Episode 12
As if we had never been lost, we arrived at the kitchen in no time. Uncle Hwan pulled out a milk carton from the fridge, then after a moment of thought, took out a yogurt cup as well.
‘Guess he’s really hungry.’
But unexpectedly, he sat me on the high chair.
“?”
Then—he peeled the lid off the yogurt and handed it to me.
“?”
“Eat.”
“It’s no the time to eat yet.”
“It’s tasty.”
“That’s true.”
Well, I was tired from wandering around anyway, and it’d be fine to say that I ate because Uncle gave it to me.
So I picked up the lid and carefully licked it clean. While I did that, Uncle Hwan tore open the milk carton and started chugging it straight from the box.
“……Wow.”
The whole thing was gone in an instant.
“You dwank a wot.”
Feeling like I had just witnessed some great feat, I clapped my hands. Uncle Hwan averted his gaze slightly and muttered,
“……I’m growing.”
“Me too.”
“Then eat up.”
“’Kay.”
I started eating the yogurt with a spoon, carefully. For a moment I worried—what if he just got up and left? But thankfully, he stayed, sitting across from me, simply watching me eat.
Hmm… after a while, I scooped up a spoonful and held it out to him.
“……Want shome?”
“No.”
“But yoush growing too.”
“Yeah.”
“Then you gotta eat wots.”
“You’re growing too, so I won’t take any from you.”
Now that he said it, it did make sense.
I went back to eating my yogurt. Then suddenly, Uncle Hwan frowned and said,
“Hey, why do you call me ‘Uncle’?”
“?”
What kind of question was that out of nowhere?
“You shaid it wash better than ‘Mister’!”
“That’s true, but… I don’t like being called the same thing as Alpha.”
“Why?”
“He’s already an adult, and I’m still growing.”
“Hmm…”
That made sense too.
“Then… what should I call you?”
“……”
He seemed to think about it, but judging from his face, he didn’t have a good alternative in mind. Eventually, he sighed and said lazily,
“Just call me Hwan.”
“What?”
I was shocked.
“But I’m thwee!”
“We’re both still growing.”
“That’s twue, but…”
“You’re growing, I’m growing. Same thing.”
Again, couldn’t argue with that logic.
“If you shay sho…”
“Call me Hwan.”
“Hw—”
I couldn’t fight the awkwardness, so I mumbled quietly,
“……Oppa Hwan?”
Apparently that was acceptable—he nodded.
“You wike that better?”
“Much better.”
Well, if he said so, I couldn’t argue. Still, thinking about pronouncing that tricky name was already giving me a headache.
“Haam.”
A yawn escaped me before I could stop it. Sleepiness, which had refused to come earlier, suddenly came rushing in.
“Uuung.”
I rubbed my sticky eyelids. Hwan Oppa spoke.
“Go to your room and sleep.”
“Dunno where it ish.”
“How can you not? It’s your room.”
“Met it today for da firsht time.”
“Ah.”
He seemed to understand.
Drowsiness pulled at my mind like fog, and I mumbled,
“Shweepy.”
“You can’t sleep here.”
“But—”
Before my head could fall, Hwan Oppa’s hand shot out like lightning, catching it.
“Gosh, you shcared me…” I mumbled, half asleep.
He clicked his tongue.
Then I felt him pick me up in his arms.
That was the last thing I remembered that day.
Click.
Click, click.
The sound of a camera shutter echoed again and again. And oddly, that sound seemed to make my body tremble.
‘……What’s that sound?’
My eyes felt dazzled.
I frowned and twisted my body.
Something furry brushed against my cheek.
“……Achoo.”
I sneezed and opened my eyes.
Click, click.
“……?”
The shutter kept clicking.
I rubbed my eyes and tried to understand what was happening.
“Oh, A-yoon’s awake,” said a voice.
“Teachah…?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Teacher Eun-ah lowered her phone with a sheepish smile. I blinked my sleepy eyes and sat up.
“Ah!”
At that moment, the big, furry thing I’d been leaning on stirred too.
What the—
‘A dog?’
No—a wolf stood up.
