Chapter 45: Home Without Dad (1)

It was a peaceful day.

Lying on the floor resting with the children, Suryeon handed me the vibrating smartphone while saying,

"Dad, phone call."

A summons? How bothersome.

I checked the smartphone screen Suryeon passed me. It was supervisor Han Ji-soo.

"Why'd you call, Senior Han Ji-soo?"

-I have something to tell you. Getting along well with your daughter?

"Well, we're doing fine."

-That's good then. The reason I contacted you today is to tell you about the C-rank promotion test.

C-rank test. It’s finally here. I sat up straight from my relaxed position and focused.

"How does the C-rank promotion test work?"

-I can't tell you the test details specifically, but to give you a hint, once you start the test, you can't leave until you pass or give up.

"...You mean I have to sleep there until I pass?"

-There’s a high possibility.

That's not good, but can't give up the test either.

I turned to check on the dragons.

"Swoosh-! Swish-! My right hand is sleeping pills! Left hand is the path to hell!"

Hwaryeon was wildly throwing shadow punches in the air.

"..."

Suryeon was quietly watching me talk.

"Mmm... hmm... we must... protect trees..."

And Choryeon was sleep-talking about environmental activism.

'...I have to leave them alone to take the test?'

Who'll feed them, and who'll clean up if they cause trouble?

I spoke into the smartphone to Han Ji-soo.

"Okay. For now, Senior, let me know when the schedule's out."

-Alright, rest comfortably with your daughter until you get the call.

"Yeah."

Click-

The call ended and I checked on them again. They were still doing the same things.

"How can I go take the test leaving them alone?!"

This absolutely won't work, though?

As I was deep in worried thoughts, Suryeon tapped my shoulder with her finger and asked.

"Dad, who called?"

"My senior Han Ji-soo. Hwaryeon's met her directly, too."

"Really?"

Suryeon approached the earnestly punching Hwaryeon and asked.

"Hwaryeon unnie."

"Huh?"

"You know Han Ji-soo?"

Hwaryeon stopped punching and answered proudly.

"Who's that!? I don't know!"

"...Dad, Hwaryeon unnie says she doesn't know?"

Didn't she meet her twice? She can't not know. I asked Hwaryeon, suspecting her lizard memory.

"Hwaryeon, don't remember Han Ji-soo?"

"Don't know! Why should I remember?!"

"You met at the hero test center, and the bookstore too. You really don't know?"

"Ah, I remember!"

She finally remembered?

Hwaryeon opened her eyes wide and answered about the Han Ji-soo she remembered.

"The female who talked to Dad!"

"...Not 'female'. Woman. Let's say woman, Hwaryeon?"

"Female!"

This beast. Seems like Hwaryeon intends to call Han Ji-soo 'female' till the end. Hearing Hwaryeon's answer, Suryeon narrowed her eyes and told me.

"I learned on the internet that calling outside work hours is inconsiderate if you're not close."

"What site did you go to-"

"Dad, are you close with that woman?"

Suryeon quickly asked, cutting off my words.

'...Why is she curious if Han Ji-soo and I are close?'

Though slightly puzzling, I answered very honestly.

"We're not close."

"...Really?"

"She has some misunderstanding, so we can't get closer. She’s just my workplace superior."

"...Okay then."

Hearing my answer, Suryeon turned away as if she was no longer concerned. I really can't tell what she's thinking.

After that brief conversation, I leaned against the wall to think about the test again. I still can't not take the test.

'I need to leave home. What should I do? Should I find someone to watch them?'

There’s no suitable person to watch them temporarily. Especially if I leave them with someone else, they might discover their horns and tails.

'...I need someone to feed them even when I'm away.'

Someone who can feed them, clean up if they cause trouble, and take good care of my daughters when I'm away.

Who could that be?

"Hmm..."

My worries only deepened as time passed.

***

To pay back his debts as quickly as possible, taking the test is essential. In the end, Lee Ha-jun had to leave home for the test.

Lee Ha-jun looked at the children with a worried face and said.

"Kids, can you behave while Dad's away? No causing trouble because you miss Dad, crying, pouring soy sauce everywhere. Understand?"

