episode_0022

I got a cold on the 23rd and got a shot at the hospital.

On the morning of the 24th, my grandmother came to our house.

I had planned to go out to eat at a nice restaurant with my grandmother in the evening, but since my cold wasn’t getting better, I decided to cut the Christmas cake at home.

Mom, who went out in the afternoon, decided to meet Dad halfway and return together.

He said he would buy my favorite strawberry cake.

But when dinner time came, Mom and Dad didn’t come back.

After waiting for a phone call, the grandmother collapsed on the floor.

A truck that crossed the center line hit the mom and dad’s car coming from the opposite direction, they said.

… This is how I became an orphan.

*****

“What is this?”

I handed the invitation to Mom and Dad.

“It’s a Christmas party. Eugene invited me.”

“It’s the 24th. I was planning to have dinner with my grandmother.”

I’m sorry, Grandma, but I have to postpone my appointment.

“This is my first Christmas party, so I really want to go. I’ll go to my grandmother’s on the 25th.”

Mom and Dad couldn’t turn away from my earnest gaze.

“Okay, I got it. Mom will take you.”

“I’m not the only one going. I invited my mom and dad too.”

“Us too?”

Especially, the mother has a burdened look on her face.

Celebrity phobia is a current issue.

“Eugene misses his mom. She loves me.”

“If Eugene is the mother, then she is actress Na Hye-ri, right?”

“Yes.”

Actress Na Hye-ri, at my father’s age, is on par with a goddess.

“Hmm… Why does your expression change when Na Hye-ri appears?”

“Okay, I was just checking. You invited us because you were thinking of us.”

“My mom is prettier.”

My mother hugs me.

“I told you, Mommy, there’s no one but you. Come on, kiss.”

After acting cute all evening, I finally got permission.

.

.

.

“Are you going to sleep already?”

“I’m tired because I ran around a lot while recording. Good night.”

I came into the room, rolled up my thick blanket, and lay down.

I’m preparing for the cold that will hit me on the 23rd.

One shot would do the trick, but my mom won’t let me go to the party on the 24th.

You might be wondering what happens if you catch a cold from someone else.

Until the 24th, you must be very careful and not get caught.

“Your cheeks are a little red. Do you have a cold?”

As expected, my mother’s intuition was uncanny.

On the 23rd, my body didn’t feel like usual.

I was so careful, but I ended up catching a cold.

“It’s a little hot. I’ll draw in my room.”

I entered the room naked, avoiding my mother’s eyes.

I looked through the crack in the door and fortunately they didn’t seem to think much of it.

I poured the fever reducer and cold medicine that I had hidden in my desk drawer into my mouth.

The meticulous mother always keeps children’s fever reducers and cold medicine in her medicine cabinet.

While my mom was out at the market, I went into the bedroom and packed a few things.

When I went out to the living room, I kept pressing the Gongchoi point located between my wrist and elbow.

It is an acupuncture point connected to the lungs, so it helps to temporarily stop coughing.

This is a method I often used in my past life when I had to hold back a cough on set.

Thanks to these efforts, Eugene didn’t notice that he had a cold until he got home.

Even though my body is tired, I can do anything if it means saving my mom and dad.

*****

“Welcome, Hajin’s mother and father. Hajin, come in too.”

“Hello, thank you for inviting me.”

My mom met a celebrity and my dad met a goddess when he was young and his body became stiff.

It was definitely a beauty on a different level from that of ordinary people.

In my eyes, my mother was prettier.

“Hajin, come in quickly.”

Eugene, dressed up nicely, greets me.

She was wearing a short one-piece dress and white stockings, just like a kid’s model.

I blew up the service because she was deliberately circling around me and trying to show off her cuteness.

“You look pretty today. You look like an angel.”

“Hehe.”

“I…?”

Before I knew it, Sora was next to me.

She is wearing a green one-piece dress and the hairpin she was given as a birthday present.

Ever since I found out I like green, I’ve been wearing green clothes a lot.

“Of course she’s pretty. Today is the forest fairy.”

“Huh. Angels are taller than fairies.”

You’re both pretty, so don’t compete with each other over useless things.

Besides us, Eugene’s mother had a few other guests.

These were actors I often saw in dramas and movies.

“My husband has an event so he might be a little late. Let’s start first.”

The food served by chefs in full dress was truly delicious.

I thought I wouldn’t be able to get in because of my cold, but I was so intoxicated by the smell that I reached for it without realizing it.

As I was chewing the sausage with an expression of admiration, Sora put hers on my plate.

“I don’t really like sausages.”

Then he looks at me eating with a happy expression.

It was a pleasant dinner, except for one director who had a shit-eating expression on his face across from me.

My father, who has a lot of experience in sales, showed his friendliness here as well.

