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The first thing Miyeon heard was a loud crunching. She told Minnie to shut up as the alarm hadn’t been on yet. She wanted to sleep more. The crunching were still there. She finally cracked one eye open.
At the foot of the bed, their 5-year-old stood in her barbie pajamas, munching a potato chips straight from a family-sized bag. “Mama,” the child said between bites, “You snore like a tractor.”
Miyeon groaned, rolling onto her back. “Good morning to you too…”
From under the blanket, Minnie’s muffled voice joined in. “Some other days, she would snore like a helicopter.”
She emerged just enough to squint at her phone. 5:12 a.m. and then groaned again. She closed her eyes again. “Yuna, go back to sleep.”
Miyeon sighed and sat up, “Sweetheart… why are you eating chips before the sun’s even up?”
“Breakfast,” the girl said, holding up the bag as evidence.
“It’s five in the morning,” Miyeon replied.
“I’m hungry,” Yuna shrugged.
“You ate two portions of pasta yesterday.”
“I know…but I’m hungry. Nana said I can eat as much as I want.”
Of course she did. Leaving Yuna with Miyeon’s mother was like sending her to a five-star all-inclusive resort run by a cheerful, slightly chaotic hippie grandmother. In short, Yuna was very pampered by the grandmother.
Miyeon rubbed her forehead. “Alright, chip monster. Put the bag away, wash your hands, and just sleep here with us. Come on.”
Yuna shook her head. “But the bed’s too crowded. I’ll suffocate! I’ll be squished into a pancake!”
From under the blanket, Minnie muttered, “Jesus, she’s just like you. So dramatic.”
“Not helping, Minnie.”
Yuna immediately ran to the washroom and washed her hands. Right after, she placed herself between them.
One hour later, the kitchen looked like a war zone. Miyeon was at the stove, whisking scrambled eggs and Minnie was at the counter, trying to make coffee and butter toast.
Yuna was spinning in circles on a chair, wearing a tutu over her pajamas because “it’s a breakfast party.”
“Yuna, sit down before you fall!” Miyeon called.
“I am sitting…” Yuna started, right before toppling sideways off the chair and bouncing back up like nothing happened.
“Eggs are almost ready,” Miyeon announced, sliding them onto plates.
“I need toast,” Minnie said after she picked up her ringing phone which happened to be her mom, “Miyeon, could you please watch the toast?” asked Minnie after she dropped four slices into the toaster and slipped into the bedroom.
“Mama, can I have pancakes instead?” Yuna asked.
“No, we’re having eggs and…” Miyeon stopped mid-sentence because something smelled off. She turned her body and a thin curl of smoke came out from the toaster. “Minnie…the toaster is burning.” shouted Miyeon panicking.
“What?!” Minnie came running from the bedroom and grabbed the toaster cord, and yanked it from the wall. She rushed it to the sink like it was a live grenade and turned on the tap.
Water hissed against hot metal. And Minnie looked at Miyeon. “What was that?”
Miyeon grabbed a wooden chopstick, poked inside, and pulled out a half-melted, rainbow-smeared crayon. “Oh, fantastic,” she said flatly. “Your daughter accidentally put a crayon inside.”
“It was supposed to be rainbow toast!” replied Yuna.
Minnie sighed like she was aging three years in one breath. Miyeon pressed her lips together, momentarily speechless. No one warned them how parenting was basically living inside a 24/7 improv comedy show and exhausted all the time.
“Someday, she’s gonna burn down our house.” said Minnie and she got back to her phone call.
“At least she’s a visionary,” Miyeon mumbled, tossing the crayon in the trash. “A dangerous, dangerous visionary.”
After breakfast, Miyeon was already in her blouse, touching up her eyeliner in the hallway mirror. Minnie came from the bedroom, fully dressed in her blazer.
“Miyeon, is the nanny coming??” Minnie asked, slipping her laptop into her bag.
“Yeah, she’s usually not late. Let me call her.,” replied Miyeon and then she glanced over at Yuna who was just playing barbie in the living room. “Sweetheart, the nanny’s going to be here soon, so finish your breakfast and…”
Yuna popped her head out from under the table. “Do I have to stay with her? She makes me eat fruit.”
