That evening, as the sky turned deep orange and purple, Min-seok carried Soo-ah home on his back in a piggyback ride. She clung to his shoulders, cheek pressed to the side of his neck, arms wrapped loosely around his throat, legs hooked around his waist.
Every few steps she'd squeeze him tighter and murmur sleepy, happy nonsense into his ear—"Oppa, you're still the strongest… don't ever get old, okay?"—and he'd chuckle low, adjusting his grip under her thighs to keep her secure.
Ji-yeon walked close beside them, holding both their bags—one slung over her shoulder, the other in her hand—smiling softly at the sight. The three of them moved slowly down the quiet street, streetlights flickering on one by one, casting long, gentle shadows.
Soo-ah's school backpack bounced lightly against Min-seok's hip with each step; Ji-yeon's free hand occasionally brushed his arm, a silent, comforting touch.
When they reached home, Min-seok pushed the door open with his foot.
The moment they stepped inside, the living room lit up with the sisters' reactions.
Eun-ji was the first to spot them. She was sprawled on the couch with her phone but jumped up so fast she nearly tripped over the coffee table.
"OPPA! SOO-AH!!" she shrieked, rushing forward. "You're back! And—oh my god, she's asleep on you! Look at her—she's out cold!"
She stopped short, hands on her hips, narrowing her eyes dramatically at the sight of Soo-ah's arms still loosely around Min-seok's neck even in sleep.
"Wait a minute…" she said, pointing accusingly. "First she steals my clinginess title, and now she's called dibs on piggyback rides too? That's unfair! Oppa, she's literally using my signature move while unconscious! I'm filing a complaint!"
Soo-min appeared from the kitchen doorway, wiping her hands on a dish towel, eyes widening with instant fondness.
"She looks so tiny up there," she said softly, stepping closer. "You carried her the whole way? Aww… she's completely knocked out. Poor baby must've talked herself to sleep."
She glanced sideways at Eun-ji with a knowing smirk. "And look at you—already scheming how to use this against her later. You sly little thing. Using Soo-ah's clinginess as an excuse to get even more pampering from Oppa in the future? Classic Eun-ji move."
Eun-ji gasped, fake-offended. "It's my birthright! I invented clingy in this house!"
Hye-jin came out of her room next, hair tied up in a messy bun, still holding a book. Her face softened immediately.
"She's clinging to you even in her sleep," she murmured, voice full of warmth. "Look at her little hands… she's got your shirt in a death grip. That's so cute."
Mi-Kyung was already standing near the couch, hand resting lightly on her belly. She smiled gently, eyes misty, but instead of commenting right away she walked straight over to Min-seok and reached up to carefully take Soo-ah from his back.
"Come here, baby girl," she said softly, arms extended.
But Soo-ah didn't budge. Even in deep sleep her arms stayed locked around Min-seok's neck, face tucked against his shoulder like she was glued there.
Mi-Kyung tugged gently—nothing. She tried again, lifting under Soo-ah's arms—still no movement.
Soo-min laughed quietly, stepping beside her. "Don't waste your time with that. In clinginess, she's trained well by Eun-ji. They used to have competitions over who could hold onto Oppa longer. Over the years she's become an expert—even in sleep you won't break her free from his embrace. Only he can do that."
Mi-Kyung shook her head with a soft, fond sigh, glancing around the room at the sisters still hovering close to Min-seok like magnets.
"Is there anyone in this house who isn't clingy to him?" she asked, half-laughing, half-exasperated. "It feels like Min-seok is a bamboo stick and every single one of you is a koala desperate to latch on."
The room paused for half a second—then erupted into playful chaos.
Eun-ji was the first to respond, still draped half over Min-seok's lap like she owned it. She gasped dramatically, clutching her chest.
"Excuse me, unnie? Clingy is a love language! And I'm the CEO of it. Oppa's bamboo is premium-grade—sturdy, tall, perfect for koala life. I'm not clinging, I'm *investing* in emotional security!"
She paused, then blinked, cheeks suddenly turning pink as she realized what she just said. "Wait—okay, that didn't sound right at all. Forget I said 'premium-grade bamboo.' Moving on!"
Soo-min burst out laughing, slapping her knee. "Oh my god, Eun-ji! You just made it sound like Oppa's got the best wood in the forest!"
Hye-jin hid her face in her hands, shoulders shaking with silent giggles. "Unnie… you can't say things like that and then pretend it's innocent!"
Ji-yeon covered her mouth, eyes crinkling with laughter. "Emotional security? That's what we're calling it now?"
Eun-ji's face went bright red. She shooed them all with both hands, flustered but still grinning. "Stop! It's not like I'm wrong! Soon I'll get my double-meaning privileges too when my date happens! Just wait—Oppa's going to spoil me rotten and you'll all be jealous!"
Soo-min smirked, leaning against the couch arm with her arms crossed. "She's not wrong. If Oppa's bamboo, then I'm the koala who brings snacks and builds a cozy nest. It's a strategic attachment. I'm not clingy—I'm committed to quality cuddles. You're just jealous you didn't trademark him first, unnie."
She winked at Mi-Kyung, then reached over to gently poke Min-seok's cheek. "Admit it, Oppa. You love being our bamboo."
