Autumn

One month to wedding

Junhyung’s POV

Haneul and I walked into the orphanage holding hands.

“Do you think they’ll be happy?” I asked, looking at the letter in my hand.

We went to the law firm in the morning to sign the adoption papers. Tae Hyun and Ji Eun are officially our children now.

“Of course. Why are you still worrying about this?” She asked, pushing the door open.

“Oh! You guys are here!” Ahjumma smiled when she saw us.

“Hi~” We greeted.

“Seems like forever since we met!” She said.

“It has been quite awhile. Hee~” I smiled.

“Signed it already?” She asked.

I nodded, handing her the letter.

“They’ll be so happy.” She said, reading the letter.

“Please, convince him they would. He is still worrying for I don’t know what.” Haneul said, heading to the kitchen.

“Don’t worry, silly! You know how much they love you!” Ahjumma said, returning the letter to me.

“I know but… I don’t know… It’s just.. weird… different.” I said, sitting on the armrest of the sofa.

“You love kids! So what’s wrong?” She asked.

“I love kids, but kids don’t love me.” I said.

Haneul and Ahjumma burst into laughter.

“What!? Isn’t it true! I mean… they all shun me. I don’t know why.” I said, looking down.

“But I love you~” A voice from behind said.

I turned and saw Ji Eun lying on the sofa, looking at me.

“When did you get here!?” I asked in shock.

“I was always here.” She said.

“I love you.” She said.

I couldn’t hide my smile.

“Weally.” She said, sitting up.

“Thank you.” I smiled, putting her on my lap.

“Appa.” She called out, looking up at me.

“Yes?” I answered.

“Nothing.” She looked down, playing with her toes.

“Appa.” She called out a few minutes later.

“Yes?” I answered again.

She shook her head, giggling and looking away.

“Appa.” She called again.

“What is it, Ji Eunnie?” I laughed, turning her to face me.

She kept on giggling, but not saying anything.

“Why?” I asked.

“Appa.” She called out again.

“Ji Eun.” I called out.

“Appa.” She called.

“Ji Eun.” I called.

We kept calling each other for fun.

“YAH! Both of you stop it!” Haneul laughed, sitting down beside us.

Ji Eun jumped off my lap and crawled to Haneul.

“Umma.” She called out.

“Yes?” Haneul asked, kissing her cheek.

“Umma.” Ji Eun called.

“Yes?” Haneul answered.

And they started the game as well. In the end, we went on calling each other for fun.

“Umma~” Ji Eun called, lying on Haneul’s lap, playing with my fingers.

“Yes?” Haneul asked.

“When is the baby coming out?” She asked, putting her head under Haneul’s shirt.

Haneul laughed.

“Not so soon, my dear.” She said, patting Ji Eun’s head through the shirt.

“Then when?” Ji Eun asked, head still in Haneul’s shirt.

“About seven months later or something.” Haneul said.

“SO LONG!? WHY!?” She pulled out, pouting at Haneul.

“Because the baby has to grow before he or she can come into the world. It was the same for you, Tae Hyun, me, Junhyung, Ahjumma, Jace and everyone else.” Haneul explained.

“No. I don’t wemember taking so long.” She pouted, sitting in between us, raising her legs over her head. A child’s flexibility is fascinating.

“How would you remember anything like that?” Haneul laughed.

“I wemember!” She pouted.

“Seven months will pass real quickly.” I said.

“It’s so long!” She pouted, lying on my lap, her legs on Haneul’s lap.

“Then what should we do?” I asked, smoothing her hair.

“Ask the baby to come out and pway with me first!” She suggested happily.

Haneul and I looked at each other with wide eyes.

“And then how do the baby go back in?” Haneul asked.

“Just put it back in!” She smiled.

“So am I supposed to be cut open while you have fun?” Haneul asked.

“Erm… No… But…. I don’t know!” She pouted.

“Don’t pout.” I laughed, poking her lips.

She bit me and then started my finger.

“Eww… Salty~” She made a disgusted face.

“WHAT DID YOU EXPECT!?” Haneul and I laughed.

I cleaned my finger on Haneul’s shirt.

