Chapter Text
“Thank you so much for doing this, Euijoo,” Mrs. Wang says again, riffling through the notes she’s already gone over twice
“All the meals for the twins are labeled in the fridge and the pantry,” she tells me. “What else...what else.”
She places her hands on either side of her temples, looking slightly stressed.
“I know I’m forgetting something,” she says. “What am I forgetting?”
She looks around the kitchen where we're standing, not finding it.
Mrs. Wang moved here five months ago, and she’s barely been home since––she's a writer, constantly traveling for signings and readings.
Mr. Wang, the twins’ dad, was supposed to be home with them this weekend but got an urgent case recently and won’t be able to make it home tonight.
The first time I babysat for them was a few weeks after they arrived. They were already busy with work and didn’t have time to hire anyone and were in a bind.
Mrs. Wang came to me desperate for someone to watch them, and I was the only one they knew in the neighborhood, since we were next-door neighbors.
The twins loved having me as their sitter so much, Mrs. Wang asked if I could be their permanent babysitter.
I usually only watch the twins three or four days a week, depending on Mr. and Mrs. Wangs’ schedules. That’s still from the time they get home from kindergarten till just after dinner.
This is the first time I’ll be staying with them overnight.
“You can either sleep on the couch or in Nicholas’ room,” she says, and then her eyes suddenly go wide.
She scurries over to the calendar and starts flipping through her planner until she lands on the day she’s looking for.
“Oh,” she panics. “That’s what I forgot.”
I look at her, concerned. “What is it?”
“It’s the weekend Nicholas is coming to live with us. Remember a few months ago when I told you he would be coming?”
I nod briefly. “Yes.”
“He’s supposed to be arriving tomorrow morning,” she says, looking at me. “I don’t think you’ll see him, but just in case, I'll let him know you’ll be here with the twins if his dad isn’t home in time.”
I nod again. I’ve never met the twins’ half-brother before, only seen pictures of him around the house from various ages.
“You know to call me if you need anything.”
She grabs her suitcase and carry-on and wheels them to the front door. “Thanks again, Euijoo. I know I've already said that a dozen times, but you have been a lifesaver for us.”
She gives me a quick hug before hurrying out the door to head to the airport.
The twins need to be picked up soon, so I head out too, walking the short distance back to my driveway and getting in my car.
School pickup is honestly the worst thing. I don’t know how parents do this every day without going insane.
Sitting in line to pick up kids as fast as possible before the car behind you starts honking for you to hurry up...it’s scary. Some of these parents are scary.
I was so flustered the first time I had to do this. The mom behind me honked her horn so many times I couldn’t concentrate while talking to the parent on duty that day. I had to confirm my identity as someone who was designated to pick them up.
I had no idea what the line etiquette was, so I slowed the whole thing down.
Even though I’ve become a pro at this, I still don’t like it.
“Euijoo,” Livvy says excitedly. “We finally get to have a sleepover with you.”
“I’m so excited,” North pipes in.
“Hey you two. How was your day?”
“Livvy made me eat her carrots again at lunch because she doesn’t like them.”
I smile at them in the rearview mirror. The sibling banter between them is something I’ve grown used to–– and fond of.
When we get back to their house, they bolt inside as soon as I unlock the door.
Livvy runs down the hall to the playroom to go play with her dolls, while North grabs his Nintendo Switch.
I shake my head, amused, and head to the kitchen to start making their afternoon snack.
When I pull out the container labeled snacks with today's date and directions on how to prepare it, my phone buzzes.
I set the container on the counter and pull my phone from my pocket.
Jo: u @theWangs?
Euijoo: yeah
Jo: m omw
Euijoo: k
I get back to the snacks, and a minute later Jo walks into the house, greeting North first, who nods back, before heading over to me in the kitchen.
“What’s this?” Jo asks.
“Mini grilled cheese sandwiches.”
He looks at me curiously. “Do I get some too?”
I smirk. “Only if you help make them.”
He shrugs, rolls up his hoodie sleeves, washes his hands, and joins me.
After making the sandwiches, I set out cherry tomatoes—North's favorite—pickle slices for Livvy, and some grapes for everyone.
Of course, Jo helps himself to making some rice. He can’t seem to go a day without it.
“North, Livvy,” I call. “Snack time. Go wash your hands.”
They come charging into the kitchen, bumping into each other as they race to the table.
