Married For Now

SOHEE gasped when he realized that he slept in.

Since it was the start of his vacation, he wanted to start preparing for his husband and children’s meals again.

However, he overslept when he planned to cook breakfast for their family.

"Hyung, you’re awake?"

It was Kim Heedo, who entered the room while pushing a silver food cart— yes, similar to the ones that fancy hotels used for room service.

"Why are you bringing me breakfast in our room?"

"It’s actually brunch now," Kim Heedo corrected him, and then he sat on the edge of the bed and gently caressed his cheek. "Your eyes are still puffy, Hyung."

Ah, of course.

Sohee cried together with Cho Euntak and Hong Sera last night, after all.

"You three are still crybabies, huh?"

"We’re the Crybaby Trio for a reason," Sohee said, smiling. "Did you make breakfast for me?"

"Yes, Hyung. I made egg and tofu porridge for you. That’s the thing you crave after you cry your heart out."

Pfft.

It was funny that Kim Heedo had already memorized his little quirks.

His husband was telling the truth.

He also didn’t know why, but he would crave egg and tofu porridge after a long crying session. It happened often— so often that Kim Heedo mastered the recipe of his favorite porridge.

Actually, the recipe came from Sohee’s biological mother.

Ma’am’s porridge is also a hit among my children.

"Thank you, Heedo-ya."

"You’re welcome, Hyung. Do you want to eat now?"

"Yeah."

The egg and tofu porridge that his husband cooked for him was so delicious that he had finished three bowls of it in one sitting.

Kim Heedo looked proud.

And rightfully so.

"It was delicious," Sohee said, having a glass of apple juice now. "Thank you again, Heedo-ya." He paused for a moment before he remembered something important. "Our babies...?"

"We all had breakfast together," Kim Heedo explained. "Kim Haewon, Kim Hanhae, and Gong Gunjoon are here to play with the kids since it’s a long weekend. You forgot that our younger siblings will be visiting today, didn’t you?"

Sohee nodded. "It completely slipped from my mind. I should get ready and greet the kids."

"No need to hurry, Hyung. The kids are good at playing among themselves," Kim Heedo said, tucking the hair behind Sohee’s ear. Ah, Sohee should probably get a haircut soon. "Are you feeling better now, Hyung? I was worried when you came home with puffy eyes last night."

"I’m fine now. How can I feel worse than our Euntakie?"

"Right. How is Cho Euntak handling it?"

"He kind of calmed down last night. But, of course, things are hard for Euntakie," Sohee said, sighing. "It’s not easy to accept your partner’s child with another person, especially since Euntak and Jeho decided to be child-free."

"But it’s not Baek Jeho’s fault either..."

"Euntak knows that, silly. But just because he understands doesn’t mean he’s not allowed to react the way he did."

"Right," Kim Heedo said, nodding. "But Baek Jeho is confident that the child isn’t his."

"Hopefully, he’s right."

"Don’t worry too much about them, Hyung. Cho Euntak and Baek Jeho are very much in love with each other. They won’t let this issue tear them apart."

Well, his husband was right about that.

Plus, Cho Euntak and Baek Jeho was one of the most peaceful couples that he knew.

They barely fought in the entire duration of their relationship.

"Mama, are you awake?"

Sohee smiled when his children entered the room after knocking.

Woochul and Woosung each held Woohee’s hands as the three walked towards them.

"Why did you leave your uncles and auntie?" Sohee asked curiously. "Did you get tired of playing with them?"

"We miss you, Mama," Woohee said while climbing onto the bed. Of course, Kim Heedo carried their daughter and placed her on Sohee’s lap. "Mama, did Dada make you cry?" Then his daughter gently touched the corner of Sohee’s eyes. "Mama’s eyes are red."

Aigoo.

His beautiful daughter was only turning three years old soon, but she was already good at speaking.

Plus, Woohee’s emotional intelligence was really high.

