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Yulje’s main hallway will always be busier at lunch time.
Many people pass by there, mostly focusing on their own purpose. Go to the cafeteria, wait for the next outpatient appointments, complete administrative files, or take delivery orders; everyone is busy with their own business.
Too busy, to possibly miss someone who is anxiously looking around in one corner of the hallway.
On a bench near the pillar, a little girl about three or four years old sits alone. She fidgets with her white dress, scanning everyone who passes in front of her.
Either it is the people who are too focused on their business, or the little girl who is too calm despite being alone, but she's almost invisible to everyone there.
No one stops their activities to just ask or even glance at her.
When the little girl sights someone from far away, she suddenly remembers her mother’s words. Her parents had anticipated this kind of incident for a long time, so they had left several messages about what to do.
Besides being calm, her mother once advised her to find an adult she could ask for help. Such as security guards, mall employees, or other people with certain criteria. As for in the hospital, the pigtailed girl finally knows who to approach.
“Ahjussi,” she calls politely, when a man in his early forties walks in front of her. Seeing the man stop in his tracks, she jumps off the bench and bows in the most polite – yet adorable – manner.
“Annyeonghaseyo. I’m sorry for interrupting your activities.”
The man instantly puts the phone in his pocket, then pays full attention to the sweet girl before him.
“It's okay, Ahjussi just looked at the food menu on the phone,” he states warmly and bents down his body afterwards. “Is there anything I can help you with, dear?”
“My name is Lee Eunha,” she introduces herself with a sweet smile. “I got lost when I came back from the restroom. May I ask for your help, Ahjussi?”
“Aigoo... So, you accidently separated from your parents. That must make you nervous, right? But you don't cry, it’s cool!” The older man caresses Eunha’s chubby cheek cheerfully. “My name is Do Jaehak, or you can call me Jaehak Samchon. I’ll help you find your parents, okay?”
“Doctor Jaehak,” Eunha mumbles, observing his attire. “Can I call you like that instead?”
Jaehak’s eyes widen in amazement. “Woah.. You’re so smart, Eunha-ya. Of course you can, if that makes you more comfortable.”
Eunha smiles sweetly in response. Both of them move to sit on the bench then, as more people pass in their direction.
“Do you know why you're here today, Eunha? Are you or your parents doing a treatment? Or, are you visiting someone who is hospitalized here?” Jaehak asks a bunch of questions at once, which Eunha finds very funny.
She chuckles and shakes her head simultaneously. “Eomma works here, Doctor. She uses the same attire as you today. White and blue.” Eunha points at Jaehak's doctor coat and scrubs with her tiny index finger.
Jaehak finally realizes why Eunha had been familiar to him, either her face or her name. Maybe he had seen Eunha on his acquaintance's social media or somewhere else before.
“Oh, I see. Then, I may know your mother. Who is her name?”
Eunha is silent for a moment before answering. Jaehak patiently waits, as he assumes the little girl tries to recall her mother’s name or she still hesitates to mention it.
“My love,” she states confidently then, far from his expectation.
Not sure what he just heard, Jaehak puts his ear closer to Eunha. “Pardon?”
“My love. Appa called Eomma most often like that. He sometimes used sweetie, darling, or baby, but those went for me too. My love was only used for Eomma, because it's her name, right?”
Jaehak holds back his laughter seeing Eunha's adorable innocence.
“Ah.. I got it. But, it is just a call sign, Eunha-ya. I also used it to call my wife," he explains slowly, while trying to inquire more. “Hmm… What do other people usually call your mother?”
“Wang Imo always calls her Gyosunim, and I also heard that before Eomma left with the other doctors earlier. Teachers and other people at Oppa’s school always call her Uju’s Eomma. But I know it isn’t her name. I’m sure my love is her name, Doctor. That name was also what Uju Oppa always read on Appa's phone, every time Eomma called him for us.”
The little girl is still firm in her stance. The seriousness in her puppy eyes make her more and more adorable.
“Arasseo, arasseo. So, let’s find Doctor My Love at Yulje,” he exclaims merrily, and it's satisfying for Eunha. Knowing the name-way won’t work, Jaehak tries to find a clue in another way. “Then, do you know where is your Eomma’s office, baby?”
Eunha frowns with her sad eyes right away, as she suddenly remembers something. “This is my first time here, Doctor. Ah.. No, no. Eomma said I've been here as a baby, but I don't remember. I should have gone to her office with Appa after buying ice cream, but I lost him instead.”
To be honest, Jaehak is amazed that a child at her age doesn't cry or whine despite losing her parents. Eunha seems very prepared for accidents like this, observing how brave and confident she is to interact with new people alone.
Eunha’s mother must have done good parenting. Is she a famous doctor in Yulje? He silently thinks.
“But, Doctor.. Appa once said, Eomma's office is very big, neat, clean, and comfortable. It also has a fluffy couch, that's why Appa is very happy to visit there. If I'm not mistaken, in the mini fridge in her office there are also some snacks that I can eat when I go there. I just don't know where it is, Doctor. Do you know a room with such characteristics?”
