143 - Three Years Later, A New Normal (2)
TL/Editor: looloo
Status: ongoing
Illustrations: posted in discord
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It was the weekend, and we returned to my family’s house for the first time in a long while—Heena, Sarang, and I.
Since graduating from college, we visited fairly often. Before that, it was hard for us to visit unless they came to see us, because we were too busy.
My parents were a bit disappointed that I still lived with my in-laws. Actually, it wasn’t because they missed me, but because they missed seeing Sarang.
However, our house had only my old room available, which was too small for the three of us. It was cramped even for just Heena and me.
The room we were currently living in at Heena’s house only had space for Sarang after we removed the desk and closet. There was no way we could all stay in my old room.
"Sarang!""Grandma, how have you been?"
"I’ve been well! How about you?"
"I’m good too!"
"Sarang, come to Grandpa too!"
"Grandpa!"
"Hehe, Grandpa is here!"
As soon as we entered the house with Heena and Sarang, Sarang ran around, showering my parents with her love.
She hugged Grandma, then hugged Grandpa.
Our mom, who rarely showed expressions, beamed brightly whenever she saw Sarang. Sarang was probably the only one in the world who could make her smile like that.
"Mother, I brought some health drinks for you."
"Why did you buy something like this?"
"I'm sorry we don’t visit more often."
"Don’t be sorry. I know you’re busy. Take a rest. We’ll watch Sarang."
Sarang was well-behaved, so she wouldn’t tire them out. We brought her because my parents missed her, not because we needed a break.
So, we sat on the living room sofa, watching my parents play with Sarang.
"Daddy made me a... a heart... a heartcake?"
"Oh, did he? That must have been nice for you."
"It was so delicious! I want to eat it again!"
"Should Grandma ask Daddy to make it again?"
"Yes! But... but..."
"Hmm? Why?"
Sarang, who had been talking loudly with Grandma, suddenly lowered her voice and whispered in Grandma’s ear. Of course, we could all hear it.
"Don’t tell Mommy that Sarang asked. She’ll scold me."
We all silently laughed at her adorable request. After a moment, Mom whispered back to Sarang.
"Mommy will scold you?"
"Yes. Sarang ate too many snacks... yesterday... Daddy and I got scolded..."
We did get scolded. Not on the pancake day, but because we finished two bags of snacks before dinner yesterday.
Honestly, we deserved it. Sarang couldn’t eat her dinner properly because of it.
"Oh dear, that’s not good. I’ll tell Mommy that Grandma wants to give Sarang a heartcake."
"Hehe, thank you, Grandma! Sarang will give you a kiss!"
"Really? Here, here~"
-Smooch!
Sarang kissed Grandma’s cheek and then began chattering about recent events. Dad, watching her fondly, came over to me and asked quietly,
"Yeonho, what’s a heartcake? Do you know how to make cakes?"
"I made pancakes for her a few days ago. On a day when her daycare was closed."
"Did she like it?"
"She ate it well. She loves honey too."
"Why did you get scolded by Heena?"
"I gave her too many snacks before dinner yesterday..."
"Well, you deserved that."
"Come on, Dad. If Sarang kept asking you for snacks, you wouldn’t be able to resist either."
"Hehe, maybe. Sarang must love snacks because she takes after you."
"Seems like it. We even like the same kinds."
"Hehe..."
Heena, who had been listening to our conversation, suddenly burst into laughter.
"What's so funny?"
"Remember when you said you hoped Sarang would inherit my taste in food, so she wouldn't like unhealthy things too much?"
"Did I?"
"Yes. But her taste is exactly like yours."
"Ahem..."
"Just the other day, when Sarang went for a walk with Grandma, she stared at the street food stalls."
"She does that with us too. Every time we go out, she and I always end up with skewers in our mouths."
I couldn't argue. Sarang's taste was just like mine. She loved street food, sweets, and snacks. She wasn't obsessed, but she liked them quite a bit, just like me. �
So, whenever Sarang wanted to eat something outside, she looked to me first. She knew I wanted it too.
Of course, I couldn't resist buying her what she wanted. We usually shared one, so she didn't eat too much.
-Click.
"Yawn..."
While we were talking about our similar tastes, I heard the door open behind me, and my sister-in-law came out looking utterly exhausted.
She must have been worn out from overtime on Friday.
