Leave a comment

Saloi Translations is a freelancer, you can support them on:

‘The first confession I’ve received in both my past and present life, when I was five years old.’

Suppressing the feeling of melancholy, I finished introducing myself and left and sat down crossing my legs at the vacant corner of the room to avoid being disturbed.

‘I should take a nap.’

However these 5-year-old children, who seemed to be lost in their own thoughts, not aware of my desire to be alone, didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving me alone.

Three or four children surrounded me as I lay there, making my life miserable…

“Hi, what do you like? You’re so pretty, let’s play together.”

Starting with the child wearing a princess dress.

“Let’s build blocks.”

A child who haphazardly suggested stacking blocks.

“Ah, let’s go on a date!”

An ugly guy who persistently asks to go out with him since earlier.

‘I miss my mom.’ (;-;)

Dealing with these little brats is a hassle, I don’t want to play along with their mischief. Even when I purposely close my eyes and ignore them, they show no signs of giving up. These little devils lean their heads forward as if competing, shaking me and while incessantly talking they spread little particles of spit on my face.

One kid pushes away the heads of the ones spitting on me.

“Yaahh! stop it, I’m going to play with Dohee.”

He’s the son of my mom’s friend that I saw last time, from a wealthy family.

‘Nice. Baekhwi, get me outta here.’

Of course, I won’t play with you either.

“Ah, that’s right. I decided to play with him, so be on your way.”

Although the little devils looked unconvinced, Baekhwi pushed back and they reluctantly left.

Phew, I almost had to deal with them all day if it weren’t for the rich kid.

“Alright, kid.”

“I’m not a kid.”

While grumbling about being called a kid, he still is aware of it.

“Come on, I’ll be sleeping, and you just look after me.”

“Why should I look after you!? And we agreed to play.”

“Ah, then I’ll play dead.”

“What’s playing dead?”

“I lie down like a dead body, and you’re supposed to protect me, can you do it?”

“Uh, okay.”

Simple-minded, I like that. I should get along well with this little one… It’s easy to take advantage of them, plus he’s the son of my mother’s friend. If any troublesome kids come around, I’ll use him as a shield.

As the surroundings quieted down, I closed my eyes and quickly fell asleep, from being mentally exhausted.

While I was sleeping, the free time ended before I realized, and the teacher woke me up as it was time for class.

“Dohee, it’s class time, shouldn’t you wake up?”

These days, I don’t know what kindergartens are teaching children. And teaching 5 year olds English on top of that. At that age, they can barely handle Hangul. But of course, nothing out of the ordinary.

“Okay, everyone, can you say a word that starts with the letter A?”

“Apple.”

It’s just a class to study simple English words like “Apple” and practice pronouncing the word correctly.
Surprisingly, the children sitting next to me listened attentively to the lecture diligently.

‘Well, it wouldn’t hurt to listen.’

As the boring class ended, it was lunchtime. I received my meal tray and sat down when Baekhwi followed me and sat next to me. Looking at him, it’s kind of adorable how he follows me around like a little brother. I should take care of him when we meet occasionally, like raising a younger sibling.

After finishing lunch, I went back to my corner to take a nap, but Baekhwi followed me and looked at me pitifully like a helpless puppy.

“Bro, I’m going to play dead. You should do it too.”

“I don’t want to. Let’s do something else.”

“But playing dead is fun. It lasts for hours once we start.”

“Ugh… come on let’s do something else.”

Fine, ok, we agreed to get along, so I’ll play with him a little.

“Okay, what do you want to do?”

“Let’s play house. You and I are going to be mom and dad.”

‘What a mommy and a daddy.’ (‘뭔 애미 애비여.’)

Oh, I was supposed to speak more politely, but inappropriate words keep slipping out. I need to purify my thoughts before speaking.

“Alright, I’ll be the dad, so you be the mom.”

“But I’m a boy. Why should you be the dad? I want to be the dad.”

“Well, since I’ll be the dad, you be the mom. Otherwise, we won’t play.”

“Okay…, fine.”

Alright, I’m the dad who works and comes home after finishing work. Do you understand?

“Yea.”

I pretended to come in like I was opening the door and entering my house.

“My wife, I’m home.”

“You’re home? Come and eat.”

“I already ate outside. Ah, I’m exhausted because of Manager Kim. I’m going to bed first.”

Then I lay on the ground, pretending to lie down on the bed.

When I layed down, Baekhwi shook me asking me to get up, but I didn’t get up at all.
Ah~ Well, dads are always tired after work, you know~

When it was time for class again, I the dad stopped playing and got up. Baekhwi on the other hand seemed to be pouting as he was glancing at me with teary eyes.
Well it’s not my problem.

This class was a math lesson.
However even math is taught in English.
If we keep having English practice, I guess we’ll get used to it eventually.
As I passively listen and daydream, time flies by, and before I know it, both the math class and the science class have ended, and it’s already time to go home.

As I waited at the kindergarten entrance, my mom came running.
She’s an adult not a kid, why is she running so uncouthly childish? Unbelievable, sigh.

“Did my princess wait for long?”

“I did wait, but don’t run like that, it’s uncouth.”

“But Mom ran because she missed you and wanted to see her daughter. Sniffle Sniffle.”

“I don’t care. Let’s go home quickly, I’m exhausted.”

“Why wasn’t it fun?”
“Tell me on the way home.”

I quickly got into the car and started heading home.

“How was kindergarten?”

“It’s kindergarten, but all we had were classes all day. They taught things I already know, so there was no need to learn.”