Hye-jin, sitting cross-legged on the floor with her book forgotten in her lap, tilted her head thoughtfully before smiling shyly.
"I'm not clingy," she said quietly, but her cheeks were pink. "I'm… selectively attached. Only to the best bamboo in the forest."
She glanced up at Min-seok through her lashes, voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "And maybe I do wrap my vines around him a little tighter when no one's looking. But that's just because he's warm and safe. Can you blame me?"
She bit her lip, trying not to laugh at her own metaphor.
Ji-yeon, who had been quietly watching from the doorway, finally stepped closer. She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head with gentle exasperation.
"I gave up pretending years ago," she admitted, voice warm and honest. "I'm the original koala. When he first started helping us after my husband left, I clung to him like he was the only steady thing left in the world. And honestly? I still do. He's my bamboo, my anchor, my safe place. If that makes me clingy, then I'm proudly clingy."
She walked over, leaned down, and pressed a soft kiss to Min-seok's temple.
"So yes, Mi-Kyung-ah," she said with a small, knowing smile, "there's no one in this house who isn't clingy to him. It's just in different quantities. And we're all perfectly okay with it. And you should get used to it already."
Mi-Kyung laughed, stepping forward to wrap her arms around Min-seok's neck from the front, chin resting on his shoulder.
"Then maybe I need to be clingy too," she murmured, just loud enough for everyone to hear. She slyly placed a hand on her still-flat belly, eyes twinkling. "With the baby on the way, I'm sure I'm going to get pampered the most. It's only fair, right?"
The room went dead silent for half a second—then exploded.
Eun-ji gasped theatrically. "CHEATING! That's cheating! You're using the baby card? Unnie, that's low!"
Soo-min clutched her chest like she'd been shot. "Undue advantage! She's literally pulling the 'I'm pregnant' card to hog all the pampering for herself!"
Hye-jin laughed, covering her mouth. "That's so unfair! We've been clinging for years and she just… pulls out the ultimate trump card and takes it all!"
Ji-yeon shook her head, smiling helplessly. "She's right though. Pregnancy gets you automatically on the top of the priority list, especially when it's his child that's on the way. It's biology."
Mi-Kyung grinned, unapologetic. "You guys clung to him for seventeen, eighteen years. Now it's my turn. And it's not my fault I'm pregnant and you aren't."
Eun-ji whined dramatically, flopping back against Min-seok. "Oppa! Tell her she can't do this! We have seniority!"
Soo-min crossed her arms, smirking at Eun-ji with mock pity.
"Seniority means nothing against a baby, Eun-ji. Just admit it—you've been dethroned by an unborn child. She's winning and we all know it."
Hye-jin giggled. "I'm just going to have to step up my cling game now. Pregnancy privilege is unbeatable."
Ji-yeon sighed fondly, shaking her head with a small, helpless smile. "Welcome to the family, Mi-Kyung-ah. You just officially outranked all of us. I didn't know you were such a sly fox."
Mi-Kyung leaned back against Min-seok's chest, one hand resting lightly on her belly, the other still loosely draped around his neck. She tilted her head with a sly, unapologetic grin.
"What can I say?" she replied, voice dripping with playful mischief. "I'm learning from the best. And isn't it a wife's job to get pampered by her husband? I'm just… fulfilling my duties."
The room exploded again—this time with a mix of groans, laughter, and mock outrage.
Eun-ji threw her hands up dramatically. "DUTIES?! Unnie, you're weaponizing marriage and pregnancy! That's advanced-level cheating!"
Soo-min clutched her chest like she'd been personally betrayed. "She's pulling the 'wife card' now? We've been clinging for years and she just walks in with legal rights and a baby? That's cold. Ruthless. I respect it, but I hate it."
Hye-jin laughed behind her hand, eyes crinkling. "She's right though… technically, she has dibs. Marriage certificate beats cling seniority. We've been defeated by paperwork and biology."
Ji-yeon raised an eyebrow, lips twitching. "You're enjoying this way too much, Mi-Kyung-ah. But I have to admit… It's a solid strategy. Pregnancy privilege plus wife status? Unbeatable combo. It's going to be very lively now."
Eun-ji whined, flopping back against Min-seok again. "Oppa! Tell her she can't do this! We've got emotional investment! Years of practice! She can't just show up with a ring and a bump and take all the pampering!"
Min-seok finally laughed—deep, warm, and completely helpless—arms still loosely around Soo-ah and his wife.
"Looks like I'm outnumbered," he said dryly, glancing down at Mi-Kyung with pure affection. "Guess I'll have to start scheduling pampering shifts."
Mi-Kyung grinned triumphantly, pressing a quick kiss to his jaw. "See? Even Oppa agrees. Wife privileges activated."
The room dissolved into more laughter, teasing groans, and playful shoves—everyone still crowded close to him, refusing to let go, even as they pretended to complain.
Because no matter who "won" the pampering wars, they all knew the truth:
Min-seok's love didn't divide.
It multiplied.
And there was more than enough for every single one of them.
If my story made you smile even once, that's a win for me. That's what I want to live for—brightening dull days and reminding people that joy still exists. My dream is to keep getting better, to someday reach legendary level of storytelling.
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