Chick 156
by CristaeEpisode 156
Chapter: I Am Groo
Even though an astonishing incident had occurred in Jeju, life at the kindergarten continued without pause.
At Saebom Kindergarten, preparations for the year-end recital were well underway.
The class for children younger than Groo’s age had already begun practicing the traditional fan dance.
And while Groo was away in Jeju, it seemed the decision had been made that the four-year-old “Chick Class” would put on a play.
“Here, this one is for you, Groo.”
“Okay!”
Groo took the script that Teacher Jung Yoon handed out.
After distributing the scripts to all the children, she raised her voice.
“Be sure to show your script to your parents when you get home!”
“Okay!”
Their first play! Their first role!
‘Thump-thump!’
Come to think of it, when it comes to plays, there is someone who can help.
Groo immediately picked up the phone.
Woo-joo!
Woo-joo, are you busy?
Woo-joo
No!!!
Why?
Help me!
Groo has to play a huge role at kindergarten.
Woo-joo
Kindergarten? What are you doing?
A play!
The Fairy and the Woodcutter
So, Woo-joo…
Do you want to come over to my house?
The Fairy and the Woodcutter.
In this children’s adaptation for the play, the role assigned to Groo was none other than “Tree 1.”
However, to prevent the children with minor roles from feeling left out, each character came with its own elaborate backstory…
Tree 1 was a character who dreamed of revenge against the deer who nibbled on its young leaves every day, and one day, an unforeseen opportunity presented itself.
A hunter appeared to catch the deer.
So there was just a single line of dialogue.
“Hunter, over there! That’s where the deer is!”
Woo-joo, who had been studying the script Groo handed her while sitting on the living room sofa, looked up.
“What do you think?”
Woo-joo pretended to be nonchalant as she responded to Groo’s expectant gaze.
“It’s not a bad role.”
Not the fairy, nor the woodcutter, nor the hunter, nor the deer, but Tree 1, who sells out the deer…
Woo-joo decided then and there to teach Groo some real acting.
If Groo found this play enjoyable, maybe one day they could act together.
Then, as a senior, Woo-joo could guide Groo…
They could spend more time together.
‘Great.’
“To be a good actor, first you have to immerse yourself in the role.”
Putting on a serious expression, Woo-joo raised her arms like tree branches.
“Hm.”
Groo mimicked, lifting her arms in exactly the same way.
“Woo-joo, have you ever played a tree?”
“No. This is my first time…”
Woo-joo hesitated in her reply.
“But you’ll do well. Trust me.”
“Okay!”
“From now on, imagine you’ve become a tree.”
“Got it.”
I am a tree… Groo is a tree!
Just as Groo was about to immerse herself completely in the role, Woo-joo abruptly asked,
“Hey, by the way. There’s something you mentioned before.”
“Hm?”
“Preschool—are you really going?”
“Huh? Yes. I have to take the test the week after next.”
It was only a preschool-level test and not too difficult, so Groo said it was only a matter of paying attention to a few things.
‘Read the questions carefully, don’t write “supreme being” as your answer…’
As she recalled the list of cautions Mr. Seol had advised, Woo-joo quickly spoke up.
“About that—I’m going to take the test, too. I got permission from my dad.”
Groo’s mouth dropped open. Woo-joo? Taking the Eustitia Preschool test?
“R-really?”
As she leaned in close, Woo-joo shrugged her shoulders.
“Y-yeah. …Is it okay?”
“No! If I get to go with you, it’ll be so much fun! I’m really, really looking forward to it!”
“R-really?”
Woo-joo turned her head to the side, her face flushing red like a tomato.
In fact, the moment she heard Groo would be going to preschool, she’d begged her father to submit an application. But for three nights running, she’d been sleepless, worrying about how best to tell Groo.
She’d been afraid Groo would resent her or see her as tagging along, but to think she’d be this happy…
‘Well, Groo does like me, after all.’
Pride and excitement flooded her, making her heart race.
