* * *

Thankfully, Mom answered even without me asking.

“Too many places were looking for Kongja.”

Oh!

‘Are you talking about work!’

No, Mom!

‘Why did you decline!’

I’m just wasting time doing nothing here!

‘We should work while we’re young!’

Well, I’m a baby now, but still!

“From random places to earnest requests. I thought I’d lose my voice. Kongja, it was like that during the show too, but the other day was on another level.”

Was it really that many!

For a moment, I clenched my fist.

‘What a waste.’

It feels like just yesterday when I couldn’t seize those opportunities.

I looked at Mom again. She seemed tired from her schedule, but it wasn’t just that.

‘Well, she’s probably selecting because I’m precious.’

Actually, selecting is a job in itself too.

‘At times like this, what I can do is…’

I smiled brightly and said,

“Kongja trusts Mom!”

So please, choose my work well, Mom.

Mom blinked.

Then, under the bright sunlight, she smiled brightly.

“Oh, really. What does our Kongja eat to make me so happy?”

No, why are you so pleased by this?

“People who want one Kongja per family don’t know how lovely our Kongja is, right? Ah, it’s great.”

Mom lightly kissed my cheek and pushed the stroller again.

“Because I’m Kongja’s mom!”

I blinked. I couldn’t understand why Mom was so happy.

‘Something must have happened.’

And it was because of me.

“Mom! Cheer up!”

Fighting, Mom.

Mom looked at me and smiled again.

I looked around from inside the stroller and asked,

“Mom! Where are we?”

Honestly, I knew.

‘Inside a hospital.’

It was a university hospital.

Maybe that’s why, even on a weekday afternoon, it was crowded.

‘Ah, that’s why Mom is wearing sunglasses.’

Being a famous actress, it would be problematic if people recognized her.

Mom looked around for a moment, then lowered the stroller canopy.

“It’s a hospital, Kongja. It might be a bit stuffy, but bear with it. There are a lot of people.”

Mom was cautious.

At that moment, an unfamiliar voice was heard.

“Excuse me, are you Ma Soo-jung?”

Mom. You were too late in putting on the sunglasses.

Mom smiled and said,

“Yes. I’m sorry. I have to go quickly because I have something to do.”

But the passerby didn’t back off.

“That child must be Kongja? Haneul’s mom! Come here! The child you wanted to see yesterday! He’s here!”

Oh, no.

I could feel Mom getting flustered.

In an instant, people gathered around the transparent canopy.

‘Th-this.’

Is this one of those situations?

‘A top star trapped in a crowded place?’

People lifted the canopy without permission.

“Oh!”

Mom couldn’t shake them off.

A commotion quickly arose.

“Oh my! It’s true!”

“It’s Kongja!”

“So cute!”

The crowd murmured louder.

‘I don’t know what it is, but I understand this.’

This situation wasn’t good if it continued.

Mom was gritting her teeth.

“Mom might use force.”

If she hits a civilian, there would be a scandal.

‘I have to stop mom.’

I looked at the people while giggling.

“She’s laughing.”

“How cute!”

Although she pulled back the canopy without permission, she hadn’t made direct contact yet.

I spoke loudly.

“We have to go!”

People blinked.

“Kongja has to go quickly! Sorry!”

So please let us through.

“Move, please!”

If you don’t move, you’re not even human, are you?

Maybe my earnest plea worked.

Someone said,

“It looks urgent. Let’s let them through.”

“Yeah, the baby might be sick.”

“Step aside, please!”

The crowd parted like Moses parting the Red Sea.

‘Phew, thank goodness.’

My persuasion worked.

‘Well, if it didn’t, I was thinking of using coins.’

Thankfully, humanity was still alive.

Mom smiled awkwardly and said,

“Thank you.”

“No problem! Hurry on.”

Mom pushed my stroller towards the elevator.

I bowed my head slightly to the gathered people and said,

“Thank you!”

People waved simultaneously.

“Goodbye, Kongja!”

“Hope the emergency room visit goes well!”

“Oh! So cute.”

“Such a good kid.”

Wow.

‘Is it because of the emergency room?’

I’m famous now, huh?

But, I wonder if mom is okay.

I asked mom quietly.

“Mom, are you okay?”

She seemed really shocked.

Mom took off her sunglasses in the elevator.

Mom’s eyes blinked. I tilted my head slightly.

“Was she really shocked?”

Just as I was about to ask again if she was okay, mom suddenly reached out and hugged me tightly.

“Really…”

Mom murmured softly, hugging me tight.

“Mom?”

“You’re so lovely, I could die. How did I end up with an angel?”

No, mom.

Why are you saying that all of a sudden?

“This tiny child tried to protect me!”

Mom rubbed her nose against my cheek.

“My angel, you’re so kind.”

No, it’s not that grand!

I wanted to explain, but mom was too moved.

“Kongja, but don’t do that again. Mom should be the one protecting you.”

No, mom. If I hadn’t said anything, those people wouldn’t have moved.

“I’m worried you might face something worse.”

Huh?

“Kongja, not everyone in the world will like you. There are very bad people out there too. Now that I think about it, this is all my carelessness. I never thought something like this would happen.”

Mom smiled bitterly.

‘True.’

I agreed entirely. When you think about it, there are a lot of strange people in the world.

“Kongja, what should you do if a stranger asks you to go somewhere with them?”

Hmm, is mom giving early education?

“Call for help from people around.”

“Oh my.”

“Mom, bad people are usually close by!”

Child crimes are more likely to occur from someone the child knows.

Mom blinked, seemingly flustered.

“That’s true.”

Oops. That didn’t sound like a two-year-old.

I quickly made an excuse.

“I read it in a book!”

“Oh, I see. Our Kongja is so smart. You’re right. It’s not strangers but someone known who is more likely to do something bad.”

Mom nodded.

“We definitely need a nanny to look after you.”

* * *