Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: A Promise with Mom
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My heart was screaming to rush over to Daeun right that instant and ask her.
What promise had she made with Hyorin?
But I couldn't do that.
We were separated from the kids at the moment.
[I'll ask her later when I get the chance.]
Even if I was dying of curiosity, I'd have to hold off for now.
After all, these were kids playing on their own. If their dad had overheard everything from behind the scenes, wouldn't that kill their sense of pride and accomplishment?
"Hey, the kids are coming!"
Jiyul and Daeun gave a quick bow to the part-timer before scanning the area, searching for us.
Seeing that, Jiyul's dad pointed toward where we'd been originally.
"Let's head back to where we were."
"Yeah, that sounds good."
If we timed it right, making it look like we were just finishing up and standing, we could meet the kids naturally.
That's when I remembered something I'd completely forgotten.
[Oh, right. The bill.]
If we just left like this, the part-timer who'd let the kids scoop goldfish would be thrown into total confusion.
He'd gone out of his way to be nice. I couldn't put him in an awkward spot.
So I called out to Jiyul's dad, who was already starting to move.
"Hang on, I'll go settle the bill and catch right up."
"Oh! Right! The bill! Let me handle it. I meant to remember, but I totally spaced."
"No, no. I should do it. What if they go looking for you and you're not there? Jiyul might start bawling again."
"Haha, yeah."
Maybe because he knew exactly what her tears meant.
Jiyul's dad's face lit up quite a bit.
"Here, money."
He said, pulling a ten-thousand-won bill from his pocket.
I chuckled at the gesture and gently pushed his hand away, still holding the bill.
"Nah, forget the money. Consider it my treat for Jiyul."
"Aw, come on, that won't do. We played together."
"You already got them ice cream earlier. This one's on me."
"Heh heh."
Jiyul's dad made a face like he shouldn't accept, but he eventually gave in to my insistence.
"I'll get lunch next time."
Hey, blocking even that would be too cold.
"Make it something tasty."
I grinned.
"You got it. The most expensive, delicious spot in Seoul."
Whoa, no need to go that far.
With that exchange, Jiyul's dad turned to leave.
"Alright, I'll head over first. I'll keep an eye on Daeun, so go ahead."
"Yeah, I'll pay and be right there."
"Got it!"
And so we split off in opposite directions.
Pat-pat-pat!
[He said he'd watch her, but I should still hurry.]
Daeun wouldn't cry without me there, but to keep my alibi solid, it was better to be by her side.
With her memory, she could piece it together easily enough.
I dashed over and called out to the part-timer.
"Hey! Excuse me."
"Oh! You're the dad, right?"
"Yeah, that's me. Thanks so much for earlier."
He scratched the back of his head at my gratitude.
"Aw, no big deal. I do that for all the kids like yours."
"Still, thank you. They had a blast because of you."
Making someone happy.
Even if it's a kid, the good feeling's the same.
Or maybe even bigger.
"Truth is, those kids were so cute, I had more fun than they did."
This guy's got his head on straight.
I nodded appreciatively and pulled twenty thousand won from my pocket, handing it over.
His eyes went wide.
"Uh, it's only ten thousand. You must've miscounted."
I shook my head firmly.
"Nope, that's exact."
"Yeah?"
I had a specific reason for tipping extra.
In case other kids like Daeun and Jiyul showed up.
"Just in case more kids like them come by, use this to let them scoop some."
"Oh!"
The part-timer finally got it.
He beamed and nodded.
"Of course! If any kids want to do what those two did, I'll hook 'em up."
"Thanks. Sorry for the hassle."
"Hassle? Nah, it's fun and games."
If you see it that way, I'm the grateful one.
"Alright, see you."
"Yeah! Say hi to those two next time. Tell 'em to come back for more goldfish scooping!"
Anytime.
"Will do."
With the bill settled, I hurried away.
A short while later, back at the snack spot.
[Huh?]
I caught sight of something I hadn't expected.
Daeun was laughing.
"Cackle-cackle!"
Clutching her belly, no less.
Back at the snack area, the two kids played for another three straight hours.
How did they not get tired? They zipped around the Imagination Playground tirelessly, without a hint of fatigue.
Sure, chasing after them drained every last drop of my energy, but still.
[Glad we came.]
Sharing this place with Daeun felt truly rewarding.
The time here had been so full and meaningful.
"Jiyuri, let's meet again next time..."
"Jiyuri doesn't wanna leave Daeun... Waaah!"
Naturally, it became an unforgettable memory for the kids too.
"Jiyul, we promised to smile and say bye-bye with Daeun."
"Waaah! But Daeun, Daeun!"
That's when Daeun stepped up to Jiyul and held out her hand.
"Jiyuri, let's meet again next time! Daeun wants to play with Jiyuri more!"
Then she turned to Jiyul's dad and asked energetically.
