Chapter 178

Four-year-old Ruby was having the worst morning of her little dumpling life.

The tiny girl sat on the couch with her arms crossed, cheeks puffed out, and her duck-shaped slippers stomping against the floor.

“No.”

Across from her, Jennie sighed.

“Baby, Mommy and Mama are only leaving for two days.”

“No.”

Lisa tried.

“It’s just a little trip.”

“No.”

“Ruby.”

“No.”

Jennie and Lisa exchanged looks.

Their daughter was normally sweet, adorable, and surprisingly well-behaved.

But whenever it involved being separated from her beloved Mommy?

Ruby could become a dramatic little dumpling.

Jennie crouched in front of her.

“My baby, Mommy and Mama need to go out of town for work.”

Ruby’s eyes instantly became watery.

“Nooooo…”

The first sniffle appeared.

Then the second.

Then-

“We’ll ask Auntie Ahyeon and Auntie Chiquita to look after you.”

The crying stopped.

Immediately.

Like someone pressed a pause button.

“…Auntie Ahyeon?”

Jennie blinked.

“Yes?”

“…And Auntie Chiquita?”

“Yes?”

Ruby looked thoughtful.

Very thoughtful.

Then-

“Okay.”

Jennie and Lisa stared.

“…Okay?” Lisa repeated.

Ruby nodded.

“Okay.”

The two mothers looked completely betrayed.

Five seconds ago she was preparing for a full-blown meltdown.

Now she was fine?

Just fine?

“That’s it?” Lisa asked.

Ruby shrugged.

“Auntie Ahyeon cuddles me.”

Jennie laughed.

“And?”

Ruby grinned.

“Auntie Chiquita lets me cause chaos.”

“RUBY.”

The little dumpling giggled.

—

A few hours later, the front door opened.

“AUNTIEEEEES!”

Ruby launched herself like a tiny missile.

Poor Ahyeon barely had time to react before a four-year-old dumpling attached herself to her leg.

“Whoa!”

Ahyeon laughed.

“Hi, baby.”

Ruby immediately climbed into her arms.

Because honestly?

Ahyeon reminded her a lot of Jennie.

Soft.

Patient.

Gentle.

Comforting.

The same warm hugs.

The same cheek kisses.

The same way she’d carry Ruby around like she weighed nothing.

Ruby absolutely adored her.

Meanwhile Chiquita crouched down dramatically.

“And what about me?”

Ruby gasped.

Then pointed.

“Auntie Trouble!”

“HEY!”

Lisa immediately nodded.

“Accurate.”

Chiquita looked offended.

“I am a responsible adult.”

Nobody believed her.

Not even Ahyeon.

Especially not Ahyeon.

—

The moment Jennie and Lisa left, Ahyeon expected tears.

Maybe even a little crying.

Instead-

Ruby was happily sitting in Ahyeon’s lap eating strawberries.

Completely fine.

“Shouldn’t she miss her parents?” Chiquita whispered.

Ruby looked up.

“I do.”

“Then why aren’t you crying?”

Ruby thought about it.

Then snuggled deeper into Ahyeon.

“Because Auntie Ahyeon smells like Mommy.”

Ahyeon nearly cried from cuteness.

Meanwhile Chiquita looked offended.

“What about me?”

Ruby pointed.

“You smell like Mama.”

Chiquita immediately celebrated.

“YES.”

—

The first day went surprisingly smoothly.

Very smoothly.

Mostly because Ruby divided her aunties into categories.

Ahyeon was for comfort.

Chiquita was for fun.

Whenever Ruby wanted cuddles?

“Auntie Ahyeon.”

Whenever Ruby wanted snacks?

“Auntie Ahyeon.”

Whenever Ruby wanted a nap?

“Auntie Ahyeon.”

Whenever Ruby wanted to be carried?

“Auntie Ahyeon.”

At one point Chiquita complained.

“Why does she always choose you?”

Ahyeon smirked.

“Skill issue.”

—

But whenever Ruby wanted chaos?

She went directly to Chiquita.

Every.

Single.

Time.

“Auntie Chiquita.”

