Chapter 9: Milk Candy

Even Yi Eun, who was naturally adaptable and not afraid of strangers, was no exception. Because of her adorable looks, she made several new friends in just a few short hours.

During the self-serve snack time that morning, Kwon Jiyong, who had been thinking about his little “sister” all day, waddled over on his short little legs to find Yi Eun holding another little girl’s hand in her left, raising a piece of rice cake high with her right, her face bursting with an uncontrollable smile.

Clearly, she hadn’t been waiting for him at all. Had she already forgotten about him after such a short time?

Kwon Jiyong didn’t quite know how to express what he was feeling, it was like eating a pack of sour candies: sweet and sour all at once.

He hesitated for a moment, raised his hand and opened his mouth as if to call out, but in the end, he didn’t disturb Yi Eun, who had just blended into her new environment. He left quietly, his little back looking especially lonely.

Jiyong touched the corner of his dry eye and sighed, “Yi Eun has grown up. She’s made new friends. Oppa is really happy.”

“Not sad at all… sniff sniff… not even a little!” he muttered under his breath, lips pouting as he walked away, turning back every few steps, his face full of longing hoping, maybe, someone would call him back.

There weren’t many children at the Korean kindergarten, and the teacher who was monitoring the kids for safety instantly recognized this famously dramatic little star. Seeing the scene, she couldn’t help but think to herself: “As expected of a child actor such drama!”

“Should I go call your little sister?” she asked, squatting down beside him.

But he was still lost in his own imagination, chewing on his nail for a moment before firmly shaking his head, “Thank you, teacher, but it’s okay. I’m sure Yi Eun will remember me after school!”

If he were a middle or high school student, the teacher might have warned him that “friendships between three people can’t withstand trials,” but he was only seven! How could a kid this young already be so dramatic?

Yi Eun, completely unaware of all this, didn’t realize anything was wrong until after lunch when the teacher handed out little candies. When she saw Jiyong’s favorite milk candy, she suddenly remembered: Huh? Where’s Jiyong?

She looked around only her new friends were nearby. Jiyong was nowhere in sight.

Her little heart gave a sudden painful squeeze. Her pace slowed as they lined up to go take a nap. “Did Jiyong forget about me?” she wondered.

As the teacher carried her to her child-sized bed for a nap, Yi Eun quietly asked, “Teacher, can I go find Jiyong?”

She secretly held the milk candy she’d saved in her pocket. Because of the warmth of her hand, it was already starting to melt. “Is class over now?” she asked softly.

Yi Eun lay with her little face pressed against the wooden bed rail, one leg lifting slightly as if ready to sneak off and find Jiyong.

“You should call him ‘Jiyong oppa,’ and use honorifics too,” the teacher sighed as she gently lifted and placed the child’s little foot back on the bed. “Oh well, kids don’t really understand honorifics yet.”

Yi Eun gave the teacher a confused look clearly not understanding a word, then wriggled a bit closer to the edge of the bed.

“Yi Eun, take a nap first. Jiyong is also sleeping right now. Once everyone wakes up, the teacher will take you to find your brother, okay?” The teacher gently picked up the child and placed her back in the center of the bed. “Just take a nap, and when you open your eyes, you’ll see Jiyong.”

Both of Yi Eun’s legs were now firmly held down, and the other kids had quieted down thanks to the teacher’s gentle storytelling voice.

Lying on her side near the edge of the bed, one hand loosely gripping the low bed rail, the other protecting the candy she had saved from lunch, Yi Eun after a full morning of play was quickly running out of energy. In that posture, under the soothing storytelling voice, her eyelids began to grow heavier, and her thoughts blurred like a foggy window.

Meanwhile, Kwon Jiyong already a kindergarten veteran with two years under his belt was tossing and turning in his little bed.

“Yi Eun’s made new friends… she probably doesn’t need me anymore,” he sighed.

“But even with new friends… would she be scared to nap at school alone?” He rolled over, thinking about how he had missed his own mom the first time he napped at school. “Yi Eun probably misses her mom too… and her oppa!”

He scooted to the edge of the bed. Tap tap tap, he heard the teacher’s footsteps approaching, and immediately shut his eyes tight and began fake snoring: “Hoo, hoo, hoo…”

As soon as the footsteps faded away, he quickly and stealthily opened his eyes. Squinting, he lifted his little head and scanned the surroundings. Hmm… two other kids were also sneaking peeks with their eyes open, pretending to nap. When they made eye contact, he raised a finger to his lips in a “shh” gesture. The two kids immediately nodded solemnly, as if they’d just accepted a top-secret mission.

“Alright! I’m just going to sneak over and check if Yi Eun is asleep. Even if she forgot about me, as her big brother, I still have to care about her!” He instantly convinced himself. With a swift roll, he flipped his body and bent over quietly to slip on his shoes.

The two kids who had watched the whole thing curiously whispered, “Jiyong, where are you going? What if the teacher comes?”

Kwon Jiyong straightened up and tiptoed over to them, crouching down by their beds to whisper back, “I’m going to check on my little sister.”

“That super cute little sister you keep talking about?” asked a boy with a little ponytail, resting his chin on the bed, eyes filled with curiosity. “The one who knows a bunch of idioms?”

