“Welcome home, honey! Dinner’s ready!”
“Thanks. I’ll wash up and eat right away.”
“Hehe, but~ are you going to wash up and *then* eat?”
“Huh? Isn’t dinner all ready?”
“It is, but… huh?”
“Should I eat my honey first?”
“Hehehe…”
We spent our newlywed life like a scene from a painting.
And then, some time later.
“Baba!”
“So cute! Isn’t our daughter just the cutest?!”
“Picture, let’s take a picture!”
“Quickly!”
We had our first daughter, Sarang [Korean for ‘love’]. A daughter so beautiful, I wouldn’t feel pain even if she went into my eyes [a Korean idiom expressing immense love and affection].
And then, after a few more years, when my seniority had built up and our lives were much more stable.
“Daddy! Somang [Korean for ‘hope’] smiled at me!”
“Really? Daddy’s got some work to do, so Sarang, please look after Somang~”
“Okay! Somang! Let’s play with your big sister!”
“Abu…” [Baby talk for ‘father’]
“It looks like Somang wants to see you?”
“No! Our son wants to see me?! Then I have no choice!!”
Our second child, a son named Somang, also came to us. A handsome son who looked just like Heena.
My life with Heena and our angelic children was filled with happiness beyond words.
That indescribable happiness has been, is now, and will continue to be. Surely, a life full of laughter awaits us.
“Honey~ shall we all go on a picnic tomorrow?”
“Sounds good. Sarang! Where shall we go play?”
“Nana! Let’s go to the zoo! I want to show Somang the rabbits!”
“The zoo sounds good~ Then Mom will pack a lunch!”
“Ah…”
“Ah…”
“Ugh…”
“What’s wrong, everyone?”
“I’m so excited…”
“Me, too! I love what Mom makes!”
“Hehe, right?”
Heena’s face was full of that bright smile, proving it.
Forever and always.
We will be together in happiness.
Next episode
Han Sarang. 16 years old. Middle school 3rd grade [Equivalent to 9th grade in the US system].
Years passed, and Sarang was already a middle schooler. A turbulent time in the midst of puberty.
Of course, just because she was in puberty didn’t mean Sarang was snapping at her family or living a delinquent life.
Just like when she was younger, she helped with housework, took good care of her younger sibling, and especially still followed me around a lot. She was still a daughter who loved her dad so much.
Never once did she do something you might see in stories about puberty-stricken daughters, like hating having her underwear washed with her dad’s, or saying, ‘Dad, you’re annoying!’
However, while there were no problems with me.
“…Han Sarang. Shouldn’t you go in and do your homework?”
“I already finished it~”
“Still, get off Dad’s lap! How long are you going to do that when you’re all grown up! Dad’s tired!”
“No! And Dad said I’m super light! He’s not tired at all! Right, Dad!”
“Uh… you are light.”
“See!”
“Honey!”
“……”
Problems started to arise with her mother, Heena.
Really, just like before, it was about the rights to occupy my lap or arms.
—
Although conflicts with Heena were happening quite often, they weren’t really serious fights.
Heena was busier than ever with work, and when she came home, she wanted to recharge her energy by staying by my side. By hugging me or sharing skinship [physical affection].
And Sarang… how should I put it? She just clings to me no matter what she does at home.
Now she’s grown so much that she’s almost as tall as Heena, and thanks to her long hair, she looks so much like Heena that you could mistake them from afar.
However, her eyes resemble mine, giving her a very gentle feeling, so she really feels pure. Moreover, her personality is similar to mine, so she is a very active and outgoing type, unlike her appearance.
A girl with a gentle and pretty face, and a personality that gets along well with boys. It’s an unbeatable combination.
Thanks to this, just like in elementary school, Sarang’s phone was still ringing off the hook every day, and if I wasn’t careful, I’d hear stories about her being confessed to by someone.
Fortunately, she said she wasn’t interested in that yet, so she rejected them all with a smile.
Anyway, when Sarang doesn’t have plans with her friends, the first thing she does when she comes home is.
“Dad. You haven’t had dinner yet, right? I’ll make it for you! Is there anything you want to eat?”
It was to take care of my dinner.
About three years ago, Sarang started helping me with cooking, and I praised her endlessly because she looked so adorable, so she became interested in cooking.
Sarang’s cooking style is similar to mine, so her skills are pretty good. Heena still doesn’t have a knack for cooking…
“Dad welcomes anything Sarang makes. Should I help a little?”
“It’s okay! Dad, you were tired from work. Sit down and rest~”
“Oh my. Thank you, my daughter~”
-Swish
“Hehehe…”
Moved by this kind heart that thinks of her dad, I stroke her hair, and she lets out a silly laugh she learned from Heena. A laugh that is similar to Heena’s, but a little different.
-Click
While we were in the kitchen for a while, our second child came out of his room. It was Somang, who had started his homework as soon as he got back from school.
