RE: Keep it in the Family (Secret Class) 2 — Baby Steps

What followed was a chaotic blur, a jumble of fleeting images and echoing voices swirling within my aching head.

When awareness finally hit me enough to notice I was clutched in the arms of a woman with lavender eyes, processing the chaos around me became even tougher.

My environment shifted wildly as I dozed and roused in fits. Disorientation overwhelmed me. Drowsiness kept dragging my body under constantly.

The woman stayed by my side the whole time, murmuring softly and pampering me with tender strokes and cuddles, like her life's mission was solely to care for me.

Occasionally, she wasn't around, though. A plump man took over watching me. I couldn't make him out sharply, but he seemed large and carried a vibe of gruff kindness.

My hazy, blurry sight sharpened somewhat when he lifted me. Finally, I could match a face to that voice. It wasn't handsome, but it looked warm and approachable.

 I could faintly feel relief and pride shining in his gaze.

"Finally a son."

He muttered—I had no clue what it signified. The sounds of his speech echoed South Korean patterns. From facing the Korean squad once, I remembered a handful of their words.

I jerked back as he leaned in so near that a scruffy mustache came into view above his lip.

Yeah, I much preferred the woman's company.

Speak of the devil, and she appears.

She must have stepped from the hazy fringes of my perception. One instant I rested in the man's hold, the next I got passed along like some plaything.

"Guuhh..."

Was that me making noise?

Hearing it sparked a surge of discomfort. That weak, pathetic squeal felt completely foreign.

For some reason beyond my grasp, both the woman and man melted at those baby babble attempts.

That marked the final sight before sleep claimed me again.

Later that night, as the woman sang a soothing lullaby, she perched on a stool with her breast bared, nursing me. Had my thoughts been sharp, I'd have felt deeply embarrassed and utterly baffled by the situation.

With all the endless sleeping, piecing together the weirdness grew harder than ever. The dreamlike unreality kept gnawing at me. I half-expected to snap awake any second, vanishing from here and landing back in my apartment, prepped for a big presser on the recent game.

Yet here I remained, stuck in a delirious nightmare ringed by odd, unknown faces.

‘.’

But nothing shifted. My eyelids stayed shut, reality held firm. The woman just swayed me gently.

xXx

Gradually, my senses sharpened, delivering feelings I could at last make sense of.

It felt good to latch onto reality's strand for a change.

I had no idea how long since my birth; tracking sleep blurred into ignoring days entirely. What mattered was my growing strength and mobility.

First off, I picked up my name: Cha Jae-il.

Details trickled in next. Names. Basic sayings and simple terms. As guessed, the woman—Eun Ha, I figured—was my fresh mom.

The man, my dad. Cha Yeong Gu; the household head, seldom home from long work shifts, so Eun Ha managed the kids, me included.

Then my big sisters: Mia and Su Ah. Curious kids both. Mia, the eldest, got drilled with duty more than Su Ah by mom.

She was a cheeky spitfire, cute and clingy, yet overly prankish.

This notion must have reached the soul-reincarnation bureaucrats—whatever desk handled it—since right then, cheese smothered my face fully.

At least Su Ah stirred less chaos. She stayed subdued, shy. Sharper and more watchful. She didn't interact with me like Mia; she watched from a distance, cautious not to disturb or harm me, always keeping space.

As self-awareness bloomed and I grasped my surroundings better, dread rooted deeper into my mind.

Reborn anew.

Memories fully preserved.

The fallout shook everything. My past, convictions, principles—all upended. Still, what choice did I have? Lodge a gripe with divine support services?

Logically, I couldn't tackle this scale.

Dwelling in philosophy wouldn't help.

I chose to embrace it and press forward.

Little remained for me before. Most of me lingered back, interred with mom. Now? Just my pro career—my sole drive. Plus the burden of all those hopes.

We weren't broke. Actually, moderate comfort defined our life.

No threats like random gunfire, botched deals, blades at the neck, or starving winters. By that measure, existence eased along.

I'd fib if I claimed no longing for Rio's fierce sun, but this simple house brought odd serenity.

Maybe a hidden gift?

If so...

Then please, , favor us with mercy.

I'd reboot.

If no hallucination or nightmare, I'd craft the proper life. No squandering it thrice.

So my path restarted.

…

They say a thousand-mile trek starts with one step.

And that's precisely my plan.

Trapped in a crib? Far from fun. If only I could haul ahead quicker than a crawl's drag. Age unknown, but those puny legs needed action now.

What else are these chubby limbs for, if not flexing muscle?

No unsupported standing yet; limits clear.

So, couch as aid.

Haul up.

Shove ahead with leg power.

Truth: not that bright or mighty. Momentum's fuel would flag fast, dooming a flop.

Bruise on fall? Likely. Minor cost for grander aims, though.

First shove launches. Hands off couch.

Hey. Easier than thought.

Somehow, upright unsupported. Shaky stance, prone to collapse, but my win entirely.

No house roaming yet. Baby steps, literally.

Pick goal. First semi-free trek's end.

Coffee table?

Close by, low fall risk.

Go time.

Shy step. Right leg ahead. Left follows.

All good.

Normal stride, nothing amiss. Unbelievable. Nailed it. One small life win, surprisingly epic.

''

xXx

Meanwhile, Mia, drifting near the kitchen, halted her lively chatter with bored Su Ah and glanced left, spotting mom guiding dad to the front door.

Suit on, so work-bound, maybe key talks? No clue. No interest.

But dad kept fussing his tie, habitual twitch.

Mom wore a chic red top, hair sleek and tidy—apron over it.

"Honey, how long will you be away for this time?" Eun Ha's fingers trailed Yeong Gu's shirt collar, ironing a wrinkle.

"You know how things can be." Yeong Gu scratched his neck, grumbling to his wife. "Hopefully no more than a week, this time." He matched Eun Ha's weary tone.

Mia cocked her head, conversation lost on her kid mind. Adult babble soared overhead. But her eyes slid beyond parents, locking on the nearby living room.

A scene snagged her stare, pulling a gasp.

"Jae-il! You're finally walking!" Mia's grin exploded ear-to-ear as she dashed to the living room.

Her glee sparked laughs, yanking Eun Ha and Yeong Gu's focus—their frames stiffened before spinning to her thrill.

"Honey..." Eun Ha's hand dropped slack from Yeong Gu's collar in shock. "Honey, oh gosh, look. Look! He's walking!"

Forget prior worries, Eun Ha bolted to Jae-il, who nailed his final step to the goal.

She scooped him like a trophy prize—but why show off solo?—and aimed him at beaming, baffled Yeong Gu.

"Mom! I wanna hold him too!"

Mia pleaded, arms flailing to snag her bro.

Jae-il, yanked from table to hug to dad's view, wore total shock.

"Dear..." Yeong Gu started, fiddling glasses. "Isn't Jae-il only 5 months old this year? Isn't it a bit too early for him to do this...?"

His thrilled wife froze mid-smile at his words.

“Right…?”

Sandwiched between parents, Jae-il faced intense stares.

“......”