What the Forty-Three-Year-Old Baby Grabs at His First Birthday Party (1)
Choi Yoon-gi. It was only after becoming a newborn baby that Kim Chanyeol finally received the name he should have been given from the start. It also meant that he had completely bid farewell to his life as the wretched "Kim Chanyeol" of his past.
"Yoon-gi, say 'Mom.' Mom."
Even through his blurry infant vision, he could tell that the woman in her early twenties leaning over him was truly beautiful.
"No, no, his first word should be 'Dad,' Dad!"
Choi Yoon-gi’s vision shifted to the blurry figure of a man.
"I told you, he should say 'Mom' first."
"No, I said 'Dad'!"
Lying in his crib, looking at the faces of his mother and father with his underdeveloped eyes, Choi Yoon-gi felt nothing but pure happiness. It had been four months since he reclaimed his life. In those four months, he had lived receiving love that could only be described as "infinite."
Suddenly, Choi Yoon-gi’s expression crumpled. It had been a truly happy four months. The problem was that during those four months, Choi Deok-bae had also been floating around him, sticking by his side.
Ignoring Choi Deok-bae’s constant clicking of his tongue, Park Yeon-ji hurriedly lifted Choi Yoon-gi out of the crib.
"Oh my, looking at Yoon-gi’s expression, I think he might have pooped."
"Don't babies usually cry when they poop?"
"Our Yoon-gi rarely cries. That’s why I have to check on him often."
"Come to think of it, my friends said they couldn't even sleep properly when their babies were this young. We must be truly blessed."
"He’s already a filial son."
Although he couldn't speak yet, his mind was that of an adult, so Choi Yoon-gi never cried unless he absolutely needed something. Thanks to that, Choi Cheol-ho and Park Yeon-ji were able to shower him with even more love.
"Huh? He’s clean?"
As Park Yeon-ji looked puzzled while peeking into his diaper, Choi Deok-bae cackled. He wanted to tell him to please shut his mouth, but what could a four-month-old baby who couldn't even babble properly say? Knowing this, Choi Deok-bae was even more intent on teasing him.
Driven by Choi Deok-bae’s relentless teasing, Choi Yoon-gi made a desperate effort to say a curse word.
"...Dad!"
But the word that came out of his mouth was something entirely different.
"Honey! Did you hear that?"
With a voice full of deep emotion, Choi Cheol-ho scooped up Choi Yoon-gi, who hadn't even put his diaper back on yet.
"What?"
"Our Yoon-gi called me Dad!"
"I didn't hear it, so it doesn't count!"
"No! He definitely said Dad! Hahahaha!"
There was Choi Cheol-ho, looking incredibly happy, and Park Yeon-ji, looking disappointed that her chance for his first word had been stolen. And then there was Choi Yoon-gi, dying inside because he couldn't curse.
Life as a baby was monotonous, but Choi Yoon-gi was truly happy. 'Everything is great, but there’s just one thing that’s a bit annoying.'
That was the presence of Choi Deok-bae, who wouldn't stop blabbering in his ear. Aside from when he was sleeping, Choi Deok-bae was talking incessantly. If he could speak, he would have asked, "Were you a baseball player in your past life?" but unfortunately, he could only say a few simple nouns. Even now, at one year old, it was still impossible to speak properly.
Creak-!
The door to the baby room opened, and a man in his mid-fifties walked in. He had a very stern expression on his face right up until he opened the door, but the moment he saw Choi Yoon-gi’s face, he immediately broke into a grin like a Hahoe mask and scooped him up.
"Oh my, my grandson!"
The way he cooed at him the moment he picked him up was completely different from the Choi Ki-hyun who was called a demon whenever he summoned his employees.
"Gr... Grand... father..."
"Hahahaha! That’s right, I’m your grandfather! Grandfather! You’re already recognizing your grandfather; you’re going to be someone great!"
As his first grandson, Choi Ki-hyun’s love for Choi Yoon-gi was immense.
"Father, were you here?"
Park Yeon-ji, who had been carrying a coffee tray, placed it on the cabinet and approached Choi Ki-hyun.
"What reason would I have to come here if not for Yoon-gi? I’d love to have you all live at my house, but your mother-in-law insists that’s not how it should be..."
At Choi Ki-hyun’s regretful expression, Park Yeon-ji smiled softly and covered her lips with her palm.
"Hohoho, Mother-in-law is a person with American sensibilities, after all. Thanks to her, I was able to become a daughter-in-law in this house."
"Well, she does have a bit of influence."
