Chapter 65

65. Light and Shadow

Hyun-ju and Ji-ho's mother looked at each other, thinking for a moment after the kindergarten principal's intense shout.

What's the most important thing when choosing a kindergarten?

First, safety issues could be mentioned.

Whether the CCTV is working properly, how the vehicle operation is handled, and if there are enough teachers, etc.

The atmosphere of the kindergarten and how the teachers treat the children were also important.

While such information could be found to some extent on internet cafes, parents usually didn't badmouth the kindergartens their own children attended, so they had to make their own judgments through such admission briefings and individual consultations.

While Hyun-ju and Ji-ho's mother were pondering what else was important,

The principal, holding the microphone, shouted loudly.

"House prices-!"

...

What? House prices?

Hyun-ju and Ji-ho's mother looked at the principal with blank faces, wondering if they had heard wrong.

The principal continued.

"Is this not a premium kindergarten that can increase the value of your homes just by existing in the neighborhood! Isn't that important! That's exactly what our kindergarten is! We will definitely increase the value of your homes with our best environment, facilities, and education!"

"Wow-!"

Clap clap clap clap-!

The parents' reactions were starkly divided.

Many parents cheered and clapped, while others, like Hyun-ju and Ji-ho's mother, were a bit taken aback.

Ji-ho's mother, who had been listening to various explanations while sitting, whispered to Hyun-ju.

"I don't think this is the right place. Should we leave?"

"…Yes."

Each kindergarten had its own unique characteristics, but this one seemed to be the type that didn't want to accept children from tenants or those living in monthly rentals.

Over the next few days, Hyun-ju and Ji-ho's mother visited several kindergartens in the neighborhood and continued their consultations.

The second kindergarten.

"Our kindergarten is a nature-based kindergarten. As you can see outside, we have chickens and a vegetable garden. The children live by stepping on the soil in the yard."

While the chickens and vegetable garden were nice, the kindergarten was located on a busy street.

The yard gate opened directly onto the road.

It looked a bit dangerous.

The third kindergarten.

"We have a mountain behind our kindergarten. We go hiking with the children every Thursday. The children love it, and it's also good for their health."

Ji-ho's mother asked.

"Do you go hiking even on days with fine dust?"

The teacher replied.

"There's not much fine dust here because it's a mountain."

"Yes… Is that really the case? Hehe."

After hearing that they always go up the mountain on Thursdays, even in the dead of winter, Hyun-ju and Ji-ho's mother tilted their heads and left the kindergarten.

They decided to put it on hold.

Except for the principal's stubborn hiking philosophy, it was a decent kindergarten.

The fourth kindergarten.

They had a chance to watch the all-day class children play, but all the toys were broken.

"Big sister, I'm so tired."

"We started too late. We should have looked earlier. The schedule is too tight."

Hyun-ju and Ji-ho's mother, exhausted, headed to another kindergarten.

It was the seventh kindergarten.

"Si-woo, while I'm having the consultation, go play with Ji-ho and the teacher."

"Okay~ Mom!"

Hyun-ju thought she was leaving Si-woo with the all-day class teacher to listen to the kindergarten explanation, but from Si-woo's perspective, it was the opposite.

Si-woo was leaving his mother with the consultation teacher and leisurely touring the kindergarten with Ji-ho.

"Teacher~ How many playgrounds are there?"

The kindergarten teacher replied.

"There are two. One inside the kindergarten and one outside. And there's a soccer field on the rooftop."

Si-woo moved his eyes sharply, checking the state of the kindergarten.

Numerous TV screens showed the conditions of various parts of the kindergarten.

'CCTV is good. The infirmary is clean. I saw the bus start from behind the kindergarten, and the route for the children to get on and off the bus looked safe.'

He also checked the menu posted in the hallway.

'There are many menu options.'

In addition, he checked if the toys were in good condition and if the playground inspections were properly done. After seeing and touching everything with his own eyes, Si-woo made his decision.

When Hyun-ju came to pick up Si-woo, she asked him.

"Si-woo, how was this kindergarten? I think it's good."

Si-woo smiled and said.

"Yes~ I want to attend here!"

After a full tour, there were no clear advantages, but there were no obvious flaws either.

A while later, the online application for kindergartens began.

The first choice was the kindergarten Si-woo wanted, which had no apparent drawbacks. The second choice was the kindergarten that was good except for the excessive hiking insistence. The third choice was the kindergarten that taught various sports, including swimming, but had old and broken toys.

Hyun-ju and Ji-ho's mother sincerely hoped their children would be accepted into the same kindergarten and applied to the three kindergartens they desired.

* * *

A busy year was coming to an end, with activities like filming and Shin Young-min's music video appearances.

Si-woo would be six years old next month.

Si-woo's old catchphrase was gaining popularity again on TV recently.

When a tall female comedian, a passionate aunt fan and Si-woo's social media follower, screamed, a Santa Claus appeared from behind the Christmas tree, bursting into laughter and said,

Hyun-ju, watching TV, said to Do-jin.

"Si-woo was invited to that segment."

Do-jin, shoving shrimp crackers into his mouth, replied.

"He said no, right?"

"Yes, it didn't seem right for a child to appear."

Si-woo, watching the awkward atmosphere created by the lines and the sudden performance of the bap-pu-ya dance by Santa Claus, the tall aunt, and the third character, a Cinnamon World scientist, nodded.

Mom's decision was right.

It was a popular segment with its subtle laugh points and quirky bap-pu-ya dance, but if he had appeared, he would have had to do the bap-pu-ya dance too.

