episode_0046

After staying at the kids cafe for about 2 hours, I must have been exhausted. Around lunchtime, I took Hyesol back home.

Rather than the kids who were reluctant to part with Hyesol, it was the moms who seemed more reluctant to part ways with me. Anyway, I returned home and quickly cooked a meal for Hyesol and myself. Actually, I felt too lazy after using up my mental energy in the morning, so I ended up eating cup ramen.

-Click!

After diligently taking a photo of the meal and sending it to Yeongsu teacher, I received a reply telling me not to panic.

“You didn’t finish all the soup?”

“Is it too much if you mix rice with it?”

“Please! How will the kids learn if you act like that? You should set an example.”

Ugh, making a big deal out of the kids’ meals.

“I was full anyway, so I just ate the noodles and threw away the soup.”

“Phew, that’s a relief. Still, since you consumed a lot of carbohydrates and salt, please supplement with some protein and fiber like chicken breast and salad before dinner. Drink plenty of water to flush out the excess salt.”

“Okay.”

After that exchange, I put the drowsy Hyesol to sleep on the sofa and was about to study editing when…

*Ding-dong!*

The doorbell rang, and when I went to check, there was a package. I had ordered a loose maxi dress from the outlet last week, and it seemed like it had arrived. It was a bit oversized, but it looked like it would suit me well. The fabric seemed thin, but it would provide good ventilation for summer, which I considered a plus.

“Hmm, I should ask Dayoung to try it on with me and give me her opinion later.”

I took out the dress, roughly tried it on, and neatly folded it back into the box.

Hyesol woke up from a nap of about 2 hours and whined for me to play with her. So, we watched YouTube like yesterday, played active games like tag and hide-and-seek, and before I knew it, the kids had finished school and arrived home.

“Hyesol~!”

Dayoung came in noisily, looking for Hyesol. Was she really that happy? Watching her, I couldn’t help but think that maybe asking for another younger sibling wasn’t just a joke.

Anyway, while Dayoung was busy playing with Hyesol, I started preparing dinner. By the time Davin arrived home, we had finished our meal, and then I bathed Hyesol. She had sweated a lot at the kids cafe, after all.

After bathing Hyesol, I received a call from Choe Jin-hee. She was on her way. I entrusted Hyesol to Dayoung and Davin, and started packing Hyesol’s things since it would take about 20 minutes. I needed to start packing early.

“D-Davin.”

As I was organizing Hyesol’s belongings, I urgently called Davin.

“Yes?”

“Could you please clean up that?”

There were insect figures scattered on the floor, probably from some bug play they had done. I couldn’t bring myself to tidy it up, so I asked Davin for help.

While I gathered the rest of the items and piled them up near the entrance, the bell rang, and when I opened the door, I saw Choe Jin-hee’s face.

“Hyesol~ Mommy’s here!”

Choe Jin-hee called her daughter with a very delighted voice, and despite us taking care of her well, in the end, no one could replace mom. Hyesol responded with a bright voice and expression.

“Mommy~!”

Thus, after two days, the mother and daughter reunion at our front door was a heartwarming scene, and both I and Dayoung, as well as Davin, had gentle smiles on our faces.

“Sister, does Hyesol listen well?”

“She’s very obedient. I’ve never seen such a well-behaved and kind child. My nephew is the same age as Hyesol, and he’s so different.”

“Hmm. How were Dayoung and Davin?”

“As for them…”

One was too unpredictable, while the other seemed indifferent, wondering if this was right.

“Well, anyway. Hyesol is really kind.”

Choi Jin-hee looked at her daughter as if she were lovely, patting her head gently. Hyesol smiled back happily.

“Thank you, unnie.”

“No, our kids like her more. Come over often next time.”

“Ajumma, can I come see Hyesol later?”

Da-yeong asked Choi Jin-hee sadly, who nodded in response.

“Of course. Did you have fun with unnie and oppa, Hyesol?”

“Yes! I like unnie. Oh, I like oppa too… hehe.”

“So cute!”

“Me too! Ajumma, can I come see Hyesol too?”

Our children were enchanted by Hyesol’s appearance. Choi Jin-hee smiled and told Hyesol, “You have an older sister and brother now. Come over to our house next week. I’ll barbecue beef.”

