* * *
Truthfully, I had been sleeping well.
“Yes!”
My mom sighed.
“I’m sorry. I haven’t been checking on your sleep lately.”
No, that’s not it!
I shook my head vigorously.
“No!”
“I’m sorry, Ma Kongja. I didn’t realize you were anxious because Auntie An wasn’t here.”
That’s not it either!
‘Should I just go along with it?’
My mom kept apologizing.
“I’m sorry. I’ve been so busy.”
No, really!
I hurriedly tried to explain.
“Mom! Ma Kongja is okay!”
My mom looked at me for a moment and then lowered her head.
“I’m really sorry.”
“Mom! Ma Kongja is really okay!”
“It must have been tough, huh? But I’m done with the urgent work now. Before the movie starts, I’ll be a bit more free.”
Wow, where do I even begin?
‘Because of the coin’s cost, my mom feels guilty for no reason.’
I hastily said,
“Mom! I like seeing you on the screen!”
Please keep working.
“Mom is cool! You need to be on TV more!”
My mom looked at me for a moment, then hugged me tightly.
“My little angel is so sweet.”
Wow, this is driving me crazy.
I flailed my legs in embarrassment.
‘I’m piling up misunderstandings like this!’
I really hope this doesn’t mess up her projects because of me!
“Mom! Don’t reduce your work! You can’t!”
The idea of disrupting the illustrious career of actress Ma Soo-jung!
That would be a crime against the history of Korean cinema!
‘Mom has to work like an ox!’
Actress Ma Soo-jung is such an entity!
Mom held me tightly and patted my back.
“I know. Kongja. It’s been hard, hasn’t it? That’s why Mom made a decision.”
Please don’t reduce your work!
‘Really, I have to stop this even if it means using coins!’
Though the price might be high, it had to be done.
Mom spoke firmly.
“Kongja needs a nanny.”
Huh?
‘A nanny?’
Mom muttered as she held me.
“I’m planning to hire a professional nanny. Actually, Auntie An wasn’t a professional nanny. She was just the most trusted person I could ask for in this house for our Kongja.”
Mom smiled bitterly.
“But our Kongja isn’t an ordinary child, right? I’ll still be out of the house often, and this situation will repeat, won’t it? Kongja, I’ll bring a good nanny.”
Wait, wait a minute, Mom. Well, alright. A nanny. You can hire one.
But the thing is.
‘What about Auntie?’
Then, when Auntie An comes back, she’ll be out of a job!
‘It’s like coming back from fighting a disease only to find your desk gone!’
That’s too cruel!
You can’t be that cruel to someone who’s already weak in mind and body!
Mom patted my back and spoke.
“Auntie An was more insistent.”
Huh? Why?
‘She’s facing a job threat, so why!’
Mom looked at me intently.
Then, she hugged me tighter.
“You know, Auntie An seemed to have lost her motivation, but thanks to you, she seems to have gotten better.”
Huh? Why? What happened?
“Auntie An cried a lot, saying that this little child was waiting for her.”
I blinked.
‘Come to think of it, I did say something like that.’
Wasn’t that just random talk?
“When you said you couldn’t eat or sleep without her, Auntie An said she would gather her strength.”
Oh no. This is crazy.
‘That’s a lie!’
I ate well and slept well without her!
“Kongja. Although I’m just passing on what she said, actually Auntie An cried for two hours holding you while you were sleeping.”
What?
Excuse me!
I could only laugh helplessly now.
‘I must never let this be found out.’
I’ll take this secret to the grave. It’s that serious.
“Our Kongja must be a real angel. You know, Auntie An had a really hard time. She said she’ll recover well and come back. I asked her, too. I told her Kongja needs her.”
I had nothing to say.
‘Well, if it makes her happy, that’s all that matters.’
Is this really okay?
“Of course, Auntie An needs me too.”
“When I told Auntie An, she cried again. I’m relieved. It seems like she’s regained her strength because of our Kongja.”
I shook my head.
“It’s not me!”
I hoped the message got through.
I rubbed my face against Mom’s hand and said,
“It’s because of you, Mom!”
After all, it was Mom who went to visit her in the hospital.
I know better than anyone how busy actress Ma Soo-jung is.
‘Besides, she must have helped with the medical bills.’
I respect you, Mom.
I’ll follow your example.
Though I still have a long way to go.
Mom paused for a moment.
“Mom?”
“You’re really an angel. An angel who came to save me.”
Mom hugged me tightly.
“Kongja. I’m really glad I met you.”
Oh, Mom. Who’s saying whose line here?
‘If I hadn’t met you, I’d be an orphan.’
Well, growing up in the orphanage wouldn’t have been too bad either.
‘Sister Theresa is such a good person.’
Come to think of it, I wonder how Sister is doing.
I hope the donations are sufficient.
Mom was still holding me.
I reached out and grabbed her dress.
Mom adjusted her sitting position as she held my hand.
“Kongja.”
“Yes!”
“Mom doesn’t want to put you in commercials if she can help it.”
I nodded.
‘Because of image exposure.’
It seemed like I was hot enough to draw a crowd.
‘Any regular actor would not refuse a CF coming in at this time.’
That goes for child actors too.
‘Mom is amazing for refusing all of them.’
Refusing immediate visible money to invest in an uncertain future.
That means she believes in me that much.
Mom sighed deeply.
“But… there’s someone Mom finds hard to refuse.”
Huh.
“Who?”
“Designer Jang Lily. She even came to your first birthday party.”
Ah, that extraordinary person.
“Mom owes her a lot, so it wasn’t easy to say no.”
I patted Mom.
‘It’s alright, Mom.’
Life is like that.
“Kongja. I’m sorry. We might have to do one commercial.”
Oh, Mom.
Why apologize?
‘Honestly, I wanted to do it.’
One is fine.
Honestly, three are fine.
‘No, five, no, ten would be good.’
Mom bowed her head deeply.
“We need the money, but we can’t take it. Fortunately, Designer Jang Lily said she would support the orphanage you were at with clothing donations instead of paying you.”
Wow.
I clapped my hands.
Clap clap clap-
“Kongja?”
“Mom! You’re amazing!”
I respect you even more, Mom.
‘You’re truly the best.’
I don’t know much, but if it’s Designer Jang Lily’s brand, it wouldn’t be cheap, right?
‘And to donate that to the orphanage.’
I gave a thumbs up.
“Mom is so cool!”
Making such a deal.
It must have been troublesome and bothersome!
‘You did it all for me, right?’
I will be a filial child, Mom.
Mom blinked.
She didn’t seem to expect me to say that.
How long had it been?
Mom eventually covered her mouth and laughed a little.
“Oh, really. What should I do?”
Mom lifted me up and kissed my cheek.
“You’re just too, too cute.”
No, seriously, what did I do?
All I did was babble nonsense.
“Yay~”
I laughed like a child and swung my legs.
“Kongja. Mom loves you so, so much.”
Oh dear, Mother.
‘When I grow up and rebel, please don’t hit me on the back of my head.’
If I actually do that, I wouldn’t be human.
“Oh, it’s not the time for this. Our dear, you need to eat.”
Mom hugged me tightly and started walking again.
It was a little hard to breathe, but it was warm and made me smile for no reason.
* * *
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