"No, your dada didn’t make me cry," Sohee assured his daughter, but Woochul and Woosung also both looked relieved. "I just watched a very sad movie last night."

"Mama should stop watching sad movies that make you cry," Woohee said, pouting. "Mama should just watch princess movies with Woohee and Oppas."

"Let’s watch a movie, Eomma," Woochul said excitedly, and then he looked at Kim Heedo. "Appa, you don’t have work today, right?"

Sadly, Woochul and Woosung started addressing Sohee and Kim Heedo ’Eomma’ and ’Appa’— respectively— early this year instead of ’Mama’ and ’Dada.’

But, sometimes, the twins would slip and call them ’Mama’ and ’Dada’ again.

It’s cute when they accidentally do that.

"Sure, we can even watch movies all day," Kim Heedo said. "We have the theater room for that reason."

Yes, they had their own cinema at home.

"We want to watch a movie outside, Appa," Woosung whined while hugging Kim Heedo. "There’s a new cartoon playing in cinemas right now. Our classmates have seen it already. Only Chul Hyung and I haven’t."

Ah, Sohee remembered that the twins had been wanting to see that newly released cartoon in a real cinema, not in their home theatre.

"Uh, should we?"

Kim Heedo then glanced at Sohee as if asking for his permission.

Of course, I still have the last say, as usual.

"I already checked the rating of the movie, and children under four years old are allowed to see it," Sohee said, smiling because he could see his children’s faces beaming already. "Should we go out and watch a movie? With your uncles and auntie?"

Their babies answered a loud and cheerful ’yes’ at the same time.

How cute.

***

"HYUNG, I sent you the money."

Sohee smiled, happy to see how Go Gunjoon looked so proud of himself.

And rightfully so.

True to Go Gunjoon’s promise, he had been paying everything that Sohee and Kim Heedo had spent for him during his time as a student.

They didn’t let his younger brother pay when he had just started working as a Graphic Designer in a huge game development company. After all, they wanted Go Gunjoon to save up for himself first.

Once Go Gunjoon was able to get a lease on his apartment, only then did they allow him to pay them back little by little.

His salary isn’t that big yet, so Heedo and I gave him a small amount to pay monthly.

"Yes, I’ve received it," Sohee confirmed after checking his online bank account on his phone. Then he smiled at Go Gunjoon. "Thank you, Gunjoon-ah."

"Why are you thanking me, Hyung? I’m only fulfilling my obligation," Go Gunjoon said. "Anyways, I’ll just go and play with the twins."

"Which twins?"

"Both— Hanhae and Haewon are playing with Chul and Sung."

After that, Go Gunjoon left the room excitedly.

He’s already in his mid-twenties, and yet he still acts like a child.

"Mama?"

Oh.

Sohee smiled when Woohee opened her eyes.

Yes, the reason they hadn’t left the house yet for the cinema was because Woohee fell asleep after taking a bath earlier.

"Movie..."

"Yes, we’re going to watch a movie now."

Woohee’s face beamed.

"Hyung, is Woohee awake?"

"Dada, Woohee is awake!"

Kim Heedo, who had just entered the room, smiled when he saw Woohee waving at him. "Thank goodness. Chul and Sung are getting impatient already."

Sohee gently carried Woohee in his arms. "Let’s go."

"Hyung, I saw Gunjoon on my way here. He looks happy?"

"Ah, he sent his ’payment’ for this month."

"Oh, no wonder he looks extra cheerful," Kim Heedo said, laughing softly while shaking his head. "Does he know that Hyung is saving the money he pays you monthly to give it back to him someday?"

"Why would I tell him, Heedo-ya? It’s a surprise," Sohee said, smiling. "I’m going to give it back to Gunjoon when he reaches a big milestone in his life— like getting married or buying his first house."

***

"SERA-YA, you’re awake?"

Hmm?

Hong Sera was pretty pleased when she opened her eyes and was greeted by Baek Semin’s handsome face. "When did you get here, Oppa?"

