Episode 13. Yellow and Round

“Grandma, please adopt Yeondu.”
“.. What?”
I could feel Grandma’s expression turning cold.
Just from her expression, it seemed like she might curse at me.
“Are you telling me to adopt this brat?”
“I know it’s a difficult request. I also know that Grandma doesn’t like me enough to make such a request. Still… I’m asking.”
I continued with a detailed explanation.
That Grandma meets the adoption requirements.
That Yeondu cannot continue to grow up in this situation.
And about what I could gain by going through the adoption process.
Surprisingly, Grandma didn’t interrupt me and listened to my story.
‘I need to say more.’
I couldn’t just end the conversation here if I wanted to get what I wanted.
Even if I end up being rejected, I had to tell her everything so I wouldn’t regret it later.
With that in mind, I suddenly blurted out the story from that day.
“Grandma, you may not know, but there wasn’t a single person there.”
“…”
“When we went to Uncle’s funeral, not a single person showed consideration for Yeondu. Of course, I understand the relatives’ perspective, but… No, I don’t understand. How could they be so…”
I was about to say if it was selfish, but I stopped myself.
I momentarily forgot that they were Grandma’s biological children.
It must be quite distressing for parents to hear such things about their children.
Even if it was all true.
‘Furthermore.’
Unintentionally, I made Yeondu recall that day too.
It was something I needed to fix. Sometimes I become impulsive like this.
What I needed to say now was more essential than these things.
“I want to raise Yeondu in the best environment as long as I’m capable. To do that, I need Grandma’s help.”
Of course, what I asked Grandma for wasn’t financial support.
Just going through the adoption process would be enough.
‘It’s my responsibility.’
It didn’t matter what circumstances there were.
After all, it was my choice to bring Yeondu to the funeral.
I had to deal with the consequences of my choices.
And the minimum requirement for that was parental qualification.
“Dad…”
As Grandma was about to reply to me, Yeondu spoke up.
Yeondu spoke with an anxious expression.
“What’s adoption..?”
“Uh, adoption means legally becoming a parent…”
Then Yeondu suddenly stuttered.
“Dad said Yeondu and Dad will live together.. Yeondu wants to live with Grandma..”
It seemed like there was a major misunderstanding.
Well, considering Yeondu’s understanding, it could easily be misunderstood.
I waved my hands and said,
“No, Yeondu! If Grandma adopts you, you can still live with Dad. So Dad is now…”
Huh? What am I saying now?
Saying this would imply, ‘If Grandma doesn’t adopt you, we can’t live together.’ I seem to have made a slip of the tongue.
Even if Grandma doesn’t adopt, there’s no way Yeondu and I would be separated.
“Tsk.”
Grandma clicked her tongue at my stumbling words.
I realized I needed to clarify quickly.
“Yeondu, I meant…”
At that moment, Yeondu approached Grandma with tears in her eyes.
Then she suddenly hugged Grandma.
‘Huh?’
Is she hugging Grandma, whom she was wary and afraid of until now?
Could it be that because of my slip of the tongue, she got disappointed in me?
So she wants to live with Grandma now?
Wait a minute. I feel like crying this time.
“What, what is it?”
Grandma seemed even more surprised than me.
That’s understandable. Just a moment ago, the child who was cautiously observing approached and hugged her.
Yeondu, while hugging Grandma, tearfully said,
“Grandma…”
“What.”
“Please adopt Yeondu..”
As I realized my prediction was correct and started to feel sad, Yeondu’s words continued.
“Yeondu wants to live with Dad.. So please adopt Yeondu..”
“Yeondu…”
I felt a pang of emotion for a moment.
The reason Yeondu approached Grandma, whom she disliked, and hugged her, was solely because of me.
‘Because she doesn’t want to be separated from me.’
The only way she sees to avoid separation is by adoption.
Was I such a significant presence to Yeondu?
Thinking like that, I felt a lump in my throat.
“Don’t cry, you brat!”
Swish.
Meanwhile, Grandma pushed Yeondu away.
It seems Yeondu’s words got to her.
