* * *
Honestly, I had never seen a fancy first birthday party before.
‘A first birthday party isn’t just about picking an item and eating a meal, huh.’
Never thought I’d do a pre-shoot for a first birthday party.
‘Has the world changed? But wait, I’ve returned back on time.’
It seems things had already changed before. I didn’t know that.
As my mom carried me, she said,
“Oh my, Kongja. Look at that. So many flowers.”
Indeed.
‘Oh, Mom.’
When she said it would be grand, I didn’t know what she meant.
‘This is no joke.’
I’ve been to many first birthday parties, but this is my first time in a hotel.
‘It looks luxurious at a glance.’
Moreover, there were small photo books on each seat.
‘Those must have cost a lot.’
Mom really wants to make it grand.
‘Well, think of it as a profile book being passed around.’
Then a helper came over.
“Hello, Ms. Ma Soo-jung. Nice to see you again. Ah, is this Kongja?”
“Yes. Please take good care of us today.”
“Wow. I thought he was really cute from the photos online, but….”
The manager looked at me closely and said,
“I’ve seen many children at first birthday parties, but this is the first time I’ve seen one this cute. My goodness.”
Well, of course.
It’s your first time seeing a face genius, right?
“How can he be so adorable?”
The manager seemed to catch herself and looked up again.
“Sorry. You must be tired of hearing that, right?”
Not at all.
‘Being told I’m handsome never gets old!’
It’s always fresh and thrilling.
‘Please, keep going.’
Mom smiled and said,
“No, I’m also a proud mom. I never get tired of hearing my child is cute.”
“Oh, really?”
I smiled and waved my hand.
“Hello!”
“Oh my!”
The manager’s eyes widened.
“He speaks well too?”
“Yes. Our Kongja seems to have more than just a cute face.”
“They say kids who speak well from a young age are smart.”
“He does seem very smart.”
Mom brushed my forehead and said,
“Why does our Kongja make Mom so happy?”
Wow, Mom.
‘I’ve still got a lot to show you.’
I smiled brightly and said,
“Mama! I like it!”
Mom laughed and stroked my forehead.
“Our Kongja is in a good mood today?”
“I like it!”
“Really? Mom likes it too. A lot of people will come today. Will you be okay?”
Of course. I’ve been waiting for this day.
“I like it! I like it!”
Mom adjusted her hold on me and spoke to the manager.
“He probably doesn’t know what he’s saying yet.”
No, I do.
“Hahaha. Still, he’s so cute. Kongja, please take care of us today!”
“Yes!”
“Ma’am, please change into your dress. Ah, you prepared separately, right?”
“Yes. Just need to dress Kongja. Let’s put on the hanbok, Kongja.”
“Yes!”
“It might be a bit uncomfortable, but bear with it!”
I nodded. Mom kissed my cheek.
Soon, I was dressed.
Honestly, I was surprised after changing.
‘Wow….’
I don’t know much about baby clothes, but the color combination was amazing.
‘It’s a rare color.’
The indigo clothes looked luxurious at a glance.
“Wow, it suits him well.”
“Doesn’t it?”
Mom smiled as she attached the norigae (traditional ornaments).
“I chose it because it’s naturally dyed baby hanbok, and it suits him so well!”
Really?
‘Anything with the word ‘natural’ is expensive.’
Besides, if it’s dyed, it must be doubly expensive.
I lifted my short arm to check the clothes.
“Kongja, are you curious? Do you want to see?”
Mom carried me to the wall mirror. For a moment, I was a bit taken aback.
‘Wow, this face is no joke.’
A baby with a doll-like face in luxurious hanbok created an amazing synergy.
‘I bet there aren’t many kids as cute as this on Earth.’
I’m mesmerized by my own face.
It’s really a perfect face. To have this face for a lifetime!
“Kongja, how do you like it?”
“I like it!”
“Really? Mom likes it too. Manager, please take care of Kongja.”
“Yes, go ahead and change.”
I was handed over to the manager.
Mom disappeared, and I stared at the manager.
When our eyes met, she patted my bottom and said,
“Oh, how adorable.”
Oh, really?
I understand.
This isn’t an everyday face you come across.
I laughed and clapped my hands.
Then a subtitle appeared before my eyes.
[Manager Lee Soo-hyang is delighted by your cuteness]
[Your Love and Peace Coins have increased by 20]
Wow. Getting rewards right from the start is great.
‘Today’s the day.’
The day I would surrender myself to the downpour of coins was near.
Mom soon emerged, having changed her clothes.
“Wow. Mama!”
I expected her to be in a hanbok, but instead, she wore a relatively simple white-tone suit. Yet, on her, it felt like she was attending an awards ceremony.
“Mama!”
“Yes, dear.”
Mom took me from the manager. Just then, a family walked in.
“President! Mrs. Ria”
“It’s been a while, Ms. Soo-jung.”
Oh, the president of Top Line?
‘I’ve heard good things about this person in the industry.’
I’d heard they were quite competent.
‘I’ve heard the name, but it’s my first time seeing them in person.’
I looked the president up and down. They seemed likable.
“Mrs. Ria, thank you for coming.”
“Oh, it’s no problem. It’s nice to get some fresh air. Have you met my kids?”
Two girls bowed their heads and spoke in unison.
“Hello!”
Their voices were a bit loud.
‘They seem pretty spirited.’
Their mother immediately corrected them.
“Kids, lower your voices.”
“We’re sorry.”
“We’re sorry.”
“It wasn’t that loud. There’s no one here yet. Hello, have fun today. Eat lots of delicious food!”
“Yes!”
The kids said that but didn’t take their eyes off me. I smiled broadly and said,
“Hi!”
“Wow, it talks!”
“And it’s so young!”
Mom covered her mouth and laughed.
“Our child started speaking early.”
“How cute.”
“Like a doll.”
One of the girls, who seemed younger, grabbed my hand.
When she shook it, I smiled broadly.
“Small!”
You’re small too, kid.
“So cute! Mom, let’s take him home!”
Oh dear.
The older sister quickly stopped her.
“Hey, you can’t take a baby home! That’s kidnapping!”
“But how can we leave something this cute?”
“True.”
Excuse me?
“Mom! Let’s take this baby home! It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!”
Surprisingly logical.
The kids’ mother immediately shouted.
“Oh no! Absolutely not!”
Mom laughed and said,
“Kids, you can’t take him because he’s my son.”
“We’ll take good care of him. He can have my room!”
“I’ll give him all my favorite chocolates!”
They were pretty good kids. Mom folded her arms and said,
“Well, I brought him first, so no.”
“Aww!”
“Aww!”
The kids bowed their heads simultaneously.
“We can’t take him.”
“Why not?”
Mom laughed so hard she held her stomach.
The president bowed his head and said,
“Oh, I’m embarrassed.”
“Why? They’re cute.”
“Ms. Ma, be honest. Don’t you think they take after me?”
Mom wiped the tears from her eyes from laughing so hard.
“They do resemble you, President.”
“Ugh! They should’ve taken after their mother.”
His wife muttered beside him.
“You do know that.”
Mom burst out laughing again.
As she leaned against a nearby pillar, the president scratched his head.
Mom caught her breath and said,
“Anyway, thanks again for all the preparations.”
“It’s nothing. I did it because I wanted to. But is this our family’s table? Isn’t this the immediate family’s table?”
Mom shrugged.
“My immediate family wouldn’t come to his birthday.”
* * *
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