Mom's Surprise Office Visit
My grand dream of having my own room separate from Mom's workplace vanished. Well, I did get my own room, but it wasn't for sleeping. Mom and Dad looked at me and said,
"Sora, let's all sleep together—Mom and Dad with you!"
"Ah... Mom, Dad. I can sleep by myself just fine..."
"Sora...! Don't you want to sleep with Mommy anymore...?"
"No, but won't it be awkward for you two with me there?"
It wasn't even a single-room place anymore, so sharing a bedroom didn't make sense. And while we went back and forth like that, they still needed to make a sibling someday, right? Wouldn't my presence get in the way? Making a sibling wasn't bad in itself, but doing it in front of a young child like me would be way too risqué.
Even if they decided against having another kid, Mom and Dad were still in their prime at 28—full of youthful vigor. In my original era, people often didn't start their first real job until 30, so they were basically fresh chicks right now, eyes locking and sparks flying at a glance. They never showed it around me, but sometimes they'd head out together. When I asked, they'd say they were just meeting friends briefly... but I knew better. And I got it. The twenties are young; far from old age.
But even after hearing all that, Mom and Dad insisted on sleeping together. I could only sigh inwardly. What do you call this? Not quite mama's boy, but parents clinging to their daughter? Was this what they meant by love?
Anyway, I had a room now, but separate sleeping privileges were still off-limits. I slept right in the middle of Mom and Dad. There was only one bed to begin with, since I never asked for my own. It wasn't bad. We'd slept like this back in the single-room days too.
Our home saw a few changes like that. No more shivering through winter nights. We weren't cranking the boiler full blast, but it beat the old single-room where wind whistled right in. The place was properly sealed now.
Second, Mom quit her part-time job at the mart. Since I was earning plenty, she shifted from making money outside to supporting me at home. I thought it was the right call. This era's wages barely hit two million won—call it the 880,000-won generation. Even busting your ass for a month, you might not crack a million. Better for her to care for Dad and me; that was her best contribution. She'd barely managed the household before with the mart shifts. Circumstances left her no choice, of course.
All that brought some relief, but new issues cropped up.
"Sora~ Mommy wants to visit your workplace too~"
That's what Mom said. She wasn't tied up with housework all day anyway—quite the opposite. She spent way more time doting on me. Guess that meant she could tag along to my job now. I couldn't help but balk.
Was it okay to let her see me working? And to my adult mind, having Mom follow me to the office felt just like those helicopter moms on the news, hovering over their kids' companies. No regular employee would want their parents showing up at work. Not filial or anything—it just clashed with office culture. This wasn't Mom's turf.
But I was ridiculously young, which maybe made it different. Either way, I couldn't win against her stubbornness. Out we went together.
"Sora~"
Mom gripped my hand tight, grinning ear to ear. Even after all the hardships, her positivity shone like a blooming flower. I'd learned so much from her mindset—never giving up, unbreakable spirit. That was key.
Come to think of it, I hoped Dad would ditch the dangerous construction gigs soon and return to game developing. Sites like that were death traps; industrial accidents claimed lives daily. Behind a computer? No one dies typing. I'd bring it up with him later.
"Yeah?"
"Should we take a taxi?"
I shook my head firmly. Bus or subway beat taxi fares.
"Aww... Sora, Mommy hates buses and subways~"
"Okay."
Couldn't say no to that. Taxi it was to Songi Media—probably ten times a bus fare. Money down the drain, but for Mom? Worth it. Besides, it was company money. They covered exact bus/subway allotments monthly; anything extra came from my pocket. This ride burned ten days' worth.
We stood before the Songi Media building. Mom's eyes widened—it was a proper high-rise.
"Oh my! Sora, you work here?"
"Yep. My office is up on a high floor."
"Oh wow..."
Since she was here, might as well give the full tour. If coworkers saw me, they'd just think "cute kid," right? Time to lean into this child body—no more tiptoeing around stares!
We zipped through the entrance. I'd called ahead on the home phone to warn everyone. Dragging Mom straight to the office unannounced would've freaked out Team Leader Kim Sung-ho and Yoo Min-ah.
"Hmm..."
Mom scanned around with a scrutinizing gaze—like parents inspecting army barracks at an open house.
"Sora, anything bothering you at work?"
"Everyone's been really kind. No issues at all."
True enough. Songi Media folks were friendly and gentle, at least on the surface. Maybe they held back around a kid like me, but it all seemed warm and welcoming.
Mom nodded, pleased.
"Good to hear~ If anyone's mean, tell Mommy right away. I'll sort it out!"
"Sure."
Her love wasn't a burden—refreshing, even. As a pureblood orphan, real parents were impossible for me otherwise. Adoption's the only path, but that's not blood family. I was one-of-a-kind: an orphan reborn to birth parents. Today felt extra lively, joyful. No shame acting childish around Mom and Dad.
That was my downfall.
"Mom! Mom! Over here!"
Elevator doors opened; I bolted toward the office, waving wildly once close. But Yoo Min-ah spotted me—the door was ajar. Sliding inward, I hadn't noticed.
"Uh..."
"What's up, Sora~?"
Mom's innocent voice rang out, but my eyes locked on Yoo Min-ah smirking at me.
"Oh, Sora~ Acting all cutesy in front of Mom?"
"N-no, it's not like that!"
Back to adult mode—too late. That kid act was seared into Yoo Min-ah's memory forever.
I hung my head.
"Please... forget you saw that."
"No way! How could I forget Sora calling her mom like that? Too adorable."
"Eek."
I toddled straight to Mom, hiding beside her in embarrassment.
"Oh, you must be Sora's mom? Hi there~"
"Hello. I'm Yoo Da-som, Sora's mom."
Their first greetings went smoothly.