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Halloween was supposed to be fun. At least, that’s what Jungwon kept telling Jay as he stood in the middle of their living room, surrounded by glitter, face paint, and far too much tulle. Tiny flecks of sequins clung stubbornly to the carpet, and stray pieces of ribbon tangled themselves around furniture legs like mischievous little spiders.
Jay rubbed his temples, eyes darting from a smear of neon paint on the couch to a trail of glitter leading straight to the doorway. “How did it get this… out of control already?” he muttered, voice tight with mild panic.
“This is Halloween magic!” Jungwon declared, holding up a crown that had been bedazzled until it threatened to buckle under its own sparkle. “Right, Haerin?”
Haerin twirled across the room, her sparkly princess dress catching the late afternoon sun. Sequins scattered everywhere, bouncing off the walls, the rug, and—much to Jay’s horror—his shoes. “I’m the sparkliest!” she said with dramatic flair, spinning like a tiny glitter tornado.
Jay exhaled slowly. “Sparkly… yes. But also… the messiest.” He stooped to pick up a rogue sequin, muttering under his breath. We’re going to need a team of professionals to clean this later.
“And Haru’s…” Jungwon paused, watching their three-year-old stomp around like the tiny king of the living room. The dinosaur costume—complete with foam spikes running down the back and a tail that swung wildly—was several sizes too big, making every movement both heroic and precarious.
“RAWR!” Haru bellowed, giving a ferocious roar and nearly tipping over a chair in his excitement. “I’m the T-Rex! I eat monsters!”
Jay flinched. “He’s… very convincing,” he said, sidestepping a tiny stomp that might have left a mark on the rug.
“Nooo! I’m scary!” Haru insisted, puffing out his little chest, tail swinging like a pendulum.
Jungwon scooped him up with a grin, arms encircling the wriggling toddler. “The scariest dinosaur in the world,” he said, peppering kisses on Haru’s cheeks as the little one squirmed and roared in delight.
Jay’s eyes widened as he watched the tail sway dangerously close to the couch. “I swear, that tail is going to smear paint, glitter, or—something—on everything in this room.”
Haerin spun by again, trailing a cascade of sparkling sequins. “Daddy! Look at me!” she called, throwing her arms wide.
Jay groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know if I survive this or… if I become part of the decoration.”
Jungwon laughed, rocking Haru gently in his arms. “Relax, Jay. It’s just. Halloween. Totally temporary.”
Jay exhaled, letting the corners of his mouth twitch into a reluctant smile. “Temporary … yeah, right. Totally temporary,” he said, glancing at the glitter strewn across the rug and the tips of Haru’s tail brushing dangerously close to the couch.
Haru leaned forward, nuzzling Jungwon’s shoulder. “Daddy, watch me roar again!”
Jay blinked at them both, realizing despite the glitter, the paint, and the chaos, he couldn’t help but smile. “Fine,” he said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “But if this dinosaur causes permanent glitter damage… I’m holding both of you accountable.”
Haerin gasped dramatically. “I don’t think it can!” she said, spinning again, a glitter tornado in motion.
Jay leaned against the doorframe, letting out a quiet laugh. I’ll survive the mess, the glitter, the face paint… all of it. As long as they’re here, and as long as Jungwon’s here, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Pumpkin carving followed—naturally, it was a disaster. Jungwon had insisted on “family pumpkins,” setting up the kitchen table like it was a competition show. Candles, carving tools, newspaper layers, and pumpkin guts created a battlefield of orange chaos.
Jay approached his pumpkin cautiously, envisioning something simple—a classic jack-o’-lantern smile. He was mid-cut when Haru suddenly lunged at it with a tiny plastic knife, stabbing the pumpkin like it owed him money. Guts splattered across Jay’s arm and forearm, and he froze, staring at the mess.
“Haru!” Jay exclaimed, grabbing a paper towel and trying to wipe himself clean, though Haru’s little hands were already coated in pulp.
“I’m making it scarier!” Haru insisted, grinning with his mouth covered in sticky orange bits, completely unfazed by the chaos he’d caused.
