Less Than a Hundred Years Uncle Gene'al
Prompt: Friends
Sixth Month: August
"Oh goodness that is so beautiful!" Said Eun Soo loudly, clapping her hands in apparently delight, while Choi Young and the maidens around them frowned at the item that was been dragged into the property. It was a large contraption, in several colors; from green, red and blues, to pinks and yellows… it was supposed to be something like a baby crib, or so they thought. Choi Young turned slightly to his wife.
"What the hell is that thing?" He asked, through a soft whisper.
"I don't know but it's not staying in my house." She whispered right back, quickly, before smiling at the delegate that had the item delivered for them, congratulating them for the baby on the way. Choi Young had to pull Eun Soo back several times, politely so, to avoid the man from touching her belly; after all the general had heard of the man's deeds and they weren't that good to begin with. So at some point Eun Soo excused herself and hurried back to the herbal room, amazed at how well the people were receiving the news of her pregnancy.
The news were happy indeed, especially for the sore warring nation, but some people just saw it as an opportunity to score some point with the general, Eun Soo was tired of having to receive them and with the contraption she got that morning she proved her point; they needed to stop receiving people that weren't family or close friends. After a while Choi Young appeared at her door; Eun Soo was deep into writing a particular recipe for a some herbal remedy Deo Gi had teach her prepare (no matter how much she learned, she still had a lot more to learn), and with some water boiling close by she was deep at work.
"Should you be working so hard? I thought you were napping." He said amused by the view; his wife, hair wild because she had messed it up, her robes open, the two dogs resting close by her feet. She looked quite comfortable, right at home. Eun Soo's laughing eyes looked up at the general, and a smile tore from her lips, devastating him to no end.
"Would you like some tea? I've made some for the baby, but I'm sure we can share." She said, signaling the pot, and Choi Young walked towards her, nodding. He wasn't particularly fond of teas… but to spend time with her Choi Young would drink it. Besides she made good tea, probably something she learned while away. The woman quickly moved to the back of the small herbal room, and brought in more water and the required tea herbs. "Young-ah, where did the boys put that thing?"
"I'm sure that they are currently studying it, just to make out what it really is."
"Just give it away, or trash it, or let's use it as wood for the kitchen."
"There were some nice decorations on it, let the boys worked it out."
"My baby is not resting on anything we do not select." She announced, boldly, making Choi Young look up at her. She was absorbed in the tea making process; Choi Young turned slightly away, swallowing hard. "Besides, isn't a baby's room meant for the parents to create, it's not something to be taken slightly! Our child will be sleeping there!"
"I'm aware, Imja." He sighed, and looked down at his hands.
"What is it?"
"Ah?" He asked, as if nothing were happening.
"Why are you agreeing so quickly?" She asked, having stopped working on the tea and giving him an odd look, eyes slightly narrowed. "You should at least come up with one miniscule complaint. You always do."
Choi Young stared at her, and cleared his throat. "Lady Choi wants to give you the furniture for the baby's room. She had been cleaning and fixing the one at my parent's house…"
"We'll take it!" She said loudly, happily; moving around the small counter that served as her desk, to stop before him, hands over his shoulders; Choi Young stared up at her in surprise. "Was the furniture they used with you?"
"No," He swallowed hard. "I… I was supposed to have a younger brother, but… my father's second wife disappeared while pregnant." Then he slapped his mouth shut, it was unnecessary information for her to have, something that was too painful and could hurt the child. "I shouldn't have said that, happy peaceful thoughts Imja, we'll talk about this…"
"Yah, punk! I've told you before that it doesn't work like that." So she hugged him. "How old were you?" She said softly, resuming the subject. Choi Young's hands fell over her back, and kept her close.
"Fourteen." A year, barely a year of losing his father and the world he was born in; how much pain had this man gone through before her arrival? How could he still be so willing to risk his heart with a family? The child within her soothed her heart, reaching to touch the father-to-be through her slim womb.
"Did you look for her? For the concubine I mean."
