Apocalypse's Teacher - Chapter 37
Chapter 37
An Apology is Common Sense – 2
***
Th i s was c o p i ed f r o m ki n g mt l .or g
Hyesung cried herself to sleep.
Only then did I hear from Jinwoo the reason for Hyesung’s tears, and it made my heart ache.
-She thought she was abandoned….
I realized how complacent I had been.
I hadn’t deeply understood what an adult meant to a child’s world.
Children can’t think deeply.
They also can’t understand complex causality.
So, they try to comprehend within the limits of what they can understand.
A child only understands themselves.
So, they seek the comfort of an adult who can explain what they don’t know and protect their immature selves.
When such an adult suddenly disappears, it’s only natural for a child to blame themselves for the cause.
I stroked Hyesung’s swollen eyes while she slept.
The thought of this little child being sad for a day made me frown.
I berated myself for worrying that Hyesung might be sulking over just bringing some cakes.
I had created a sad memory in the unfinished world of a child.
A memory that might follow her for life.
How could I not know?
I, who was abandoned by my own parents, could testify to that.
T hi s wa s c o p i e d f r om k in gm t l . or g
I steadied my trembling fingertips and gently withdrew my hand from Hyesung’s head.
Suddenly—
Hyesung’s small hand grabbed my index finger tightly.
I looked up to see Hyesung still asleep.
This w a s co p i e d fro m ki n g mt l. o r g
It seemed she was reacting unconsciously to the warmth moving away.
My heart ached.
I took a long breath, lay down beside Hyesung, and gently patted her back.
We both fell asleep like that.
***
The next day, seeing Hyesung clinging to me since waking up made me feel sad once again.
Her eyes trembled with anxiety.
Whatever she was so desperate for, her grip on my clothes was firm and unyielding.
I tried to say something but swallowed my words and spoke to Hyesung differently.
“Hyesung, should we eat some cake? Uncle brought a hundred cakes.”
Hyesung peeked up at me.
She looked at me for a moment and then shook her head.
“No, Hyesung doesn’t like sweets.”
She hugged the plant with a forced indifferent expression.
Seeing her try to smile so precariously made me realize something anew.
This couldn’t go on.
Hyesung shouldn’t be this anxious.
I sighed deeply and took Hyesung to the bedroom.
Hyesung sat on the crumpled blanket she had straightened up this morning, facing me.
Hyesung looked at the blanket.
“I straightened it…”
She cautiously bragged about making the bed.
I patted her head and praised her.
“Hyesung did so well.”
“Yes, Hyesung is good.”
“Yes, you’re the best in the world.”
Hyesung’s cheeks flushed brightly.
Her lips curled into a small smile.
It was so like Hyesung to be happy with praise, but at the same time, it wasn’t like her.
A child who hides themselves to be good will carry unresolved grudges in their heart, and I didn’t want Hyesung to grow up that way.
So I spoke.
“Hyesung.”
“Yes?”
“It’s okay even if you mess up the blanket.”
Hyesung’s body flinched.
Her eyes showed anxiety again.
She shook her head and replied.
“No, Hyesung is a good kid, so I make the bed well. I brush my teeth every day, and I write Hangul every day.”
Then she held out the plant to me.
“I water Beanie every day too.”
The bean plant, which had grown to the size of Hyesung’s head, swayed before me.
Behind it, I could see Hyesung holding her breath nervously.
She was desperate, and thus pitiful.
A child who thinks they need a reason to be loved usually looks like this.
I hugged Hyesung.
“It’s okay even if Hyesung is a bad kid.”
T h is w a s c o p i e d fr o m k i ng m t l . o r g
“Being bad is not okay…”
“It’s okay. Because you’re Hyesung.”
Hyesung glanced at me.
I made the warmest face I could and looked at her directly.
“Even if Hyesung is a bad kid, Uncle will still like you. So it’s okay.”
I would scold her.
Without a clear concept of right and wrong, children can easily cross the line, and I would correct her to guide her back.
But if Hyesung insisted, I might just turn a blind eye.
“Hyesung is the cutest in the world. So even if you do bad things, Uncle will still like you.”
The reason for scolding is love, and that’s the only thing that should remain with the child.
I didn’t want to impose anything else on Hyesung because of that reason.
I wanted Hyesung to grow up knowing love.
To grow up and share that love with others.
To be someone who melts others’ hearts with her brief but shining presence, just like her name means in this dry world.
