After watching So-yul and Joo-ha play together with pleased expressions, we started to set the table, feeling that lunchtime was approaching.
At times like this, I can’t help but feel a sense of awkwardness. Back in the early days of our marriage, the kitchen was where I stood, but now it seems to be mostly my wife’s domain.
My wife said that while she doesn’t mind what she eats, she wants to make meals for me and Joo-ha with her own hands. As a result, she has been secretly learning to cook.
“I’ll help too. Uju, you can chat with our husband outside.”
“Ah, okay.”
“Thank you, sister.”
Still, I can’t just leave everything to my wife, so I’m usually in the kitchen with her. Today, however, I was gently shooed away by my lady and had to turn away sadly.
When I peeked back into the kitchen, I saw the two of them happily chatting. The peaceful scene made me smile without realizing it.
I heard that my wife never had the chance to make friends while juggling school and work since childhood, but lately, it seems like she has more people to talk to comfortably besides me, which is nice to see.
Yoo Na-yeon is one of those people too. Of course, she’s just clingily pestering my wife with “Sister, sister!”, but still.
They have such different personalities that I was concerned whether they’d click, but it turns out my wife treats Yoo Na-yeon like a little sister, finding her adorable.
When I casually asked my wife about Yoo Na-yeon before, she told me that while she lacks the outgoing personality, just being around her feels pleasant, making her a precious younger sibling to her.
In any case, I think it’s a good change in many ways.
“Did you get kicked out already?”
As I returned to the living room, Mr. Park Gun-ho smiled wryly, as if he knew what had happened in the kitchen.
“My lady won’t let me stand in the kitchen.”
“Let it be. When visiting someone else’s house, you can’t comfortably sit around. You’re the complete opposite of me.”
Leaning against the armrest of the sofa, I gazed at my wife’s back in the kitchen, then Mr. Park Gun-ho opened his mouth again.
“By the way, isn’t it about time to stop calling her ‘my lady’? My wife is worried about it too.”
“Worried?”
“Yeah, she said, ‘I guess Uju is still uncomfortable with me.'”
“Haha…”
I awkwardly smiled at the sharp remark.
To be honest, it’s not awkward with my lady. I’ve been fine when I briefly stopped by their house before, where there was no issue chatting with her while Mr. Park Gun-ho had to step out for something urgent.
It’s just that… I can’t help but feel an awkward air about her presence, as if she possesses a kind of mysterious dignity that makes it hard to be completely relaxed around her.
“Just call me comfortably. You call me ‘brother,’ but if you just keep calling my wife ‘my lady,’ it feels like discrimination.”
“That’s true… Hmm… I’ll try to make an effort.”
Nodding my head, I resolved to call her differently when she would come over again. Then, I started to watch So-yul and Joo-ha playing again with Mr. Park Gun-ho.
“Sister, sister!”
“Yes, I’m here, sister!”
I’m not sure if Joo-ha wants to use the newly learned word “sister,” or if it’s just that he likes So-yul, but he keeps calling out to her every chance he gets.
It’s usually the case that if a child gets this attached, it begins to be irritating, but So-yul seemed to adore Joo-ha without changing her expression, hugging or squeezing his cheeks affectionately.
“Sister, sister!”
“Hehe, does Joo-ha like sister?”
“Yay─!”
Even planting kisses on his cheeks, So-yul treated Joo-ha like her own little brother, and Joo-ha didn’t seem to mind the affection, giggling and twisting his body.
It’s truly healing just to watch. Not that my daily life is particularly tough, but this warm moment on a random weekday afternoon feels like a ray of sunshine.
“Everyone, it’s time to eat.”
While enjoying the heartwarming scene, as I was chatting with Mr. Park Gun-ho, my lady came out into the living room, carrying a tray piled high with something.
Reaching out to help set the table, I casually said, “Thank you for the meal, sister.”
“…Oh? Hehe, you’re welcome. Please enjoy.”
At my call, my sister-in-law looked a bit surprised, her eyes widening for a moment, but she soon returned to the kitchen with a satisfied smile.
Whew, I thought I was going to die of tension.
“Speaking of which, you mentioned you’re going to the obstetrics and gynecology clinic later, right?”
“Yes, brother. It seems like we’ll head out together when you two do.”
“Did you say it’s the 5th week now? We need to take a look then.”
“Right.”
As Mr. Park Gun-ho pointed out, the 5th week of pregnancy is a quite crucial period. From this point on, the pregnancy sac can be confirmed through ultrasound, and sometimes there’s a yolk sac that provides nutrition to the baby.