“Grandma…”
But Yeondu approached Grandma again and hugged her tightly.
I couldn’t just stand by and watch.
As I tried to approach Yeondu to bring her back, Grandma spoke up.
“I understand, so let go.”
With widened eyes, I exclaimed,
“Grandma, what did you just…”
“Let go of the kid since I’ll adopt her.”
“Really?”
“If you regret it later, just bring her back. I’ll probably make her clean the floor with her limbs.”
Only then did Yeondu run to me with a smile and hugged me.
Her eyes were filled with tears just a moment ago.
It’s said that tears turn into laughter. Seems like this girl has horns growing on her backside.

“You want me to fetch spring water?”
“I heard you, but why ask again?”
“No, Grandma, haven’t you been watching the news lately?”
“Why suddenly talk about the news?”
“These days, the spring water isn’t spring water; it’s contaminated water. They even found radon in it, and the water quality…”
“That good-for-nothing guy. I’ve been drinking that water for decades! Playing tricks.”
“No, it’s not that I’m too lazy to go fetch it, but I’m worried about you, Grandma.”
“If it’s water that’s been tested, shut up and go fetch it! I’ll wring your neck.”
“Alright. I’ll go.”
If she had tested the water quality, there’s no choice.
Honestly, it was a bit of a hassle to go, but since she allowed the adoption, this is nothing.
“Don’t you wring my dad’s neck!”
“What? Do you want me to wring yours instead?”
“Grandma, you’re mean! You’re the worst!”
“There’s nothing you can’t say to a person who’s about to become your mom, huh?”
“I’m not Yeondu’s mom!”
“Is that so? Then I won’t adopt you.”
Wow, it’s not easy to argue with a five-year-old like Yeondu.
In that sense, she’s truly remarkable.
Meanwhile, Yeondu quickly became disheartened and said,
“I’m sorry, Grandma..”
“Try whining one more time.”
“Yes..”
“Ju-won, hurry up and go!”
“Yes, yes.”
Squeak.
I closed the door and went to fetch the spring water.
Having breakfast and going to fetch spring water made me feel like a real country person.
Tak tak tak.
But Yeondu followed me.
“Aren’t you tired? You should stay home.”
“Yeondu isn’t tired! Grandma is scary…”
“Haha, I see. Let’s go together.”

Being alone with Grandma at home made me uneasy, even for me.
I walked slowly along the path Grandma had shown me.
In step with Yeon-du.
“It’s better than I thought.”
Feeling the scent of the countryside as I walked, I felt refreshed.
Yeon-du seemed to be in a good mood too, hopping along.
As we walked, an older woman we met on the way spoke up.
“Oh my, what a lovely child. Is he your nephew?”
It was the most common question I’d been hearing lately.
So, I had thought about how to answer.
“She’s my daughter.”
From now on, I need to stand proudly as a father in front of Yeon-du.
The old woman clapped her hands and said, “Oh my, what a young father you are. How did you end up here?”
“You might not know, but I’m Grandma Min Hong-im’s grandson. I came to visit her.”
“Oh-ho, we’ve been neighbors for decades. How could I not know? I didn’t know Grandma Min had such a handsome grandson.”
“Thank you. Is the spring water this way?”
To confirm just in case, I asked for directions, and the old woman kindly and precisely showed me the way.
Yeon-du bowed her head politely in greeting.
“Oh my, she’s so pretty. I want to do something for her, but our houses are in opposite directions.”
“Haha, it’s okay.”
So, I parted ways with the old woman and walked on.
As I walked, I saw green rice paddies extending to the right.
“Yeon-du, want to take a picture here?”
“A picture…?”
“Yeah. It’s customary to take one as a souvenir when you come to a place like this. Stand over there.”
Yeon-du awkwardly took her place, apparently having never taken a picture before.
Well, I had been secretly taking pictures whenever I found her too cute.
“Yeon-du, want to smile while looking at the phone?”
“Yeah.”
Yeon-du smiled while looking at the phone, her hands awkwardly folded.
“On the count of three, I’ll take it. Ready? One, two, three!”
Click.
“Ahh!”
