The Return Of Not-So-Superman Kwon Jiyong

Chapter 9: Growing Up With Sweet Yong Il

Shy Yong il could just blink up at the old woman innocently. He has been eyeing the display pf pastries earlier and the storekeeper must have noticed. When the woman asked him again, with a bread in her hand this time, the boy nodded gently.

"Here you go, little boy. Have some freshly baked bread." the woman said but after giving it to the Yong il. The boy still stood there, switching his gaze from the bread then to his surroundings as if looking for someone. He grinned then when he saw Yongdu and Yongse who were then being chased after by their mom and dad. He tilted his head in wonder after a while, when he saw a couple of people going around his brothers and parents.

"Aigoo yah! Isn't that... Omo! Those are..." the old lady adjusted her eyeglasses and looked at Yong il before turning towards the little hubbub. "I knew it! That's why you look so familiar! You are one of the triplets!" The old lady laughed in delight, before holding him gently by his shoulder. "Come, let's take you back to your parents. They must be so worried."

"But thit it only one," Yong il mumbled shyly as he raised the bread in his hand a bit making the old lady listen to him attentively. As if realizing that the woman must have not understood what he was talking about, Yong il struggled to count the fingers on his free hand.

"One, two, thrwee. Yong il, Yongdu, Yongte are thrwee," he explained before sniffing and rubbing his nose once more. He handed the bread back to the old woman and made a request that though at first was quite hard for the old woman to comprehend, she somewhat understood the boy wanted to share some wit his brothers.

"Cut it to thrwee juteyo," Yong il asked, licking his lips, his eyes never leaving the bread in the old woman's hands. The surprised but amused lady patted his head and went in for a while but Yong il heard his father calling out for him, a mob of people following them.

"Yong il-ah!" Jiyong ran towards him while Dara was holding Yongdu and Yongse by their hands. The two parents felt so relieved.

"Appa! Eomma!" Yong il giggled and ran towards Jiyong who was about to scold the youngest triplet when he felt being dragged towards a bread stall.

"Appa! Bread! Bread!" Yong il giggled once more. Jiyong heaved a sigh and hugged the boy.

"Yah. Yong il-ah, you should have just asked appa and eomma what you want-"

"Annyeonghaseyo,"

Jiyong stood up when an old woman appeared before them and bowed politely. Dara and the other two kids just reached them and she bowed at the old woman too.

"Please forgive my son if he caused you some trouble!" Dara bowed once more. "I'm sorry, they're too much to handle sometimes."

"Aisht, what are you talking about! I was happy to see him. What a sweet boy," the old woman patted Yong il's head making Jiyong and Dara look at each other.

"Is he the eldest among the three?" the old woman asked and soon her eyes were directed to Yongdu and Yongse.

"Yes, he is," Jiyong answered apologetically. "I'm really sorry-"

The old woman turned to Yong il once more, ignoring Jiyong. "Oh, your brothers are here!" she clasped her hands and turned around to get something. "You see, I gave him a bread earlier and he said he wants it..."

"Oh, no! Ahjumonim, you don't have to-"

"... But he handed it back to me," the old woman cut Jiyong off making him crease his brows. The old woman smiled at the parents' dumbfounded looks.

"He said that they are three. He has some speech problems and I couldn't understand at first but when he handed me back the bread and counted three, I realized he meant he doesn't want it if his brothers won't get it too. So I went back to get some more. Here, thoughtful boy. You can now share it with your brothers.