In Joo-ha’s case, it became visible around the 6th week, but in some cases, the pregnancy sac can be seen as early as the 4th week, so we planned to visit the obstetrics and gynecology clinic a bit earlier this time.
“Dear, stop that and come eat with us.”
“Okay, sweetheart.”
Holding my wife’s hand as she hurried around, expecting our precious second child, I pulled her to the seat next to me to start our meal.
“So-yul hasn’t eaten yet?”
“Yeah! I want to eat with Joo-ha!”
Thanks to So-yul taking care of Joo-ha, we could finally enjoy a peaceful meal together for a change.
I’ll have to make sure to give So-yul enough pocket money on the way back.
*
Today, since Mr. Park Gun-ho and his wife were only having a short lunch with us, we said our goodbyes and made our way out of the house.
As planned, our destination was directly to the obstetrics and gynecology clinic.
“Joo-ha, today we’re going to meet your sibling. Are you looking forward to it?”
“Um?”
“Our Joo-ha is a sister now. Your sibling is sleeping in there in mommy’s belly.”
While driving to the obstetrics and gynecology clinic, my wife kept chatting with Joo-ha in the passenger seat, encouraging him to touch her belly.
What’s fascinating is that the little one seemed to treat the situation delicately, not swinging his hands like when he plays with toys, but gently and carefully stroking my wife’s belly repeatedly.
As if he truly understood that there was a sibling inside that he needed to cherish.
“Okay, let’s get out. Ladies.”
As we reached the parking lot near the clinic, I opened the door for my wife and daughter with a warm smile while pondering that other presence resting inside my wife’s belly, whether it be a princess or a prince.
Carrying Joo-ha in my arms and stepping into the elevator to go upstairs to the clinic, I felt a peculiar sensation. While my heart raced, it was different from the tension I felt when we first came here.
Back then, I couldn’t even feel joy or anticipation, only a dry mouth sensation. I guess it’s proof that I’ve somewhat grown accustomed to this?
“You sit here. I’ll check us in.”
“Okay.”
As soon as we entered the obstetrics and gynecology clinic, I made my wife and Joo-ha sit down and went to check in at the reception.
“Ryu Seo-ha, you may go to Examination Room 2.”
“They called us, let’s go, dear.”
Fortunately, since there weren’t many people, our turn came quickly. Holding Joo-ha, I gently tugged my wife’s hand and we entered the examination room together.
“Welcome. How have you been feeling lately?”
“Yes, Doctor.”
Since the doctor was the same one who treated us when we were pregnant with Joo-ha, we exchanged pleasantries before getting down to business.
“Let’s start with a quick ultrasound examination.”
“Okay.”
As it’s the 5th week and soon approaching the 6th week, this timing is crucial. The doctor suggested doing the ultrasound without further ado and led my wife to the examination area next door.
“Joo-ha, do you want to watch your sibling come out with daddy?”
“Yay?”
“Yes, it will be coming out soon.”
As I lifted Joo-ha onto my lap, pointing to the monitor connected to the ultrasound machine, Joo-ha stared blankly, seeming like he was really curious about his sibling’s appearance.
Plop.
Shortly after, a familiar image covered in black appeared on the monitor. Not long after, my wife opened the examination room door and stepped out.
“You did well.”
“Yes, but how’s the baby?”
“The doctor hasn’t mentioned anything yet.”
“Really? …Huh? But somehow, it feels different from last time, doesn’t it?”
“Um? Yeah, it does.”
As I was about to sit next to my wife to pat her back, my wife tilted her head curiously as she looked at the monitor, prompting me to check the screen again. There was indeed something off about the image.
Not off exactly, but rather different.
Although I don’t remember precisely, there seemed to be a subtle difference from the ultrasound images I saw during the 5th to 6th week when we checked last time.
“What do you think? Do you see a difference from last time?”
The doctor smiled as she quietly watched us express our confusion. It seems like our feelings weren’t just in our heads; there really is something different.
What in the world could it be?
“Yes, Doctor. Is there something different? Has something happened to the baby…?”
“There’s nothing to worry about. You might be surprised, though…”
Hearing that nothing has happened to the baby yet still being told we might be surprised left us puzzled, exchanging glances as we were both bewildered.
“Congratulations! You’re having twins this time.”
“…What?”
“…Excuse me?”
Caught completely off guard, my wife and I sat there with our eyes wide open, trying to process what we just heard.
Wait a minute, Doctor. What did you just say?
Twins?
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