episode_0000

※ The characters and events appearing in this work are fictitious.

6 years old – First love Da-young Lee (7), who was also a kindergarten student, and after she boldly held his hand during their first field trip, Je-hoon pledges to spend his life with Da-young. However, a few days later, he witnesses her playing house affectionately with Kim Young-min (6), who is also a kindergarten student.

17 years old – Shin Min-jeong (21), a college student who tutored him, always comforted him when he was at the bottom of the class. After promising to date him based on the school’s ranking in mock exams, he ended up getting 3rd place in the school in two months, but apologized, saying he had a boyfriend.

20 years old – Yeon Eun-ji (20), a high school classmate and repeat student, was used as an emotional trashcan for 11 months. There were many times when she drank alcohol and hugged him. After getting into college, she got a boyfriend in March like a ghost.

21 years old – Dated Jeon Su-yeong (20), a junior in the same club. She said that they were from a devout Christian family and that during their relationship, they only held hands. When Je-hoon was just about to receive his sergeant’s title, she broke up with him, saying that she was pregnant.

24 years old – Lee Ji-hye (23), whom he met at a study group after returning to school. While waiting in front of his house with a gift for his 100th day celebration, he ran into her as she walked towards him, holding hands affectionately with Kim Tae-yang (27).

31 years old – Married Han Su-ah (28), a florist whom he met through a friend’s introduction. Decided to study English in Canada for her dream and for his beautiful daughter’s English education. Entering his 6th year as a goose dad.

“It’s warm in Korea these days, and is it snowing a lot there these days?”

Late at night, on my way home from work, I pick up a pack of meat dumplings from a dumpling restaurant near my house, and walk down the street with a plastic bag containing two cans of beer from a convenience store. Kimchi dumplings are good, but when did we get to the point where they cost 9,000 won each?

─Yeah… I got a call earlier and they said the bus couldn’t come because of the snow so school was canceled, and I’m working from home too…

My wife answers in a sleepy voice, unable to overcome her morning slumber.

“The semester is ending soon, right? Come to Korea and show your face. You can take the kids and meet your mother-in-law. She’ll be happy.”

─You know that too… You have to keep using words to learn them. They say that your current age is the final important period for language acquisition.

My wife came in, cutting me off. I made up an excuse about my mother-in-law, but that day, I was drawn to the cozy family photo in the car of a business partner employee, so I said it without thinking.

─Do you remember the James Jung I mentioned last time? Why, a Korean parent of a friend from the same school. I heard that a family friend is going to Florida this vacation? He really likes Alice. He keeps telling me to come visit. I’m going to go with him to improve myself. I can’t let my child get on a plane alone.

The crosswalk light is green, but I stop dead in my tracks on the sidewalk. I press the home button, launch the Chrome app, and hit the address bar to search for flights from Toronto.

” There’s Southwest, Orlando, and Miami. Which one should I go with?”

─If you pretend, you’ll pretend too. Orlando Florida Airport.

The lowest price is 231,454KRW. Strangely, I don’t think it’s that much more expensive than the 9,000 won for kimchi dumplings, so I move on to the payment screen.

“Then I’ll pay for two seats and send you the tickets.”

─Ah, give me three digits, honey.

Without even giving me a chance to say anything in response

─That’s because of the card benefits. Because you have to spend over 500,000 won to get mileage. I can sell the single-seat tickets separately here.

The old classmate I met after a long time was making a fuss about managing the money himself, but I thought it was fortunate that I met a frugal woman and proceeded to pay the bill.

“Is Yesol still sleeping? I want to hear your voice.”

─I woke you up a while ago and am making you breakfast. Alice? Talk to your dad.

Yesol, or Alice, awkwardly and haltingly greets her in Korean, which doesn’t seem to have improved much since before she was sent to Canada. The corners of her father’s mouth go up as he wonders how such a precious and pretty daughter could have come into being.

And then I hung up the phone,

Cross the crosswalk with the green light flashing

Oh oh oh

And the flashing lights of the oncoming motorcycle,

These are just the memories that came to mind.

On a cold and dark night like that, my eyes sparkled

What else comes to mind in front of a beast?