Chapter 51 – Chapter 51

[SU convenience store]

As soon as I arrived at the convenience store, I decided to buy a pair of slippers for Noah to wear. Both me and Miho are wearing slippers. Wearing only Noah’s sneakers, and Miho’s shoes at that, could be a bit uncomfortable or uncomfortable.

“The shoe size… I think it’s one size bigger than Miho?”

Feeling that way, I quickly took off the sneakers Noah was wearing, and inside them, my feet, which were crouching down to size down as much as possible, were wriggling.

“Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to have been poured yet, but the size doesn’t fit… Even wearing small shoes hurts my feet.”
“Okay, it’s okay. Noah… Really, it’s fine…”
“It’s because I’m not okay. Well, right now you can wear slippers, and if you have time, Noah should buy some shoes and clothes.”
“Noah really…”
“It’s because the dad wants to give it to his daughter. That much is fine.”
“… Yes dad…”

Noah carefully reached out and grabbed my pinky finger, and then he couldn’t help but laugh.

‘Seeing things like this makes me want to resemble half of Miho’s brazenness.’

I was picking out her sister’s slippers, and I wondered what the sister was doing.

“Ugh, ugh, ugh… !”

She was coming toward me with great difficulty, carrying more cookies than her body at once.
She was so full of her greed that she couldn’t see her child’s face.
Only heavy breathing is heard.

“Isn’t Nolbu’s heart broader than yours?”
Hehe, hehe… Miho, I can eat all of this. It’s just hard to lift.”

That’s even more creepy.

‘Squid and beer… Oh, here it is.’

She also brought some drinks for Mihor and Noah and put them in her basket.
As I used to buy cigarettes, I was about to take out bills from her pocket when I heard the confused voice of a part-time worker in my ears.

“… It is 79,840 won.”

「Stop」

Did I come to have a big meal at a raw fish restaurant, not a convenience store?
What’s more surprising.

“… It is 82,490 won.”
“Hmm, huh.”

Unlike Noa, who hides behind me and trembles because she is afraid of even a part-time job at a convenience store, Miho, her older sister, picks up the sweets next to her counter one by one and puts them on the counter one by one as if she is still lacking.

“Sir, would you like to buy four envelopes?”
“Huh, finally, how much is it?”

It was good to bring a real card.
Otherwise, I might have had to face a really embarrassing and terrible case.

“It is 101,360 won…”
“Ah yes…”

No matter how much, didn’t the 100,000 won line cross the line at the convenience store?

“Kyaaaaang! Miho, you peck too much! Take action!”

Still…

“Give me two envelopes. I’ll take it too.”
“Oh, thank you.”

My kid likes it that much, so I was able to laugh and move on.

“Oh, Dad! No, I’ll help Noah too. And when I go back, Noah can carry the envelope too.”
“Then, shall we leave it to you one by one?”
“Thank you!”

I’m the one who gets help, but why does Noah always say thank you… Still, this is a bit bittersweet.

“Goodbye.”
“Take care.”

I left behind the part-timer who was looking at us curiously, and returned home with the children with both hands full of envelopes.

“Arrival! Kyaaaaang!”

Even though it’s less than a three-minute walk to the convenience store, my body feels wet as if I’ve traveled a long way.

‘No, is it natural?’

It was fine only when I was practicing, but now that I think about it, I had a very eventful day today. Noah came to visit and cleaned the entire bathroom of the house, experienced an unexpected day as a member of society at the host bar, and furthermore, drove a long distance in a nervous state to take Seo Mi-hye to the car.
Rather, it’s even more amazing that you still have your eyes open.
I muttered to myself, I opened the buttered squid I bought at the convenience store and started slowly grilling it in a frying pan.

‘Nowadays, everything is seasoned well, so I can eat it as is, but this guy is still best eaten grilled.’

Since the 2+1 event is being held, I bought 6 bags, so there will be no shortage.
Maybe…

“Ah, Dad, Noah…”
“Miho and Noah, can you straighten out the desk there and put away the chopsticks?”
“Yes!”

So far, it seems like it’s more comfortable to do something than to stay still, so for now, I’ll try to adapt to that as much as possible.

‘Because it’s not too late even if I do it slowly.’

Rather, it was impossible to do it on my own, too hastily and without consideration for Noah.
Because we just met
There were unimaginably many days left to be together, but there was no need to rush anywhere.

「Chi-Ik!」

When the butter squid was grilled and gave off a fragrant smell, Miho was the first to react.

“Smells good!”
“Is it not?”
“Hem! Eat quickly and sipper!”
“Almost done.”

I glanced around and saw that the setting had already been completed neatly. Like a lie, Miho didn’t even lift a finger.
For some reason, I think I’m a lot more lazy than before I went to work at the host bar.
Are you misunderstanding me?

[Strawberry Beer]

“Benefit!”

I opened a beer for me to drink, and handed Miho and Noah their own drinks in front of them. Finally, the dinner was complete when the golden-brown butter squid was placed in the middle bowl.

‘Every time I’m bored, I know what it tastes like because it’s a combination I ate until I got sick of it. That’s why I thought there wouldn’t be any inspiration anymore.’

Different.
Since I was alone, everything was different from when I was sniffing while searching for You Tube.

“I will enjoy this food.”
“I’m eating well!”
“Okay, let’s eat well!”