“Yes!” Jiyong beamed, eyes turning into crescents. “Totally kiyo! She’s tiny, all white and chubby, just like a marshmallow. And super smart too! She even knows how to dance ballet…”

His friend, knowing once Jiyong started bragging he couldn’t stop, turned over and faced away from him. “I’m going to sleep now! You go on!”

Jiyong placed his hands on his hips, full of pride and sass, as if he hadn’t just been sulking earlier because Yi Eun made new friends. “Whatever! You don’t have a little sister, you wouldn’t understand!”

He bent down and peeked out through the doorway, looked left and right, quickly identified the direction, and began tiptoeing leftward, head tucked and movements stealthy.

The napping room for the younger kids was close by. Around a dozen little ones were fast asleep in silence. He crouched and crept in, checking one by one. His little cowlick drooped down as he lowered his head.

“Not this one… not this one either…” he muttered, moving deeper into the room. Near the far end, he suddenly spotted the teacher dozing off, chin resting on her hand.

Jiyong froze in his tracks. After a moment’s hesitation, he bent down and quietly snuck under the teacher’s nose. Just as he suspected Yi Eun was right beside the teacher, clutching the bed rail and sleeping peacefully.

He squatted down in front of her and couldn’t help but reach out and pinch her chubby little cheek, whispering, “You’re sleeping so soundly.”

However, Yi Eun was a light sleeper. As soon as she felt the tickle on her face, her little hand let go of the bed rail and swatted in reflex. Their hands smacked together with a loud “smack!”, echoing through the quiet nap room.

Jiyong jumped in fright, held his breath, and froze. He turned his head toward the nearby teacher. Her brow furrowed, but she didn’t wake up. Jiyong finally let out a small sigh of relief.

Still half-asleep, Yi Eun slowly opened her eyes and immediately saw Kwon Jiyong in front of her. She sat up in surprise, so the teacher hadn’t lied! She really did see Jiyong as soon as she opened her eyes!

“Jiyong!” she exclaimed in delight, but was instantly silenced by Jiyong covering her mouth.

“Shhh, the other kids and the teacher are still sleeping,” Jiyong whispered. He was tired from crouching, so he simply sat down on the floor next to Yi Eun’s little bed. “Let’s play a game, whoever talks loudly loses, okay?”

Yi Eun’s eyes widened, and she immediately covered her mouth with both hands, nodding enthusiastically.

Only then did Jiyong fully relax. He lowered his voice, speaking in a slightly pouty tone, “I thought you made new friends and forgot about me.”

“No, I didn’t,” Yi Eun replied, tilting her head in confusion. Then she suddenly remembered the milk candy she had secretly hidden in her pocket. Smiling brightly, she reached into her pocket and pulled it out. “Jiyong, here! Milk candy!”

Jiyong’s eyes widened slightly.

The candy in Yi Eun’s hand had gotten a bit deformed for some reason, but he immediately recognized it as the one the kindergarten had given them today.

“Why didn’t you eat it?” Jiyong swallowed as he imagined the milky flavor but still gently pushed her hand back. “You should eat it, Yi Eun. I already had one.”

Yi Eun shook her head and extended her hand again. “Don’t you really like milk candy? It’s for you!”

Jiyong hesitated for a moment, but under Yi Eun’s earnest gaze, he finally accepted the candy from her hand. “Then… thank you, Yi Eun.”

He held the candy in his hand, hesitating again. He had already eaten one today… and his teeth…

But, it’s just one more! One more won’t hurt!

He unwrapped the milk candy and popped it into his mouth, and the joy in his eyes practically overflowed.

Yi Eun held onto the little bed rail with both hands, her small legs kicking happily against the bed. So this is the happiness the teacher and mom talked about the joy of sharing? Yi Eun is amazing!

However, in less than a second, the smile on Kwon Jiyong’s face froze, disappeared, and twisted in pain.

Tears instantly burst from his eyes, and he hurriedly pulled the milk candy out of his mouth. Since he knew he had “sneaked over” against the rules, he didn’t dare cry out loud.

“What’s wrong, Jiyong? Is it not tasty?” Yi Eun scratched her head, confused. Isn’t sharing supposed to be a happy thing? Why was Jiyong crying?

She looked at the milk candy in Jiyong’s hand in confusion. It looked soft and sweet, like it should be delicious… Wait! Her eyes suddenly widened, whose tooth was stuck in the candy?!

Jiyong got sneak-attacked by a tooth!

Yi Eun completely forgot about the “quiet game” and let out a loud “Ah!” in shock at the sight of a tooth stuck in the milk candy.

The teacher, who had been lightly dozing off amid the soft sounds, finally woke up. When she saw Jiyong sitting on the floor silently crying and covering his mouth, she actually shut her eyes again.

No… wait! This isn’t a dream! Where did this kid come from?!

She stumbled to her feet and quickly crouched down in front of the two, whispering in a panic so as not to wake the other children, “What happened?”

Jiyong’s face was a mix of embarrassment and pain, and he kept his hand tightly over his mouth, refusing to open it.

It wasn’t until the teacher firmly pried his hand away that Yi Eun, staring at the empty gap in his lower row of teeth, exclaimed with amazement in Jiyong’s despair-filled gaze:
“Teacher, it turns out the candy stole Jiyong’s tooth!”