After his discharge from the military he was welcomed back and settled back into his normal life and routine just as before but one night for Do Hwan that quickly changed. What happens when he is attacked and a few weeks later discovers he is a carr...
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The sharp scent of pine filled the air as Do Hwan carried the Christmas tree into his small but cozy apartment. Snowflakes clung to his coat, melting as the warmth of the room embraced him. Little Sarang, her doe-like eyes wide with excitement, sat propped in her adaptive chair near the window. She giggled, her laugh soft and melodious, as she watched her Appa struggle with the tree.
Sarang, sat on a soft playmat, giggling at the jingling of a tiny reindeer bell he held up.
"Do you like this one, Sarang-ah?" Do Hwan asked, shaking the bell again.
"Ahhhh!" Sarang clapped her tiny hands, her joy bubbling out in a sound that was as precious as it was rare. Her speech delays often meant these vocalizations were few and far between, but when they came, they melted her father's heart.
Do Hwan reached out to brush her dark, soft hair away from her face. "Aigoo, you're always making Appa's heart so full."
The doorbell rang, pulling his attention from Sarang. He rose, careful not to disturb her as she focused on her favourite toy. When he opened the door, his best friend Lee Sang-yi stood there, his arms laden with boxes and a small, scraggly tree.
"Hyung! Merry early Christmas!" Sang-yi's grin stretched wide as he stepped inside.
"Sang-yi-ya, what's with this tiny thing?" Do Hwan teased, gesturing to the tree.
"Yah! Don't underestimate this. We'll make it sparkle, just watch," Sang-yi retorted, setting the boxes down. "Besides, it'll fit perfectly for little Sarang-ie."
As if hearing her name, Sarang turned her head towards the door, her sparkling eyes catching sight of Sang-yi. She let out an excited squeal, her arms flapping in delight.
"Sarang-ah!" Sang-yi said warmly, crouching to her level. "How's our little Christmas angel?" He placed a soft kiss on her cheek, careful not to disturb the NG tube taped gently to her skin.
Sarang reached for him, her chubby hands patting his face while giggling.
The three of them began decorating. Sang-yi hoisted Sarang up in his arms so she could reach the lower branches, while Do Hwan carefully placed ornaments higher up. They worked as a team, creating a perfect blend of color and twinkling lights. Every now and then, Sang-yi would make silly faces to coax giggles out of Sarang, and she'd respond by swatting at his nose, her coordination slowly improving with every intentional motion.
"Hyung, how do you do it?" Sang-yi asked softly as they worked. His tone turned serious as he looked at his friend.
"Do what?" Do Hwan replied, adjusting a string of lights.
"Everything. Raising Sarang-ie, being her rock, doing it all on your own. You just got out of the military, and instead of focusing on yourself, you're—"
"Yah, don't start with the 'super dad' stuff," Do Hwan cut him off, though his voice remained gentle. "I'm just her Appa. That's all I need to be."
Sang-yi nodded, a trace of admiration in his expression. "Still, she's lucky to have you. I mean it."
Do Hwan glanced at Sarang, who was now holding a plush snowman and trying to imitate the way Sang-yi jiggled it. "Ani. I'm the lucky one. She saved me, Sang-yi-ya. She gave my life meaning when I didn't know what I was looking for."
The room fell silent except for the crackle of the fire and Sarang's delighted hums. Sang-yi broke the quiet with a chuckle. "Alright, sentimental Appa, let's get back to work. This tree isn't going to decorate itself."
~
As they admired their handiwork, Sang-yi suddenly looked toward the window. "It's snowing again. Do Hwan-ah, let's take her outside to play. A little fresh air will do her good."
Do Hwan hesitated for a moment, glancing at Sarang's feeding tube and warm layers. "She'll need her mittens and scarf. And I'll carry her; the snow might be too much for her to walk on."
"Got it," Sang-yi said, already grabbing her little boots from the shelf.
Once bundled up, the three of them ventured outside. The snow fell in fat, lazy flakes, blanketing the ground in a pristine layer of white. Do Hwan held Sarang close, her small hands wrapped around his neck as she looked around with wide-eyed wonder.
Sang-yi grabbed a handful of snow and shaped it into a loose ball. "Sarang-ah, look! This is how you make a snowball," he said, tossing it gently toward Do Hwan, who dodged with an exaggerated yelp.
Sarang giggled, her laugh ringing out like a melody.
"Ya, don't teach her bad habits," Do Hwan said, though he couldn't help but smile. He knelt down, carefully lowering Sarang to the ground. "Do you want to touch the snow, Sarang-ah?"
Sarang reached out with gloved hands, patting the snow with curiosity. "Cold," she said, her face lighting up.
"That's right, it's cold," Do Hwan said, watching her with a look of pure adoration.
As the evening wore on, they built a small snowman together, Sang-yi dramatically pretending to give life to it like a magician. Sarang clapped her hands in delight, the chilly air painting her cheeks a rosy pink.
When they finally returned inside, their noses red and fingers tingling, Do Hwan placed Sarang on the couch, wrapping her in a warm blanket. "You had fun, didn't you, Sarang-ah?" he asked, brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead.
Do Hwan glanced at his best friend and then at his daughter, her small hand still clutching his sleeve even in her sleep. "You're right, hyung. It really is."
As the snow continued to fall outside, the little family of three basked in the warmth of love and friendship, making memories that would last a lifetime.
Sarang squealed with delight as Sang-yi scooped up a handful of snow and gently tossed it into the air like confetti.
"Appa! Snow!" Sarang said, reaching out to touch the flakes. Her coordination was still a work in progress, but with Do Hwan holding her hands, she managed to stomp around in the snow, her giggles echoing through the quiet neighborhood.
"Hyung, I think she's a natural snow angel," Sang-yi said, lying down dramatically to demonstrate how to make one.
Do Hwan laughed as Sarang tried to mimic the motion, her little body wriggling as she lay in the snow. "Aigoo, my angel," he said, brushing the snow off her coat.