"No, my father wouldn't allow me to do it. Lady Choi did."
"And she didn't find anything? That's weird your aunt is very throughout in her job." He nodded against her breasts, resting his head silently. "But Faith sure had plans for us in store: we found each other, and we have lots of younger brothers. There's Dae Man, and Deok Man, there's Choong-sik, the King and Queen…"
"They are our pledged rulers, Imja we can't consider them as siblings."
"Yes we can, I'm a woman from the future I can do what I want." And he let out a laugh, while she continued. "We have those Suribang boys, and you know how many they are. And a pledged Aunt and drunk Uncle."
There was a soft knock on the open door, and Deok Man appeared there, used to witnessing this small moments of joy between the couple the man gave them a bow and smile. "Sir, Lady Choi is here."
"Already?"
"Is she bringing the furniture?" Asked Eun Soo excited.
"Yes, she said to bring you so we can put it up in the room."
"The baby stuff is here!" Eun Soo said happily. "I wanna see it!" She started happily, then grew serious. "But first bathroom break!" And letting go of her husband she hurried out the hallway, followed by Deok Man, who was attempting to keep her from falling for she was barefoot and could have an accident.
.
.
Trusted WooDalChi were carrying the items into the house. Among them Choong-sik, who was ordering them out, while he and Lady Choi stared at the large parcel delivered an hour or so ago by the delegate. Choi Young shook his head, ordering the WooDalChi to dispose of the item, discreetly, when they left;
"Uncle Gene'al!" Called a childish voice, making everyone turn; the boy ran towards the general, arms wide open and jumping to be catch by Choi Young, who lifted him up high while the boy laughed. "Uncle Gene'al, hello!"
"Hello, soldier. Where is your mom?"
"She's feeding the baby." And the boy was tickled, while Choi Young told him never to leave his mother alone. "Hello, lady doctor." Said the boy, his big hazel eyes smiling at her.
"Hello young, man! Maybe you can help me; I heard little Do Ji was coming over, have you seen him?" She asked the boy, making him laugh.
"It's me, doctor, me!" And she faked surprise, touching his hand.
"Ommo! How much you've grown!" She would be carrying him, but the general wouldn't allow it. "Can I have a kiss?" And the boy leaned to kiss her cheek, still dangling from the General's strong arms, making her happy. "And your little baby sister? How is she?"
"Small." Choong-sik joined, asking the boy to behave better, but been waved off by Choi Young, who turned to look at the several pieces of furniture.
"Come down here boy." Said the Vice General, making the boy land and hurry to his side. "Did you greet them properly?" And the boy obeyed, bowing and greeting them again, this time properly, making the couple smile. "He's still a boy, forgive him."
"Nothing to forgive! He's like the little nephew I've never had. I didn't have siblings you know." And she walked towards the furniture, taking the boy's hand, who happily went with her, as Choi Young watched her go.
"Sir, is everything alright?" Asked Choong-sik, noticing the General's sudden discomfort.
"Did you ever gave your wife bad news or something of the sort while pregnant?"
"Yes, once, during the boy's pregnancy. I blame the boy's nervousness to thaose news." And Choi Young sighed, discontent.
"I should have stayed quiet." He reprimanded himself, and with a frown moved to the crowd of WooDalChi, all gathered around the pregnant High Doctor and talking to her. Choong-sik followed.
"Did something happen sir?"
Choi Young sighed, and continued walked, slowly. "I… I revealed a bit of my past, nothing I was comfortable with. My mouth just… told the tale without stopping. I didn't realize what I was doing until I found her thinking on how to console me."
"I see."
"She continues to assure me that bad news won't harm the child, but I am not so sure."
"Ah, fatherly care. The child is so important you are already placing the baby before you, that is true care, sir."
"Reason why."
