Side Story (Part 9)
“Eun-jae.”
“Get some rest. Don’t do that.”
“You’re so pretty…….”
Seowoo hugged Eun-jae gently with a happy face. After spending four days in the hospital, she came straight to the postpartum care center. Although the twins were a little underweight, thanks to their self-breathing, they had quickly been able to leave the incubators.
“Does it hurt less now?”
“Yes. I thought I was going to die. It was so painful.”
Before moving to the postpartum care center, Seowoo suffered from severe sore br*asts. When she got pregnant with Byul, her br*asts had swollen so much that she had to swallow back tears and take medication, but this time, the amount was out of control and she struggled for days.
“That’s a relief.”
Eun-ah was in Jiwook’s arms. It was feeding time. Despite being told that she didn’t have to do it, Seowoo insisted on calling the children in and holding them in her room. The feeding calls came in countless times, but Seowoo didn’t seem to mind and worked diligently to feed the twins.
“You’re in a postpartum care center and still can’t rest. Stop saying that and get some sleep tonight.”
“But the twins will be waiting for their mommy to come feed them. What if they wonder where I am?”
“Still, resting your body should be the priority. You’ll collapse at this rate.”
No matter how much she ate, she was still hungry because of the feeding. Despite being on a lavish meal and snack plan, she still felt hungry afterward. After hearing that eating well would increase milk production, Seowoo diligently ate everything that was brought out.
“You’re already looking so thin. How much do you weigh now?”
“Why do you have to ask even that? It’s embarrassing.”
“Could you put Eun-jae down for a moment?”
“Why?”
“Just for a moment.”
When Jiwook laid Eun-ah on the bed, Seowoo obediently laid Eun-jae down next to her. Then Jiwook came forward and suddenly lifted Seowoo.
“What, what are you doing!”
“You’re too light.”
“No…”
He furrowed his eyebrows, a displeased expression evident on his face.
He had been worried that she hadn’t gained even 10kg until the last month of pregnancy, but now it seemed like even that had disappeared in just a few days. He understood that the babies were beautiful, but he felt upset seeing her neglecting her own body like this.
“Put me down quickly! Hurry!”
After gently putting Seowoo down, Jiwook spoke up.
“I should have some traditional medicine prescribed for you.”
“I already had my pulse checked here. They said the medicine will be ready soon.”
A traditional Korean doctor came and took her pulse, saying that depending on the condition of the mother, they could even brew herbal medicine. But Jiwook’s suggestion to have more traditional medicine made prepared sounded absurd to her.
“Then eat better. So I won’t worry.”
“Okay.”
“And also, try to rest a bit. Your surgical wounds probably haven’t healed yet.”
“I got it. Ugh, nagger.”
Seowoo rolled her eyes and pouted, and Jiwook laughed as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Nagger?”
“Yes, nagger. What elset?”
He’s been particularly naggy lately. Seowoo glanced at him and moved cautiously. Then she immediately picked up Eun-ah.
“Again already?”
“I should hold each of them in turn. If I just held Eun-jae, Eun-ah might feel left out.”
“Well said.”
Chuckling, Seowoo looked down at Eun-ah.
Seowoo named the babies. After pondering for a few days despite Jiwook saying he was fine with anything, she decided on the names Eun-ah and Eun-jae.
“But aren’t their faces a little different?”
“Yeah. Even though they’re identical twins.”
“Yeah. We can totally tell. Eun-ah has dimples and her face is a bit paler.”
The pronounced dimples on the baby’s face were just fascinating.
“Are you hungry?”
“Didn’t she just eat?”
As Seowoo muttered while looking at Eun-ah, Jiwook replied immediately.
“But she’s smacking her lips again… Maybe she’s hungry.”
Since they couldn’t fully understand the baby’s condition yet, Seowoo shook her head and made a serious expression. Seeing her like that, Jiwook laughed as if she was funny.
“Yoon Seowoo.”
“What?”
“Are they that pretty?”
“Do I even need to say it? It’s a waste of words. It’s obvious.”
“What about me?”
At his unexpected question, Seowoo looked up.
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly. What could it mean?”
Confused by his cryptic words, Seowoo blinked. She looked puzzled as she briefly pondered the flow of the conversation from earlier.
“Wait… are you jealous?”
“Me? No way.”
“It sounded like you were asking if I don’t find you attractive.”
“Did it sound like that?”
“Yes.”
“That’s right. That’s what I meant.”
Gosh.
Jiwook responded positively right away, causing Seowoo’s lips to part. Looking at her like that, Jiwook spoke seriously.
“How about you look at my face once for every three times you look at our daughters’?”
Is Jiwook really jealous now?
Seowoo couldn’t believe he was expressing his feelings like this and looked at him blankly. Then Jiwook approached, bent down slightly, and met her gaze.
“Like this. Even just once in a while, look at me.”
“No…”
He tilted his head and gave her a light kiss, his smile widening. Seowoo’s eyes grew a bit larger.
