episode_0042

After the children finished eating, I was finally able to eat after taking turns.

Sitting alone at the dining table, emptying my bowl, the phone rang. Looking at the screen, it was Choi Jin-hee.

“Oh, Jinhee.”

“Unnie, have you had your meal?”

It was almost 7 o’clock. Of course, there are families who eat dinner later to match the father’s commuting time, but our house usually has dinner before 7 o’clock. When I used to work, I would either eat out and come back or eat alone after 8 o’clock, but in recent months, our dinner time at home has been like this.

“I’m eating, and Hyesol said she was hungry a little after 5 o’clock, so I fed her then.”

“Oh, really? Did she eat well? Our child is a bit picky eater…”

What is she talking about? She ate so well earlier, calling her a picky eater.

“Yeah? I ate so well that I couldn’t feel that way. I made an egg custard with seaweed and kimchi, and finished a whole bowl. Oh, Hyesol is really well-behaved. I was worried because our nieces and nephews are very picky, but she’s completely nice and well-behaved.”

Perplexed, Choi Jin-hee asked.

“Huh? Really? That’s strange. Why doesn’t she eat well at home and acts up, but behaves so well at their place?”

Perhaps it’s her own way of showing resistance towards her parents? Asking for attention. But since it was just my thought, I didn’t say anything and just let her words pass.

“Well, it might be unfamiliar to her. Anyway, she’s so well-behaved and easy to take care of.”

“Oh…that’s a relief. But, um…”

Choi Jin-hee hesitated strangely.

“It’s nothing, but the daycare just called. They said one of the parents of a child who attended the daycare today tested positive for COVID in Yarona… Oh! But the chances of her moving to another class with Hyesol are very low. Lately, they’ve been strictly isolating classes due to such situations. But now they’re closing the daycare for 3 days. So, it might be a bit difficult to send her to kindergarten tomorrow morning…”

Spending all day with a child versus just seeing them briefly is definitely a different level of difficulty. So, she must be careful and cautious in saying things like that.

“Oh~ It’s okay. It’s not your fault that she caught the disease. Since I’ll be at home tomorrow morning anyway, I can take care of her. And if Hyesol is such a well-behaved child, I can easily look after her for a month, dear.”

As if relieved on the other end of the line, Choi Jin-hee burst into laughter and then suddenly became serious.

“So, will you consider it for a month?”

“It’s just talk. Just talk. Anyway, I got it. Instead of staying at home tomorrow morning, I should go somewhere. There isn’t much for Hyesol to play with here. Maybe a kids’ cafe…”

“Oh, don’t they play well with toys? If they have those, they won’t even watch TV and play well with them.”

“It’s hard for me. That! Oh, I was really shocked today. When I poured out the toy box, dozens of bugs came out from there… Ugh. Really.”

“Phew. Sorry. Our Hyesol is a bit unique. Her dad is very interested in rare reptiles and insects. I find that disgusting so I never let him raise any, but maybe because she often watches those videos with her dad…”

Ah, there are indeed many people with unique tastes in the world.

“Anyway, I hate spiders and insects. No, I’m scared. So, let’s just go to the kids’ cafe tomorrow.”

“Yeah, do that. Since she’s used to being at the daycare, there will be many other moms there, and we used to go to the kids’ cafe in front of the apartment often, so Hyesol will be comfortable there too.”

That’s how I made plans to go to the kids’ cafe tomorrow morning and gradually finished the call.

“Yeah, don’t worry, Hyesol. Take care of your mother too.”

“Yes, unnie. Thank you.”

After hanging up, finishing the remaining food, doing the dishes, and heading to the living room, Da-yeong had joined Hyesol and was playing with her.

“Mom, did you finish eating?”

“Yes. By the way, isn’t Hyesol so cute?”

“Totally. Can’t I have a younger sister too?”

What is this crazy kid saying?

Feeling incredulous, I composed myself, looked at Da-yeong, and she quickly smiled as if embarrassed, waving her hand.

“Just kidding. Just kidding. I think having a younger sister like that would be really cute. She’s really adorable, except for liking bugs.”

Perhaps feeling apologetic, she quickly changed the subject. Not wanting to get upset over such matters, I went along with Da-yeong’s intentions.

