episode_0064

After returning from vacation, our family seemed to have become a bit closer in some way. For example, Dabin seemed to have become a bit more playful.

“Mom, can you make Salisbury steak for dinner tonight?”

“Well… I can, but shouldn’t we use up the ingredients we have first? We can buy ingredients at the market tomorrow and make it then.”

“Oh, then we can use up today’s portion after going to the market tomorrow.”

“Hehe, the one who never argued about side dishes is acting strange today. Alright, let’s make Salisbury steak for dinner tonight.”

“Wow! Thank you, Mom! Hahaha.”

Dayoung’s consideration for me, for example.

“Mom, do you have any sunburns? Should I apply some ointment for you?”

“Oh, it’s a bit hard to apply ointment on my back alone, can you help me?”

“Sure. Lie down quickly.”

-Rub rub.

“Ouch, it’s cold! Be gentle.”

“Hehe, got it.”

Anyway, although nothing major had changed, there seemed to be slight changes in the children’s attitudes. I couldn’t pinpoint it exactly, but I felt that it wasn’t a bad change.

One peaceful morning, as usual, after sending the kids to school.

-Ding dong!

I heard the notification sound of a text message on my phone, and it was from the city hall. It was about how to apply for support funds related to TS syndrome. According to the information, they provide support funds of about 1 million won per month for a year after applying.

It was definitely not a small amount, 1.2 million won per person. Well, considering that there are less than 20 domestic patients, it seemed reasonable to set this amount… Well, anyway, there’s no harm in receiving this support fund.

“Hmm, should I go apply for it today?”

Deciding so, I finished cleaning the house in the morning and prepared to go out. I thought about going in the afternoon, but I’m the type to quickly handle such small matters.

I left the house, drove to the welfare center, and arrived at my destination.

After entering the building and looking around the office, I saw many elderly people, probably because it was morning. Some people came to enjoy the air conditioning in the city hall during the hot summer, and I noticed some elderly people chatting with each other or quietly reading books.

And as usual, the civil servants in the office seemed busy from the morning. I took a number and waited, then headed to the office counter when it was my turn.

“Welcome. What can I help you with today?”

A woman in her late thirties greeted me.

“Um…”

After looking around for a moment, I quietly conveyed my purpose to the officer. I showed her the message on my phone, and after checking the contents, she smiled.

“Oh? Ah… Just a moment. This is our first time dealing with this matter, can I confirm it?”

Well, that could happen. It’s a rare case with less than 20 patients in the country.

“Yes, take your time.”

“Um, can I borrow your phone for a moment? I think I need to share the information.”

“Sure.”

She took my phone and went behind the counter to talk to a middle-aged man, then returned and handed me the phone again.

“He said you can go ahead and apply.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m sorry, could you wait for a moment over there? It seems like the official letter regarding this matter hasn’t arrived properly yet, so I’ll double-check and get the relevant documents for you. You can review that and fill it out for submission.”

Well, since this is the first text message sent today, the old office might still be slow. Communication might not be smooth up to the level of the current administrative welfare center unit.

Well, I understand this part as I am actively working in the company. If an elderly person or someone with a different personality were to receive this, they might raise their voice and look at it, as it is not the culture of our country.

I nodded quietly and went back to wait slowly.

As I sat waiting, suddenly an elderly lady sitting next to me spoke to me.

“Oh, this young lady is so pretty, isn’t she?”

“Uh, yes?”

“Knock knock, how old are you?”

“Oh, me? I… um…”

I was suddenly caught off guard by her question.

What is this?

“Oh my, I’m not talking about anything else, but you look so beautiful. Do you have a boyfriend?”

A truly embarrassing situation.

Well, elderly people are free-spirited, and maybe she is just here to pass the time rather than being alone at home and missing people….

“Haha, I don’t have a boyfriend.”

-Slap!

With a clap of her hands, the elderly lady continued as if it was a good thing.

“Oh, why does such a beautiful young lady still not have a partner? Are you willing to be introduced to a man? I’m not kidding, it’s for our grandson. He’s well-mannered, good-looking, and has a good job.”

If it were a real woman in her twenties who looked like me, this conversation might be very embarrassing and somewhat uncomfortable, but I found this conversation intriguing and decided to play along with the elderly lady’s intentions for a while.

“What is his job?”

“Oh, he’s a doctor, a doctor.”

Oh, a job with the word ‘doctor.’ It’s quite a good job. Is there no end to the benefits of the job? By my age, I would know how much nonsense that is. No, these days, even passing elementary school students would consider it nonsense.

“Hehe, is that okay? How about meeting him once?”

Seeing my interested expression, the elderly lady blinked and leaned closer to me.

“Hehe, I don’t have a boyfriend, but I do have a child.”

“What? Oh, I see. What was it? I saw it on the news recently, right? Yes, a single mom. Is that it? Oh, that scoundrel. He leaves you and doesn’t take responsibility.”

The grandmother suddenly grabbed my hand as if to comfort me and started consoling me.

“Still, a young lady like you is so alert and awake these days. Yes, no matter how hard it is, don’t give up on your child. Even though it’s tough for parents, if you take care of your own child until the end, right? Isn’t it your own child who you bore and raised? What’s wrong with the kids, oh dear.”

“No, grandma. It’s not like that. I… I got divorced a while ago.”

“What? Oh my, then did you bring the child with you? What about the child’s father?”

Oh, what should I call this? It’s like worrying but also looking at me with a very interested gaze, like our mothers watching morning dramas.

“Oh, um, ma’am. I’m 39 years old. Yes. I got married early… I have one high school student and one middle school student. Haha. So, don’t worry too much…”

“Oh, really? How can you be 39 with this face? It’s totally ‘unbelievable, this kind of thing happens’ material, isn’t it?”

“Hahaha, thank you….”

And then the old man who had been holding onto me for a while, asking about my personal information, now started talking about his own surroundings. Worries about his grandson or how his child was forced into retirement this time, things like that.

Well, at first, it was a bit awkward, but as I listened, it was somewhat entertaining. Not too bored while handling official business, right?

“Ms. Jung Do-yeon? Would you come here to receive the documents?”

After chattering for a while, my name was called, and when I turned around, the official from earlier was waving a document at me.

“Oh, yes!”

“Oh, it’s your turn. Well then. It’s nice to see a young lady listening to an old man. Thank you.”

The grandmother let go of my hand as if regretful, and I bowed slightly, greeted her, then went straight to the counter to receive the documents. After filling out the paperwork at the complaint counter and sitting for a while, I heard that the paperwork had been processed.

Before leaving the complaints office, I wanted to say goodbye to the grandmother.

“Well, young lady. It must be difficult to raise children alone, but stay strong and live diligently. A very young lady like you is hardworking, that’s good. But, is our eldest grandson married yet? Anyway, is he doing well? Is he settled?”

Oh, grandmother.

I was amazed by her words and tapped my forehead.

“Hahaha, I appreciate your words, but for the time being, I don’t have time to meet anyone. Anyway, thanks to you, I didn’t get bored waiting. Thank you. Take care, and I’ll be going now.”

With that, I bid farewell to the grandmother and left the complaints office.

Well, what an unexpected encounter with the old lady, but she was quite an interesting person.

It was an unexpected meeting, but it left a pleasant feeling, so as I drove out of the welfare center, a smile hung on my lips.