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“Wonnie~ It’s time to wake up~”

Wonyoung stirred in her sleep as she heard a soft voice beside her. She knew who the voice belonged to as she tried her best to open her eyes slightly. There was her sister, Hitomi, already looking fresh and ready for school, smiling at her.

“Good morning. Are you ready for your first day of school?”

Spring was the season where it all began. Especially for school. After completing her kindergarten, today will be the first day for Wonyoung in elementary school. Wonyoung sit up as she rubbed her eyes sleepily, but beamed a bright smile to the sister who woke her up.

“Morning, Hii unnie! Wonnie can’t wait to go to school!”

Now in 5th grade, Hitomi couldn’t help but laugh at her excited little sister. She then patted Wonyoung’s head.

“That’s the spirit! Now go wash your face and change your clothes. Mom is already preparing our breakfast.”

As wonyoung about to climb down her bed, both of them could hear a snore from the other bed.

“Don’t worry about Yuding. Nako unnie will be here shortly.”

Just when Hitomi finished her sentence, Nako barged in looking fresh and ready with her new uniform. Today, not only it’s Wonyoung’s first day in elementary school, but also Nako’s first day in middle school. She’s been very excited to finally wear a uniform to school, as they didn’t wear uniforms in elementary school.

Nako turned her head to Wonyoung and Hitomi and smiled at her sisters who’s already woken up, and went straight to the sleeping sister. Not even using hands, Nako ‘poke’ her sister with her foot.

“Yujin! It’s time to wake up or no breakfast for you!”

They could hear a groan from under the blanket. Hitomi decided to leave the room, leaving her older sister dealing with Yujin, and Wonyoung climbed down from her bed and went to the bathroom to freshen up.

“I don’t want to go to schoooool..”

Nako took a deep breath before she lifted the blanket, revealing Yujin with her drool. Yujin hissed at the brightness of the room.

“Unnie!!”

“Get up or I’m telling mom.”

Yujin groaned but she pushed herself up anyway. Dealing with Nako is fine, but her mommy is another thing. Her mom might look soft but when her horns appear, Yujin definitely does not want to see the wrath of her mommy, again.

“Fineee. I’m up!”

Nako raised her brow as she rested her hands on her ribs.

“Wonnie is in the bathroom!”

“So? You can use mine. Now hurry up! I don’t want to be late on my first day!”

Yujin groaned as Nako basically dragged her out from her bed. On their way to Nako and Hitomi's bedroom, they saw their mama coming out from her room yawning and scratching her stomach. At the sight of her supposed to be aide, Yujin cries for help.

“Mamaa! Help meee!”

Sakura turned her head and saw Nako dragging Yujin, she just forced a grin out of fear of her own daughter, Nako.

“Can’t help you there, buddy. Better get ready soon..”

Sakura then fled downstairs, praying for Yujin as she heard her muffled screams. Once downstairs, she saw Hitomi helping her mom with breakfast. She kissed her daughter’s head and went to their mother before she wrapped her arms around her wife’s waist.

“Good morning, mommy.”

Eunbi giggled as Sakura left soft kisses on her neck.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t go with you for Wonnie’s ceremony.”

Eunbi knew Sakura was excited to attend the first day of elementary school of her daughters. But last night, she was called to attend an urgent meeting this morning due to some errors they found. Out of everyone, Eunbi knew it was Sakura who’s the most disappointed.

“It’s okay, Wonnie also understood. Make sure you’ll be there for her first day of middle school though.”

Sakura whined and buried her face into her wife’s neck, as she missed one of the precious moments in her daughter’s life.

“Gross.”

Sakura lifted her head up as she heard Nako’s voice in the kitchen. Eunbi shook her head and resumed making pancakes for her family. Sakura, who still had her arms around Eunbi, watched her daughter carefully before she untangled herself from her wife and approached her oldest daughter who was pouring milk into her glass.

“Hey, I’m sorry I couldn’t come to your first day in middle school.”