Jaehak chuckles, hearing the adorable babbles from such tiny lips. She looks so innocent, not knowing that her riddle is so difficult to solve. Many rooms are similar to her description here, but at least he can certainly conclude that Eunha's mother is a professor. It’s the only title that allows her to have such an office at Yulje.
A lot of Yulje’s professor’s names immediately run in Jaehak's mind, as he tries to remember which one of them had children around Eunha's age. The professors in his department seem impossible, but he also doesn’t know about the rest from other departments either.
A sudden thought then crosses in Jaehak's mind, which may help him to narrow the matter down.
“Eunha-ya,” he calls her gently. “I’m sorry, I still don’t know where your mother’s office is. But can I ask you another question?”
Eunha nods eagerly, as she doesn’t mind any questions that will be given to her. She feels comfortable with the man in front of her, and judges him not as a dangerous person.
“Which body part does your mother usually treat? Do you know about that?”
Eunha nods in excitement, as she is always happy to show off her mother's brilliancy to others.
Although she had never directly seen her mother working in the hospital, her father always told her about how her mother helps a lot of people who are sick. The gleam in her father's eyes when he talked about it, really pleased to Eunha.
“My mother can heal all parts of the body, Doctor. She is so fabulous. When Uju Oppa had a stomach ache, Eomma healed him. She also once told me how she treated Appa's head after an accident. Then, Eomma always examined almost all parts of Halmeoni's body when we visited her house,” Eunha babbles cheerfully. “Oh, she’s also great at treating the wound on my leg, when I fell on the playground!”
Jaehak can only grins at her answers.
He admits, this kid is really sweet and smart. From the way she talked and explained about her parents, he could immediately tell that this child grew up in an environment full of love and affection.
“But, if you mean about her department at work,” Eunha suddenly utters a vocabulary that Jaehak had been avoiding, as he thought it’s too complicated for kids. His eyes eventually widened, when he heard that from Eunha's lips.
“She works in… hmm.. Doctor, sorry, it's a little bit hard to pronounce,” Eunha stammers. “Neno—no. Nerro–ah. Ne–something, wait.” Her forehead creases in a very cute manner, as she tries so hard to let out a word from her mind. “Neuro–”
“Lee Eunha?”
About five steps from where they are sitting, a woman in a doctor's attire stands up and looks at them in surprise. The two of them immediately turn their heads to her in synchronization.
“Eomma!”
And that’s how the dots inside Jaehak’s mind finally connect to each other. Eunha’s mother is one of the best professors of Neurosurgery, the beautiful Chae Songhwa.
It's not strange to see the little girl’s intelligence and sweetness, knowing that her parents are the hottest couple in Yulje.
“Why are you here? Where’s Appa?” As soon as Eunha is within her reach, Songhwa kneels down and looks at her with a worried gaze.
“Appa helped someone who looked like Harabeoji into the boy's restroom, so I went alone to the girl's section. When I came out, Appa wasn't there yet. Then, I saw a person who looked like Junwan Samchon and followed him. But he suddenly disappeared, Eomma. I didn't know how to get back to Appa and got lost,” Eunha explains calmly, as if nothing big happened to her.
In contrast, Songhwa closes her eyes and sighs.
“It’s okay, Eomma. I did all your messages if I get lost in the crowd; calm down, don't cry, and seek help. I'm so cool, right?”
In such a mature manner, the little girl reaches her mother’s cheeks and cups the worried face with both of her tiny hands. Songhwa can’t help but chuckle in response.
“Before you came, Doctor Jaehak was helping me to find your office. He’s very nice, Eomma!”
As the worries fade away, Songhwa begins to notice the figure beside Eunha.
She stands up, and politely greets him, “Oh, annyeonghaseyo, Doctor Do. Thank you for accompanying Eunha. I’m really sorry if she bothered you.”
“It wasn’t a big problem, Prof. Eunha is a sweet child, I’m happy to take care of her,” Jaehak answers casually, as he follows Songhwa to stand up. “From Eunha, I just found out that you’re Professor My Love from the Neurosurgery Department.”
“Ne?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. You and Professor Lee must be very affectionate in front of your children, it can be seen from Eunha's sweetness. Umm.. I'm a little envious of that,” he replies playfully, then turns his gaze to the little girl who is watching their conversation patiently.
"Eunha-ya, your mother is indeed a great doctor as you said. But, why don't you tell me that your dad is also a cool doctor here? I know both of them! They're very famous at Yulje!" Jaehak teases Eunha cheerfully.
In secret, Songhwa is slightly surprised by his words. She doesn't know what Eunha told to Jaehak until the doctor before her said like that.
"Appa isn't wearing his doctor's attire today, Doctor. I was afraid you don't know him because of that."
Both of the adults automatically laughs at the innocence of the little girl's simple way of thinking.