“That’s her job, honey.” Minnie said flatly.
“She also makes me nap,” Yuna added, scandalized.
“Yes,” Miyeon replied, “because you’re five.”
“I’m basically six,” Yuna muttered, resuming her toast-feeding ritual for her stuffed rabbit.
Miyeon shook her head, grabbing the phone and dialing. The phone rang twice before the nanny’s voice came on, sounding hoarse and miserable. “Mrs. Cho…I’m so sorry. I’m sick. I can’t make it today. I was about to call you but i was too weak.”
Miyeon froze. “You can’t what? Why can’t you….I have meetings…” said Miyeon then sighed. “Alright, feel better. You can take some days off.”
Miyeon hung up and turned to Minnie. “The nanny’s out. She’s sick.”
Minnie blinked. “I can stay home.”
“No, you can’t…don’t you have that big meeting with the investors from Taiwan?”
Minnie tilted her head. “Do you want to stay home?”
“Well…” Miyeon hesitated, biting her lip.
“Exactly.” Minnie’s smirk as she stepped closer, looping an arm around Miyeon’s waist. “I know you’ve got that big pitch today. Go close the deal and get that promotion.” She let her eyes wander down, then back up. “You’re even hotter in a blazer anyway.”
Miyeon felt her cheeks warm, “Flattery isn’t going to make me…”
Minnie kissed her until Miyeon let out a small laugh against her lips. “Okay,” said Miyeon when they pulled back, her hands still resting on Minnie’s shoulders. “You know what? We can just call my mom.”
From the living room, Yuna shot up “YAY! NANA’A COMING"
Minnie groaned. “Miyeon, her sugar levels will reach dangerous heights by noon.”
“It’ll be fine,” Miyeon said to Minnie, giving her arm a squeeze before walking over to where Yuna was crouched on the floor. “Alright, kiddo, Nana’s coming, so I need you to behave, eat real food, and not convince her to buy you another glitter slime set. Got it?”
Yuna nodded solemnly, which meant absolutely nothing.
Miyeon turned back to Minnie. “I’ll call her on the way. You okay to wait until Mom gets here?”
“Yeah, of course,” Minnie said as she walked next to Yuna.
With one last glance at her family, Miyeon slipped on her shoes and headed out the door, “See you later. Love you both.”
“Love you too,” Minnie replied.
The house fell quiet for a moment except for the cheerful voice of Dora the Explorer on the TV, “Yuna, while we wait for Nana, let’s do some piano practice.”
“That’s boring, Mommy,” Yuna replied without looking away from the TV.
Minnie raised an eyebrow. “Boring? It’s music! It’s art! It’s culture!”
Twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang. Minnie opened it to find Miyeon’s mother already halfway stepping inside, with a strong sense of perfume and floral scarf around her neck.
“Where is my beautiful granddaughter?” she asked, eyes scanning past Minnie as if she wasn’t even there.
Minnie closed the door with a small sigh. “Hello to you too, Mom. Nice seeing you as well.”
Miyeon’s mother was already spotting Yuna on the couch. “There’s my baby!”
Yuna launched herself off the cushions and ran straight into Nana’s arms.
While Yuna clung to her, Minnie grabbed her bag and ready to leave for work,. “So…how’s everything going with you?”
“Oh, you know,” Miyeon’s mother said casually, still hugging Yuna, “keeping busy, gardening…I’ve been pretty social lately. I’m seeing a guy.”
Minnie blinked. “A guy?”
“Yes, Minnie, a guy,” she said matter-of-factly. “Don’t look so surprised, I still have a pulse.”
Minnie nodded slowly. “No, I wasn’t…okay, maybe I was. But I’m glad that’s working out for you.” And she meant it, ever since her father in-law passed away two years ago, her mother in-law had been a little lonely.
“Well, let’s just say,” Miyeon’s mother continued, lowering her voice but still grinning, “Our…dinners are very fulfilling.”
Minnie stared at her disgusted. “I did not ask.”
“Just so you know, old people still do it,” Miyeon’s mom said with a wink.
Minnie groaned. “Wow. Thank you for that mental image… I’m going to need brain bleach.”
