It was Saturday night. The soft glow of the living room lamp created a golden cocoon in the corner of the apartment. Sherri had just finished feeding Youngjin, who was now resting peacefully on her chest, while HyunBok was sprawled across YoungBok's lap on the floor, coloring a drawing of "Appa Hyunjin in a soldier uniform."
YoungBok gently ran his fingers through HyunBok's hair, his smile soft but distant.
"Do you think he'll pick up today?" HyunBok asked without looking up.
Sherri smiled, pressing a kiss to Youngjin's head. "He said he'll call after dinner. So may be soon."
YoungBok glanced at the time. 8:07 PM. Military rules were strict, and video calls were rare — but when they happened, it was like a festival in their home. It was the only time they could see him — not just hear his voice, but see the small crinkles in his eyes when he smiled, the flushed pink on his cheeks from outdoor drills, and that soft, goofy expression he only ever gave to his family.
Then, just as the silence grew heavier with longing — the tablet on the table lit up.
Hyunjin (Calling…)
HyunBok's face lit up like fireworks. "Appa! Appa's calling!"
YoungBok's heart thumped as he tapped the screen. "Answering…"
And just like that, there he was.
Hyunjin. In full military gear, with a faint smudge of dirt across his cheek, his hair cropped shorter, but his eyes—God, those eyes—still filled with warmth. The moment he saw them, his face broke into a wide smile.
"My family," he breathed. "My loves."
"Appaaaaaa!" HyunBok shouted, nearly knocking the tablet over.
YoungBok grabbed the tablet and angled it properly as Sherri came to sit beside him, placing sleepy Youngjin beside her.
"Hyunjin," YoungBok whispered.
And in that whisper, Hyunjin heard everything — the nights alone, the aching chest, the longing. His gaze softened immediately.
"I miss you," he said, looking straight at YoungBok.
YoungBok blinked, swallowing the lump in his throat. "You look tired… but strong."
"I'm staying strong for you. For all of you."
Then Hyunjin's eyes shifted to Sherri, who gave him a soft, warm smile.
"Hi, Jinnie," she said gently.
He softened even more at her voice. "My light," he whispered. "You're glowing. Are the boys behaving?"
She laughed. "Youngjin wakes every two hours. HyunBok has decided he's a superhero now and our elder cries a lot pointing toward YoungBok. But yes, we're doing good. We miss you."
Hyunjin's expression turned tender.
"I dream about you both… every night. I wake up thinking your hand is still in mine."
YoungBok's shoulders trembled. He looked away for a second, wiping the corner of his eye.
"I try not to cry," he admitted, voice quiet. "But the bed is too cold without you."
Sherri reached over and gently held his hand.
Hyunjin's voice turned firm but gentle. "Lixie. Look at me."
YoungBok looked up.
"You're still mine. Every second I breathe here, I breathe for you. For our boys. For Sherri."
YoungBok nodded, his voice cracking. "And I'm still yours."
Sherri leaned toward the camera, her fingers brushing Hyunjin's image softly.
"Jinnie," she said. "We're okay. We're strong. We laugh, we cook… sometimes we cry. But we're whole because you love us. And we love you."
Hyunjin pressed his fingers to his lips, then held them toward the screen.
"I want to come home so badly," he whispered.
"We'll wait," Sherri and YoungBok said together.
Then HyunBok climbed into YoungBok's lap again, holding his drawing up to the screen.
"Appa, look! You're a superhero too! Like me!"
Hyunjin laughed. "I love it! That's exactly what I look like, huh?"
"You have muscles," HyunBok said proudly. "Big ones."
Everyone laughed — including Youngjin, who babbled in his baby voice, reaching toward the screen.
YoungBok leaned his head against Sherri's shoulder, pulling her closer. Together, they held the tablet, hearts beating in rhythm with the man on the screen.
As the call came to an end, Hyunjin gave one last look, voice low.
"Promise me you'll sleep tonight, Lix."
YoungBok nodded. "If you promise you'll eat."
Hyunjin smiled. "Deal."
Sherri kissed her fingers and pressed them to the screen. "We love you."
"I love you both," Hyunjin whispered. "My beautiful family."
And then the screen went dark.
Silence followed — but it was warm now, like a lullaby.
YoungBok looked at Sherri and said, "Let's sleep on the couch tonight. With the boys. Like a campout."
She smiled. "Yes. All four of us. Together."
And so they did. Two adults, two babies, one big blanket —leaving space for Hyunjin and a love that stretched across oceans and uniforms, time zones and languages.
A home.
A forever.
Waiting for their man to return.
Complete them with the love and warmth.
They might be rivals in love but they understand the true meaning of love.
You need to love, not just person himself but everyone and everything that he loved and which makes him happy.
That's the true love that both of them were sharing with each other.
Always together
Forever be happy
They just needed love and happiness.
The true love, the respect, trust and responsibilities towards their loved ones.
YoungBok felt that his life is unfair back then when he was struggling with relationship with Hyunjin and didn't know what will be the future of their love.
Sherri being parent less child, back in his life thought love is not meant for her.
Now both have Hyunjin whom they love the most and being happy together.