Ch.333333. Love Has No Commas

Friday, April 7th, the long-awaited Parents’ Observation Day. Though I haven’t mentioned it, I’ve been looking forward to today so much, thinking about seeing Woohee in class. To avoid making any mistakes, I’ve watched tons of YouTube videos about what to do and what not to do during classroom observations.

According to a current teacher, since both teachers and students get nervous during observation classes, negative feedback is forbidden, and praise and encouragement should be the focus. That’s my specialty. I’ve spent a whole seven years with Hwa Nabi, so I’m quite skilled at coaxing and soothing girls.

Our Woohee is smart and articulate, so there will be plenty to praise. Just wait and see, I’ll praise her so much she won’t even ask for more. Though I plan to praise her, there is one concern I have: that there might be too many good points to mention and I’ll end up skipping some.

They say children might not know their own strengths, so a parent’s role in pointing them out is crucial in child-rearing. But what if I fail to mention one of her strengths, and our Woohee loses awareness of one of her good qualities? That would be the worst mistake a parent could make…

“…Ugh.”

While I was sitting on the living room sofa, deep in thought, something soft wrapped around the back of my head. A familiar sensation. Soft and fragrant—it seems Hwa Nabi is hugging me from behind.

Given my position, turning around is impossible, so I gently tapped Hwa Nabi’s arms wrapped around my neck.

“What is it? Did something happen?”

“Something did happen. Husband, why aren’t you answering when I call you?”

“Oh, you called me? When?”

“I called you five minutes ago and just now too. Didn’t you hear me?”

“Really? Sorry, I must have been lost in thought.”

“Is your daydreaming more important than me?”

Hmm, that’s a difficult question to answer carelessly. By “daydreaming,” I mean thinking about Woohee, but if asked whether Woohee or Hwa Nabi is more important, how could I possibly answer? They’re both precious to me.

Anyway, when I hesitated for a moment, Hwa Nabi’s arms around my neck tightened. A show of force demanding a quick answer.

“What’s this? Why can’t you answer? Are you saying your daydreaming is more important than me?”

“Of course not. You and Woohee are equally important.”

“Woohee? Ah, were you thinking about Woohee?”

“Yeah, today is Parents’ Observation Day. I was just thinking about that.”

“I was wondering what you were doing when you didn’t answer for so long.”

After hearing the explanation, she seemed to calm down and loosened her tight grip. But instead of letting go completely, she just relaxed her arms while keeping them around me and leaned her upper body toward me.

“So, who do you like more?”

“What do you mean, who do I like more?”

“Between Woohee and me, who do you like more?”

“……”

This time I hesitate to answer for a different reason. No matter what answer I give, it would be something I couldn’t say to one of them, right? As I delayed my response, Hwa Nabi pressed her chest against the back of my head, urging me to answer.

Ah, this is a bit unfair. If we’re going to compete, it should be fair. Pressing her chest against me while asking such a question is cheating. With no sportsmanship in sight, faced with this shameless bribery, my lips finally parted slowly.

“Well, of course…”

“Yes, of course?”

Something I could never say in front of Woohee, but if I were to coldly, objectively compare my wife and daughter… by a slight margin, I think my wife comes first.

Just as flowers firmly root themselves in the ground before bearing fruit, a family first has the roots of a couple, followed by the fruit of children.

Flowers do make every effort to bear fruit, but it’s rare for them to rot their roots just to produce fruit, isn’t it? Thinking of it that way, the priority is clear. The fruit is important, but the roots are slightly more important.

“I like our Nabi more.”

“Huh, really? You really like me more?”

“Yes, I like you more.”

As soon as she heard my answer, Hwa Nabi moved to my side and hugged me tightly. As I rubbed her back, I thought to myself.

If Woohee ever asks a similar question, I’ll tell her she’s more precious. It’s okay if what you think and what you say are different, right? Even if I think Hwa Nabi is more important in my mind, I can say something different to her face.

Whether she knew my inner thoughts or not, Hwa Nabi, who was hugging me and sniffing me, lifted her head. Then, staring at me intently, she tapped her lips with her index finger.

“Hmm.”

“Hmm?”

“Hmm.”

“…What is it?”

‘Kiss me, you fool.’

Ah, a kiss. I didn’t understand what she meant until our eyes met. I thought she was telling me there was something on my lips. I didn’t expect her to boldly demand a kiss first thing in the morning.

