TL/Editor: looloo

    Status: ongoing

    Illustrations: posted in discord

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    May.

    After going through the crazy assignments and exams of university and occasionally dating Heena thanks to the consideration of those around us, Sarang was also growing rapidly. She had started babbling and made a lot of "ah~" sounds when tickled. She continued to smile brightly every day.

    Everyone was overjoyed watching Sarang grow day by day. Both families were so eager to buy things for her that they couldn''t wait. They wanted to see Sarang''s interest and smile.

    Because of this, Sarang often played with the numerous dolls and mobiles around her, but she especially loved the cat pajamas Heena and I had bought her.

    Whenever she wore those pajamas, her attention followed them more than the mobile above her head.

    I wondered if she had inherited my love for cute animals.

    Because of this, Heena and I often wore cat pajamas at home. Seeing us walking around in cat pajamas, my brother Heeseong chuckled in disbelief.

    "Why are there three cats in the house?"

    Of course, that reaction didn''t last long. When he realized how much Sarang loved those pajamas, he immediately tried to take mine.

    He eventually got scolded by Heena and ordered his own.

    Even my mother-in-law and father-in-law saw them and eventually got their own. It was quite a sight to see five adults all walking around in cat pajamas.

    "With Sarang, there are six cats now? Where''s Heeseong, who used to laugh at us?"

    "Waaah!!"

    "How can we not wear them when our niece loves them so much? Are you even Sarang''s dad?"

    "Okay, I admit it~"

    Well, in the end, Sarang loved it, so it was worth it.

    In the middle of the month, we also celebrated Sarang''s 100th-day party. As usual, both our family and Heena''s family gathered together.

    We kept the 100-day party very simple, planning to have a bigger celebration on her first birthday. This time, we just gathered for a meal and took photos.

    Everyone was always giving gifts, so we skipped that part.

    After having lunch, the whole family dressed neatly and gathered at the photo studio.

    "I can join the photo, right...?"

    "Aren''t you going to marry my brother?"

    "I will! But not yet!"

    "Oh my~ Yoonjung, you''re family now. Come on, stand next to us~"

    "Auntie~"

    "Take care of your eldest son and daughter-in-law."

    "Lee Yoonjung, stop talking nonsense and come over here."

    Although Yoonjung seemed a bit awkward since she hadn''t officially joined our family registry, it didn''t make sense to me. Both my mother-in-law and father-in-law already considered her part of our family.

    After a brief commotion, things settled down quickly. Heena was calming Sarang in preparation for the photos.

    "Our Sarang, you look so pretty today~ Shall we take a picture with mommy?"

    "Aww..."

    "Or with daddy?"

    "Waaah!!"

    "It seems Sarang really likes daddy..."

    "No, she''s just babbling. She doesn''t know anything yet."

    "But her reaction is different!"

    "The timing just happens to match..."

    Despite saying that, since Sarang was calmer in my arms, I held her for the first photo.

    For the next photo, we planned to lay Sarang on a baby bed.

    -Rattle rattle

    "Peek-a-boo! Sarang, look this way~ Everyone, please look where Sarang is looking! We''ll take the picture right away!"

    As soon as the preparations were complete, the photographer tried to grab Sarang''s attention with a rattle, but her head didn''t move. She was only looking at me.

    Why was she staring at me so much today?

    No matter how hard everyone tried to catch her attention, Sarang''s gaze remained fixed on me, making the whole family burst into laughter.

    "Sarang is only looking at her daddy?"

    Walking and joking around like that, we soon arrived at the playground we often visited. It was quite deserted with no children playing.

    Maybe it was because of computers and smartphones, but seeing kids at the playground had become rare. Sometimes they were there, but often it was empty like today.

    Only a few elderly people and baby moms occasionally occupied the benches.

    We sat on a bench in the corner and spent some leisurely time. Honestly, I had a lot of work to do for university today as well, but sometimes you need moments like this. It helped heal my mind that felt like it was going to explode from assignments and exams.

    "It''s nice and quiet~ The breeze is cool too."

    "Yeah... Maybe we should''ve gone a bit farther? The weather is amazing today."

    "Waaah!"

    "Sarang seems to like it too, huh?"

    "Awoo!"

    "Sarang says the weather is really nice!"

    "You''re not just making that up, right?"

    "No way~ Sarang and I communicate through our hearts. Right, Sarang?"

    Watching Heena seek agreement from Sarang made me smile. She seemed to get cuter the more she interacted with Sarang.

    It''s not just Heena; when people talk to babies, their tone and content often become like that of a kindergarten teacher. Although my family and I did the same, it suited and looked cutest on Heena.

    From the outside, she looked like a beauty you might only see in Gangnam or on TV, but her actions were entirely those of a doting mother.

    "What are you staring at?"

    "Huh? Oh, you''re just so pretty. Sometimes you surprise me."

    "You''re saying sweet things more often these days?"

    "I think the quota for compliments keeps increasing. So I try every day."

    "Really? You know you''re still far from today''s quota, right?"

    "I love you~"

    "That won''t cut it if it''s insincere!"

    Seeing Heena smile like that warmed my heart. I''d heard that a pretty face makes you happy for three months, a kind heart for three years, and good cooking for thirty years. In that sense, Heena was perfect.

    She was obviously beautiful and kind. Cooking... well, I thought she was good at it, so wasn''t that enough?

    "Is your preparation for returning to school going well?"

    "Yes, I''ve been studying continuously. You know Sarang is really calm when I study, right? She''s so good, just like her mother."

    "She must be good because she''s Sarang''s mom''s daughter."

    "Maybe it''s thanks to her dad?"

    "Of course, it''s thanks to me."

    "What the heck~"

    -Thud!

    She playfully hit my arm in response to my sudden teasing, and I pretended to run away, only to grab her wrist. Then I brought her hand to my lips and gently kissed her slender fingers.

    -Smooch!

    "How about this? Does this count as a cute gesture?"

    "Points deducted since it wasn''t on the lips!"

    "You''re too strict. Then I''ll just have to kiss Sarang~"

    Ignoring Heena, who was wiggling her lips and clearly asking for another kiss, I leaned in close to Sarang, who was holding the cat doll in her mouth and looking around. I gave her a gentle kiss.

    "Woo!"

    "Do you like daddy''s kisses?"

    "Awoo~"

    "Sarang says she likes it. Should I give you more, Sarang?"

    "Give me one too! Don''t just kiss Sarang!"

    As I leaned in again to kiss Sarang, Heena pouted her lips, signaling it was her turn. But I didn''t respond, instead teasing her with a smile.

    "Should a mom steal kisses from her daughter?"

    Our little Sarang is so happy to get kisses from her daddy. Even Heena can''t resist our daughter''s charming smile, right?

    "I don''t care! Give me one too!"

    "Wow."

    No exceptions, huh?