part 12

"This building is really big," I muttered to myself as I entered the luxurious residential complex where Seung-rok lived. 

His yard was filled with exotic plants like palm trees. 

Although the main building obscured it, I could see an external storage shed if I looked closely. 

I hadn't noticed this building last time I went here. 

In fact, this place was both a storage and a guest house for Seung-rok's home. 

It was also where I would be living from now on.

This was my third visit to this house. 

The first time, I came for a job interview. 

The second time, I had a meal at his place. 

But this time, it felt entirely different. 

Back then, it was just a brief visit. 

This time, I was here to move in. 

So today, I brought all my belongings in a single suitcase. 

This was my first time moving out in my entire life.

Usually, I traveled around the world to participate in golf tours. 

Ironically, my home address was always my mom's house. 

I had always dreamed of having a proper place of my own someday. 

But I never imagined that dream would come true so quickly.

Just yesterday, Seung-rok had once again suggested that I move in. 

I had initially planned to decline his offer. 

Even though I wouldn't be living in the same house as him, it felt burdensome. 

But then, as if on cue, I received an unpleasant call from my stepmother.

[The golf appointment has been moved to Sunday, so be ready.]

That was the most annoying part about playing golf. 

As long as I called myself a golfer, if someone asked me to play, I had no choice but to play with that person.

It didn't matter if an appointment got canceled once.

They could just make another appointment with me.

If there was already a schedule next week, then the week after that. 

Eventually, I would end up playing golf with people I didn't like. 

No one has their weekends fully booked forever, so no one couldn't refuse forever.

As long as I played golf, there was no way to avoid golf appointments.

The bigger problem was that this appointment wouldn't be the end of my stepmother's attempts to involve me. 

I didn't know what kind of business she was running, but her surroundings were always filled with rich people.

At this rate, I would end up being her weekend clown for her golf party.

Seeing my face turn pale, Seung-rok asked what was wrong. 

After hearing my situation, he offered a shocking solution.

"I'll pay off your mother's hospital bills. You can repay me later."

He was offering to lend me that large sum of money without interest. 0

It was an unbelievably good offer for me. 

Of course, there was a condition to his proposal. 

He asked me to move into his guest house and said I could have my freedom outside of lesson hours. 

His logic was that it would give me a good excuse to be away from others.

After much consideration, I accepted Seung-rok's offer. 

The next day, I immediately left my mom's house. 

As long as I stayed in my mom's house, which was already seized, I would continue to be exposed to my stepmother. 

She would keep proposing new golf appointments to me. 

Eventually, I declared to my stepmother that I would pay off the debt in a lump sum and asked her to stop contacting me. 

When she asked where I got the money, I cut her off.

"Just stop. Mind your own business. Don't call me ever again."

I hung up on my stepmother, who couldn't respond. 

Then I started preparing for the move. 

And today, the next day, I packed all the necessary things and headed to Seung-rok's house.

Seung-rok's proposal was nothing short of shocking. 

He said I only needed to stay in his house and teach golf for a year, and after that, I could do as I pleased. 

Of course, I would still have to continue giving lessons to his daughter after that. 

But from my perspective, it was an offer I couldn't refuse. 

It was so convenient for me that it made me suspicious.

Life is truly unpredictable.

It brings misfortune at its whim and sometimes offers unexpected solutions for that.

It wasn't something I could plan in advance.

As I was about to ring the doorbell, I felt a vibration from somewhere. 

It was another call from my biological father's wife. 

I sighed softly and answered the phone, bracing myself.

"Hello."

-Why haven't you been answering? Do you think paying off the debt is the end of everything? You are still my daughter!

Now I am your daughter?

Since when?

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. 

I didn't want to have this conversation in front of the gate, worried that someone might overhear this humiliating exchange. 

I slowly walked away from the gate and started replying.

"I gave you the money. Isn't that enough?"

-Really. No matter how poorly someone is raised, how can you be so rude? Do you think paying off the debt erases the emotional debt? There's a meeting with the executives next Saturday, so you should come.

"I have plans."

-Then make it the week after.

This woman was relentless, like a bulldog that wouldn't let go once it bit. 

I had to say it.

"I have to work every weekend to pay for hospital bills. So please stop threatening me to play golf on weekends."

-Threatening? What kind of vulgar talk is that?

"Then let's leave it at that. Please don't call me for such matters anymore."

I hung up immediately. 

The vibration continued. 

What a disaster.

I left a rejection message and pressed the doorbell. 

That was enough.

Living in someone else's house was a bit burdensome, but at least this way, I could escape the endless cycle of threatening from lenders.

