Chapter 4
4
Chapter 1. I Was Reborn as a Baby, Actually (3)
People often say:
That being young is the best.
I thought that was true too. I even nagged my Younger sister, who was only four years younger than me, saying, "You should know that this is the best time."
I thought being a teenager was better than being an adult, being a child was better than being a teenager, and being a baby was better than being a child...
I used to think that!
I thought so too! I thought babies had it easy!
I thought there was nothing hard about just eating, sleeping, and pooping without having to work or study.
They feed you when it's time, pat your back to help you digest, and you can sleep when you want... It's a sweet life. You don't even have to walk on your own two feet; someone is always holding you and moving you around.
But that wasn't the case.
It wasn't that babies didn't have to do anything; it was that they couldn't do anything on their own!
Do you know that frustration? Wanting to pull the curtain just a little, wanting to bring something you can see! That frustration of not being able to do anything by myself!
At first, it felt like someone had tied me up.
Even if I tried to give strength to my whole body, I didn't know how to move this small, short body, so I just thrashed around... Finally managing to roll over and lie on my stomach!
'Finally' doing it. 'Finally'! It was really hard.
And every time, cheers, praise, and applause poured out! Embarrassing!
'It's touching...'
It wouldn't be so bad if that was all.
A person! An adult!
Lying down and peeing... Waaah... My dignity...
Well, I guess other babies don't know about this, but anyway, living as a baby wasn't easy.
Adults don't know the sadness of having to do your best even to Belly crawling...
I lay down and stared blankly at the mobile Bailey had hung up.
What am I supposed to find interesting in this? A mobile isn't like Netfl*x, what do you think you're looking at, someone who's used to the various entertainments of the modern age...
'I'm watching it because there's nothing else to see? Not because it's fun?'
It's definitely not fun to watch the mobile that Mother made by hand sparkle and move in the sunlight... I'm just watching it because I'm wondering what principle makes it spin even when there's no wind.
It's not like we live in a world with electricity, so it's not batteries...
Honestly, it's a bit addictive. I hate to admit it, but it's fun. It's a blow to my pride.
"Shana! My pretty daughter!"
"Couldn't you just say 'our daughter,' Anais..."
"Our daughter!"
Here they come.
Maria ran to open the door, and my Mother Anais and Dad Kyle came in.
"Shana, it's been a while."
Dad smiled gently and lightly stroked my forehead. His low voice was as sweet as melting honey, and his warm smile, as if it could stop a blizzard, was dazzling.
"What do you mean, 'it's been a while.' Kyle, did you get amnesia or something? How many hours has it been since you saw her this morning?"
As Mother said, Dad had rushed to see my face as soon as he woke up this morning. It had only been a few hours since he had been dragged away by Mother, who didn't want to leave my side until he had breakfast.
"Whether it's a few hours or a few minutes, if I haven't seen you, it's been a while."
"Such a fuss..."
Mother scolded him with her mouth, but she picked me up and hugged me tightly. Her slender arms didn't seem to have any strength, but she didn't hesitate to pick me up.
"Our Shana, I heard you can Belly crawling now!"
"Won't you show us?"
"Ugh, Ppa..."
Then put me down. Put me down on the floor. Looking at Mother, who was talking while holding me, Dad said,
"You have to put her down first if you want her to show you anything, right?"
"I don't want to put her down from my arms."
"Then we won't be able to see our Shana's Belly crawling."
Mother put me down with a very disappointed look.
The floor of the baby room was covered with a soft carpet, but next to the crib, there was a space covered with blankets where I could play with toys.
Mother and Dad, who had put me down, said with sparkling eyes full of anticipation.
"Show us, Shana!"
"Let's Belly crawling!"
Seriously, these people... It's a good thing I have memories of my past life and can understand what they're saying, but do they usually think that a baby who's only six months old can understand what they're saying...?
"Come on, come to Mommy, Shana!"
"No, come to Daddy."
Hey, isn't it too much to ask of a baby who's only just succeeded in Belly crawling like a caterpillar!
My parents were standing about five adult steps away, with their arms wide open. Their faces didn't show even a hint of doubt that I wouldn't understand what they were saying.
'If, if it's like this...'
I want to live up to their expectations!
"Awoo, Ppa..."
"Yes, it's Daddy!"
"Maa..."
"That's right, it's Mommy!"
Oh, I can't say anything!
I looked at my parents, who were sparkling their eyes with complicated feelings.
Mother's complexion looked pale despite the midday sun. Looking at her deer-like long neck, slender arms and legs, and thin frame, I could only be amazed at how she gave birth to a baby with that body.
