“Da-eun.”
“Yeah?”
“What kind of person is Da-eun’s dad?”
“Why do you ask about my dad?”
Da-eun, who seemed puzzled, nodded as if she suddenly understood.
“Oh, are you nervous since you’re about to meet him?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Hehe. No need to be that tense. Mom said so, right? It’s just to see his face.”
“I told you, I’m not nervous!”
“It’s our dad. Hmm…”
Even after insisting twice that she wasn’t nervous, Da-eun pretended not to hear her.
“He feels like the typical father…”
“Huh?”
“He’s not good at expressing himself openly, but he loves his family. He seems gruff, but deep down he’s warm… something like that.”
“Uh-huh.”
I think I kinda get what she means. Da-eun smiled softly as she looked at me nodding. Maybe what Da-eun saw wasn’t me, but a blurry version of the past.
“When I was little, to be honest, I felt a bit hurt. I thought, ‘My dad doesn’t care about me when I’m in pain.’”
Whenever he visited her in the hospital, he’d just look down at her in silence before leaving.
That was so different from her mother, who would always look at her with concern, asking gently if she was okay or if she wanted anything.
“Scary…”
Little Da-eun felt that her dad was awkward and a bit intimidating.
“I found out not long after that my feelings were wrong.”
Even though he had to get to work early the next day, her dad stayed by her side until she fell asleep.
He couldn’t bear to leave, worried that she might get sick while he was away.
On a night when the full moon shone brightly, Da-eun suddenly woke up to see a facial expression from her dad she had never seen before while awake.
“That’s when I realized. My dad loves me.”
What’s love anyway?
Even in the suffocating busy daily life, he visited the hospital because he was worried about his sick daughter.
Staying by the side of his sleeping daughter…
All those things were love.
Da-eun said, a smile that made you feel good just by seeing it appeared on her face.
“Love…”
Even among those who share the same memories, feelings can differ, so how could someone from a different environment resonate perfectly?
Not like Da-eun, who never experienced sickness as a child—
…No, she did have her fair share of hardship.
Anyway, I can’t perfectly empathize with Da-eun’s words, coming from such different backgrounds, experiences, and even worlds.
Besides, Garid and Da-eun described her dad’s character differently too.
“I see.”
But even I, a mere outsider, could somewhat empathize and understand.
Looking at Da-eun’s smile, all I could do was nod.
…But here’s the thing.
Lately, I’ve been thinking, “She’s just like Da-eun,” so I tried to tone down my vibe-breaking antics.
But I just couldn’t hold back saying this.
“By the way, why doesn’t Da-eun go see her parents?”
“….”
At this point, shall we revisit Da-eun’s quotes?
“It’s nice that when you live apart, you don’t have to see each other’s faces often.”
“When you live together, emotions get hurt for no reason.”
“I hate it when Mom comes too often.”
…With such gems of wisdom under her belt, it’s hard not to prod her when she’s singing praises about love.
“Ugh! No way!”
“Ewwww-”
“L-love doesn’t just look like that! We might not see each other’s faces often, but we talk every day and I send allowance regularly!”
“…I know.”
She seemed really hurt, if her frantic ranting was anything to go by.
She wasn’t the ultimate obedient daughter, but she wasn’t totally devoid of feelings either.
After reciting her love for her parents several times, Da-eun looked me in the eye.
“Got it?”
“I got it….”
“Phew…. As long as you understand.”
Da-eun was so flustered, wiping the beads of cold sweat off her face.
“Don’t you have more questions?”
“I have no more curiosities-”
I was desperately trying to hold back the mashed-up sounds escaping my mouth as I replied to her.
“How long are you going to keep holding on to this?”
Her hands were playfully prodding my cheeks, saying they feel nice and soft.
I was too lazy to push her away, but isn’t it about time to get bored of it?
But Da-eun shook her head firmly.
“This is a plot to frame me! Embrace it!”
“But you were touching me first! -Ugh.”
“Ah! How dare you retort, you sinner?!”
…She just wants to touch me.
Being squished, I couldn’t say a word.
I silently accepted her touch.
*
“Let’s grab a meal sometime.”
Similarly implied phrases include “I’ll treat you if I win the lottery” or “Should we go hunt a dragon?”
“…I saw this online.”
“…I didn’t think I’d ever have to say this, but Kana, you need to cut down on your internet time.”
“I watch less than Da-eun!”
“This is my job.”
“This is my job too.”
“Kana’s job is to be the cute mascot of our house, not an internet coliseum gladiator!”
“…Gladiator? I don’t understand what you mean, but I don’t watch that much.”
