147 - Sarang Is So Cute
TL/Editor: looloo
Status: ongoing
Illustrations: posted in discord
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It was a sunny spring weekday.
"Dad! Where are we going?"
"To get something delicious for Sarang~"
"Really?!"
"Yes. Your uncle will buy it."
"Wow! I love uncle!""Good."
"I'm glad."
I went with Heeseong to pick up Sarang from daycare at the end of the day. We even took the car.
Now, we were heading to the cafe where I used to work. The manager and the older girls there wanted to see Sarang, so we were visiting after a long time.
We had taken her there once when she was about two years old, but that was already two years ago.
When I was in university, it was close to school, so Heena and I went there quite often. But we hadn't been there since graduation. It was a bit far from home and we were busy.
So, until Heena got off work, we planned to spend some time there. After Heena finished work, we would meet there and go home together.
"Hey, the cafe isn't far. Can I drive from here?"
"Damn... No, Yeonho. Sarang is in the car. What bullshit. Just be quiet."
"Watch your language."
"Don't ever think about driving with Sarang. Consider this a warning."
"...I'm not that bad at driving."
"Yes, you are. That's why you shouldn't."
Both Heena and I got our licenses while in college. I got mine because I thought it was necessary, and Heena, worried about me going alone, decided to get hers too.
Both of us passed the written and practical tests on the first try. Although my practical score was a bit close. The passing mark was 70, and I scored 71.
Even though my score was a bit shaky, it was still okay. But after getting my license, I tried to back out of a parking spot in our apartment complex and accidentally reversed into a wall.
Since then, Heena has forbidden me from even thinking about driving. Honestly, it was my first time driving after getting my license, so I was nervous and made a mistake. But I'm confident I can do well.
"Dad doesn't drive?"
"No, Dad drives well. Sarang trusts Dad, right?"
"Yes! I trust Dad! Dad is the best!"
"My Sarang is the best!"
"Hehe!"
"Sigh... I won't say more, but don't do it."
She seemed to want to protect my pride in front of Sarang, so she didn't scold me further and ended the conversation there.
Damn. It's my chance when Heena isn't around. Ever since I slightly bumped the car, Heena has told me not to even dream about driving... What a shame.
-Ding!
"Welcome... Oh, Yeonho's here! And Sarang! Wow, you've grown so much!"
Since there were many cars around, Heeseong went to find a parking spot, and I took Sarang's hand and went into the cafe first. As soon as I opened the door, I was greeted by Chaea, who was still as energetic as ever after all these years.
Chaea and Jia still worked there. The manager said he would keep them forever if he could.
"It's been a while, unnie~ Sarang, say hello."
"Hello! I'm Sarang! I'm four years old!"
Sarang bowed as if meeting them for the first time. She probably didn't remember them because she was too young the last time. She couldn't even talk properly back then.
Chaea didn't seem to mind that Sarang didn't remember her and bowed politely in return. I remembered that she had greeted me the same way when I first started working there.
"Hello! I'm Lee Chaea! I'm forever twenty years old at heart!"
"......"
"What? Got something to say?"
"If it makes you happy..."
"What!!"
"Then... are you unnie or auntie?"
I was at a loss for words at her slightly pitiful greeting, but Sarang tilted her head and asked Chaea a question. Hearing that, Chaea's face lit up, and she raised her voice in response.
"Unnie! Call me unnie!"
Unnie? Does she even have a conscience...
"Unnie?"
"Oh my, Sarang called me unnie! Jia, did you hear that?!"
"Stop talking nonsense and go clean the tables."
"Aww~"
"Jia unnie, it's been a while!"
"Yeah, it's been a while."
With Jia's scolding, Chaea went off to tidy the tables. I greeted Jia, who was standing by the counter, while holding Sarang's hand and heading over.
Since there were a few customers inside, I didn't want to cause any more commotion at the entrance.
Sarang was looking around curiously at the cafe equipment near the counter.
"Daddy! What's this?!"
"This is a coffee machine. It makes coffee. You've seen mommy drink coffee a lot, right?"
"Yes! Mommy likes it!"
Hearing our usual conversation, Jia unnie let out a small laugh.
"Hehe, you're a full-fledged dad now."
"Right?"
"Hi! I'm Sarang! I'm four years old!"
"Hello? I'm Lee Jia. I'm twenty at heart."
"......"
That... never mind. It's better not to say anything.
I never expected even Jia unnie to say such things. Maybe it's starting to bother her at this age.
"So, should I call you unnie too?"
"Yes. Can you call me unnie?"
