A Slightly Noisy Family
I spent some time hanging out with the kids while we waited. The living room was filled with a cozy atmosphere I hadn't felt in ages.
"Dinner's ready~"
Mom's voice called from the kitchen.
"Let's go."
I stood up and said. The kids followed along.
When we sat at the table, all sorts of food were already laid out. Steaming rice and side dishes.
"...Wow."
I murmured in quiet admiration.
"It's been forever since I've had Mom's cooking."
I sat down with Psi and Dmol. Then I portioned out food onto separate plates for Kent, Compi, Compf, and Compa.
"Here."
"Easier to eat like this."
Compi, Compf, and Compa lunged straight for the meat like they'd been waiting, while Kent quietly went for the veggies.
Psi picked up her fork and started eating calmly, and Dmol began her meal quietly beside her.
Just like that, dinner started, and a moment later, Mom glanced at me with a sly smile.
"Sung-jun-ah."
"...Yeah?"
I answered without thinking.
"So."
"Did you make a girlfriend when you went up there?"
"...?"
I froze for a second.
Mom continued casually.
"Or at least..."
"Someone you're seeing?"
"...Mom."
I let out an incredulous laugh.
"No."
"Nothing like that."
I added, picking up my chopsticks.
"Right now..."
"I don't even have time for that."
"...?"
Mom narrowed her eyes.
"Why not?"
I said naturally.
"I'm too busy hanging out with the kids."
The moment those words left my mouth, heads nodded in unison beside me.
Nod.
Nod.
It was Psi and Dmol.
"...Yeah."
Psi spoke first.
"Dad's busy."
Dmol added quietly.
"...Taking care of us."
Mom's gaze slowly shifted to the two girls.
"... "
Then she let out a soft chuckle.
"I see?"
Her expression held a strangely meaningful glint.
"Still..."
"You're at that age now, so..."
"...Mom."
I cut her off quickly.
"Let's eat."
It felt like it could drag on forever otherwise.
Psi narrowed her eyes slightly at Mom, while Dmol quietly observed the situation.
The air at the table grew subtly tense.
But I pretended not to notice and kept eating.
"...This is good."
Mom watched me with a small smile.
And that smile carried the leisure of someone who'd caught on to something.
Mom paused mid-bite and looked at me.
"Sung-jun-ah."
"Since you're back home..."
"How long before you head up again?"
I thought for a moment before answering.
"Probably..."
"Less than a month."
"School's out for a month."
Mom nodded.
"Got it."
Then she smiled faintly.
"That gives us some time, then."
I chuckled lightly and nodded.
Dinner continued for a bit before Mom spoke up again.
"Tonight,"
"when Dad and your little sister get home..."
"...?"
I looked up.
"I'll explain things,"
"but you should talk to them too."
I answered right away.
"Of course."
After dinner, I headed to my room with the kids.
Opening the door revealed a familiar sight.
"...Wow."
Almost nothing had changed. The desk, the bed, even the stuff from my childhood—it was all the same.
I slowly looked around the room.
"...Right here."
I murmured softly.
"This is where I first met Psi."
Memories from back then flooded in.
I stood there quietly for a moment.
Then.
Tap.
The kids gathered around me.
I turned and smiled.
"Yeah."
"Now..."
"you guys are here."
Psi and Dmol smiled faintly.
Kent, Compi, Compf, and Compa naturally clustered around me too.
We relaxed in the room like that, passing the time.
How much time passed?
Bang!
A loud noise came from outside the door.
"Mom! I'm home!"
A familiar voice. It was my little sister.
"What's for dinner?"
"Smells amazing!"
Mom laughed as she replied.
"Today"
"your brother came down, so I made a big lunch spread."
"...What?"
A brief silence.
Then slam!
My door flew open roughly.
"Oppa—"
Ha-rin froze in place.
The scene before her.
On the bed.
Me and the kids all tangled up together.
A moment of silence.
Then
"Kyaaaaah!!!"
Ha-rin screamed.
"Oppa's assaulting weird little girls!!!"
"...Hey."
I shot up immediately.
"Ha..."
I sighed, rubbing my forehead.
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
I said to Ha-rin.
"What do you even think of me?"
Laughter exploded from the living room.
"Puhahaha!"
"...Why's Mom laughing too?"
I muttered in disbelief.
Meanwhile, Psi and Dmol had gone stiff.
"... "
"...Assaulting?"
Dmol's eyes narrowed slightly, and Psi slowly tilted her head.
The vibe turned subtly dangerous.
Oblivious, I just sighed.
"...Seriously."
"Explaining's getting annoying."
