episode_0007

“The dakgalbi is ready.”

The staff member placed a large iron plate on the burner on the table.

As he set the table, I closely observed his eyes… It seemed like Dabin was glancing at me as she had mentioned.

So, I cautiously covered my chest area with the cardigan.

Whether the staff member realized his own actions or not, he awkwardly smiled and said, “Would you like an apron?”

“Yes, please.”

The staff member promptly brought two aprons.

“Thank you.”

As the staff member left and the dakgalbi was almost cooked, I reached for my chopsticks, but Dabin quickly grabbed the spatula and filled a plate with dakgalbi.

“Here you go, Mom.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Taking the plate, I carefully took a bite.

“Hot, hot! Ahh! Spicy…!”

I absentmindedly put a steaming sweet potato in my mouth, causing chaos inside. I quickly grabbed a cup of water, but in my haste, about half of it spilled.

The spilled water trickled down my throat, past my collarbone, seeping into my chest. Uncomfortable.

“Oh, Mom. Are you okay?”

Dabin, flustered, handed me a towel.

“Uh, yes, I’m f-fine…”

My mouth burned, making it hard to speak clearly. I extended my tongue, fanned it with my hand, dampened the apron, wiped away the water that had seeped into my chest. Suddenly feeling someone’s gaze, I turned my head and locked eyes with a man at the adjacent table. He sat with two children and a woman, likely his family, yet why was he looking at me instead of his lovely family?

Perhaps exhausted from managing those kids and enduring his wife’s nagging, he glanced at me briefly amidst gazing into the distance.

Seeing him reminded me of my past self, evoking a strange feeling. I smiled, striking a fighting pose, which made his face flush red.

“Mom! That, that’s… that’s dangerous, those gestures.”

Suddenly, Dabin spoke firmly to me.

“Why are you smiling and gesturing discreetly at the man at the next table, especially when he’s here with his family?”

With her words, it seemed like I was plotting some kind of family breakdown.

“Oh…! No, I just saw them and thought of the past… reminiscing about your childhood, seeing myself in you, so I wanted to encourage you…”

Now, even Doyoung was joining in on the lecturing. Oh, it seems like the leaders of South Korea have lost their positions.

After a deep sigh, Dabin seemed slightly embarrassed.

“Oh, no. Still, that attitude isn’t good. You’re undeniably beautiful… So, be careful. You might understand why your sister got mad.”

Me, beautiful?

Yes, honestly, on the day I transformed, I did think my face looked very pretty in the mirror. And I appeared much younger than my 39 years. In fact, I looked over 10 years younger physically. Objectively speaking, I must be a young and vibrant beauty.

But inside, I’m a man turning 40 tomorrow. Moreover, a fool who gets caught up in scandals and teased by his wife in this era of ‘pong-pong’ men?!

Of course, whether a man is 60 or 70, I know that a woman’s appearance matters. How else would the first thing I ask upon hearing rumors about a mistress while drinking with the department head be, “Is she pretty?”

But as I age and my children grow up, I realize something.

It’s not just about appearances.

I, too, fell in love with my wife’s beautiful appearance and got married in my early twenties before graduating from college, dedicating my whole life until now. Isn’t this a bit of a disaster?

Therefore, transitioning from superficiality to valuing inner qualities due to that recoil, I realized how significant my current appearance is as a weapon. Carelessly wielding it could lead to real trouble… Oh, there’s no trouble. Now. Anyway, it seemed necessary to realize the impending danger.

At least, shouldn’t I avoid worrying my children as a parent?

“Sorry, I’ll be careful.”

“No, I’m sorry for saying something unnecessary to Dad. It’s supposed to be my sister’s role. Hehe. Hurry up and eat. The food will get cold.”

Saying so, she picked up a sweet potato from the hot plate and put it in her mouth.

“Ouch! It’s hot!”

Oh, dear. I feel like I’m someone’s son.

I quickly handed water to Davin, who hastily drank it.

“Phew….”

Exhaling, she stuck out her tongue and fanned herself. Then she turned her head to the side, where another family of three, parents and a daughter, were having their meal at the opposite table.

The daughter at that table, who looked slightly younger than Davin, made eye contact and smiled mischievously.

