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I didn't have plans on the weekend, or on the weekday... or at any point in the month. Maybe even for the year. The only time I left my room was if I really needed something from outside, like new tech equipment that isn’t in online and no one else would be able to get for me. You'd think knowing someone who used to work at an office full of computers would know more about them, but last time I asked Dokja for something as simple as a long cable he came back 2 hours later and with an entire new PC build because didn't know what I wanted so got everything. I still don't understand how he has so much money but I'll pretend it's ethical.
Anyway, the point is I have a lot of free time.
This morning I wasn't on my phone for once, I was reading a book (a physical one) that Jihye gave to me. She said it was a "BL", I still don't know what that is but she told me I'll find out by chapter 3. I was only at chapter 2 when someone knocked on my door- Dokja, I can tell by the way he knocks.
He was so apologetic and overly polite until I gave him a look that said "get to the point" because I can tell he wants a favour from me. It must be serious because normally he'd ask me dead last. Usually he'd ask the other adults, then go to Jihye, and if not her he'd ask his kids- no not his kids, just kids that happen to always be around him.
Is everyone else busy? I typed out on my phone and showed him.
"I didn't ask anyone else."
Oh, I almost said out loud.
He reached into his bag and took out a tiny puffball. Biyoo. I forgot how big she's gotten, she used to be smaller than his hands. Someday I think she'll be as big as a watermelon. I don't know if that would be horrifying or cute.
She yawned and turned her little body to snuggle against his chest, and he smiled softly at her.
Did I wish that was me? No, where did you get that idea from.
"I just needed someone to babysit her, and you're the only person who hasn't spent much time with her. She won't be a handful, I swear."
Biyoo let out a fart. I didn't even know she could biologically do that. Kim Dokja coughed awkwardly into his hand.
"Only if you want to, Donghoon."
I think I forgot to respond because he immediately turned around.
"You don't have to! I'll just ask-"
I grabbed his sleeve without thinking. He turned around and I immediately let go, embarrassed.
He smiled at me. "Do you want to take care of her?"
I slowly looked back and locked eyes with Biyoo, who let out a little "baaht!"
I sighed and nodded.
"Great!"
He shoved the baby into my hands.
"I'll be back by tonight! Unless I die- that wasn't funny. I'll be back soon!" He rushed off.
"..."
For "not being a handful" he sure was eager to get his hands off her. Biyoo coughed and wiped her mouth onto my sleeve. I can't comprehend that something so small has... organs. I think? I wish I asked Kim Dokja if she needs to use a toilet before he left. Hopefully I don't find out the hard way.
I retreat back into my room, which was normally very dark but right now Biyoo had a soft glow around her. It was nice, like a calm nightlight. I hate when it's bright which is why I never turn on my main light, but I wouldn't mind carrying around a lamp shaped Biyoo.
I sat down at my chair and set Biyoo on my lap. She looked up at me with a smile.
"Alright, I hope you aren't too difficult to take care of," I murmur.
Then, Biyoo's eyes widened, and she let out a loud gasp. My eyebrows creased with worry. She wasn't going to explode, was she? Is that something she can do? I panicked, wondering if I should place her far away or try to cover her or-
"YOU CAN TALK?!"
I blinked, then my eyes widened as well. We both stared at each other in a stunned silence.
"You can talk?!” I exclaimed, which wasn’t very loud but it was for me.
Biyoo floated upwards, and stared at me with analytical eyes. She had the same gaze Dokja did whenever he was coming up with a stupid plan.
"I've never heard you say a singular word," she pointed out.
Despite how surprised I was at the amount of words she knew, she did have a bad pronunciation, like a toddler saying new words for the first time. But I wasn't too surprised by her vocabulary, considering she's always sitting on the shoulder of a book worm.
"I haven't heard you say any words either," I argued back. "Why haven't you?"
She giggled mischievously.
"If dad knew I knew how to talk, he wouldn't treat me like a baby!"
I blinked. "That's why you don't talk?"
"Yap! Isn't that why you don't?"
