contentedly.
'All done.'
The day before, when we'd gotten home in Manager Jeong's car, seeing Daeun so happy had sparked an idea.
I wondered where she and Hyorin might have gone to play while I was away.
So I asked, and that's when I learned it.
Hyorin hadn't made any memories with Daeun because of the immediate realities staring her down.
'Consider this paying back the real debt I owe you.'
Why wouldn't Hyorin want to create memories with Daeun?
It was because of me that reality had gotten in the way.
The old me would've been wracked with guilt. But now? Things were different.
At least I knew what I needed to do right now.
Smile.
Over the past month, thanks to the director, I'd been to a lot of places.
And one thing I'd realized: I wanted Daeun to experience all the things she hadn't growing up so far.
Like the zoo, a place she'd never been to.
Click.
"Daddy."
Just then, Daeun shuffled out, still groggy with sleep.
I walked over smiling and asked.
"Did Daeun sleep well?"
"Yeah. Did Daddy?"
"Daddy slept great."
Daeun sniffed the air, eyes half-closed.
"Smells yummy."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, this is..."
Pondering, she figured out what I'd cooked.
"It's kimbap!"
"Oho! Right answer! Yep. We're going out to play together today, remember?"
Daeun's eyes went wide.
"Really! Daeun's going to play!"
"With who?"
"With Daddy!"
"Bringing what?"
"The lunchbox!"
Hee!
Daeun beamed happily and started hurrying.
"Daeun's gotta get ready quick. The friends might be waiting."
"Friends?"
"Yeah! Animal friends!"
She'd never been to a zoo, so this reaction was only natural.
"What animal does Daeun like?"
"Daeun."
"Yeah, I was asking if there's a special animal friend you really wanna see."
Daeun put her little hand to her chin, pondering her favorite.
Then, with a big frown, she said.
"Nooo, gotta pick just one friend? What if the others get sad? Daeun likes them all..."
My mistake.
I'd just asked what animal she liked, but sweet-hearted Daeun worried the others might feel left out.
'So cute.'
Maybe because it's the pure thinking only a kid can have.
Daeun was just too adorable.
"Then like them all!"
Whoosh!
Daeun whipped her head around to look at me.
"Really okay?"
"Of course! Totally."
"Then Daeun likes them all!"
Her worried face vanished, replaced by pure joy. Smiling, I said.
"Then let's get ready quick and go see the animals."
"Yeah!"
And so, to make another memory with Daeun, we headed to the zoo.
It was Daeun's first time at a zoo in her life.
With several zoos in Seoul, I had to pick the best one.
And the winner was.
'The Seoul Children's Zoo it is.'
This place, with its park and amusement park combo, was a kid's paradise.
I wanted to hit the amusement park too, but that'd eat up too much time, so I saved it for next time.
It's not like today was the only day.
As soon as we arrived, Daeun threw her arms wide.
"Wow! So many people!"
Maybe because it was the weekend, but the place was packed.
Mostly parents with kids, but some couples dotted around too.
Old memories surfaced unbidden.
'Come to think of it, Hyorin and I came here once.'
Sophomore year of college?
We'd scored some tickets by chance and ended up at the Seoul Children's Zoo.
This place stuck with me because it was here I first saw Hyorin differently.
Not as a friend, but as a woman.
"Daddy! Daeun wants to go quick!"
The kid really wanted to meet her animal friends that badly.
Daeun stomped her feet impatiently.
"Alright, alright. Let's go meet the animal friends."
"Yeah!"
"Yeah!" she shouted energetically, but didn't budge.
Puzzled by her odd behavior, I asked again.
"Shall we go?"
"Yeah! Let's go!"
Ah, got it.
Daeun must've been scared to lead the way alone.
She wanted to go bad, but taking the front? Terrifying.
Pretending not to notice, I held out my hand.
"Wanna hold hands and go together?"
Nod! Nod!
Whoa, no need to nod that vigorously.
Like she'd been waiting, Daeun grabbed my hand tight.
How cute was that?
I couldn't help but smile.
"Let's go."
"With Daddy!"
Holding hands calmed her down.
Regaining her confidence, Daeun tugged me along inside. And we arrived at...
Roarrrrr!
The savage beasts zone.
"Eek!"
Daeun, who'd been fine, yelped at the tiger's roar and hid behind my leg.
Trembling, she said.
"Daddy! T-the tiger's mad!"
The tiger's mad? Too cute—I nearly laughed but held it in and explained carefully.
"That's not the tiger being mad. It's, um, like how we talk to each other."
"Talk?"
Peeking out from behind my leg—adorable.
"Yeah, it's saying hi to Daeun, happy to see you."
"R-really? Happy to see Daeun?"
"Of course. You wanted to see the tiger, right? It probably wanted to see you too. Wanna be brave and go say hi?"
"......"
Not interested.
She hemmed and hawed, clearly resolved to skip it if she could.
But could sweet Daeun, who couldn't even pick one favorite animal, turn down the tiger's "request"?
Good-hearted as she was.
"G-gotta be brave."
With that vow, she stepped into the savage beasts zone.
Step.
Inching toward the tiger's enclosure, Daeun and I froze at...
Roarrrrr!
Another roar.
Daeun clutched my leg hard, face scrunched in distress.
"R-really! R-really happy to see Daeun? Not mad! Tiger not that mad!"
Now denial too.
Seeing her at a loss, I just smiled gently.
No need to push if she was this scared.
Looking at her insisting it was mad, I said.
"It's okay to skip it. If it's too scary, we can come back later."
Daeun asked urgently.
"R-really okay?"
"Yeah, totally. When Daeun feels brave, we'll come back then. Sound good?"
She furrowed her brow cutely, deep in thought.
No clue what she was pondering so hard, but Daeun was surely worrying if the tiger would be sad.
Because she was so kind.
Finally, she seemed to decide.
"Daeun decided!"
"Come back later?"
"No! Daeun's gonna say hi to the tiger."
Oho! Brave enough for a hello?
"You sure you're not scared of the tiger?"
She gulped.
"Not scared! Daeun not scared at all."
"Really?"
Looked fake, but she wanted to believe it.
"Yeah! Daeun's gonna say hi to the tiger."
With that, she spun around bravely and marched toward the enclosure.
Just as we neared it.
Roooaaarrrrr!
The earth-shaking roar hit again.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
"T-ti-tiger! H-hi!"
Daeun waved vigorously at it.
Awkwardly smiling at my brave girl, I said.
"Hey, Daeun."
"Y-yeah! D-Daddy!"
"You gotta face the tiger to say hi. If you wave with your back turned, it won't know."
Tremble!
At my words, Daeun's eyes shook wildly.