Chapter 49: Returning

We wandered Midni Land in dresses.

Staff members in costumes were scattered around, and when we approached them, they reenacted famous lines and scenes from the movies.

The kids, dressed as princesses, watched with happy smiles.

“Oh! That’s Benjamin oppa’s costume!”

“Oh, it is.”

Midni Land naturally featured the superhero character Benjamin starred in.

Not as handsome as Benjamin, but the staff member smiled at us.

They’re having so much fun.

The kids looked incredibly happy.

Running around, riding rides, adorning themselves with accessories, laughing joyfully.

The problem was my stamina.

I’m exhausted…

Midni Land was too vast.

No matter how much we walked, it seemed endless.

Wearing the suit to meet Nicole in the evening made it even more uncomfortable, draining my energy further.

Hoo…

I wanted to laugh and spend time with the kids, but my expression gradually faded.

At least when the kids rode rides, I could rest.

Kids have so much energy.

In the end, our Midni Land memories ended with me realizing my stamina couldn’t keep up.

Even with Ryan’s workouts, I couldn’t match the kids’ endurance.

Time passed, and we had our final dinner at Midni Land.

“Eww… It’s not as good as I thought.”

Yuri frowned at the hamburger in her hand.

It was modeled after a burger joint from an American animation, but honestly, it tasted awful.

I’d wondered about the flavor watching the protagonist eat it in the show, but this was too much.

And at this price…

It might be worth trying once for the novelty, but I couldn’t recommend it.

Still, after roaming all day, eating the hamburger somehow restored my energy.

“Oh, right, Uncle.”

“Yeah? What?”

“So, when we get to the airport, your girlfriend will be there?”

“More precisely, at Saskatchewan airport.”

“Wow! Is she pretty?”

“Yeah. Very.”

Yuri’s face lit up with pride. “Prettier than us?”

“Uh…”

“…”

Yuri’s sudden question made Hye-yeon stare at me.

Jiyu was too focused on her fries.

What should I say…

Are the kids pretty?

Of course they are.

Not through rose-tinted glasses—they’re genuinely beautiful.

The princess dresses suited them perfectly, and passersby turned their heads.

Even Benjamin acknowledged it.

Benjamin, who’s seen countless beautiful actresses in Hollywood, admitted the kids were exceptionally pretty and cute.

I hesitated but spoke up.

“You guys are prettier.”

Yuri burst out, “You can’t say that! Though it makes me happy, you’re supposed to say your girlfriend’s prettier!”

“Yeah, Uncle. She might feel bad,” Hye-yeon added.

“Uh… Yeah.”

The answer was already decided.

I sighed inwardly at the kids’ words.

Hoo… At least the kids won’t feel awkward around Nicole.

I’d worried about tension between Nicole and the kids, but they seemed excited to meet her.

“So, Nicole unnie? Will she stay at our house a few days?”

“I’m not sure.”

I knew she took time off, but not how much.

Hye-yeon tilted her head. “But we don’t have an empty room…”

“Oh… True?”

Yuri blushed and swatted Hye-yeon’s arm. “Of course she’ll sleep with Uncle! Heehee!”

“We’ll go to bed early. Don’t worry, Uncle!”

Yuri, only 10, knew too much.

A downside of the information age.

“Well… Let’s eat first. We’ll figure it out on the way.”

If needed, I could sleep on the sofa or at Ryan’s.

Ryan wouldn’t kick me out.

Probably.

I’d given him a watch before leaving; he wouldn’t turn me away.

Thinking that, I bit into the hamburger.

Salty.

Our last moments in America passed like that.

After dinner, we returned the dresses.

We collected our luggage and boarded the flight to Saskatchewan.

The kids… are asleep.

They dozed off as soon as we took off.

It felt like just yesterday they were amazed by their first flight, but now they were used to it.

At least we arrived in Saskatchewan three hours later.

“Yawn!”

“Ugh…”

The kids stretched, shaking off their fatigue upon landing.

Jiyu was different.

“Wow! It’s snowing!”

Having napped fully on the plane, her eyes were bright.

If her usual bed were more comfortable, she might’ve slept through, but the plane was too cramped, and knowing home was still far, she woke quickly.

“Uncle! Snow! Snow!”

“Yeah, it’s snowing.”

This might be tough getting home.

Thankfully, it wasn’t piling up enough to block roads.

If it were too much, we could be stranded at the airport for days.

“Come on, kids, grab your bags and let’s go.”

