The twins tugged at their mother's hands, looking up at her with curious eyes.
"Mommy, can we see Grandpa?" The little girl asked, her blue eyes wide with innocence.
Joona knelt down to their level, brushing her daughter's blond hair out of her face. She smiled gently, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Grandpa is sleeping right now, sweetie. He needs to rest."
The boy, quieter but always thinking, frowned and tilted his head. "Why is Grandpa always sleeping?" he asked, his small voice serious. "It's bad for his body. He should be playing like us."
Joona's heart ached at her son's words. She looked at her husband for a moment, and he nodded, understanding that their children needed an answer.
She picked up her son and held him close, his little arms wrapping around her neck. She kissed his forehead before speaking.
"Grandpa had a terrible accident a long time ago," Joona began softly, her voice calm but filled with emotion. "It hurt his legs and his body very badly. That's why he can't run or play like you. And now, because of that accident, he needs to rest a lot."
Her daughter, still holding onto her leg, looked up with a worried expression. "Will Grandpa get better?"
Joona smiled, but it was a sad smile. "No, honey. Grandpa's body is very tired. But don't worry. He loves you both very much."
The little boy hugged her tighter, his small mind trying to understand something so big. "I wish Grandpa could play with us," he whispered.
Joona hugged him back, feeling the same wish deep inside her. "I know," she said softly. "I wish he could, too."
Her husband stepped forward and gently lifted their daughter into his arms. "How about we let Grandpa rest for now?" he said gently. "Maybe later we can tell him some stories about the games you played today. He would love that."
The twins nodded slowly, still a little confused but trusting their parents. Joona stood up, still holding her son, and they walked together, giving their father and grandfather the peace he needed.
The next morning came with the soft glow of sunlight peeking through the curtains. Joona woke up early, feeling a little more cheerful than the past few days. Today was special—it was her father's 73rd birthday. She wanted to make it memorable, even if he couldn't celebrate like he used to.
Joona quickly got ready and smiled as she saw her husband helping the twins into their clothes. The children were just as excited, their faces glowing with happiness. They had been practicing for this all week.
"Okay, are you ready?" Joona asked, her voice filled with excitement.
The twins nodded eagerly, each holding onto one side of the birthday cake carefully. The cake was small but decorated with colorful frosting and a single candle in the middle.
"Don't drop it!" her husband teased gently as he stood behind them, making sure they didn't wobble too much.
"We won't, Daddy!" the little girl said proudly, balancing the cake with both hands. Her brother was just as focused, walking slowly and carefully, taking his job very seriously.
Joona walked beside them, her heart warm. Her husband stayed close to help guide the twins as they made their way down the hall toward Grandpa's room. She glanced at the cake, making sure everything was perfect.
"We'll greet Grandpa first," she reminded the twins softly, "and later today, we'll have a little celebration."
They reached the door to Grandpa's room. Joona stopped and took a deep breath, feeling both excited and a bit nervous. She wanted everything to go smoothly.
She opened the door quietly, and they all stepped inside. The room was filled with soft morning light. Her father was still lying in bed, his eyes closed, peacefully resting.
As Joona and her family were about to enter the room to surprise her father, they heard footsteps rushing behind them. It was Joona's eldest son, a tall 18-year-old with his mother's dark hair and his father's brown eyes.
"I'm not late, right?" he asked, slightly out of breath.
Joona smiled at him and shook her head. "No, just in time."
With everyone gathered, they quietly pushed open the door and walked toward Grandpa's bed, the twins still carefully holding the cake. Joona smiled, feeling a little flutter of excitement. She wanted this moment to be special for her father.
She stepped closer to the bed, leaning over to gently shake her father's shoulder. "Dad," she said softly, "Dad, wake up. It's your birthday!"
But there was no response.
Joona tried again, but as she touched his arm, his hand slipped down from the blanket, limp and still. her eyes widened in shock, She quickly covered her mouth with her hand.
Her husband saw her face and immediately understood. He gently took the cake from the twins, placing it on the bedside table. The room seemed to freeze in that moment.
The twins, however, didn't understand. They ran over to Grandpa's bed, their little faces lighting up with excitement.
"Grandpa! Wake up, wake up!" they said cheerfully, trying to nudge him, unaware of what had happened.
Joona's eldest son saw the situation and acted quickly. He swooped up the twins, one in each arm, lifting them off the bed. "Hey, let's let Grandpa sleep a little longer," he said calmly, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Why are we going out?" the little boy asked, his face scrunching up in confusion.
"Yeah, we were going to sing for Grandpa!" the girl added, looking between her brother and the adults.
Joona, fighting back tears, nodded to her husband, and they gently guided the children toward the door.
"We'll come back in a bit," the eldest son said softly, trying to keep his siblings distracted. "Let's give Grandpa some time to rest."