CHAPTER: 006 Is This For Real?!
CHAPTER: 006 Is This For Real?!
Yoonseul, lying face-down with his back and butt exposed, jerked his head up.
The director, who was about to insert the needles, flinched.
“I’m not a father.”
It was the doctor of Korean medicine who was startled by the patient’s words.
“Huh? But outside, there’s a baby…”
“They’re my younger siblings.”
Yoonseul’s voice was firm.
“Huh?”
The doctor shut his mouth.
After steadying the patient’s posture, he disinfected the painful area with an alcohol swab.
A short silence followed.
Then the doctor began inserting the needles.
The professional silence of a medical worker continued, but eventually the doctor spoke while placing the needles.
“…Taking care of babies is hard, isn’t it. My son is two now, and every time I carry him on my back or in my arms, my lower back… ugh.”
As he worked, he talked about himself.
“You’ve got it rough too, Director.”
Listening, Yoonseul nodded lightly.
At the doctor’s words, Yoonseul felt a sense of kinship.
In that moment, a question flashed through his mind.
He had been curious about the babies.
Usually, they slept too well.
After they drank formula and he burped them, a little later they would fall asleep with soft, even breathing.
To the point that he couldn’t help thinking, What if something is wrong?
After sorting out his thoughts, Yoonseul spoke while lying there with needles in him.
“Uh… Director. The babies sleep too well… Could something be wrong?”
“Huh? You’re blessed. I guess they’re easygoing?”
“Huh?”
Easygoing?
Are there babies who are “spicy,” too?
As Yoonseul was thinking that, the doctor’s voice came from behind his neck as he placed a needle there.
“If they eat well, poop well, and sleep well, they’re healthy. And you said they sleep well. That makes things easier for the one taking care of them.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. For now, stay lying down for a bit, and if anything’s uncomfortable, call me.”
“Yes.”
With needles in his back and waist, Yoonseul closed his eyes.
Meanwhile, in the waiting room, the clinic nurses couldn’t take their eyes off the babies lying in the stroller.
“The babies are so pretty, right? Isn’t that right, ma’am?”
The nurses exclaimed as they looked at the stroller.
“Wow—their eyelashes are so long. And look at their skin. They’re like porcelain. Porcelain.”
“And the dad getting acupuncture right now looked really young…”
“The dad was super handsome too?”
“Is that why? The babies are so pretty and handsome they could be baby models.”
“Haa—I’m jealous. If only I had a man with genes like that.”
Hearing the mutter, the nurse from the treatment room said,
“Ma’am—you know you’re greedy, right?”
“Yes, yes—I know. I was just saying.”
Ahem—
While the nurses whispered to each other, a dry cough sounded behind them.
They turned around.
“Director, did you come to see the babies too?”
“Yes.”
“The babies are really pretty, right?”
One of the nurses even squatted down to stare.
Glancing at her, the director nodded.
“They are. They resemble the patient a lot as well.”
“Huh? Of course they resemble him—he’s their dad.”
“He’s not their dad.”
“What?”
As the nurses stared, the director pressed a finger to his lips.
“They’re siblings.”
“…The age gap?”
“Sounds like their father is very healthy.”
The director nodded.
He didn’t know the details, but he felt sorry for the patient suffering childcare aches.
So he decided to provide extra care.
“Kim—note this. I’ll give patient Yoonseul chuna therapy.”
“You won’t bill for it?”
“No.”
After answering briefly, he took the babies’ wrists.
They’re healthy…
After tidying their clothes, he moved the stroller somewhere quiet.
“Awu—. (An oriental medicine clinic…)”
Garam muttered as the herbal scent brushed his nose.
“Uah? (An oriental medicine clinic?)”
Dasomi’s babble reached him.
“Ueo— (I guess older brother is sick.)”
“Eeh— (We were being as quiet as possible, weren’t we?)”
“Ao-eong— (We’re babies. Carrying us hurts him. And oppa used to be a doctor—like he ever exercised.)”
“Aaa— (You’re a mage. Can’t you raise his stamina or something?)”
“Eueu— (Shut up. You’re a spirit summoner—make healing water.)”
After arguing in babbles, the two babies turned away with a huff.
Tch—even if I want to help, there’s not enough mana…
Tch—even if I want to help oppa, I can’t see any spirits…
Haa—
Hyiu—
The nurses cooed, calling the babies cute.
After the treatment ended, Yoonseul left the acupuncture room once the nurse removed the needles.
“Come back in two days~”
“Yes—thank you for your work.”
After paying, Yoonseul pushed the stroller outside.
“After treatment, I feel better… Chuna therapy really works.”
Mm—
His back and spine felt smoother as he walked.
At the end of treatment, the director had used a chuna bed, accompanied by cracking sounds and clunking machinery.
His body felt lighter.
The two babies babbled in the stroller.
“Ah! Awu— (You gave oppa lotto numbers?)”
“Ah? Oua— (Yeah, but he’s not checking.)”
“Aa— (Shouldn’t we make him check?)”
“Oua— (Tonight… sleepy…)”
Garam cursed his body and fell asleep.
“Hiu— pu— (I’m sleepy too. This rocking feels nice.)”
Dasomi closed her eyes, uneasy.
I don’t help at all…
Clenching her tiny fist, she slept.
On the way to the supermarket, Yoonseul glanced into the stroller.
You guys…
After a moment, he pushed it inside and started shopping.
Tofu, vegetables, beef… detergent later.
As he walked, camping gear caught his eye.
Tents. Burners. Mess kits.
Ah—
The light in his eyes faded.
“What camping would I ever do.”
With a sigh, he moved on.
After shopping, he stopped at the base of the slope.
He took out two baby carriers, put one in front and one on his back, and started climbing.
“Huff— huff—”
With two babies, it was hard.
Halfway up, he braced against a wall.
“Awu—”
From his back, Garam raised a hand.
A warm wind brushed past.
Not winter wind—but gentle.
Hoo—
His body felt lighter.
Whatever—he hurried home.
On Garam’s fingertips, the golden light faded.
Later.
Slurp— smack—
The babies drank formula enthusiastically.
Yoonseul spoke carefully.
“I think I’ll need to get a job soon… so I’ll get a babysitter, okay?”
The babies only stared.
Thunk—
A bottle dropped.
“Oh—Garam, you’re done?”
After burping both babies, he laid them down.
“Kkyaa—”
Garam nearly cried, then suddenly smiled and kicked.
“Oh my—you’ve got leg strength now?”
Holding him, Yoonseul followed Garam’s pointing.
The coat pocket.
Rustle—
The lottery ticket.
“You want me to check this?”
“Kkaaah—!”
He checked.
His eyes shook.
“M-my god… first prize. And two?”
The babies touched hands.
“Awu— (Good job, ugly baby.)”
“Uaa-eu—? (Stop calling oppa ugly.)”
The phone rang.
The babysitter.
After hanging up, Yoonseul exhaled.
“Looks like things are finally working out.”