Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Perfect Timing
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'What... what is this...'
I was getting so many calls that I wondered if I even knew this many people.
Among them were Director Go, the owner of the art supply shop who'd allowed us to film in the studio, and a senior from school.
But despite all those contacts, the very first call I picked up was from one particular person.
"Hello."
-I have something to say.
"I'm sorry."
-You knew, huh.
"Yeah, I didn't expect the fallout to be this big."
The caller was none other than Jungeun Park.
As a reporter, he'd hear about stuff like this first, no doubt.
If I had to prioritize who to call back, it would've been him anyway.
-Still, the fact that you didn't reach out means you at least thought about the aftermath.
"Well, nothing good ever comes from an author showing up on screen."
-So you're saying even though you thought that far ahead, you didn't bother contacting me?
"You know, sometimes you overthink things. You should work on that. It doesn't seem healthy."
-You're seriously saying that right now...?
His reaction caught me a bit off guard.
'He's mellowed out a lot compared to before. No swearing or anything.'
Back in the day, he would've been yelling his head off with curses flying.
But after all the storms he'd weathered while I was laid up in the hospital, he'd softened considerably.
'This side of him isn't so bad.'
I asked the endlessly sighing Jungeun,
"So, you gonna write an article about Daeun?"
-You want me to just let the other guys scoop the Daeun story?
"No, can't have that."
-Alright, I'll tone it down as much as I can, so if anyone contacts you after reading it, just ignore them.
"I can do that."
But could I really ignore them?
Even if I wanted to, something told me they wouldn't let me.
-So, you thinking of debuting Daeun or something?
I'd been meaning to ask about that anyway.
With his years as a reporter, he'd know way more about this stuff than I did.
Sure, there was that manager Park Gi-cheol who'd offered to consult anytime, but...
'Jungeun's a hundred times better.'
Like always, my real manager was still Jungeun.
"No, I don't know what Daeun thinks, but I don't really want to push her into it."
-Knew it. She's never been the type to like that sort of thing anyway.
He was right.
I wasn't great at talking in front of people, and I sure didn't have any talent for being entertaining.
No way I'd be giving deep thought to debuting Daeun.
"Anyway, I could use your help with the article."
-Don't worry. Who do you think it is? Of course I'll put my all into it.
For Daeun, he'd come running right now.
-Talk later.
Click.
After hanging up with Jungeun, I pondered who to call next.
'Oh, Erina called too.'
We'd exchanged numbers just in case, but I hadn't expected her to reach out right on broadcast day.
Figuring it'd be much the same with anyone else, I chose Erina as my second call.
Riiiing—
The tone didn't ring long before her voice came through the receiver.
-Hi! It's Erina!
"Oh, hi. Hope you've been well."
-Of course! I was gonna invite you over to watch the live broadcast together, but I got this event in the countryside out of nowhere.
A famous, talented singer holing up at home would be a huge waste of talent.
"Better to stay busy."
-Yeah, that's what I thought at first, but like you saw...
Was she about to bring up her depression?
-This whole life where you can't even reflect on yourself? It's not happy at all. So lately, I've been practicing letting go of the pressure.
Even if someone seemed to have no worries, they always had their own struggles.
Of course, the size was relative—could feel huge or tiny depending on the situation.
The problem was, the emotions tied to them were relative too.
Even the smallest issue could be life-or-death huge to someone.
Like Erina.
"So, feeling better now?"
-Yes, a lot better. That painting Daeun did must've worked wonders. And the story you told me too.
She meant the iris thing.
As I'd said before, the flower's meaning wasn't a big deal to me, but it seemed like major comfort for her.
-So, here's the thing.
I wondered if she had more to say.
-I feel like I just took so much that day. So, if you're free this weekend, wanna hang out?
"Sure, hang out?"
Her sudden invitation to go out caught me by surprise.
Daeun, overhearing faintly, widened her eyes and asked,
"Daddy, is it me? Or Auntie?"
She pinpointed the caller without hesitation.
"Wanna go play with Auntie Daeun! Daeun go too!"
"Daeun wants to go."
"Yeah! Daeun go too!"
From right after the shoot until this afternoon, Daeun and I had been heading to the studio every day to paint.
It was still just the getting-used-to phase, but thankfully, she was adapting great.
At this rate, we could stick to the original plan.
Even if not...
'A day off won't hurt.'
That thought eased my mind.
So I asked her,
"Where were you thinking?"
She beamed.