Don't cry because Dad's gone.

Lee Ha-jun said this while worriedly patting the children's heads. After pestering them for a while, Hwaryeon knocked his hand away and shouted.

Smack-!

"Hmph, why would I cry just because Dad's gone?! Don't touch my head as you please!"

I absolutely won't cry and won't feel sad at all. Hwaryeon declared.

Beside her, Suryeon added.

"I'm not a child, Dad. I won't cry. I'll play quietly. Just come back."

Suryeon acted adult-like, coolly saying goodbye. Beside her, Choryeon pursed her lips regretfully and bowed.

"Have a good trip, Father... I'll miss you!"

"...It’s really only you, Choryeon. Come here!"

Hug-!

Lee Ha-jun immediately hugged Choryeon. Seeing this, Hwaryeon immediately body-slammed them.

"Just go away! Leave quickly!"

Growl-

Hwaryeon separated Lee Ha-jun and Choryeon, then crossed her arms satisfactorily. So Lee Ha-jun opened the door and stepped outside with a regretful face.

"...Someone will come at mealtimes. Open the door and hide your horns and tails."

"Yes, Father...!"

"Take care. Dad will be back soon."

With those final words, Lee Ha-jun closed the door.

Bang-!

Silence filled the studio apartment without their father.

"..."

"..."

"..."

The children stood at the entrance without words. This was the first time Lee Ha-jun would be away for a day, so this situation felt unfamiliar to them.

"...Hmph, go as you please. I don't care!"

Hwaryeon stared at the entrance door where Lee Ha-jun disappeared. Then, she turned and sat in front of the TV. Feeling unpleasant, she didn't want to move.

"Hmph, don't like it. What's so great about a test..."

Hwaryeon absently touched the bandage on her knee.

"...He'll be back soon. I don't particularly care."

Thump-

Suryeon leaned against the wall and opened her book. Though she said she didn't care, the pages didn't turn even after a long time.

"I wish everyone had sent Father off honestly..."

Why can't my unnies be honest?

Choryeon couldn't understand their behavior, and it was the same for all of them.

So. In the heavy atmosphere, time passed relentlessly without Lee Ha-jun's return.

Just as the children's stomach clocks started ringing…

Knock knock-

A knock broke the children's silence. Hwaryeon jumped up and shouted.

"Dad's back!"

Hwaryeon stood up habitually and shouted, but the other children knew well it wasn't Lee Ha-jun.

"Hwaryeon unnie. That's not Dad."

"...Ah, right."

"It's someone bringing food. Get ready to hide your horns and tails."

"...Yeah."

Gloom-

Hwaryeon pouted and hid her horns and tail. After confirming everyone had hidden them, they carefully opened the door to greet the human bringing food.

Creeak-

The children saw the wrinkled face of the building owner, the old lady, and shouted.

"A monster!!"

"Is this who Dad mentioned...?"

"I know! Father said she's the old lady!"

Huh-

The old lady looked at them incredulously and said.

"That Lee Ha-jun. He really was raising children? In this cramped place?"

Though her blood pressure rose, the old lady held back her anger in front of the children and sighed.

"Sigh, that good-for-nothing. If he was raising children, he should have told me. Frustrating fellow."

Slide-

The old lady entered with the food tray she'd set down.

Though the children felt uncomfortable having their home invaded, the old lady put the food on the table and immediately left and before leaving, she left one comment.

"Tsk, tell me if you need more food. I'll give you more."

The old lady disappeared with those words.

Bang-!

The children were slightly angry seeing this.

"Why is she criticizing Dad! Only I can do that!"

"..."

"But she seems nice..."

"Hmph, whatever! Let's eat! Everyone!"

Pitter-patter-

Hwaryeon immediately climbed onto the table to vent her anger and started eating the food on the tray.

Suryeon and Choryeon also followed Hwaryeon and ate. But unlike usual, silence filled the table.

"..."

"..."

"..."

The empty seat at the table. The children looked at that seat while slowly putting food in their mouths.

"When's Dad coming back?"

"...Yeah."

"I wish he'd come back quickly..."

The children felt like they had no appetite today.