However, as I took the picture, Yeon-du screamed.
The sudden shock captured in the photo was palpable.
Yeon-du, startled, ran towards me.
Ribbit. Ribbit.
The culprit who had startled Yeon-du turned out to be a frog.
It had suddenly jumped in front of Yeon-du.
Well, it wasn’t unusual for frogs to appear near the water’s edge.
Moreover, they say spring is the season when frogs awaken.
Yeon-du hid behind me and opened her mouth.
“It’s, it’s a monster!”
“Giggle. Yeon-du, it’s not a monster, it’s a frog.”
“A frog…?”
“Yes, a frog, not a monster.”
At that moment, a boy of about Yeondu’s age suddenly appeared and caught the frog in an instant.
The boy came up to us with the frog in hand.
I took a step back in surprise.
I was scared too. Frogs coming too close were.
“Hey, wait, kid. Stop.”
It was a boy who looked like Yeondu’s age.
The boy smiled mischievously and spoke up.
“Mister, you’re a scaredy-cat.”
His unexpected jab caught me off guard, and I asked, “What?”
“A grown-up who’s scared of frogs, I’ve never seen that before.”
“Haha, kid. It’s not that I’m scared; I just don’t want to touch it.”
“Phew.”
This kid was the type I disliked.
“Hey! My dad’s not a scaredy-cat!”
“Stupid. You’re not scared, but can’t you even touch a frog?”
“Hey! My dad’s not a scaredy-cat! And Yeondu’s not stupid!”
Then, the boy approached Yeon-du and said to her, holding out the frog, “Touch it then.”
“.. Huh?”
“If you touch the frog, I’ll admit that Mister’s not a scaredy-cat. And that you’re not stupid.”
Wait, what kind of logic is that?
Even if he’s a kid, he’s going to get it from me.
But before I could say anything, Yeondu’s hand reached out first.
Pat.
Yeon-du touched the frog.
At the same time, the boy let go of the frog from his hand.
“Ahh! Eek!”
The frog jumped up and then leaped into the field.
“Hey, you! What are you doing…”
As he spoke, the boy swiftly ran off and disappeared.
Anger was rising within the situation.

“Are you okay, Yeondu?”
“Yes..”
Damn it. I thought the rural kid would be nice, but I was mistaken.
Playing such a nasty prank on my daughter Yeondu.
If I catch whoever did this, I’ll definitely give them a piece of my mind.
“Yeondu.”
“Yes.”
“If a situation like that happens again, you don’t have to touch the frog. Just because someone calls Dad a coward doesn’t mean he really is.”
“But.. you seemed angry..”
“Haha, I know, I know.”
I affectionately ruffled Yeondu’s hair with a relieved expression.
Fortunately, Yeondu seemed to have recovered from her surprise, regaining laughter in her expression.
“We’ve arrived.”
Before I knew it, we had arrived at the spring.
“Grandma was right.”
The spring looked clean at a glance.
There were no impurities visible, just a sense of pristine purity.
Well, they said they even did water quality tests, so there’s no need to doubt.
Before fetching water from the spring, I scooped some with my hand and took a sip.
“Ah!”
It was seriously refreshing.
I had tasted it first to make sure it was safe, and it seemed suitable to give to Yeondu.
“Are you thirsty, Yeondu?”
“Yes, Dad!”
“Okay, let Dad scoop some for you to drink.”
I filled both hands with water and offered it to Yeondu.
After gulping down a mouthful of water, Yeondu’s eyes widened and she exclaimed,
“Wow.. it’s cold!”
“Haha, that’s spring water for you.”
“Can Yeondu have some more from Dad?”
“Oh, Yeondu?”
“Yes.”
As we were enjoying our time at the spring,
“Hey.”
An uninvited guest arrived.
I turned back with a cold expression and said,
“You, kid.”
It was the little rascal from earlier.
As I was about to give him a piece of my mind, his expression seemed uneasy.
He held a bag in his hand, panting as if he had run here.
He walked towards Yeondu and said,
“I’m sorry.”
Then the boy took something out of the bag.
Something yellow and round.