I look away. "No... I-" my head snaps back up. Wait- did she just- "I don't want Dokja to treat me like a baby?" I hissed, embarrassed.
She giggled. "Are you sure about that? Unnie said you're clingy!"
"Which unnie?" I demand.
"I'm not a tattle tale!" She blew her tongue at me.
I shook my head with a sigh. "No I just- I can't talk."
She blinked, and tilted her head- or well her entire body. "No?"
"No, I can't."
"But you're talking to me," she waved her arms.
"I can talk to animals."
"I'm not an animal!"
"You're covered in fur, like a cat."
She puffed out her little face and pouted.
"I'm! Not! An! Animal!" She screamed.
Oh no. She was having a tantrum. Could she kill me? Wasn't she insanely powerful? Oh no...
"Hey hey shh shh," I tried to soothe.
I tried to rock her back and forth which worked a bit, but she still looked sour.
"You're not my 4th favourite anymore," she glared at me.
I couldn’t help but have a small smile. "You have a list of favourites?"
She nodded. "Yap! Dad is first, and then Gilyoung-hyung and Yoosung-unnie are both second, and other dad is third, and now Jihye-unnie is fourth! And you're not on the list anymore!"
"I can't believe Jihye is above me..." I murmur. "Wait- who's your other dad?"
"My dad's boyfriend!"
I blinked. His- his what?
"...Are you talking about Joonghyuk?"
She nodded. "Yap! He acts like he doesn't like him but I know everything about my dad!" She bragged.
I coughed, awkwardly, I feel like she's too young to think about this. "Let's talk about something else."
"Why don't you ever talk to my dad? He really wants you to."
I sighed, rolling my eyes a bit. "I know he does. He has this weird saviour complex. ...But I guess I'm glad he cares-"
I hear clicking and realised she's not even listening to me anymore, but she's playing with my keyboard. I usually hate other people touching my equipment, but I guess she couldn't cause that much harm to it, she weighs a feather anyway.
Speaking of which.
"Biyoo, do you need to eat?"
She turned around with a wide smile. "Can I have engine oil?"
"...Did you learn that joke from Yoosung?"
She burst into squeaks of laughter.
"You don't even know what that is, do you?"
She ignored me and kept laughing. I guess I should've expected Biyoo to be Dokja's most chaotic child. I waited for her to settle down, and the laughter seemed to tire her out, since she fell asleep on my table very quickly. I gently grabbed her and put her on my lap, petting her a little.
She really was weird, but I guess I could say the same about myself. I looked back up to see my blank computer screen, where my reflecting stared at me. My hair was a mess and my eyes bags were the same as usual, and here was Biyoo, perfectly tidy even though she's a ball of energy waiting to explode, and meanwhile I just sit here all day in the same place.
I wonder if anyone would notice if we swapped places. Neither of us talk much anyway, and she seems smart enough to work with computers. And I could just hide in Dokja's bag all day where no one can see me.
I shake my head. These are really weird thoughts.
When Biyoo woke up later, she was much more fussy.
"I want to go outside," she complained, tapping at the window.
"I can't let you out alone," I murmur.
"Then come with me!"
I look at her anxiously, then out the window. It was still daytime, and I didn't want to run into anyone. I didn’t even remember how to talk to people that wasn't Dokja or an animal.
"Just stay here, your dad will be back soon."
She huffed and bounced back to the table. "I'm boreddddddd."
"Mhm." I ignored her and continued typing on my laptop.
She lets out a long sigh. "I wish I was with Jihye-unnie."
My fingers pause at the keyboard.
"...Let me find my coat.
Biyoo giggled and squeaked each time I pushed her higher on the swings that were near the apartment. I still didn't understand why she enjoyed the swings so much, considering she knows how to fly but if it makes her happy I won't judge. I kept my hood up, staying alert in case anyone comes by.
“HYUNGGGGGG!”
Oh no.
Gilyoung rushed over to me, only for Yoosung to reach me first. She looked like she was about to hug me but remembered that I didn’t like that. Gilyoung looked sour that she got here first. These two fight over everything.