“Yah!” She smacked my arm, but wiped my finger anyway.

Ji Eun sighed and snuggled her face into my stomach.

“Why are you sighing, little girl?” I asked, patting her back lightly.

She pouted, not saying anything.

“Where’s Tae Hyun?” I asked, looking around.

“Ahjumma said he’s sleeping.” Haneul said, tickling Ji Eun’s feet, making her laugh.

“Is he okay?” I asked.

“Why not?” She said.

“UMMA!!!” Ji Eun laughed, trying to struggle free.

I held onto Ji Eun to prevent her from falling while Haneul tickle her.

“Oh! Tae Hyunnie! Did you sleep well?” I asked Tae Hyun who was standing near the entrance of the living room.

Haneul stopped tickling Ji Eun and looked over.

“Hi, boy.” Haneul waved.

“Come over.” She said.

Tae Hyun rubbed his eyes and then suddenly started crying.

Haneul and I looked at each other in surprise. Haneul carried Ji Eun up so I could go to Tae Hyun.

“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” I asked, hugging him.

He pointed to the back, sobbing into my shoulder. I looked over and saw nothing.

“There’s nothing, Tae Hyun ah~ Did you dream of something bad hmm?” I asked, carrying him up, heading over to the sofa where Haneul and Ji Eun are.

I settled him on my lap.

“Shhh shhh~ Don’t cry. We’re here. Tell us what’s wrong.” I said, wiping his tears.

“It was following me!” He pouted, tears still rolling down his cheeks.

“What was following you?” I asked, looking at Haneul.

His vague statement was quite shocking.

“And then I accidentally stepped on it! I didn’t mean to kill it!” He cried harder.

“What did you kill?” I asked, trying to hush him.

He whispered something in between his sobs.

“Sorry, I didn’t catch that. What?” I asked.

“The ant.” He said louder, still crying.

“THE ANT!?” I asked.

He nodded, looking really upset.

“You accidentally killed an ant?” I asked, confirming what I heard.

He nodded, bursting into tears again.

Haneul smacked her forehead and looked away to giggle.

“It’s okay, dear boy. The ant wouldn’t haunt you.” I hugged him tight, trying to hush him and not laugh out at the same time.

A child’s innocence is even more fascinating than their flexibility. To think Tae Hyun cried so hard because an ant was following him and he accidentally killed it. Really, Tae Hyun? Really?

“Feeling better already?” I asked, wiping his tears.

He leaned against my chest, not saying anything. I looked at Haneul for help.

“Tae Hyun ah, go bring Appa to the ant.” Haneul said.

Tae Hyun and I both turned to look at Haneul. Ji Eun was still very interested in how far her toes can bend.

“Appa has this special ability.” Haneul said.

“I do?” I mouthed.

“Yes.” Haneul said.

“What special ability?” Tae Hyun asked.

“Appa can talk to ants.” Haneul said, smiling.

“What?” I asked, laughing out.

“Appa can help you ask the ant if it has forgive you or not. Bring him to the ant so he can ask for you.” Haneul said.

I looked at Haneul. Great, now I can talk to ants.

“Appa, come please!” Tae Hyun said, pulling me along.

“Yah~” I hissed at Haneul as I was being dragged along by Tae Hyun.

Haneul clapped her hands soundlessly, grinning at me.

“Here!” Tae Hyun pointed, squatting down.

“Where?” I asked, looking at the empty floor.

“Here!” He pointed, pulling me to squat down.

I look at the black dot I supposed was the ant.

“Tell him I’m sorry, Appa!” Tae Hyun begged.

“Oh okay, okay. Wait.” I said, staring at the black dot.

Tae Hyun ah, even if I can talk to ants, how is it possible for me to communicate with a dead ant? Why are you so innocent to the point I want to bite you?

“Why aren’t you talking?” Tae Hyun asked, sounding quite disappointed.

“I was!” I lied.

“It’s not like speaking in words. They can’t understand, and we can’t be too loud.” I said.

He covered his mouth, looking at me.

“It’s done.” I said after awhile.

I carried him up, walking back to the giggling Haneul.

“What did it say?” He asked.

