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"Papa, it's so hot..."

"Yeah."

The afternoon air felt heavy. The sun hung high outside the window, turning the walls of the cramped apartment into a heat-trapping oven. An old standing fan in the corner spun sluggishly, emitting a rhythmic creak that offered absolutely zero relief.

Yuna lay on her stomach on the floor, her chin propped on her hands. Her freshly cut short hair clung slightly to the nape of her neck from the sweat.

A few moments passed in silence.

"Why don't you just buy an AC?"

My eyes remained glued to the television, which was broadcasting a thoroughly uninteresting variety show.

"They're expensive. Not to mention the electricity bill."

"Oh..."

Her voice instantly lost its steam.

A moment later, she rolled onto her side and stared up at the ceiling.

"Papa, I want to go buy ice cream. Can I?"

"Sure. Get two while you're at it. One for me."

Yuna fell silent for a second.

"Umm... never mind."

I turned to look at her.

"Huh? Why?"

"It's hot outside."

I raised an eyebrow.

"It's hot in here, too."

"But it's hotter outside."

"Alright. Suit yourself."

Yuna let out another long, drawn-out sigh.

The television droned on, but nothing on screen was remotely capable of holding my attention. Only the voice of the host and canned laugh tracks filled the room.

"Papa... I'm bored..."

"And?"

"Papa... it's hot..."

I shot her a sidelong glance.

"Stop complaining. Your hair is already much shorter than before. You shouldn't be feeling *that* hot."

"But it's still hot..."

"Then go buy that ice cream."

"It's hot outside, too."

I sighed.

"Then what exactly do you want?"

Without waiting for an answer, I stood up and walked over to the cabinet. I grabbed a piece of thick, leftover cardboard packaging that was decently wide.

Then, I sat back down next to Yuna.

*Whoosh.

A sudden gust of wind hit her face.

Her eyes went wide.

"Papa! Again!"

*Whoosh.

*Whoosh.

Her short hair fluttered in the breeze. Her previously lethargic expression gradually lit up.

"How's that?" I asked.

*Whoosh.

"Ahh... so refreshing..."

*Whoosh.

I fanned her a few more times before finally setting the cardboard down beside me and leaning back.

"Papa? Why did you stop?"

"I'm tired."

I wasn't actually tired. I just couldn't be bothered to keep going.

Yuna immediately sat bolt upright.

"How can you be tired already?"

She eyed me with blatant suspicion.

"I thought you were strong? Just yesterday you were lifting those heavy weights, and now you're losing to a piece of cardboard?"

I narrowed my eyes.

"I'm not weak."

"Weak."

"I am not weak."

Yuna snatched up the cardboard, then shuffled closer with a mischievous grin.

"In that case, do it again, Papa."

She stood right in front of me and shoved the cardboard into my hands.

"Fan me again."

"You have two hands. Do it yourself."

Yuna shook her head.

"If I do it, I'll get tired."

"But you're strong, Papa."

I stared at her in silence for a few seconds.

*This kid really knows how to work me.*

Yuna nudged the cardboard even closer.

"Come on, Papa."

"Ugh, alright, alright."

I let out a soft sigh and took it from her.

*Whoosh.

*Whoosh.

Yuna immediately plopped down cross-legged in front of me. She closed her eyes, basking in the breeze I was generating.

"Ahh... it's nice having a papa."

"Then don't call me weak next time."

"Alright."

She cracked one eye open and gave a little smile.

"But you're still old."

I stopped fanning.

Yuna's eyes snapped wide open.

"Hey, keep going!"

"No."

"Papa..."

"Who's old?"

Yuna giggled, covering her mouth with both hands.

"You're strong, Papa."

*Whoosh.

"You're awesome."

*Whoosh.

"You're the absolute best."

I shook my head slowly as I resumed fanning her.

"Honestly."

Yuna beamed with satisfaction.

In that hot, cramped little apartment, the sound of the cardboard slicing through the air blended with her soft giggles, making the sweltering summer afternoon feel just a little bit more bearable.

