"Are you okay with talking about it now?"

I nod to let him go ahead and not be stopped, and he expresses some relief. "Good. I think it's important for us three to talk about it because this is also my responsibility to do so as your dad," he becomes serious, which is something I always fear. He only did it when something bad happened, so I never like to see him act that way. "If you're upset or angry about the fact that we never told you, I want you to be angry at me, but not your brother, alright?"

"I'm not. I understand why you do it, so I'm not upset or angry at all," I give my honest words, making no bones about my emotions, and a nervous smile always on his face. "I'm relieved to hear that. It was...It was hard to not let you know all this too, but since you're much younger than your brother, we believed it was best for you to not be aware of anything until the right time would come," he explains the main reason why this remained secret, and I show how understanding I am.

"Your mother wasn't a caring or loving one, a few years after Inhyuk's birth, she started becoming very religious, and I never understood why, but this really changed her a lot. She'd pressure us to follow the same path and become what she always claimed to be 'good and worthy human beings', but I never agreed to that because I wasn't okay with her or anyone else forcing their beliefs on my children. So, this caused a lot of fights because after you were born, I'd sometimes get to know that she forced you both to go to church or pray when I was at work, despite my opposition to it. She'd do everything behind my back, and at first, none of you would dare to tell me the truth because she manipulated you into thinking this meant that you'd go to hell for breaking a promise and disappointing her god, but I got to know about everything once Inhyuk was around twelve years old, he was so scared of what your mother was saying that he eventually told me everything, and after that, it was never alright again," he brings his glad up to his mouth to clear his throat.

"For how long did it last before he told you?" I ask, wondering about many things. "She started doing all that once you were around four years old, Inhyuk told me that she'd make you both pray together before going to bed and ask for forgiveness, but this made me go really insane to know about this because I always made it clear, she can believe in whatever the hell she wants, but she must never force any of us to do so, which she obviously did, so I was mad, and I kinda blew up on that day, so after that one fight, we stopped seeing each other for three years, I didn't want her to be around you both, and even if she had the right to see you both after the divorce, none of your ever visited her, but we saw each other again after those years, she seemed to have changed, she made me feel like she was the woman I once fell in love with again, so I gave her another chance, but she actually never changed, and after what happened with Inhyuk, I never talked to her again, and I still do not want to know anything about her or her life," he gives me all the details to make me aware of everything that happened, and I know understand why I barely remember her.

I would not even be able to tell what she looks like, what she sounds like, and for evident reasons, I am happy with that now.

"If you have any questions, you can ask them all, I'll tell you everything you want to know," he makes sure that I do not keep anything to myself, and I nod to him. "You kinda told me everything I wanted to know."

"Great, but if you ever want to know something more, do not hesitate to ask," he reminds me, and I smile. "I will."

•••

12:10 pm.

< I got my glasses this morning... ]

I read Joonha's text while taking a break with my colleagues and answer him.

[ oh bad news >

< thanks. Makes me feel better ]

[ no I mean bad news bcs youre gonna see my real face >

< I wish you had a brain but I guess ill deal with a dumb girl for the rest of my life ]

[ yes:> I want to see a picture tho. Show me your pretty face >

< you sound like a cringe fuck boy but here you are babe. Enjoy the sight of my perfect face ]

He does not wait before taking a selfie and sending it, and I smile as soon as I see him.

[ you look smart for once, its only beneficial for you >

< you little shit:) ]

[ :> I love you >

< not sure I still do tho ]

[ I knew this would happen some day, I'm not even surprised. Good things always come to an end >

< well think about it. What if one good thing ends so that another good or better one can begin? ]

[ oh that means ill find a better boyfriend then, right? >

< hahhahaha .-. ]

< you can't find better than me. Thought you were aware of that already ]

[ I wasn't >

< now you do, so that means you have to stay with me forever:) ]

[ fine but you have to stay with me forever too then, hm? And no cheating or else I kidnap choco:) >

< it's fine, I don't mind this rule ]

[ good. What are you doing now? >

< I'm waiting for my colleague to come back with the food cuz I forgot the one my dad cooked for me:') and you? ]

[ nothing im just enjoying my break >

< you're not eating? ]

[ I already did. I was starving >

< did you have breakfast? ]

[ my brother forced me to eat all the food he cooked so yeah lmao >

< I'm glad you have him ]

[ I'm glad too >

At the sound of Daejung sitting right next to me, I peek up at him but see his hand bring something towards me. "I made them this morning," he holds a cream bread that he often gives me, and I grab it. "Thank you," I smile at him and take a bite, expecting something delicious to fill my mouth.