If nothing had changed from Baek Semin’s schedule that he told her about, then he should have been done filming for his new drama around dawn. So, she didn’t expect him to go to her penthouse instead of going home.

Judging by Baek Semin’s outfit that was filled with fake, dry blood...

"Did you come straight here after filming?"

"Yeah," Baek Semin said, taking off his blood-soaked jacket. "I was worried because your voice sounded hoarse when we talked on the phone last night. Are you sick?" He then gently touched her face and ran his thumb around the corner of her eye. "You cried."

"You know why," Hong Sera said gently. "I’m fine. Euntak is the one in pain."

"You’re really kind, Sera-ya."

"No, not really. I’m only kind to people I love."

"If you’re not kind, then everyone in this world is a bad person."

Hong Sera laughed softly. "Oppa, you really overestimate my kindness."

"If you become kinder than you already are, I might consider turning evil and lock you up here so no one else would find you."

Pfft.

That was funny.

He’s not serious, is he?

"How’s Euntak?" Baek Semin asked worriedly. "How is he handling the situation?"

Hong Sera and Baek Semin talked about anything under the sun, so she had already mentioned about Cho Euntak’s situation.

With Euntak’s permission, of course.

"Sohee Oppa and I managed to calm him down," Hong Sera answered. "It’s still hard on Euntak, of course. But I’m relieved that he’s not thinking of dumping Baek Jeho, even if the child turns out to be Baek Jeho’s."

"I know it’s hard for Euntak right now, but I’m not really worried about those kids. I’ve seen how much they love each other. I’m pretty sure they’ll get through this together."

"That’s what I believe too, Oppa."

Baek Semin just smiled and gently pinched her cheek. "I’m going to take a shower. Let’s go on a date later."

"How about Seowon?"

"I asked my noona to babysit Seowon for today and the entire weekend."

"Why? Are you that busy?"

"Yes, I’ll be busy clinging to you for the next few days," Baek Semin said teasingly. "I got a short break before filming resumes, and I’m going to spend every single moment with you, Sera-ya."

Hong Sera blushed, and she couldn’t help but smile. "Then we should just stay home the entire time."

***

THE PROCESS of taking the paternity test was easier and faster than Cho Euntak expected.

Hence, in just half an hour, he found himself back at home with Baek Jeho.

His mother-in-law was kind enough to volunteer to babysit Kwon Miho in the meantime. Then his mother-in-law dropped by earlier to pick up the kid. After that, the two left immediately.

It’s a relief that Kwon Miho just goes with the flow and doesn’t throw a tantrum.

"The result usually comes out after 2 to 5 days," Baek Jeho said carefully. "But they assured us that the result will come out in two days. The lab will be prioritizing our case."

Ah, perks of being rich, as usual.

"Jeho-ya."

"Yes, Euntak-ah?"

"I’m sorry for the way I reacted," Cho Euntak said carefully. "You haven’t even taken the paternity test yet, and I already reacted negatively to the possibility that you might have fathered a child with your ex-girlfriend. It just goes to show that I’m not really fit to be a parent."

"And that’s okay, Euntak-ah. It’s both our choice to be child-free," Baek Jeho said. "Please don’t apologize for how you reacted. Your feelings are totally valid." He paused for a moment, and then he smiled bitterly. "It’s me who should be sorry, and I really am. If only I had a clean past..."

"Don’t say that. I know that you’re not at fault. Let’s just stop apologizing to each other."

"Then... what are we going to do now, Euntak-ah?" Baek Jeho asked awkwardly. "Tell me what I need to do for you to accept me again."

Haaah.

Seeing Baek Jeho look so devastated broke Cho Euntak’s heart.

Moreover...

I miss him so much, even if we’ve only been apart for one night.

"First, come back home," Cho Euntak said, his voice shaking a little. "With Kwon Miho."

***

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