Emergency Instinct - Chapter 78

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Ji-an pushed open the glass door covered with flashy posters and went inside.

The interior was packed with claw machines, and loud music was playing.

“Wow, it’s real. I wasn’t seeing things.”

“What?”

Tae-jun, who had followed her in, asked.

“Our Captain is here.”

“Captain?”

When Tae-jun followed her gaze, he saw colorful stuffed animals smiling inside the glass case.

Among them, what Ji-an was looking at with sparkling eyes was a white bear doll. A round, chubby polar bear.

Even among the other dolls, its large belly stood out particularly, and it wore a tacky red polka-dot ribbon.

Looking closely, it had a bear’s body but its face somehow also had a puppy-like feel.

“Isn’t our Captain so cute?”

Ji-an asked.

It was cute, so Tae-jun nodded.

But Ji-an’s eyes didn’t just contain cuteness. They were filled with longing that had been suppressed for a long time.

“When I was little, I used to cry often saying I missed Dad.”

Ji-an slowly began to speak.

“Then Dad gave me a big bear doll as a gift. He said Captain would protect me instead on nights when Dad wasn’t there.”

“So you stopped crying after that?”

“Yes. When I held Captain, I wasn’t scared at all.”

Ji-an smiled briefly.

“The Captain that Dad gave me was much bigger than this one here. When I hugged it to sleep, it was really cozy.”

“Where is it now?”

Tae-jun asked since he had no memory of seeing a doll at Ji-an’s house.

“I lost it.”

Ji-an added after a beat.

“When I was kicked out by Grandmother…”

Her eyes naturally dimmed.

For a while, Ji-an cried every night in the unfamiliar environment.

It was too harsh a change for eight-year-old Ji-an.

Dad was gone, Captain who had replaced Dad disappeared, and Mother who was always by her side had to go out to work. In the cramped house, Ji-an had to wait for Mother alone.

Scared, lonely, and missing them. She cried so much, stifling her sobs.

But now, a single bear picture stuck on the glass window brought all that time rushing back at once.

The cherished memories she had forgotten and even Dad’s warm touch. Everything.

Ji-an’s eyes became moist.

“Actually, it was so long ago that I don’t remember the shape or feel very well.”

Ji-an gently rubbed her eyes.

“But isn’t it amazing? The moment I saw that bear, I knew right away. That it was our Captain.”

“Then we should take it home. Let’s get it.”

Tae-jun said as if it were obvious.

“Are you good at claw machines?”

Ji-an asked with sparkling eyes.

“We’ll find out once I try.”

“If it’s your first time, it won’t be easy.”

Ji-an had tried it a few times for fun when she was in school. Even small things were hard to grab, and Captain, being quite big, would be even more difficult.

“I told you. I’m good at everything.”

Tae-jun said confidently.

He wanted to give her back her lost memories. Not just the cherished memories, but all of those happy feelings too.

“This is harder than it looks. The claw’s grip is weak, and the angle is tricky. It’s random, random.”

“If it’s random, then I need to try more.”

He had always been lucky.

Tae-jun carefully read the instructions and then went to the coin machine. He inserted his card and exchanged it for a basket full of coins.

Ji-an followed with wide eyes.

“Are you really, really going to do this?”

“Don’t you want to take Captain home?”

“I do want to. It’s just that…”

Tae-jun rolled the coins in his palm and said casually.

“Wait. I’ll definitely get it for you.”

A moment later.

The claw went down and grabbed the bear doll’s ear with a ‘click.’

But it immediately slipped off weakly.

“Ahh!”

Ji-an, who had been holding her breath without realizing it, let out a disappointed sigh.

Tae-jun’s expression didn’t change at all as he inserted another coin.

The body. The right leg. The left leg. The neck. The head.

He diligently poked Captain’s round body with the claw.

In one way it looked serious, in another way it was so solemn it was funny.

Ji-an repeated hope and disappointment until she finally burst into laughter.

“Stop now. I’m okay with it.”

“No, I figured out the method now. I’ll definitely get it for you.”

