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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: The Premiere
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Ma Sujeong patted the sleeping Gongja. Her child, who had shed such big, fat tears earlier, was now sleeping like an angel.
Ansan-daek said, putting Gongja's clothes in the closet.
“It’s rare for Gongja to cry so hysterically.”
“You must have been surprised too, Ansan-daek.”
“Yes. Do you know how worried I was, thinking you were hurt, miss?”
“I’m sorry. But our Gongja seems like such a gentle child.”
Ansan-daek agreed. Honestly, he rarely cried. He didn’t fuss when sleepy, nor did he whine.
“He’s always smiling brightly.”
“Yes. My angel really does smile a lot.”
“For a child like that to cry… I was a bit surprised then.”
Ma Sujeong gently brushed Gongja’s hair back. The baby was fast asleep, oblivious to the world.
“Do you think he was crying because the fall hurt?”
“I wonder. But Ansan-daek, do you think it’s because I’m his mother?”
Ma Sujeong slowly recounted what she had felt at that moment.
“I don’t think Gongja was hurt.”
“Really? It’s true there were no bruises on his body.”
“Yeah. We’ll stop by the hospital tomorrow, but there’s nothing visible for now.”
Ma Sujeong recalled that moment. She had definitely only protected Gongja then.
‘My back hurt so much.’
Once she confirmed Gongja was okay, all she could do was groan. It hurt so much she could barely breathe.
‘But then, it suddenly got better, didn’t it?’
She didn’t have time to wonder why her body had healed. All she could think about was Gongja, who must have been terrified.
When she stood up and went to him, her baby angel was mumbling with his lips, his face a mess.
‘Honestly, I was shocked.’
The child who almost never cried was wailing his heart out.
The moment the baby cried out “Mama,” Ma Sujeong realized.
‘Our Gongja isn’t crying because he’s scared.’
He was crying because he thought she was hurt, because he was worried about his mother.
Ma Sujeong caressed Gongja’s cheek. His chubby cheek was softer than a cream puff.
“My dear Gongja, were you scared that Mommy would get hurt?”
A long sigh escaped her. Ansan-daek watched them and said.
“From what I can see, both you and Gongja seem to be fine, miss.”
“I think so too. I know my own body best. I’m fine.”
But still, there was one thing that bothered her.
“Ansan-daek, do you know something?”
“What is it?”
“I’ve always lived as I pleased.”
Ansan-daek knew that better than anyone. She nodded.
“You’ve lived quite passionately, miss.”
“I’m not really afraid of getting hurt.”
She loved action.
She had always been nimble, and she enjoyed learning new things. It wasn’t that she never got minor injuries, but they always healed quickly.
“But I think I need to hold back a little now.”
It was so surprising that someone else was shocked when she got hurt.
“You, miss?”
“I never knew Gongja would cry so hysterically just because I got hurt.”
“This little one is worried about you, miss.”
“Yeah. It’s the first time.”
Ma Sujeong stroked her angel.
“So I’m someone who makes others worry like this.”
“Miss.”
“And our Gongja has no one but me.”
It was so obvious. And she was only just realizing it now.
Ma Sujeong sighed. Responsibility. She thought she understood it well enough, but she was only truly grasping it now.
“You’ve matured, miss.”
Ma Sujeong smiled a little.
“I guess so. Good thing it happened now rather than later, right?”
“Not thinking it’s too late is just like you, miss.”
Ma Sujeong lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
“Since I’m maturing anyway, should I take it a step further?”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that, miss?”
“It just occurred to me. There’s one more person I’m responsible for.”
Ansan-daek fell silent.
“Mari.”
Ma Sujeong sighed.
“Well, it still hurts that she said she’d hate me forever, but…”
“Miss.”
“No matter how much she doesn’t want to see me, I should still see her.”
Gongja slept soundly, breathing softly. Ma Sujeong whispered quietly.
“Thinking back, I should have at least asked her why.”
“You didn’t ask?”
“I was too shocked, and she was screaming her head off, so I couldn’t. Setting myself aside, I was worried she’d get a fever from all the shouting. And she actually did.”
“Miss Mari is quite hot-tempered.”
“I don’t know who she takes after.”
Ansan-daek smiled a little. Ma Sujeong probably knew it too—the source of Mari’s temperament.
“Today has been a long day.”
Ma Sujeong said, stroking Gongja’s cheek.
“Sweet dreams, my Gongja.”
Ansan-daek laid Gongja in his safe cradle. Ma Sujeong got out of bed and picked up her smartphone.
“Miss?”
“I’m going to try contacting her. Mari.”
“Will you be alright?”
Ma Sujeong smiled a little.
“The old me would have run away. But these past few days, I don’t feel like holding back. It’s strange. I’ve been a bit more fiery lately.”
Ansan-daek smiled a little. She honestly couldn’t agree more.
‘She’s always been a bit like that, but she’s been especially intense lately, hasn’t she?’
But even this Ma Sujeong sighed deeply as she looked at her smartphone. Ansan-daek walked over and took her hand.
“Mari has probably been waiting, too.”
“You think so?”
“Yes. Of course. You’re her mother.”
Ma Sujeong swiped the screen again. The ringtone seemed to last longer than usual today.
Soon, a small voice came from the other side of the line.
Ansan-daek quietly excused herself and looked out the window.
It was a quiet night, considering the earlier commotion.
***
“Ah, that’s more like it.”
My grandmother hurriedly pressed her nose to the crown of my head. Then, like someone who had just emerged from a stuffy cave, she frantically inhaled the air.
*Sniff. Sniff.*
Wow.
‘She looks like a total addict…’
I instinctively looked around. Unfortunately, no one was watching.
‘Someone really needs to see this side of Grandma.’