Even though it was just a compliment, everyone laughed and had a blast because it was said in a nice way.

I felt so sorry for my mom who was awkwardly laughing along.

He sat quietly, pressing hard on his nasal passage to suppress his cough.

Director Han Jae-ryong approached and sat down at a little distance.

Why is this man sitting next to me?

“I heard from Siwoon that acting is hard.”

“… … .”

“Because making movies is my job, I’ve seen a lot of actors like that. Some of them overcame it, but there were also some who quit acting altogether.”

It was a tone of voice that was slightly filled with worry.

“But I’ve never seen anyone overcome it while acting as a child or teenager. Emotion control inevitably requires age and experience.”

Professor Jeong Dong-ho also said something similar.

“If you want to continue acting, it’s okay to take a break in between. If you have talent, you can catch up even in high school, or even college. Acting with emotional intensity is too much for now.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“My daughter imitates you a lot. Think carefully, it’s not a good choice to push yourself too hard when you’re young.”

Then he went to where the adults were.

Tsundere middle-aged man?

The front door opens and someone comes rushing in.

“Oh, sorry. I’m a little late because of an event I couldn’t miss.”

It was Eugene’s father, YJ Entertainment CEO Oh Dong-seok.

He is a tall and handsome man who can rival any actor.

“Wow, you’re Hajin. You have a face that’s even more beautiful than mine when I was young. As expected, Yujin has a keen eye for detail.”

“Hello, CEO.”

“What kind of representative are you? Jang… No, that’s a bit fast. Eugene calls me dad.”

“Why are you there while the kids are playing? Why don’t you come quickly?”

Eugene waves to me as he is dragged away by his mother.

It was an incredible affinity that was the superior compatibility of our father.

But it wasn’t just Representative Oh who came.

“Representative, can we come in… Kaaaak!”

Someone points a finger at me and runs towards me at incredible speed.

He hugged me tightly and I was so happy I didn’t know what to do.

“Su, I can’t breathe… .”

“Wow, you’re really cute. I really wanted to see you, big sister.”

“I blinked. Yuri said she wanted to see you, so I came with you.”

Three members of the girl group Neuron, which feeds YJ Entertainment, followed CEO Oh.

It is called a miracle among small and medium-sized planning companies and has been growing steadily for two years.

The member who hugged me and liked me was the leader, Soyuri.

“What should I do, he’s much more handsome than in the commercials.”

“What do you think, Sister? Should I be your girlfriend later?”

“Sister~ No matter what, isn’t being 15 years younger a bit too much?”

They were laughing amongst themselves and causing chaos.

Of course, Eugene and Sora are not the ones who would just let this happen.

“Don’t make me laugh!”

“No way!”

Sparks flew behind the two who had joined forces.

This ridiculous fight between lovers made for a great drinking snack for adults.

.

.

.

As the adults’ chatter grew longer, the children fell asleep on the sofa one by one.

I looked at my watch and saw that there were still about two hours left until the 24th.

Since Dad drank, Mom will drive us home.

‘You shouldn’t drive before 12 o’clock.’

The trauma of the 24th doesn’t leave my mind.

I think I’ll be able to feel relieved when I see my mom and dad smiling at me on the 25th.

I was rubbing my sleepy eyes and trying not to fall asleep when I felt a weight on my shoulders.

Sora, who had been clinging to me, rested her head on my arm and fell into a deep sleep.

A pleasant scent tickles the tip of my nose.

The sound of wheezing breathing gently wets my ears.

A similar weight was pressing down on my thigh, so I looked down and saw that it was Eugene’s head.

He fell asleep with a very comfortable expression on his face, probably because he liked my lap pillow.

Over there, Dad and Representative Oh clink their glasses while laughing.

It was nice to see the two of them working together… but I was so sleepy.

‘I can’t, I really can’t sleep…’

And then I fell asleep like this.

The last time I looked at the clock, the minute hand was at 30.

*****

When I opened my eyes, I saw a familiar ceiling.

It was my room.

I woke up with a start, but the house was so quiet.

I opened the door and went out into the living room, but there was no one there.

Mom and Dad were nowhere to be seen in the bedroom, kitchen, or bathroom.

I was scared, even though I wouldn’t be here if there had been an accident on the way back.

I was so anxious that I couldn’t see my mom and dad.

I sat down on the floor and started crying.

I worked so hard, it was almost done… but why can’t I stay awake?

Just then the front door opened.

Mom and Dad, holding brooms, ran towards me in surprise.

“Ha, Hajin! Where does it hurt?”

I hugged my mom and cried.

The regret and sadness from earlier instantly turned into joy.

Mom and Dad patted my back without saying anything.

“What day is it today?”

“Today?”

“Yes.”

“It’s the 25th. Christmas.”

It was my first day in this life with my mom and dad.