Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Daddy's Promise
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Sniffle!
Daeun was still sobbing in my arms.
The shock from earlier must have been huge because she wasn't calming down easily.
I held her close, gently patting her back.
"Daddy's right here. So everything's okay now."
Shake, shake.
Still scared, Daeun buried her face in my chest and shook her head.
How on earth had things gotten this bad?
Honestly, even though the timing was off and it took a bit longer than expected, she hadn't been gone long enough to cry like this.
Just a dozen minutes or so.
And she hadn't been alone— the kind lady who had helped her go to the bathroom had been right there.
So what on earth had happened in that time to make Daeun cry like this?
Just then, the woman who had taken Daeun into the ladies' room approached with an apologetic expression.
"I'm so sorry. I thought I was watching her well, but she ended up crying anyway."
I didn't know exactly what had happened yet, so it was hard to say much.
And besides, a little hiccup happens, and kids cry sometimes.
Especially when they're calling for me.
"It's no big deal. But when we went to the bathroom, did something happen? Daeun isn't the type to cry like this over nothing, so it surprised me even more."
"Oh, really? We made it to the bathroom just fine, actually. The trouble started after we came out."
After we came out?
"Could you tell me what happened?"
I asked as politely as possible, not wanting to offend her or make her uncomfortable.
She smiled and replied.
"Sure. Here's what happened."
Her story started about ten minutes ago.
After they came out of the bathroom, things got a little tricky right away, she said.
As her tale continued, I...
...could only hug the still-sniffling Daeun even tighter.
Ten minutes earlier—right around when I had just entered the men's room.
Daeun had finished her business and come out with the kind lady's help.
As soon as they stepped out, Daeun started looking around frantically for me.
"Where's Daddy?"
The lady smiled and said,
"Daddy probably went to the bathroom. If we wait out here together with Ji-eun, he'll be out soon."
"Oh, Daddy went to the bathroom."
"Yeah, see all those people over there? He just went in, so he'll be out any second."
Hearing he'd be out soon, Daeun nodded with a slightly anxious look.
"Okay..."
What was she so worried about? I'd told her we'd wait, but her eyes never left the bathroom entrance.
Seeing Daeun's unease, the lady chuckled and rummaged in her bag.
"Do you like candy? My Ji-eun loves candy. Want one if you do?"
She held out a piece right in front of Daeun.
Swish.
But Daeun just stared at it without taking it. In the end, she shook her head.
"I'll eat it after Daddy comes out."
"Why wait? You can eat it now while we wait."
Even then, Daeun kept shaking her head.
Click!
Just then, the men's room door opened, and two men came out.
"Daddy!"
Daeun rushed toward them excitedly.
But...
"Oh..."
Sadly, it wasn't Daddy.
A flicker of disappointment crossed her face.
Still, Daeun didn't give up. The lady watching her, though, started to look a bit flustered.
"Your name's Daeun, right? How old are you? My Ji-eun is six."
She was trying to distract her, to turn her attention elsewhere so she wouldn't worry.
But Daeun ignored her good intentions, staring fixedly at the bathroom the whole time.
"Daddy... isn't coming out."
"No, Daeun. He'll come out. So..."
Click!
The door opened again, and another person emerged.
"Daddy!"
But once more, it wasn't him.
After two false alarms, Daeun's face visibly darkened.
Her lips even trembled—she looked terribly anxious.
But there was nothing the lady could do.
She just kept talking to Daeun, trying to guide her gaze away.
"Daeun, Auntie will give you candy. If you eat it, Daddy will really come out. He just went to the bathroom, so no need to worry too much."
By then, Daeun's eyes were turning red as she said,
"Daddy might have gotten lost. Daddy can't get lost. Because... Daeun... Daeun loves Daddy..."
Now she was starting to whimper even harder.
"Daeun knows Daddy's... name. Daddy... Waaah!"
Finally, Daeun burst into the tears she'd been holding back.
Even in her distress, she kept crying out.
Begging them to find Daddy.
"Waaah! Daddy! Help..."
With Daeun asleep on my back from sheer exhaustion after crying, we left the aquarium.
Jungeun, walking beside me, asked in a worried tone,
"Daeun's asleep?"
"Yeah, seems like it."
We'd gone hiking that morning, and then she'd cried so hard.
No wonder she was out cold.
At my response, Jungeun let out a small sigh and glanced at Daeun on my back.
"Still, I'm worried."
"About what?"
"Daeun. Looks like separation anxiety to me."