Somang was already 8 years old. He had become an elementary school student who was even more like a mini-Heena. He also inherited Heena’s personality, so he is a calm and cute son who occasionally shows a subtle smile.
He’s my son, but he’s really pretty and handsome.
“Noona’s [Older sister in Korean] home.”
“Ah, Somang! Is there anything you want to eat? Your sister is going to cook.”
“Anything.”
“You always say anything! Then you’re leaving it all up to your sister?”
“Yeah. Dad, I finished my homework.”
“Good job. Was there anything difficult?”
“No.”
Somang came up to me, as if wanting to be praised, and reported that he had finished his homework. So I naturally raised my hand and stroked Somang’s head as well.
Even after several years, our children still really liked being praised like this.
Somang, who had been standing still with his head in my hand for a while, was hesitating for a moment, looking back and forth between the TV and Sarang.
Come to think of it, I told him to play games together after he finished his homework.
“…I want to help Noona too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Somang nodded and approached Sarang without lingering on the TV game.
How can he be so kind? My son is trying to help his sister who is having a hard time, rather than playing games with me.
Watching the siblings standing side by side in the kitchen, I smiled contentedly and took a picture of their backs.
I have to brag in the group chat.
—
It was truly peace in everyday life. The three of us having a cozy dinner, and even if I tried to help with the dishes, they wouldn’t let me do it alone and would stand side by side at the sink.
And after finishing all that, we would gather together on the living room sofa as usual.
And our positions were the same as before. I sat in the middle, Sarang put her arm around mine and snuggled up to me, and Somang sat between my legs with his back against me.
After this had been going on for years, I felt empty when I sat on the sofa alone. It’s because the kids and Heena are always clinging to me.
While watching Somang play games, time passed.
-Ding-dong
At 9 PM, Heena came home late from work.
“I’m home~”
“You worked hard. Are you going to wash up first?”
“Yeah~ Kiss!”
-Kiss!
“Mom, welcome home!”
“Welcome back.”
“Our daughter~ son~ Mom’s home!”
Even Sarang, who was still holding my arm, and Somang, who immediately stopped playing the game and came to the front door to greet her.
We all gathered together to welcome Heena, who had worked hard until this late hour.
Heena kissing me without caring about the children’s eyes was no longer embarrassing because she did it so often. Sarang and Somang were also accepting it as a daily routine.
Anyway, just up to here.
Up to here was the most peaceful time. Soon, Heena would change her clothes and go into the shower.
Sarang, who had been holding my arm, would take advantage of the gap when Somang got up and occupy my lap.
Somang would look at his sister with an unchildlike bitter smile and continue playing the game on the floor.
And when Heena came out of the bathroom and returned to the living room.
“…Han Sarang. Shouldn’t you go in and do your homework?”
She would start saying that to Sarang, filled with the desire to hug me.
—
“Mom is always clinging to Dad on the weekends!”
“Of course, Dad is Mom’s!”
“Not all of him! Some of him is mine!”
“……”
I didn’t pay any attention to my wife and daughter arguing. Never make eye contact.
Because I can’t take anyone’s side.
-Ding! Ding!
Somang also paid no attention to them, leaning against the sofa and my legs, engrossed in the game.
I wanted to get out of here and sit next to Somang and talk about the game, but I couldn’t move because they were doing that with me in the middle.
Haa… Sarang is already sixteen. Until two years ago, she was a child who would puff out her cheeks and quietly step back when Heena claimed ownership.
Maybe it’s because she’s in puberty, but now she doesn’t give in and raises her voice with her.
By the way, Heena is still so pretty. She’s in her mid-thirties now, and to exaggerate a little, she looks like Sarang’s sister.
I’m such a happy dad to have such a daughter and wife…
“Right, Dad?!”
“What do you think, honey!”
“…Huh?”
The arrow was aimed at me, who had been planning to stay still like a corpse.
“On the weekend! Isn’t it better to go to a cafe in the city and go to a multi-room [A room with various entertainment options like video games, karaoke, etc.] to play?!”
“We go to the city often! There’s a festival, so it’s better to go on a picnic in the park and get some fresh air!”
“That’s really nothing! It’s just a park decorated a little bit!”
“It’s nice to spend time with family leisurely!”
Ah, that’s right.
I was wondering what to do this weekend because both Heena and I didn’t have anything special to do.
The two of them, who had been ranting for a while, were waiting for my answer. The sight of them staring at me with their eyes wide open was quite scary.
What should I do?
I thought about it for a moment, but it was impossible to choose one of the two opinions. In this situation, it wasn’t easy to say, ‘Then why don’t we go to all of them?’ because they would want me to agree with them.
Well, both of them are very easy women for me, so it’s not difficult to appease them even if they get sulky.
Anyway, I can’t pass it on to Somang either.
“Dad! Which one do you like better?! Isn’t the city better? We can eat delicious food and play games together!”
“Isn’t the park better?! We can all eat lunch! We can sit and get some fresh air and take pictures!”
“Hmm…”
Actually, I don’t care where we go, but I can’t choose one of them.