"Daejang, quickly, come pick this up!" Called Eun soo, amazed at the furniture Lady Choi had brought. It was carved in heavy wood, and painted in cherry, matching the current colors of the house. Lady Choi showed her the crib and how to work around it, while the WooDalChi boys laughed and told stories of their own families. A path was opened for Choi Young to join his wife and he stood by her, arms behind his back, while Lady Choi continued to talk.
"An in all, even though the pieces of furniture are old," And the boy tugged at Choi Young's sleeve, making the general absentmindedly, pick the boy up. "They are in pristine condition. It was never used, after all."
"Can my baby sister have the crib?" Asked the boy, making the Vice General's eyes widen in horror while everyone else laughed.
"Yah, punk! You sister already has a crib!"
"But she said…"
"Come down here," And he man dragged the boy from the general's arms into his and a bit away, where a quiet scolding took place.
.
.
"You didn't have to scold him so badly." Mentioned Choi Young softly, to the still tense father, who drank from his cup of rice wine while his son and the doctor were playing with some paper and ink; Eun Soo had managed to create colored inks out of several roots of whatever, Choi Young wasn't very sure. The Vice General sighed.
"The fact that you are my good friend and his pledged Uncle doesn't mean you will stop me from scolding him, sir." The harshness of his voice was understandable, after all if one would sit down to think about it, Choi Young just wanted to spoil the child with the indiscretions. Choong-sik was suddenly quiet, as if ashamed for having spoken so harshly to the general, who simply padded his shoulder as if to say he should not mind speaking like so. They were off duty, they were sharing a quiet evening as friends and a few drinks, why apologize? "General, having children sometimes is like been in the military. If you forgive one little slight mistake, the soldier will turn out crooked or too soft, or have hard times one can't help to resolve, when the soldier should be able to be self-sufficient." The man turned to the doctor, watching his son with a quiet smile; while Choi Young stared at him; was this really that cold hearted soldier he'd come to trust through the years? "Mothers have it harder than us fathers; because we at least don't have to nurture them with love, or shower them with kisses and care. Our job is cut out quite simple, don't you think general?"
"I wouldn't know." Murmured Choi Young, not embarrassed, but sort of amazed by the idea of fatherhood.
"Aren't you the father of that child?" Asked Choong-sik, pointing at the Doctor's belly. "I believe you are."
"I am, but… I haven't really taken care of anyone to know what you mean."
"What?" And the man laughed. "What about of Dae Man, of Deok Man and Dol Bae? Of all those WooDalChi and to some extend the maidens? You don't care for them? You call all of the WooDalChi your children and you still can't believe you can care for a baby, is the General in his right mind?"
Choi Young couldn't help the soft laugh that escaped him. He was getting a scolding form his Vice General, his sunbae in married life, who would have thought?
"Aigoo, but considering you are Uncle Gene'al, you should test my patient with my own child. What are aunts and uncles there for if not to help spoil the children, right?" Choi Young didn't answer; his child wouldn't have a blood relative of the sort, but many, many pledged aunts and uncles. Hadn't Imja said so this morning?
"Uncle Gene'al!" Called the boy, hurrying towards them, making Choi Young crouch to receive the boy in arms. "This for Omma!" He said showing the General his piece of art; a drawing of a family. "This is Omma, and baby, and daddy and me." He said, pointing at each and every one of the figures.
Would his child also do this? For some reason it did his heart good to see the innocence of this child so exposed; the way he smiled and shared ideas, so like his Imja, but to a deep not-very-well-understood level. Would he be a good father for his own child?
"Oh!" Said Eun Soo, struggling to get up, and hurrying between them, making everyone turn to stare the way she was going. Then the men turned to Choi Young, curious.
"Bathroom break." He murmured softly, clearing his throat once done.
"It's trial and error, General." Said Choong-sik, resuming their conversation. "What you don't get with the first child you learn with the second, or the third…"
"You are planning on having another child, Vice General?"
"If the Faiths bless me, why not? Beside they won't stop me from trying."
"Aigo! The Vice General made a joke!" And the two leaders of the WooDalChi, who did not joke around, laughed at their own jokes.