Chapter 32
Chapter 32
She's too adorable."
"I'm glad."
Mom started smiling softly, placing infinite trust in me.
"Mom believes you'll take good care of Dasom. You'll be a great big brother, right?"
"Yes. I definitely will."
I definitely would. I'd be the best big brother in the world. I'd treasure that tiny, precious little sister more than anything. I nodded when I heard Mom would be coming home in about a week. I suggested a postpartum care center, but she shook her head. And the reason was surprisingly... me.
"Why go somewhere else when my husband and son are waiting at home? That's more comfortable for me."
Her infinite trust and love toward me made me so grateful I didn't know what to say. I changed my KakaoTalk profile picture for the first time. From blank to a photo of Dasom. My background too. About an hour after I updated it, a message came from Seol-i. [Seol-i: Haneul-ah] [Seol-i: Is that baby in your profile pic Dasom?] [Seol-i: (squirrel emoticon with a question mark)] [(puppy emoticon nodding yes)] [How about it? Cute, right?] [Seol-i: Yeah!] [Seol-i: Super cute!!] [Seol-i: (squirrel emoticon beaming happily)] After finishing the KakaoTalk chat with Seol-i, I headed home. I cooked and ate alone like always, finished my homework, lay down, and started our call with Seol-i. Ever since coming back from her house, my new bedtime routine was calling Seol-i. Talking to her chased away my loneliness, and just sharing the day's stories made me so happy. Naturally, today's topic was Dasom.
"I wanna go see Dasom..."
"I'll call you when you can come over later."
"Really? Promise?"
"Promise."
I figured I could invite Seol-i over soon. Her parents would probably be fine with it. A week later exactly, when I got home from school, our house was no longer quiet.
"Haneul, you're back?"
"Good work today."
Mom and Dad welcomed me. *Snore... snore...* Along with the cutest snoring Dasom. The moment I saw her snoring in the crib I'd set up, I couldn't help but smile. I just smiled, nothing more. I didn't want to wake her while she slept so peacefully. Instead, I went to the living room and asked Dad, "Dad, can I invite Seol-i over? She wants to see Dasom."
"Not right away... but in a month, sure. After Chuseok."
"That'll be after midterms too... I'll call her then."
I relayed the conversation to Seol-i exactly, and she set the exact date, buzzing with excitement.
"I wanna see Dasom..."
Dasom must have some serious good fortune. Getting such a sweet big sister like Seol-i. *
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A month flew by in no time. The reason it passed so quickly? Our house's treasure, Dasom, of course. As a newborn, she was super sensitive. Any discomfort, and she'd cry for Mom, Dad, and me.
"Waaah...!!"
"Dasom~ What's wrong?"
"Waaah! Waaaaaah!!"
Yeah, like right now. The second Dasom started crying, I rushed to the crib, picked her up, and checked her diaper. Didn't seem soiled... Hungry? No, I'd fed her less than an hour ago. Only one conclusion in cases like this. "Wanna walk around the living room with big bro?"
"Waaaaaah...! Waaaaaah!!"
I hugged her close and gently bounced her up and down while pacing the living room. About twenty minutes later, her tears stopped, and she fell asleep in my arms. Mom, who was doing chores, looked at me apologetically.
"Haneul, sorry. You have studying to do—don't worry about Dasom."
"I'm fine. You're the one working harder, Mom."
Dad handles nights after work, Mom from early morning through afternoon. Everyone's pitching in—how could I not? Anyway, taking care of Dasom made time fly. Midterms for first year second semester felt over in a flash. And today...
"Can I come see Dasom...?"
"Of course."
Was the day Seol-i would visit to meet Dasom. She said it might be too soon, but she didn't refuse my invite. She must really want to see her. I took Seol-i on the bus. An hour later, when we arrived home, Mom greeted us right away.
"Seol-i~ Long time no see~" "Auntie, hi...! Feeling better?"
"Yep~ All good. Come on in!"
We entered carefully. Seol-i tossed her bag in my room and asked, "Haneul, where's Dasom?"
"Dasom's... probably in the master bedroom. One sec."
Even for Seol-i, some rooms were off-limits. Like the master bedroom. It's basic manners, friend or not. So instead of bringing her in, I decided to carry Dasom out to the living room. Assuming she was awake, of course. Luckily, she was—eyes wide open, staring at the mobile.
"Dasom~ Big bro's here~" "Ooh~ Kyaa~" Dasom flailed her arms and legs in welcome. The more I saw her, the more I smiled. So lovable, our Dasom. I picked her up carefully, and she nestled right into my arms like a pro.
"Dasom, big bro's gonna introduce you to a big sis."
With that, I carried her to the living room. Seol-i, sitting primly on the floor, looked up with sparkling eyes. Those eyes zeroed in on Dasom in my arms, naturally.
"This is Dasom?"
"Yeah. Wanna hold her?" *Nod nod nod* Seol-i nodded vigorously, so I sat beside her and placed Dasom on my lap where Seol-i could see her well. Dasom glanced at me, then stared right at Seol-i in front of her. After about three seconds of those big, round eyes fixed on Seol-i...
"WAAAAAAAAAH...!!!"
She burst into tears. Seol-i panicked, eyes shaking, but I'd half-expected this, so I scooped Dasom back up.
"Dasom, big bro's here~ Right here~" "Waaah...! Waaaaaah!! Woo... ooh... uh... ooh... heh...."
The instant she was in my arms, the crying stopped, and she started smiling. I was relieved, but a bit worried—for Seol-i's sake. Did she get hurt by Dasom's reaction? I glanced over anxiously. But there was Seol-i, surprisingly, giving a gentle smile to the baby who'd rejected her.
"...
Dasom, sorry, big sis." Even apologizing softly. Dasom stared right back at her. No more crying, and it felt like Seol-i's sincerity got through. I held Dasom close and hoped in my heart. That these two would get a little closer.