episode_0062

I was momentarily taken aback upon seeing Seong-a noona.

Uncertain of what to say, I continued to gaze at her.

Approaching her, Jiho looked at her and spoke, “Hi there!”

Oh… Looks like I messed up on home education.

I don’t think I’m the one who taught myself to speak informally to adults.

Maybe it was a mistake by Jiwon or the school…

It seems being born into our family wasn’t exactly a hopeful future in itself.

Thinking this way, considering Seong-a noona’s personality, I thought she might scold Jiho lightly.

Bowing slightly, Seong-a noona patted Jiho’s head and said, “So you’re Kang Jiho, right?”

“Yes.”

“If you’re going to greet an adult, do so politely with ‘Hello’ in formal speech.”

Saying that with a smile, she began teaching Jiho.

Has this older sister matured over the years?

Looking at her like that, I suggested we have a brief conversation, telling Jiho and Jiyeon to play at the playground for a while.

“What? No, there’s nothing to do at the playground.”

“Here.”

Quietly handing Jiho ten thousand won.

“Elders, have a good chat. Let’s go, little brother.”

With the power of ten thousand won, he politely escorted us outside.

As we walked out, we discussed where to go.

“Little brother, let’s go to the PC bang and play a round of League of Legends.”

“I’m Diamond, oppa. What tier are you?”

“I’m Bronze.”

“Oh, damn.”

Our kids, as expected.

I’ve really raised them wrong.

So that’s why Mom always emphasized the importance of home education to me…

Once things calmed down, Seong-a noona continued to look at me.

Sensing she had something to say, I asked if there was something on her mind.

She looked at me and said, “Are you happy now?”

I didn’t know how to respond to that question.

Just off the top of my head…

“Yeah, I’m damn happy.”

And then I hugged Jiwon next to me and said.

Upon hearing this, Seong-a noona seemed slightly surprised.

After a moment, she composed herself and said, “I see.”

This sister has learned how to calm anger.

I don’t know what happened over the nine years, but even so, knowing that she’s okay now gives me some relief.

“Well, I’ll be heading back now. It might feel awkward if I stay here any longer.”

Saying that, Seong-a noona said she would leave, seeming like she was about to go outside.

“I’ll walk you out; I can drop you off wherever you’re going.”

“No, my boyfriend dropped me off.”

Boyfriend?

She broke up with me and found a boyfriend.

Well, with her looks, she probably met someone else instead of sticking with me.

To at least escort her outside, I followed Seong-a noona.

Approaching her boyfriend’s car, the appearance and license plate of the car seemed familiar.

Wait a minute… Could it be?

“Uh… Hi?”

The car window rolled down, revealing Jaeseong hyung.

Could it be that her boyfriend is Jaeseong hyung?!

Momentarily shocked, I couldn’t control my expression.

Seeing my surprised face, Jaeseong hyung looked at me and said, “Uh… Yeah, that’s how it turned out.”

This is too much of a jump, isn’t it?

What did he do to make it turn out like this?!

I wanted to grab him by the collar right then and there, ask what happened, but all he kept saying was that it turned out this way.

Planning to leave with Seong-a noona, Jaeseong hyung repeated that it turned out this way.

At that moment, Jiho and Jiyeon returned, smiling.

“Dad! I reached Silver! Little sister is Platinum Premium!”

Jiho laughed, announcing his tier had gone up.

Looking at Seong-a noona who was about to leave, Jiho approached her and said, “Are you leaving?”

“Huh? Yes, I’m going now. Let’s meet again next time.”

And Seong-ah gently patted Jiho’s head.

After receiving the head pat, Jiho looked at Seong-ah and spoke.

“Bye-yum!”

Seong-ah’s hand, which was patting his head, suddenly transformed into a slap.

“You little rascal! How dare you speak informally to an adult!”

Seong-ah seemed to explode in anger and began smacking Jiho right away.

Strange, isn’t it? Is this déjà vu?

That line and that figure seem familiar from somewhere.

For now, Seong-ah is doing well; give him a bit more!