Da-yeong cheered. I jokingly said to Choi Jin-hee, “Is that a bribe for another visit?”

“How did you know? Well, since my sister’s kids like them so much, I can leave them without worry, right?”

Well, it wasn’t a bad experience for me either. It brought back memories of raising our kids when they were babies.

Wait, by the way.

“Hye, Hyesol. Don’t you like ajumma? Are you still scared of ajumma?”

As expected, it was Choi Jin-hee who gave her the nickname “this ajumma.” Before I could respond…

“I’m not ‘this ajumma’!”

Hyesol quickly denied my title.

“Then?”

“Mamma ajumma gives milk. I’m not ‘this ajumma,’ I’m ‘mamma’ ajumma.”

Mamma ajumma?

I was so dumbfounded that I burst into laughter, and Choi Jin-hee and our kids burst into laughter at the sight of it. Hyeseol, watching them, also burst into laughter without knowing why others were laughing, just because everyone else was laughing.

The only one who couldn’t laugh in this place was me, the target of ridicule.

“Hahaha! Ma, Mommy! Why is this image so spot on, huff!”

Dayoung looked at me and said, and I wanted to say something back but couldn’t bring myself to get angry openly because I was afraid Hyeseol might feel upset about the nickname she had given me.

Wait, is this right? Is it sad that my image is becoming like this?

“Hyeseol, can’t you call me something other than Mommy?”

I pleaded with Hyeseol, but she stubbornly stuck to my nickname, shaking her head.

“Mommy! Mommy takes care of Mommy, and Mommy has a lot of food for Mommy to eat, so Mommy’s belly is big! So, you’re Mommy!”

In the end, as it even mentioned the incident at the bathhouse, I lost track of my thoughts, and Davin blushed, Dayoung and Choi Jin-hee laughed like crazy, hitting the floor, pounding the ground, shedding tears.

Oh, I never thought I’d be teased by a mere 5-year-old kid. Somehow, I could only shed tears that filled my eyes with a different meaning from the two people laughing hysterically.

***

Friday afternoon, our house is currently very busy. And for good reason.

“Davin, did you pack all the clothes you’re going to change into? Dayoung, check again quickly. Did you pack sunscreen and cosmetics carefully, and also, also…”

I kept going back and forth between Dayoung and Davin’s room, constantly giving instructions.

“Dad! Shouldn’t we call a taxi now when we think about the train schedule?”

“Oh, right. Let me check my mind.”

Upon Dayoung’s words, I hurriedly took out my phone to check the time and opened the taxi app to reserve a taxi.

Perhaps everyone was excited, as tensions rose a bit more than usual, and each of us busily moved around the house, either packing our bags or double-checking the schedule.

Originally, it would have been convenient to adjust the schedule by simply driving there and be able to move comfortably when suddenly wanting to go somewhere.

“Hey, then Dad won’t even be able to rest on vacation. He’ll be tired. Just take the train. It’s romantic and nice.”

“Yes, Dad. Wouldn’t you be tired if you drove all the way there and back?”

Taking the children’s opinions into account, we decided to just take the train. Well, we could rent a car there, and above all, Busan’s driving manners are notorious, so taking a taxi for transportation might be better.

-Ding dong!

An alert appeared on my phone screen indicating that the taxi had arrived.

“Kids! The taxi is here! Come out quickly!”

I had already packed everything and was waiting at the door, so I waited for the kids to come out with their luggage.

First, Davin, who was close to the entrance, came out of the room first. Wearing shorts, a T-shirt, and even a baseball cap, he gave off a feeling that he was going out to play.

“Jung Dayoung! Aren’t you coming out quickly?!”

I nudged Dayoung again, and only then did he come out with his luggage.

“You, your… outfit…”

It was such a daring outfit that one would wonder if such clothes existed. Tying a thin shirt around his chest over a cropped tank top and wearing hot pants, his appearance clearly said, “I’m going out to have fun!” Moreover, he had even put sunglasses on his chest, as if he was already at the beach.

“How do I look?”

If there was time, I would have probably lectured him on how revealing it was, but Dayoung probably knew that and came out like this while keeping an eye on the time.

“Ugh, I can’t stand it!”

Saying that, I led the kids out of the house.

Finally, our family is leaving for that vacation we planned weeks ago! Let’s go to Busan!