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" Eomeoni ?" Eun-ji asks from beside Dam-i as she lays on the mat.
Earlier that morning, Ji-un and Eun-seo had left for the market, in search of fresh herbs. Before leaving, Ji-un had brought a fast asleep Eun-ji to his and Dam-i's bedroom, so she wouldn't feel confused when waking up.
While Eun-ji stayed in bed, comfortable inside the covers, Dam-i busied herself folding some of the twins clothes that had been washed the day before.
"Yes?"
Eun-ji continues her question, "Why does oraboni and uncle Ga-on have the same name?"
Dam-i wonders how she could answer this question without letting anything about her history slip out. Ji-un and her had talked about it sometimes, choosing to keep everything from the twins until they were big enough to understand. But only if it was needed for them to know.
She knew that, one day, something like Eun-seo not being able to work in the palace, or Eun-ji not being eligible to become Crown Princess would come up. But, by then, Dam-i was sure she would be prepared to tell them the truth.
So, for now, she was just Lee Dam-i, an orphan who happened to be adopted by Kim eomeoni . Bok-dong is her adopted brother, and they have a cousin called Hyun, who lives in the capital and is very rich. Eun-seo is their friend, but he likes to be called Ga-on instead.
As for Ji-un, they met as kids, but got separated once he went to study abroad. They met by chance ten years later in the capital, fell in love and decided to marry and live next to the beach. He is a nobleman, but chose to live a simple life after his father died, leaving most of his money to his mother.
It wasn't a perfect story, but everything was true, at least.
"Hm, let me see… Eun-ji-ah, you know that uncle Ga-on was eomeoni's friend in the Capital, right?" The girl nods. "Before abeoji and eomeoni married, I had some things I needed to do, and uncle Ga-on helped me with everything. I was very grateful to him, so I named your brother Eun-seo because of that."
Dam-i looks away from the clothes to find Eun-ji staring at her, deeply involved with her storytelling. She smiles, thinking that the girl reminded her of Ji-un when he's concentrated in something.
She takes Eun-ji's hand in hers and squeezes. "Does this answer your question, my love?"
Eun-ji nods again. " Eomeoni , do you have a friend named Eun-ji? Why is this my name?"
Dam-i can't help but chuckle. This was going to be a full day of Eun-ji and her questions. Usually, she was very quiet and shy, but it changed a little once she became four. Even small things became topics of conversation to her, and she wanted to know about everything .
" Aniyo , I don't have a friend called Eun-ji. Actually, your abeoji chose this name for you."
"He did?"
"Yes, he did. When you and your brother were here," Dam-i points to her stomach, "we didn't know you existed. Abeoji and I thought only oraboni was living in my belly."
"But I didn't say anything? Why? I would say I'm happy to be in eomeoni's belly!"
Dam-i doesn't know why Eun-ji sounds disappointed with herself, but she does. Her eyebrows are perched up together, and her pout looks just like Ji-un's .
"I'm sure you did say it, love. I just didn't think it was you."
"And if someone says something now? Can I hear?" Eun-ji asks, sitting up and crawling next to Dam-i's stomach, pressing her little finger against it.
"There's nothing inside my belly now, Eun-ji-ah."
"Ah…"
"We'll try to listen if there ever is someone here again. Alright?" Dam-i suggests, pulling Eun-ji to sit on her lap.
"Yes, eomeoni !"
"Alright. Then, going back… You came to us as a surprise." Dam-i kisses her daughter's cheek. "You are big now, but you could almost fit in abeoji's hand when you were born."
"But that's too small!"
"It is, Eun-ji-ah. It really is. We thought you would just stay a little bit with us and then go live far away…" Dam-i looks up, trying to stop herself from tearing up.
Even though Eun-ji doesn't really understand what her mother means, since she never thought of leaving her parents, she touches Dam-i's cheek, telling her mother not to cry. Which does the exact opposite.
"Sorry, baby. It's just that eomeoni is happy to have you here. I'm not sad. I promise."
"Ah…"
"Because we didn't know you existed before, or how long you would be here, abeoji said you're a small grace that came to us. And that, during the time you chose to stay with us, we hoped you would be someone kind and wise. Even if you had said goodbye back then, I'm sure you would've helped eomeoni and abeoji be kind and wise too. That's how you became Eun-ji."
"But I'm here… And I am very intelligent!"
Dam-i chuckles. "You are, Eun-ji-ah. And kind too, you and your brother. You two are the biggest graces I could've asked the heavens for," Dam-i says, holding her daughter closer.
"I love you, eomeoni ."
"I love you too, uri gongju ."
" Aniyo ! Only abeoji can call me this!" Eun-ji pouts again.
"Jung Eun-ji!" Dam-i feigns disappointment, not being able to hold her smile back. Eun-ji really was a daddy's girl.
"Sorry…" She looks down, before laughing once Dam-i starts tickling her. The sounds of Eun-ji's laughter fill the room for a bit, until the girl settles against Dam-i's chest, arms around her neck.
Before the girl dozed off again and it messed with her sleep routine, Dam-i calls her, "Eun-ji-ah, since you're awake now, can you help me fold these?" She points to the clothes, long forgotten. "Those are yours, can you reach them to me?"
The two work through the remaining clothes quickly, with Dam-i folding them as Eun-ji tried to organize the pieces — which meant Dam-i would have to fold everything again later that day —, when they start hearing some noise from outside.
"We're home!" Ji-un's voice could be heard coming from outside, together with some shuffling from bags.
" Abeoji and oraboni are back, Eun-ji-ah. Why don't you go say good morning to them?"
The girl nods, getting up and walking outside quickly as Dam-i gathers the clothes and folds the bedding, placing it on the corner of the room.
"Abeoji ! Oraboni ! Hello! " Dam-i could hear the conversation, not entirely muffled by the walls.
" Hello, Eun-ji-ah! Did you sleep well?"
" Eun-ji-ah, abeoji let me buy sweets! But we can only eat them after lunch… Do you think eomeoni will like them?"
"Abeoji , did you know eomeoni said I could listen to the baby inside her belly when it speaks? Just like when I spoke but you didn't listen?"
" What—"
Oh, heavens.
After that, all Dam-i can hear is more shuffling, shoes falling and cracking voices before Ji-un enters their bedroom with Eun-ji in his arms, Eun-seo trailing right behind, holding his sweets.
Ji-un looks disheveled, out of breath and somewhat hopeful as he locks his eyes with Dam-i. It will be heartbreaking to tell him that no, there's no baby inside her belly.
" Puin … What is Eun-ji talking about? Are you really—"
And it was definitely going to be a long day because of Eun-ji's questions.