-Has Daeun ever been on a plane?
'A... plane?'
The date she mentioned was this weekend. And the destination? Jeju Island.
"I'll talk it over with Daeun and get back to you."
-Sure, I'll be waiting!
After hanging up,
I turned to Daeun, who was staring right at me.
"Daeun, wanna ride a plane?"
"Plane? Like the ones that fly in the sky?"
Nod.
"Yeah, the ones that fly through the sky carrying people."
Her eyes blinked rapidly as she said,
"Daeun wanna ride plane!"
"If Daeun's okay with it, we could ride one this weekend. Wanna go play in Jeju with Auntie?"
After a moment's thought, she answered with determined eyes.
"Yeah! Daeun ride plane with Auntie and Daddy and go play!"
Her excitement made me smile.
'Well, she's still little. Makes sense.'
Daeun's innocence was just too cute.
'Money's gonna cost a ton, though. Impressive.'
Must be true celebrities made bank—she offered to cover everything.
No reason to refuse, so I didn't bring it up.
If she really insisted on paying for it all, no reason not to go.
Though I had no intention of letting her foot the whole bill.
"Alright, I'll tell Auntie we're in."
"Yay! Daeun ride plane! Woo!"
As Daeun cheered happily,
Bzzz—
The phone, quiet from the long call, buzzed again.
And the vibration was...
'Director.'
A text from the director.
[I'll swing by the studio tomorrow with you two. Lunch together.]
We got ready first thing in the morning and headed straight to the studio.
Not just for the director, but to get work done ahead of the Jeju trip.
I'd told Daeun before bed—we needed to paint in advance to enjoy Jeju stress-free.
Daeun, looking out the window, said,
"Daddy, Daeun thought about what to paint today."
"Already?"
"Yeah! Daeun paint that! Plane!"
"What?"
Her wanting to paint a plane made me chuckle.
I'd wondered if she'd want to yesterday, but not that she'd jump on it so fast.
'Simplicity's the charm.'
I hadn't known before raising a kid.
But living with Daeun taught me how kids' pure straightforwardness...
...could really calm the heart.
Hate it? They hate it.
Love it? They love it.
To adults burying emotions like robots, kids' clear feelings were a ray of light.
"And clouds too!"
"Why? Daeun got something to say to the clouds?"
Mom had said something like that.
"Uh-uh, no."
"Oh, just painting them then?"
"No!"
Every question got a no, so I changed tack.
"Then why paint clouds?"
Daeun surprised me.
"Not Daeun! Mommy!"
"Mommy?"
"Yeah! Mommy always looks at clouds and says stuff—Daeun wanna say too!"
Mom had said something looking at clouds.
"What was it?"
I asked eagerly, but she just shook her head.
"Secret! Mommy said never tell others."
"I'm not others, I'm Daddy. Still no?"
"Yeah! Only Mommy and Daeun know."
Daeun, that's a bit hurtful... Mommy and Daeun's secret...
But I wasn't gonna force it.
These things usually came out naturally with time.
Call it my parenting know-how.
"Guess can't be helped. Tell me what Mommy said later."
No clue what Hyorin said, but... I kinda felt like I knew.
It'd be just like her.
Screech.
Chatting away, the taxi pulled up to the studio.
"Faster than usual."
We'd left a bit early.
Maybe 'cause lunch wouldn't overlap, but we arrived ten minutes ahead.
"Yeah! Early good! Daeun go up and paint!"
"Alright, let's go."
As we headed into the building,
Screech.
A familiar car pulled up out front.
The doors opened, and out stepped the director and Painter Oh.
"Kanghyeok! Long time no see."
"Uh."
"Wow! Director and Uncle!"
When did they get back to Seoul? I thought Daegu would've taken longer to wrap up.
Painter Oh smiled.
"Came straight here after arriving. Thanks to you, we could come up like this."
Made me bashful.
"What'd I do."
"What do you mean? Without you, we wouldn't have even thought of Seoul."
She looked at me and Daeun, smiling brightly.
"This is all thanks to you two."
Then, out of nowhere, Painter Oh added,
"Oh! And I wanted to share this news too."
"What news?"
"We've been apart so long. Figured we'd patch things up with a trip."
"Tr-trip? Where?"
A trip, suddenly.
She laughed at my question.
"Thinking Jeju."
Jeju.
"J-Jeju? Uh, when?"
Her answer left me laughing hollowly.
"This weekend."
Haha, timing.