“Okay!”

After checking out, we dragged our suitcases outside.

But Nicole wasn’t there.

She said she’d be here.

As I scanned the area slowly, “Writer-nim!”

In the distance, Nicole approached, pulling her suitcase.

Her pale face flushed, she ran to me and hugged tightly.

Squeeze.

“Writer-nim! Writer-nim! It’s been so long!”

“Long time no see, Nicole. Sorry you waited.”

“No!”

She must’ve been in a nearby café to escape the cold.

As I hugged Nicole, a sharp gaze pierced from the side.

Like needles pricking, I smiled and said to Nicole, “Haha, Nicole, the kids are watching, so maybe…”

“Oh!”

Nicole finally pulled away.

Fanning her red face, she waved at the kids.

“Hi, kids. I’m Nicole Portman. Call me Nicole casually.”

“Uh…? You speak Korean?”

At Hye-yeon’s words, Nicole nodded as if it were obvious.

“Yeah! English, French, Korean, Japanese, Chinese. I’m studying Spanish lately.”

You can request airport services in specific languages.

So Nicole studied multiple ones.

That many?

I was surprised too.

She posted study photos on SNS, and as a flight attendant, I expected some language skills.

But not this many.

“I’m Hye-yeon! Nice to meet you!”

“I’m Yuri! Nice to meet you too!”

“I’m Jiyu! Jiyu is… Jiyu! Heehee!”

“Kyaa! So cute!”

Nicole’s eyes sparkled as she hugged all three tightly.

The kids were startled but didn’t seem to mind her enthusiasm.

“Ugh! Jiyu can’t breathe! Let go!”

Except Jiyu.

At Jiyu’s words, Nicole quickly loosened her arms.

“Oh! Sorry! Jiyu, was it hard to breathe?”

“Hoo… Be careful from now on! Jiyu almost suffocated!”

“Sorry, Jiyu. I won’t do it again. Will you forgive unnie?”

“Unnie…”

Jiyu stared at Nicole.

Then she nodded.

“Yes! Jiyu forgives unnie!”

“Kyaa! Thank you!”

Nicole seemed to really like kids.

“Shall we go now? It’ll be dawn even if we leave soon,” I said.

“Oh! Yes! Let’s go!”

With greetings done, we dragged our luggage to the parking lot.

Luckily, not much snow on the car.

The car wasn’t buried.

Sometimes heavy snow buries vehicles.

We’d have to stay at a hotel for days then, so it was a relief.

This is why winter trips are a hassle.

Other seasons are fine, but winter travel is inconvenient.

We loaded the luggage, and the kids climbed into the back seat.

Time to take off the puffer.

It’d be chilly briefly, but driving long in a puffer is uncomfortable.

And too warm makes me sleepy, so better to endure a bit of cold.

I could crank the heater.

“Huh?”

As I got in the driver’s seat, Nicole’s eyes widened.

“Wow… Writer-nim, the clothes suit you so well.”

I’d worn the puffer like a blanket getting off the plane in the cold.

But without it, the outfit I’d worn since morning showed.

“Thanks. The kids picked it. Looks good, huh?”

“It’s more than good! It suits you perfectly! Way better than last time!”

“Oh… Thanks.”

How bad was last time?

I started the car slowly to warm it up, then drove.

“Oh, right, Writer-nim, here.”

Nicole pulled a canned coffee from her puffer’s pocket.

“Oh, thanks. I wanted some.”

I’d rested on the flight, but with an all-nighter drive ahead, I craved caffeine.

I’d planned to grab some at a café but forgot introducing the kids to Nicole.

“Hehe, I figured you would.”

“Thanks. I’ll enjoy it.”

Nicole opened the can and handed it over.

I sipped the warm canned coffee.

Nice.

Even canned, the caffeine cleared my mind as my body craved it.

“Is your work all done?”

“Yeah. Saw the news?”

“Yes! I saw everything! The Orange TV+ deal and Morgan as Papa’s lead!”

“Good to hear.”

“I’m so excited! I hope it releases soon!”

Nicole had obviously seen the articles.

As we chatted about America, ring ring ring ring ring!

My phone rang.

Who?

It was Director André.

“One sec.”

“Yes! Take the call!”

I pulled over briefly and answered, lifting the phone.

It was connected to the car, but with André, I didn’t want others hearing.

“You picked up.”

“What’s up?”

“The script’s done. Take a look.”

“…Already?”

It’d only been a day?