Korea Was Beautiful
Perhaps thanks to the drive, his jealousy toward the otter had completely vanished.
Thanks to that, Dojin was going about his daily routine with a peaceful mind.
Woof! Woof!
Rattle!
“Oh my, Ttorang-i is here.”
As Ttorang-i barked in front of the gate as she always did, Grandma Sun-ja came out from inside as if she had been waiting.
Since her family and grandchildren all lived in Seoul, Ttorang-i was the only one who visited her, so it was only natural.
“Hello, Grandma.”
“Hello indeed. Is our Mr. Baek doing well too?”
“Haha, I'm always the same.”
Dojin smiled awkwardly at Grandma Sun-ja's words.
There were quite a few villagers who called him "Mr. Baek," but no matter how many times he heard it, he couldn't get used to the title.
It also keeps reminding me of a certain middle-aged man who loves home-cooked meals.
Dojin was in the middle of erasing the image of the man who shouted "Wow, this is fun!" every time he ate from his mind when...
Sun-jam, who had been watching the situation from the side, stepped forward.
She bowed.
“Ah, Sun-jam, you came too? Here, have one of these.”
Along with her words, the grandmother handed over a hard candy.
Did she buy this specifically to give to Sun-jam?
Dojin had also received various snacks from the grandmother. However, candy had never been among them.
Since she had given them watermelon when Sun-jam first visited, it seemed likely that she had bought the candy afterward specifically to give to the girl.
“...”
She bowed deeply!
Sun-jam, who stared at the hard candy in her hand for a moment, bowed her head to the grandmother.
Seeing this, the grandmother, who was watching Sun-jam, also nodded.
“It looks like you like it. I'm glad.”
“...”
Dojin felt a strange sensation seeing the grandmother smile with satisfaction, looking genuinely relieved.
...She doesn't ask.
This was only the second time Sun-jam had gone on a walk around the village with Dojin and Ttorang-i.
And every single villager who met Sun-jam asked the exact same question.
“Oh, what a pretty girl. But why doesn't she speak?”
“Is it because she's still young? She's so quiet.”
“Do I look scary? The child is too scared to talk.”
Words, words, and more words.
All the villagers reacted as if it were strange that Sun-jam didn't speak. Even the residents they had met for the first time today.
But Grandma Sun-ja didn't ask last time, and she isn't asking this time either.
He wondered if she simply lacked interest in Sun-jam, but seeing how she had prepared the candy beforehand, he was sure that wasn't the case.
But from her behavior just now, Dojin could guess the reason.
She already knew.
The grandmother didn't ask anything of Sun-jam, who remained silent even after receiving the candy.
She simply waited until the girl reacted first.
That was a level of consideration that was hard to show unless one already understood Sun-jam's condition—whether through knowledge or experience.
She had known from the very beginning that Sun-jam couldn't speak.
At least it's a relief that it can be treated.
The consultation results he had heard a few days ago flashed through Dojin's mind.
“It is selective mutism.”
Those were the first words uttered by the doctor in charge to Dojin's group, who had visited Paju University Hospital after receiving a call that the comprehensive psychological test results were out.
His serious expression and low voice made it clear how heavy his heart was as he delivered the news.
However,
“...”
“...?”
“...??”
Unfortunately for the doctor, who had spoken with a great deal of worry and burden, no one in the group actually understood what he meant.
Chanarshanhu's family, who were still awkward with Korean, naturally had no idea, and Dojin was also hearing such a medical term for the first time in his life.
“Ahem! Um... Doctor? Excuse me, but what is selective mutism?”
In the end, Dojin asked while trying to maintain a serious atmosphere, but the doctor merely let out a hollow laugh, quite different from his demeanor just a moment ago.
It felt strangely anticlimactic.
What is it? Is he sulking?
Surely no doctor would pout just because a guardian didn't know the name of a condition. But the more Dojin looked at the doctor's expression, the more suspicious he became.
“...Doctor?”
“Ahem! My apologies. I was just organizing my thoughts for a moment.”
Wetting his throat as if it were dry, the doctor composed his expression and spoke.
“Selective mutism, simply put, refers to a condition where a person only speaks in specific situations.”
Dojin nodded at the doctor's words and waited for him to continue.
Dojin already knew that Sun-jam only spoke to her father, Chanarshanhu. The problem was the cause and the solution.
“Selective mutism usually has a higher probability of onset in children under five, especially girls...”
“C-Can it... be cured?”
