Midterms Over, The School Festival Begins (3)
As Children's Day drew near, the whole family headed out together with Jina, making the most of the rare holiday. The news that a school festival was happening had already reached them through a call from Yuna before Jihyeok even left the house. His mother worried they ought to prepare something, but Jihyeok wasn't concerned at all.
"Some of the kids planned to prepare separately today, so it's fine. Even if I show up, there's not much for me to do anyway."
"Your class is doing a paper craft workshop, right? What exactly do you do there?"
"I got the idea from the gift you gave me, hyung. The whole family works together to create something, then we decide whether to take it home or put it on display."
"What will you do with it after the festival ends?"
"It's simple. There's a kindergarten near the elementary school Jina attends, right? I was thinking of turning them into mobiles and donating them. I'll ask the rest of the class too, of course."
Once the family had no more questions about the school festival, they took Jina's excited hand and headed toward their destination.
"Where are we going?"
"We thought our Jina might be hungry, so we're going to eat."
"Wow! Food!"
"You like that idea that much?"
"We're going to Mom and Dad's side-dish shop, right?"
…That's not it, Jina.
It wasn't the parents' side-dish store but a restaurant serving food that children could happily devour. Playing was important, but as the saying went, even Geumgang Mountain looked better after a meal. After ordering for everyone, they asked Jina a question.
"Since today is Children's Day, we'll focus on whatever Jina wants to do. Is there anything you've been wanting to try?"
"Hmm… I just like spending time together with Mom, Dad, and both my brothers like this!"
"…Huh? Really?"
"Yeah! Everyone except Jihyeok oppa is always busy with work… Just being together like this is already enough to make me happy!"
"…You shouldn't be saying things like that already, Jina."
"She's only twelve, but she's already so mature…?"
"…I don't think that's the case."
The parents and Jiwook had come out wanting to do something special for her, so they hadn't expected those words. Among the four of them, Jihyeok—who knew Jina best—asked her gently.
"Then would you like to come play with the family on the school festival day?"
"Huh? To oppa's class?"
"Yeah. I'll probably be busy folding paper and won't be able to play with you much, but Mom, Dad, and Jiwook hyung will be there too. I thought it might still be fun. It'd be even better if you helped me."
"What are you making?"
In answer to Jina's question, Jihyeok showed her the project on his phone. After looking at it, Jina seemed a little daunted.
"It's not made from a single sheet. You fold one part from each sheet and assemble them. If you finish it nicely, you can take the finished piece home the way you want, Jina, or exhibit it at school."
"Oh? Then the things Jina makes will be seen by unnie and the oppas?"
"That's right. After the festival there's a kindergarten next to the school you attend, right?"
"Yeah! We finish at the same time a lot, so we bump into each other pretty often!"
"I'm thinking of turning what you make into little toys and donating them to that kindergarten."
"Wow! I want to go! I want to show the little kids what Jina made!"
Her excitement pushed her voice a little too loud. Jihyeok looked at her and motioned for her to lower it. Jina's eyes went wide, then she clapped both hands over her mouth with a small "Ah!"
"Jina got too excited…"
"It's okay. That can happen. Just remember not to do it next time, right?"
"Yeah. Jina will be quiet."
Jihyeok stroked her hair and praised her.
"That's our Jina."
"Hehe. But when are we going to fold paper?"
"Hmm… probably tomorrow."
"Will the doll unnie come too?"
"Doll unnie? …Ah. You mean oppa's girlfriend?"
"Yeah! The unnie who's as pretty as a doll!"
"I'll ask her."
After seeing how impressed his parents looked at his skill with Jina, and Jiwook raising a thumbs-up while clearly thinking As expected of Yoon Jihyeok, Jihyeok gave a small smile and took out his phone to call Yuna.
"Boyfriend-nim~ Hi! What's up~?"
Jihyeok spoke to the voice that always greeted him with obvious delight whenever she picked up his calls.