As their funny scene fades away, Jaehak bents his body towards Eunha, then caresses her chubby cheeks affectionately.
“Eunha-ya, since your mother is here, I can go to eat my lunch, right? But, don’t forget to ask Eomma about her name, okay? I’m sure you’ll need it one day.”
“My Eomma’s name is My Love, Doctor Jaehak. I already told you twice about that. Doctor My Love from Nerow-su-rery Department,” Eunha sulks, pouting her tiny lips.
Jaehak just steals a mischievous glance to Songhwa, then excuses himself to go.
Songhwa just freezes in embarrassment afterwards, as she feels her surroundings suddenly become hotter.
“Eomma, please don't be mad at Appa after this. It was my fault to go without asking his permission. I should have waited for him and not wandered around alone,” Eunha says in guilty, as she sees a sudden change in her mother’s expression after Jaehak left them.
Her innocent mind thinks it because Songhwa upset to Ikjun’s recklessness, and she just shows it now because only the two of them there.
“Of course, I'm not mad at your Appa, sweetheart. It's something that is very possible to happen, that's why I told you the important things a long time ago,” Songhwa says softly, then carries little Eunha with both of her arms. “But, let's give him a little lesson, Eunha-ya.”
“Eunha-ya! Lee Eunha, my darling..”
Ikjun bursts out as soon as he reaches Songhwa office. He immediately hugs his daughter tightly, and examines her tiny body from head to toe. Even though he doesn't find anything bad, the worry doesn't disappear from his eyes.
“Hey, sweetie. Are you okay? Did you get hurt? You must be scared, right? Sorry, Appa didn't take good care of you. I looked for you everywhere, Eunha-ya. But, everything is fine, right?”
Eunha giggles giddily at her father's dramatic demeanor. “I’m okay, Appa. I'm old enough to know what to do in that kind of situation. Even if Eomma doesn't come, I'm sure I'll still be able to find you. Look! I can even know where Eomma hid the chocolate and candies in her office. I'm here, because I'm smart!” She points out to the table full of her snacks and coloring tools.
Behind her desk, Songhwa can’t help but chuckle at her daughter’s confidence. Observing how easily Eunha got along with Jaehak earlier, plus the adorable words she just said, Songhwa is increasingly convinced that her daughter is a carbon copy of her husband.
“Yah! Don’t grow up too fast, baby. I'm not ready to let you go for the world.” Ikjun sulks dramatically in a humorous way.
“Eunha will always be your little princess forever, Appa.” Eunha states sweetly, clinging her arms into Ikjun’s neck.
In adoration, Ikjun locks her tiny figure in his embrace and pampers her cute face with a lot of kisses. The little girl repeatedly begs him to stop due to her tingling sensation, but Ikjun really can't contain his overflowing affection towards his baby daughter.
“Lee Ikjun,” Songhwa’s firm voice finally stops Ikjun from his acts. He glances at her, calmly waiting for her next statement. “Let’s be friends again.”
Songhwa’s simple words manage to make him jolt in shock. His eyes nearly pop out from its socket, jaw almost hitting the floor. He is rooted in the position, as he doesn’t know whether approaching his wife is the best decision or not.
“What? Why? How–?” He stutters in response, still processing her words. “Yah.. I know I was careless in taking care of Eunha, but don't be like this. I'm really sorry, honey. You know, my heart almost stopped when I found out she was missing.”
Songhwa almost can't hold back her laughter after seeing Ikjun's panicked expression, as well as Eunha who is confused in his arms. She gives a hidden cue to her daughter, as if telling that all is fine.
“We have been married for almost five years and have a child together. Should you ask me to go back being friends just because of this? I promise this won't happen again, my love. Please don't be like this, I know you're just upset. You can punish me with anything. Ignore me? Hit me? Sing ten songs in front of me? Whatever, but just don't do this. I won't be able to go back to being your friend, because that would mean we're apart forever. Do you have the heart to tell Uju and Eunha? How can we–”
“Stop being dramatic, Lee Ikjun,” Songhwa finally interrupts. “Do you want to hear my reasoning or not?”
He nods innocently with his puppy eyes, until Songhwa feels like she sees the boy version of Eunha who is being admonished.
“Our daughter doesn’t know my real name because of you.”
It leaves Ikjun confused. But before he utters a question, Songhwa beats him to speak.
“From now on, you can only call me Songhwa. No sweet nicknames, including in the contact on your phone. Sweetie, honey, darling, baby… Especially, My love must be erased from your brain if it’s related to me. Call me using my real name like when we were friends; Chae Songhwa. Understand?”
“Yah! Why?”
“Ask your daughter about her mother’s name, and you’ll find out the answer. So, just obey the errands, okay?”
Little does Songhwa know, they will fail even on the first day the rule is applied. She has to be busy finding other ways to introduce her real name to their–stubborn–little daughter, with a lot of Ikjun's help, of course.
—fin. ˙ᵕ˙