CHAPTER 45

The Metropolitan Museum, located on the northeast side of Central Park, was less than a ten-minute walk from Taejun’s apartment.

[Santooooooon! Miss Minnie! Let’s go quickly!]

Rose was all dressed up for her first outing in a long time, even wearing a big bow in her hair. Excitedly, Rose stood at the door and urged Taejun and Minhee to follow her.

It would still be a few more weeks until mid-April when spring in New York would officially begin. But the March sunshine, carrying the promise of spring, felt much warmer compared to the previous month.

As they stepped out of the lobby’s revolving door, Rose grabbed Taejun and Minhee’s hands with both of hers and walked ahead energetically. Even Taejun and Minhee, matching their strides to keep up with the child, couldn’t help but smile faintly at Rose’s excitement.

As they approached the Metropolitan Museum, they were greeted by the faint sound of a street musician’s saxophone. “Miss Minnie!” Rose chirped as they walked past the saxophonist and up the main stairs.

[Miss Minnie, there’s a big dinosaur at the Met!]

[Mmm……. The big dinosaur isn’t at the Met, it’s at the Natural History Museum. Next time we’ll go there. Instead, there’s a blue hippo, a knight in shining armor, and a girl playing the piano, all of which are treasures Rose needs to find today].

[There’s a blue hippo?]

[Yes. A very small and cute hippo, his name is William].

[Little Willie! Santon, did you hear that? We have to find Little Willie!]

Taejun smirked at Rose, who was tugging at his hand and jumping up and down.

[Yes, Rose.]

As Taejun lifted his head, his gaze met Minhee’s, who had been looking at his smiling face. Their gazes intertwined dizzily. The look in Taejun’s eyes reminded Minhee of the way he’d smirked like a sexy villain while on top of her.

When Minhee’s cheeks flushed red, Taejun’s gaze on her intensified in an instant. Minhee quickly averted her gaze.

Remember. Maintain an objective distance. Don’t let Taejun know your feelings.’

Minhee turned away from Taejun, her back to him.

“I’ll go get the tickets.”

She went to the members’ desk and retrieved the tickets, then handed them to Taejun and Rose. Following Minhee’s instructions, both of them affixed sticker tickets to their chests.

Before entering the exhibition hall, Minhee handed Rose a printout and a pencil.

[Rose, shall we start the scavenger hunt now? See these pictures here? If you find everything here, I will give you a small gift. Wait a moment, I’ll get the map.]

Minhee turned to Taejun and handed him an extra printout.

“Taejun, can you hold this for a moment?”

As he accepted the printout, Minhee briskly walked towards the information desk. She picked up two maps and handed one to him.

“What are these numbers written here?”

Taejun asked, pointing to the tiny numbers written on the photos on the printout.

“They’re exhibit hall numbers. If you let Rose wander around this big place, she’ll never find any of the artworks, so I’ve only selected the ones on the first floor and mezzanine, and I’ve written the room numbers on the photos so that you can guide her to the right one, using the map along the way.”

Taejun nodded and unfolded the map, which he glanced at for a moment before folding it back up. Minhee also attempted to unfold her map, but Taejun gently covered it with his hand, restraining her.

“Let’s start in room 162, Greek and Roman art.”

“Oh… Is that so?”

[Rose, let’s go this way].

[Yeah! Santon!]

Minhee was dumbfounded as she followed Taejun’s lead. He had only glanced at the map and printout once at the entrance, yet he guided Rose and Minhee accurately along the shortest route without any confusion. Each time Rose easily spotted the artwork from the photo, she joyfully circled it on the printout.

‘He memorized it after just one look?’

Minhee knew some people had photographic memories, but seeing it in action was a first for her.

As they entered the last section, the Egyptian area, Minhee realized something and looked up at Taejun.

He felt her gaze and looked down at her, his eyebrows raised slightly in question.

“Is that what Rose meant by ‘taking pictures with your eyes’?”

“…….”

Before Taejun could respond, Rose’s excited voice interrupted them.

[Miss Minnie! Look! I found Little Willie! Santon, come here!]

Rose tugged on Taejun and Minhee’s hands, leading them towards a small glass box.

The small hippo sculpture, with a flower painted on a blue stone with black pigment, was a museum souvenir. Displayed at the Metropolitan Museum for over a century, it unofficially became the museum’s mascot nicknamed “William,” and it was popular among children for its toy-like appearance.

[Little Willie, you’re so cute! You’re so cuddly!]

Rose pressed her face against the glass, her eyes sparkling. It was unclear who was cuter. The corners of Taejun and Minhee’s mouths automatically curled up as they watched her.