'She must have overdone it giving birth to me.'
On top of that, a baby who was only three months old was kidnapped, and she was bedridden for a long time due to the shock. Mother didn't seem to have recovered from the aftermath yet.
"Shana!"
The voice calling me was sweet.
I could tell that Mother and Dad loved me just by hearing the voices calling me.
'Yeona.'
'Please take care of Mina.'
Just like my parents in my past life.
It would be a lie to say that it was easy for me, who had memories of my past life and the consciousness of an adult, to accept those two as my parents. But how could I turn away?
"Shana!"
People who look at me like that, so lovingly.
"Beubyaaah."
Just you wait. I'll crawl to you.
"Did you hear that, Kyle? Did you hear our Shana talking to me?"
"I heard it. I don't know what she's saying, though."
Mother Anais is physically weak, but she has a bright and cheerful personality. On the other hand, Dad Kyle smiles warmly at me, but judging from the way he sometimes speaks bluntly, he doesn't seem to be very friendly to people other than his family.
Is he the male lead of some novel...?
It would be perfect if his hometown was in the north.
"Euh, Boo, Beua..."
Ah, I'm drooling!
"Shana-nim, let me wipe your face."
"Bya!"
It's going to drool again anyway.
After three months of baby life, I'm confident even when I poop, and I'm comfortable even when I drool. I'm strong! More than that, it was urgent to show my achievements.
'My body seems to be a bit weak.'
I don't know what the average physical strength of a baby is, but I get tired and fall asleep easily even if I move a little. If this is normal, how hard is a baby's daily life...?
I'm sorry for thinking you had it easy, babies...
If I think about it a little, it couldn't have been easy to move with a body that didn't even have muscles... Euryah!
"Shana, cheer up!"
"You can do it!"
"Shana-nim, you can do it!"
"Just a little more!"
I barely put my stomach on the floor and wiggled forward like a turtle, but it was impossible to get to where my parents were. Waaah. Is this the first frustration of my life?
"Shana! Mommy came this close!"
"Anais. That's cheating."
"Kyle, come here too. Here, Shana!"
Mother came very close. Not that she was very far away in the first place.
I lay on my stomach, probably with my face red from straining, and looked up at Anais, who was kneeling for me.
Even though her face was covered with drool, Mother couldn't hide her love for me.
Ah, really, you're so silly.
I buried my reddened face in my clenched fists.
'My fists are too small and my face is too big, it hurts...'
I can't even be moved properly.
There's so little a baby can do.
How long has it been since I've been spoiled by my parents? I couldn't even remember.
My Mother in my past life had been sick for a long time. My Dad worked hard to pay for the hospital bills, so taking care of my Younger sister had been my responsibility for a long time. Even then, from the age of twenty, my livelihood was entirely my responsibility.
So, maybe that's why I didn't dislike being spoiled, even though it was embarrassing. No, honestly, I like it.
"Shana, what's wrong? Did you overdo it?"
"Eubu..."
No. It's not that.
Mother tried to reach out to me, but Dad stopped her.
"Anais, Shana hasn't given up yet."
That's right. I haven't given up yet... I'll show the dignity of someone who used to be an adult, a veteran even though I don't remember it...
I became a turtle. This is the sea, I'm a turtle, and there's food at the end!
My hand, which even I thought was small and chubby, touched the tip of Mother's hand.
'Huh?'
I felt something being sucked into my body.
'What is this feeling?'
It was a vivid sensation. It was strength, but not muscle; it was something closer to energy. The back of my small, chubby hand sparkled.
Mother's eyes widened as if she felt something too, and Dad's face hardened. Uh oh.
"Shana, are you..."
"Did you use Healing magic?"
"I, I think so..."
As they were looking at me with bewildered faces, Mother picked me up in a flash.
"Kyle, contact the priest quickly! Call a healer and a Magician. Call all the related people."
"I was going to do that even if you didn't tell me."
"Shana, are you okay? You don't look bad..."
Mother put her hand on my forehead and started to sob.
"You're so small, and you're doing this for me..."
No, well, I wanted to make you better, but what I just did was really unconscious...
It was unintentional filial piety.
"Madam, we'll take care of Shana-nim."
"It would be better to put her down first."
"Aboo! Ba! Babya!"
No!
'I finally got to crawl! And you're going to lock me up again!'
Today, I'm... trapped in the prison called the crib...
Wearing the prisoner's uniform called baby clothes...
'...What am I saying...'
My nonsense is increasing day by day. I'm not crying, this is sweat.