It shook its fur elegantly, stepped away, and with a shimmer, changed back into Hwan Oppa.
Someone nearby chuckled.
“Oh, she’s finally awake.”
“Shut up,” Hwan replied coldly.
Looking around, I realized there were a lot of people watching us—besides Teacher Eun-ah.
“Wha’s going on…?”
“Did you sleep well, A-yoon?” Teacher Eun-ah asked as she picked me up.
I snuggled into her arms and answered, “Yesh.”
Everyone murmured as they looked at us.
“As expected…”
“Even yesterday, I thought so…”
“No wonder that Hwan kid lost his mind over her.”
I had no idea what they were talking about.
Just then, Teacher Eun-ah gasped.
“Oh, this came out so well!”
“Let me see.”
“Really?”
Everyone gathered around her as she showed them her phone.
“Wow.”
“Too cute.”
“It’s perfect.”
“She’s adorable, but I’ve never seen Hwan like that before. Could you send me the photo? I want to tease him forever.”
“Ah, me too!”
“Please share it!”
“Wait, Eun-ah, you’re not in the group chat yet, right? Just post it there!”
“Oh, that’s a good idea.”
They all bustled about, swapping numbers and adding her to the chat.
“Tsk.”
Hwan Oppa frowned but didn’t stop them—he looked too annoyed to care.
Soon, everyone’s phones chimed as the photo spread around. I was finally awake enough to realize what was happening.
‘Wait… did they just share my picture?’
I looked at Teacher Eun-ah.
“Teachah, you took my pictuwe?”
“Mm-hmm. You were sleeping.”
She smiled and showed me the photo.
In it, I was curled up sound asleep in the arms of a massive wolf, my cheek squished and my lips poking out like a little bird’s beak.
I nodded.
‘Cute!’
But then, something more important occurred to me.
I looked up at Hwan Oppa.
“You shwept with me?”
“Why?”
“Mm, no reason. Thank you.”
He sighed through his nose.
“Unbelievable.”
Then he absentmindedly reached for his pocket—only to stop when our eyes met.
“?”
I tilted my head. He pulled his hand back awkwardly and clicked his tongue.
“Whatcha doing?”
“Nothing.”
People around us whispered.
“Guess he’s not smoking in front of the kid.”
“Unbelievable. The Alpha begged him to quit and he ignored it, but one toddler says something and—poof.”
“Is that really Lee Hwan? Maybe someone swapped his soul.”
“Alpha’s going to be so jealous.”
“Oh, he already knows and is sulking.”
From across the room, Uncle Shin-jae’s voice chimed in.
With endless respect and affection, I cried,
“Uncle!”
Teacher Eun-ah put me down, and I ran to him as fast as my little legs could carry me.
I was planning to hug his leg as usual, but he bent down and scooped me up mid-run.
“Kyah!”
I squealed with joy, flailing my stubby arms and legs.
“Did you sleep well, A-yoon?”
“Yesh!”
Still holding me, he turned toward the others.
Teacher Eun-ah smiled knowingly.
“A-yoon really likes the director.”
[system] Your Administrator snorts, saying everyone’s missing the point.
[system] He adds that obviously he’s the one his contractor likes most, though there’s no need to say it aloud.
Well… if I had to choose my favorite person here, it would actually be Teacher Eun-ah—but for peace’s sake, I decided to keep that truth buried.
I snuggled deeper into Uncle Shin-jae’s arms. Everyone nodded approvingly.
“She really loves her Alpha.”
“So cute…”
“But wasn’t it Hwan who put her to bed?”
“Yeah. And now she’s forgotten him the moment Alpha showed up.”
That wasn’t really true—but seeing the proud smile on Uncle Shin-jae’s face, I decided not to argue.
Across the room, Hwan Oppa gave me a sharp, narrow-eyed look, but I pretended not to notice.
Uncle Shin-jae said,
“Our A-yoon should have her meal now.”
Meal? Excuse me, I’m three years old, we don’t call it “mam-ma.”
I nodded solemnly and corrected him,
“Yesh. I gotta eat my meal.”
