September Peony (12 Months Series - Part 2)

Chapter 12

Joon Gi is sitting on the colourful carpet surrounded by children. He is carefully folding blue coloured paper to make a swan out of it. The children are watching him and Joon Gi is explaining every step of the process to them. The children are in between ages 5 to 12 and they are all spending their days in hospital right now.
When Godiwa mentioned her duty to visit a children ward of local hospital in front of Joon Gi, she would never expect him to happily accompany her there. However his instant popularity amongst the small patients was even more shocking. Joon Gi immediately clicked with the kids, asked them about their hobbies, favourite books, music, films, food and their toys, he was taking them on his lap and talking to them through their stuffed animals. He discovered a pile of colour papers and offered to show them few easy origami. The children love him! Godiwa usually comes to the hospital and smiles and strokes their heads but she is afraid to hold them because she doesn’t want to hurt them or something. What if she drops the child? She is also struggling with leading the conversation. There are usually a lot of them and they speak all at once and Godiwa is confused by that. And the topics they are trying to tell her about are so strange to her; toys, colouring books, cartoon shows. Sometimes they ask confusing questions like: What was your favourite toy when you were a child? How many summer camps have you been to? Where did your family spend summer holidays when you were a child? Do you want to hold my doll? My toy soldier is the best, right?
Godiwa has no idea what to tell! She had no toys, she only went to an army camp when she was 15 to learn the survival techniques, she never had anything like holidays, she doesn’t really to hold someone’s doll, especially when the owner of the doll chewed its hair just 3 minutes ago and she has seen much better toy soldiers during her visits in hospitals. However she was previously told that she shouldn't tell kids such things which means she can only smile and keep silent. And children then lose interest in her. It’s always painful visit for both sides and Godiwa knows it. However it’s expected from her to show compassion and empathy and so she goes visiting patients, she tries hard to look friendly and relaxed but the children are like dogs, they can sense her true feelings and keep their distance from her.
Joon Gi on the other hand… As soon as he walked into the play room, his face lit up with a genuine happy smile, he instantly befriended with the patients and had no troubles to answer their silly questions, keep their attention, play with them, hold them and hug them, make them smile and laugh.
“This will look very good in the media.” Godiwa turns to her personal assistant Karin who is commanding the camera man to get better shots of Joon Gi playing with the children. “You did well to bring your friend with you this time, he’s a natural. Now join him. We need to have you there, too.” Karin pushes Godiwa’s back and she obeys. She cautiously sits among the children. They hardly pay any attention to her, they are all focused on Joon Gi showing them nearly finished paper swan.
“And here we go! A swan princess!” Announces Joon Gi with a triumph and gives the paper swan to one of the girls. She is smiling like a sunshine. “Do you like magic tricks?” Asks Joon Gi then and all the kids shout their excitement out. “Good! I will need my beautiful assistant for this trick.” He reaches Godiwa’s hand and makes her to sit closer to him. The children move aside to let her sit near him. “Check her ears. Doesn’t she have something odd in them?” Says Joon Gi to one of the girls and she quickly checks Godiwa’s ears and reports there is nothing odd about them with giggling. “Are you sure? Are they clean?”
“Yes, they are clean.” Laughs the girl.
Godiwa is blushing with embarrassment. This is ridiculous. Why is he doing this to her? He could just entertain the children all by himself. “I have my ears always clean.” Mentions Godiwa.
“Good girl!” Smiles Joon Gi. “So you would be surprised if I find…” He makes a pause and reaches behind Godiwa’s ear. “An eggplant there!” He shows a small plastic eggplant. He obviously took it from a box with toys but the children are all laughing and clapping. “That’s not all,” announces Joon Gi. “I will show you my assistant’s magic breath now.” He closes his fist and holds it in front of Godiwa. “Blow, Gee!” He instructs her. Godiwa bends her head a bit and blows on his hand and suddenly there are sparkling glitters raining down from his fist into Godiwa’s lap. She can’t fight it any more and laughs as the rain of glitters goes on… and on… and on… Where did he got so much of glitters?! The children puts their hands under the glitter shower to get a little bit of magic, too.