“Oh, really? Did you make any friends?”

“Why should I be friends with the other kids, tho because Baekhwi is my mother’s friend’s son I had fun with him a little bit.”

“Hehe, really? It would be nice if my daughter could make friends.”

“Anyway, once I start school, I’ll make friends naturally. So I don’t want to go to kindergarten anymore.”

“Okay, since it’s what my daughter has decided, let it be that way. Mom also doesn’t want to make you go if you’re not enjoying it.”

“Yep, playing with Mom is a hundred times better.”

“Mom also enjoys playing with her princess~. Let’s go home and have fun.”

“No, I have to play the piano and study when we get home.”

“Aww.. When are you going to play with mommy?”

“Grown-ups don’t play.”

“Aww.. You’re so mean.”

“Bad girls are charming, you know.”

“Mommy likes a good daughter.”

“Hurry up and give birth to a younger sibling. Lately, you’ve been getting along well with Dad, all lovey-dovey.”

Mom went to the house without saying a word in silence, as if she was at a loss for words.

Upon arriving home, I spent time practicing the piano and studying until dinner, which I couldn’t do while I was caught up in kindergarten activities all morning.
When I establish a routine and repeat it until it becomes a habit, I feel suffocated when I can’t follow it.

During dinner, after Dad came home from work, he asked me about kindergarten.

“My princess, did you decide to keep going to kindergarten?”

“No, I want to stay at home.”

“Oh, really? Wasn’t kindergarten fun?”

“My mouth hurts when I speak. If you’re curious, ask Mom.”

“Our princess is always grumpy.”

Dad made a crying expression again.
If he makes that expression and still doesn’t get an answer from me, he would wander around for hours seeking affection, so it’s easier to just give an answer.

“No, what’s the point of going when they teach things I already know, and the kids there aren’t even at the same mental level as me? What’s the point of getting close to them? Instead, I’d rather spend time with mom and a younger sibling. I heard mom say that she wants a good daughter.”

Dad was surprised and his jaw dropped at my words.
What’s wrong with having a younger sibling?

“Cough, Ahem, you want me to make a younger sibling?”

“Ah, every night you guys have a really good relationship.” (TLN: What has this child been hearing…)

Dad looked at Mom with a flushed face, but Mom turned away with an even redder face, avoiding his gaze.

“Daddy is just having fun with mom at night.”

“Someone said that holding hands when sleeping together creates a baby, so make a younger sibling quickly.”

“Uh, yeah… um… um…”

“Honey, let’s hurry up and eat our meal, the food will get cold.”

“Yes, let’s eat quickly. Our princess should eat quickly too.”

In the future, I should persistently persuade them, so that they can have a younger sibling. Perhaps I will get to see my sibling before the end of this year. I wonder if a younger sister would be nice or a younger brother. Regardless of the gender, I hope they appear soon so that I can be free.

After dinner, I went to my room, watched YouTube to help digest the food, and followed my routine of studying, jumping rope, and stretching. Once I establish a routine, I will definitely be more consistent in doing them.

In the remaining free time, I played the piano.

After a fulfilling day, I washed up and layed in bed. When suddenly, my Dad came into the room.

“Daughter, let’s sleep together with Mom and Dad tonight.”

Why is he suddenly doing this to me when I’ve been allowed to sleep alone lately? I was just lying there, relaxing and enjoying myself, so why is he bothering me?

“No, I’m going to sleep alone.”

“Why? Dad wants to sleep with Dohee.”

Then Dad picked me up and carried me to his room.
As I entered the parents’ room, Mom reached out her hand to welcome me.

“Daughter~, come here and sleep with Mom and Dad.”

Why are they suddenly acting like this? At night the two of them were now able to have pleasure in each others’ company without me intruding.

I was forcibly placed in a cramped position lying between Mom and Dad. It’s uncomfortable.

“Why are you all of a sudden kidnapping someone who was sleeping peacefully?”

“Eeehh? Does Dohee not want to sleep with Mom?”

“No, it’s not like that.”

“Then you don’t dislike being with dad either, as well.”

“I do find that a bit uncomfortable.”

Dad starts crying again. Who told you to kidnap me?

“By any chance does this have anything to do with earlier when I asked dad to make a younger sibling, is that right?”

Mom answered while stammering, appearing flushed.

“Ah, ah, it’s not.”

“If it’s not, then why are you stuttering?”

Oh right, it’s obvious that they’re trying to demonstrate holding hands while pretending to be sleeping.

“Come on, hold hands, you need to hold hands to make a younger sibling quickly.”

“Uh, um…”

Dad and mom nervously hold hands in between the middle where I was.

Ugh, I’m dying of discomfort.

Mom, seeming awkward, suddenly changed the subject and started talking.

“Oh, by the way, honey, today Dohee and I rode the elevator, and this lady told me Dohee should try acting as a child actress.”

“Uh..uh.. Is that so? Does Dohee want to do it?”

“I think it would be fun.”

Then Mom replied.

“Also, Mom already posted a lot of Dohee’s pictures on social media. People saw her pictures and sent messages saying she’s too cute and offered child modeling opportunities via text message.”

“That’s great. Since Dohee doesn’t want to go to kindergarten anyway, she can do modeling during that time.”

“Mom was not going to tell Dohee in case she found it difficult for you, Dohee, would you like to give it a try?”

“Well, I’m okay. More importantly, let go of your hands now. It’s really uncomfortable that I’m dying. How many more children are you planning to have?”

Finally, Mom and Dad let go of my hand and cleared their throats.

“”Ahem.””