Seeing sweat forming on Tae-jun’s forehead, Ji-an became slightly worried.

“Tae-jun. Stop it. We agreed to walk on the beach. At this rate we’ll be late and miss our flight too.”

Tae-jun shook his head.

“Hong Ji-an. You don’t think I can get it, do you?”

“Well, probability-wise, that’s right.”

Tae-jun raised the corner of his mouth.

“Good. Then let’s make a bet.”

“A bet?”

“Three tries. If I get it within the next three tries, Hong Ji-an has to grant me one wish.”

Ji-an looked at him with a bewildered expression.

“What kind of wish?”

“I’ll tell you that while putting Captain in your arms.”

“Fine. Three tries.”

Ji-an firmly held up her fingers.

“But if you can’t get it, we leave without any regrets. Got it?”

“Fine.”

Ji-an urged him to hurry, worried they might miss their flight.

First attempt.

Tae-jun narrowed his eyes and slowly moved the claw. The moment it went down, Ji-an also found herself holding her breath.

Clunk. The claw grabbed the ear as if embracing it and slowly rose.

Slowly, slowly.

It almost reached the exit.

Rattle. The claw shook.

Thud.

The doll fell right in front of the exit.

“Ah! It almost worked just now!”

Because it was so close, Ji-an almost screamed.

“Doctor Hong Ji-an. Quiet.”

Tae-jun swallowed his rough breathing and said in a low voice.

“How can I be quiet? It almost succeeded just now!”

“You still have two tries left.”

The second attempt was futile. The claw slipped as soon as it touched.

“Ah….”

Ji-an’s lament flowed out again.

With the last chance remaining, Tae-jun looked into the eyes of Captain lying on his side. And thinking of his future father-in-law in heaven, he cast a desperate spell.

‘Father. This is the last time. Please help me just once!’

Tae-jun moved the claw with the solemnity of a surgeon about to operate.

Pfft, Ji-an almost burst into laughter because he was being so serious, but she held it in.

The final claw descended.

The claw, spreading its arms like a spider, wrapped precisely around Captain’s neck.

“Huh? Huh!”

Ji-an pressed her palms together as if praying and held her breath.

The claw moved slowly without wavering. The next moment.

Thud.

It dropped. This time exactly above the exit.

Simultaneously, with a clunking sound, the bear doll rolled sliding into the exit.

It was a success.

Ji-an couldn’t even scream for a moment and covered her mouth with both hands.

“It really came out!”

Tae-jun triumphantly reached in and pulled out Captain.

With a face like he owned the world and a magnificent smile, he placed Captain in her arms with a thud.

A surge of emotion.

Ji-an’s nose suddenly stung.

Small and cute, but just as fluffy as that day in her distant memories.

Thump. Thump thump. Thump!

Her heart pounded as if it would burst.

Actually, she would have been happy enough even if he hadn’t succeeded. She didn’t think she’d be sad anymore when thinking of Captain. Because the memory of this excitement with him was so much greater.

But when she actually held Captain that he had won for her, that joy became not just several times greater, but tens of thousands of times greater.

She was so happy, so warm, that tears welled up.

Tae-jun laughed softly.

“You were a crybaby. Hong Ji-an.”

“Tae-jun. You really, how could you do something like this….”

“I told you.”

Tae-jun shrugged his shoulders.

“I’m good at everything.”

His boasting was more lovable than annoying, so Ji-an finally burst into laughter. There was no way to explain this overwhelming feeling in her heart.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Her resounding heartbeat sounded like church bells.

It seemed like she could hear baby angels singing somewhere, blessing their marriage.

No, marriage? How could she be thinking such thoughts?

When had her heart come this far?

She was surprised at herself by the sudden realization and emotion that struck her.

Ji-an, holding Captain tightly, couldn’t resist the impulse and said,

“Seo Tae-jun. Do you want to marry me?”

For a moment, the air seemed to stop.

Tae-jun’s expression, which she expected to be joyful, froze in surprise and confusion.

“No.”

Ji-an froze completely.

“What, what did you say?”

“Take it back. Hong Ji-an. Quickly.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————