Ha-rin stared back and forth between me and the kids, still in shock.
And the misunderstanding was only deepening.
That's when Psi spoke first.
"...It's not assault."
Her voice was calm.
"We're just hanging out."
"Don't accuse Dad."
The air froze.
"...What?"
Ha-rin's eyes went wide.
Then she yelled right away.
"Oppa, wait—"
"You had kids in that short time?!"
"...Ha."
I rubbed my forehead.
"Hey."
"Does that even make sense?"
Mom stepped in a moment later to sort things out.
She explained calmly, and Ha-rin nodded along.
"Hmm... so that's it..."
"Dinosaurs from your ability..."
"that turned human?"
She thought for a bit, then tilted her head.
"But..."
"No matter how I think about it, does this make sense?"
I shot back immediately.
"Awakeners make sense?"
"...Ah."
Ha-rin paused.
"...True."
She accepted it.
But her gaze turned back to me.
"Still, Oppa."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Aren't you being too touchy-feely?"
"...What?"
"You've never done that with me."
I tilted my head.
"...?"
"You and—"
I said naturally.
"—my kids are the same?"
"...Ha?"
Ha-rin's face hardened.
"Still, that's too much!"
Only then did I glance down.
On my lap.
Psi and Dmol were perched on either side, with Kent stretched out long between them.
Compi, Compf, and Compa were scampering around, playing.
"... "
I looked back up.
"...What's the problem?"
I meant it.
That's when Psi spoke.
"...With us."
Dmol followed.
"...it's different from you."
Silence.
"...Wow."
Mom burst out laughing.
"Puhahaha!"
Ha-rin stared at me in utter disbelief.
"...This is ridiculous."
I furrowed my brows slightly.
"Not you."
"Park Ha-rin."
"Dad's little sister."
Dmol nodded right away.
"Yes."
And she said politely.
"...Ha-rin-nim."
"...Wow."
Ha-rin clutched her head.
Then she whispered to Mom as she approached.
"...He's my brother,"
"but he's seriously clueless."
Mom held back a laugh as she replied.
"Clueless for just a day or two?"
"...Ha."
I heard the exchange but had no idea what the issue was.
I just tilted my head.
As the conversation continued, Psi and Dmol nodded in unison.
"...He's clueless, yeah."
"...Yeah."
I flinched for a second.
"...No."
But I brushed it off.
"Yeah, yeah."
I casually stroked their heads.
Pat pat.
Psi and Dmol leaned into it at the same time.
"...Mm..."
"...Ah..."
Soft, satisfied sounds slipped out.
Ha-rin grimaced at the sight.
"...Ha."
"Oppa."
"I'm not one to talk, but"
She paused, then said more seriously.
"Be careful."
"...What?"
I tilted my head.
Ha-rin looked at me.
"From what I see,"
"you'll get taken out without anyone noticing later?"
"...?"
I was even more confused.
"What the heck?"
That's when Psi and Dmol exchanged glances.
And snicker.
They chuckled softly.
"... "
A chill ran down my spine at that.
"...Hey."
"What."
"What's up."
"What is it?"
Anxiety bubbled up.
Then.
Grab.
Psi and Dmol reached out at once.
And cupped my face.
"Dad."
"Don't worry about it."
"...Yes."
"It's fine."
They said it so naturally.
Which made me even more anxious.
"...No, that makes me more worried?"
I muttered, but they were already back to normal.
I finally sighed it off.
Ha-rin shook her head watching.
"...You're doomed."
"I can see your future, seriously."
"...What're you even saying."
I muttered softly.
That's when Mom cut in.
"Anyway."
"You're leaving in about a month anyway."
She looked around at us.
"Get to know each other in the meantime."
"Plenty of time,"
"plenty to talk about."
I nodded.
"...Yeah, sure."
We kept chatting like that.
Laughing, sharing little stories—it was peaceful and comfortable, a long-overdue family time.
That's when.
Click.
The front door opened.
"...Huh?"
I turned.
Familiar footsteps. Dad.
"I'm home."
Dad walked into the living room and stopped.
"... "
His gaze slowly scanned.
Me. Psi. Dmol. Kent. Compi, Compf, Compa.
And back to me.
"... "
Dad muttered.
"...Am I seeing things right now?"
I let out a deep sigh.
"...Dad."
"I'll explain."
That day, I had to give the same explanation for the third time.
Fortunately, Dad took it more calmly than expected.
"...Alright."
"The world's so weird these days anyway."
"...Could be."
"...That's scarier, though?"
I muttered softly.
But anyway, it was over.
The house had gotten a bit noisier, but it felt more like home than ever.