[Chapter 46]
Anyway, I had to meet Blue to confirm the situation where I couldn’t go definitively and to talk with Eunji.
After lunch, I asked Kirk if I could go meet Eunji again today as a substitute, and when he asked if it was because of the trip, I naturally said yes. Kirk readily agreed, and I immediately headed to Eunji’s kindergarten, the same one I visited yesterday.
On the way, I thought a bit about the trip. It had been too long since I last traveled. Apart from the 1-night 2-day trip during headquarters’ outing a few years ago, there hadn’t been any significant leisure after coming to Earth.
When I was in space, every day felt like a trip, so I yearned for settling down somewhere comfortably. However, staying in one place for 20 years and leading a routine life made me naturally want to travel somewhere.
Unfortunately, it seemed that Eunji’s proposed trip would not happen this time, so I had to postpone. Even if I postponed, I didn’t have a friend to travel with, so who could I travel with?
Suddenly, I remembered. I had a girlfriend named Yubin. If I suggested traveling to her… while I couldn’t predict her reaction as I wasn’t sure if she still liked traveling, I could at least hope for a positive response.
As I moved while thinking about what we might do on a trip together, we quickly arrived at the kindergarten. It wasn’t yet dismissal time, so I waited under the rain with an umbrella for Eunji to come out.
They said the rainy season would last until next week. Would it be okay for Yubin to travel during the rainy season? Although Kirk probably mentioned this, I was more eager to go with Ho Young than to consider the trip details.
“How funny.”
Watching Eunji was amusing. She was the daughter of my friend’s wife, but perhaps due to visiting Kirk’s house several times, she strangely reminded me of myself. If I ever got married and had a daughter, having a daughter like Eunji would be nice.
“No, no.”
I shook my head. They say taking care of an active child is several times harder than taking care of an average, active child. Eunji was considered a special case, but according to Kirk, Eunji’s parenting difficulty level was the lowest.
It was frustrating to think that my friend had less trouble because his daughter was smart.
While waiting for the children to come out, listening to the rain, I realized time had passed, and with the parents who came to pick up their kids, the children headed home.
Eunji, knowing that Kirk was coming today, would probably walk out alone from the kindergarten.
And as expected, Eunji found me at the kindergarten gate and her face brightened up.
“Uncle?!”
She waved her hand slightly to greet me.
“Hello.”
“Why are you here? Where’s Dad?”
“Didn’t you tell Dad you wanted to go on a trip yesterday?”
That must be it. Nodding along with Eunji’s answer, I understood.
“Are you going on a trip?”
“Did I bring it up because I want to go with Ho Young?”
Instead of answering, I asked another question to Eunji. Eunji gave me a look as if to say “Of course, I’d know,” rather than a puzzled expression.
“Yeah. Can we go?”
“We need to ask Ho Young’s aunt. We don’t know if her parents will allow it.”
Even in an uncertain situation about whether we can travel or not, Eunji seemed to feel a glimmer of hope just by seeing me, showing no signs of disappointment.
If it doesn’t work out, I might see Eunji in a rare disappointed state, but that would be Kirk’s responsibility as her father. All I needed to handle was confirming that I definitely can’t go.
Honestly, I wanted to go. It had been a long time since I last traveled, and I really wanted to relieve the recent fatigue. But, no matter how much I thought about it, Blue probably wouldn’t let me go.
No, not let me go, but with her single-handedly taking care of the children, it seemed impossible for her to go.
“Where’s Ho Young?”
“He’s waiting inside until Aunt comes.”
I had forgotten about Ho Young as I was talking with Eunji. Blue’s figure was nowhere to be seen. Was she late again today? Despite one person coming to the kindergarten, it would still be chaotic to take care of two children alone.
I could guess why she was late, but I wasn’t sure if young Ho Young knew.
“Let’s bring Ho Young too. Let’s play for a bit.”
“Is it okay?”
“Of course.”
Seeing Eunji run back into the kindergarten excited about being able to play with her boyfriend for two consecutive days, I couldn’t help but think of Yubin.
We’ve been busy lately and haven’t had proper dates. After the rainy season ends, maybe we should go on a trip together.
Eunji happily walked out holding Ho Young’s hand, despite her shoulder getting a little wet from the slightly tilted umbrella.
“Where should we go?”
The place I brought Eunji and Ho Young to was a nearby playroom. It was a safe indoor playground with various toys, and I thought it would be perfect for the kids to have fun for a while.
And as expected, the two children were having a great time. Ho Young had a communication phone.
“If you call Aunt, she’ll know we’re here.” She called Aunt properly, and I sat down to watch the two children playing while waiting for Blue.
Blue rushed in, and our eyes met.
“I’m sorry. Because of me…”
I waved my hand and told her it was fine, then offered her a drink as she hurriedly came in.
“Take a moment to rest.”