"Okay?"
"You bet! Uncle will make time to bring you see Daeun."
Daeun looked at me next.
"Daddy, okay?"
Was she checking to calm Jiyul down? If so, how could I not back her up?
"You bet! If Jiyul wants to see you, Uncle will squeeze in the time somehow."
Swish.
Satisfied with that, Daeun grinned wide at Jiyul.
"Pinky promise! So no more tears!"
Same cutesy tone as before, but the result was night and day.
"Sniff, yeah... Got it. Jiyuri won't cry anymore."
Jiyul bravely held back her tears, and Daeun gave her a big thumbs-up for it.
Thanks to Daeun, we parted ways smoothly.
Wave-wave!
Daeun kept waving until the elevator doors shut, hiding Jiyul from view. Only then did she lower her arm.
[Feels like something huge just blew through.]
Today's plan had been to build Daeun's independence and make memories.
Running into her friend by chance led to all sorts of unexpected events.
It was hectic, but we forged a new connection and added a page to our memory book through it.
"Daeun, fun today?"
At my question, she looked up with a beaming smile.
Grin!
"Yeah! Super-duper-mega fun!"
That reminded me of their chat at the goldfish scooping.
Daeun had mentioned a promise with Mom, just like Jiyul.
Curiosity finally got the better of me.
"But Daeun."
"Yeah, Daddy?"
"Did you make a promise with Mommy?"
She tilted her head at me.
"How'd Daddy know?"
"How'd I know?"
Nod! Nod!
I came up with a quick white lie.
"Uh, the goldfish uncle and I did some telepathy earlier. He said you made a promise with Mommy."
"Oh!"
She bought it hook, line, and sinker.
"I'll tell you at home, like I did with Mommy."
"What?"
"About Daddy!"
"About me?"
"Yeah! Mommy said this about Daddy!"
She burst out clutching her belly again.
"Cackle!"
"Ah, what? What'd Mommy say?"
"Mommy said Daddy gets super sad when he doesn't see her!"
"Yeah, I get s-sad?"
"Yeah! Pouts out his lips and looks all mopey!"
This woman.
What on earth did she tell the kid?
With that, Daeun explained.
The way Hyorin used to cheer me up when I was down.
"So Mommy said, if Daddy's alone and sad, do this."
"How?"
"Like this!"
She stretched her mouth into a huge grin.
Thrashing around like she'd fall over.
"Mommy said Daddy laughs when she makes faces! So Daeun keeps making funny faces too! To make Daddy laugh!"
Her words brought a rush of memories flashing through my mind.
Daeun was still little, but she laughed a ton.
I'd chalked it up to her just being a happy kid, but no.
Since meeting me, Daeun had been giving her all. To keep her promise with Hyorin.
Swish.
Seeing her grin so bright, I grinned back and stroked her head.
And told my all-out little girl,
"Thanks."
Hee-!
Thanks for keeping your promise with Mommy.
The next morning.
"Ugh."
Maybe from going wild at the Imagination Playground yesterday, but my whole body ached.
I'd done rehab, but my body wasn't fully back to normal yet.
They'd told me to ease into rehab and exercise carefully, but somehow, raising Daeun meant I slacked off naturally.
[Exercise... yeah, that's probably it.]
Arms, legs, abs, shoulders—all knotted up.
Swish.
Then a small, dainty hand poked out from under the bed covers... followed by Daeun's weary voice.
"Daddy, Daeun's arms and legs feel all tingly..."
Tingly? What kinda sensation was that?
'Ow ow ow.'
My muscles cramped all over.
And it felt exactly like the "tingly" she'd described.
[Ah, so that's her tingly. Muscle soreness.]
It was a kind of muscle ache.
Daeun probably hadn't played that hard before, so this was her first taste. And there was one big issue.
"Daddy, Daeun's arms and legs are tingly."
Seemed like the new sensation was hitting her hard.
I quickly massaged her limbs and asked.
Knead-knead!
"It'll feel better soon. Rest a bit more, then we head out. Sound good?"
"Head out? Where's Daeun going today?"
"Where? Studio, obviously. You don't like the studio?"
We'd gone to Daegu and straight to the playground after, so we were running late.
No one was rushing us, but for a painting-loving kid like Daeun, the studio was another playground.
A place that brought happiness just by existing.
"Daeun loves studio!"
At her shout, I smiled.
"And we've got a special guest coming to the studio today."
"Guest who?"
The very person who'd rented us that fantastic studio space.
Department store exec President Jeong Wooyeol was visiting.
"President Jeong Wooyeol's coming today. With tons of your favorite snacks."
Snacks? Her soreness vanished on the spot.
Daeun hopped up and declared.
"Daddy, carry Daeun! Daeun go studio now!"
Man, she loves snacks that much?
Her cuteness had me smiling ear to ear.
"Yeah!"