While I was lost in these thoughts, I heard Hayeon's voice as the door opened. 

I felt a sense of solemnity, as if I was stepping into a new world.

***

"Here is the sauna, teacher! You can be as warm as you WANT!"

"…Thanks." 

Watching Hayeon introduce the house with a bright, innocent smile, I shook my head. 

A private home with a sauna, swimming pool, small movie theater, and even a screen golf room. 

This place was filled with every kind of entertainment imaginable. 

It felt more like a small mall than a home. 

I wondered if I should even be here.

If I could just relax, it might be an incredible stroke of luck. 

I could start the golf lessons I had always wanted, while enjoying the luxurious lifestyle of a wealthy family. 

It could be good for me, if only I didn't have to live with a grumpy idol who seemed like a father of a baby. 

Everyone else seemed nice.

I looked at the child I was supposed to teach.

Fortunately, Hayeon seemed happy about my arrival. 

Her grandfather also seemed like a good person. 

Seung-rok, though a bit prickly, wasn't too much of a problem. 

I felt this might be a better situation than I had initially feared.

When I first saw the child, I thought she felt distant from me. 

I mean, my first impression wasn't that good either.

She even called me 'Mom.' 

But during our second meeting, she didn't seem as wary. 

Instead, Hayeon excitedly showed me around the house.

Seeing her like that, I felt a bit relieved. 

She was just like me.

A child who couldn't call her father 'Dad' due to a complicated situation. 

I worried she might have deep emotional scars, but she seemed brighter than I had expected.

Naturally, my thoughts drifted to my past.

[She doesn't have a dad.]

From Private English kindergarten to international school, my mother always sent me to the most expensive places. 

In hindsight, all of it was funded by debt from my biological father's money. 

The rich kids I went to school with never accepted a fatherless child into their group. 

No matter how much my mother explained that my father had passed away, they looked at me with distrust. 

Now I realize they were right. 

My biological father wasn't dead; I was just a 'mistake' born from a one-night stand.

After my mother died, my biological father's wife came to me with debt papers, yelling. 

Let me be honest.

I wasn't really surprised. 

Deep down, I might have known the truth. 

They were right. 

I shouldn't have been born. 

That fact had weighed on me since childhood, leaving a knot of stress in my heart. 

Golf was my only escape from a lonely existence.

Compared to my past, Hayeon seemed quite bright. 

Was it better to not call your father 'Dad' than to have no father at all? 

Then, another question emerged from my brian.

The question I had once pondered resurfaced in my mind. 

If Seung-rok was her father, then what happened to her mother?

While I was lost in thought, Hayeon suddenly spoke to me.

"Teacher! What are you thinking?"

Startled, I turned to look at her. 

"Oh, nothing."

"I showed everything. Let's Go~"

"Thanks, Hayeon. But you haven't shown me where I'll be staying yet."

She pointed to the annex with her finger. 

"Oh, I don't know about that place. I've never been there. The door's always locked."

"Really? But I have to stay there."

"Dad said he'd show you when he gets home."

True. 

Although the grandfather seemed healthy, it would be best if Seung-rok, the owner, showed me around.

"Alright. Then for today…"

I was about to suggest we rest when Hayeon grabbed my arm and shouted, 

"Let's go out! Please~~. Let's go!"

The grandfather scolded her, saying it wasn't appropriate since today was a day off for the teacher. 

It was my first day to stay, and lessons were to start tomorrow. 

I didn't really have to do anything with her today. 

But I had no plans either. 

Originally, today was supposed to be a day for a business golf outing. 

Seeing the child clinging to my arm so desperately, I suddenly felt an urge to play with her.

"Pretty please?" she whined, and I patted her head.

"Alright. I don't have any plans today, so I'll play with you. But don't expect this every day, okay?"

"I see!"

The grandfather, looking relieved, bowed his head and thanked me, asking me to take good care of her. 

What a nice old man.

If only Seung-rok were a bit more considerate, this place would be perfect for me. 

Smiling brightly, I asked the child, "What do you want to do, Hayeon?"

"I want to watch a play!"

A play? 

I frowned slightly at the unexpected request. 

I thought she might want to go eat cake or watch an animation like 'Despicable Me' or something like that. 

But a play? 

It seemed too sophisticated a choice for a six-year-old.

Maybe she meant a children's play with animated characters. 

Snapping my fingers, I asked, 

"Oh, is it a children's play?"

"No? I want to watch Macbeth."

Mac…beth?

 I racked my brain to recall 'Macbeth' from my school days. It was the Shakespeare play I studied in English class.

What kind of six-year-old wants to watch that?