“Then, shall we.”
“Yeah!”
“Yeah!”
“Go to the zoo?”
“……”
“……”
It’s a course that we’ve used a lot since before, but if it’s the zoo, we can have a picnic and create a picnic atmosphere as Heena wants.
Besides, I and the kids like animals, so I think it’s not a bad choice.
However, as soon as they heard my words, Heena and Sarang made dissatisfied faces.
“…You don’t like it?”
“Are you going to grin while looking at the red panda again? Leaving us all behind!”
“It’s obvious! You’re not even going to look at us while playing with the little animals!”
“No, what are you…”
I’m going to see cute animals, so of course I have to look at the animals…
“Every time we go! Every time we go, you only look at small animals like rabbits without looking at us!”
“That’s right, Mom, do you know? Dad was looking at a lot of ferret pictures on his laptop the other day?”
“Then you’re just going to look at ferrets this time? You used to look at red pandas so much when you were dating me?”
“……”
How did this happen?
Why are they suddenly working together to.
I was very upset, but it was not a good choice to make unnecessary excuses to the two who were angry. Besides, it wasn’t like it never happened, so I had nothing to say.
So, when I sat still without saying anything more, the two of them complained about how they liked cats more than them for a while, and then got up from their seats.
“Dad, that’s too much!”
“Fine! If you like ferrets more than us, go ahead!”
“No…”
“Hmph! Mom, are you hungry? There’s some stew I made earlier, so eat that. Leave Dad here!”
“I have to eat what Sarang made~ Let’s go.”
“Yeah!”
In the end, they left me behind and went to the kitchen, but I thought it was a relief that today’s argument was over.
The villain… is familiar…
I was exhausted in just a few minutes. Thanks to that, Somang came up and sat next to me on the sofa, and whispered softly in my ear.
“Dad. I like the zoo.”
“Thank you, Somang…”
You’re the only one for me, my son…
Next episode
A weekend with good weather.
Park Seong-ju, an employee working at a department store clothing store, thought.
‘Wow… she’s so pretty today too.’
While occasionally responding to customers’ inquiries, he was diligently watching two mothers and daughters out of the corner of his eye.
The two people were laughing cheerfully and happily choosing clothes.
“Mom! Don’t you think this would look good on Dad?”
“It’s pretty~ But Dad doesn’t like bright colors very much.”
“But he wears everything we pick out for him~ I want to see Dad wearing it.”
They were quite familiar customers to him, who had been working at this store for several years. They weren’t customers he saw very often, but they were definitely etched in his memory.
It’s not common to remember someone’s face in a department store where hundreds or thousands of people come and go every day. But he couldn’t forget those customers.
The first reason.
Without saying more, it’s because they’re pretty. Both the mother and daughter had striking beauty that made him wonder if they were celebrities or influencers when he first saw them. Almost every man would turn around, and even women would turn around at least once.
The second reason.
It’s because those two people are mother and daughter. When he first heard the daughter say ‘Mom,’ he doubted his ears for a moment. He just thought they were sisters with quite an age gap, but she said she was her mom.
But when you look at the mother, it wasn’t just because she looked young, but also because she didn’t look old in reality. As a human being, you can’t have that kind of face even after you’re over forty.
Unless you’re trying to look young in TV or on the internet with all sorts of edits.
And the last reason.
“Did you see everything?”
“Dad! Try this on!”
“Which one? Of course, I’ll accept what Sarang picked out… No, wait a minute. Why yellow…”
“I thought it would look good on Dad. Somang, this is for you!”
“Pink…”
The ‘daughter,’ who would have definitely spread on the internet as a ‘first love girl’ if she had appeared in a movie or drama, gave a shirt to each of the man and young child who had just come inside.
The ‘dad’ smiled awkwardly and accepted it. And next to him was a small boy. He was holding a light pink t-shirt, just like the mother’s clone.
That family itself was the last and biggest reason why he couldn’t forget these people.
In particular, when Park Seong-ju first saw them about two years ago, he secretly felt jealous and envious of the ‘dad.’
Because, in his opinion, that man was relatively ordinary compared to the other three. Of course, if you look closely, he has a warm and neat impression, but he couldn’t help but be lacking compared to the beauties around him.
So, for the first two or three times, he was just envious, but the more he saw them, the more he just couldn’t take his eyes off the family.
The mother, the daughter, and the son were pretty, but the sight of them always laughing and making noise with the ‘dad’ in the middle made even the people watching smile.
It had already been almost three years since Park Seong-ju had been working here, and he had seen that family, who were regulars at the store, more than twenty times.
There hadn’t been a single time.
That they didn’t look happy.
“Excuse me~ Do you have this in S size in a different color?”
“Ah, yes! Please wait a moment. I’ll check for you.”
He responded to the ‘daughter,’ who approached him with quick steps, with a smile that came from the bottom of his heart.
In his opinion, to be honest, if you’re talking about who’s the prettiest, the ‘mom’ was definitely the top.