TL/Editor: looloo
Status: ongoing
Illustrations: posted in discord
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Mom went on a business trip, leaving only dad and the kids at home.
What that looks like probably varies from family to family, but we had our routine. Though this was Heena's longest trip yet, we'd been through this about once a quarter before.
The evening Heena left, Sarang and Somang came straight home without detours. Each had stopped by the mart to pick up armfuls of their favorite snacks.
I'd also stocked up on ice cream and other goodies before the kids got home.
"Dad! Should I lay out the blankets early?"
"Okay~ Somang, what game do you want to play?"
"Something we can all play together."
"Oh? What can the three of us play~"
We gathered around the living room table, which was covered with pizza and chicken we'd ordered for dinner, along with all sorts of snacks.
This was our little secret indulgence while Heena was away. She was pretty strict about our health, so late-night greasy food and snack binges were usually off-limits. We only got to cut loose like this when she was gone.
To be honest, even though we called it a secret, Heena knew all about it. When she asked what we ate while she was away, we couldn't lie. She just turned a blind eye when she wasn't around.
Besides, these occasional treats were more fun because they were rare.
"It's been so long since I played with Dad..."
"It's only been 5 days."
"That's a long time! I barely managed not to bother you!"
"My good girl."
I turned on the console game, with Sarang and Somang on either side of me. Somang started picking a game while munching on boneless chicken, and Sarang took selfies with me while clinging to my arm.
"Are you sending them to Mom?"
"Yeah. You have no idea how many pictures I've gotten from Mom these past few days."
"...I'm glad you and Mom are so close."
"Hehehehehe."
Sarang laughed ominously as she snapped several selfies and immediately sent them off. Well, it was probably still the middle of the night in America, so Heena wouldn't see them right away.
After that, the three of us enjoyed various games together. We stuffed ourselves with food and snacks, washing it all down with our beloved zero-calorie cola.
"What the- Dad, how are you stacking them so well?!"
"Ah, mine fell over again..."
"I got some practice while you were at school."
"That's cheating!"
"Dad, that's cheating."
We laughed and chatted for a long time as we played games. Then we cleared away the table and game console and laid out blankets in the living room.
We put on a suitable movie and lay side by side, talking.
"Dad, can we go to a PC bang tomorrow? It's been ages!"
"I've got a lot of work tomorrow... How about the day after?"
"Okay! That works for you too, right Somang?"
"Yeah. I want to play Kart with Dad."
"And this weekend, we can go shopping and eat out-"
Sarang seemed to have the whole schedule planned out for while Heena was away. Her chatter was endless. Somang, lying on my other side and holding my sleeve, nodded enthusiastically in agreement with her sister's plans.
Of course, I didn't want to reject my kids' desire to play with their dad. My brothers had been complaining that Jihu and Seojun barely gave them the time of day anymore.
Thinking about that, I felt incredibly lucky that my kids still wanted to be around me so much, even if it was a bit intense at times.
As we chatted, the night grew late. Our boisterous evening with the kids, each clutching one of my arms as they fell asleep.
---Raei Translations---
For the next few days, I spent endless time with Sarang and Somang, as if making up for being monopolized by their mom recently. Sometimes we played at home, sometimes we went out when I had time.
This continued on both weekdays and weekends. My brothers and sisters-in-law sent envious, resentful messages non-stop.
[Heeseong hyung: Sigh... Seoyun won't play with me... Can I join you guys?]
[Yoonjung noona: Jihu doesn't even come home~ Always playing soccer with friends~ Going to PC bangs~ I want to play together too~ Don't Sarang and Somang want to see their aunt?]
[Me: Nope, not allowed. They don't want to. Later.]
[Heeseong hyung: You're seriously mean. Hey, at least come to the cafe! It's so close but you won't even drop by.]
[Rin noona: Yeah, come on over. Seoyun's going crazy saying she wants to see her uncle and cousins.]
[Me: Hmm... When Seoyun says she misses me, I do get a bit soft-hearted.]
