Chapter 11, Part 2: I Am a Kindergartener (6)

‘It’s not like I’m possessed by a ghost or anything...’

Yoo Hae felt as if her soul was slipping out of her body, a bizarre sensation.

This feeling had started after she saw Meeum sewing the eyes of a doll.

Could it be that a kindergartener’s hand skills could be better than hers?

“Mom, it’s so much fun. I want to do one more.”

Meeum sewed the eyes of the third doll. Her hand movements were much faster and more precise than Yoo Hae, who was known for her skill in handling blood vessels and performing procedures.

Meeum had always been special since she was young.

When she was one year old, she displayed a miraculous ability that saved Yoo Hae’s life.

Walking, potty training, dressing, learning to speak, and speaking coherently.

Understanding and responding to her parents’ words, and so on.

She had grown up showing superior abilities in every aspect compared to other children her age.

Even yesterday, she remembered the Heimlich maneuver from a medical textbook and saved a friend who was choking, informing the kindergarten teacher.

But Yoo Hae had never imagined that Meeum’s hand skills would be this good.

‘What can my child not do?’

Yoo Hae didn’t believe in God or fate, but watching Meeum, she felt her beliefs wavering.

Of course, it was a pleasant wavering.

“Mom, I’m bored. Can I keep doing this?”

Meeum looked up at her with bright eyes.

“No. I know you’re good at it, but you can stop now. This is Mom’s job.”

“But Mom, I do this for you...”

“Still, no.”

“I’ll do a little more. Sewing is so much fun.”

Meeum started to throw a tantrum, which was unusual for her.

Yoo Hae’s head throbbed.

She didn’t want Meeum to sew the doll’s eyes.

What kind of side job does a kindergartener do?

Of course, Meeum wouldn’t understand the concept of a side job.

A kindergartener should eat well, play happily, and sleep soundly. She shouldn’t be sitting in a used bookstore sewing doll eyes.

“Mom, I want to sew. You said I need good hand skills to become a doctor.”

“...”

“Can’t I practice now? I’m bored of reading books all the time. Does Mom like me being bored?”

“Sigh. Fine. Do as you like, Meeum.”

Meeum’s storm of words finally made Yoo Hae give in.

But why did she feel like she had been tricked?

Why did she feel like she had been manipulated by Meeum?

“Yay, I’m so excited!”

“Just don’t overdo it. Promise to help Mom appropriately.”

“Okay!”

Mother and daughter sat side by side and started sewing the doll’s eyes.

As time passed, the completed dolls began to pile up.

With Meeum’s superior hand skills, the work progressed at an incredible speed.

More astonishing was Meeum’s concentration.

Yoo Hae thought Meeum would get tired after a few and give up.

But surprisingly, Meeum’s posture and focus never wavered.

It was as if she were performing a difficult surgery, like a surgeon.

Thanks to Meeum, the work that would have taken until tomorrow was completed in just an hour and a half.

The speed was truly astonishing.

Yoo Hae’s eyes, looking at the completed dolls, were now filled with amazement.

“Meeum, are your fingers okay?”

“Yes, they’re fine.”

Meeum smiled and waved her hands, looking genuinely energetic.

At this age, it’s impossible to hide dislike.

“Mom?”

“Mom is fine too. Thank you, Meeum. You’ve helped a lot.”

“Hehe, no problem. But Mom.”

“What is it?”

“Can I play with dolls in the future?”

“In the future?”

“It’s so much fun. I want to do it again.”

“That’s difficult. Didn’t I say before? Meeum is too young for this. Meeum should act like a child.”

Yoo Hae said firmly.

Meeum’s ability to sew was amazing, but she didn’t want to see it continue.

She valued Meeum’s childhood.

“Then, can I do it for two hours a day? I want to become a doctor.”

Meeum lowered her head, looking dejected.

Earlier, she had begged insistently, but now she was pleading.

Seeing her son’s weak appearance, Yoo Hae’s heart softened.

Honestly, she didn’t like the idea of making a kindergartener do a side job.

But then again.

Meeum found sewing doll eyes so much fun and thought it was practice for becoming a good doctor.

Perhaps it was okay to let her do it to some extent.

“Let’s discuss it with Dad. If Dad agrees, you can do it.”

“Hehe, thank you.”

Meeum smiled and bowed.

‘My child is really a prodigy.’

Seeing Meeum’s attitude change so quickly, Yoo Hae shook her head.

“Hey, Meeum. I’m back.”

Her husband returned to the bookstore at that moment.

From his bright voice and confident steps, it seemed the talk with the publisher went well.

Yoo Hae’s heart started to race.

“What did the publisher say?”

“They liked it. They said it’s unique, sitting on the boundary between literary and genre fiction. They want to publish it as soon as it’s completed. I even signed the contract and received the advance.”

“Wow! Congratulations, honey.”

“Dad, congratulations!”

Her husband hugged Yoo Hae. Instantly, she felt a lump in her throat.

Seeing her husband’s efforts finally recognized.

Seeing him finally shed the label of an incompetent writer.

She knew how painful writing could be, even if others didn’t.

“You’ve worked hard supporting me. It’s a bit early to celebrate, but I’ll make sure to ease your burden from now on.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

“My cute child. It seems Meeum’s act of saving a friend has led to Dad’s book being published.”

Next, her husband picked up Meeum and held her.

“Hehe, then buy me something yummy.”

“Of course. How about some jajangmyeon for dinner?”

“I love jajangmyeon!”

After the joy of the publishing news subsided, Yoo Hae discussed Meeum’s side job with her husband.

The topic was whether it was okay to let Meeum sew doll eyes.