Haerin squealed, spinning in place and holding her own pumpkin like it was a fragile heirloom. “Ew, don’t touch mine!” she shouted, brushing pulp off her hands with exaggerated disgust.
Meanwhile, Jungwon was elbow-deep in his pumpkin, muttering like a mad scientist. “This one’s gonna win awards. Spookiest pumpkin on the block.” He brandished the carving knife like a wand, and Jay had to resist the urge to step back as tiny sparks of ambition—or possibly candle wax—flew dangerously close.
Jay sighed, muttering under his breath, I’ll survive this. I have to survive this… but seeing them like this, laughing, yelling, completely lost in it… worth every splatter.
By the time they were done, the results were as varied as the chaos that had created them. Jay’s pumpkin sported a small, neat smile that looked almost embarrassed by the surrounding anarchy. Haerin’s pumpkin wobbled on one side but had a charming crooked grin. Haru’s pumpkin looked like a prop straight out of a horror movie, jagged and terrifyingly lopsided. And Jungwon’s? It was… ambitious. Lopsided eyes, a jagged mouth, and scorch marks from where he’d tested the candle too early.
“Perfect,” Jungwon declared proudly, holding his masterpiece up like a trophy. “We’re terrifying.”
Jay pinched the bridge of his nose, laughing softly despite the mess on his arm. How did I survive a day like this before I had them? He thought, eyes drifting to Jungwon’s triumphant grin. Even amid the mess, sticky hands, and pumpkin guts everywhere, his heart felt impossibly full.
When the kids begged to go to the neighborhood haunted house, Jay hesitated, arms crossed and brows furrowed. “They’re too young. Haerin can barely see over the line, and Haru—he’s three.”
“They’re begging,” Jungwon countered, hands on his hips, a teasing glint in his eye. “It’ll be fine. What’s the worst that can happen?”
Jay didn’t answer. He knew the answer all too well, having witnessed the “worst” in small doses already: screaming, flailing, and sticky tears.
It was not fine.
The moment a zombie popped out with a groan that would make any adult jump, both kids screamed bloody murder. Haru’s tiny arms shot around Jay’s neck, squeezing him with surprising strength, tears streaming down his cheeks. Haerin clutched Jungwon’s arm, burying her face in his sleeve, eyes wide and pleading. “I don’t want to be here! I want to go home!”
Jay scooped Haru into his arms, rocking him gently while rubbing circles into his back. “Shh, it’s not real, baby. It’s just pretend. Nobody’s gonna eat you, okay?”
Meanwhile, Jungwon crouched down to Haerin’s level, one hand holding hers while the other tried to discreetly peek around her trembling body. He fought to keep a straight face, though the corner of his mouth twitched. “Okay, okay, we’re going. Appa’s got you.” He gave her a gentle squeeze, trying to offer comfort without breaking the scene.
Haru hiccupped loudly into Jay’s shoulder, his tiny fists clenching and unclenching. “Scary zombie!” he wailed.
“I know, I know,” Jay murmured, stroking the back of Haru’s hair. “Big scary zombies, but Appa’s right here. Nothing’s gonna happen to you.” He caught Jungwon’s eye, who was silently chuckling behind Haerin, and shot him a sharp look over Haru’s head.
“Not. Funny,” Jay muttered, though his lips betrayed a hint of a smile.
“It’s a little funny,” Jungwon whispered, barely audible, shaking with poorly contained amusement.
The family sped-walked—or rather, half-ran, half-stumbled—out of the haunted house, the kids still crying and shaking. Haru pressed his face into Jay’s neck, hiccupping, while Haerin clung to Jungwon like he was a human security blanket.
Once outside, Jay bent down, brushing sticky tears off Haru’s cheeks. “You survived,” he said, his voice soft. “See? Nothing bad happened.”
Haru sniffled, still trembling. “Too scary.”
Haerin buried her face against Jungwon’s chest. “Never again,” she mumbled, tiny hands clutching his shirt.