[Yoonjung noona: Jihu too! Jihu said he misses his uncle! By the way Yeonho, did you coat yourself in honey or something? Why do our kids like you so much too!!]
[Sunho hyung: lol for real]
[Jeongwoo hyung: Han Yeonho, you jerk.]
[Me: ;;]
After all that nagging, we ended up meeting briefly at Rin noona's cafe on Sunday. It wasn't far, so I couldn't really refuse to show my face.
But even after going through the trouble of meeting up...
"Uncle~ Can I sit on your lap too?"
"Of course our Seoyun can sit here. Come on over."
"Yay!!"
"Can I come play at your house? Let's game together!"
"How about next week then? Somang, you okay with playing with Jihu hyung too?"
"Yeah, I'm fine with it."
"If Jihu's coming over, this noona will show off her skills again! Dad! Leave the cooking to me!"
"......"
"......"
"......"
The kids crowding around me just increased their complaints. Seriously, even when I made time to come, it was still a problem.
Anyway, that's how we spent the days without Heena. Of course, we still texted constantly, and we had regular video calls around lunchtime whenever Heena was free.
Surrounded by the kids and having fun, while still keeping in touch with Heena through calls, I thought I wouldn't have time to feel lonely.
Or so I thought.
It had been a week since Heena left on her business trip, and another Monday rolled around.
As soon as I opened my eyes in the morning, I felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness beside me. It was the first time I'd gone over a week without seeing Heena's face, except for my time in boot camp.
No matter how busy I kept myself, no matter how often we video called, the fact that Heena wasn't actually by my side left me feeling desolate.
And I wasn't the only one feeling this way.
Monday evening. After Sarang and Somang came home from school, we ate dinner at home as usual, then enjoyed snacks and games.
We laid out blankets in the living room and lay side by side, watching TV for a bit before falling asleep. That's when Sarang spoke up absent-mindedly.
"I miss Mom..."
Sarang's frequent bickering with Heena was a sign of how close they really were. Even though she'd been half-jokingly talking about monopolizing me while Mom was away, Heena's absence was clearly felt.
Plus, this was the first time our kids had been apart from their mom for so long. They seemed to be texting her even more enthusiastically because of it.
Somang must have felt the same way, as he softly murmured, "Me too..." letting his words trail off.
Seeing the kids like this, I couldn't help but smile inwardly. It really hit home that our family was only complete when all four of us were together.
So, for our kids who were feeling down, I decided to try a video call with Heena late that night.
Just as we were about to fall asleep was when Heena would be waking up and getting ready. She'd been busy from early on, so I hadn't called during this time to avoid disturbing her. Plus, something had come up over the weekend, making her even busier than on weekdays, so we couldn't video call.
But today, I felt the kids needed to see her face, even if just for a moment. I pressed the call button.
Luckily, Heena seemed to have some free time, as she picked up quickly.
─Hello~
"Heena, sorry if you're busy. The kids miss you."
─Oh, really?
"Mom, is it morning there? Ah~ I wanted to go to America too! Next time, let's go together!"
─Shall we? Hehe, by the way, why aren't you sleeping?"
"Us? We were watching a movie with Dad~ Jealous!"
─I am jealous~ Mom wants to watch a movie with Dad too. But Somang? Aren't you sleepy?"
"I'm sleepy. But I want to talk to Mom."
─Is that so? Hmm~ I guess about 5 minutes should be okay.
Sarang, who had been clutching my arm tightly since I made the call as if she was nervous, started pouring out words like she'd been waiting for this moment.
Though she was too shy to say she missed her mom outright, her usual boasting with a bright smile showed how much she was enjoying talking to her mom.
Somang, though drowsy and not saying much, had the corners of his mouth slightly turned up.
Of course, we couldn't talk for long.
─Well, Mom has to go to work now. Both of you, sleep well~
"Mom, hang in there!"
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─Thank you~ Mom will do her best!
Sarang and Somang gave Heena one last word of encouragement.
And I...
"Heena."
─Yes?
"I know you'll do well, but work hard and take care of yourself."
─You too~
"And."
─Hm?