“I think it’s fine.”

Her husband’s reaction was surprisingly calm.

“Why?”

“You didn’t ask her to do it. She wants to do it, right?”

“But... it doesn’t look right.”

“I think it’s good to let a child do what they want. It’s not something strange. As long as she manages her time, it should be fine.”

“Okay. I’ll let her do it appropriately.”

“Mom, the dolls I sewed are beautiful. I feel so proud.”

Meeum was already holding a completed doll and smiling.

Seeing her love for dolls, Yoo Hae no longer had a reason to stop her son’s work.

At the same time, she had no idea.

Meeum was saving pocket money and planning to move the family to an apartment with the money.

Sewing doll eyes was just the first step in this process.

“Shall we go for jajangmyeon a bit early?”

“Sure.”

“Is it okay for Meeum too?”

“Yes! I like it.”

The family closed the bookstore early and went to a Chinese restaurant.

* * *

“Boss, the dolls are here.”

Lee Tae-ho placed the plastic bag in his hand on the workbench where the boss, Ko Hyung-seok, was working.

“Are these from the supermarket?”

“No. They’re from the used bookstore.”

“Huh? Already?”

Ko Hyung-seok frowned.

The used bookstore, run by a novelist and a nurse, had been doing the side job of sewing doll eyes for a few days.

The novelist husband didn’t help at all, and the nurse wife did the work occasionally.

The issue was the completion time.

The dolls he had taken in the afternoon were already finished?

The nurse was skilled and fast at sewing doll eyes.

But because she worked for a short time, it usually took two to four days to complete a batch.

Finishing it in just one day was suspicious.

“Are you taking me for a ride?”

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“The speed is unrealistic. I gave you a quantity that couldn’t be finished in a day.”

“Maybe the young ones are already skilled? Let’s check.”

“Sure. If it’s sloppy, there will be no more work. I might even stop giving you work if I feel soft-hearted.”

Ko Hyung-seok put on his magnifying glasses and took out a doll from the plastic bag.

He examined the doll’s eyes closely.

His eyes narrowed, and his mouth slowly opened. Lee Tae-ho, who was also examining the doll, had a similar reaction.

“There’s nothing to criticize?”

“It’s perfect?”

They both exclaimed simultaneously.

“Really.”

Ko Hyung-seok took out the next doll, still in disbelief.

The stitching was tight, and the eyes didn’t fall out even when pulled.

The stitching lines were clean and neat.

It was almost a textbook example of sewing doll eyes.

He had thought they had rushed and done a sloppy job, but it was just his misunderstanding.

The stitching was excellent and outstanding.

“I feel bad for criticizing them.”

“No, it was a reasonable doubt. But Tae-ho.”

“Yes, boss.”

“Did you notice anything strange while checking the stitching?”

“What? The stitching is all the same.”

“Tsk. Compare these two carefully.”

Ko Hyung-seok handed two dolls to Lee Tae-ho.

“I can’t really tell the difference.”

“The stitching methods are subtly different. The one on the left is more meticulous and the cutting lines are cleaner.”

“Now that you mention it, it’s true.”

“So, it means two people did the work, not one.”

“Oh... I see...”

“Still, it’s unrealistic.”

Ko Hyung-seok stroked his chin.

Even if two people did the work, the speed was beyond normal. Especially with such meticulous and clean stitching.

Did a sewing god descend upon the used bookstore?

“Isn’t it rare for someone to want to sew doll eyes these days?”

“Yes. Most people try it once and give up. I wouldn’t do it either. I’d rather fold boxes even if I earn less.”

“Tomorrow, you go to the bookstore yourself. Try to get them to do more work. Casually ask if they’re interested in higher-paying jobs.”

“Sure. I’ll do as you say.”

After a moment, Ko Hyung-seok nodded, impressed.

There wasn’t a single defective doll.

* * *

The next morning.

Holding my father’s hand, I headed to kindergarten, my steps light.

My father had successfully signed a contract with Seung-woo’s father’s publishing company.

I had received my parents’ permission to officially sew doll eyes.

The income from the used bookstore and my father’s book publication.

My mother’s nurse salary and the loan.

My side job allowance.

If these five sources were combined, buying an apartment in Mok-dong was not impossible.

The family’s financial situation seemed to be on the verge of blooming.

“Hmmm~.”

My father whistled all the way to kindergarten.

Seeing his excitement, I felt excited too.

In my previous life, my father’s life had been a mess, but now it was unraveling smoothly.

So far, everything was going according to my plan.

I would focus on my parents until I entered medical school, and then I would focus on myself.

I had to achieve the grand dreams I couldn’t realize as a thoracic surgeon.

Thinking about my future as a thoracic surgeon, my heart already raced with excitement.

“Meeum, hello.”

“Hello, teacher.”

I greeted the teacher and entered the kindergarten.

My father waved and walked away.

But the moment I entered the kindergarten living room, Seung-woo’s expression caught my eye.

His eyes held a deep, indescribable sorrow.

After a long medical career, one develops the ability to read a patient’s condition and psychology just by looking at their eyes. This was one of those moments.

Was it a recurrence of the trauma from the choking incident?

I suddenly felt worried about Seung-woo.

“Seung-woo, is something wrong?”

I approached Seung-woo and asked carefully.

Seung-woo was standing apart from the other children, looking like he was about to cry.

Clearly, today’s Seung-woo was different from the usual Seung-woo.

But my concern and worry turned into laughter at his stammering explanation.

“Mom... Mom...”

“What about Mom?!”

“She said she would buy me a cutlet, but my foreskin was cut off. Huhuhu.”