"Okay! Unnie!"
"Really... you're so cute. Sarang, do you want a cookie?"
"Yes! Daddy! Can I eat a cookie?"
She really loves snacks. I understand, though.
I nodded to Sarang, whose eyes were sparkling, and picked her up. Jia unnie handed Sarang a cookie herself.
Holding a large chocolate cookie, Sarang beamed and thanked her.
"Thank you!"
"Enjoy! Would you like a drink too?"
"Oh, I'll pay for that. We'll have an iced Americano, an iced chocolate, and a green grape juice."
"It's fine. The manager said not to charge you and your brother."
"I feel bad always getting things for free..."
"There's nothing to feel bad about. It's the manager's romance business."
"Well, that's true."
"If you feel grateful, why not help the manager out a bit? He's been talking about marriage a lot lately."
Considering the ages of the unnies and the manager, it makes sense. I'm not sure about Heeseong hyung, though.
He seems to love kids, but he rarely talks about himself. If he has any interest, I could help out. But if he doesn't, I wouldn't want to force it on the manager.
While I chatted with Jia unnie at the counter, Heeseong hyung walked in.
"Good job, hyung."
"Yeah. Jia, where's Rin?"
"The manager isn't here yet. He'll be here soon."
"Really?"
"Uncle! That unnie gave me a cookie!"
"Looks delicious~ But did you call her unnie?"
"What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing... Yeonho, did you order coffee?"
"Yeah."
Heeseong hyung seemed to have a lot to say about calling her unnie but chose not to. It was wise.
"Oh! I wanted to give Sarang a cookie!"
"Keep your voice down. There are customers."
Chaea, done with table cleaning, returned and complained. Her loud voice made Heeseong hyung frown and scold her.
Maybe he was being considerate because it was his girlfriend's cafe.
"I'm sorry, oppa~ Sarang! Do you want another treat from unnie?"
"Yes! Please give Sarang a treat!"
"Pfft... Look at those sparkling eyes~ Yeonho, why is your daughter so cute?"
"Our Sarang is just special."
"Can I hold Sarang?"
"Sure."
As soon as she got my permission, Chaea unnie lowered herself in front of Sarang and spread her arms wide.
"Sarang! Unnie will hold you!"
"Yes!"
Our Sarang, who was more familiar than anyone with receiving affection, casually ran into Chaea unnie's arms. Carefully, Chaea unnie lifted Sarang and stood up.
While being held, Sarang looked into Chaea unnie's eyes and gave her a gentle, smiling eye.
"How can Sarang be so pretty?"
"Am I pretty?"
"Even the way you talk is cute! You know you're pretty, don't you?"
"Daddy said so! He said Sarang is the prettiest and cutest in the world!"
"That's right~! I agree! You're the prettiest in the world~"
Chaea unnie's face softened as she looked at Sarang, as if she could die from the cuteness. Now that I think about it, Chaea unnie really liked Heena too.
Not because of her personality, but just because of Heena's pretty face.
Chaea unnie was a perfect example of someone who loves good looks, and it seemed she was instantly smitten with Sarang as well.
Seeing how much she liked Sarang, I figured she would hold her all day if left alone. Of course, that was soon interrupted.
"Lee Chaea, take the orders now."
"Already?!"
"What do you mean, already? It's our shift change."
"Sigh... Sarang, unnie has to go work..."
"Bye-bye, unnie!"
Jia unnie, who seemed to have finished making the drinks, said that while carrying a tray with three beverages. Chaea unnie reluctantly put Sarang down and went inside.
Jia unnie put the tray on the pickup counter and, like Chaea unnie before, spread her arms wide in front of Sarang.
"Sarang, should we hug too?"
"The unnie who gave me a cookie!"
Sarang responded more enthusiastically to Jia unnie, who had already given her a large chocolate cookie, than to Chaea unnie, who only promised treats.
Jia unnie laughed happily and lifted Sarang into her arms.
Then, just as she had smiled at Chaea unnie, Sarang looked at Jia unnie and gently kissed her cheek.
-Smooch!
"Ah!!! It's not fair, only Jia gets a kiss!!"
Chaea unnie, who had gone inside quietly, started to make a fuss. Sarang probably kissed her as a thank you for the cookie.
Jia unnie, caught off guard by Sarang's sudden kiss, stood speechless for a moment, then blushed slightly and spoke.
"...Could you do it one more time?"
Our Sarang's kisses are expensive. One cookie isn't enough for two kisses.
Author's Note:
Everyone's a pervert