“What’s that? I don’t really understand, but I don’t see it happening too often.”
Seriously.
Anyway, when she loosely said we’ll grab a meal later, it didn’t hold much promise—just that much of a meaning.
However, the ‘let’s eat’ I heard was different from the typical notion.
I couldn’t brush it off as the usual greeting from Da-eun’s dad, who’s the landlord I’m staying with.
For that reason, I was standing in front of an unfamiliar house with Da-eun.
“Kana! Take this.”
“Huh?”
I unconsciously accepted the item Da-eun handed me.
This is….
“Is this a drink?”
“When you go to someone else’s house, it’s proper to bring a small gift. Of course, it’s not always the case, but it doesn’t hurt to bring something, right?”
“Uh…. Well, that’s true.”
But as I hesitated, Da-eun slightly bent down to meet my eye level.
“What’s wrong?”
“Isn’t it a bit strange?”
The house in front of me, Da-eun’s family home.
And the item in my hand, a box of drinks.
Looking at it like this, what could be the problem?
“This is something Da-eun bought.”
Buying a gift for her own home with her own money?
“It’s definitely odd.”
Sure, I don’t have any money, so I can’t say much.
Da-eun shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal at all.
“So what? The important thing is the thought behind the gift, not the gift itself.”
“But still, it looks like I’m showing off with your money.”
“It’s fine. What about my money? I can take a gift to my parents’ place. They’ll know anyway.”
“Is that so…?”
“And who would dare look bad at a cutie like Kana carrying a box of drinks?”
“I wish you hadn’t added that last part.”
You always have to throw in a line like that, huh?
We chatted for quite a while, but Da-eun’s parents didn’t come out when the door opened.
Thanks to us whispering as quietly as possible, maybe it was soundproof or something.
Anyway, if we had run into Da-eun’s parents while standing here, it would have been quite embarrassing, so I’m glad it didn’t happen.
“Are we going in now?”
“Yeah.”
Ding dong!
The doorbell rang cheerfully.
“Don’t you know the password?”
“I know it. But…”
Da-eun had a mischievous smile.
“This time, I want to go in as a guest.”
Bang bang!
“Is anyone there? Come here!”
…
And then she started banging on the door.
Seeing that, my earlier thoughts felt incredibly foolish.
I felt like a fool.
My only daughter was banging on the door making weird noises, and I was supposed to notice some stranger holding a drink?
Creeeak.
The door opened to reveal a woman with a bewildered expression.
“If you’re coming, you should come in quietly. What are you doing?”
“How dare you! I, the esteemed one, have come personally, and instead of a warm welcome… Aagh!”
Splat!
“Stop babbling and get inside, you brat!”
“Ouch! No more violence, please!”
“If you don’t act like a target, you won’t get hit! …Oh my.”
The lady who was slapping Da-eun’s back suddenly softened her fierce demeanor and smiled gently upon seeing me.
“Kana, is that you? Was the trip tough? No, wait. Come in and let’s talk, okay?”
“U-Um.”
“Who on earth is the real daughter here…”
Zing.
“…”
Da-eun flinched and pressed her lips together in the face of that sharp gaze.
I was half-pushed into the house. The atmosphere was a bit warmer than Da-eun’s place.
And the moment I saw the middle-aged man sitting on the couch in front of a big TV, I thought,
‘This guy must be Da-eun’s dad.’
He was pretending to watch TV but had this strangely stiff look, desperately acting like he didn’t notice us.
Heh.
“…See? I told you.”
“…Well, yeah.”
He’s exactly as described.
“Come here.”
Following the lady’s lead, I awkwardly stepped forward, and only then did he finally look at me.
“…Hmm, you came?”
A weirdly stiff but oddly kind tone. I bowed my head.
“Hello… no, nice to meet you….”
“I’ve heard from my wife. Speak comfortably.”
“Yeah, you can just call me uncle. He may seem gruff, but he’s actually really affectionate, so don’t be scared. That’s why I married him, you know.”
“Ahem! What kind of embarrassing nonsense is this?”
Ah, he’s blushing.
Even though he sounded like it bothered him, the uncle’s ears turned pink at the compliments.
Thanks to the lady stepping in, the mood lightened a bit, and with a softer expression, he spoke again.
“You’ve decided to live with my daughter?”
“…Yeah. Ah, yes.”
“To be precise, I’m the one taking care of Kana!”
“Sure. Please take good care of Da-eun.”
“…”
“…”
“…?”
Waiting for him to say more, I tilted my head, but he firmly sealed his lips and didn’t utter another word.
…Is that it?
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