“I’m sorry for being late without telling you. Uncle missed you so much, but a friend asked me not to go.”
So, I hoped Hyesung wouldn’t be anxious about this.
I hoped she would show me her bright smile again.
Hyesung squirmed in my arms.
Then she spoke to me in a very small voice.
T h i s wa s c o p ied fr o m k in g m t l . o rg
“…Then, I don’t have to make the bed?”
T h is w a s c o p i e d f ro m k i n gmt l . o rg
“Right.”
“I don’t have to write Hangul every day?”
“Do it when you want to.”
“Then brushing my teeth…”
“You still have to do that every day.”
Hyesung, who was getting more spirited, flinched.
Her cheeks puffed up.
“…I don’t like brushing my teeth.”
“But if you don’t, bad germs will hurt your teeth.”
“…I don’t like getting hurt either.”
“Then shall we brush our teeth?”
Hyesung’s brow furrowed.
A groaning sound escaped her lips.
After a while, Hyesung nodded.
Only then could I laugh as usual.
“Hyesung is very good.”
“Yes, Hyesung is very good.”
“Hyesung will grow up to be an angel.”
As I said that and stroked her head, Hyesung began to smile.
“Yes, Hyesung will grow up to be an angel Beanie.”
I wasn’t sure what an angel Beanie was, but I decided it was something amazing since it combined something cool and tasty.
Hyesung’s feet wiggled.
Her shoulders twitched.
T h i s was c o pi e d f r o m k ingm tl . o r g
“Angel Beanie…!”
She seemed to be fixated on it already.
I felt grateful to Hyesung, who easily let go of her hurt and started smiling again.
So, I asked once more.
“Hyesung.”
“Yes!”
“Shall we go eat some cake?”
Th is w as c o p i e d f r o m k i ng mt l. o rg
Hyesung’s eyes sparkled.
“A hundred!”
“Yes, a hundred, so let’s eat them from now on.”
“Two at a time?”
“One at a time.”
“Three at a time?”
“One at a time.”
Hyesung’s face showed dissatisfaction.
I couldn’t hold back my laughter and spoke to her while giggling.
“Then two today and just one tomorrow?”
It was a trick, but it was the most effective way for simple Hyesung.
Only then did Hyesung snort and agree.
“Yes!”
And finally, she let go of me.
She wiggled her hips excitedly.
Then she turned around and called me.
“Uncle, hurry!”
With a dazzling smile.
***
T h i s w a s c o p i e d fr o m k i n g m tl . o r g
“It’s delicious!”
Hyesung said with her mouth full of pound cake.
I wiped the chocolate powder around her mouth and the cake crumbs she spat out as she spoke.
“Is it good?”
“Yes!”
Hyesung’s eyes glistened as if she might cry.
The reason? It was tears of joy, of course.
After chewing the cake for a while, Hyesung’s body shivered, and she suddenly opened her eyes wide, looking at the cake in her hand.
“I have to give some to Beanie!”
After shouting that, she quickly brought the cake to the plant.
“…!”
Hyesung hesitated.
The look on her face was one of a person making a monumental decision.
I couldn’t understand the idea of giving cake to a bean plant, but I understood why she hesitated.
‘She wants to eat more.’
Greedy Hyesung couldn’t give up the cake even to her own plant.
I watched her groaning and smiling and then relieved her worries.
“Hyesung, beans don’t like cake.”
Wham!
Hyesung turned to me.
Her face showed a mix of shock and relief.
“They don’t like it?”
“Yes, beans like water more than cake, so let’s give them water tomorrow.”
“Yes!”
A prompt answer without a moment’s hesitation.
Soon the cake disappeared into Hyesung’s mouth.
After a loud belch, Hyesung looked at me.
“Hyesung can burp well!”
“Really?”
It’s a bit amusing.
T h i s w a s c o pie d f r o m k i n g m tl . o r g
It sounded like she didn’t know what burping was, so I figured a demonstration was needed.
I swallowed a gulp of air, pressed it down inside, and then—
“Buuuurp—!”
I let out a big burp.
Hyesung’s face filled with shock.
And then it turned red.
“Wow!”
Hyesung jumped up and clapped her hands like a seal.
Seeing her admiring eyes, I couldn’t help but feel a bit proud.
End of Chapter
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
Kzalca
And we’re back with sweetness!
Thanks for the chapter!