“It said…. It’s alright. He knows you didn’t mean it. He forgives you.” I said.

Haneul buried her face in her palms, laughing.

“Really?” Tae Hyun asked, totally unbothered by the laughing Haneul.

“Yes.” I said, trying to control my laughter.

I smacked Haneul’s arm. How dare she laugh when she was the one who created this ridiculous scene?!

‘What?’ She mouthed, still giggling.

“Appa, it really forgave me?” Tae Hyun asked.

I nodded, holding in my laughter.

“Don’t be sad already.” I said, feeding him water.

“We got something to tell you two.” I said.

Tae Hyun looked at me, while Ji Eun was still busy with her toes.

“Stop playing for a second, Princess.” Haneul said, turning her to face me.

“Your Umma and I signed the papers this morning. You two are officially our babies now.” I smiled.

“That means we can call you Appa, Appa?” Tae Hyun asked.

“Well.. Aren’t you calling me Appa already?” I asked.

“Then what is opphiscally?” Ji Eun asked.

“Officially, Princess. It means… recognized by law.” I said.

“What is law?” She looked at me.

“It’s…. something you don’t have to trouble yourself with now.” I smiled.

“Huh?” She looked at me with her cute, big eyes.

“Officially simply means you are now Yong Ji Eun, Yong Tae Hyun.” Haneul said.

“So that means we can call you Appa loudly? And instead of calling ourselves Ji Eun, we can call ourselves Yong Ji Eun?” Ji Eun asked.

“I’m not Yong Ji Eun.” Tae Hyun said softly.

“Yes, Princess. Yes.” Haneul smiled.

“Even without it, you could always call me Appa loudly and call yourself Yong Ji Eun.” I said.

“Then why must it be done opphiscally?” She asked.

Haneul and I looked at each other.

“Because it’s a procedure. NOW! You two smell bad! Go and shower!” Haneul said, putting Ji Eun down.

I guess asking them to shower was just an excuse use to save our skins.

“But you always say I smell like a fawoer!” Ji Eun pouted.

“You do, but now you need some watering. Go on, Tae Hyun, you too.” Haneul said, gesturing them to go.

“But why?” They asked.

“Go and shower, babies.” I said.

“Are you going to disobey your Appa already?” Haneul asked.

I looked at Haneul. I did not want them to ‘obey’ me like I was their owner or something.

“No.” They pouted, heading to the bathroom.

“Haneul ah, why did you say that?” I asked her when they were gone.

“Say what?” She asked.

“The ‘obey’ thing.” I said.

“Oh. I don’t know.” She said.

“Don’t say that. I don’t want them to ‘obey’ me or what sort. They aren’t slaves.” I said.

“Wrong word choice. I’m sorry.” She said.

“I’ll go to them.” I said.

I went to their room. They were pulling out clothes from the closet.

“You don’t wish to shower?” I asked.

“We showered already!” Tae Hyun pouted.

“Then why didn’t you say so?” I asked.

“Because you’re our Appa and you said to shower.” Tae Hyun said.

“Just because I’m your Appa doesn’t make whatever I say right.” I said, pulling them to sit on each side of my lap.

“If I’m wrong about something, then tell me.” I said.

They looked at me, surprised.

“Yea, you can tell me if I said something wrong or accused you for something you didn’t do. You can always tell me.” I said.

“Weally?” Ji Eun asked.

“Why not?” I asked.

“We don’t have to obey you?” Tae Hyun asked.

“Well… No. Not exactly. Not all the time.” I said.

“So we can disobey you?” Ji Eun asked.

“Not… all the time.” I said.

“So can we disobey you or not?” She pouted.

“When I’m wrong, you can.” I smiled.

“If you’re right?” She asked.

“Then you’ll have to listen.” I said.

“WHY!? That’s not fun!” She pouted, crossing her arms over her chest.

“HAHAHA! Then tell me what’s fun? Flying!?” I asked, holding them tightly under my arms, running around, making them ‘fly’.

They were yelling, laughing and going crazy. Their laughter, their voices were music to my ears.

***

Junhyung: You accidentally killed an ant?

Haneul: Appa can talk to ants.