After catching her breath, Blue sat beside me. We watched the children play quietly for a while. I had a purpose but couldn’t decide how to start the conversation, and Blue seemed to have nothing to say either.
“I’ve never seen Ho Young run around like that before.”
Thinking about how to start the conversation, I suddenly blurted out, and it made me look at Ho Young playing with Eunji.
“I don’t know much yet, but he seems like a quiet kid, so I wouldn’t expect him to run around like that normally.”
“Yes. He’s much quieter compared to his siblings. He never raises his voice or runs around at home.”
Eunji was a special case, but Ho Young seemed to be quite a special case too. In the high difficulty level of raising three boys, Ho Young seemed to lower the difficulty a bit.
“Eunji has always been good at playing. It made things tough for me.”
Naturally, the conversation turned to the children as they played. Parents meeting usually end up talking about their kids, right?
Of course, real parents would be busy talking about anecdotes with their own children.
“When it’s playtime, she always looks for me more than her dad.”
“Eunji really likes her uncle.”
“Really. Maybe it’s because she doesn’t have any relatives.”
Kirk came from outer space and had no connections on Earth, and his wife was an only child, so Eunji didn’t have any relatives.
That’s why whenever I visited Kirk’s house, Eunji would always eagerly ask me to play, and even though I didn’t particularly like kids, I didn’t dislike them either, so I played with her to the best of my ability.
“She said she wants to go on a trip again and prefers to go with me instead of her dad.”
“Oh, next week is kindergarten break, isn’t it?”
Could it be that the thought of taking care of the kids all day during the break already tires her out? Her eyes looked filled with worry.
“So, do you like traveling?”
“Yes?”
I thought carefully before bringing it up, but no matter how I phrased it, it sounded suspicious. So, I decided to explain it thoroughly.
“Eunji wants to go on a trip, but it seems like she wants to go to play with Ho Young. Even though it’s raining, she seems genuinely excited. While I can go as a guardian, Ho Young needs one too, and it might make Hayang uncomfortable if I go alone.”
Oh no. No matter how I put it, it didn’t make sense. It looked like I was just making excuses, but Blue smiled, believing me.
“Calm down. Just wait a moment. Next week…”
It seemed she was calculating the dates in her head. The slight narrowing of her eyebrows indicated that traveling would be difficult. Although it was expected, it saddened me to think about Eunji’s disappointment.
“Yes. Next week should be fine.”
“Right? It will be hard… Wait, what?”
I stared blankly at her, not expecting such an answer from someone who had been folding and unfolding their fingers and shaking their head just moments ago.
“It should be fine. My older brother and new sister are coming back from abroad this weekend.”
…I had misunderstood.
I thought her brother and new sister had passed away and she was raising the kids alone, but that wasn’t the case. They were coming back from a short trip abroad.
Since they’re returning soon, Blue would have less childcare responsibility, making it possible for her to travel.
“Huh… You’re okay with it?”
Even though it was a trip with the kids, I was going as a guardian with someone I barely knew. There are still unknowns about Earth’s common sense, aren’t there?
“Yes. Ho Young looks bored staying at home all the time.”
It seemed that in her mind, the idea of going on a trip as a guardian for the children’s sake was much stronger than the idea of traveling with me as a guardian.
Then, I had to act as a guardian and make plans since the situation changed and we could travel.
“But how about the exact date and location?”
“The date we can decide, and the place will be arranged by Eunji’s dad. He makes good money, so there’s no need to worry too much.”
I mentioned beforehand that she shouldn’t worry about travel funds since Kirk said he would arrange the destination and accommodation.
“Then…”
Blue started calculating again.
“I think Monday or Tuesday would be fine. I’ll talk to Ho Young and get back to you.”
“Okay.”
After answering, Blue took out her phone and handed it to me. I needed her number to contact her, and since discussing travel plans would be easier, I also saved her number in my phone.
“Since it’s going to rain next week, we won’t be able to play outside much. Is that okay?”
“Yes. It’s more important that Ho Young enjoys himself. I think Eunji being there would make him happy too.”
Even something as simple as sliding down a slide seemed exciting to Eunji and Ho Young, who were smiling brightly.
Seeing the innocent smile of a child always makes me feel good. Perhaps it reminds me of my own childhood, growing up and playing energetically.
“Since it’s been a long time since we went on a trip, we should treat the kids to some good food when we get there.”
Come to think of it, Blue mentioned wanting to become a chef someday. Could she be excited about cooking on the trip? She was smiling just as brightly as the children playing.
For some reason, seeing her smile made me feel good too, so I smiled back at her.
“Uncle and sister seem to have a good atmosphere.”
Eunji and Ho Young, who were playing, sensed the unusual atmosphere from afar and hid for a moment before observing Ay and Blue, who were sitting.
“Our aunt is really kind.”
“Our uncle is really kind too.”
The two young couples, whose eyes met, began planning what they could do on the trip when it happens.
