Ch#210
A small wrinkle formed between the child's brows.
Tie asked in an uncertain voice.
"But why would Grandma worry about that? Tie has never had a hard time because of Grandma even once!"
"Really? But yesterday, you cried because of Grandma."
"No! That was......!"
"No? Then why did you cry?"
Tie shut his mouth.
Tese tan gently stroked the child's head.
"It would be nice if you could secretly tell Daddy why you felt sad."
Tie, who had been hesitating, slowly lowered his gaze.
The silent child finally parted his lips after a long while.
"Keeps......"
His large eyes met Tese tan's.
"Keeps making me want to stay here."
"......"
"Tie has to go back. Everyone's waiting for Tie."
"......"
"But Grandma and Aunt here keep worrying me......"
Tese tan unknowingly wore a strange expression as he looked at his daughter.
Tie's eyes held a new emotion the father was encountering for the first time.
Uncertainty, worry, deep hesitation.
A sight of enduring worries too vast for words.
It was somehow both pitiful and admirable.
Tese tan reached out and stroked Tie's head.
"Tie. Everyone has a scale like this in their heart."
The child held his breath.
"Since you have one in your heart too, when making an important decision, weigh it there first. See what's more important to you."
The child looked down at his own chest.
Tese tan continued after a long pause.
"Whatever decision you make is fine. No matter what answer you choose, Daddy's on your side."
Astie remained silent for a while.
How much time passed.
In the room brightened by morning sunlight, the words the child spoke were something even Tese tan hadn't expected.
"But Daddy, you can't decide just by Tie's scale what's more important."
Tese tan's eyes widened slightly.
"If you only use Tie's scale, you can't take care of other people's scales, right?"
The child's eyes sparkled in the sunlight.
"Tie's scale says go back to Talochioum. Staying here would make Daddy too tired, and going to Talochioum means the other family is there."
"......"
"And Talochioum is important to Tie too. Agavert is there, and Uncle Basto, Brother Veil, Grandpa Nordics, Raoul, and Brother Enzo......"
A slow smile spread across the child's face as he spoke.
As if saying each of their names was a spell that brought happiness just by uttering it.
"So Tie's scale says go back to Talochioum. But Tie doesn't want to be apart from Grandma and Aunt either. So at first......"
Tie looked at Tese tan.
A serious light dwelled in his evergreen eyes.
"I thought about asking Grandma and Aunt to come with us."
Tie knew.
Though it was a narrow, small house, how much Grandma loved this alley.
Of course, there must have been sad and unhappy moments.
But perhaps there were more happy ones, which is why she stayed here all this time?
Aunt was the same.
Friendly neighbors everywhere in the alley.
Familiar parks, familiar routines.
And the flowers and pots on the rooftop of Gold Yeon Apartments that Aunt loved more than anything in the world.
"......It wasn't a sad thing."
The child smiled wistfully yet relieved.
Tese tan silently watched the child.
"It's regrettable, but...... not a sad thing at all."
Tie murmured and looked out the window.
Beyond the security bars.
The brick next-door building was visible.
Sparrows flew between the tangled wires and antennas.
"......Can we come back later if we want to?"
Tie asked.
Tese tan hesitated, then scooped Tie up and headed to the window.
"Who knows."
The two stared side by side at the morning alley visible outside the window.
He could have answered yes to the child.
That they could come back.
Even if difficult, if they kept looking for a way, they could visit someday.
But for some reason.
In this moment, Tese tan didn't want to tell the child even the tiniest white lie.
It felt like he shouldn't.
'......So small, yet.'
He thought, gazing at the child's young profile.
Surprisingly, Tie had grown in a short time.
Not in height or appearance, but inwardly.
Even within the twisted timeline.
While he was stuck, the child's heart had steadily matured.
"Actually...... even if we can't come back, Tie is okay."
Tie said.
As if informing himself, the child continued in a calm, composed voice.
"As long as Tie and Daddy are happy in Talochioum. Then Grandma and Aunt will be super happy here too."
"......"
"The scale in Tie's heart says everyone's happiness is the most important."
The sparrows chirped.
A while later, Tese tan said affectionately.
"Who did our daughter take after to be so kind and smart?"
Tie turned his head.
His surprised eyes softened, and the corners of his mouth crept up.
Tie grinned widely and hugged Tese tan's neck.
"Daddy!"
"Really?"
"Yeah! Tie takes after Daddy, so he's the kindest and smartest in the world."
"Is that so? But Daddy feels a bit regretful. You grew up too fast, too much."
Tie tilted his head.
"Isn't growing up fast a good thing?"
"No. Daddy misses baby Tie and kid Tie so much."
"Tie isn't baby Tie anymore!"
"That's why it's regretful. What if kid Tie grows up all the way and says she's independent and leaves alone?"
Tie's expression turned serious.
The pondering child answered earnestly.
"That's, you know, Tie thought about it."
"Yeah."
"Tie became independent at four because Daddy forgot, right!"
"Did I?"
"So when I become an adult, I just won't become independent!"
Tese tan's eyes widened.
Soon, a smile formed on his lips.
"Is that it?"
"Yeah! Everyone doesn't become independent as babies, only as adults! Since Tie became independent first as a baby, I won't as an adult and will stay with Daddy!"
Tese tan burst into loud laughter.
Soon, his gaze turned playful.
He stared at Tie for a moment,
"Right. But even if Daddy tickles you like this every day, you won't become independent, right?"
and began tickling the child's sides.
Tie writhed, bursting into giggles.
Tese tan grabbed Tie's legs and spun him around once in the air.
Then laid the child down on the fluffy blanket.
His eyes, full of joy, curved prettily as they looked at Tese tan.
"Daddyyy."
"Yeah?"
"But Tie is hungry!"
At the same time, a small gurgle sounded between them.
As Tese tan hummed and glanced toward the kitchen.
"Tie’s Daddy, you in there?"
Someone knocked on the door from outside.
Soon, a mutter came from beyond the door.
"Look at me. Tie’s Daddy. They said his memory isn't fully back, so I should've called him Mr. Kim first. Wait. I heard his name yesterday? The name was Te...... ugh, I already forgot......!"
Tese tan and Tie exchanged glances.
Both had expressions clearly holding back laughter.
"Anyway, you in there?"
Jeong Myung-ja knocked again.
Tese tan rose and opened the door.
Jeong Myung-ja entered with a face half worried, half awkward.
"Sorry from the morning. I heard from downstairs that you were up. I thought we should at least feed the child......"
"Auntie!"
Tie scampered over and hugged Jeong Myung-ja.
Jeong Myung-ja blinked worriedly at the clinging child.
"Our Tie. Did you sleep well......?"
Her tone held concern that the child might be sulky from last night's events.
But Tie answered brightly.
"Yes! And last night, Daddy got better!"
Jeong Myung-ja's eyes rounded.
"Got better? Better how?"
Tie smiled and pulled Tese tan toward her.
"Daddy remembered Tie again! And Auntie and Grandma too!"
Jeong Myung-ja's mouth fell open.
Soon, an ecstatic light bloomed on her face.
"Oh my god! You two were laughing and chatting brightly, so that's why! How did he remember? So suddenly too? It must've been temporary! Yeah, temporary!"
"Yes!"
"He got better?! Mr. Kim got better?!"
And soon, another person appeared from downstairs.
It was Chae Bok-su, holding a spatula in her hand.
Tie and Chae Bok-su's gazes met in midair.