_

Somehow, we ended up actually making the trip to the convenience store.

The walk from our stuffy apartment to the convenience store at the end of the street felt like trekking beneath a giant oven. The asphalt radiated heat, the air was practically stagnant, and the harsh summer sun forced our eyes into squints.

The moment we arrived, the automatic doors slid open.

*Ding.

We stepped inside.

A blast of cold air immediately greeted us, a stark contrast to the sweltering heat outside.

Yuna, having just stepped through the threshold, abruptly stopped in her tracks. She closed her eyes for a second, tilted her face upward, and took a deep breath.

"Haa..."

I glanced at her.

"Papa..."

"Hm? What is it?"

Yuna turned to me, an entirely serious look on her face.

"Can I live here?"

"Huh?"

I gave her a baffled look.

"What's gotten into you? Is the heat making you delirious?" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Yuna took a few steps further into the store, spreading her arms wide.

"It's so cool in here. It feels like we're in the mountains. Not hot at all like it is outside."

I let out a short sigh.

"Be my guest, then. Let me just go ask the clerk if a kid is allowed to live in the convenience store."

I started walking toward the counter.

Yuna hurriedly scurried over and tugged at the hem of my shirt.

"Papa, stop."

I looked back.

"I was just joking."

"Oh, so it was a joke."

I gave a slow nod.

"But if you really want to, I can still ask."

I resumed walking.

"No, Papa. Seriously, you don't have to."

Yuna shook her head frantically.

"I'd much rather live at your place than here."

"Oh."

I kept walking.

But Yuna continued to tug at my shirt.

I turned to look at her again.

"What is it now? Didn't you want to buy ice cream?"

"I do!"

She immediately let go of my shirt and trotted on ahead of me.

Before I even reached the freezer aisle, Yuna was already back, holding two ice creams in her hands.

We made our way to the counter.

"By the way, Papa..."

"Yeah?"

"How come you don't have a fridge at home? And why don't you install an AC?"

I shot her a fleeting glance.

"And what if I did have all those things?"

"If you had a fridge, I could save my ice cream for later. We could make ice cubes, too. And if you had an AC, your place would be nice and cold."

"That is generally how it works, yes."

I placed the two ice creams into a small shopping basket.

"But didn't I already tell you? Those things are expensive. Not to mention the electricity bill."

Yuna watched me intently, waiting for further explanation.

"They cost a lot more than that ice cream you're holding."

Yuna stared at the ice cream in her hand.

"So this ice cream is cheap?"

"Cheap enough."

"If that's the case, I should be allowed to buy a whole bunch, right?"

"You can."

I nodded.

"But you have to finish them all before they melt. We don't have a fridge."

"Haha..."

Yuna let out a small laugh.

She gave a slow nod, then whispered as if coming to a grand conclusion.

"So you really are poor, Papa. Even though you have such a big job."

I shot her a sharp look.

"Hey. I'm not poor."

Yuna furrowed her brow.

"But you said so yourself before."

"That was just a joke."

Her gaze was still brimming with doubt.

"If you're not poor, Papa, then how come you don't have a fridge, an AC, or a big house?"

I fell silent for a moment before answering.

"Does a rich person really have to own all those things?"

"Of course they do."

"Says who?"

"Says me."

I gave a soft chuckle.

"You shouldn't judge people by what they have."

Yuna fell silent, listening intently.

"People who look rich aren't always actually rich. They might just be drowning in debt."

I pulled my wallet out of my pocket.

"On the flip side, people who look completely average aren't necessarily struggling to get by."

I looked down at Yuna.

"We live simply like this for the sake of our present, and our future."

"Mmm..."

Yuna gave a slow nod.

I was about to continue speaking, but then I noticed something.

She had already torn open her ice cream wrapper.

In fact, a bite was already missing.

I stared at her.

"Hey."

Yuna blinked innocently.

"Yeah?"

"We haven't paid for that yet."

Yuna looked down at the ice cream in her hand.

Then, she gave a sheepish smile.

"Hehe..."

I let out a long sigh.

"Honestly."

( End )