“Da-eun.”
“Yes?”
“What kind of person is your dad?”
“Why are you asking about my dad?”
Da-eun looked puzzled for a mont, then nodded as if she understood.
“Ah, are you feeling nervous because you’re about to et him soon?”
“No, I’m not nervous.”
“Hehe, there’s no need to be so nervous. Didn’t Mom already tell you? They’re just eting you to put a face to the na.”
“I said I’m not nervous.”
“My dad, huh… Hmm…”
Even though I’d said twice that I wasn’t nervous, Da-eun didn’t seem to take it in.
“He’s like… the typical father, you know?”
“Really?”
“He’s not the best at expressing himself openly, but he loves his family. He might seem a bit standoffish, but deep down, he’s warm… you know, that kind of person.”
“I see.”
I think I understand what she ans.
Seeing nod, Da-eun gave a gentle smile. Perhaps she wasn’t seeing but rather recalling sothing distant from her own past.
“When I was younger, I honestly felt a bit hurt. I used to think, ‘Here I am, in so much pain, and my dad doesn’t seem to care at all.'”
She rembered her father, who would visit her in the hospital, quietly watching over her without saying a word before leaving. His deanor contrasted sharply with her mother’s, who would always ask if she was hurting, if there was anything she wanted, full of gentle concern.
“It was… scary…”
As a young girl, Da-eun felt distant and intimidated by her dad.
“Though it didn’t take long to realize I was wrong.”
Her dad, who would stay by her side until she fell asleep, even though he had to leave early for work the next day. The look in his eyes, unable to tear himself away, worried that his daughter might hurt while he was gone. One night, when the full moon was high, Da-eun awoke to see her father’s expression—one she had never seen while she was awake.
“It was then I understood… my dad really loves .”
Love can be simple, can’t it? Even in his hectic life, he’d co to see his sick daughter. Standing watch over his sleeping child.
All of that… that was love.
Da-eun said this, a smile so warm it lifted anyone’s mood shining on her face.
“Love…”
Even people who share the sa mories interpret them differently, so how could I fully empathize, having co from a different background? Unlike Da-eun, I wasn’t sick as a child— ʀ
Well, actually, I was sick. But my upbringing, my experiences, even my world… all different. Claiming to fully understand what Da-eun described would be a lie. Besides, Garid and Da-eun’s descriptions of their fathers’ personalities weren’t exactly alike.
“Is that so.”
Still, I could relate a little, and understand, as much as an outsider could. All I could do was nod in response to Da-eun’s smile.
But, you know, even though I’ve been trying to hold back from saying anything that could ruin the mood lately, since I’ve felt more like “Da-eun” myself these days… I just can’t hold back anymore.
“By the way, Da-eun, why don’t you go visit your parents?”
“…”
At this point, let’s take a look back at Da-eun’s words of wisdom:
‘Living apart is great because you don’t have to see each other’s faces often.
Living together just stirs up unnecessary emotions.
It’s annoying when Mom visits too frequently.’
“You say all those precious things about love, yet you leave behind gems like those remarks. How could I not give you a hard ti?”
“Argh! No, it’s not like that!”
“Ehhhhh—”
“Not all love has to be like that, you know! Even if I don’t see them often, I still call my parents every day and send them allowance money too!”
“…Okay, okay.”
Clearly feeling stung, Da-eun sputtered out her words in a hurry, emphasizing she wasn’t so unfilial daughter or soone with a “fire attribute” disposition. After a few more declarations of her love for her parents, she looked straight in the eyes.
“Got it?”
“I gooot it…”
“Good. That’s all I wanted.”
Da-eun, visibly flustered, wiped away the cold sweat on her face.
“Anything else you’re curious about?”
“I don’t have anything I’m curious about anymore—”
I tried to respond as steadily as I could, despite my words sounding squashed and drawn out.
“So how much longer are you going to keep holding onto ?”
Her hand continued to squish my cheek, apparently enjoying how soft it was. I had been letting her do it out of laziness, but wasn’t she getting bored of it by now?
Da-eun firmly shook her head.
“This is punishnt for you trying to slander . Take it like a champ!”
“But you were doing this even befo—mpf!”
“Oh-ho! Does a re convict dare to talk back?!”
…She just wanted an excuse to keep poking at my cheeks.
Unable to get the words out properly with my cheek squished, I could only silently endure her touch.
***
***
***
“Let’s have a al together soti.”
This is right up there with phrases like “I’ll treat you if I win the lottery,” or “Shall we go hunt a dragon together?”
“…is what I read on the internet.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Kana, I think you should cut back on internet ti.”
“I go online less than you do.”
“But it’s part of my job.”
“It’s part of my job too.”
“Kana, your role in our house is being the adorable mascot, not an internet gladiator!”
