episode_0016

– It wasn’t because you were bad at it. Saying I hit you because I love you is a lie. If you really like someone, if you love them, this is how you do it. Like this, exactly.

While hugging her young daughter tightly, the mother speaks. But in reality, she is not her biological daughter; she picked up a child who was being abused at home. A family created where not a drop of blood connects them. It was a movie that showed a deeper sense of family love than any family connected by blood.

-Sniffle.

Tears welled up and she lifted her head. She tried to hold them back but eventually, they streamed down her cheeks.

Sobs could be heard throughout the theater. It felt somewhat noisy as someone was wailing, yet no one stopped them.

Most people were watching the movie with such emotions.

-Sniffle.

Wiping her nose again, she took out a handkerchief from her handbag to wipe away the tears. Then she casually handed it over.

“Sniffle, thank you.”

And Da-young, wiping away tears. Da-young’s eyes seemed swollen from crying quite a bit since the middle of the movie.

As if to prove that, the cola cup I had finished drinking was filled with crumpled tissues I had brought just in case. Of course, half of them were mine.

The movie finally passed its climax and ended, the credits rolled, the lights came on, but very few audience members got up immediately to leave. Everyone sat in their seats, wiping away tears, rubbing their swollen eyes, fixing their disheveled appearance, or closing their eyes and getting lost in thought, quietly savoring the lingering emotions of the movie.

We also sat for a moment to collect ourselves before we could get up from our seats.

“Sob, sigh. Sob! That was fun.”

The lingering feeling still hadn’t dissipated, making my heart heavy. Seeing Da-young next to me, who seemed to feel the same way, I nodded my head as she held my hand and leaned slightly against me.

“Mom, I love you.”

The content reminding us of the preciousness of family made us quite sentimental. I let go of the hand Da-young was holding and embraced her with my other arm.

“I love you too, Mom.”

Then, letting go of Da-young’s hand, I hugged Da-bin.

“I love you too, son.”

To which Da-bin chuckled and said, “Hmm… It’s a bit contrived for non-relatives to gather like this, isn’t it?”

At that, both Da-young and I looked at Da-bin with fixed expressions.

“No, that’s not it. Even if biological parents are fighting, it’s still clearly kidnapping, so how can they glorify and package it like that? Hmm… I just don’t get it.”

That’s right. If we were to categorize it using the trendy MBTI, Da-young and I would be F, leaning towards emotional beings, while Da-bin was at the extreme end of T.

“What’s a psychopath?”

Da-young asked Da-bin. If that term referred to a shortened form of sociopath, as parents, it was regrettable but honestly, we couldn’t disagree.

“What’s a psychopath?”

I echoed Da-young to Da-bin. Well, in the first place, it was the movie you wanted to see. You brought him because your favorite director’s movie was released, right? Actually, upon closer inspection, it was a re-release, not a new release.

Anyway, Da-bin was taken aback by our gaze and tried to justify himself, but in our minds, he had already established himself as an emotionless, extremely rational human being.

“Mom, let’s go. Let’s move the psychopath.”

Upon Da-young’s words, I quickly released my arm around Da-bin and walked ahead.

“Yes, let’s go. My daughter.”

-Step by step

Da-bin followed in confusion from behind, but I quickened my pace even more. As we hurried to the car, Da-young grabbed my arm firmly.

“Huh?”

“Mom, where are you going? It’s only 8 o’clock.”

“Huh, what?”

“For the first time in a while, we came to the multiplex together… How about doing some shopping before we go?”

It would have been nice if this shopping was just about choosing a swimsuit…

“Huh? Well, even so, how can you choose a swimsuit in just 2 hours? Let’s just go downstairs and buy some clothes to wear outside.”

Fortunately, with only 2 hours left until the multiplex closes, Da-yeong decides to buy the swimsuit next time.

Originally, she probably didn’t want to shop for clothes because it was too much trouble, but throwing out the big things first and then offering the small things is a negotiating tactic that I had no choice but to follow.

Doing internet broadcasts for 2-3 hours a day several times a week, Da-yeong had reached the peak of manipulation, controlling viewers.

“Today, micro-looks are prohibited. I don’t even know how many sets I have right now because I have so many.”

I felt disheartened by the prohibition of micro-looks.

“Instead of wearing something comfortable, shouldn’t you have clothes to wear when you meet someone or go out? It’s a shame that there are no high-end brands suitable for your mother’s age here, but since the clothes here look young, it’s okay to buy something casual.”

Then, she took my hand and led me to the women’s clothing store on the second floor.

“Oh, I’ll browse around separately.”