"Shouldn't I have gone with her?"
"No, that woman always executes whatever she says she’ll do. All you need is thread, a pencil, and money—I don't know why she insists on preparing so much."
Even while clicking his tongue, one could feel Choi Ki-hyun’s immense anticipation for Choi Yoon-gi’s first birthday party later that day.
"Still, it’s so wonderful that you and Mother-in-law adore our Yoon-gi so much. I’m truly grateful."
"How could I not adore such a beautiful grandson? It’s a relief that Yoon-gi takes after you, not Cheol-ho."
Choi Cheol-ho was tall and had a sturdy physique, but he was by no means handsome.
"Oh, Yoon-gi is beautiful because he takes after you, not his father or me. Look, even his nose is a carbon copy of yours, isn't it?"
"Really? Do you think so?"
Even though he knew it was empty flattery, Choi Ki-hyun burst into a hearty laugh, feeling good.
"Oh my, I lost track of time while being here. I’ll head out for a moment."
Although "Samwoo Trading" was a well-known company in the region, it had just begun its challenge to expand beyond the local area, and it was incredibly busy—the same went for Choi Ki-hyun and Choi Cheol-ho. Because of that, company employees were present at the birthday party for both attendance and status reports, and the two had much to process.
"Father is quite something."
Park Yeon-ji smiled as she watched Choi Ki-hyun hurry out, then moved to take the coffee tray outside.
"Sister-in-law!"
Because of her brother-in-law's wife who suddenly opened the door and walked in, Park Yeon-ji almost dropped the coffee tray.
"Oh!"
Barely managing not to drop the tray, Park Yeon-ji placed it back in its original spot.
"Oh my, Sister-in-law, I’m sorry."
Park Gyeong-ja, a twenty-four-year-old woman and the wife of Choi Cheol-ho’s younger brother. She smiled sheepishly, feigning an apologetic expression.
"No, it’s fine. But what brings you here, sister-in-law?"
Park Yeon-ji didn't like Park Gyeong-ja very much. Park Yeon-ji was twenty-two. In the context of the 1960s, where family hierarchy was strictly calculated, it was natural for Park Yeon-ji to be the elder in the relationship. Of course, Park Yeon-ji knew she was younger and tried to treat Park Gyeong-ja with respect, but the more she did, the more Park Gyeong-ja ignored her, eventually leading Park Yeon-ji to treat her with a strictly professional attitude. As a result, their relationship had become quite cold, yet here was Park Gyeong-ja in the baby room.
"Oh my, what’s wrong with an aunt coming to see her nephew? Today is Yoon-gi’s first birthday."
"Is that so? That’s surprising. You never cared before."
Since they were alone, Park Yeon-ji’s words were sharp.
"Don't be like that on a day like today. It’s a family celebration, after all."
Even so, Park Yeon-ji didn't let her guard down. Because in the past, when Park Gyeong-ja had a cold, she had visited the house and passed it on to Choi Yoon-gi.
"Anyway, let’s talk outside."
"Oh, just let me see my nephew once..."
"I said let’s talk outside."
There was no way Park Gyeong-ja, who was only 156cm tall, could win against Park Yeon-ji in a test of strength. Thus, Park Gyeong-ja was forcibly dragged outside, and only Choi Yoon-gi and Choi Deok-bae were left in the room.
Recalling the memory of having to be hospitalized for a while because he was on the verge of pneumonia, Choi Yoon-gi’s expression turned sour. Choi Yoon-gi gently raised his middle finger toward Choi Deok-bae.
"Screw you."
Because of Choi Deok-bae’s behavior, which reached the peak of "my way," Choi Yoon-gi felt like he was going to lose his mind, but Choi Deok-bae’s mouth showed no signs of closing.
'Do you think he’d understand that!'
As if his inner thoughts had been transmitted to Choi Deok-bae, he continued to ask, watching Choi Yoon-gi’s expression. Choi Yoon-gi tried hard to recall his first birthday party from his time as Kim Chanyeol. But there was no way anything would come to mind.
'Come to think of it, I didn't even have photos of my first birthday.'
Thinking of the state of the "butcher" couple, Choi Yoon-gi was certain they wouldn't have held a first birthday party.
'Since he’s going to keep talking to himself anyway, what does my answer matter?'
Choi Yoon-gi, who even let out a dry laugh internally, simply closed his eyes. Young babies were said to fall asleep the moment they closed their eyes, after all.
At Choi Deok-bae’s suddenly serious words, Choi Yoon-gi listened with his eyes still closed.