"We're preparing for the festival tomorrow. You'll come then, right?"
"Yep! You're coming too, right, boyfriend-nim?"
"Yeah. It looks like Jina will come with me. She said she wants to see you, Yuna."
"Jina? Ah~ Your little sister, boyfriend-nim?"
"That's right. So I'll probably bring her tomorrow—is that okay?"
"Of course I'm happy to have her~ I was thinking of bringing Seohee too. How's that?"
"Really? Hmm… I think it'll be fine. They can start getting to know each other tomorrow. Since we live close, they can make plans and hang out on their own too."
"Got it~ See you at school tomorrow~ Love you!"
"Yeah. See you tomorrow."
Jihyeok covered his mouth and whispered in a voice so soft his family wouldn't hear.
"…I love you more."
"What~? Your voice is too quiet, I can't hear you~"
"…My family's right here. It's embarrassing."
"Hehe. I understand~ I'll make up for everything we couldn't do today at school tomorrow~"
"Please have mercy."
After hanging up with Yuna, Jihyeok told Jina,
"She's coming tomorrow. But… it looks like one extra person will be joining us."
"Huh? Who?"
"Seems like Yuna's little sister is coming too."
"Huh? Yuna unnie has a sister?"
"Oh my. Really?"
"How old is she?"
"She's the same age as Jina. So becoming friends shouldn't be too hard."
"Oh. That's nice."
The moment she heard they were the same age, Jina's excitement shot up again.
"Jina's getting another friend the same age? And she lives super close!"
"Yeah. Remember when I went over to Yuna's house to play last time? You met her then, right? She was shy at first, so it might be hard to approach her in the beginning."
When Jihyeok spoke with a hint of worry, Jina eased his burden.
"Kids around my age usually feel awkward with strangers at first. But she's still coming even though doll unnie and oppa are there, right? That means she's comfortable with you, oppa, so Jina can become friends with her too!"
"Who did she take after to be this smart?"
"Mom, Dad, and both oppas!"
"Haha. Good thing we had a daughter."
At Jina's answer, satisfied smiles bloomed across her parents' and Jiwook's faces. Just then, their ordered dishes began arriving one by one. Once everything was on the table, the whole family started eating with gusto.
The plan to visit the amusement park collapsed under the weight of the enormous crowd.
"As expected of Children's Day…"
"I knew it would be busy, but I didn't think it would be this bad…"
"We really underestimated it, huh? Is there anywhere decent nearby?"
While their parents and Jiwook hesitated over the ruined schedule, Jihyeok turned to Jina.
"The amusement park looks impossible… Want to go to a playground instead?"
"Jina's too old for playgrounds. A walk would be nice!"
"A walk? I wonder if there's a trail around here…"
Hearing that Jina wanted to stroll, their father had a good idea and spoke while looking at the family.
"If it's a walk you want, then that place is perfect!"
"You know a good spot?"
"Of course! It's somewhere your mother and I used to go on dates all the time!"
"With Mom?"
"Ah~ So that's the place~ But isn't it a bit far?"
"It's about a thirty-minute walk. What do you think?"
"Hmm…"
Jina, the star of the day, thought it over. It didn't take long before she grabbed Jihyeok's hand and declared,
"Jina is already happy just from eating together with the family! Right now I really want to meet Seohee soon!"
"Well, at her age she should play as much as she wants."
"Haha. If our daughter asks, we have to listen."
"Our Jina wanted to play with her friend, didn't she?"
"Yeah! We're meeting tomorrow anyway, so it's okay to meet today too, right?"
"We should still ask, but… wait a second. Let me try calling."
Jihyeok lifted his phone to call Yuna, but before he could dial, an incoming call appeared. It was from Yuna.
"Oh? Hold on. My girlfriend's calling."
"Answer it quickly."
"Okay."
Jihyeok pressed the call button.
"Yay~ You picked up right away? Did you miss my voice?"
"That too, but I have a suggestion."
