Raising my daughter, the thing I put the most care into was anniversaries.
When I was a kid, my parents were indifferent about special occasions.
They were good people, but I felt so regretful and sad as a child.
"Look~ This is what I got for my birthday~."
Birthdays.
Christmas.
Children's Day.
I had no idea how envious I was of my friends bragging about their gifts.
Of course, my parents probably thought presents weren't really necessary since they let me have whatever I wanted anytime.
Anytime I mentioned something I wanted, I had it by the following week at the latest.
Looking back now, that was one of the ways they showed their love for me.
But... I thought it would've been nicer if they'd cut back on the everyday stuff and made a fuss over gifts on anniversaries.
That's why I resolved to look after my daughter's special days better than anyone else.
February 29th.
The leap day that only comes once every four years.
That's my daughter's birthday.
I even put on birthday parties every year, making sure to take care of Mina's friends too.
But right before she started high school, at her birthday party, one of Mina's friends spilled food on my clothes.
After that, she never brought her friends home again.
[Daddy, you don't have to do birthday parties anymore. It makes me uncomfortable seeing you go through so much trouble because of my friends.]
Was it because she felt sorry for me? Or guilty?
Or... burdened?
Yeah. She's in high school now.
She might see me fussing over her birthday as Dad meddling too much.
She might want space to hang out with her friends without me around.
[Sorry, my girl. Have I been too overbearing?]
[No, Daddy. I'm just worried you'll wear yourself out.]
She throws herself into my arms.
Still so childish despite being a high schooler, my daughter clings right to me.
[You're the best gift ever, Daddy.]
[...]
[With you here, every day feels like unwrapping presents.]
It felt strange.
My chest swelled with this peculiar fullness.
I'd heard it from friends.
Once kids hit high school, they start pulling away from their parents.
I figured it was just natural.
Even I, who got along great with my late parents, started locking my bedroom door from high school onward.
But Mina was different.
Even in high school, she stuck to me like glue.
To the point it almost felt burdensome.
Not long after high school began, evening self-study sessions kicked in.
[Daddy. I don't want to do evening self-study. Pull me out of it.]
I was shocked.
I thought she just hated studying.
[Online lectures are plenty. The teachers at school won't cut it for the CSAT.]
Mina's assessment was spot on.
I even tried lining up expensive private tutors, but she turned it down flat.
[I don't want strangers in the house. And don't you trust me, Daddy? Online stuff is enough. Don't waste money.]
My adorable daughter was turning into a thoughtful young woman who looked out for her dad.
But on the flip side, I felt a twinge of unease.
High school work is a whole different beast from middle school.
Lots of kids who crushed it in middle school crash and burn in high school.
But my fears were groundless.
First semester final exams for her freshman year: top of the class.
Top 20 school-wide.
No real cause for worry.
She's not number one overall, but that's plenty for a solid university and a job where she can stand on her own two feet.
I hoped Mina wouldn't aim for the stars.
My life's biggest regret was chasing that dream of becoming a thoracic surgeon.
No time left for myself.
No time left for family.
I got rich materially.
I earned society's respect.
I landed a beautiful wife.
None of it brought me happiness.
My wife came to me because of my doctor title and money, and it all ended in catastrophe.
During the divorce suit, all she hammered on was one thing.
[That man left me so lonely.]
I won with high-priced lawyers, but she wasn't wrong.
I believed men should bust their asses at work for the family's sake.
I remembered how money troubles once tore our home apart.
The whole family miserable, my parents ending it all by suicide.
So money mattered—a lot.
But after the divorce, my thinking shifted.
You have to carve out time for family.
That's my happiness.
The family's happiness.
So I quit as a thoracic surgery specialist at Korea University Hospital, the top dog in the country.
I broke my vow never to borrow a dime and opened an orthopedics clinic close to home.
Luck smiled on me, thankfully.
An emergency trauma case popped up, but the regional ER was too far.
119 brought the patient straight to my place.
Tough surgery.
Operating room was a joke next to Korea University Hospital's, but I gave it everything, and we stabilized early.
Word got around somehow, and patients started pouring in after that.
Big enough now to hire pay doctors.
Like that, for my one and only family—Mina—I secured both 'money' and 'time'.
I wanted Mina to study just enough for a comfy job.
