She was no different from a beast

Chapter 12

#Only READ at DarkstarTranslations

—–CROW—– 

Today was Mom and Dad’s wedding anniversary.

A momentous day, marking eight years of their marriage!

‘I’m pretty sure Mom is 28…’

That’s a bit surprising.

It means she married Dad right after turning 20. Wait. So before they got married… were they…?

Whoa, stop thinking! Bad thoughts, stop!

A flurry of scenarios flashed through my mind, painting Dad as a total scumbag, but if they were happy, who am I to judge?

Mom wasn’t a teenage mom. They must have dated innocently during her high school days.

Judging by Dad’s stories about holding up Mom’s breasts and whatnot, it doesn’t sound like they dated innocently at all, but let’s preserve Dad’s dignity and not dwell on it.

“…Huh? Me too? It’s Mom and Dad’s day.”

“Come on, Yuna! What kind of nonsense is that? Children celebrate their parents.”

“That’s right. Mom and Dad want to spend happy time with Yuna.”

No. I was trying to give you some space to run the baby factory and set yourselves on fire, both body and soul, without having to worry about your little daughter. Sigh.

If I said that, I’d be a truly devoted daughter.

I do like being with Mom and Dad.

How could I not like them after seven years of their genuine love and care?

I’m only thinking this because I care about them.

It’s their special day, and I don’t want to be a childish burden.

They’ve been married for eight years, but they’re still lovey-dovey like newlyweds.

I want them to have some alone time.

Plus, Dad prepared a secret gift for Mom… and I’d rather they enjoy it fully, just the two of them, instead of sharing it with me.

“…Dad! Then I’ll come over later tonight!”

“Tonight? You’re going to take the bus?”

“No? I think I can run there in 20 minutes.”

It’s not that far from Tonggumi to Sadong. It’s a good distance for a light jog.

Unthinkable for frail city kids like Yuri, but a piece of cake for a country girl like Han Yuna!

Dad stroked his chin, lost in thought for a moment, then nodded.

He understands and accepts my physical capabilities! He thinks it’s doable!

“Okay. But be careful, okay? You know where it is, right?”

“Of course! Who do you think I am? I’m not going to get lost!”

Unless I’m running through the mountains, there’s no way I’ll get lost on Ulleungdo’s roads!

I puffed out my chest and smiled. Dad patted my head, giving his permission.

“?? Honey, where are you going? You’ve been keeping it a secret from me since yesterday.”

“You’ll see. You’ll be surprised.”

After Mom and Dad left… or rather, after I confirmed through the window that Dad’s car was rumbling down the road, I put on my jacket.

If it were just a small anniversary, I could have given them oysters from the sea or fruits and flowers from the mountains. But this is their wedding anniversary!

The most precious day of the year, and my first gift to Mom and Dad.

I don’t want to do a half-assed job.

‘This was supposed to be my nest egg…’

A wad of crumpled bills, hidden and cherished in secret.

Money I was saving until I became an adult, or rather, until I could fully take responsibility for my own freedom. But when it’s time to spend, you have to spend it right, right?

Exactly 100,000 won.

Just 100,000 won.

A gift worth 100,000 won from a seven-year-old… it’s surprising, but not shocking, right?

I can just say I saved it up. Or that I earned it by running errands in Sadong.

*Bam!*

I stepped out the front door, greeted by the warm spring breeze, and headed straight for Supermarket Grandpa.

Wedding anniversary gifts… usually rings, necklaces… or money.

Rings or necklaces? Impossible to buy two decent ones with 100,000 won.

Then money? Too materialistic. It feels like I’m perpetuating the bad habits of a money-obsessed modern society.  Pass!

“Grandpa! I’d like some Choco Pies and castella!”

“Oh? Our Hercules? Why, feeling peckish?”

“Not for me! It’s Mom and Dad’s wedding anniversary, and I want to make a gift!”

“What?! You should have said so!  Come in and wait.  Dear! What’s that girl’s number again?!”

‘??’

Huh?  “That girl”?

I took off my shoes and stepped inside Grandpa’s house/supermarket.  Grandpa and Grandma started calling someone.