"..."
I'd had the same thought about her behavior.
Separation anxiety disorder is common in young kids, and what she'd shown matched the symptoms.
But I decided not to jump to conclusions.
"We should watch her a bit more. This is the first time she's cried like this."
"First time?"
Nod.
If she'd shown signs before, it might be different.
Sometimes I'd leave her home alone briefly to take out the trash.
Not often, but even then, she'd never cried.
Sure, home is a safe space, so maybe the anxiety didn't flare up as badly.
'But something feels different this time.'
Too soon to call it separation anxiety.
"Let's head back to the lodge for now. Sun's setting anyway, and we need dinner."
"Yeah, I talked to Erina earlier. She said we'd all eat at the hotel together."
"Good call."
"I'll go grab the car, then. You wait here a sec."
Nod.
As I nodded, Jungeun took the bag I was holding and headed to the car.
Meanwhile, I walked slowly so as not to wake Daeun, gently rocking her.
But then.
"Daddy..."
"Yeah? You awake, Daeun?"
Maybe uncomfortable on my back. She rubbed her face against me and said,
"Daeun wants down."
"Oh, okay. Got it."
I set her down on the ground.
Thud.
Once down, Daeun sighed with a somewhat gloomy expression.
"Hoo."
She was only five, and seeing her sigh was both cute and heartbreaking.
What did such a little kid have to sigh about already?
Then, Daeun said something I never expected.
"Daddy, Daeun was super scared. Thought Daddy got lost."
She thought I was gone?
I smiled and replied to her words.
"What are you talking about? Why would Daddy disappear? Daddy will always be by Daeun's side."
"Lie."
"Yeah? A lie?"
"Mommy said she'd always be with Daeun too... but she got lost."
"..."
Her words stopped me cold. What could anyone say to that?
'Daeun...'
I felt so sorry for her.
She'd never said anything like this since we met.
She'd talked about Mommy plenty, but this was the first time she'd voiced the pain of her loss.
The fear that Mommy was gone.
What if Daddy disappeared too?
My little girl must have been terrified.
That's why she cried.
What should I say to comfort her?
After thinking long and hard, I finally spoke.
"Daeun, do you think Daddy will disappear like Mommy?"
Swish.
At my question, she looked up at me steadily.
Then nodded slowly.
"...Yeah."
That probably wasn't what Hyorin wanted. But for a child like Daeun, it would always be a lingering anxiety.
It wasn't something I could just fix with words.
So I had to ask her directly.
How to make her less scared.
"Then Daeun, what can Daddy do so you'll believe in him?"
I wanted to keep her from feeling this way.
But Daeun didn't know either.
"Don't know."
Even adults struggle to understand their emotions—kids are no different. And even if she knew, explaining it would be hard.
So I came up with a solution for her.
"How about this, then, Daeun?"
Swish.
She looked up from her hands into my eyes.
The trust I could give Daeun.
The only promise that could soothe her bruised heart.
"I'll make it so you can find Daddy anytime you want."
"How?"
"Daddy will become super famous."
So that whenever Daeun wanted, she could find me.
"Famous?"
"If you ever miss Daddy, no matter where or when, you can see him—I'll make sure of it by becoming famous."
For Daeun, I'd do anything.
Unlike before.
'If I can give her this trust... I can do it.'
I resolved to become incredibly famous for her sake.
"Then Daeun can see Daddy anytime? On TV too?"
Well, not exactly the TV she meant, but I'd do my best to be visible there too.
"So, Daeun, can you trust Daddy one more time?"
Swish.
At my plea, she blinked her big eyes.
And after a moment...
She nodded slowly.
"Yeah, okay. Daeun believes in Daddy."
Her words brought a soft smile to my face.
I was just so grateful.
"Thanks."
"Yeah!"
But I had one more request for her.
I could let it go, but it might linger in her heart.
"But Daeun."
"Yeah?"
"Um, just in case you misunderstand."
Her eyes blinked curiously, wondering what I'd say.
I looked at her and explained.
"Mommy didn't lie to you."
"She didn't lie to Daeun?"
Nod.
"Yeah. Mommy tried harder than anyone to keep her promise to you. It wasn't a lie."
"Really?"
Hoping no bad memories of Hyorin stuck with her, I told Daeun the truth about her mommy's heart.
"Yeah. Mommy loved you more than anyone."
Luckily, a happy smile bloomed on Daeun's face, as if my sincere words had reached her.
"Yeah!"