She scratched her head and was heading to the bathroom when she noticed us in the living room and widened her eyes.
"Oh! Yeonho! Heena! Does that mean...!"
"Ah! Big Aunt!"
"Sarang!!!"
Sarang, who had been playing with Grandma, pointed at my sister-in-law and shouted. My sister-in-law rushed to her, crying out, and hugged Sarang tightly, rubbing her face against her.
"Ah~ my dear Sarang!! You came to visit!? You're so cute today!! Wait, Big Aunt bought a doll for you!"
"Really?!"
"Really! But didn't you miss Big Aunt?"
"I missed you so much!"
We rarely mentioned my sister-in-law at home, although Grandma and Grandpa often said they missed her.
I didn't interrupt Sarang's lip service to get the doll.
After a while of holding Sarang and enjoying her happiness, my sister-in-law went to her room and brought out a small cat doll, just the right size for Sarang to hold.
Sarang, who had loved cat dolls since she was a baby, brightened up as soon as she saw it.
Most of the dolls we bought when she was younger had been donated to nearby daycare centers or orphanages, so there were only a few left at home.
We thought she'd like different dolls as she grew older, but Sarang still adored cats.
"Wow! A kitty!"
"Do you want this cat doll, Sarang?"
"Yes!"
"But there's a condition!"
Holding the cat doll like a hostage, my sister-in-law poked her lips with her finger and continued.
"If you give Big Aunt a kiss right here, I'll give it to you!"
"Ah! But..."
Sarang hesitated. Despite being affectionate, she only allowed lip kisses from Heena and me. Cheek kisses were the limit for everyone else.
I never asked why, but she had been like this ever since she became aware of her surroundings.
My sister-in-law probably knew this and wanted to take advantage of the situation to get a kiss.
She had chosen the perfect doll to entice Sarang, who now found herself torn.
After fidgeting for a bit, Sarang eventually approached my sister-in-law with her charming cuteness.
"Sarang will kiss your cheek!"
"If you don't kiss my lips, I won't give you the doll!"
"But that's not allowed..."
"Hmm~? Why not? If you don't kiss my lips, you won't get it!"
"But... Hayang said she wants to play with Sarang..."
"Hayang? Oh, this?"
For a moment, I wondered what she was talking about, but then I realized that she had already named the white doll.
"Hayang wants to play with Sarang?"
"Yes... Hayang wants to meet Sarang's friends at home and play together!"
"But there are many friends for Hayang here too? Big Aunt is Hayang's friend too?"
"Still... I promised to play with Allok..."
She seemed to be saying anything she could think of to avoid kissing on the lips. I whispered to Heena,
"Who is Allok again?"
"That's Sarang's pillow."
"Oh~"
Right, the cat-shaped nap pillow. It was colorful, so she called it Allok.
Anyway, a fierce standoff continued between my sister-in-law, who desperately wanted a kiss on the lips, and Sarang, who wanted to settle for a cheek kiss.
Seeing Sarang getting more and more sullen, my sister-in-law finally gave in.
"Alright, alright. I'm sorry, Sarang. If you kiss my cheek, I'll give you Hayang."
"Really...?"
"Yes! Here, kiss."
"Kiss!"
-Smooch!
As soon as my sister-in-law surrendered, Sarang stood up and kissed her cheek. Then she happily hugged the white cat doll.
"Daddy! Big Aunt gave me Hayang!"
"Did you say thank you to Big Aunt?"
"Oh! I didn't! Daddy, play with Hayang! Hayang, listen to Daddy! Sarang will be back!"
Sarang handed me Hayang and ran back to my sister-in-law, bowing deeply.
"Thank you!"
"Thank you for the cheek kiss!"
My sister-in-law bowed back. After exchanging bows, Sarang ran back to me and hugged Hayang again.
"What to do! At home, there are Hayang, Allok, Toto, and Jini! What to do? There's too many friends for Allok!"
Since so many people gave Sarang presents, she always had an enthusiastic reaction, making it rewarding to give her gifts.
As everyone watched with smiles, a question came to my mind.
"Sarang, why can't you kiss on the lips? You do it with Daddy and Mommy."
Sarang's answer was typical of her. Or rather, typical of Heena’s daughter.
"Sarang's lips belong to Daddy! Mommy's lips belong to Daddy too, so Mommy can!"
"Oh..."
Is that so?
Heena, why are you nodding with such a smug look?