[Me? Anything as long as I can live with you, Daddy! Oh yeah! I'll make bank to lighten your load!]
[You little rascal. Gonna live with Daddy forever?]
[Yep!]
Good thing she seemed to hate grinding herself down too.
She knew family time came first.
On the other hand, it worried me.
High schooler or not, she was way too attached to me.
I wanted Mina to be normal.
Normal meant not missing out on what kids her age do.
Dating included.
A big reason I fell for my ex-wife? Zero experience with women.
I hoped Mina wouldn't make my mistake.
Her body as a high schooler? Pure adult.
I don't want to see my daughter that way, so no details.
But one thing's sure: way prettier than her mom.
Ex-wife was the most popular girl in the College of Fine Arts at my university.
If she's even more stunning... well, that says it all.
Humans are animals at heart.
Social creatures, sure, but driven by instincts.
Biggest one? The urge to reproduce.
And that peaks from the late teens.
Boys must hover around Mina constantly.
Desperate to impress her, make her theirs.
Girls too, in droves.
To snag the rejects, or mooch off her beauty's power.
One worry nagged me.
In that sea of choices, would Mina pick wrong?
Too few options is trouble, but too many? Worse.
Sweet temptations to dazzle my daughter? Endless.
I worried.
But I couldn't pry.
Didn't want the "overbearing dad" label.
Then opportunity knocked.
[Team project means I'm staying late at school today.]
[Till when?]
[Probably till 10 PM.]
[Want Daddy to pick you up?]
[No, Daddy. You're tired enough. Don't bother.]
Even her refusal thought of me.
I was grateful.
But it was the golden chance.
No more friends at home, so perfect to check her crowd.
These days, it's standard to drive over for kids staying late.
What I saw as overkill back in my day is now routine.
Anyway, excuse to watch her walk home.
Peek at her social circle indirectly.
Time for that top-shelf foreign whip I bought 'cause she wanted a beach drive.
Kids brag about parents' rides too, friends said.
10 PM.
Tons of cars there for their kids.
There.
My girl.
Chatting with three girl friends, heading out the school gate.
Thank God, no boys.
[Huh?]
Some guy sidles up to Mina, harassing obvious to anyone.
Tries grabbing her hand for a letter.
Rage boils up instant.
Wanna charge out, snatch the punk, hurl him.
Should I?
Shouldn't?
What now?
Hate seeing Mina distressed...
Suddenly, Mina smacks the guy's cheek.
Every student's eyes lock on.
Too far to hear what.
But she yells something short and sharp, grabs her friend's hand, heads out.
...Me showing up here? Bad news.
I peel out right away.
A grin spreads across my face as I drive.
Confidence she won't go for rotten boys.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"You came."
"Y-Yeah..."
The pitch-black gym storage room.
Inside stood Mina and a boy who looked like her classmate.
Plain face, but classic introvert vibes in his moves.
Still, he'd mustered major guts to win over his crush.
Mina flashed a pleased smile and stepped toward him.
"Coming here means you're up for anything, right?"
"Y-Yeah... Anything you want, Mina. As a man, I..."
Grab.
Mina snatched his tie and yanked.
"Guh!"
The boy's face drained of color.
"You don't even register as a man to me. So no way I'd ever date you. Don't kid yourself."
"U-Ugh. Got it... I know... Just let go..."
"But I won't pull one-sided crap. Daddy says that's wrong."
Mina tugged the tie closer and whispered in his ear.
The boy's face flushed beet red.
"N-No way!! That'd wreck my school life! No! Absolutely not!"
"Oh? Really? Didn't you say showing up here seals the deal?"
"You didn't even say what!! No!! I can't!!"
"Naughty boy."
Crunch!
"Guh!"
Mina's grip strength crushed any illusion of her fragile build.
She dominated the boy.
She whispered in his ear again.
Sweat beaded up on the boy's forehead.
"...So? Tempted now?"
"I-Is that... for real? You'll really give me that money?"
The boy's breath came ragged—no workout needed.
"Duh. Obviously."
His face lit up.
Pure greed.
"Please. Tonight after school."
"Y-Yes...! Yes!!!"
Dust mingled with the steamy heat pouring off the boy, birthing a muggy haze in the gym storage.