He thought he would seize this opportunity to really scold him.

**

So the son watched as he ate popcorn.

In the end, Seong-ah rode back in Jaesung’s car.

“That was fun, let’s smack him a bit more.”

“Father? Am I your father? Where did you pick me up from?”

Jiho asked if I was his dad.

I had to endure it because I’m a father too. You should too.

I thought about going straight home after saying that.

“Let’s take a short walk before heading inside.”

Jiwon wanted to take a brief walk, so we decided to do that.

We then headed to a park near the house.

At the park, we saw people playing soccer, basketball, and brisk walkers.

“There are so many people here.”

Jiwon gazed at the scenery, lost in thought.

“Mom’s gone all sentimental.”

Jiyeon remarked while looking at Mom.

Then Jiho, seeming bored, brought a soccer ball closer and said, “Come on, little brother!”

He even challenged his younger sister with the soccer ball.

Jiyeon approached, preparing to kick the soccer ball.

Raising her foot high, she prepared to kick the ball.

“Wait… Jiho, that posture! It’s dangerous…”

Thud—!!!

Jiyeon’s foot grazed the soccer ball.

Her foot continued upward.

“Aaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

She accidentally kicked Jiho’s private area.

It was a game of kicking the ball, but she didn’t mean to kick there.

“Hey, Jiho, are you okay..”

As Jiho stumbled, worried, Jiho started to fall.

Thud—!!!

Jiho’s head hit my private area.

“Aaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

And I started screaming as if the world was ending.

Kids, I’m sorry…

I guess we should give up on having a third child.

While discussing important matters, Jiwon approached us.

“What are you guys doing… Did you get hit?”

I nodded in response to his question.

“Ah… Of all places to get hit… I’ve been hit there when I was young too…”

Jiwon expressed concern for us and urged us to get up quickly despite the pain.

This is too much!

As we were walking back home,

Plop— Pitter-patter— Pitter-patter—

A few drops of water started falling from above.

Despite no forecast of rain today!

With a sudden downpour, we hurried back home.

Even though we rushed back, we still got soaked.

Our clothes were damp.

“Let’s put the clothes in the washing machine.”

Saying that, Jiwon suggested putting the clothes in the washing machine.

Quickly grabbing towels, we dried our hair.

“It’s not working; looks like we all need to bathe together today.”

Saying that, Jiwon proposed bathing together.

“I don’t want to. Just drying my hair is enough, why bother with a bath!”

Jiho complained about the hassle of bathing.

He refused.

Seeing Jiho like that, Jiwon smiled and tried to convince him.

“Just drying your hair is enough, why bother with a bath!”

Saying that, Jiho started to act stubborn.

As I was thinking about who I might end up marrying, it suddenly happened!

Jiwon hit Jihu on the back with a loud smack, causing Jihu to collapse. She then told him to wait a bit before taking a bath together.

I faithfully followed her instructions.

“Just wait a moment, I’ll be done soon.”

I told Jihu to wait a bit and was about to go inside when suddenly…

“Why are you coming in?!”

I was also knocked out by Jiwon’s smack.

But… I also wanted to bathe with my daughter.

We used to bathe together often in the past…

I looked at my returning daughter, feeling unjust as tears streamed down my face. We decided to wait for both of them to finish bathing.

In the meantime, I dried my son’s hair with a towel.

I decided to wait until they both came out.

While drying my son’s hair, I asked him where he would like to go this summer vacation.

After contemplating for a while, he said, “I want to go to the beach.”

“Busan! Haeundae!”

Upon hearing that, I also pondered.

Realizing we had never been to the beach as a family, I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go this time.

I decided to look into hotels by the sea.

It wouldn’t be so bad to go to the beach.

I needed to check quickly before it became peak season.

Next time, I should ask Jiwon too.

When I heard that Jiwon had finished bathing everyone, I left my son behind and rushed straight to the bathroom.

“W-wait! Show me my daughter!!!!”

I ran to the bathroom to see my daughter after her shower.

“Oh… I feel sick.”