＜Episode 136＞ First Steps
The phone in my back pocket vibrated softly.
After concentrating on coding for a while, I was on my way to the water purifier to drink my throat.
I took out my phone while receiving cold water from a tumbler.
When I unlocked it, I found a KakaoTalk message from Si-eun. I just sent the video without any accompanying message. In the thumbnail, Hana was seated holding the side of the sofa.
We’re having a good time together, so I guess he meant not to worry.
I played the video without thinking deeply.
In the video, one of them had an expression of preoccupation with something. It was the face he showed when he brought a new toy in front of him.
Soon, Hana grabbed the side of the sofa and stood tall. This includes “Good job. One.” Si-eun’s voice of praise followed.
Then, after one moment, he removed his hand from the sofa.
One step closer towards the camera.
The video shakes sharply. Surprised Si-eun took a deep breath.
Then, as he approached Hana, who was sitting down, the video ended.
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My whole body stiffened as I held the phone in my hand.Even though the water from the water purifier that filled the tumbler was getting wet to my hands, I couldn’t even move.
“Uh… … .”
Surprised, I even let out such an exclamation. A smirk escaped from his mouth.
Even if an employee standing nearby gave him a suspicious glance, he didn’t care.
that too.
Because I just succeeded in walking for the first time in my life.
[What do you think? Are you surprised?]
When I immediately went up to the roof and made a phone call, Si-eun asked in a sensible tone.
[yes. surprised. That too.]
[Hi-Hi.]
kills like a naughty dog Are you happy that you succeeded in surprise as planned? This cute reaction was, of course, lovely, but now there’s something to talk about.
[Have you started walking?]
I asked without hesitation.
I’ve seen Hana grab something and stand up for a relatively long time. Is it lack of strength in the legs or lack of sense of balance? As soon as I let go of my hand, I just sit there.
However, in the video I saw earlier, he stood upright and even took a step. It was an obvious step.
Si-eun thought about my question for a while, saying [Ummm~].
[I think I still need to practice more. I tried to get up and walk a few times today, but everything failed except for the video.]
[okay?]
[yes.]
Si-eun chuckles as if she is in a good mood.
[Still, the first step has been taken. It won’t be long before I start walking at all.]
[I guess. Because anything is difficult the first time.]
[right.]
Si-eun, who answered with an excited tone, shed a clear laugh once more.
A fresh high tone that penetrates into the ear. He seemed to have the magic to make the listener smile too. Without the strength to resist the magic, I had to keep a quiet laugh.
He asked, covering his mouth.
[It’s been a little over 11 months now. Isn’t this pretty quick for the first step?]
[Probably. At the earliest, around this time, at the end of the day, I even walk past stones. It will be on the fast axis.]
[Well.]
He nodded excitedly.
It makes me happy to hear that they are growing faster than other children. Raising a child is not a competition, but there is nothing you can do about it. This is how parents usually feel.
[Looks like we are really genius.]
When he giggled, Si-eun was a bit squeamish.
[Is it because he looks like a smart dad?]
He returned it as if mimicking that tone.
[Is it because my mother took such good care of me at home?]
[What are you talking about.]
Perhaps the compliment was modest, he exclaimed and snorted. I paid the same back and that’s it. It’s just cute anyway.
Anyway, Hana took the first step. It was unbelievably good news. Even after returning to the office, I was worried about what to do if I was humming unconsciously.
And most of all, I wanted to go home and see it with my own eyes.
said quietly.
[I’ll get in early today. I just stepped on the accelerator.]
[Don’t step on it, come slowly. Idiot.]
[Yep. sorry.]
As soon as he apologized, Si-eun chuckled and clicked his tongue.
It is better to bow your head quickly to the sound of scolding. It was one of the few lessons I learned in my short marriage.
◎
When I got home from work slowly, Hana was still practicing walking.
Apparently, the walking posture was very accustomed to. Now, even if I take my hand off the straw, I can no longer fall.
Like the video, I couldn’t take the courage to take a step, but at this point, I felt like I was going to be walking in stride.
Perhaps because she wanted to show her mom and dad a successful scene, Hana kept getting up and trying to walk away.
Even if he fell, he did not give in and repeatedly tried to get up and challenge himself.
A smile naturally bloomed on our lips as we watched this extraordinary figure.
Is it the aftermath of the constant challenge of walking? One fell off earlier than the original.
Normally, I would have played with Hana and chatted with each other. As long as one was asleep, there was no need.
After putting one in the nursery, we moved to the kitchen.
Si-eun, who was clinging to me, stood in front of the sink with slow steps.
He placed a large watermelon on the chopping board and immediately started cutting sharply with skillful gestures.