...He didn't want to.

Still, Si-woo was grateful that many people still remembered and enjoyed the baby scientist from Petfi World who used to say "bap-pu-ya."

"Ah, we're going to be late. Let's go quickly."

Hyun-ju, getting up from the sofa, gathered a paper bag containing blankets and pillows.

"Do I have to go?"

"It's just nearby. Ji-ho's parents are coming too. I'll be back soon."

"Okay. Si-woo, have a good time. Listen to the instructor and the masters. Dad will pick you up tomorrow morning."

"Okay~ Bye, Dad!"

Hyun-ju and Si-woo waved and left the house.

Saturday evening.

In preparation for Christmas, the taekwondo academy organized a Christmas party for the children.

Si-woo and Ji-ho applied to participate.

Since they were allowed to bring friends, he invited his kindergarten friend, Kyung-ho.

Kyung-ho attended a different taekwondo academy near his house.

The three children, gathered in front of the academy, said goodbye to their mothers and followed the instructor inside.

"Wow~!"

A large Christmas tree greeted the children.

Under the tree, various toys were piled up.

Children from kindergarten to early elementary school couldn't hide their excitement.

"Kids, we'll give out the gifts later! Let's go this way first!"

After organizing their belongings and checking attendance, the children were divided into groups to start games.

They played tug-of-war-

"Pull! Pull!"

It was quite cute to see the elementary school children, who were acting big in front of the kindergarten kids and younger siblings, pulling the rope together.

Si-woo, being only five and small, was just pretending to pull at the front of the rope.

Victory was in sight even without his help.

Clearly the same age, Kyung-ho, who was almost the size of an elementary school student, was very reliable.

"Pull! Pull… Ouch!"

Just as victory was within reach, a few elementary school students on Si-woo's team, who were celebrating prematurely, slipped and fell from behind.

Si-woo's body was suddenly pulled towards the center line, the decisive point of the game.

The entire process of going from victory to defeat happened in an instant.

At the center line, Si-woo instinctively put strength into his legs and grabbed the rope.

"Aaah-!"

Crash.

The children on the opposing team all fell forward.

Silence.

Si-woo froze and cautiously looked at the instructor.

The instructor and masters were too shocked to speak.

They couldn't imagine that a five-year-old could pull the rope and make the opposing team fall.

The instructor, pondering why the children pulling the rope suddenly fell, instructed the masters to wipe the mat, thinking it might be slippery, and declared Si-woo's team the winner.

Si-woo secretly sighed in relief, not expecting everyone to fall.

The next game was to quickly sit on the soft block chairs.

– Banana cha-cha~ Banana cha-cha~ Everyone together~

"Ten people! Hurry up!"

The children, dancing to the song, ran like lightning.

Si-woo ran a bit and then stopped and turned back.

It was embarrassing to push other children with his bottom and sit on the chair.

While Si-woo was standing a step away, watching the children fight for the chairs,

A second-grade boy, whom Si-woo sometimes saw at the academy, was seen fiercely guarding a chair.

The boy pushed other children with his bottom and called out to someone.

"Hayun! Sit here! I saved the chair for you!"

Si-woo found the boy, calling his favorite girl, quite cute.

But at that moment, Hayun ran towards Si-woo.

"Si-woo, why aren't you playing? I'll make you sit on the chair!"

Hayun grabbed Si-woo's hand and pulled him to the chair the boy had saved.

"No, no. I'm fine…"

"Sit here! Si-woo!"

Hayun made Si-woo sit on the chair.

At the same time, the whistle blew.

The boy, with a stunned look, alternated his gaze between Si-woo and Hayun, his face gradually turning red.

"Why are you sitting! This is Hayun's seat!"

It was pizza and chicken party time.

Si-woo's neck felt hot.

After the chair incident, Myeong-tae, an older boy, kept staring at him.

It was annoying, but it was awkward to say anything.

Because-

'…What should I do? Being cute is not a crime.'

Hayun kept following him, putting pizza in his mouth, sharing chicken, and wiping oil with a wet tissue, taking care of him like a mother or an older sister.

Stepping into the world of light and shadow-

the world of popularity and jealousy, at the age of five, Si-woo.

"Ah~ Here! Si-woo!"

"…I'll eat it myself~"

"No, you have to say 'Ah~'."

"Haa…"

Hayun was holding a piece of chicken on a fork in front of Si-woo's mouth.

"Just let me eat it."

Si-woo, not wanting to be dragged around, spoke more firmly.

Hayun, startled, slightly pulled the fork back when suddenly a face appeared from the side.

"Ah~!"

It was Myeong-tae, who liked Hayun.

...The piece of chicken on the fork disappeared into Myeong-tae's mouth.

Thinking he was joking to get Hayun's attention, Myeong-tae realized something was wrong when he saw Hayun's expression.

"Why did you eat it! It's Si-woo's! Why did you take his food!"

"Huh? S, sorry. Si-woo wasn't eating, so I was just joking…"

"Stop it! You always joke around! I hate joking!"

Hayun, looking angry, pouted and stood up.

She then left to the girls' side, avoiding Myeong-tae.

Myeong-tae was just staring at Hayun's back.

A few seconds later.

Myeong-tae's face turned towards Si-woo.

Just as Myeong-tae realized something was wrong when he saw Hayun's expression, Si-woo realized something was wrong when he saw Myeong-tae's expression.

Myeong-tae's eyes were glaring at him.

It looked like something troublesome was about to happen.

Myeong-tae, glaring at Si-woo, opened his mouth.

"Do you… know the hand-flip game?"