Hey, I just wanted to buy some snacks, get a ginseng box from Sadong, decorate it with the snacks, and give it as a gift…

After yelling and laughing into the phone, Grandpa sighed and clicked his tongue.

“That heartless girl.”

“Why are you fighting with your granddaughter again, old man?”

“That girl says she’s broke and can’t even get a gift for our Yuna!”

“Huh? What? No, no! It’s okay!”

I’d rather buy it myself than burden a stranger.

Even though I’m a bit wild, I try not to inconvenience others… I’m not shameless enough to take advantage of someone just because I’m a kid!

“There are things you say and things you don’t! If that’s the case, tell her to help out with work! Thinking of exploiting a child because she’s short on cash!”

“…Huh?”

Wait.  A gift in exchange for work?

What?  I might be able to get Mom and Dad a gift without spending my own money!

Eureka!

“Grandpa, Grandma, what does your granddaughter do?”

“Nothing much. She used to make and sell flower bouquets. Nowadays, she makes flower boxes… you know, putting flowers in boxes.”

“!!”

Where is that?!  I want to work there!  Hire me, flower shop owner!

A gift prepared with my own hard work!

There’s no more romantic, touching, and sincere gift than that.

Seriously, Grandpa and Grandma, make reasonable requests.

‘It’s the off-season in winter, and I’m in the red. How can I give away flowers for free?’

A wedding anniversary?  It’s a day to celebrate, for sure.

I’d love to make one for free, but what about my wallet?

No one’s going to feed me.  Should I make a loss for the sake of goodwill?

Especially for anniversaries, flower boxes sell for 60,000 to 70,000 won… even 100,000 won for fancy ones.

I’d like to see the face of the brat who said that to Grandpa.

‘…Well, she can’t be that bad if she’s willing to come and help out.’

Just you wait. If you run away or throw a tantrum because it’s hard…

I’ll give you a piece of my mind!

As I waited for the child who offered to work part-time, I wondered what kind of kid it would be.  Probably a clueless boy, oblivious to the ways of the world.

A little admirable, but I’m going to set his naive worldview straight.

“Hello! You’re Supermarket Grandpa’s granddaughter, right?! I’m seven-year-old Han Yuna~!”

“???”

A tiny, cute child… a lovable girl I’d want to give candy to if I saw her on the street…  bowed energetically with a bright voice. I was dumbfounded!

Grandpa, you didn’t say it was a girl. You didn’t say it was such a young child.

“I’ll work hard!  Give me anything!”

“Uh, uh?  O-Okay…”

Her small, soft hand grabbed my arm, her cute face beaming with a bright smile… what kind of work can I give her?

She’s so small and delicate, she probably can’t even carry anything.

I’d feel terrible if she got sick from overworking.

“Then, can you greet the customers energetically?  And when there are no customers, you can rest on this chair.”

“?? That’s all I have to do?”

“Yes~ Yuna is so cute, just that is enough~”

I was expecting a middle school boy and was planning to have him move boxes in the storage room…  Ugh, I can’t ask such a young child to do that.

No choice.  I’ll leave the shop to her and move the boxes and flowers myself.

Sighing inwardly, I waddled out of the storage room, struggling with a mountain of boxes weighing over 10kg each…

“Ah! Let me help you!!”

Yuna, who had been looking around anxiously, perhaps because the shop was so empty, hopped over to me, offering to take a box.

Uh oh?  These are really heavy!  She might get hurt!

“W-Wait.  This is heavy, so I should…”

???

“Where should I put this?”

“…Put it in my workshop over there.”

“Okay!”

What the…  Crazy.

Yuna hoisted a stack of boxes as tall as herself onto her shoulder and carried them with light steps, as if they weighed nothing.

I rubbed my eyes, wondering if I was seeing things, but…  I definitely saw it right.

Are kids these days… just really strong?

“Should I move everything from the storage room?”

“Uh, uh… Yes?”

“Okay! I’ll move it all!”

…

Looking at the tiny girl emerging with stacks of boxes on both shoulders, I stopped thinking.

Yep. She’s a very healthy child.

—–CROW—– 

#Only READ at DarkstarTranslations