* * *

The yellow apron Deok-soo wore was covered in Hangul consonants and vowels.

“I’ve imagined and bought this a long time ago.”

What?

“I’d wear anything if it helps teach Hangul.”

No.

‘Don’t do it. Please, don’t do it!’

Are you not considering the shock I will receive, Deok-soo?

“You’re acting very strange right now.”

If you walk around the streets like that, you’ll get reported.

“Oh, I forgot this.”

Deok-soo attached a bear brooch.

“This is the bear you like, Kongja.”

Oh, come on.

“Should I say I don’t like it from today?”

Deok-soo approached me in that state.

“Look at the teacher. Look at this. This is M. Try to follow. M!”

“M!”

Damn it.

I blinked my eyes.

‘I really want to erase this from my memory later.’

A yellow apron and Deok-soo.

“Scary.”

When a person is weird, they can become a fearful being.

I awkwardly smiled as I watched Deok-soo teach Letter. Life was really not easy.

* * *

“Kongja is a genius!”

No, I am not.

I sighed while eating baby food.

‘Why didn’t I think of that?’

Because Deok-soo’s Korean class was so dreadful, I wanted to get rid of it quickly. Maybe that’s why I pretended to learn Korean so fast.

‘To think such a situation would arise.’

With tears in his eyes, Deok-soo spoke to Auntie An.

“I’ve never seen such a bright child before!”

Deok-soo, it’s your first time teaching, isn’t it?

“Oh my, oh my, really?”

“How could he learn everything in three hours? Kongja is really smart!”

Enduring you for three hours was my limit, Deok-soo.

“Oh my, oh my! Well, Kongja is indeed exceptional.”

“He’s very bright. I think I understand why he’s good at acting too.”

“He even spoke early. He’s definitely different.”

“He’s truly a genius.”

The lady and Deok-soo enthusiastically praised me.

“Wow, this is a big problem.”

I’m not a genius. What if they get disappointed later?

‘Should I pretend to be smart from now on?’

While I was pondering various things, Auntie An, who was sitting next to me, spoke.

“Kongja has been amazing since he was a baby.”

Ah, Auntie An.

I looked at her quietly. It had been a while since I saw her, and though she was thin, her complexion looked much better.

‘It seems her recovery is going smoothly.’

I asked in a small voice.

“Auntie, are you okay now?”

Auntie An smiled as she stroked my cheek.

“Thanks to our Kongja’s concern, I got better quickly.”

No way.

“Really, Kongja. Auntie is really okay now.”

That’s a relief.

‘Well, it’s much better than a slow recovery.’

I said to Auntie An while eating baby food.

“Don’t get sick anymore.”

You need to stay healthy.

Auntie An laughed, covering her mouth, at my words.

“Oh dear. This pretty thing. The other kids don’t even acknowledge me, but this pretty child worries about me.”

“Mom also worried about you!”

“I always cause trouble for your mother.”

I asked Auntie An.

“When will you come home?”

“In two months?”

“Get well soon and come back.”

Please do. Otherwise…

I looked quietly at Deok-soo. The big teacher was still crying.

‘Only Auntie An can calm this situation.’

Seriously, isn’t it time to stop crying already?

“How’s the Nanny, Kongja?”

I let out a long sigh.

Hey, Auntie An.

“You want me to evaluate someone who’s right here.”

You’re listening, aren’t you?

I smiled brightly.

“He’s good.”

Well, he does take good care of me. It’s just burdensome.

“Really? I’m glad he doesn’t seem like a bad person.”

I moved my spoon to eat baby food again. Suddenly, Deok-soo started bawling right in front of me.

“He said he likes me!”

“Oh my, congratulations.”

No, Auntie An. Why are you congratulating him?

I sighed and said.

“Except for the crying.”

At that moment, Deok-soo’s movements stopped.

“Teacher, you’re a crybaby.”

So please stop crying.

“Kongja, do you dislike the teacher because he cries?”

“I like everything except the crying. Please stop crying!”

Deok-soo blinked his eyes. Auntie An packed my side dish and spoke.

“Oh my, it’s the first time I’ve seen Kongja annoyed.”

“Really? Come to think of it, Kongja always had a smiling face.”

