Chapter 38. Needs

She had an overwhelming day yesterday. It was like finally succumbing to the feelings she had been having but was just trying to set aside. Recognizing and putting a word into that emotion was somewhat liberating.

But then again, there’s the consequence to it.

That consequence was as painful as the realization because she couldn’t do anything.

Or could she?

Yesterday, he got home just a few minutes after them and asked about her condition the moment he saw her. She feigned a headache and was glad that she did since he just told her to rest as he prepared their dinner. They dined mostly in silence as well. Yonghwa told her there was a lot in his mind for an upcoming project that he also needed to pull an all-nighter. She called it a blessing in disguise since she was able to escape the chance of being with him.

It only confused her and made her melancholic.

Hence, she stayed in the bedroom with her daughter until she fell asleep.

She got up early in the morning even before Euna did. She blamed it to the over excitement that rushed through her. Seohyun shook her head with the thought that she was really in love with him. Her emotions were in a rollercoaster. Just yesterday she didn’t want to deal with him, pained by the thought that he was not feeling the same way. But now, she was like a teenager wanting to catch a glimpse of that boy on the other side of the fence.

However, that boy was not on the other side of the fence. But just hovering around her and she couldn’t do anything about it.

“Good morning.”

Seohyun yelped by the sudden sound of his voice and he laughed out loud. “Good morning, I’m sorry…” she muttered picking up the spatula she dropped on the floor.

“I’m sorry,” Yonghwa chuckled walking towards the carrier and kissing Euna’s cheek, “Euna shuddered as well. What’s up with you two girls this morning?”

She rolled her eyes as she placed the plate of kimchi fried rice on the counter, “That means your voice was just too loud.”

“Or you’re both in deep thoughts. I’m sure Euna’s thinking about the time she’d be getting her next bottle.” Yonghwa took his baby’s chubby arm and waved it gently, “But your thoughts…”

She sighed pulling her gaze away from his and decided to just pour him his morning coffee. She knew he was starting to tease. “Your day won’t really be complete without teasing me, right?”

“Oh, baby, you know me too well…” he snickered.

“Stop calling me that!” She grumbled and dropped the mug in front of him that some liquid spilled on the edges, “It sounds disgusting…”

“Hmmm…” Yonghwa put his elbow on the counter and watched her. “What should I call you then? Babe? Darling? Honey? President of my heart?”

She cringed, “Oh stop, you’re making me want to puke.”

He laughed out loud mainly because of her expression but also because of the way she was pacing around. With that, he decided to focus his attention on Euna who was also cooing while that flat rubber ducky was halfway in , “Euna-yang, did you have a good sleep? Were you a good baby?”

Euna giggled pulling her toy away from . Her hands were wet as well as half of her face and she continued gurgling with that smile on her face.

“Oh, you’re in a happy mood this morning,” Yonghwa laughed, “Maybe you should try harder to be in that mood most of the time especially on weekends when I’m able to play with you a little longer.”

Euna laughed out loud and Yonghwa’s eyes shot straight to Seohyun. They both laughed and she quipped, “She thinks you’re joking.”

“Just like her umma, always thinking that I’m joking,” He drawled then straightened, “Speaking of, Seohyun-ssi. It makes me wonder why you didn’t drop by my workplace last night. Is it because you’re trying to avoid the conversation we should be having?”

She rolled her eyes and deliberately pushed the mug closer to him, “Coffee… you need to drink your coffee already.”

He laughed out loud, “Dodging… let’s see how long you can keep that up.”

“Whatever,” she muttered and decided to continue fixing their breakfast. Thankfully, his attention was drawn back on Euna who started blabbering animatedly. He was chuckling and answering every one of Euna’s baby talks. It was a cute sight but it was also very bittersweet for her. Seohyun sighed as she put the small plates of side dishes on the counter then gave him a bowl of rice, “Eat up…”

“Ne,” he replied grabbing his rice and chopsticks.

Seohyun too took the seat across him to have her breakfast, “By the way, I’m taking Euna to her doctor this morning.”

He frowned as he lifted his gaze to her, “Is there something wrong?”

She shook her head with an assuring smile, “Nothing is wrong, she just needs to have another round of immunization.”

He flinched remembering the last time they were at the hospital, “Okay, I’ll drive you. What time do you need to be there?”

“You don’t have to—”

He raised a finger stopping her, “Don’t start.”

Seohyun sighed and nodded. When it came to Euna, she didn’t really want to argue if he wanted to do something. After a while when he was done with his food, he took out his phone and she heard him call his secretary asking for his schedule.

By mid-morning, he was back in the house. He could have stayed but he needed to drop off some plans at the office that he took home the other day. Seohyun was already dressed to go out but Euna was still in the big bed napping. He sat beside her and kissed her cheek just as her mommy took the other end of the bed with Euna’s yellow onesie. Gently, she rubbed her baby’s belly, “Euna-ssi, time to wake up now…”

“Oh, let her sleep.” Yonghwa frowned especially when Seohyun just smiled and showered their baby’s face with kisses, “There’s plenty of time.”

“Can’t,” she replied in between kisses, “We have an appointment. I don’t want to miss it. Come on, little miss, wake up, wake up…”

Euna grumbled, her eyes still closed. A few seconds passed she cried out loud. Yonghwa grunted and scooped her up frowning at the laughing woman. “It’s okay, sweetheart, you can sleep some more.”

“She has to get dressed!” Seohyun countered but giggled when Yonghwa shot her another disapproving look while rubbing Euna’s back. She shook her head and smiled, “Oh well…”

Quietly, she managed to get her baby dressed and was only glad that Euna just went on sleeping while her appa held her. After putting her last shoe on, Seohyun tucked the tiny tuft of hair on her head with a little flower pin and kissed her temple.

“Ready?” He asked as he moved to stand. Seohyun gave a faint yes while taking the baby bag she prepared. After around half an hour of driving, they arrived at children’s clinic before Euna’s appointment. There were other parents with their babies and toddlers at the waiting room and they got into a conversation with another couple. It was mostly Yonghwa who talked to them and Seohyun somehow found it amusing but she couldn’t tell him that because it might just affect his enthusiasm.

Some of the other babies and toddlers where actively interacting with each other but they noticed that Euna seemed to be more of a shy observer. When a little girl toddled towards her, she hastily shifted and hugged her Appa then reached out for her Umma. The other parents laughed suggesting for them to bring Euna to a park or a kids’ café as often as possible since she was obviously not used to having other children her age around. A middle-aged mother also gave them a contact number of a baby daycare near their area that they could bring their baby so that she could socialize.

Seohyun suddenly felt a hand rubbing her back as the conversation went on. She shivered at the thought that he could read her very well. There was no denying that the sudden rush of inadequacy came to her. It was probably very insignificant but she should have known that her baby needed to at least be surrounded by others not only them. She turned to him when the conversation was halted when another name was called.

Yonghwa smiled at her, “We’ll take her to the park on Saturday afternoon.”

Her smile bloomed and she nodded, “I’m glad you went with us.”

“I have superpowers, I knew you’d need me,” he winked.

She rolled her eyes and muttered, “You forgot to mention your massive ego.”

“There’s a joke in there but this is not an appropriate place for that,” he whispered and snickered when she grunted. Gently, he elbowed her, “I’ve been meaning to ask you if we can have the boys in the house once in a while.”

He was talking about his little nephews and Seohyun frowned, “You should have asked me sooner. I would love to have them. Besides, you don’t really have to ask. It’s your house.”