The joy you gave me

"Careful! Watch your steps." Guk-Du said as they walked down the stairs. Di-Hee tried to look beneath her swollen belly, tilting her head to the side as her husband held her hand to help her.

Her other hand was over her womb as she slowly caressed it. Her breathing was a bit rough as it became more and more difficult for her to go up and down the stairs as the days passed. 

Guk-Du arranged her room on the ground floor, near the bathroom. During these seven months, Guk-DU discovered several new things about his wife and her pregnancy. 

And finally, after a month and a half, the moment he was anxious and waited for came on a whole moon night in September. 

-----

"Congratulations, Mr In. There are twins, a boy and a girl." The doctor said as her hands gestured for him to go inside the room to see the mother and children.

With shaky legs and teary eyes, Guk-Du went inside the room and was in awe seeing her with both babies sleeping peacefully. 

He tip-toed inside, but Di-Hee woke up. She opened her eyes and moved her head in Guk-Du's direction. A smile spread on her lips on her lips automatically. She tried getting up, but Guk-Du was fast enough to be by her side to help her. 

He adjusted the bed and sat on the stool provided by the hospital. He turned to look at the twins in the cradle. Both of them lay there peacefully with their eyes open and moving them here and there. 

"Beautiful, aren't they?" Di-Hee asked as her voice cracked with emotions. Tears threatened to spill out of her eyes. 

"Yes, just like you. Beautiful and captivating." Guk-Du replied with the same emotions and turned to look at her. Hugging her, he let his happiness-filled spills fall down his eyes. 

Sniffing a little, Di-Hee asked, "Want to hold them?" As she rubbed her nose with a tissue, Guk-Du slowly approached the cradle and picked up the girl first. 

The baby laughed a little, but the next moment started crying. Guk-Du looked at Di-hee, who chuckled a little. "They must be hungry. Give me, I will feed them." 

He then picked up the boy, seeing that the child didn't cry or do anything till then. But as soon as he picked him up, he also started crying. Di-Hee extended her other arms as she laughed a little. 

"They hate me for not taking good care of their mother." 

"Heya! Don't you dare say such a thing! My husband took good care of me, not their father." 

"What do you mean by that? Huh?" 

"Nothing. Just give me some water." 

====== {5 years later}

"Mumma, take me to the park. Mumma! Take me to the park." She sang in a tone as her brother watched his sister call out for their mother.

"Jun-Ki, don't sing a song like that. Just say in a loud voice - like this. Park! Park!" Su-Oh showed Jun-Ki, and they both started shouting. Park!

"Silence! Good kids, now let's go." Di-Hee said as she held their hands to walk them out of the house.

Locking on the door, they sat inside the car when Di-Hee's phone rang. It was Guk-Du.

"Di-Hee, I think I'm locked inside the house. Where are you? I must be careless." He said from the other side.

Di-Hee cut the call and opened the car door to walk out when Su-Oh asked, "Mommy, where are you going?"

"I think we locked your father inside the house. Sit here only."

Jun-Ki giggled, hearing this. Su-Oh pouted upon hearing that. He thought of the carelessness they showed in excitement to go there that they forgot their father was also supposed to come with them.

"You two little cupcakes forgot your Appa for the park. That hurts. Ouch!" Guk-Du expressed as he kept his hands on his heart and pouted a little, making the twins laugh. 

"Appa, next time, the same won't happen." Jun-Ki expressed as she tried to come forward but went back again by the seatbelt.

-----------

Di-Hee, Guk-Du and the twins were sitting on the mat they bought. They were enjoying the time together as they played tag and ate snacks. It was a picnic. 

Relishing and spending time together. A happy family they were. 

As the twins went to play with the other children, Guk-Du hugged Di-Hee from behind while still sitting on the mat. 

"Have you ever imagined the joy you gave me? It's too much to even describe in words." Guk-Du said as he kissed her cheeks and added, "Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if you hadn't helped me home that night."

"You-"

"Yes, even if I wasn't sure, I still gained feelings for you after that night."

The couple was so engrossed in staring into each other's eyes that they didn't notice their cupcakes return.

 "I also want huggies," Su-Oh said as he spread his arms. Seeing him doing so, Jun-Ki said, "Me too."

"Awe! My sweeties! Come here." Di-Hee said as she gestured for them to come into the hug.