She walked over, kissed Yuna on the cheek, and then turned to Miyeon’s mom. “Seriously though, thank you for doing this on short notice. Please, please, don’t overload her with sugar. I am begging you.”
“Well… I’ll try,” Miyeon’s mom said with a smile that absolutely did not promise anything.
“That’s not comforting,” Minnie muttered, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “Alright, kiddo, be good for Nana.”
“I’m always good,” Yuna said with the innocent face of hers.
“Uh-huh.” Minnie smirked, kissed the top of her head, and headed for the door. “Bye, troublemaker.”
As soon as the door closed, Nana leaned down to Yuna. “So…ice cream before lunch?”
Yuna’s face lit up. “YES!”
That afternoon, Miyeon came home earlier than expected. She stepped inside to find her mother at the dining table with a cup of tea, scrolling on her phone.
“Hey, Mom…” Miyeon greeted, setting her bag down. “How are you doing?”
“I’m excellent,” her mom said, “Except you’ve basically dragged me here to work as a full-time nanny.”
“You literally told me to call you if I ever needed you.”
“Yeah, well, that was before I found a man to go on dates with.”
Miyeon rolled her eyes, she’d already heard this from Minnie earlier over text. “Where’s Yuna?”
“Taking a nap,” her mom replied, entirely too casual. “Had to promise her a chocolate when she wakes up.”
“Mom, come on!!! Really?”
Her mother just took another sip of tea. “Bribery is an art, dear.”
“What did you do today?”
“We were playing hide and seek, went to the park. That kid has this big energy.”
“That’s probably sugar rush.” replied Miyeon and she sat across from her mother, resting her chin in her hand. “So…who’s this mystery man?”
Her mom’s lips curled into a sly smile. “He goes to the same church. He’s kind, funny, he loves jazz. And our dinners are… let’s just say… a far cry from what your father could ever manage.”
Miyeon winced. “Mom!”
“What? I’m just saying. God rest his soul, but your father’s idea of a good time lasted thirty seconds. That was why you are the only child.”
“Too much information,” Miyeon groaned, covering her face.
Her mom chuckled, unbothered. “What? I’m still alive, and now I’m finally having five-star meals instead of…sad snacks.”
They spent the next few minutes catching up on work, neighbors, and garden gossip until her mom suddenly leaned forward. “So…does Yuna know about the next baby?”
Miyeon sighed. She’d always wanted a second child, but the thought of bringing it up to Minnie tied her stomach in knots. She’d hinted at it before, slipping it into jokes, but Minnie always brushed it off with a laugh. And if starting that conversation with her wife felt hard, telling Yuna… would be an entirely different challenge.
Her mom leaned back in her chair, watching her with that knowing look only mothers had. “You’re overthinking it.”
“This isn’t just deciding what’s for dinner,” Miyeon muttered. “This is…huge.”
“You two are solid,” her mom said. “And you’re already amazing parents. If it’s what you want, you’ll make it work.”
“It’s not just about what I want…Minnie’s career is in overdrive right now, and Yuna is…well, Yuna.”
“That’s exactly why you should do it now,” her mom countered. “Imagine Yuna having someone else to bother at five in the morning.”
Miyeon gave her a look. “That’s… actually a terrible argument, Mom.”
“I’m serious,” her mom insisted. “You always told me you were lonely growing up. Yuna might feel that too. A sibling could change that.”
Miyeon sat quietly for a beat, letting that sink in. Then her mom glanced at the clock and stood, grabbing her purse. “Alright, I gotta go. I’m making dinner for my mystery man tonight.”
“When do we get to meet this mystery man?” asked Miyeon raising her eyebrow.
Her mother gave her a sly smile. “Not yet. You’ll know when it’s time.”
“Why do I feel like you’re hiding him from us?”
“It’s just me…banging him, sweetie. We’re not going to get serious.”
“Mom…” Miyeon groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “That’s…”
Her mom just shrugged. “You asked.”
After her mom left, Miyeon changed out of her work clothes and slipped into a loose T-shirt and sweatpants. She figured she’d use the time to laundry that she had been avoided for 10 days. She started sorting piles of hers, Minnie’s, and then Yuna’s. The second she opened Yuna’s hamper, a wave of odor hit her like a physical punch.
