Then Jeonghan stared at me intently and shook his head.
“You’re too… pretty to be called ajussi, it doesn’t suit you…”
“…Hm?”
“I’ll call you teacher. You said Hyeol earlier, right?”
“Yes, teacher’s son is called Gwak Hyeol. You saw him earlier, right? He’s the same age as you and Kkotsu.”
“Gwak Hyeol… Hyeol…”
Jeonghan repeated the name like his father, muttering it, then nodded.
“Yes, I’ll get along well with Hyeol from now on.”
The child’s eyes sparkled brightly, seemingly sincere and mature.
To think I considered this child Hyeol’s rival and bombarded him with questions… I felt truly ashamed and sorry.
“Yes, Jeonghan. Please take good care of our Hyeol from now on…”
Drrrr.
While I was patting Jeonghan’s head and feeling proud of him, the school nurse came into the infirmary carrying a water pitcher.
“Jeonghan, isn’t it paper folding time now? Are you sure it’s okay not to go?”
At the school nurse’s words, Jeonghan’s eyes widened as he seemed about to stand up, then shook his head again.
“I’ll go when daddy wakes up.”
“Jeonghan, daddy’s awake.”
That’s when it happened. Eunseong-ssi, who I thought was still sleeping, opened his eyes and sat up.
“Daddy…!”
At the same time, Jeonghan jumped into his father’s arms. He looked really calm on the outside, but he must have been very worried. He hugged his father’s neck and wouldn’t let go for a while.
“Jeonghan, daddy’s fine so you can go to class. You like paper folding, don’t you?”
“But…”
“You came to kindergarten after a long time, Kkotsu will be disappointed.”
When Eunseong-ssi patted Jeonghan’s back and said this, the child finally slowly got up.
“…Yes, I understand. I’ll see you later…!”
As if he’d been waiting, Jeonghan smiled brightly and immediately left the infirmary.
“You two, instant coffee is okay, right?”
The school nurse, who had closed the infirmary door, asked while turning on the coffee pot. Before I could say it was fine, Eunseong-ssi requested that one coffee be made strong.
“The school nurse makes really delicious coffee.”
Eunseong-ssi grinned and whispered, not at all like someone who had just lost consciousness. The school nurse disappeared into the break room to make coffee again.
With only Eunseong-ssi lying on the bed and me left, I hesitated a bit before speaking.
“Eunseong-ssi, earlier was really…”
“I’m really sorry, Seungyeon-ssi.”
“No, I’m the one who should be… sorry… Your nose is okay, right…?”
I approached Eunseong-ssi closely to examine his nose. At a glance, aside from the nosebleed, his nose bone wasn’t broken and there were no bruises, but I asked just in case.
“Yes, actually I’m happy.”
“Yes…?”
But I heard an unexpected statement. I was startled and looked at Eunseong-ssi with wide eyes.
Could it be that he hurt his head?
I was anxiously examining his head here and there when Eunseong-ssi looked at me intently.
“At least I get to drink coffee… with Seungyeon-ssi.”
“Ah…”
Right, I had forgotten. This person had this kind of character…
“Seungyeon-ssi, I was really rude earlier… I didn’t know you had a child… I was too presumptuous…”
My heart softened a little at Eunseong-ssi’s dejected voice.
“It’s okay, you didn’t know so it could happen.”
“You really have such a kind heart, how can there be such an angel-like…”
“Please drink.”
Just then the school nurse cut off his words and handed two cups of coffee to me and Eunseong-ssi.
Slurp, as soon as Eunseong-ssi received the coffee with hot steam rising, he timidly tasted it.
“School nurse, you made it strong, right?”
“Just drink it, Jeonghan’s father.”
“Yes…”
The school nurse kindly ignored his sudden complaint.
“Seungyeon-ssi, let me properly introduce myself.”
Slurp slurp, after taking a few sips of coffee, Eunseong-ssi became serious again and said.
“I’m Jeonghan’s father who attends this Sunshine Kindergarten, and I’m currently working as a divorce lawyer. As that kid Jeonghan said, I do have a lot of… affection. So, to put it badly, people say I’m promiscuous… but I’ve never once been insincere!”
When Eunseong-ssi raised his voice, the school nurse who was watching let out a small sigh and stepped aside.
“Um, is Seungyeon-ssi… is that person from that time your husband?”
“Yes? Husband?”
That person from that time, could he mean Baek Woojin?
“Huh, no…!”
I had no idea it would look that way, so I quickly denied it and shook my head.
“Then are you currently dating…”
“Yes? Not at all.”
“Then…?”
“Just… friends… I guess…?”
I couldn’t say he was going to be Hyeol’s father-in-law, so I vaguely mumbled.
“Friends?”
Then color returned to Eunseong-ssi’s face.
“So Seungyeon-ssi currently has no romantic partner, that’s certain, right?”
“Yes? Well… that’s true but…”
I was troubled. I wondered if that was so important to this man.
“Hmm… But the fact that you’re marked…”
Eunseong-ssi muttered quietly with a serious face, then suddenly trembled.
“Oh, it’s already time…!”
Eunseong-ssi, who checked the clock on the wall, hurriedly got down from the bed. He quickly grabbed his jacket and tie from the coat hanger and shouted to me.
“I’m sorry! I have an important meeting today, I think I need to go urgently!”
“Oh, yes…”
“School nurse, thank you for the coffee! I enjoyed it!”
Eunseong-ssi left the infirmary quickly without looking back. It was amazing how he managed to take all his belongings despite leaving in such a hurry.
Clunk.
I also got up from my seat, collecting the coffee cup Eunseong-ssi had drunk from and mine.
“I should be going too. The coffee was delicious, teacher.”
“Hyeol’s father.”
I was greeting her and about to take my coat from the hanger when the school nurse quietly called me.
“Stay alert.”
“Yes?”
At the sudden warning, I stared at her blankly. The school nurse let out a deep sigh and spoke quietly.
“Actually, I was one of the people Eunseong-ssi fell for last month.”
“Ah…”
Only then did I understand the school nurse’s behavior.
“So I’m not saying this for nothing. Don’t get swept away and stay alert.”
“Yes… Thank you…”
Really… I wanted to think well of Eunseong-ssi for Jeonghan’s sake…
I stared blankly through the infirmary window at Eunseong-ssi running away urgently and sent him a pitying look.
Continued in Volume 2.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