"Would you like me to try a chocolate cream or something else?" he asks for my opinion, and I look inside while chewing and loving how fluffy and perfectly sweet this is. "I love this vanilla one a lot, but you can try another cream. Depends on what you and the others want," I take another bite.

"I only share this with you because the others complain whenever I bring some pastries now, and I've already tried the chocolate one at home and found it good too," he tells me, and I feel pretty heartbroken about it.

"You can come with some chocolate ones then, I'll be eager to try them. Don't ever stop baking though, you're amazing at it, and I'll always be happy to taste what you do," I compliment him to make sure he knows someone likes what he does and cares, and a smile forms on his face. "Thank you, it means a lot. I'll try to come with chocolate ones for this Friday."

"Can't wait," I finish the bread and take a tissue to check my phone, but notice that Joonha left me a text.

< will you play with your babyboy tonight? ]

[ play what? >

< since you can't be in my bed, a horror game ]

[ I will but what if I was in your bed? >

< can't tell since it won't happen ]

[ in 2 weeks it will >

< we'll have a baby on that day then ]

For some odd reason, this text gave me butterflies inside. This is so adorable of him to say it like that.

[ you can't deal with me rn so how are you gonna deal with a pregnant me? >

< when you're pregnant with food you're calmer so maybe you'll be the same with a human ]

[ oh no I won't. I'll be throwing tantrums every day and be mad for a second then cry the one after. Ill complain about the constant pain and mood swings. You're not ready for such a thing >

< well...suddenly forgot what we were talking about so let's change topic ]

< jk I'll cuddle you and make you feel better with kisses and compliments to remind you that you're still my pretty girl ]

[ you're cute >

< but don't forget that I'll have to take the leash out and tie you up if you get too much on my nerves ]

[ you're a horrible person ill have our baby inside me! You can't do that >

< fuck. True. I'll make a list and do everything once our baby's out ]

[ "once our baby's out" lmao >

< what? He'll be out that balloon i put him in ]

[ did you just call me or my stomach a balloon? >

< no! Your womb dumbass! ]

[ good you made it up >

< I'd never call you that ]

[ no. You call me dumbass, little shit, little bitch, dumb, short, and many other names, but never you'd dare call me a balloon. You're so sweet:D >

< I know:) I love you ]

[ I love you too, unfortunately >

< take that last word away and say it again ]

[ I love you too >

< from the bottom of your heart, that means a lot:) ]

[ lmao I mean it stfu >

< sure ]

[ sure, now I gotta go and help a colleague so I'm leaving >

< yes, work hard and earn all the money for your babyboy:3 ]

[ you're soft and cute today, I will<3 >

< dont work too hard, I love you<3 ]

[ dont work too hard either, I love you too❤ >

I smile and put my phone in my pocket to help Daejung take care of opening the boxes that were delivered a few minutes ago.

— Two days later —

Wednesday, September 28th, 2022.

11:55 pm.

The best day of this week reaching the best hour of it, I walk up to Joonha after noticing him in front of the coffee shop where we often go for breakfast or lunch together, and I wrap my arms around him. "Hey."

"Hey," he holds my face and leans in for a kiss. "How are you?"

"Fine and you? How did it go at work this morning?" I move back to let him go, and he takes my hand in his warm one to enter the shop. "Fine too. It went well, there haven't been a lot of customers today, so it's pretty great," he picks a table for us both, and we sit down next to each other. "What about you?"

"It went well too, not too many customers either," I share the same emotion and put my phone down on the table, and we make eye contact. He does not glance away or say anything, and I notice something is missing. "Where are your glasses?"

"In my jacket," he dares to not wear them, even though his dad must have told him to always do it. "Why not on your face?"

"I don't want you to see me with them," he nervously smiles and takes hold of his phone. "What do you wanna eat?"

"Put your glasses on, or I tell your dad about it when I see him," I threaten to do, but he raises his eyebrows at me. "I'm not scared," he keeps his body close to mine, one side of our bodies never leaving each other. "Stop being a baby and protect your eyes," I brush an eyelash away from his cheekbone that fell on it, and he does not move. "What if this causes your eyesight to worsen and that you cannot see your pretty girlfriend anymore? Uh? Won't you be sad?"

"I will," he smiles but tries to hide it, and I pull on one side of his leather jacket to reveal the inside, and I look for the inner pocket. As if he was enjoying it, he lets me do it instead of taking them out, and I eventually find the case. I get it out and open it, and I carefully grab the glasses and heave them up to his face, and I make him wear them. "Here you are, my pretty baby," I close the case and have a glimpse of my gorgeous boyfriend.

