2019

It was really chilly that day and the fact that Shenjae was unpredictable was not helping at all; he pulled Fanha closer to his chest in order to warm her because last time he used the pram on a cold day, Fanha got a fever and it was not so pleasant.

He left the pram in the shop and tied the sling to his neck, letting Fanha in it to make her comfortable.

Fanha just kept blinking her big brown orbs. Why is appa in such a hurry?

Jung kook locked the shop and started speed walking towards their shared apartment. Earlier that day, Shenjae had marched in the shop and told him to better come home and remember before I go crazy!

He panicked because no matter how much he banged and rubbed his head, he couldn't remember what he was missing.

 He had to call all the people with pre-booked orders to either collect them earlier or cancel the order; good for him that most people chose the first option.

He also had to call the grocery store where he worked part time that he could not be present that day but all he knew was that it must be something serious if Shenjae, the calm princess, came barging in with such a disheveled look.

Was it the gas bill?

 Nah, I paid that. 

Was it grocery shopping? 

But it was Shenjae's duty.

 Is it Fanha's monthly checkup? 

No, that was a few days ago.

 Was it Shenjae's yearly visit to the dentist?

 Nah, she already visited the dentist twice.

 Was it Fanha's birthday?

 But she's 9 months. 

Did i take a loan?

 No.

 Did I have to pick up Shenjae from somewhere? 

No.

 Then what was it....

Meanwhile, Shenjae was already home, laughing to herself and checking everything; Jungkook and Fanha were about to arrive. When everything seemed okay to her, she went to the bathroom to wash her face briefly.

She noticed how her glasses had left marks on the bridge of her nose, her eyes had deep grey shadows around them, a few whiteheads here and there on her face; she never had the time to care for her skin like other girls but when her mother was alive, she surely was better than this.

Ah, mothers.

 She sighed.

 Mothers melt their bones to bring their children happiness, health and success. Only if the world would take care of them when they are out and away from their mother's embrace.

"Mrs. Kang!", she yelled while knocking at the door, calling for her kind neighbor.

"I am coming", her meek voice came like a whisper from afar.

"Oh, honey. What are you doing here before sunset today, or maybe my eyesight has weakened?" she squinted her eyes.

"Not funny Mrs. Kang" Shenjae frowned.

"It's Jungkook's birthday today." She told her with a polite smile on her face.

"Oh, your husband, right? Poor boy works very hard, rarely got to see him before you moved in." she said, motioning Shenjae to come in.

"we are not married yet" Shenjae replied meekly, a blush painting her being, "but why didn't you see him before I moved in?" she furrowed her brows.

"used to do extra shifts at the special hospital, now that you have come, he has stopped going there, you take good care of him." She smiled.

This kid. I will choke him myself if he ever overworks himself behind my back again.

"So, Mrs. Kang I was here to ask if maybe you have a lipstick?" she asked, shyly.

The old lady adjusted her spectacles and looked at her again, and then she sighed.

"No doubt you are Jeon's wife, come to my room."

After two minutes of Mrs. Kang finding the right shade for her out of her more than huge lipstick collection, Shenjae practically ran out of the apartment because the old lady was adherent on giving her a take-care-of-yourself lecture.

"And let your hair down, out of the bun, Jeon likes them, he once told me." She winked at Shenjae.

Shenjae being the awkward girl she was, bowed and went back to their apartment.

It was about five minutes later when she heard the staircase rustling; he was coming.

She rushed to the door when his soft knuckles made the door vibrate softly.

She opened it, finding a heavily breathing, bomber-clad, baby-huddled Jung kook.

"Shen, is everything okay?" he asked, his brows furrowed as he came in.

Shenjae immediately helped him remove his jacket and placed it on the entrance table.

She took Fanha from him, after he unstrapped the fling and ruffled his hair like a puppy. Shenjae quietly took Fanha inside the kitchen.

Jungkook slowly took everything in account, Shenjae was home before night and her hair was not clutched in a tight bun; two things that he did know were possible in their 9 months relationship.

"Uh, noona, are we going somewhere?", she faced him, giving him a sharp look and a piercing glare.

"Sit", she motioned towards the living room, he gulped.

She is looking prettier than usual; if only the glare was not there.

But anyways he obliged and sat on the floor cushion in the living room, fiddling his fingers and looking down on his lap.

Shenjae entered the living room sighing at his cuteness but hiding it anyways.

He will surely cause me my duodenum to burst because of all the butterflies.

She had Fanha in one hand, who had her hands wrapped against her neck. Fanha was not getting the tension in the atmosphere; she was busy staring at Shenjae.

Eomma is looking like princess Sofia today, wow.

Her other hand had a box which she placed on the coffee table. Jungkook raised his head at the shadow and gave her a pleading look, his eyes shiny with tears.

Shenjae passed Fanha to him and left to kitchen again.

Fanha stared at her father in worry, but he just followed Shenjae and grabbed her hand when she was about to open the fridge.

"Noona, I am sorry, please don't be mad at me. I seriously don't remember what it is. I feel like I have failed, I know I don't deserve you, I should be more responsible, but please forgive me this time. I will remember the next time, please tell me what it is, I promise I wont forge-" his eyes widened when Shaenjae turned and pressed her hand on his mouth.

Fanha started crying.

Shenjae wiped his tears with the end of her sweater sleeves.

"shh. Koo." She whispered and opened the fridge again, she took out the cake.

"Happy birthday!" she cheered and held the cake in front of him.

Oh.

His vision became a blur again as he let Fanha down and took the cake from Shenjae.

So the plates on the table, the pizza box, the vanilla scent in the house, Shenjae arriving early, her pretty brown locks were all for his birthday!

"Look at appa being a crybaby!" Shenjae laughed as she crouched down to Fanha's level, who was holding her father's trousers as support to stand.

"Oh, when did you learn that?" Shenjae let out an amazed chuckle, Fanha's sobs lessened when she saw her mother laugh. She looked up towards her father and let baby noise stream out of her mouth.

"Apa. No no no." she shrieked.

Jungkook sniffed and dried his tears with his sleeves.

Why does he look so cute while crying?

"aww, come on, it is okay even if you forget something. We are humans. Why are you still crying? Do you want the cake to melt away?", she smiled at him kindly and was about to pick Fanha up when he spoke out,

"Don't, she has started walking too.", croaked out and messy; that was his voice.

"This is humanly impossible, how can she when we didn't even make her practice stan- oh my God!"

Fanha let her father go and started her penguin walk, slow stepped but miraculous towards the living room.

"It's amazing, isn't it?", Jung kook whispered to Shenjae who had her mouth wide open.

They slowly walked towards the living room, following Fanha and placed the cake on the table.