"By the way. I need to talk about something important."

"Tell me," I stay focused, wondering what this is about. "I decided that I want a baby sibling, so do the job with my dad, please."

No way he said that.

"Are you for real right now?" I nearly feel my jaw drop to the ground, but he does not show any fluster as if this was a normal topic. "Yeah. Who the fuck would I ask that to other than you? I want a sibling. I want to be a big brother and protect them, I'm tired of being a single child."

"You're twenty, it's too late for a sibling," I grab my phone to check if I received a text but see nothing from the one I want to talk to. "That's not true. Some siblings have big age gaps, and since I couldn't ask for one these last six years, I make a demand now."

"Wait. So you're not joking?" I lift my hand up, wondering if he is jesting or not. "I'm not," he chuckles. "Like, for real. I'd actually love to have a sibling and take care of them. That'll get me ready for my own kids."

"Well, I'm sorry, but I'm not a machine you put a coin in to get what you want, so try to forget it," I put my phone down on my stomach, and he stares while chewing. "Well," he swallows and touches his lip ring. "It's obviously not gonna be my coin you need, if you know what I mean," he does not even surprise me. I feel like I am asking for it at this point. We both have the same mind, I knew what I would get with this sentence. "I'm not even gonna say anything."

His cute giggle echoes through the room, sounding like his dad. "Do you want some?" he shakes the bag to make some noise with the chips. "No, thanks. I'm full."

"I'm happy then," he enjoys his snack on his own, and I look down at him. "Why? I'm bloated, my stomach still hurts a bit, you shouldn't be happy about that."

"I am because that means you ate well, and also that you loved my food," he gives a good reason, and I smile, finding this comment cute and meaningful. "I hope my dad will eat the burger I made for him too though."

"He already ate over there, so I'm not sure he will, but knowing how he is, he'll feel bad if he doesn't eat what you cooked for him, so he'll probably force himself," I think about what might happen when he comes home and gets to know about it, and Joonha smiles. "That's exactly what I think, but it can still be eaten tomorrow, so I'll tell him to not eat if he can't."

"He'll probably lie and tell you 'It's fine, don't worry—" I get cut off by the opening of the front door, and my heart skips a beat. In less than a second, I sit up and focus on nothing or no one but him. "Daddy!" I shout and look at Joonha to provoke him. "Girl–" he rushes towards the pillow and slaps my butt with it, and out of embarrassment after what I dared to do, I laugh and hide in the corner. "Do it again, and I throw the pillow in your face."

"Do it, and I throw your computer out the window," my man stands up for me and joins us, and before I could even look up at him and see his features, he bends over the back of the sofa and presses a kiss on my forehead. "A pillow in the face equals to my one thousand dollars computer ending in pieces?" Joonha gasps with offense. "Her face is worth more, boy."

"Uhm. I'm not so sure about that," he closes his bag of Doritos and puts it on the coffee table. "Do you want me to show—"

"No, forget what I said. I made up my mind, her face's worth way more," he forces a smile and leaves the sofa, and he quickly walks away, getting his dad to scoff.

Now that Joonha is gone, he gazes down at me and smiles, not saying a single word, he bends over and kisses my lips after I missed him, but the taste of alcohol fills my mouth when I lick mine. "I'm sorry for being so late, baby," he speaks against my lips and gives me another kiss. "It's okay. No need to apologize."

"I'm going to take a shower and come back to watch a movie together, alright?" his voice being enough to make me feel better, I nod. "Okay."

"Pick the movie you want to watch," he pats the back of my head, and I smile, unconsciously.

•••

00:30 am.

Jungkook's fingers caressing my side, going up to my throat and sliding down to my waist, I keep my head on his chest and listen to his heartbeat while tracing random shapes over his skin and enjoying this soft and sweet moment in bed with him.

"Have you already bought Joonha's gifts?" I ask him, thinking about his birthday that will be on Sunday, and he turns his head towards me to rest it on mine. "I have. I bought him a new watch, I'll give him the money for his tattoo so that he does not have to pay for it, and I also bought him a bunch of stuff he wanted for his gaming setup but had to save money for."

"He's going to be so happy," I smile, feeling soft at how generous he is as a father. This seems so fictional to me, so unreal to have such an amazing father. "I hope he will, but have you got the drawing ready?"

"Yes, but I also bought some earrings that he told me he found pretty, some new rings, and a hoodie," I tell him. "He's pampered. You're a sweetheart," he drops a kiss on my forehead. "He deserves it. He's an amazing person."

"You're right," he holds the side of my throat, and his thumb brushes my skin, and I remain silent for a moment, before thinking about earlier when he came back home. "Did you drink alcohol with your colleagues?"

"Just a bit of soju, but not enough to not be aware of my surroundings," he tells me, with honesty. "Soju is strong though, you should avoid it when you drive."

"Oh, I've been drinking a lot of strong alcohol, my tolerance is pretty good, so don't worry about it," he drifts his fingers up to my cheek. "But if you get caught by the cops, they won't care whether you're fully aware or not."