"You're gonna make me blush, stop," he glances down at my lips, and I chuckle. "What do you want for lunch?" he runs his fingers through his fluffy hair to pull his bangs back. "As always," I answer, and he does not even question me again, he knows. "Alright, I'm taking the same too," he stands up and heads to the checkout to order for us two, and I wait for him.

Now that he is turning his back to me,  uncontrollably, I peek down at his butt that his tight jeans always bring out, that looks much better than mine, but I do not leer at it since we are in public. I force myself to look down at my phone and text Hyunjin to see how he is doing today.

He has not texted me yesterday, but I know he was working and also saw my brother to talk, and from what Inhyuk told me, they sorted it out, so I hope he feels better now.

"Here's your latte already, baby, I'm coming with the food," he puts my warm coffee down and places his hot chocolate next to it. "Thank you," I grab mine to have a sip and warm myself up, and I watch him go back to the checkout to take the rest of the order once it is done.

He comes back with the yummy food and sits down, lays the croissant and banana for me, and the banana waffle he loves to get whenever we come here, I do not wait before eating, I grab my croissant and take a big bite.

"Bro," Joonha grasps my attention, and I quickly understand what is happening at the sight of his glasses covered in fog after he sipped on his hot chocolate. I cannot help but laugh, and he sets his eyes on me. "Shut up, or karma's gonna get your ass," he states what I cannot even deny, but I défend myself. "You're cute, I wasn't even mocking you."

"Sure," he does not believe me but cut a piece of waffle to dig in as well, and I lean towards him to kiss his cheek. "Very sure, baby."

His cheeks rise, but he does not say anything about this effect I had on him, he ignores it. "How is it going with Minsu?" he brings up, suddenly, so I drink some coffee and tell him the truth. "Good. We just sometimes text each other to know how everything's going, but nothing much."

"Hm, and what about Hyunjin?" he continues to be curious about me, but I bite into the croissant before answering. "I texted him five seconds ago to see how he doing, but yesterday, my brother told me he seemed to feel better, so I hope it's the case."

"And what happened exactly last weekend? You haven't told me," he puts his fork and knife down to swallow some hot chocolate, and I lick my lips. "Well, Hyunjin and my brother were hanging out at his house on Seunggil's birthday, and he kissed him, but I can't really go into details, so..." I look for the right words, knowing that Inhyuk allowed me to tell him this but not what happened to him. "Hyunjin just panicked because he's always been aware that my brother stated that he's straight, but it was more than a simple peck and that made him feel some type of way, the ring is that my brother showed some discomfort at some point and left, but they talked it out and it's solved now."

"I really didn't expect that," he expresses some surprise, and I understand this reaction, I had the same on the day that happened. "What are they now though? Are they still close friends?"

"They are, they know it was just something that they did a bit thoughtlessly in the spur of the moment, but there were no romantic feelings from my brother's side for sure, and from Hyunjin's side either from what he said," I tell him all the things I know, and he nods.

He does not ask anything more about this but eats his mouth-watering waffle, and I sip on my coffee but suddenly feel curious about something. "By the way, why does Seunggil never join us for lunch anymore?" I nibble on the small piece I ripped off the pastry, and his tongue runs over his soft lips to lick the whipped cream off. "It's a date between us," he reveals the adorable reason, and I smile. "Oh, that's why. You want me all for yourself."

"Yes," he does not even pretend to think the opposite, and I chuckle but feel special.

30 minutes later...

"I love you, baby," he bear hugs me while staring into my eyes with his ocean blue ones, unable to leave me and go back to work. I stand up on my tiptoes without letting go of his thin waist, and I kiss him. "I love you too. Don't overwork or let any customers be rude to you, okay?"

"I won't, I'll punch them if they do," he rubs his hands up and down my back, and I laugh. "Don't get into trouble though."

"Don't worry, I won't," he grins and lowers his head to snuggle his face up in the crook of my neck, and he tightens his hold around me, squeezing me in his arms. "I hope we'll be able to eat lunch together in two weeks and not have to wait for the weekend to see each other."

"I'll be there after work, so we'll definitely have lunch together," I reassure him, and he presses his lips on my sensitive neck. I uncontrollably smile and look up at him once he pulls apart. He runs his fingers through my hair and holds my face. "See you in two weeks and don't forget to text me once you're home."

"I will," I give him my word, and he combs my hair, his beautiful eyes always gazing into mine with genuine love and care. "I gotta go now, see you, baby, and be careful."

"Be careful too, see you," I step back to also head to the bus stop, and we both wave at each other while drifting apart.