"Huh? What kind of suggestion? Should we get married?"
"…What are you even saying? Jina wants to meet Seohee."
"Seohee? Hehe. She wants to meet her that badly?"
"Yeah. So if it's okay with both of you, I was going to ask if we could meet right now."
"Mmm~ Got it~"
"But is it really okay?"
"What is~?"
"I was worried it might be too sudden."
"No need to worry about that at all~"
"Huh?"
"Who's standing right behind you right now, boyfriend-nim?♡"
"…?"
Hearing the meaningful words spoken in that loving tone, Jihyeok turned around exactly as Yuna had hinted. There she was.
"…Why are you here?"
"Hehe. I missed you, so I came~"
"Since it's Children's Day, unnie brought me to the amusement park instead of our busy parents. I didn't expect to run into you here."
Holding Seohee's hand, Jihyeok's girlfriend—Yuna—had appeared.
"Huh? What, did you two plan to meet?"
"Oh my~ Yuna, you're here?"
"Yuna, what brings you here?"
"Wow! It's doll unnie!"
Yuna wore a blue frilled dress made of breathable fabric perfect for the warming season, and she had even put on beautiful makeup as if she had anticipated meeting Jihyeok. The sight left Jihyeok frozen in place.
"Unnie. Oppa looks like he's frozen solid."
"Huh? What? Is he nervous?"
"We just met so suddenly that he's surprised… Is this a coincidence?"
"I heard Jihyeok was going out with his family today and guessed you'd come straight here~"
"Wow. Perfect prediction."
Jiwook walked over to Jihyeok and whispered in his ear.
"Stop standing there stunned and compliment her already. What are you waiting for?"
"…Right. Thank you."
After shaking off the tension that had seized his whole body, Jihyeok looked at Yuna's outfit and said,
"You look beautiful today too. …It really suits you."
"Thank you~"
"…What? Should we give you two some space to date?"
"Hi!"
"Oh! You startled me… Who…?"
Seohee seemed surprised by the suddenly appearing Jina and quickly hid behind Yuna.
"Ah. Did I come on too strong? I'm Yoon Jina, Jihyeok oppa's little sister! We're the same age!"
"…Uh, yeah… Nice to meet you."
Seohee looked like she was having trouble adjusting to someone with such dramatically higher energy than herself. Jihyeok looked at her and explained,
"It's Children's Day, so it's been a while since Jina got to go out with the whole family. She's really excited. It's been a while, Seohee. Have you been doing okay?"
"I've been fine, but… I don't think I can keep up with that energy."
"Come on, Seohee. Your new friend is greeting you. At least say hello, okay?"
"Yeah… Hello. I'm Han Seohee."
"Han Seohee… What a pretty name!"
"…Thank you."
Watching Jina charge forward with full enthusiasm to become friends while Seohee still struggled to match the high tension, Jihyeok couldn't help feeling it was just like the early days of his own relationship—him with zero immunity to skinship and Yuna actively closing the distance.
"If she startled you, oppa will apologize on her behalf."
"N-no, it's okay. I wasn't startled."
"It looks like Jina really wants to get along with you."
"…Is that true?"
"Yeah! Since our oppa and doll unnie are dating each other, we should match too, right?"
"…Doll unnie?"
"Jina saw a photo of Yuna before. After that she kept saying she was as pretty as a doll, so she's called her doll unnie ever since."
"Well… I do admit unnie is pretty."
"Right?"
Jina held out her hand toward Seohee, asking for a handshake.
"Even though we just met today, I want to be good friends with you. Let's be friends!"
Seohee, looking slightly flustered, thought for a few moments before finally taking Jina's hand.
"If you're Jihyeok oppa's sister, I can trust you. You're not as pushy as I expected, and I think we'll become really good friends. Nice to meet you."
"Yeah!"
While Jina rejoiced at gaining one more friend, the parents and Jiwook watched the scene with warm smiles that refused to fade from their faces.