Jungwon chuckled quietly, cupping her face. “Next year we’ll stick to pumpkin carving, I promise. No zombies.”
At the school Halloween party, Jungwon took things to another level. The gym was decked out with fake cobwebs, dangling paper bats, and a snack table groaning under cupcakes, candy, and caramel popcorn. But the biggest spectacle wasn’t the decorations—it was Jungwon himself, striding in like a theatrical masterpiece. His vampire cape trailed dramatically behind him, fangs perfectly in place, eyeliner smudged just right for a menacing, yet undeniably charming effect.
Jay, on the other hand, had been thoroughly coerced into wearing a cowboy hat, plaid shirt, and an ill-fitting vest. He tugged at the vest awkwardly, the brim of his hat tilting slightly.
“This is ridiculous,” Jay muttered, muttering mostly to himself as he surveyed the chaos.
“You look amazing,” Jungwon said, baring his fake fangs and giving a slow, dramatic spin. “Very yeehaw chic. Also… hot.”
Jay rolled his eyes but felt the heat creep up his neck, a blush betraying him despite his best attempts at nonchalance.
Haerin, now a whirlwind of excitement in her glittery fairy costume, grabbed Jungwon’s hand. “Come on! My vampire appa!” she exclaimed, twirling him around the gym like he was part of a parade. She made a point to stop at every parent and kid, proudly announcing, “Look! My Appa’s a vampire!”
Meanwhile, Haru, dressed as a tiny dinosaur with jagged teeth and a tail that kept bumping into people, clung to Jay. “Yeehaw cowboy appa!” he shouted enthusiastically to anyone within earshot, waving his little arms like he was signaling the start of a rodeo.
Jay sighed, adjusting his hat to hide his smile. “Why do I even let you talk me into this?”
Jungwon laughed, his fangs glinting under the gym lights as he leaned over to whisper, “Because you secretly love it. Admit it.”
“I do not—” Jay started, but Haerin tugged at Jungwon’s cape, knocking him forward slightly. Jay stumbled, barely catching Haru in time, and ended up half-draped over the little dinosaur. “—love this,” he finished, voice muffled by Haru’s tiny hands gripping him like a life raft.
Jungwon straightened, hands on his hips, triumphant. “I’d call this a win. Best-dressed family, easily.”
Haerin bounced in place beside him, clapping her hands. “We’re winning, right? Right? Everyone’s looking at us!”
Jay rolled his eyes again, but the corners of his mouth lifted in a reluctant grin. Even with sticky candy on his fingers and Haru clinging like a miniature lasso, he couldn’t deny it: seeing Jungwon beam, completely in his element, made the chaos completely worth it.
Haru leaned his head against Jay’s shoulder, murmuring, “Cowboy Appa… ride horse?”
Jay chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. “Sure, buddy. But first, let’s get some cookies.”
Jungwon clapped his hands, gesturing to the snack table like a showman. “Vampire and cowboy power combo—snacks for all!”
And just like that, the little family wove through the gym, costumes slightly askew, sugar-laden chaos in tow, and laughter bouncing over the echoes of paper bats and glitter-strewn floors.
The living room was dim, only the soft glow of the TV illuminating the space. Jay and Jungwon sat on the couch, each with one of the kids snuggled against them. The “kid-friendly” Halloween movie played, but the sound effects were more than enough to send Haerin and Haru into near-panicked squeals.
“It’s too scary!” Haerin wailed, clutching Jay’s arm tightly.
“It’s just a cartoon ghost,” Jay said gently, rubbing her back.
“It’s TERRIFYING!” she shrieked, burying her face into his chest.
Haru had curled up in Jungwon’s lap, hands over his ears, shaking slightly. “Nooo! Make it stop!”
A sudden flash of lightning lit the room, followed by a loud crack of thunder. The lights flickered once, then went out completely, plunging the room into darkness.
“Ahhh!” both kids screamed, leaping up and wrapping themselves around their respective parents.