“…Gladiator? I don’t get it, but it’s really not like I go online that much.”
Really.
Anyway, the expression “let’s grab a al soti” implies that you might plan to, but it’s usually just empty words. But the invitation I received to have a al was a bit different from that typical interpretation.
After all, it was the father of the house owner where I was staying who wanted to et , so I couldn’t treat it as a casual greeting.
For that reason, I was now standing in front of a stranger’s door with Da-eun.
“Kana, here, take this.”
“Huh?”
I instinctively took the item Da-eun handed .
It was…
“A drink?”
“It’s polite to bring a little gift when visiting soone else’s ho. Not that you always have to, but it’s never a bad idea, right?”
“Uh-huh…”
…though it did feel a bit strange.
Seeing my hesitation, Da-eun bent down slightly to et my eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
“Doesn’t this feel a little weird?”
The house in front of : Da-eun’s family ho.
The item in my hand: a box of drinks.
It may seem like there’s nothing strange about this situation, but…
“This is sothing Da-eun bought herself, though.”
She bought a gift to bring to her own family’s house, with her own money.
“No matter how you look at it, it’s kind of odd.”
Of course, it couldn’t be helped since I didn’t have any money, but still.
Da-eun shrugged it off as if it were no big deal.
“So what? What matters is the sentint behind the gift, not the gift itself.”
“But it’s like I’m taking the credit with your money.”
“It’s fine. What’s the big deal if it’s my money? I can bring a small gift to my parents’ house. Besides, I’m sure they’ll understand anyway.”
“Is that so…?”
“And honestly, who could find fault with an adorable kid like Kana carrying a box of drinks?”
“I wish you hadn’t added that last part.”
She just had to tack on so cheesy comnt at the end.
We chatted for quite so ti, but fortunately, Da-eun’s parents didn’t co to the door. Whether it was because we kept our voices low or the house was well-insulated, I wasn’t sure. Either way, it would have been awkward if they’d overheard us, so I was relieved they hadn’t.
“Ready to go in now?”
“Yes.”
Ding-dong!
The doorbell chid cheerfully.
“You don’t know the code?”
“I do. I just wanted to co in as a guest this ti.”
Bang, bang!
“Is no one here?! Co forth and welco !”
“….”
She started banging on the door with such a commotion that I felt foolish for my earlier thoughts.
Who’d notice the unfamiliar kid holding a drink box when their only daughter was outside pounding on the door and shouting nonsense?
Cre-eak.
The door opened to reveal Da-eun’s mom, looking bewildered.
“If you’re here, just co in quietly. What are you doing?”
“How dare you! I’ve graced you with my presence, yet you don’t welco properly… Ow!”
Whack!
“Quit the nonsense and co inside, you brat!”
“Ouch, that hurt! No violence!”
“If you don’t want to get hit, don’t act like you deserve it! …Oh.”
The woman, who was hitting Da-eun on the back, softened her expression when she noticed and smiled kindly.
“Kana, you’re here? Was it hard for you to get here? No, no, let’s not talk here. Co in and let’s chat, okay?”
“Y-yes.”
“Honestly, who’s the real daughter here….”
Zap.
“….”
At the sharp look, Da-eun’s lips, which had been ready with a retort, fell silent.
I was half-pushed into the cozy interior of the house, welcod by a warr atmosphere than in Da-eun’s apartnt.
And the mont I saw the middle-aged man sitting on the couch in front of the large TV, I knew.
‘This must be Da-eun’s dad.’
It was obvious from his stiff expression as he pretended to watch TV, making a desperate effort to act like he wasn’t aware of us.
Snicker.
“Am I right?”
“…Looks like it.”
He was just as she had described him.
“Co here, sweetie.”
At Da-eun’s mother’s gesture, I timidly stepped forward, and that was when he finally looked at .
“…Uh, you’re here?”
A tone that was sohow both stiff and awkwardly gentle.
I nodded my head.
“Hello… I an, hello, sir….”
“I’ve heard about you from my wife. Just speak comfortably.”
“Yes, you can just call him ‘Uncle.’ Don’t worry, he may look a bit gruff, but he’s actually very warm-hearted. That’s why I married him.”
“…Ahem! Why are you saying such embarrassing things?”
Oh, he’s blushing.
Though he grumbled, it was clear he didn’t mind the complint, as a faint blush crept up his ears.
Thanks to Da-eun’s mom joining the conversation, the mood lightened up, and he, too, looked more relaxed as he spoke.
“So, you’re going to be living with my daughter?”
“…Yes. Uh, yeah.”
“To be precise, I’ll be taking care of Kana!”
“Right. Please take good care of Da-eun.”
“….”
“….”
“…?”
I tilted my head, waiting for him to continue, but he remained silent, his lips pressed firmly together.
…Is that it?
—
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