08:00 am

Weekend mornings start about two hours more leisurely than weekdays.

At least, until the children come to wake us up.

In our house, it wasn't a loud alarm or a smartphone vibration that signaled the morning.

It was the three voices that were bound to be heard in a moment.

Mommy! Daddy!

Three vigorous voices were heard simultaneously from beyond the bedroom door.

At that moment— Guest and Ryu Jin buried their faces in their pillows at the same time, as if they had made a pact.

A moment of silence followed.

It seemed quiet outside the bedroom again.

But that thought was short-lived.

Mommy! Tummy empty!!

Vroom vroom!!

Voices much louder than before rang through the bedroom door.

Guest flinched slightly under the covers.

Ryu Jin remained motionless for a while, his face still buried in the pillow.

Then, he finally muttered in a low, resigned voice.