"Seol-ah!" Hajin exclaims in disbelief, making her little girl jump in surprise. "Did you draw on the table again?"
Seol stares at her mother in shock, a feeling of dread slowly creeping in. She thought she'd covered it earlier with a piece of tape... she knew she should have put two more just to be sure.
"Yah, how many times do I have to tell you? If you want to write, ask me for paper," Hajin reminds in an exasperated tone, trying to wipe the marks off.
"I had paper!" she protests.
"Then why would you write on the table?" her mother demands.
"Accident..."
Hajin sighs. "Wait 'til your father comes home. We just had this repainted! Ah, it won't come off... and everyone will be coming over tomorrow, too..."
Seol's looking teary-eyed with worry. She's fidgeting with her dress, wondering how she can get out of being scolded, when the door opens and her father walks in.
"Hello, my beautiful girls!" So greets, shaking the snow off his dark hair. He shrugs off his coat and hangs it by the door, and Seol sees her chance. She gets up and runs to him, wrapping her arms tightly around his leg. "Appa, I'm sorry."
"Sorry? For what?" he asks in surprise, noticing the desperation on her small face.
Seol glances fearfully at her mother and takes cover behind her father's legs.
"Little girl, that won't work," Hajin says sternly, coming over and bending down to peer at her.
"What's wrong?" So asks curiously, laying a hand on his daughter's head.
"She drew on the table again," Hajin sighs, gesturing dejectedly at the dining table.
"Seol-ah... why did you draw on the table again?"
"Accident," she replies, tugging at his shirt and gazing imploringly up at him. "Accident, appa..."
"How can it be an accident?" Hajin asks.
"I was writing," Seol explains carefully, "and my hand..." she couldn't remember the exact word for it, so she acted out exactly what had happened.
"Your hand slipped?" So guessed.
Seol nods fervently. She knew he would understand.
"You didn't do it on purpose?"
She shakes her head, frowning indignantly up at him, before noticing her mother's doubtful expression. She assumes her most sorrowful look and presses her face against his leg in supplication, "Sorry, appa, I won't do it again."
"It's okay," So says, rubbing her back. He sees the scathing look on Hajin's face and mouths, "What?"
"You're spoiling her!" she mouths back.
He rolls his eyes and pulls her in for a kiss. "She's 4," he murmurs.
"She'll think she can get away with anything as long as she acts cute," Hajin mumbles under her breath, pointing to the little creature still clinging onto him for dear life. "This is called enabling."
"No," he says, "this is called 4-year-olds-don't-have-complete-control-over-their-fine-motor-skills-and-so-parents-must-endeavor-to-be-more-understanding." He turns to Seol and pats her head. "Seol-ah, apologize to your mother, too."
Seol looks up and glances unsurely at her mother. "I'm sorry, umma."
"You'll be more careful next time, won't you?" he prods.
She nods vigorously.
"Tell her."
She looks at her mother again and says as properly as she can, "I won't do it again."
Hajin sees she can't win. "Promise?"
"Promise!" Seol pipes up at once, feeling relieved.
"Oh, alright," Hajin grumbles, turning away.
Once she's safely back in the kitchen, So holds open his palms for Seol, who eagerly raises her arms to him, ready to be lifted.
"What did you do today?" he asks, giving her a kiss and making his way to the bedroom.
"I know how to write my name!" she declares proudly.
"Clever girl," he grins. "Did your mother teach you?"
"Yes!"
"Did you say thank you?"
Seol becomes silent, realizing she didn't, and shrinks away from his stern gaze.
"You forgot?"
She bows her head in shame and starts fingering at the collar of his shirt.
He rummages through his bag until he finds what he's looking for. "Come, let's write a letter to your mother. I bought you new pencils, so you can use these. Don't break and lose them this time."
Her eyes widen, seeing the beautifully wrapped gift in his hand. At once, she reaches for it.
"First, what do you say?" he says, withholding it.
"Thank you!" she squeals excitedly, small palms spread out in front of her at the ready.
"Kiss."
She leans in at once and pecks his lips.
He deposits the gift into her waiting hands and watches fondly as she carefully begins untying the ribbon, a look of pure concentration on her young face.
"Merry Christmas, my princess."
As promised!
Next chapter will be a huuuuuge family reunion. It might freak out some of y'all, but it's not my fault they have such a big family! lol
FYI: The character's relationships are based on my original fic so they might not make sense if you haven't read it yet.
Preview for tomorrow's chapter:
"Kids, let's eat!" Woohee calls before Hajin can stop her, opening the door to Seol's bedroom. The little ones file out eagerly, and Seol's first instinct is to call for her father.
"He's on the phone," Hajin says hastily before anyone else can answer. "Go sit with halabeoji for a while, ye?"
Taejo's eyes crinkle in a smile as Seol saunters up to his lap, and he begins entertaining her with stories about his childhood. Boksoon tugs on his pants and lifts her arms, demanding to join as well. Taejo chuckles fondly at the pair of them. "Ah, even though I never had daughters of my own, I'm glad I at least have beautiful granddaughters."