“You’ll probably get married and have kids sooner, you brat!”

“Even if I have a child, there’s no guarantee it will be as cute, well-behaved, and obedient as her, right?”

“Hmph. That might be true. You guys were so difficult at that age. How come the child is so well-behaved?”

“I, I was well-behaved at that age too, you know?”

Phew. It’s a relief if those memories come back. Once, when we went shopping at a department store as a family, I got lost for nearly two hours because of my habit of wandering around alone. Just thinking about searching for me makes my bones weak even now.

“Don’t say such things. Ugh… just thinking about that time.”

Whenever a topic like this came up, I hinted at Da-yeong about the nostalgia of that time, and she understood what episodes I was referring to without me saying anything.

“Well, you grew up so nicely and beautifully, didn’t you?”

Seeing his annoying yet lovable appearance, I playfully put my arm around his head and gave him a headlock.

“Ouch! That hurts! It really hurts!!”

“That’s the point, you rascal!”

Watching me and Da-yeong tussle, Hyesol found it amusing for some reason, laughing heartily, which somehow drained my energy, making me burst into laughter.

Subsequently, even Davin and Da-yeong. Laughter filled the living room.

Well, the family atmosphere has indeed improved lately, but having a child seems to have made it even more harmonious.

After cutting and eating fruits and spending some time, it was 8 o’clock. Usually, it would be time to exercise, but today I decided to take a break. It was a day off from classes, and since Hyesol was here too, I wanted the kids to go, but neither I nor Choi Jin-hee were available, so I just let them rest. However, not exercising didn’t mean the kids had nothing to do.

“Now, Hyesol, your mom will check on you, so go to your rooms and study.”

Originally, it should have been vacation time, but due to the long period of online classes and breaks, the vacation was shortened, starting in August and ending in early September. So, besides exercising, it was also a time to study adequately.

“Oh, I want to play with Hyesol a little longer.”

“I’ll go in a bit…”

Da-yeong openly expressed her disappointment, and although Davin initially hesitated, he seemed more enthusiastic now. It’s understandable; with such a cute child clinging to him, would any brother dislike it?

Of course, in my opinion, more than 70% of this factor was due to his handsome older brother image.

“Look, look. Hyesol seems to be falling asleep right now.”

It’s not that she’s actually sleeping, but Hyesol looks very drowsy, blinking her eyes heavily.

“Ah, I see. Well, what can you do? When is Jinhee coming to pick her up tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow evening… around this time? She said she’s swapping with her sister then.”

Anyway, there’s still plenty of time to play tomorrow, so don’t be disappointed, hurry up and go in after urging the kids, Hyeseol hugged her and went into the living room. And she carefully laid her on the bed and fell asleep without waking up.

“Phew….”

Honestly, she’s a well-behaved child, but looking after kids definitely drains more mental energy than physical stamina.

After making sure Hyeseol was sound asleep, she came out to the living room and made herself a cup of coffee. Sitting at the dining table, she quietly got lost in thought.

‘Can’t I just let go of one younger sister?’

Thinking about it quietly, it gives me chills that it’s actually possible now. Biologically, it’s possible regardless of how I feel about it here.

Wait, but if that were to happen, what would the relationship be like with the kids? A half-sibling? They did come from different wombs, but… is that right? I’m not sure.

Genetically…

“Oh my, why am I sitting here thinking about this!”

Startled unintentionally, my voice raised, and Da-yeong, who was near the kitchen, opened her door and peeked at me before quietly coming out and sitting across from me.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing. It’s nothing.”

She looked at me quietly for a moment, then spoke again.

“Um, by the way, when I mentioned the sibling thing to Dad earlier, it was really a joke…”

Feeling somewhat embarrassed about having had those thoughts just now.

“Oh, I get it! It was a joke.”

Even though I blurted out, unfortunately, our daughter knows me too well.

“But why do you look embarrassed? Could it be…?”

At that moment, my rationality snapped, and I quickly approached Da-yeong, grabbed her shoulder, and smacked the back of her head with a loud “thwack!”

“Ouch! That hurts!”

“It hurts because I’m hitting you!”

“Well, it’s unfair to just hit me, so give me one younger sister!”

That night, in our kitchen, the sound of hitting the back of the head continued late into the night.