“Yes?”

“Wanna build a pillow fort?”

“Absolutely.”

Five minutes later the living room disappeared.

—

“Auntie Chiquita.”

“Yes?”

“Can we hide from Auntie Ahyeon?”

“Absolutely.”

Ten minutes later Ahyeon found them inside a closet eating cookies.

—

“Auntie Chiquita.”

“Yes?”

“Can we put googly eyes on everything?”

“Absolutely.”

Ahyeon came home from the grocery store and discovered googly eyes on the refrigerator.

The television.

The microwave.

The rice cooker.

And somehow the family photo frame.

She wasn’t even surprised.

—

That night Ruby took a bath, changed into her pajamas, and sat quietly on Ahyeon’s lap.

The little girl looked sleepy.

Very sleepy.

Her eyes were slowly closing.

“Miss Mommy?” Ahyeon asked softly.

Ruby nodded.

“A little.”

“Miss Mama?”

Ruby nodded again.

“A little.”

Ahyeon kissed her forehead.

“They’ll be back soon.”

Ruby smiled.

“I know.”

Then she wrapped her tiny arms around Ahyeon.

“But I like being with you too.”

Ahyeon’s heart exploded.

Completely exploded.

—

The second day was even funnier.

Because Ruby became convinced she needed to take care of her aunties.

Especially Chiquita.

Who apparently acted like a giant child.

“Auntie.”

“What?”

“Eat your vegetables.”

Chiquita stared.

“Excuse me?”

“Mommy says vegetables make you healthy.”

Ahyeon laughed so hard she nearly fell off the couch.

—

Later that afternoon, Ruby sat between the two girlfriends while watching cartoons.

One tiny hand held Ahyeon’s.

The other held Chiquita’s.

She looked ridiculously content.

“Auntie Ahyeon?”

“Yes, baby?”

“Do you love Auntie Chiquita?”

Ahyeon smiled.

“Very much.”

Ruby looked at Chiquita.

“Auntie Chiquita?”

“Yes?”

“Do you love Auntie Ahyeon?”

“More than anything.”

Ruby nodded seriously.

“Good.”

“Why?”

The dumpling grinned.

“Because you’re cute together.”

Both aunties immediately turned red.

Meanwhile Ruby looked incredibly proud of herself.

—

By the evening of the second day, Jennie and Lisa finally returned home.

The moment the front door opened-

“RUBY!”

“MY BABY!”

Ruby immediately ran toward them.

“MOMMY!”

“MAMA!”

Jennie scooped her up first.

Covering her cheeks with kisses.

Lisa joined seconds later.

Creating a giant family hug.

“My baby missed us?”

Ruby nodded.

“A lot.”

Jennie kissed her forehead.

“Were you okay?”

Ruby smiled brightly.

“Yep.”

Lisa narrowed her eyes.

“You didn’t cry?”

“Nope.”

“Not even once?”

“Nope.”

Jennie looked suspicious.

“Really?”

Ruby nodded proudly.

“I was brave.”

Then she pointed toward Ahyeon and Chiquita.

“I had my aunties.”

The two girlfriends smiled.

Because despite missing her parents, Ruby had spent two wonderful days being spoiled, cuddled, loved, and entertained.

Ahyeon got endless hugs.

Chiquita got endless adventures.

And Ruby got the best of both worlds.

As Jennie carried her toward the couch, Ruby looked back at her aunties.

“I love you!”

Ahyeon immediately melted.

“We love you too, baby.”

Chiquita grinned.

“Come visit again soon.”

Ruby nodded enthusiastically.

Then she declared proudly:

“Auntie Ahyeon is Mommy Version 2.”

Ahyeon froze.

Jennie burst out laughing.

“And Auntie Chiquita?”

Ruby grinned mischievously.

“Mama Version 2.”

Chiquita looked delighted.

Lisa looked horrified.

“That’s not a compliment.”

“It is to me!”

The entire house erupted into laughter while Ruby giggled in the middle of it all, happy to be back with her parents-and equally happy knowing she had two aunties who loved their little dumpling just as much.