My Girlfriend Is Very Good to Me

138 - Sarang is Turning One! (3)

TL/Editor: looloo

Status: ongoing

Illustrations: posted in discord

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A few days later, it was Christmas.

As always, both families decided to gather at Heena's house, which was relatively spacious. However, Dad, Father-in-law, Jeongwoo, Sunhoo, and Heeseong had not yet arrived, saying they had something to take care of separately.

Last year, it was relatively calm because Heena was pregnant, but today, the atmosphere was excited from the moment we gathered. We decorated the tree together, played with Sarang, and prepared food.

But the one who caused the most commotion was none other than me.

"Sarang! Want to try calling Dad? Come on~"

"Ouch, stop hitting Dad's face... just try once. Ah. Pa."

"Mommy!!!!!"

"Not Mommy, try saying Dad..."

-Tak! Tak!

Despite my earnest pleas, Sarang just looked at me and laughed, lightly hitting my face with her hand. However, I didn't give up and continued to coax her to call me Dad.

The reason I was doing this was because yesterday, she finally said "Dad" clearly instead of "Papa," which moved me deeply. I wanted everyone to hear it, but she was making it difficult with her adorable stubbornness.

After about ten minutes of this, skeptical glances started coming my way.

"Yeonho, aren't you just dreaming? Sarang doesn't even say 'Dad' properly."

"I'm telling you, it's real!"

"She might say Aunt before Dad at this rate. Sarang~ shall we try saying Aunt?"

"Mommyyyyy!!!!"

"This little one is physically leaning towards Dad but keeps calling for Mom... maybe because she hears it more often?"

Even though Sarang always looked for me, she rarely called me Dad. Lately, she's been mimicking what we say, so I thought if I kept saying Dad, she'd eventually call me that.

Our precious Sarang is really something!

Anyway, it was frustrating that Yoonjung kept doubting my words. So, I turned to Heena for help, complaining a bit.

"Sigh... Heena, please tell them. You heard it too, Sarang called me Dad."

"Hmph, I don't know about that."

However, my wife, who witnessed the historic moment with me yesterday, was looking unusually grumpy.

"Why are you upset again?"

"You've been clinging to Sarang since yesterday... How could you!"

"What else could I do when Sarang called me Dad for the first time? I almost cried yesterday."

"Whatever~"

She didn't seem pleased that I'd been focusing solely on Sarang since yesterday, trying to hear "Dad" again.

Fortunately, Heena didn't seem genuinely angry, as she laughed at my words and went to the kitchen to help Mom and Mother-in-law.

I tried to help too, but...

"It's fine. You take care of Sarang. I'm worried since she's trying to walk more these days."

Indeed, if both of us were busy, the only one to watch Sarang would be Yoonjung, which worried me a bit. So, I quickly returned to the living room, where my sister was helping Sarang practice walking by holding her hand.

Sarang, enjoying the hands that were helping her up, forgot all about calling me Dad.

"Awooaaah!!!"

"That's right~ right foot. Left foot. You're walking well~ Do you enjoy walking, Sarang?"

"Hiyahaha!!!"

"Look at you laughing! You must be having fun!"

Although it was a bit disappointing that she wouldn't call me Dad, seeing her laugh so happily made me realize that it didn't matter as much.

With Mom and Heena preparing food, and Yoonjung and I playing with Sarang, time passed. Eventually, the men started arriving one by one.

From Heeseong, to Father-in-law, to Jeongwoo, Sunhoo, and finally Dad. They all arrived around the same time, almost as if they had planned it.

But then...

"Wow. How many Santas are there?"

"......"

"......"

"......"

"......"

"......"

Amazingly, they all showed up dressed as Santa. I had to give them high marks for even paying attention to the details like mustaches and beards.

But even if I expected it from the others, I never thought Jeongwoo would dress up too.

Moreover, they all brought large, square gift boxes, like something straight out of a TV show. It seemed almost coordinated.

Even the five of them looked at each other, dumbfounded by the coincidence.

"Guooaaaah!!!"

-Clap! Clap!

Well, as long as Sarang was clapping and happy to see the Santas, it was all good, right?

This Christmas gathering, which had become an annual event, grew more lively each year, except for last year. The tree that Mom and Heena decorated, the Santas with their red suits and gift boxes, and Sarang smiling in the midst of the family.

I captured all these scenes in photos and videos, not wanting to miss a single moment.

It felt like just yesterday when we awkwardly gathered and wore Santa suits for the first time four years ago.

Now, they were all more excited than we were, chattering and laughing.