"I miss you, so come back soon. Got it?"
─...Hehehe, okay! I'll be back soon! I love you!
"I love you too."
With those words, the call ended.
At the same time, the loneliness faded a bit, replaced by a warm feeling. Tomorrow, the emptiness would creep back into the space beside me, but we only had to endure for one more week.
I pulled Sarang and Somang, lying on either side of me, into my arms and said,
"Shall we go on an overseas trip this summer vacation? We'll time it with Mom's vacation."
"Yes! America... no, I want to go to that hot spring inn Mom said she went to with Dad!"
"...I like... everything... sleepy..."
"We'll discuss where to go when Mom gets back. Somang looks very tired, so shall we sleep now?"
"Okay! Good night, Dad~"
"Good night, Sarang. Good night, Somang."
As the two kids snuggled into my arms and started to fall asleep, I gently stroked their heads and silently wished.
For next week to come quickly.
For Heena to return to my side soon.
---Raei Translations---
Another week passed.
Finally, Heena's long business trip ended, and as soon as she got home, she clung to me. As if trying to recharge all the time we couldn't be together.
I too had missed Heena terribly over these two weeks, so I hugged her back tightly, and Sarang and Somang joined in.
"What's this~ My daughter and son are all over me?"
"Why~ It's been so long!"
"Me too, me too."
For once, I could see the kids clinging to Heena instead of me.
"Now that Mom's back, should we all sleep in the living room tonight? Heena, what do you think?"
"Hmm~ That sounds nice, but you know you can't eat snacks late tonight, right? How much did you eat while I was gone?"
"...Not that much. Except for the first day."
"Really... Han Sarang, Han Somang! Just a little bit today! Understood?"
"I get it~ I'm sleeping next to Mom~"
"I'll only eat a little."
This time spent laughing and chatting with our whole family together was truly joyful.
"By the way, can you take some vacation time this summer? Let's go on an overseas trip. With all the kids."
"Just us?"
"Just us."
"Hehe, I'll try my best. We have to go on a family trip!"
"Mom! Let's go to the hot springs! The place you always bragged about going with Dad!"
"Oh, that would be nice too~ Somang, what do you think about hot springs?"
"If Mom and Dad and Noona like it, I like it too."
Our children, who still can't graduate from Dad and Mom, will someday set off on their own paths.
But the fact that we're a happy family who love each other very much will never change.
"Well, since Mom's back after two weeks~ I'm going on a date with Dad, okay?"
"What? I want to go too! Let's all date together!"
"No way~"
"That's not fair!"
"I want to play together too."
"Both of you, just be patient today! Honey, let's go!"
"Well, shall we go out for a bit?"
Forever and always.
Author's Note:
Yesterday, as I sat in front of my computer about to write this chapter, a sudden thought struck me.
Ah, I really need to end it here.
Many readers want more, and so many people are still reading that I've been unconsciously getting greedy.
I finished the epilogue on September 4th, and here I am still writing on November 9th. I couldn't help but laugh at myself.
I kept thinking it was a shame to end it, thinking I should write about Yeonho's friends' families, or maybe stories about Jeongwoo or Heeseong's sons and daughters. And what about Yujun in Busan, or the college friends-
I think I've been leaving loose ends like this, unable to truly finish because of my own lingering attachments. I've been hinting at an ending while actually failing to set that final point myself.
So, although it might seem a bit sudden, I'm going to wrap up "My Girlfriend is Very Good to Me" here.
To be honest, since I already posted a completion review two months ago, I don't have much more to say... Um...
Right now, I'm busy with my main job, so I'll take a break for a while... Maybe I'll write a yuri parody while resting... who knows...
The next work is undecided.
I'm not sure if I'll write another yuri story, an Aloe-style hero party story, or as I mentioned before, a pure love story between a female delinquent and an otaku boy, or maybe a modern pure love story with a stoic older sister figure. I think I might end up writing another modern pure love story.
Thank you so much for loving "My Girlfriend is Very Good to Me" all this time.
I love you...!
---
enjoy! :)
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