Nako took a glance at her mama before she went back to her milk.

“It’s fine.”

Ouch.

They said raising teenagers will be the hardest one, and Sakura could feel that now. Aside from the mood swings, Nako has been refusing hugs and kisses lately. And not to mention, her oldest daughter has been distant as well. She used to be the closest one with Nako (never told Yujin about this), but now Nako has been more secretive than ever.

Sakura reluctantly nodded and walked away to her second oldest, Hitomi. As far as she’s bonding with her second, Hitomi is still the same as ever. It will pain her if Hitomi follows her sister’s steps soon.

“Good morning, mama.”

Sakura couldn’t help but pinched her cheeks softly. She actually finds it weird how Chaewon was so obsessed with Hitomi’s cheeks. But one day when she moved Hitomi, who fell asleep on the couch after watching a movie with her, she couldn’t help but poke her cheeks and was completely in love ever since. Though, she tried her best not to do it excessively as she doesn’t want Hitomi to forbid her touching the cheeks.

“Morning, sweety. Do you want me to pick you up after your cheerleader practice?”

Hitomi shakes her head and smiles.

“It’s okay, mama. I will be finished at the same time as Yujin’s practice, so we’re going back home together.”

Sakura nodded. It’s a bittersweet feeling when your kids are doing everything on their own but she couldn’t help feeling proud as well. Not long after, Eunbi came to the dining table bringing plates of pancakes with her. Behind her, Nako helped her bring the toppings for the pancake. At the same time, the youngests also coming down after freshening up. Sakura got a soft punch from Yujin as she failed to ‘save’ her from Nako. Sakura beamed as she saw Wonyoung with a huge backpack and couldn’t help but lift her up and smothers her with sloppy kisses, making the youngest giggled.

“Mama stoooop~!”

Sakura stopped after she gave her youngest one last smooch before staring at her fondly.

“I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there with you.”

Wonyoung shook her head and cupped Sakura’s cheeks with her tiny paws palms.

“Mama don’t be sorry. Wonnie knows mama wants to come but you have u..jent business. Wonnie has mommy so don’t be sad okay?”

Sakura couldn’t help but teared up at how cute and thoughtful her youngest is so she hugged her and gave her another kiss. She only stopped when Eunbi took the youngest with her and glared at her.

After they finished their breakfast, Sakura helped her kids (especially the youngests) with their shoes while Eunbi went to fetch her purse. As the first one who finished, Hitomi went to her mama and gave her a hug.

“I’m going now, mama!”

Sakura didn’t forget to hug her back before she went to Yujin, who was ready for the hug.

“See ya, mama!”

Sakura waved her hand as Hitomi and Yujin went to school together. Once they left, Eunbi finally came and was ready to bring Wonyoung for her first day. Sakura spread her arms and Wonyoung ran excitedly into her mama’s arms.

“Have fun, baby. Don’t forget to make friends, okay?”

Wonyoung nodded and kissed her on the cheek before she went to Eunbi’s side and waved her hand to Sakura.

“Bye-bye mama! Have fun with the meeting!”

Now, Nako was the only one left. Sakura turned her head to the oldest and spread her arms.

“Hug?”

Nako grimaced at the sight of her mama with her arms spread widely.

“I’m big now, ma. I’m off!”

Sakura watched Nako slam the door and was left with silence.

But not for long.

The door was opened and Nako ran into her arms quickly. Sakura smiles and hugs her oldest daughter tightly. She couldn’t help but remember the hug they shared on Nako’s first day of elementary school. It was the same, but her daughter is surely bigger now.

“You’ll be great, kid. Have fun, okay?”

She felt Nako nodded and immediately ran to the door again but this time, not slamming the door. Sakura sighed contentedly as her eyes stared on the door.

“Yosh. let’s work harder for the family.”

It was a bittersweet feeling when your kids were growing up, really.

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A/N

I got inspired by Jung Kyungho's scene on his drama 'One More Happy Ending'

The kids are growing up~