“You’re outside!” Yoosung said happily.
I nodded at her.
“Hi Biyoo,” Gilyoung happily greeted her.
She smiled happily at them waved back. She’s so small and so confident, and here I am hiding in a big hoodie.
“Are you having fun with oppa?” Yoosung asked her.
“If you’re bored you can come with us instead!”
I gave him a tired look.
“Gilyoung! That’s so rude!” Yoosung scolded.
“No it’s not! We’re Biyoo’s favourites!”
I shook my head, and regretted it immediately.
“What? What do you mean no?” Yoosung gasped. “Wait, do you know Biyoo’s secret list of her favourite people? Only ahjussi knows but he won’t tell us! Am I above Gilyoung?”
“No way you are! I hang out with Biyoo more.”
“No you don’t!”
“Yes I do!”
I groan internally, they were going to go at this for an hour, and that’s not even an exaggeration. Biyoo seemed to like the chaos. Even if it was possible, I wouldn’t convince her to verbally tell them the truth, because if she spoke she’ll give it away that I spoke to her earlier. And then Gilyoung and Yoosung will spend hours trying to hear my voice, again.
I pat both of their head to get them to stop. They pause and eagerly look at me. Oh right, I don’t touch them often. I pat their heads more and they both look happy enough to finally calm down. Biyoo floated up from the swings and bumped my hand, so I pet her as well.
“They’re really getting along,” Yoosung whispered to Gilyoung, but she was really bad at whispering so I could hear her very clearly.
“Of course they are! Everyone gets along with Biyoo.”
“Except for that bastard.”
I tried not to laugh when she said that. Biyoo looked a bit upset at what they referred to her quote “dad’s boyfriend” as. I personally call him the edgelord, and Jihye would probably break my neck if I ever said that out loud so I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that.
I noticed the sun is setting, to my relief, so I grabbed Biyoo and ignored her fussing.
“Wait wait! I want to come with!” Yoosung piped up and clung to my sleeve.
“Me too!” Gilyoung copied her.
I sighed, my hands too full of a squirming baby to push them away.
We returned back to my room, where Yoosung and Gilyoung immediately fought to use the laptop. They weren’t even going to turn it on, they just liked pretending they worked at an office. I sat on my bed and tried to get Biyoo to sleep, but I think I might fall asleep first. I know I didn’t do much of anything today, but I’m not used to this many conversations.
Yoosung and Gilyoung’s voices fade out, and I held Biyoo tightly to my chest as my eyes closed.
The first thing I saw when I woke up was Dokja staring at me.
I jumped up, startled.
He backed away.
“Ah! Sorry- you were all just so-“
I looked around and realised all three of the kids fell asleep on me. He awkwardly smiled.
“Thanks for babysitting, I’ll take her off your hands now.”
Before he could take Biyoo, I quickly shook my head. He paused.
“Do you… want to take care of her longer?”
Shyly, I nodded my head. He smiled and thankfully doesn’t say anything about it.
“What about the other two? Should I take them?”
I nodded quickly.
He laughs. “Yeah, understandable.”
He leans forward and gently shook the two awake. It took awhile for them to leave as the two argued about who deserved to be carried. I sighed in relief when my room is finally empty and quiet.
I looked down at Biyoo, who yawned, blinking her eyes awake. She turned and snuggled into my chest.
“Are you ever going to talk to your dad?”
She frowned a bit. “Will he be upset if he finds out I can talk?”
“He’s not upset at me.”
She hummed in consideration.
After a while, she let out a high pitched, “Baaht!”
I smiled in understanding. I didn’t feel like talking anymore either. I moved over to my desk again and got out a sheet with some coloured pens. She knew how to read but wasn’t great at controlling the pen to write, so drew pictures in responses to what I wrote on the paper. It was hard to decipher what 3 wonky drawings of flowers meant, but she enjoyed me taking the conversation seriously so I continued.
After a bit she dropped the pen and fell asleep again. She really is tired all the time, but I can’t really judge, I am too.
I gently kissed the top of her forehead.