As her mood soared, Woo-joo attempted to sneak another look at Groo—only to suddenly sense a stare and jerk her head in the opposite direction.
“…?”
A hamster was watching her intently, drooling.
‘What is that? Why is it looking at me like that?’
The hamster, unable to tear its gaze from Woo-joo, wiped away its drool with the back of its hand.
‘…?!’
Just as a strange discomfort began to creep in—
Beep—
The door lock clicked as Joorim appeared.
Young-ran bustled in from the kitchen to greet him.
“Welcome home, sir.”
“Hello. Nothing out of the ordinary? Did Groo get home all right?”
“Oh, our little one…”
Covering her mouth with her hand to stifle her laughter, Young-ran led him to the living room.
“…?”
Joorim stopped when he saw the two kindergartners standing with their arms raised.
Today, instead of coming to the office after school, they’d come straight home to play together…
“What are you doing?”
“A tree.”
“A tree.”
Woo-joo and Groo answered at the same time.
“…A tree?”
With a baffled look, Joorim turned to Young-ran for clarification.
“Our kids are practicing for the play they’ll perform at the recital, sir—they’re rehearsing their tree roles.”
“A tree?”
Joorim looked at his daughter—who was practicing tree acting with a child actor who had even won an award.
“Does the tree have any lines—”
Joorim was about to ask if there were any lines to say, but Woo-joo cut him off.
“Mister, please don’t talk to us; we’re in character right now.”
Groo, her hair adorned with a sprout, added firmly in agreement.
“I am Groo.”
“……”
Young-ran burst out laughing and patted the bewildered Joorim on the back.
“Go get changed, sir.”
“……”
Mouth slightly agape, Joorim passed the two tree-role kindergartners and disappeared into the dressing room.
▶ String Section Minors’ Group Chat
Sergey oppa! When are you getting out of the hospital?
Gidan
Ser-ser, when are you out?
Sergey
Why are you being so cutesy and ridiculous?
Are you four?
Gidan
Baby Dan is 16.
Baby Groo is 4.
Gidan
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ So cute
Sergey has left the chat.
Gidan has invited Sergey to the chat.
Gidan
ㅋㅋ
Sergey
Ah…
(squirrel emoji, fidgeting with hands behind back)
Hey, Ser-ser oppa—
Sergey
Are you going to start, too?
Groo is performing in the kindergarten recital next Saturday…
Can you come?
Gidan
Jooreum hyung and Nayeon noona said they’re coming too
You should sneak out of the hospital and come
Sergey
Okay, I’ll go
Anyway, I’m being discharged today
Yes!
Gidan
Yay, Sergey
So what’s the play about?
What role do you have?
Gidan
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
“…A tree?”
Sergey murmured, and Jin Siwon—who was helping Sergey with his hospital discharge—echoed him.
“Groo?”
“What, you already knew?”
“I received an invitation to the… um, what do you call it, the recital, at her kindergarten.”
After stumbling over the unfamiliar vocabulary, Siwon finished with a mild smile.
“But do you think you’re ready to be discharged already? You could stay a few more days.”
“I feel perfectly fine now.”
Sergey stretched lightly and brought up his status window.
[Restoring all damage via elixir… 98%]
The elixir from Groo had healed even the calloused skin on his palms.
He felt so light that he could barely get used to his own body—he was getting restless staying in the hospital any longer.
‘Though that’s not the only reason.’
Sergey glanced sidelong at Jin Siwon as he packed their bags.
Elixir restores all defects in its subject.
That meant it had even repaired the gaps in Sergey’s memory.
As the memories of the orphanage resurfaced, Sergey looked down.
He ran his hand over his nape, suddenly recalling the young man who used to bring him bread and ruffle his hair—only to freeze.
‘Damn it! I shouldn’t think about this!’
And sure enough, when he whipped his head toward Siwon, there he was, quietly dabbing away tears and sniffling.
Sergey pressed a hand to his forehead.
‘I knew this would happen.’
He had learned all too well, these past few days, the perils of letting stray thoughts surface in front of someone with a reading skill.