“You used to only look at me. You’ve changed, Yoon Seowoo.”
Each time he spoke, it was a series of surprising words. Although she knew he had a history of being jealous of Seung-min and Sunghyun, she never imagined he would be jealous of their daughters too.
“Are you upset?”
“Yes.”
“Because I’m not paying attention to you?”
“Yes.”
Each time she asked, Jiwook responded straightforwardly. Seowoo chuckled and looked at him closely. Then she reached out and touched his cheek. Jiwook’s pupils flickered briefly.
“I get it. I’ll do that.”
“Seowoo.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve been celibate for almost a year now. This is kind of difficult for me.”
His eyes conveyed just how serious he was, making Seowoo awkwardly laugh as she slowly withdrew her hand. Then, as if nothing had happened, she turned her gaze to Eun-ah.
“Eun-ah, if you’re hungry, let me know.”
“Yoon Seowoo.”
“Ugh, I’m sleepy.”
Seeing Seowoo gradually moving away from him, Jiwook chuckled.
***
“Ah, stay still for a moment.”
Seowoo burst into laughter as Eun-ah moved around. It was 6 p.m. Before bedtime, it was bath time. The sitter said she could bathe them alone, but Seowoo wanted to do everything herself, and she hadn’t skipped it since the moment she came home.
“It’s cold. Let’s hurry and put clothes on.”
After applying lotion painstakingly, Seowoo hurriedly started putting on their underwear. Even the way Eun-ah’s arms moved due to the reflex was adorable.
“All done.”
After dressing, Seowoo straightened her back and took a deep breath.
“I could do it.”
Seeing Seowoo looking tired, the sitter said a word.
“No, I want to do it. I like it. Should I bathe Eun-jae now?”
“She’s asleep.”
Jiwook, who was holding Eun-jae next to him, spoke up.
“Oh, she shouldn’t sleep yet. Eun-jae, let’s bathe and then have some milk and sleep.”
Eun-jae didn’t budge. Seowoo’s brow furrowed. There was a routine. By now, it was time to bathe and then feed them so they could fall asleep deeply. They always bathed and fed them at the same time.
Contemplating, Seowoo picked up Eun-ah.
“She’ll probably wake up soon because she’s hungry anyway. I’ll feed Eun-ah first.”
“Do you want me to feed her?”
“No, no. I’ll do it.”
Even when the babysitter insisted on feeding the already expressed br*ast milk, Seowoo declined. Instead, she carried Eun-ah and walked to the bedroom. After lying down on the bed for a moment, Seowoo skillfully wrapped the nursing pillow around her waist. Then, she laid Eun-ah on the cushion and sat on the edge of the bed, holding her.
“Looks like you’re very hungry.”
Judging by the way she turned her head this way and that, she was very hungry. She lifted her nursing top and offered her br*ast. Seeing her eagerly suckling, a smile involuntarily spread across Seowoo’s face.
“Eat slowly.”
Even the hurried motion of her sucking lips was adorable. After laying the sleeping Eun-jae in the baby’s bed, Jiwook entered the bedroom. Seowoo quickly lowered her nursing top and narrowed her eyes.
“Still feeling embarrassed?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“But you’re beautiful in my eyes.”
“That’s a different matter.”
Though she had already shown him everything, nursing still made her feel a little embarrassed and awkward. As he slightly lifted the nursing top covering Eun-ah’s face, she was still nursing in her sleep. Jiwook smiled softly and lowered her top again.
“Isn’t it tiring?”
“Not at all.”
“Don’t lie. The dark circles under your eyes have reached your chin.”
Seowoo rolled her eyes and pursed her lips.
“But you said I’m beautiful. Was that a lie?”
“Even with dark circles, you’re beautiful. Drooling in your sleep, you’re still beautiful.”
“Really…”
“In my eyes, you’re prettier than your daughters.”
“That’s really a lie. Stop flattering.”
When looking at their daughters, his eyes were practically dripping with adoration. But she still liked how he expressed it, even if it was a little bit of a lie. Of course, he had firmly insisted it was the truth.
“I’m serious.”
Just then, a wailing sounded in the distance. Seowoo and Jiwook locked eyes and burst out laughing.
“Looks like the second one woke up.”
“I’ll finish feeding Eun-ah and then go. Can you hold Eun-jae for a little longer?”
Jiwook nodded and approached Seowoo, giving her a deep kiss. It was almost embarrassing to see their mouths collide at every opportunity. Knowing his current state, she couldn’t ignore it anymore.
“We’ll have to endure until 100 days, right?”
“Hmm…”
“Maybe I should ask the doctor about it next time.”
“No. It’s embarrassing.”
Seowoo shook her head firmly. Jiwook’s eyes drooped downwards. Seeing him like that amused Seowoo, who bit her lip to suppress her laughter.
“Ah, this is really tough. So tough.”
He sighed and left the room. Seowoo secretly laughed as she watched his slumped shoulders.
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