Chanarshanhu cut off the doctor, who was in the middle of explaining the condition, to ask.
He had looked anxious for a while, and it seemed he finally couldn't hold back any longer.
Fortunately, the doctor wasn't flustered this time.
“To give you the bottom line... yes, treatment is possible. In your daughter's case, there are various methods we can try.”
“Whew...”
“Bayarlalaa ovog deedes... sob, Bayarlalaa ovog deedes...”
At the doctor's words, Chanarshanhu and Altani let out sighs of relief.
Altani, in particular, was so deeply moved that she was muttering to herself in Mongolian, a stark contrast to the composure she had maintained until now.
It must have been so hard on them.
How many parents could easily brush off their child's illness?
It was just that, until now, they had no means or facilities to start treatment, so they had no choice but to endure it.
And the moment they heard that she could be treated, the dam of emotions they had been forcing back finally broke.
“Shall we continue?”
Once enough time had passed and Altani calmed down, the doctor asked gently. Chanarshanhu and Dojin turned their gaze toward her.
“...Yes.”
Nodding at Altani's response, the doctor spoke with a slightly graver expression.
“I will say it again: your daughter's selective mutism can be treated. However, we cannot guarantee a complete recovery or how long it will take.”
“...”
It was a somewhat heavy statement compared to before, but fortunately, neither Chanarshanhu nor Altani showed much agitation and remained focused on the doctor's words.
They had both come prepared for at least this much. Seeing this, the doctor's expression softened slightly as he continued.
“The treatment methods broadly include behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and family therapy. Depending on your daughter's condition, we might use a single method or a combination, but whichever treatment we pursue, there is one thing you must keep in mind.”
“What is that?”
Dojin asked on behalf of the two. Since their Korean was still awkward, they needed someone's help to ensure proper treatment. The couple had asked Dojin for that very assistance.
The doctor, who had already heard about the relationship between Dojin and this family during the comprehensive consultation, nodded as if this was actually for the best.
“You must give the child courage and reassurance. Helping her gain the confidence that she can speak normally is the most important role for the family.”
“...”
At the doctor's words, Dojin looked at Altani. In truth, those words were meant for her.
Because Chanarshanhu already knows that Sun-jam can speak.
While the roles of her uncle Begter and aunt Obei were also important, the one who could instill confidence in Sun-jam more than anyone else was her mother, Altani.
Did she realize the meaning behind his gaze?
She nodded.
Meeting Dojin's eyes, Altani nodded.
A smile appeared on the doctor's face at that sight.
At least this household will be able to undergo proper treatment.
Working in psychiatry, one encounters all kinds of people. And among them, there were many who were truly the scum of the earth.
The most frustrating ones were those who had ruined their own children but refused to admit it.
In such families, even the most basic recognition of the problem required to treat the child was impossible, leaving very little he could do.
In that sense, the family before him was ideal. Not only the parents but even the people around them were rolling up their sleeves for the child.
"It takes a village to raise a child."
It was the phrase he had heard most often when studying child psychology, yet the rarest phenomenon to actually witness was unfolding right before his eyes.
Woof!
“Oh, you silly thing. If you bark that loudly, the neighbors will be startled. Then you might not be able to come here next time.”
Woof?
“That's right, you have to make a quiet sound like that.”
While Dojin was recalling his past memories, Ttorang-i and the grandmother were spending a happy time together as usual.
But it was slowly time for that to end.
It'll be dinner time soon.
The sky was gradually darkening. It was the effect of the days growing shorter as autumn deepened.
“Oh dear, the sky is already like that... Mr. Baek, you should take Ttorang-i and head back now.”
“Haha, the days are short lately. It feels like we just got here.”
“Nonsense. It's already been almost an hour. Haha, I appreciate you thinking of me, but this is enough for today.”
Bark!
“Oh, stop it, you. It's about time for me to start preparing dinner, and you need to go back and eat too.”
Whine...
At the grandmother's words, Ttorang-i whimpered with a dejected look.
It was a pitiful sight to anyone, but Grandma Sun-ja laughed and patted the dog's rump instead.
“You rascal! Where did you learn to act like that? I saw you leaving last time, trotting off all excited with Mr. Baek.”
B-Bark?
“Haha, what? Are you surprised that I knew? This little rascal, I spoiled you because you're cute, and now you're trying to trick me. How cheeky!”
Grandma Sun-ja patted Ttorang-i's rump once more.
Smack!
Yip!
A cheerful sound and a dramatic yelp rang out together.