“Oh my god,” Miyeon gagged, yanking her head back. “What died in here?”
She pinched the corner of one suspicious shirt and dropped it straight into the machine without further inspection and started the cycle.
Then she moved into the kitchen to make dinner, deciding on something simple and comforting a classic Korean home meal. A pot of doenjang jjigae simmering on the stove, a quick plate of kimchi pancakes, and a couple of side dishes from the fridge.
The smell of garlic and sesame oil began to fill the house. Miyeon hummed under her breath as she chopped green onions. She was just plating the kimchi pancakes when the front door opened.
“Smells good in here,” Minnie’s voice called, followed by the soft thud of her bag hitting the floor. She hung her coat on the rack and stepped into the kitchen.
“Is Yuna still asleep?” she asked, loosening her scarf.
“Yes,” Miyeon replied, stirring the simmering doenjang jjigae.
“Don’t you think we should wake her up now? I don’t want to be up all night, Miyeon.”
“Mom said she was playing a lot today.”
“That must be the sugar,” replied Minnie, stated the obvious.
Then, with the conversation settled, Minnie stepped forward, sliding her arms slowly around Miyeon’s waist. She pulled her close until their bodies touched, her chin settling lightly on Miyeon’s shoulder.
“I missed you…” whispered Minnie onto Miyeon’s right ear. Her lips grazing the curve of Miyeon’s neck. “Missed the way you feel right here in my arms…” her fingers squeeze at Miyeon’s waist.
“You’re distracting the chef,” Miyeon warned.
“That’s the point…”
Miyeon’s laughed. “Careful there…”
Minnie was about to left lingering kisses but then, “NANA, ARE YOU THERE?!” Yuna’s voice rang out from her room.
Both women sighed in unison. “Parenthood: the ultimate mood killer.” said Miyeon and she gave Minnie a quick peck on the cheek before turning back to the stove. “Can you play with Yuna while I finish up here?”
Minnie gave her a mock salute. “Yes, chef.”
“NANA!!!!” screamed Yuna again.
Minnie chuckled. “Nana’s gone. I’m coming, your highness,” she said, heading off toward the bedroom to entertained the daughter.
Dinner was, against all odds, going smoothly. Minnie was halfway through telling Miyeon about a weird coworker incident when Yuna suddenly froze mid-bite, “Oh! I forgot. I found something amazing today.”
Both women looked at her.
“What is it?” Miyeon asked.
Yuna turned to her little pink backpack, the one she carried everywhere, filled with crayons, stickers, and questionable treasures and unzipped it. “Ta-da!” she announced, pulling out a box.
The packaging was crystal-clear, proudly displaying a dinosaur-shaped object except the head was not a dinosaur head at all. In fact, it was unmistakably shaped like a dick and did not belong in child’s toy box.
Miyeon was choking on her kimchi pancake while Minnie asked, “Uh…honey. Where did you get…that?”
“Oh, there was a package at the door,” Yuna said proudly. “So I opened it. Thanks for the toy!”
Miyeon’s brain short-circuited. She knew exactly what this was and it was not rated for ages 5 and up. She ordered this last week and she was waiting for it.
“That’s…not a toy, sweetheart,” Miyeon managed.
Yuna blinked. “It’s a dinosaur.”
“Well, it is not yours,” Miyeon said firmly.
“So…it’s Mama’s dinosaur toy?” Yuna tilted her head, all curiosity and zero awareness.
Before Miyeon could answer, Minnie lunged across the table like a goalie, snatching the box from Yuna’s hands. “We’ll get you another dinosaur, honey!” she said in a rush.
“You can’t take my dinosaur…” Yuna pouted.
“Honey, we will get you a better one,” Minnie promised, threw the box over at the living room.
Yuna considered this, then sighed. “Okay.” She took another bite of rice, chewing slowly, and then looked up with wide eyes. “What’s an…orgy?”
This time, it was Minnie’s turn to choke, coughing into her soup so hard Miyeon had to reach over and pat her back. Miyeon herself didn’t know how to react.