"Honestly, isn't my costume the best? Sunhoo, get rid of the tag on the back of your neck and come back!"

"Okay, next, the uncle who doesn't buy snacks for his niece."

"...Damn it. I can't even argue... I've been eating so much for her..."

Heeseong and Sunhoo, bickering.

"Wow, even Jeongwoo is wearing this. The power of nieces is amazing! But where's mine?"

"The one you bought before."

"You gave that to Heena!! How selfish of you!"

"Enough, just take a photo. My hand hurts from holding Sarang."

"Awooaa!!"

"Pfft! Hug her! Hug her! I'll take it now! One, two, three!"

Jeongwoo and Yoonjung, always getting along.

"What did you bring, brother? That size is unusual."

"Block set. What about you, Father-in-law?"

"Good, it's not the same. We got a playhouse set."

"Nice choice."

"Wow, you two look great in Santa suits~ but it's funny how well it suits you~"

"Right? We should have worn them too."

The parents cheerfully checking each other's gifts.

I put down my phone, leaned against the wall, and watched the scene. It felt like that time again, and I became a bit sentimental.

While I stood there, Heena came over, holding Sarang. Our Sarang, had she taken enough commemorative photos with the uncles?

"Papa!"

"Sarang has been looking for you so much, what are you doing here?"

"Just thinking. Sarang~ did you miss Daddy?"

"Daddy daddy daddy!"

"Really, you call me Daddy now?"

Everyone else was engrossed in their conversations, not paying attention to us... but it didn't matter.

I took Sarang from Heena and held her close. She giggled and started playing with my clothes, making me smile.

Seeing our little, warm daughter moving in my arms, I couldn't help but laugh.

"Again, again! You're only doting on Sarang!"

"Hey~ that's not true. Come here. I'll give you a kiss while everyone's distracted."

"Mm~"

-Smooch!

I gave Heena a quick kiss, showing her my affection. We both leaned against the wall, chatting leisurely.

"Do you remember? Our first Christmas."

"The day you gave me the ring?"

"Yeah. I can't believe that was four years ago."

"Time really flies~ We've been through so much since then."

So much indeed.

We went to the beach together.

Both families gathered and went too.

While everything was going great, I ended up breaking my arm, and had to retake my entrance exams.

Then we lived together.

We went to Japan and had Sarang.

Studied hard and got into Seoyeon University.

In between all that, there were countless dates.

Looking back, there were really so many things we had done. And all those things, in the end, were good for me.

Although I had to retake exams after saving that grandma, I still felt proud of myself, and it somehow led me to Seoyeon University.

Having Sarang was a bit reckless and required a lot of help from those around us. But the fact that Sarang brought more smiles to both our family and Heena's family was undeniable.

It was truly happiness descending upon us.

"Ababa!"

"Sarang, do you want a kiss too?"

"Awooeeuu!!!"

"Okay, okay~"

I lightly kissed Sarang's cheek as she flailed her arms. She probably felt this as a sign of affection, seeing her show such a lovely smile.

As I kept kissing her and watching her smile, Heena leaned her head on my shoulder.

"This is so nice."

"Right. Didn't you say the same thing before?"

"Heh, did I?"

Heena smiled softly. Seeing that smile made me think that she really was Sarang's mom. Even though Sarang's smiling face looked more like mine, her aura resembled Heena's.

"Mamaa!"

"Sarang is calling for Mom?"

"Sarang~ why? Do you want Mommy to hold you?"

"Ababababa!!"

"Guess not."

"Hmph, whatever. I want to hug you too."

"I hug you every night when we sleep."

"You should hug me when we're not sleeping too."

"I think I do that already..."

"Hug me more!"

I wrapped my right arm around Heena's shoulder and used my other arm to hold Sarang against my knee. I tried to make sure they were both comfortable leaning on me.

As Heena and I talked softly, I watched our bustling family with warm eyes. I couldn't hide the feeling of happiness that welled up inside me.

Sarang, feeling the same atmosphere, wrapped her little arms tightly around my neck and leaned her whole body against me.

And just like that, the stormy year filled with assignments, exams, and raising a child was coming to an end.

Heena was doing well academically, and I was doing reasonably well too, even managing to get a scholarship. Our relationship remained strong, so much so that my wife was jealous of our daughter.

And I was so grateful that our Sarang was growing up healthy and beautiful. Sarang liked me as much as Heena did, which made me happy but also a little worried.

Such happy times were passing by so quickly. It felt a bit sad, but those moments would become memories, and new happiness would await us.

For sure.