Chapter 107
After emergency treatment at a nearby hospital, Ga-eun’s wrist was wrapped in bandages as she returned to the car.
“Teacher, can I blow on it? Ho-oh-“
“Would you like to?”
“Yes! Ho-oh- Ho-oh- Get better quickly!”
Ga-eun smiled, stroking Banji’s hair with her unwrapped hand.
“Where did you learn this?”
“From a fairy tale! If I do this, the pain flies away completely!”
“Is that so? Thanks to Banji blowing on it, I’m already feeling better.”
“Really? Wow! I’ll do the same for my mom!”
Watching Banji’s bright smile, Ga-eun carefully asked, “Is your mom hurting somewhere?”
“Yes. Her stomach hurts all the time. The stomach, she says. Banji thinks if I blow on it because I hurt her, she’ll get better.”
“Why do you think you hurt her?”
“Because I was born. That’s why dad left. He has a real family, they say.”
Ga-eun felt something hot blocking her throat.
“…I see.”
As she responded, Noh Man-su ‘s heavy voice interrupted, “We’re departing.”
“Oh, yes. Banji, let’s put on your seatbelt.”
Banji skillfully fastened her small belt.
“Did your mom say these things to you?”
“Yes. Mom tells me everything. My name Banji means I was born under a half-moon.”
For a moment, Ga-eun was speechless. The child seemed unnervingly accustomed to such statements.
“Mom says when dad hears my name, he’ll feel sorry and come back. She says it’s half successful because he sends money now.”
Ga-eun gently cupped the child’s soft cheek.
“Teacher?”
“No, that’s not true.”
She offered a faint smile.
“Your name Banji isn’t about that… Your last name is Yu, right?”
“Yes!”
“Banji means ‘we share the same heart.’ That’s why people who love each other share and wear matching rings.”
Banji’s gaze, which had been fixed on Ga-eun’s left wrist in a cast, shifted upward. Looking at the wedding ring on her left ring finger, Banji asked, “Did you also share a ring with someone you love?”
Ga-eun was even more speechless than when she had explained the origin of Banji’s name.
“Teacher, did you hear me?”
Pressed by the child, Ga-eun glanced at Noh Man-su sitting in the driver’s seat and softly answered, “Oh… yes, I did.”
Noh Man-su continued to look straight ahead, seemingly not listening to the backseat conversation.
She wasn’t sure how much of this would be reported to Si-heon, but surely this conversation wouldn’t be misunderstood.
‘It’s just a conversation with a child.’
No, Kwon Si-heon wouldn’t even care. Trivial conversations that don’t benefit his business.
This thought both relieved and saddened her, as her own hopes were embedded in her response.
‘Pointless thoughts.’
Forcibly pushing away thoughts of Si-heon, Ga-eun smiled at Banji.
“So Banji’s name means ‘the only thing connecting mom and dad’s hearts’.”
“Really? Does ‘Yu’ mean unique?”
“I’m sure your parents named you with that hope.”
“But why did mom say those things to me? Honestly, I don’t like being called Banji. But I was afraid mom would scold me, so I didn’t say anything.”
The child’s dejected expression tugged at her heart.
“Your mom might have been upset and embarrassed.”
Ga-eun gently stroked Banji’s forehead.
“Adults sometimes find it hard to express their feelings honestly. They might get angry on purpose to hide their emotions, or simply shut their mouths.”
She knew she was clearly the latter type.
“Your mom surely loves you very much. She might have spoken that way out of embarrassment. But Banji, you are definitely a precious treasure to your mom and dad. That’s certain.”
Banji’s cheeks flushed with joy.
“I want to think that way! Because sometimes mom hugs me and cries, saying she’s sorry. Then I feel sad too.”
Ga-eun smiled silently.
The child chattered about the scenery, leaned against Ga-eun and fell asleep, then woke up to sing. She cautiously observed Noh Man-su , worried he might find the noise disturbing. However, he maintained his usual attitude of seeming to hear nothing.
Having worked together for so long, Si-heon and Noh Man-su shared some similarities—like their current tendency to not react to her.
Well, thankfully this allowed Banji to comfortably travel to Seoul.
They arrived safely at Seoul Station.
“Oh, it’s mom!”
A woman in a worn t-shirt and jeans stood watching the passing cars, arms crossed.
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