I sat down on a chair and watched Si-eun like that.
Wearing dolphin pants in a thin southern coat. Soft-looking thighs are exposed. The inside of the arm that was not exposed to sunlight was bright enough to be dazzling.
The hot weather in August made Si-eun’s attire lighter. Turning on the air conditioner would be cool, but I didn’t turn it on as much as possible because it might be bad for Hana.
It’s a shame that I got air conditioning at work during work. Anyway, this is Si-eun who suffers a lot.
Soon, Si-eun set a large bowl down on the table. There was watermelon. The pieces are laid out so that they are easy to hold and eat with one hand.
“thank you.”
Si-eun smirked when she expressed her thanks.
“I have no one to thank. How did you decide to buy a watermelon?”
“no. Well, just.”
answered roughly.
There’s nothing special about it when the head of the house buys something on his way home from work. But to put it bluntly, I’m not a good person for this kind of thing. I understood why Si-eun was curious and asked.
“just?”
I picked up a slice of watermelon.
“It’s a commemoration of the first step. And, well, it’s summer, so I thought I’d like it if I bought a cool watermelon.”
“yes. Well done.”
Si-eun follows after and picks up a watermelon.
“One said it was really delicious.”
“I’m glad.”
“right.”
Saying this, Si-eun took a bite of the watermelon.
Si-eun, who was chewing a watermelon, raised her eyes wide.
“Wow, it’s delicious. Very sweet.”
“okay?”
At that, I also bit my lip. As soon as I chewed it, the sweetness spreads throughout my mouth.
Definitely sweet and cool. I picked out anything that was displayed in the mart. It looks like they were lucky enough to have brought a high-quality watermelon.
After that, Si-eun and I ate the watermelon without a word. When I came to the kitchen to talk, it became an ordinary snack time. It was funny.
I don’t usually enjoy snacks, but I do like fruits quite a bit. There are very few watermelons that taste so good. I couldn’t help but move my hands before my mouth.
As I quietly put the watermelon into my mouth, an old memory suddenly came to mind.
Si-eun tilted her head as she burst into laughter.
“why?”
“no.”
After I chewed and swallowed all the watermelons in my mouth.
“Once upon a time, I remember when Honey first came here with a snack.”
“What? When did that happen?”
Si-eun snorted and picked up a piece of watermelon again.
That’s right. It’s been almost two years since we’ve just met. It was a distant past.
No, we dated, got married, and had children. Would it be more accurate to say that it was rather fast?
Although it is a very old thing in time, I still remember it clearly.
Because it was the first time Si-eun and I met.
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Maybe that was our first step.From then on, we’ve been running at a truly incredible speed.
He did not stop, and continued to grow in love.
I feel a little proud. I also felt that something was boiling inside me.
I don’t want to be a man who is moved by eating watermelon in the kitchen. The topic quickly changed.
“They are growing really fast. I even took the first step.”
“Well, of course not.”
Si-eun replied softly. In both hands, he was holding a watermelon piece at a time.
How delicious it is to eat like that. He decided to hand over the remaining pieces to Si-eun, and wiped his hands with the wet tissue placed next to him.
While alternately biting the watermelon in both hands, Si-eun continued the story.
“Babies usually grow faster the younger they are. Maybe it’s more noticeable because I’m young and small.”
“Ugh.”
“Besides, it’s not that fast. We also have a first birthday party next month.”
“but. right.”
It was as he said. One is now 11 months old. Next month will mark the end of a year since you were born.
On the weekend of the first year, we also made a reservation for a first birthday party. I took pictures for the event and ordered a gift in return. With only a few details, the preparation is complete.
After a year of various incidents, one was approaching one year old.
It feels like yesterday when the obstetrics and gynecology department gave Si-eun courage. It’s been a year already.
Do happy times always go by so quickly?
“honey.”
While I was immersed in the sentiment, I heard Si-eun calling.
He shook his head and calmed himself.
“Uh, why?”
Si-eun responds immediately with a calm voice.
“After the first birthday party, shall we show one to my mother?”
“To your mother-in-law?”
“yes.”
Si-eun nodded her head slightly.
After Hana was born, she did not go to the hospital where her mother-in-law was. Likewise, I never went to my parents’ hometown. It was decided that one would have a hard time along the way.
However, unlike my parents who came to visit on New Year’s Day, my mother-in-law had difficulty moving. At best, it was all about showing one image through video or video call.
However, from the edge of the stone, there won’t be a problem even if you ride a car for a long time. Going down with Hana itself wasn’t too much of a problem.
but… … .
“Isn’t one of them too young to be able to enter the hospital room?”