– Chuckle.

Smiling broadly, the boy blushed hurriedly, avoiding eye contact with the girl.

Suddenly, the words Seung-yoon, who Davin met at school, flashed through my mind.

“Oh, Davin! He’s really famous. How popular is he as the most handsome guy in our school?”

Ah, they say children are mirrors of their parents. I resolved to be more careful in the future.

“Davin?”

Without realizing, I called Davin, who was still smiling at the girl.

“Yes.”

“Let’s eat quickly.”

We quietly continued our meal.

And halfway through eating…

“I’m full. I can’t eat anymore.”

I excused myself first.

Normally, both Davin and I would have eaten heartily together and even fried rice after cleaning our plates. But since the change, my appetite had significantly decreased.

Even though I hadn’t noticed such a drastic change in my appetite at home during meals, it felt quite real now.

“I’m full too. Should we pack the leftovers? Honestly, I feel a bit sorry coming without my sister.”

Although she had insisted on coming, it seemed she was concerned after all. Impressed by Davin’s thoughtfulness, I gently patted her head as she sat across from me.

“Oh, Mom. Don’t do this outside. It’s embarrassing.”

“Well, who cares. It’s my hair. Hehe.”

Davin didn’t seem entirely displeased either, just bowing her head in embarrassment, not pushing my hand away.

After finishing our meal and packing the remaining food and the separately ordered fried rice, we walked slowly back home.

“Son, shall we take a walk after dinner?”

Although the weather was hot and humid, it was obvious that once we returned home, we would each retreat to our rooms, so I suggested making time to talk with Davin.

“Out of the blue?”

“Yeah, let’s spend some time together, just the two of us. Okay?”

Placing my hand on Davin’s shoulder, I briskly walked ahead.

“Oh, Dad!”

Surprised, Davin called me “Dad” forgetting our agreement, but fortunately, there was no one around to hear.

Before starting our walk, we stopped at a takeout café on the street and ordered an Americano for me and a Java Chip Frappuccino for Davin, strange menu choices that we held in one hand each as we strolled leisurely around the city center.

“As the homeroom teacher said, spending time with your children is the most important thing. Of course, I will actively cooperate as well, but how about extending the time spent with Davin a little more?”

As the homeroom teacher Mr. Choi Sung-jun said, spending time with one’s children is crucial. Not out of obligation, but because I also desire it.

I heard it somewhere. There are no parents who wish their children to fail. Everyone wishes for their children to do well in their own way. It’s just that they don’t know how.

In fact, it’s been 17 years since I became a parent, but I still don’t know what makes a good parent. However, I believe that by spending time together like this, our relationship can surely move forward, so today, I can only move forward.

“So, what did he say back then?”

With such a joyful face, Davin, shining his eyes while talking about his friends that I don’t know.

“Mom, can I have an Americano too? After talking a lot, I feel a bit bitter rather than sweet.”

Feeling somewhat unfamiliar with Davin’s small preferences and expressions.

So I was sad. I felt guilty for being so indifferent about my son.

That’s why I tried my best to remember this moment right now. Because the past time… people… events won’t come back.

“Mom, are you crying?”

“Oh, yeah?”

“But why?”

“But why is there water on your cheeks…?”

-Drip, drop. Drip, drop.

Suddenly, raindrops started falling from the sky. Soon, they became thicker.

-Splash!

We hurriedly left the walking path and rushed into the visible convenience store.

“Please come in quickly… Oh!”

As we entered the convenience store, the tone of the cashier who was greeting us changed, and as our eyes met, he tilted his head.

“Um, sir. The blankets are in that corner over there.”

The cashier hastily turned his eyes away and pointed somewhere. Wondering what a blanket was all of a sudden, I turned my head in that direction.

“Oops, Mom! Cover me with this quickly!”

Davin took off the shirt he was wearing and handed it to me, revealing a wet dress clinging tightly to his body. Of course, his underwear was clearly visible.

“Eek!”

I quickly put on the shirt Davin gave me, went to the direction the cashier indicated, grabbed a blanket, paid for it, and covered myself.

That day, it is said that several photos circulated around the internet through an unknown route centered around a male community. It was called ‘The Legend Wet Look.’