In the meantime, Dabin quickly ran away to avoid being involved in this shopping. I was dragged around like a cow to the slaughterhouse by Da-yeong, trying on and taking off clothes repeatedly.

“Well, that’s a shame. Having a large chest doesn’t always mean it’s a good thing.”

Naturally, having a large chest limited the types of clothes that would suit. If it’s this large, unless you wear loose clothes, standard sizes tend to look awkward, and wearing larger sizes would make you look bulky. In the end, the most comfortable option is to wear tight-fitting clothes, which is quite uncomfortable for me…

“If Mom allowed a bit more bold style, there would be so many more options to wear…”

“Well, still, clothes that cover too much area are a bit… And revealing clothes are too daring.”

Da-yeong chuckled as if understanding my discomfort.

“Ha, Mom. From the perspective of someone who enjoys micro-looks, that kind of talk sounds like a joke. Mom dresses more like men in tracksuits. It’s not like that. Micro-looks have a more alluring aspect.”

With that sarcasm, Da-yeong handed me a square-neck shirt.

“Just try it on once and come out. Okay?”

Unable to resist Da-yeong’s persistent persuasion, I eventually gave in.

Da-yeong’s ‘try this on too’ spree that started like that didn’t seem to end anytime soon. While I didn’t understand much and just felt everything was too revealing, Da-yeong sorted through what to buy and what not to buy, organizing the clothes methodically.

I have a policy of ‘if I have it, I wear it.’ Sooner or later, I’ll try them on… There were truly embarrassing outfits. No, more precisely, they would become embarrassing once I wore them.

“Da-yeong, don’t you want to buy anything? Why don’t you get something while we’re here?”

To which Da-yeong replied, “There’s less than an hour left. I don’t have time to buy mine. Since Mom has to buy a swimsuit anyway, how about going to an outlet before the vacation? Let’s also buy some clothes for Dabin.”

Agreeing with Da-yeong’s suggestion, I nodded.

“We focused more on tops, so let’s pick out some bottoms now.”

Darn it, it wasn’t over yet. Despite my desperate hope to be rescued from this shopping hell, it seemed unlikely.

“Oh, customer, you have such a lovely figure. Your hips are wide, and how about these pants? They’re the latest style, and this model is wearing them. They would suit your ideal figure with a slim waist and wide hips, especially when paired with a crop top. Would you like to try them on?”

So, what’s a crop top?

When Dayoung asked, she simply said it’s a belly tee.

“This, this is outrageous. How can you show off your belly like that!”

But as I walked around, it seemed quite common these days. Women wearing those darn crop tops.

But there’s a world of difference between seeing something and actually wearing it.

In the end, after putting on those pants and the crop top Dayoung had picked out to match, I could see Dayoung smiling satisfactorily.

“Hmm, looks good.”

“Wow, both you and your sister have great figures. I’m envious.”

When the clerk said that to Dayoung, she waved her hand as if accustomed to it and replied,

“Oh, she’s not my sister, she’s my mom.”

Having experienced this situation in several stores already. Naturally, the clerk was shocked and asked my age. When I told her I was 39, she looked at me with a gaze that seemed unjust.

Ah, I guess I’ll get used to this situation now.

“By the way, are you okay? I feel a bit exposed.”

When I asked Dayoung, she gave a thumbs up and stood tall.

“No, it’s perfect. You look absolutely beautiful right now. Mom is the best. Love you.”

She’s been saying “I love you” so much lately… It’s not that I dislike it, but it’s becoming a problem. Where can you find a dad who remains indifferent in front of his daughter saying she loves him?

“Is that so? How does it look?”

I asked the clerk too, but since I had already revealed my age, it seemed like she was distracted and I couldn’t get a satisfying answer.

“Anyway, let’s buy that too.”

So, I made the final payment and left just as I was dressed.

“Ugh, feels empty. Do I really have to go out like this?”

To which Dayoung nodded her head.

“You have to get used to the clothes you buy, right?”

It’s about wearing women’s clothes, you know. Now, I just went along with it, but what I had in mind was a more neat and mature image, and this felt too childish and uncomfortable.

However, regardless of my thoughts, I felt even more embarrassed as people passing by kept glancing back at me.

Anyway, as the shopping ended, it was almost closing time, so I called Davin and told her to come down to the underground parking lot. We headed there and met up with Davin, who seemed quite surprised by my appearance.

Then, she looked at Dayoung and asked,

“So… now I should call you big sister, right?”

“Haha! Quick on the uptake, Davin?”

Dayoung said, linking arms with me.

“Let’s go, sis.”

Lately, it seems like I’m often teased by my kids, so I felt the need to assert myself soon.

They’re all dead! These kids.

But the reality was that I was too busy covering my belly.