"I know," he smiles. "It was only for one occasion," he gives an excuse for it, and I wrap my arms around him to squeeze his waist. "How many cigarettes did you smoke today?"

"One," he answers without doubt, so I do not say anything about it. "I'm trying my best, baby," he presses his warm lips on my cheekbone. "I know, don't worry," I reassure him so that he does not feel guilty about his addiction.

— Two days later —

Sunday, September 5th, 2021.

8 am.

I pour the pancake batter into the frying pan and make sure it forms a perfect circle, and I let it rest on the heated surface. My mind never giving me a break but causing stress since yesterday, I try my best not to think about what will happen in the afternoon but focus on the fact that it is Joonha's day.

"Hey," Jungkook snaps me out of my thoughts with a back hug, and I put the worries aside for a moment. "Are you okay?" he notices I am not doing good, but I lie. "Yes, and you? Did you sleep well?"

"I did," he makes his embrace more snug and places his face on the side of mine. He kisses my jawline, so I turn my head, and he presses his lips against mine. "Are you sure you're okay? You seemed to be in a daydream."

"I'm not, I'm fine," I smile so that he does not see anything else, and I flip the pancake. "It's hard to believe you," he strokes my ribs, and I remain quiet to not have to say a lie. Lucky for me, Joonha joins us and gets his dad's attention, preventing him from questioning me.

"Happy birthday," he says, in a joyful voice and walks towards Joonha, so I turn around and see him hug his son. "Stop growing, please. You're getting too old."

Joonha chuckles but gets free, so I move forward, wrap my arms around his body, and stand on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Happy birthday."

"Thank you," he returns the affection, broadly smiling and exuding a lot of happiness. "Look at your baby boy," Jungkook draws attention to Choco, who he is carrying, and Joonha gawk at him. "Aw, my baby," he brushes his hand past my back and moves towards his puppy, and he takes him in his arms to have a closer look at the birthday hat and collar he is wearing after Jungkook bought it.

"Joonha's baby, that's exactly what you are," he pecks his face and pets the fluffy ball he is, my heart melting in front of this scene. I go back to cooking so that breakfast can be served soon, and I listen to what the two men in the house. "I found it when I was looking for a hat, and I asked one of the clerks if we could pick the name we want, and she said yes, so I bought it right away."

"I love this so much, thank you," his smile resounds through his voice. "Do I really have to wait to get my gifts? I'm impatient."

"Yes, you have to. You'll get everyone's gift at the same time," he manages to resist, doing something I would not be able to do. "But mom is for sure gonna pamper me with many gifts, so it's better to gradually get them throughout the day, isn't it?" he reminds me of the person I do not want to see, the one who stresses me out. "It isn't. Stop trying."

"Alright..." he gives up, and the sound of his footsteps becomes louder as he is coming closer. "It smells so good," he says near me and washes his hands. "Can I eat one?" he asks, not willing to wait. "You can because it's your day, but only one, otherwise, you won't eat anymore once we're at the table."

"I'm always hungry, don't worry about that, but thank you," he takes the warm pancake I laid on top of the pile, and he bites into it. "It's delicious," he chews, relieving me about the taste I thought would not be good enough. "Since it's my birthday, I'm the king until midnight, right?"

"Wrong," Jungkook answers when I was about to say the opposite, and I smile and raise my eyes up to Joonha. "That's the rule! It's my day, I deserve it."

"You already do almost whatever you want every day here, so you don't need that," he steps towards us to take a glass out. "Almost, so not completely."

"Shh," he quietens him up when we both know this will not work on this boy. "You're mean."

"Mean?" he swallows the water he sipped on. "I literally allowed you to bring your friends for the night, so you should be grateful given how loud they can be."

"Well, I said thank you for that," he replies, and I uncontrollably chuckle, loving the way he always finds a good response. "What more would you even want anyway?"

"I don't know, I want to make a party with my friends and y/n tomorrow," he includes me and does not leave me out. "So you're chasing me out of my own house?"

"Oh, come on. It's not like that, but you're not gonna party with me and my friends, are you?" he eats the rest of the pancake, and I add two more to the pile. "I'm not, but I have nothing to do. If you had asked me that a few days ago, I would have planned something, but what am I going to do for a while night?"

"Well, you're right," he understands the issue. "And what if I ask one of my friends to do it at their house?"

"I'm fine with that, but you know you better be careful and not get drunk," he gives him permission. "I know. I'm gonna text them and see who's okay with it," he takes his phone out, and I finish what I am doing.

•••

5:30 pm.

The stress tensing me up, I stay on my bed and cannot think of a way to calm down. I am being immature and disrespectful, but I really do not want to see the woman Jungkook loved for many years and had a child with. I am too insecure to stand this.

The feeling of my phone vibrating catches my attention, and I check what is the notification I received.

< can I come in your room for a minute? ]

I read Joonha's text, knowing that he noticed I was not feeling good today.

[ yes >

In a few minutes, the door opens, and Joonha steps inside, wearing a black shirt and pair of trousers, which I am not used to seeing him in.