‘Expressing negative feelings is not such a bad thing. Hmm…’

The corners of Deok-soo’s mouth twitched.

‘I think I’m getting comfortable.’

Oh no.

‘Don’t be happy about that.’

I just focused on eating my food.

Why is it?

‘Everyone is excessively unique.’

Auntie An and even Deok-soo.

Well, it’s all good.
I quietly gave up on thinking.

* * *

I looked around. The cameras and props were familiar.

“Wow, it’s a historical drama.”

A smile naturally appeared. I wore the costume and held Deok-soo’s hand, smiling brightly.

“Ah, it’s refreshing.”

The set always felt good.

“Oh, it’s you. Hello, Kongja?”

At that moment, someone greeted me brightly. When I turned around, I immediately knew who it was.

‘Kim Eun-joo.’

She was the actress playing my mother in the drama.

She was a very famous actress.

“She must have been famous even at this time.”

She had a pure image and solid acting skills.

“Later, she’ll be nicknamed the Queen of Tears in Japan.”

I had acted with her once in a previous life.

‘Of course, I was just an extra back then.’

I remembered her as a very quiet person off set.

Anyway, it’s nice to see you again.

“Hello!”

“How cute. I’ve heard a lot about you. Please take care of me.”

Who should be saying that to whom?

“Did you know, Kongja? I’m close with Soo-jung unnie. We’re from the same gym.”

What?

“These days, Soo-jung unnie is busy. She’s filming a movie and goes to a different gym.”

Kim Eun-joo said as she loosened her shoulders.

“Oh, I’m so stiff. I want to work out with Soo-jung unnie. Kickboxing is the best at times like this.”

No, mother.

“You share a bond with similar people.”

Kim Eun-joo looked down at me and smiled warmly.

“Your mom called me yesterday and asked for a favor.”

Ah, mom.

I raised my hand and said,

“Nice to meet you!”

“Aww, how cute. It’s nice to meet you too, son.”

“Yes!”

Kim Eun-joo patted my head.

‘She’s kind.’

Well, she didn’t have a bad reputation.

‘Hmm, usually the ones playing my parents are Kim Eun-joo as my mom and someone else as my dad.’

Speaking of which, who’s playing my dad?

‘I remember it was Ki Cheo-woon…’

Suddenly, I smiled. Right, it was him.

-Hanjoo hyung!

We were close friends.

‘We could have gotten even closer…’

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

‘It was a car accident.’

There was a big accident, and Ki Cheo-woon passed away.

‘I didn’t expect that.’

Now that I think about it, he’s alive!

‘He was a promising guy.’

Who would’ve thought that he would die just when he was about to reach the top?

Then, I heard a voice I missed.

“Oh, is this Kongja?”

I slowly turned around. The living Ki Cheo-woon was walking towards me.

‘Wow.’

It’s been a while.

Ki Cheo-woon looked me up and down. I greeted him brightly.

“Hello!”

“Yeah, hi.”

He was always a polite guy.

‘Of course, he’s kind?’

Will this drama be easy?

Then, I couldn’t believe my ears.

“You’re not as great as I thought.”

What?

I blinked.

“I heard you’re the cutest kid in the world, but you’re not that great.”

What’s wrong with him?

‘Does he insult kids he meets for the first time?’

Kim Eun-joo couldn’t stand it and spoke up.

“He’s cute, Cheo-woon.”

“Well, he’s cute, but not worth all the fuss.”

Hey, you jerk!

‘What about this face isn’t cute!’

Of course, saying I’m the cutest in the world is an exaggeration, but I am cute!

“Has his acting been verified? He didn’t get in because of connections, did he?”

“You’ve seen ‘Emergency Room,’ haven’t you?”

“Well, I did, but all he did was make people laugh. Can he even deliver lines properly? I trust the director, but I don’t trust this kid. Isn’t he getting by too easily because he’s the son of a famous actress?”

I squinted my eyes.

‘This guy…’

Even if he thinks that, does he have to say it in front of a kid?

‘Any normal kid would cry!’

Sure enough, Kim Eun-joo covered my ears and said,

“Cheo-woon, you’re brave.”

“What do you mean?”

“That famous actress is Soo-jung.”

“Oh…”

Ki Cheo-woon’s eyes twitched slightly.

* * *