🎶 Joy - Introduce Me to a Good Person

When we first went to look for a honeymoon home

"Since you're newlyweds, you should think about children."

It feels like only yesterday when I couldn't even answer because my face turned red for no reason at that one sentence. A year has passed since marriage. Before long, we truly became a family.

It might have been a bit fast compared to other couples, but not for us. Because it was a moment we met after walking together through 10 years of dating.

When we first checked the pregnancy test, we both blurted out comments that are absolutely ridiculous thinking back now.

"Hey, Park Hojin. Is this thing broken?"

"What is this? What, do you have COVID?"

What kind of parents in the world would look at a new life coming to them and call it a malfunction or a disease? Thinking about it now, it was really immature.

But it couldn't be helped. To us, the fact that a child was created felt much more unrealistic than the fact that we were married. But the moment I saw the ultrasound at the hospital and heard that tiny heartbeat.

Only then did everything feel real in an instant. Ah. It's real. To us. It really came to us. A gift far greater than we deserved. Luck. And a blessing.

I didn't even feel this way when we registered our marriage and the word 'spouse' appeared on the family relationship certificate. To us, who always grumbled about being like family because we'd seen everything there is to see, a child came, and we truly became a family.

In a span of over 10 years where I thought there would be no more excitement, it felt like a new time had started beating again. However, the excitement was short-lived. Without even being able to imagine what would happen to us in the future.

No, what would happen to me.

7 weeks pregnant. I was worried because I heard that for other mothers, morning sickness is in full swing and they can't even drink water properly if it's severe. Moreover, since my wife originally had a weak stomach, I was worried it might be even worse. It was a mandatory worry as a family member.

But what do you know?

My housemate—no, my wife—acted as if she didn't even know what morning sickness was; instead, her appetite increased. Is this what they call 'eating sickness'? Well, it's good that a pregnant woman eats well, but the problem was... It was the appetite that popped up at any time.

Regardless of time, place, or season.

She'd suddenly say she wants soy-marinated crab at two in the morning. Why on earth does she want strawberries, tangerines, roasted sweet potatoes, steamed buns, and Bungeo-ppang in the middle of a sweltering summer?

No, how does a baby who hasn't even come out into the world yet distinguish the taste of silver hairtail caught in Jeju Island? She'd say she wants cold noodles, but then the delivery arrives and she suddenly changes the menu to pig's trotters. It was a daily occurrence.

Eventually, when I couldn't find a place that sells it, I reached the level of 'creation' where I just made it myself somehow. I wouldn't mind if it were food I could make quickly. The time it takes is not a problem. But she always wants things that can't be eaten right this second.

And decisively.

"It's not that I want to eat this, but~"

That one sentence ends it. I can't even say anything. Her talent for driving a person crazy is worthy of the Guinness World Records. But what can I do? I have to do it. Our baby insists on eating winter food in the middle of this midsummer.

Just like that, the number of kitchen appliances has increased one by one until it's at a level where I could open a shop. A takoyaki pan. An air fryer I bought to roast sweet potatoes. A waffle maker. An ice cream maker. At this rate, I'll be opening a cafe.

Just then, the doorbell rings again. The fish-shaped bread maker must have arrived. What choice do I have? I have to bake some Bungeo-ppang and serve it before my wife wakes up in this scorching heat.

Ugh. But how do you even use this?

Hey, little one. Your dad isn't usually this kind of person. I'm trying really hard because of you.

I'm learning all sorts of things and making all sorts of things because of you. Still, Dad will bring you whatever you want.

So later, don't make Mom hurt too much. Let's definitely meet in good health.