Jay grabbed Haru, holding him close. “It’s okay, buddy. Just a storm. I’ve got you.”
Jungwon’s arms encircled Haerin, who was now clinging to him like a koala. “See? Nothing to worry about. Appa’s right here.”
The rain pounded against the windows, and another flash of lightning cast eerie shadows across the walls. Haerin whimpered, “I want to sleep with you tonight!”
“Me too!” Haru piped up, pressing his face against Jay’s chest. “I’m scared of the dark!”
Jay chuckled softly, pressing a kiss to Haru’s head. “Looks like we’ll have a full house tonight.”
Jungwon shook his head with a small laugh, brushing a damp strand of hair from Haerin’s forehead. “Storm or not, we’ll keep you safe. Right here with us.”
The kids settled between them, still trembling slightly but beginning to relax under the warmth of their parents’ arms. The sound of the storm outside seemed to fade, softened by the quiet security of the little family huddled together on the couch.
Jay leaned back, stretching, and whispered to Jungwon, “Next year, maybe we stick to funny Halloween movies.”
Jungwon nodded, resting his head against Jay’s shoulder. “Yeah… but maybe just one ghost or two.”
Haerin peeked up, eyes wide, and mumbled, “Only if Appa and Eomma stay with me.”
Haru buried himself further into Jay’s neck, muttering, “Don’t leave me alone in the dark.”
“Never,” Jay said softly, tightening his hold. Jungwon mirrored him, pulling Haerin closer.
For a long while, they just stayed like that—cuddled, safe, and warm—while the storm outside raged on, and the glow of the TV flickered across their sleepy, relieved faces.
Finally, Halloween night had arrived. The streets buzzed with little ghosts, witches, and superheroes, and Jay and Jungwon were right in the middle of the chaos, juggling candy buckets and tiny costumes that squeaked with every step. Haru, wrapped in his dinosaur cape, tripped over it at least three times, earning gentle scolding from Jay and an enthusiastic “ROAR!” from the boy every single time.
Haerin, twirling in her princess dress and holding her bucket like a precious jewel, stopped abruptly in front of one house. “They’re out of chocolate? That’s not fair!” she exclaimed, hands on her hips and face red with indignation.
Jay crouched down, smoothing her hair back. “We’ll find more chocolate at the next house, I promise,” he said patiently, though the corners of his mouth twitched with amusement.
Haru, meanwhile, had started negotiating for extra candy from other trick-or-treaters, leaning on Jay’s arm as if it were a bargaining chip. Jungwon, ever the sneaky one, couldn’t resist swiping mini chocolate bars from Haru’s bucket whenever the toddler wasn’t looking, chuckling quietly under his breath.
The family moved from house to house, Haerin’s dramatic sighs and Haru’s enthusiastic roars echoing down the block. Every so often, Jay would stop to adjust a crooked crown or fix Haru’s falling cape, muttering to himself, “I swear, one day I’m going to survive this without sticky chocolate hands on my shirt.”
By the end of the night, both kids were sugar-fueled and unstoppable, racing around the living room in chaotic circles. Jay scooped up Haru, whose tiny legs couldn’t keep up anymore, and carried him home, while Jungwon gathered Haerin, who was still squealing with laughter and trying to run back to retrieve more candy from an imaginary monster. Both kids were sticky-fingered, giggling, and completely worn out.
Once the house had quieted down and the kids were tucked into bed, Jungwon sat cross-legged on the floor, opening their candy buckets for inspection. “Okay,” he declared, grinning, “candy swap time. I’ll trade you a lollipop for your Reese’s.”
Jay rolled his eyes but played along, taking the chocolate. “You’re worse than the kids,” he muttered, shaking his head as he popped a mini Snickers into his mouth.
“Maybe,” Jungwon said, shoving a piece of candy into his own mouth, before leaning over and kissing his cheek, “but admit it… Halloween was worth it.”
Jay leaned back against the couch, watching him with a soft smile. “Yeah. It was,” he said quietly, the house around them still faintly echoing with the laughter and squeals of the night.