Chapter 27

Ha-yeon diligently attended kindergarten classes again today. Although the content was boring and uninteresting, she had no choice but to study hard to take care of her mother in the future. She needed to earn a lot of money to support her mother later.

In modern society, to earn a lot of money, one either had to become a hunter or become smart enough to join a big corporation. Since Ha-yeon wasn’t sure if she would become a hunter, studying hard to become a good person was the path left for her.

Studying wasn’t fun, but it was doable. At least she confirmed that her brain wasn’t bad.

“Hmm…”

At that moment, a remark her mother had made before flashed through Ha-yeon’s mind.

[“When are you going to bring a friend over, Ha-yeon?”]

Her mother was undoubtedly suspicious of Ha-yeon’s kindergarten life. Honestly, Ha-yeon didn’t think she needed friends much. Watching the other kids play with dolls, they seemed like such little children. Though Ha-yeon was also a child, playing with dolls wasn’t fun at all. Solving textbook problems was more enjoyable. Dolls just didn’t interest her.

Of course, if her mother suggested playing with dolls together, it was a different story. Just being with her mother made it fun. There was no such thing as a boring activity when done with her mother. Even the most childish and clichéd children’s animations became fun when watched with her.

Ha-yeon’s eyes scanned the kids playing. Boys were a no-go; she didn’t want to give her mother unnecessary anxiety. Besides, Ha-yeon herself didn’t like the idea of bringing a boy home. She didn’t hate boys, but she didn’t particularly like them either. In Ha-yeon’s world, it was uncertain if anyone other than her mother would ever be someone she liked.

Then, she spotted a kid crouched in the corner. It was the kid she had talked to before. Fair-skinned and good-looking, this kid was perfect as a decorative friend to show her mother. Quiet and not talkative, this kid suited Ha-yeon just fine. Ha-yeon recalled the kid’s name.

Yoo-in-a?

Checking the name tag on the kid’s chest confirmed her thoughts. Since Ha-yeon was generally friendly with everyone, inviting this kid over wouldn’t be a big deal. Ha-yeon approached Yoo-in-a sitting in the corner.

“Huh…?”

Yoo-in-a, fiddling with a doll, looked up at the sudden shadow. Ha-yeon’s figure filled Yoo-in-a’s eyes.

“Yoo-in-a.”

“Uh… huh? Ha-yeon, what’s up?”

“Do you want to come over to my house today?”

Yoo-in-a couldn’t help but gape at Ha-yeon’s invitation. It didn’t make sense that Ha-yeon, the most famous kid in the class, was inviting her over. Yoo-in-a pinched her cheek. It hurt, so it wasn’t a dream.

“Uh… okay…”

Yoo-in-a nodded unconsciously. She was curious about Ha-yeon and how she lived. Yoo-in-a didn’t have much to do at home either, being from a single-parent household without a mother.

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“Hum hum~”

Today was an exciting day. Ha-yeon was bringing a friend over. So, I was busy preparing. Ha-yeon, considerate as always, said she’d come home a bit later than my café closing time, probably to give me enough time to prepare.

“This and this…”

I bought a bunch of snacks I saw on TV that kids like. I wanted to try something. When kids play in a room, parents naturally come in with snacks and drinks for them.

To play that role, I bought not only snacks but also beverages from the supermarket. The amount spent for the day was significant, but it was a reasonable expense for Ha-yeon’s friend.

I vacuumed and did a thorough cleaning. The house sparkled. This level of preparation was more than enough to welcome a first-time visitor.

I sat on the sofa with a happy heart. It was an old sofa, so it wasn’t very plush. I wanted to buy a more expensive one, but the current one wasn’t bad.

Ding-dong-

Then, the sound of the keypad echoed. I got up from the sofa to prepare to greet Ha-yeon’s friend. It’s Ha-yeon’s friend, so I should meet them properly, right? Or should I be warm and affectionate? All sorts of thoughts swirled in my head.

“Mom, I’m home!”

I rushed over. Ha-yeon really brought a friend. I greeted them with a bright smile.

“Welcome~ Ha-yeon and…”

“Hello, ma’am. I’m Yoo-in-a.”

Ma’am? I never thought I’d hear that title! But from a child’s perspective, it was accurate. Though I’m only 20, raising Ha-yeon made me a “ma’am.” The term itself refers to a woman with a child.

The name sounded familiar. Where had I heard it before? I couldn’t recall names from daily life. Maybe it was from a novel… It’s been years since I came to this world, so my memory was hazy.

I can barely remember things from a week ago, so recalling something from years ago was surprising. And it wasn’t even my own experience—it was from a novel.

“Come on in!”

First, I needed to let Yoo-in-a, who was lingering at the entrance, inside. She couldn’t just stand there.

“Come in, Yoo-in-a!”

“Uh… okay… Excuse me…!”

“Go to the room. I’ve prepared snacks and drinks. Hehe…”

I laughed ominously as I sent Ha-yeon and Yoo-in-a into the room. I had always imagined parents bringing snacks when kids played. Now that I could make that happen, I couldn’t help but smile.

Watching the kids enter the room, I gently closed the door. It didn’t seem right for an adult to intrude on kids’ playtime. Parents joining in when kids are playing with friends is the worst choice.

Even I wouldn’t like it if my parents joined in while I was playing with friends.

Anyway, I went to the kitchen to prepare the snacks and drinks. Since everything was ready, it didn’t take long. Smiling brightly, I knocked on Ha-yeon’s door. Though it’s our room, with Ha-yeon’s friend here, it was now Ha-yeon’s room.

“Coming in~”

“Okay!”

Opening the door, I saw Ha-yeon and Yoo-in-a setting up something on the table. Curious, I peeked. It was a board game. Seeing it made me want to play too. I always wanted to join when I saw others playing.

But adults shouldn’t intrude on kids’ playtime… Reluctantly, I placed the snacks and drinks down and was about to leave. Staying longer would make me want to join the board game. But Ha-yeon noticed me.

“Mom! Mom, play the board game with us!”

“Huh… huh?”

“Board games are more fun with more people! It’d be great if you joined… Can’t you?”

Ha-yeon looked at me with pleading eyes. Seeing that, my resolve weakened. I glanced at Yoo-in-a, Ha-yeon’s friend. Even if Ha-yeon said that, Yoo-in-a might not like it. Ha-yeon and I had been together for a long time, so she could say that, but Yoo-in-a, who just met me today, might feel differently.

But Yoo-in-a also shyly said,

“Ma’am, please join us…”

I couldn’t resist anymore. I plopped down and said,

“If you insist like that, how can I refuse~!”

Smiling brightly, I prepared to join the board game. Our house had many board games. We didn’t have a computer, and there weren’t many other forms of entertainment. So, Ha-yeon and I often played board games or other offline games together.

That’s why I was even more excited for this board game. With Ha-yeon’s friend Yoo-in-a joining, it was going to be fun.