I pick up the three-legged guy with my chopsticks, put it in my mouth, and drink the beer I had put in the freezer for a while.

“Keuuu, kill!”

Is it because I quit smoking?
Or is it because Miho and Noah are by my side? The taste of today’s beer was so sweet that even the legendary drinks were not envious.

“Oh, Dad… Oh, you worked hard today…”

Really, Noah was so proud.
It’s not a lie, to the point where tears come out.

‘A child shouldn’t be like that.’

There is a saying that children who are greatly injured grow up quickly. Because they are in an environment in which they must grow.
Noah did just that.
Eating a pitiful heart could be cheap sympathy, or conversely, it could make Noah more shabby.
Still, my heart was like that.
It was pitiful.
So from now on, I wanted to help Noah become like a normal child again.

“Thank you, Noah.”
“… !”

At that moment, Noah opened her eyes wide and felt that her eyes were watery for a moment.

“Click!”

I took about 10 high-speed photos of me lifting a can of beer with a mobile phone I don’t know where I took it out.
Only then did she smile again, holding back her tears.

“Noah, I am happy. I’m so happy that I wonder if I can be this happy, Dad.”
“Yeah, I’m glad.”
“Hehe…”

I wondered if Miho would get annoyed if I was spending time alone with Noah like this, so I looked to her side. I see a pig with a squid leg stuffed into its mouth.

“Isn’t a ghost that didn’t eat enough still inside your body?”
“It’s delicious, it’s delicious… This is delicious too.”

… I really can’t stop
In a way, both Miho and Noah have corners that are not normal. Including that, they were such lovely children.

After a while, having emptied three cans of beer, I proudly told the kids what happened today, not too drunk. As if he had done a great job as a host, he was putting on a plausible appearance in front of the kids.

In response, Miho seemed not interested and chewed on a squid leg, and Noah even clapped for her with one small hand and lifted me up.
I thought it might be the most exciting ending of my life.

[Current time]
[AM 3:49]

“Let’s sleep now. Clean up tomorrow…”

Tired, I just brushed my teeth and lay down to sleep, but reflexively, I changed my mind when I saw Noah trying to put the can I ate into an empty bag.

“… Shall we all clean up now?”

At my words, Noah reflexively tried to say that he could do it alone, but then changed his words.

“Yes, Dad. Sister, can you help me?”
“Oh, okay.”

It was quick because we cleaned it all up together.
After tying a bag full of garbage and pushing it to the corner of the veranda of the studio, I entered the small bathroom with the children.

I, Miho, and Noah stood side by side in that order and brushed my teeth.
In the mirror, I see the faces of the children who are chewing on mint-scented white bubbles and the pink bubbles of children’s strawberry-flavored toothpaste are bubbling out.

And…

“Click!”

The sound of Noah taking pictures was a bonus.

‘I really like photography.’

Do you want to become a photographer when you grow up?
I was thinking such a foolish thought, and as soon as I brushed my teeth together and came out, I collapsed as if I was fainting.
Even if I had the power of blessing, I felt like I had consumed too much energy today.

“Let’s sleep now.”
“Ok!”
“Yes…”

“Click!”

Taking pictures even while sleeping, Noah will definitely become a great photographer when he grows up.
And Miho…

“Tonnu, you worked hard.”

「Fishik!」

… Whatever it is, I won’t be a bad adult.
That’s it.

My consciousness was cut off there.

* * *

〈 Child View 〉

“Drumbling, Kuuul! Dereurroeooooong, Quul…”

Miho and Noah.
The two children’s eyes had already been half-closed since brushing their teeth, and they stared blankly at Kim Hyun-woo, who was sleeping while snoring in fear as they lay down on the futon.

“Tongue, your snoring is loud.”
“That means you worked hard today, sister.”
“Yeah, I know.”

Miho nodded slightly, yawned, but then quietly reached out and gently stroked Kim Hyeonu’s head.

“Tonnu, you worked hard.”

And then I apologized to him.
I’m sorry.
He wanted to openly tell me that he had a hard time like Noah, but strangely, it didn’t go the way he wanted. This was possible only when Kim Hyeon-woo fell asleep.

“Miho eats too much every day, so I miss him.”

In the past, I didn’t have so much greed for appetite. However, after experiencing various things and realizing how terrible the pain of hunger is, I have always become a body that is not satisfied unless I eat a lot.

“Huh.”

Miho must have felt the limit as well, so she naturally lifted Kim Hyeonu’s left arm and dug into it, then opened his mouth her.

“Noah is also the king.”

At those words, Noah was dazed and she looked at Kim Hyeonu and Miho.
It was a picture I had always imagined.

A reliable father and a caring older sister.
I want to be a little more greedy here, but right now, even this is too much for me.

“Sir, excuse me.”

Carefully holding Kim Hyun-woo’s right arm, Noah went inside. Her heart pounded and it seemed like she would wake up.
Then Miho said.

“Noah, good night.”
“My sister too… Sleep well.”
“Yes.”

I felt relieved.
Always trembling with fear of when, where, and how she would get scolded, she hadn’t slept properly all year.
After coming to this house, Noah no longer felt that fear.
Rather.

‘It’s warm.’

「Crush, rustle」

Miho and Noah naturally burrowed deeper into Kim Hyeonu’s arms and quietly closed their eyes.
After a while, all three of them fell asleep with relaxed expressions.