“W..where did you hear that word?” Minnie sputtered once she could breathe.
“It says it right there on the box.”
“Okay, sweetheart…don’t say it out loud.” said Miyeon fast.
“But what does it mean?” Yuna pressed.
Minnie’s eyes darted to Miyeon like she was silently screaming for backup.
“It’s…” Miyeon began slowly, “A kind of… um… group activity.”
“Like soccer?” Yuna asked.
“Exactly,” Minnie blurted, nodding way too fast. “Like soccer, but for… dinosaurs. And only grown-up dinosaurs. And it’s extinct. Forever. So we never talk about it again.”
Yuna frowned but went back to her rice without another word.
After dinner, Miyeon went to tuck Yuna into bed. She smoothed out the blanket and was about to kiss her goodnight when Yuna turned to her with that “serious talk” look.
“Hey, Mama,” Yuna began. “Why does Nana speak Korean to me, but Granny speaks to me in Thai, and sometimes English?”
Miyeon blinked. “Well… because Nana’s Korean, and Granny’s Thai.”
Yuna frowned. “I met my friend in the park today, and they don’t have that. I thought everybody was like me.”
Miyeon smiled gently. “No, sweetheart, not everyone is like you. You’re special. You’re Korean and Thai.”
“Wait…I thought Granny said we are Chinese.”
Miyeon froze. “Uh… well…we do have Chinese heritage too…” She waved her hands vaguely. “So you’re Korean, Thai and Chinese.”
“So you’re Chinese too?” Yuna asked.
“No,” Miyeon said slowly. “Mommy is.”
Yuna tilted her head. “So…what am I?”
Miyeon opened her mouth, hesitated, then shut it again. “That’s…a long conversation, sweetheart. I’ll explain it to you some other time.”
Yuna squinted at her. “Is it complicated?”
“Very,” Miyeon sighed, tucking the blanket around her. “But for now, just know you’re you and you’re perfect.”
After tucking Yuna in, Miyeon retreated to the bathroom for a hot shower. She brushed her teeth, slipped into soft pajamas, and padded back into the bedroom.
Minnie was sat up against the headboard, iPad in her lap, scrolling lazily. She looked up as Miyeon walked in, her face instantly softening. “Yuna’s out?”
“Completely,” Miyeon said, climbing into bed beside her. “I think mom ran her ragged.”
“She should be, after all that sugar…” Minnie set her iPad aside, then gave Miyeon a look. “By the way, why did you buy a sex toy that comes in a transparent box? Don’t they normally hide it?”
Miyeon groaned, and laid there in bed. “It was supposed to be discreet! The seller’s photos showed a black box. I didn’t know it would arrive looking like that.”
Minnie chuckled, “Relax. It’s just another one for the parenting storybook. One day we’ll laugh about it.”
“Hey….” Miyeon hummed, tracing idle patterns on Minnie’s arm. “Think there’s room for…a new chapter?”
Minnie tilted her head. “What do you mean?”
“Have you ever thought about having another child?” Miyeon asked quietly.
“Yes.” said Minnie immediately.
Miyeon blinked. “Then why haven’t you said anything?”
Minnie exhaled slowly, “Because I saw you when you were pregnant with Yuna. It was…rough, Miyeon. You were exhausted, miserable half the time, and I swore I wouldn’t put you through that again. I won’t put my self there too. Besides…” she gave a small smile, “I’m happy just with you and Yuna. She’s enough chaos for us.”
Miyeon studied her for a moment, her heart squeezing. Then she sat up a little. “What if I said…I don’t mind going through it again?”
Minnie’s brows lifted, a flicker of surprise in her eyes before her lips curved into a smile. “I think we can talk about it tomorrow but right now…i think i want to try that dinosaur toy you bought.”
Minnie shifted sideways, moving out of her relaxed sitting position and leaning over from Miyeon’s right. One hand braced against the mattress for balance, the other resting lightly on Miyeon’s thigh. Miyeon reached up, sliding her hand behind Minnie’s neck and pulling her closer until their faces were inches apart. Minnie’s lips found hers and their bodies angled toward each other on the bed. The kiss deepened naturally, and the rest was history.