Given the atmosphere, I couldn’t refuse, so I leaned in and lightly pressed my lips against hers.

-Smooch.

Our lips met and parted. Hwa Nabi slightly opened her eyes, which had been closed. Perhaps she was a bit disappointed that it was just a quick peck, as she licked the part of her lips that had touched mine.

Watching that scene quietly, I gently pressed her lips with my thumb. Her soft lips parted slightly, revealing her neat teeth.

“…Pfft.”

“Why are you laughing?”

“Just because it’s a little funny.”

When I can’t see your face, you enjoy sending photos in bold outfits, but when we’re face to face, you become so docile with just a slight touch from me. That stark contrast is subtly, no, quite openly cute.

Thinking that, I pressed her cheek with my finger, and Hwa Nabi seemed to have sensed my thoughts to some extent. She tried to glare at me threateningly, but to my eyes, it just looked like adorable defiance.

This is why I can’t stop being affectionate. We should show some restraint since the kids are around, but why does Hwa Nabi keep getting cuter as time passes, tickling my heart?

Wanting to tease her a bit more, I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her toward me. I expected some resistance during the process, but surprisingly, she came along obediently and stuck close to my side.

“Planning something strange this early in the morning?”

“Why, don’t you like it?”

“As if you’d stop touching me even if I said I didn’t like it.”

Someone listening might think I’m always touching her as I please. I swear, I’ve never once forced anything on Hwa Nabi.

Sometimes we pretend to dislike each other, but I tease her because I can sense that deep down, she secretly enjoys it.

“Really? Then, if you don’t like it, tap my shoulder. If you tap, I won’t do anything.”

I closed my eyes and waited for a moment, giving her plenty of time. About 15 seconds, generously.

But even after that time passed, Hwa Nabi didn’t tap my shoulder.

“Not going to tap?”

“…Well, it’s not like I absolutely have to tap you, right?”

“If you don’t tap now, I’ll do as I please. Are you sure that’s okay?”

“……”

Despite my declaration, which was close to a declaration of war, she just pretended not to hear, showing no signs of leaving my embrace or tapping my shoulder.

I gave her a chance and plenty of time, so staying put means she’s giving me permission to do as I please. Having received what amounts to consent, I tickled Hwa Nabi’s side. She twisted her body, trying to escape, but I was holding her too firmly for her to get away.

Far from escaping, she just used up a lot of energy and her face quickly turned red. Like a perfectly ripe persimmon ready to eat, though Hwa Nabi would get angry if I said that so directly.

Giving up on expressing it in words, I showed it through actions instead. I gently rubbed Hwa Nabi’s chin to make her look at me. Now that the fruit seems ripe, it’s time to pick and eat it. I hooked my fingers on the hem of her skirt. And slowly, leisurely, toward the inside…

—Waah!

…Just as I was about to move, a loud cry came from the kids’ room. Woocheon, who had been quietly eating breakfast, started crying. Coming back to our senses, we avoided each other’s gazes, embarrassed by our attempt at passionate love so early in the morning.

“W-Woocheon is crying…?”

“…You rest. I’ll go comfort him.”

Moving my body might help me forget the awkwardness. As I was about to get up, Hwa Nabi quickly rose before me.

“N-no. Just rest. I’ll go comfort him.”

“No, it’s my day off, so I’ll go. You comfort him a lot on regular days.”

“Isn’t it better if I continue doing what I usually do? Besides, you’re tired from work. You’ll have to drive to pick up Woohee later, so rest well now.”

“Nabi, I said I’ll do it.”

“Husband, I said I’ll do it…?”

Hwa Nabi seems to be thinking similarly to me, insisting on going to comfort him herself. I didn’t want to be left alone to dwell on what just happened, so I grabbed Hwa Nabi’s wrist.

“I rarely get to see Woocheon’s face normally. Can’t you let me be a dad at times like this?”

“Comforting him once won’t change anything. Wouldn’t it be better for Woocheon if his mom, a familiar face, comforts him?”

“Nabi, are you going to keep acting like this?”

“What about you? Are you going to keep leaving me alone to feel embarrassed?”

“Nabi, if you keep acting this way, I’ll start thinking…”

—Waah, waah!

“…Woocheon comes first right now, so let’s talk about this later. Wait here, okay?”

“Hey, where are you going in the middle of talking? No, wait. Wait! Husband, husband… Hey, you idiot!”