TFSG 87

Chapter 87

The Terminal Baby Doctor Doesn’t Hide She’s a Genius

I had no time to think about why he was like this, or exactly what was causing it.

I had to stop him right now!

‘I’m warning you in advance: in the same situation, you can do anything to stop me. Hit me, curse at me, whatever it takes.’

The wave of water I’d scooped up to block Dad surged toward him—

Bang!

—but the wave burst apart on the spot. The water scattered, and all that was left were droplets pelting down on me.

I gasped as the drops slapped my face.

‘What… is this strength?’

And then I realized.

All this time… Dad had been letting my diagnosis work on him.
I swallowed hard, tension coiling in my chest.

“Ngk, Doctor, he’s….”

Sylvester’s voice was weakening. I snapped out of it. I couldn’t just stand by and watch.

I grabbed a handful of crumbled dirt and threw it.

Thud!

“S–stop it, I said stop!!”

Finally, Dad looked straight at me.

The wariness he’d had the first time we met was nothing compared to this.

‘Those eyes…’

Empty eyes.
Different from a moment ago when they were full of rage, resentment, and hatred.

The crimson pupils stared at me for a long time. Then he tilted his head.

And suddenly, with surprise—

“…You look alike.”

Unbelievably, Dad smiled brightly. His eyes filled with warmth, his face radiant.

It was a meltingly tender expression.

“My little Biyu.”

I flinched.

“You’ve grown so much I didn’t recognize you for a moment.”

That face… I’d seen it before, in Dad’s memories.

The face that had laughed and cried happily as he looked at me.

“Daddy was just… out of his mind for a bit. People who talk carelessly about your mother all need to die, you see.”

“…”

“No matter how many I take care of, there are still too many who covet you and her.”

My heart thudded unpleasantly.

‘What is even happening right now?’

If I could diagnose him, I’d know—but the wave was gone, and it was impossible now.

My body was frozen, I couldn’t even try anything else.

Dad smiled beautifully.

“Just wait a bit. Daddy will finish off this trash and come to you.”

His words only gave me goosebumps.

It was the gentle face I’d longed for, but not like this.

‘Damn it, what kind of nonsense is that, old man!’

What exactly are you seeing?

What are you remembering?

‘Either way, this isn’t okay!’

I rushed forward and grabbed Dad. Only later did I realize that I’d passed through his wind barrier again without issue.

“Don’t kill him! You said you’d listen to me no matter what! I’m telling you not to kill him!!”

“…Me? Ah, I did make that promise, didn’t I. Hm…”

Dad tilted his head, thinking. I felt his grip on Sylvester’s neck loosen slightly.

In that instant, Sylvester’s eyes met mine.

“But Biyu, this man said bad things.”

Dad’s eyes curved prettily as he smiled. Even while smiling, I felt a strange chill.

“He needs to be punished.”

His gentle voice sounded like he was coaxing me.

“Let Daddy show you how he deals with bad people.”

Dad of all people had no right to lecture me about that.

‘Dad reacted to Sylvester’s words, didn’t he? Was it the ashes?’

Mom’s ashes. The very thought made my chest go cold, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it.

Without hesitation, I said:

“Mom’s name!”

“…”

“What’s Mom’s name? You said he said something bad. You at least remember that much, right?”

Because Dad had consistently failed to remember Mom.
Ah, hell. What happens if he does remember?

Luckily, my words seemed to reach him. Dad hesitated.

“…Her name?”

He looked shocked himself. With his free hand, he touched his own face.

A confused expression.

“Huh… who is she?”

“…!!”

Tears spilled down Dad’s eyes in an instant. I’d thought there was nothing left to surprise me.

“Biyu, I don’t know who she is. What’s happening to me?”

The tears streamed down his pale cheeks.

“Why does my chest hurt…?”

His eyes darted everywhere, unfocused.
His red eyes looked like transparent gems, shedding drop after drop.

“I lost something. Something very, very important…”

And yet Dad’s face looked empty, like he’d lost everything.
He even looked like a lost child, not knowing what to do.

Dad was crying like a child who’d lost his way.
Why? Why are you crying? You’re making my heart weak.

“Hand! Take my hand!”

I reached my hand out to Dad, speaking firmly on purpose.

No, I spread both hands wide.

“I’ll hug you. So stop and come here!”

Dad’s eyes trembled violently.
I no longer cared why he’d suddenly changed personalities.

All I saw were the endless tears.

“I lost something important…”

“I’ll find it for you. Biyu will find it for you!”

I opened my arms wider.

“Put him down and come here. I need my Dad.”

This Dad had once silently held me when I cried, apologized, and wiped my tears.

Somehow, what Dad needed now felt like those very same actions I’d received back then. Yes, I had to hug him.

I could at least give him that much back.

“Come here. Hurry.”

Dad slowly put Sylvester down. The man fell to the ground, coughing violently.

Good, he wasn’t dead.

Dad dropped to his knees in front of me.

“This is strange. Daddy’s head hurts. His chest hurts too…”

I burrowed into Dad’s arms and hugged him tightly. With our size difference, it was more like I was the one being held.

His strong arms wrapped around me. His body heat was much lower than usual.

‘…So cold. Why?’

Dad’s wind was always cool or cold. Could it be related?

‘More than that, why is he acting like a different person?’

I couldn’t know, but for now I’d just hold him like he’d once held me.

“I lost something important…”

At that, I couldn’t help but lower my gaze. That’s about Mom, right?

But Dad, I’m right here.

Your daughter is right here. Why are you only looking for Mom?
I had to bite back the urge to cry.

‘You really are a bad Dad.’

But I couldn’t act that way myself.

“Dad, don’t talk like you’ve lost everything. I’m right beside you.”

“…”

“I’ll always… be by your side.”

I clung to Dad tightly.

“From now on, you’ll have more precious things. Me, Baekbbu, Sookbbu, Brother Gye-won too.”

I remembered that time we’d raised our cups as a family.

“What’s lost can be found. What hurts can be healed with medicine.”

“…”

“No pain lasts forever.”

At least, that’s what I’ll believe.

Otherwise my life would feel too tragic.

“I’ll make sure to see you happy, Dad. I’ll find everything you lost.”

Yes, Mom left early.
But until the day I leave this world, until the day I can return all your memories, I’ll be by your side.

“Your daughter says she’s here.”

So I hope these words will comfort you.

“…Without dying.”

“Yeah, without dying. Daddy can protect me.”

“Protect…”

Dad murmured blankly, holding me tightly.

“…She didn’t die.”

I gave a bitter smile. The one he wanted to believe didn’t die was clearly Mom again.

“It’s okay. I’m right here.”

One thing was certain:

This man feels the loss of his wife and tries not to admit it.
Or he wants to pretend that loss never happened.

“…It’s so cold.”

Dad muttered as he hugged me.

“It’s been cold for so long… It even rained the day I sent you away…”

The day he sent me away? I lifted my head. Whatever it meant—

‘He’s regaining his memories.’

I swallowed hard.

As a doctor, I should be making a calm judgment, but I just couldn’t.

Because before I knew it, Dad was looking at me with infinitely gentle eyes.

“I did well to protect, right?”

Who was he asking? What did he protect?

“…I miss her. But why… can’t I remember her name…”

Murmuring like that, Dad’s eyes slowly closed.

“I only ever loved her…”

What does it feel like to love someone so passionately you can’t even remember her name or that she’s dead?

I couldn’t say anything. I could only watch as Dad’s eyes closed.