This was a concern.
I’ve been told that it’s impossible to visit a baby. It’s probably because your immune system is weak and you’re vulnerable to infection.
If you go down to the hospital and come back without seeing your face, it would be a waste of time.
“Oh, actually.”
Si-eun, who was so lucky to answer my question, smiled happily.
“My mother, you said you can get out of the hospital for a while.”
“Uh, really?”
This is the first news I’ve heard. When asked in a hurry, Si-eun said with a smile on her face.
“yes. I got a call a few days ago. I’ve gotten better, so I got permission. It is difficult to be outside for a long time yet.”
It was a tone full of joy. You must be infinitely happy that your mother’s condition has improved.
Until I attended the wedding, there were many restrictions. Was it gradually getting better?
In that case, there is absolutely no reason to refuse. I also smiled broadly and nodded.
“okay. OK. Because I miss seeing my maternal grandmother.”
“yes. thank you.”
Si-eun answered with a happy tone.
Although not as close as Si-eun and my parents, I also became quite close to my mother-in-law. The desire to show one of us is not so different from Si-eun.
“And I mean.”
As I was immersed in such thoughts, Si-eun added a word.
This time, they didn’t take their lips apart, just their eyes. Si-eun was looking at me with a smile on her face.
Si-eun’s mouth slowly opened as if she had accepted something positively.
Then, in a slightly calmer tone.
“Let’s come and show my dad one too.”
said this
Startled, he took a breath.
The expression ‘my father’ is equivalent to Si-eun’s death at a young age and, to me, the father-in-law… … Because it means Si-eun’s father.
It is not uncommon for Si-eun to come out of her mouth. I have had these memories with my father, and I have heard many times that I have such memories.
However, there was a part that Si-eun continued to avoid.
It was related to his father’s death.
Until now, I have never heard a story about my father’s end.
How did you die, and when exactly was it? It’s been over a year since we got married and I still don’t know.
He wasn’t ignorant enough to ask naively.
However, Si-eun’s wounds were not shallow enough to tell him about it easily.
Si-eun’s words to come to see her father carried an extremely heavy weight.
It may be rude to show a sense of embarrassment. I answered as bluntly as possible.
“Um, yes. okay.”
Then Si-eun nodded her head slightly.
“yes. thank you.”
Si-eun also seemed to speak brightly so as not to burden me.
But there was a pain that could not be hidden on his face.
After that, neither of us spoke. It was because my heart was pounding when there were serious conversations, and it was difficult to speak up prematurely.
The silence created by the silence made my ears hurt again.
While eating the watermelon, I heard chewing noises, but now I can’t even hear them.
When I glanced at him, Si-eun’s hands and mouth, which were picking up and eating the watermelon, stopped.
There was one piece of watermelon left in the bowl. Si-eun looked down at the bowl the same way I did, but didn’t touch it at all.
I ate it so deliciously that I could pick it up with both hands. Are you trying to yield the last piece to me?
It’s been like this several times before. At this rate, even if I make concessions, it will only lead to a deadlock. You’d better take it quietly.
I’m about to pick up the last piece and bring it to my mouth… … A clever trick flashed through my mind.
Through the heavy atmosphere, she parted her lips.
“honey.”
“why?”
Si-eun answered with a slightly lowered tone.
Towards Si-eun like that, I thrust a watermelon.
“Oh~”
“… … what?”
Close your eyes and watch out. what would be
“Take a bite.”
“… … what?”
Si-eun smiled faintly at the sudden invitation.
“Did I leave it for you to eat honey?”
“Still, take one bite. I want to feed you.”
“Uh, um… … .”
Si-eun blurs the tail. He was probably in trouble. The desire to eat watermelon and the desire to yield to me must collide.
For me, I want to hand over even this piece to Si-eun. Even if Han Sako refused, Si-eun could not readily accept it.
If so, how about asking for just one bite? Wouldn’t it be easy to accept such a small request?
It was as expected.
“okay.”
After hesitating for a while, Si-eun timidly agreed.
“Ah, Ann.”
He made a supremely cute sound and took a bite of the watermelon.
Perhaps because the face was as small as the mouth, it had the shape of a hamster with both cheeks filled with food.
Just looking at this lovely sight made me feel full.
After a while, Si-eun cleared her mouth and smiled.
“thank you.”
“What.”
There is something else to be grateful for for giving a bite between the couple. After giving a rough answer, I chewed the rest that Si-eun had left.
The sweet taste of watermelon lingered in my mouth again.
Si-eun’s voice continued as she was savoring the sweetness.
“… … In many ways, thank you.”
A word with no light meaning.
Here, I decided not to answer.