Not Yet
[Little Sprout Version]
It was bedtime.
Mom thought so.
Dad thought so.
Grandpa thought so too.
But Lee Hanseung shook his head.
Not yet.
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Of course, Hanseung could not really say those words.
He was still too little.
He was only beginning to learn how to walk.
He could only take a few steps before sitting down or reaching for someone’s hand.
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But everyone knew what he meant.
Not yet.
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There were still things to do.
A few more steps to take.
A few more corners of the room to explore.
A few more things to touch.
The world was still awake.
And Hanseung wanted to stay awake with it.
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“Sleepy?” Grandpa asked.
Hanseung shook his head.
Not yet.
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Mom smiled.
Dad laughed.
Grandpa smiled too.
Then a thought quietly crossed his mind.
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When had he learned that?
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Nobody had taught him.
Nobody had shown him how.
Yet somehow he knew how to say no.
Not with words.
Not with sentences.
Just with a small shake of his head.
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Yesterday he seemed like a baby who followed wherever he was carried.
Today he already had a mind of his own.
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Grandpa watched him carefully.
It was only a tiny movement.
Just a little shake of the head.
But somehow it felt important.
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There would be many more firsts ahead.
First words.
First questions.
First friendships.
And many first steps into a larger world.
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But tonight was different.
Tonight Grandpa had noticed something new.
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Lee Hanseung shook his head.
And Grandpa wondered:
When had he learned that?
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At last, Hanseung’s eyes grew heavy.
His little head rested on Mom’s shoulder.
A few minutes later, he was fast asleep.
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Grandpa looked at him and smiled.
Tomorrow there would be more steps.
More discoveries.
More little surprises.
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Grandpa smiled again.
Somehow, that made him happy.
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📌(2026.06.18 21:05) Not Yet Namjeon (Lee Young) AI Chen assisted: “When had he learned that?” 900 words