I shake my head. “Now you two, how many times have I told you not to race in the house? It’s dangerous.”
“He started it,” Livvy says. “I was walking, but North bumped into me.”
“No I didn’t”
“Okay, let’s settle down,” I say. “If you’re both good and eat all your snacks without being picky, we’ll walk to the park afterward”
“Yay!”
“Is Jo coming too?” North asks.
I glance at Jo.
“Sorry,” he says apologetically. “I’m playing basketball with Sungho. But I can see if Taesan wants to join you.”
“Jo,” Livvy tilts her head. “Did you just come over here to eat again?”
He laughs. “You caught me.”
After everything's cleaned up, we head outside. Jo walks toward Sungho’s house across the street, while Taesan waves at us from the house kitty-corner to theirs.
“TaeTae!” Livvy waves back excitedly.
He skips across the street with his hands in his pockets, nonchalant as always.
When he reaches us, he takes Livvy’s hand and walks with her toward the park. I offer my hand to North, but he says he’s to old for that and carries his soccer ball instead.
It’s funny when kids decide when they're too old for something—and when they aren't.
I know later he’ll cuddle up next to me on the couch when he gets tired.
At the park, Livvy and Taesan head to the slide while North and I kick the soccer ball around.
After about ten minutes, Livvy calls out, “Joo!”
She's on the swings, with Taesan pushing her.
“I can swing really high, can’t I?”
“I can swing higher than that,” North calls.
And so begins the I’m-better-than-you contest that happens several times a day. I shake my head. Siblings.
“Let’s go, Joo,” North says. “I’ll show her.”
“Hey, Tae,” I say when we reach the swings.
“So, this is fun,” he smirks. “We are so going to beat you two.”
“Not you too.”
“Loser has to run around with the kids until you pass out.”
“Oh, you’re on.”
Running around with them is so exhausting. How do they have so much energy? I last about five minutes before I want to collapse. They don’t allow breaks either.
Still, I’ll gladly take the challenge.
We pull our swings back and count down.
“Three.”
“Two.”
“One.”
“Go.”
The momentum starts slow. When North swings back, I give him a gentle push. He kicks his legs, shrieking with excitement.
“Faster, Joo!”
Taesan is busy with Livvy. She looks excited, competing with her brother.
I only push him every three swings, letting him use his own strength to go. I also don’t want to swing him too hard. This is a competition, but there’s no reason for anyone to get hurt.
“I’m higher, Livvy; I told you I was better,” North says.
Taesan pushes Livvy harder, and I notice her eyes widen as she grips the chains tightly.
“Tae,” I say quietly, nudging his shoulder. “Slow down. She looks scared.”
He immediately stops the swing and lifts Livvy into his arms.
“Are you okay?” he hugs her.
She nods, “I don’t like the swings anymore.”
“That’s okay,” he says gently. “Who wants to run around instead?”
Livvy perks up at that and starts jumping up and down. The swing drama already forgotten.
North gets excited too. “Stop the swing! Joo.”
I help him off the swing, and they all take off running.
After the kids are in bed, I shower and sit at the kitchen table to work on homework. I also have a science test on Monday that I have to study for. Tomorrow, I have to help at my Aunt and Uncle’s restaurant.
I’m exhausted.
After an hour, I check the list Mrs. Wang left me and review the twins’ morning schedule.
Livvy’s picky, so I double-check her breakfast preferences carefully. North, on the other hand, likes trying new things.
I close the notebook, turn off all the lights, and head to bed.
I arrive at my dad’s house really late—or really early, depending on how you look at it.
It’s almost three in the morning. I wasn’t supposed to be here until later today, but I took an earlier flight. After sixteen hours of travel, I have a severe case of jet lag. It would be seven p.m. in Taipei.
I unlock the front door with the key my dad sent me months ago, when we decided I’d be moving here.
Although my dad remarried seven years ago, my mom only recently did. They want to travel together for an unspecified amount of time, which ultimately led to me coming here.
I know my situation is very Bella Swan.
I step inside quietly, drop my bags in the entryway, and turn on the living room light.
As soon as I flip the light switch, I turn around, only to find someone sleeping on the couch.
Right, my stepmom texted that the babysitter was here with the twins. That’s all she said. She didn’t mention that the babysitter was a guy who looks to be around my age.
Interesting.
He stirs, blinking awake. When he sees me, he startles, jerking back against the couch.
I smile, amused.
"Nǐ hǎo."