But Dojin knew that the yelp was pure exaggeration. Grandma Sun-ja's hand made a loud noise, but there was absolutely no force behind it.
Yet Ttorang-i put on a full Hollywood performance, even stealing glances to see if it was working as she continued to play up her "pain."
“We'll come back next week.”
“Sure. Take care of your health, Mr. Baek. It's getting chilly in the mornings and evenings lately.”
“Yes. You take care of your health too, Grandma.”
“...”
She bowed.
“Haha, go on now.”
After Dojin and then Sun-jam gave their greetings, the grandmother went inside her house without any further lingering.
Dojin, who watched her go, asked Sun-jam, “She seems like a nice grandmother, doesn't she?”
“...”
Staring at Dojin for a moment as he spoke to her so naturally, Sun-jam nodded.
But Dojin's conversation didn't end there.
“Aren't you cold?”
“Do your legs hurt?”
“Do you want to come with us next time too?”
“...”
To Dojin's remarks, which were thrown out every now and then, Sun-jam replied by nodding or shaking her head.
At the same time, she regretted her past actions. I shouldn't have responded back then.
It had happened on the day Dojin was throwing a flying disc to play with Ttorang-i.
“Huh? This? Sun-jam, do you want to try throwing it?”
Nodding to that simple question had been her mistake.
She had only focused on the flying disc because she felt responsible for Ttorang-i, but Dojin had taken that as confirmation that she understood Korean.
Since then, Dojin had been talking to her casually whenever they were alone, as if he was absolutely sure she could speak.
It's hard.
She wanted to speak too. But every time, her body betrayed her will.
The only time her body listened to her was when she was alone with her father, Chanarshanhu.
Only then could her mouth move to make sounds.
Why can't I speak to other people?
It was a riddle that even she, quite clever for her age, could not solve.
Whenever she tried to speak to someone, her mind would freeze, and she couldn't think of anything.
Just as Sun-jam was grappling with the greatest dilemma of her life, a familiar elderly man appeared before them.
“Oh? Mr. Baek, are you heading home now?”
“Ah, Chief. Yes, we should head back now.”
“It's chilly, so get inside quickly. Don't wander around at this hour and get misunderstood for no reason.”
“Misunderstood? What do you mean by that...?”
“You know Mabong-ri next door, right? It's absolute chaos over there right now.”
Dojin's face filled with curiosity at the chief's words.
Wasn't Mabong-ri the place that had already been ruined because of Chief Park and his two sons?
Since Dojin was unexpectedly involved in all of those events, he wondered what kind of trouble could have possibly broken out there now.
“It seems a massive fight broke out among the residents. They're secretly killing each other's livestock and everything.”
“What? Livestock?”
Dojin asked in disbelief at the unexpected news. He knew all too well what a massive deal it was to kill livestock in a rural village like this.
“Three pigs are already dead, and a cow was injured and is on the verge of dying. Seven dogs have gone missing too.”
“...It's going to turn into a complete dogfight soon.”
“A brawl? That's the least of it. They're already sharpening scythes, threatening to kill each other. So, Mr. Baek, hurry inside so you don't get caught in the crossfire.”
Dojin nodded at the chief's warning. He had no desire to get caught in the crossfire of other people's fights and suffer damage. Especially not when he had a child to protect like now.
“Sun-jam, it looks like we need to hurry a bit, so excuse me for a moment.”
“...?”
As Sun-jam looked at him, wondering what he meant, a look of sudden panic crossed her face. Dojin had lifted her up and placed her on top of Ttorang-i.
“...!”
Dojin chuckled at the sight of Sun-jam, who was so shocked that she was mouthing words silently, and spoke to Ttorang-i.
“Ttorang-i, let's head back quickly! Run!”
Bark!
As if understanding Dojin's command, Ttorang-i began to pick up speed. Sun-jam naturally lowered her posture in response.
Thanks to Sun-jam clinging tightly without hindering her movements, Ttorang-i had no trouble accelerating.
“Alright, let's go fast! I'm hungry!”
Bark!
At Dojin's words, Ttorang-i sped up even more, as if agreeing with him. Watching the scene unfold from atop Ttorang-i, Sun-jam unconsciously looked around.
“...”
The scenery passing by in a flash, the distant mountains, the sky turning crimson, and the clouds painted across it...
Although it was different from what she had seen in Mongolia, everything looked so beautiful.
Perhaps that was why a happy smile had spread across Sun-jam's face before she knew it.