My standing in this house might change a little if they did.
The grandmother said, taking a deep whiff of the lemongrass scent.
“Ah, my headache is gone.”
Is that so? Then please make use of my services often.
I beamed. The grandmother glared at me.
“You, don’t you get arrogant just because I like your scent.”
Ah, she’s onto me.
“No matter how cute you act, if you get in the way, I’ll get rid of you.”
The grandmother grumbled some more.
As expected.
‘This isn’t easy.’
The small things work on her, but she just won’t be completely won over.
‘I still have a long way to go.’
Several months had passed since the movie filming. Mom took me out occasionally, but that was it.
‘Aargh, no progress!’
Is this what being a celebrity is like? You have to keep making steady progress?
Can’t I just blow up overnight and have the whole world know me?
‘Maybe that’s why the coins are stagnating too.’
I whispered quietly.
“Check coins!”
They were steadily increasing, at least.
‘It’s been a few months since the shoot.’
The movie should be premiering soon. I looked at the subtitles. Still no big jump.
I heard breathing from above. When I looked up, the grandmother spoke.
“What are you looking at? Ah, when is Sujeong going to get rid of this thing?”
Great.
‘Grandma’s progress is stagnating too.’
Just fall for me already.
I raised one hand. It was still so small.
‘Eat, sleep, and poop.’
Isn’t this the wrong way to live? I’m just getting older without doing anything!
‘Of course, I did try.’
I exercised.
I hated being a baby, so I diligently strengthened my legs. As a result, I was able to take my first steps.
Of course, due to the ‘price’ I paid for using coins before, I still fell once every ten steps.
‘Well, Ansan-daek’s reaction was funny, at least.’
Ansan-daek said as she took a picture.
-Gongja, let’s keep this a secret from your mother. She’ll be sad if she misses your first steps.
It was a very convincing reason.
‘Mom is busy, after all.’
I sighed. I was already feeling down, and Grandma kept spouting curses.
“You’re nothing but a hindrance in Sujeong’s life. It’s a relief Sujeong has come to her senses and is taking care of Mari.”
Mari? Who was Mari again?
I didn’t even have time to wonder. The grandmother continued speaking while inhaling my scent.
“Ah, the premiere is in a few days. I wonder if this movie will do well. Why did she have to film such a grotesque movie? Zombies. So classless.”
Huh. Grandma?
‘A premiere? Already?’
Mom only came home to sleep, so I didn’t even know ‘City of the Dead’ was being released.
Wow.
I pressed both hands to my cheeks.
‘The time has come.’
Look at my face! Dear audience members! Please!
At that, the grandmother muttered.
“What’s with this kid? Stop trying to be charming. Acting cute won’t work!”
That’s not it this time!
The grandmother kept grumbling. I shook my head. I still had a long way to go. Just then, the door opened and Ansan-daek hurried in.
“Madam, the young miss is here.”
“Oh? Right! I know.”
She spoke nonchalantly, but her actions were anything but. The grandmother hastily grabbed her cane and left. I tilted my head.
‘Wouldn’t it be nice to just see your daughter?’
The grandmother said as she hurried out.
“Don’t tell her I was here.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Wow.
‘So her visits to me were a secret.’
I can’t believe she’d run away like that.
Ansan-daek said, stroking my head.
“It would be a disaster if she just stayed.”
Why?
“The madam is someone who never sets foot in the annex.”
But she comes here quite often.
Ansan-daek looked at me and smiled.
“It’s a miracle. She comes because you’re so cute.”
Well, it’s because of the lemongrass scent, but I’ll let that slide.
‘Addiction takes time to cultivate.’
She’ll come around someday. But even considering that, she was a really tough nut to crack.
Just then, I heard cheerful footsteps. I grabbed the railing and stood up.
Mom burst through the door.
“Gongja!”
I smiled brightly. Mom picked me up and spun around.
“Mama!”
“I missed you! My angel. Were you a good boy today?”
Mom stroked my cheek with her finger. When I deliberately took her hand and rubbed it against my cheek, her smile grew wider.
“Ah, Gongja therapy! Gongja, Mommy wanted to clear her schedule, but I couldn’t.”
Not at all.
‘It’s a hundred times better to strike while the iron is hot.’
Anyway, it seems my mom is doing really well.
“Ansan-daek, how was Gongja? Did he play well again today?”
“Yes. He ate well and played well today, too. Gongja doesn’t get sick at all.”
“Oh, good. I’m glad he’s healthy.”
You’re happy over such a small thing, Mother.
Just then, Mom said.
“In that case, do you think he’d be okay coming to my premiere tomorrow?”
Wow, Mother.
‘What a stroke of luck!’
A premiere! That’s a place with people and cameras!
‘If this goes well, I could even appear on an entertainment news program!’
If this face appeared on TV, the path to stardom would be guaranteed.
But Ansan-daek frowned.
“Gongja is still so young. Will he be alright in such a noisy place?”
“Right? He’s been fine so far, but… The premiere organizers suggested it. They want to do an event with Gongja.”
Ansan-daek’s frown deepened.
“What on earth are they planning to do with such a small child!”
“I was about to say no right away, but it seems all he has to do is wear a cute outfit and a flower-bouquet backpack, and I’ll just hold him.”
Only then did Ansan-daek’s expression relax.
“Oh, so that’s all it is.”
“They were very insistent. They said they came up with the idea after seeing Gongja’s magazine photos. I guess it’s just to give the reporters something to write about.”
Mom patted my back.
“What should we do?”
“Well, Gongja was in the movie too. I suppose something like that would be okay.”
“Yeah. And I want Gongja to receive some congratulations too. But…”
Mom whispered quietly.
“I’m worried. Will he be okay?”
Of course, I’ll be more than okay, Mother.