[Rose, I’ll take a picture of you, standing next to William.]

Rose posed with her slightly protruding front teeth showing.

A middle-aged tourist who was smiling at the sight offered to take a photo of the three. Rose happily grabbed Taejun and Minhee’s hands, and in no time, the two found themselves pushed in front of the William exhibit case.

[Dad’s too tall to get the baby in the frame. Dad, hold the baby. Mom, come a little closer.]

Taejun hastily picked up Rose, and as Minhee took a step to Taejun’s side, the tourist snapped a picture, once horizontally and then a vertical photo before handing the phone to Minhee.

[Beautiful family!]

The tourist raised his thumb and left. Taehun and Minhee, each holding one of Rose’s hands, awkwardly left the Egyptian section.

[Now that I’ve found everything, can I have my gift?]

Luckily, Rose was there. The adults didn’t have time to be awkward.

Entering the souvenir shop, Minhee bought a blue hippo eraser for Rose. When she handed it to her, Rose petted it as if she had received a new animal toy. Then, with shining eyes, she looked up at Minhee.

Curious about what she would say, Minhee stooped down to meet her gaze. Rose grinned mischievously and said,

[Miss Minnie, I’m hungry.]

[Oh my, it’s already lunchtime!]

Checking her watch, it was a little past noon.

“Taejun, I think we should go have lunch in the museum cafeteria, Rose is hungry.”

He nodded, and they headed off.

“Sure. The cafeteria is just a short walk from here.”

Following Taejun, they found the cafeteria right in front of the American wing. However, the line was too long, and they would have to wait for at least thirty to forty minutes to order. It was doubtful if the hungry child would have the patience for that.

“There’s another cafeteria downstairs. Shall we try there?”

Minhee suggested, Taejun glanced at the line’s length for a moment before nodding. Once again, following his lead, they navigated through the maze-like exhibition halls and arrived at the cafeteria located underground. However, it was just as crowded as the one upstairs, perhaps due to the weekend influx of tourists.

[Santon, I’m huuungry…]

Rose began to whine, tugging at Taejun’s hand. Taejun, looking quite flustered, froze, seemingly unsure of how to comfort a hungry child. As he rubbed his temples and looked lost in thought, Minhee pulled out her phone.

“I’ll search for nearby restaurants where kids can eat. If there’s none, we can try the ones near our―”

“There’s a restaurant on the fourth floor.”

“Fourth floor?”

Minhee had never been up there before. Taejun gestured for her to follow him as he stepped into the elevator. She took Rose’s hand and followed him. Leading the way, Taejun lifted his mobile phone to his ear.

[Luca, find the ninth document sent to the accountant for personal tax reporting. I remember seeing the Metropolitan Museum on the nonprofit donation list. Wasn’t concierge service one of the benefits of being a Patron? I need a reservation at the restaurant, the dining room on the fourth floor of the museum -]

As the elevator doors opened, Taejun extended his arm, gesturing for Minhee and Rose to enter first. Pausing briefly to listen to Luca, Taejun pressed the button for the fourth floor.

[Is there anything kid-friendly in the members’ lounge on the second floor? Yes, Rose. Three people. Right now.]

As Luca’s voice asking something came from the phone, Taejun immediately responded.

[I don’t care, as long as there’s something for a kid to eat. Call me in five minutes. Oh, and double the Metropolitan donation from last year and inform the responsible person.]

Ending the call, Taejun immediately picked up Rose as she complained of aching legs this time. After all, she had been running around for over two hours, and her stomach was empty.

[Rose, only for a moment. Your uncle’s also tired, so he can’t carry you all the time.]

Minhee said in a soft voice.

[Yes, Miss Minnie.]

Rose meekly replied, and hugged Taejun’s neck tightly, pressing her round nose against his cheek, and planted a kiss with a “mwah.” Taejun stood there, taken aback.

[Thanks for the hug, Santon. Does your leg hurt a lot?]

[……I’m okay].

“Aigoo, jukketta!”   (supposed pronunciation for Aigoo Jugetda. When combined with “aigoo,” the phrase “aigoo jugetda” can convey a sense of playful or exaggerated reaction, similar to saying “Oh my goodness” or “I’m dying” in English slang.)

Then, unexpectedly, Rose exclaimed in quaint Korean, burying her face into Taejun’s shoulder and sighing deeply. Taejun’s lips quivered, and his jaw tensed even more. He struggled to hold back laughter, his eyes widening slightly as he took a deep breath.

When Minhee caught Taejun’s eye, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

‘Where on earth did she learn that tone?!’