Chapter 16

“Hehe…”

Ha-yeon made a pretty carnation to give to her mom. Originally, carnations were made for Parents’ Day or Teachers’ Day, but these days, with the new generation, such traditions didn’t matter. It was fine to give them anytime.

So today’s kindergarten class was about making carnations to give to their parents.

Of course, the other kids made two each, but Ha-yeon only made one. Her father wasn’t around, after all.

But Ha-yeon didn’t really mind. In fact, there was a good side to it. If her dad had been around, her mom’s attention would have been divided, but since he wasn’t, her mom focused solely on Ha-yeon. Of course, there are good dads too.

“It’s so pretty, Ha-yeon! You’re really skilled!”

The kindergarten teacher, Lee Si-eun, was surprised by the carnation Kim Ha-yeon had made. While the other kids made clumsy or messy carnations, Ha-yeon’s was top-notch. Especially since it was her first time making one.

“It’s a gift for my mom, so I couldn’t make it carelessly!”

Ha-yeon spoke clearly, and her everyday behavior showed she was much more mature and intelligent compared to the other kids. Of course, Si-eun loved all the children equally.

“Really…?”

Si-eun continued teaching the other kids.

As she busily moved around teaching, the class ended. Ha-yeon looked at the clock and quickly packed her bag. She wanted to see her mom even a second sooner, so she prepared in advance. To keep the carnation from getting ruined, she put it in last. No, she decided to hold it in her hand instead. Just in case it got damaged inside the bag.

Just thinking about the expression her mom would make when she saw the carnation made her happy.

“Ha-yeon? Are you going without waiting for your mom?”

“Yes!”

Most kids waited for their parents to pick them up after class ended early, but Ha-yeon was different. At first, Si-eun had tried to stop her. Letting kids leave before their parents arrived was dangerous.

Even though Korea was safe, who knew what could happen if Ha-yeon walked alone? But Ha-yeon’s stubbornness was unshakable. Eventually, it became normal for Ha-yeon to leave early if class ended sooner.

Kim Ha-yul had given her permission too.

Thud-thud-thud!

Ha-yeon ran to the café where her mom worked, her bag on her back. She wanted to see her mom’s face. But as she got closer to the café, an uneasy feeling crept in. She should have been happy, but…

Earlier, she had seen an ambulance speeding down the road, and it made her worry. The ambulance’s siren was blaring as it raced through the streets.

When she finally reached the café, her heart sank. An ambulance was parked in front of the café where her mom worked.

“Ah…”

Ha-yeon, still holding the carnation she was going to give her mom, hurriedly ran into the café. She desperately hoped the unease she’d felt earlier wouldn’t become reality.

But as if mocking her thoughts, the café was in chaos. Paramedics were carrying someone out on a stretcher. Selfishly, Ha-yeon hoped it wasn’t her mom.

“Mom… Mom!”

But the person on the stretcher was her mom. Seeing her pale face and the sweat pouring down, Ha-yeon dropped the carnation in her hand. She screamed and rushed forward.

“Mom, wake up!!!”

“Ha-yeon!”

Chae So-young and Yoo A-rin stopped Ha-yeon from rushing to Ha-yul. The paramedics quickly loaded Ha-yul into the ambulance and left. Ha-yeon wanted to follow, but So-young and A-rin held her back. Only the boss had gotten into the ambulance.

“Mommyyyyy…”

Ha-yeon collapsed to the floor and cried. She had never once thought her mom might die. Seeing her mom being taken away in an ambulance made her heart sink.

—

So-young and A-rin apologized to the customers in the café. They asked the customers to leave and closed early for the day. Thankfully, it was already past 3 PM, so there weren’t many people left.

With the boss gone and Ha-yul absent, the café couldn’t stay open. Even if they had to run the café tomorrow, today’s business had to end.

“Unnies, what about my mom…”

But seeing Ha-yeon, Ha-yul’s daughter, made them sigh deeply. Unfortunately, Ha-yeon had seen her mom being taken away in the ambulance at the worst possible time.

The only silver lining was that the boss had just called from the emergency room to report Ha-yul’s condition. She had fainted due to overwork and a cold. It wasn’t life-threatening. With some rest, she would recover.

Ha-yeon was sobbing uncontrollably. The usually mature and composed child now looked like any other little kid. So-young and A-rin hesitated to approach her, but they had to say something. They exchanged glances and nodded.

They walked over to Ha-yeon, who was sitting on the floor crying.

“Ha-yeon…”

“Unnie!!! Please save my mom!!!”

Ha-yeon wailed and clung to A-rin’s leg. A-rin held Ha-yeon’s shoulders and spoke.

“Ha-yeon, your mom will be okay. The boss just called.”

“Really…?”

“Yes. You don’t need to worry so much.”

So-young was calling the boss. So, A-rin had to comfort Ha-yeon. She wiped Ha-yeon’s tears and took care of her. Ha-yeon had cried so much that her eyes were swollen.

“Ha-yeon, don’t worry.”

“But still…”

While A-rin comforted Ha-yeon, So-young finished her call and approached.

“A-rin unnie, the boss said to bring Ha-yeon to the emergency room.”

“Really?”

Hearing she could go, Ha-yeon’s eyes lit up. If she followed the unnies, she could see her mom’s face.

—

“Ugh…”

I opened my eyes. An unfamiliar ceiling greeted me. It was a cliché expression, but there was no other way to describe it. My eyes were too blurry to see clearly.

“Ha-yul, are you okay?”

It was the boss’s voice. My vision finally cleared, and I saw the boss sitting beside me.

“Boss…? What happened?”

The boss slowly explained what had happened after I collapsed. I had suddenly fallen to the floor while making coffee at the café. Thankfully, the boss had caught me quickly, so I didn’t hit my head on the ground.

The most dangerous thing when fainting is hitting your head on the floor.

“Stubborn girl. I told you to speak up if you’re feeling unwell. Do you know how scared I was?”

I had nothing to say. The boss and the other workers had noticed something was off. If I had just said I was feeling unwell, they would have let me take the day off. I hung my head in shame.

My stubbornness had caused trouble for everyone. And it wasn’t like the café would collapse without me. Though the boss and the others would have to work harder.

“I’m sorry, Boss…”

“It’s fine as long as you understand. Next time, speak up if you’re feeling even a little unwell, okay? You’re not a dull kid, but you pushed yourself too far!”

“Sniff…”

Listening to the boss’s endless scolding, I pulled the blanket over my head. Everything the boss said was true. If you’re feeling unwell, you have to say something. Keeping it to yourself won’t help.

It’s not like the boss could read minds. No one can read thoughts. That’s why you have to speak up.

The boss then peeled some fruit for me. I noticed a fruit basket by the bed.

“It’s delicious…”

As I ate the fruit the boss gave me, the hospital room door opened, and someone came in.

“Mommyyyyy!”

It was Ha-yeon. Come to think of it, I hadn’t told her I was in the emergency room.