21

Heyoung quickly cleaned her mess because her Ayun-eonni asked her a favor if she could babysit her baby—since she had something important to do and the nanny that she hired wasn't available.

"Coming!" Heyoung yelled as she heard a knock on her apartment's door, she walked over and opened the door. "Good morning, Ayun-eonni! You're early—my floor is still wet."

Ayun stands there, slightly out of breath, holding a diaper bag in one hand and balancing her baby son in the other arm.

"I know, I'm sorry! Thank you for babysitting him for me, you're really a lifesaver, Heyoung-ya," Ayun said.

Heyoung eyed the baby on her Ayun-eonni's hand, "So...this is the little bean I'm babysitting?

Ayun smiled, shifting her baby son towards Heyoung.

"Heyoung, meet my baby son, Heechan. He's nine months old, he loves mashed bananas, and has recently discovered that his feet are the best toys in the world."

"Hi, little bean! I heard that we're having a playdate today." Heyoung softly said, crouching to Heechan's eye level.

Heechan blinks at her, then grins and lets out a joyful squeal.

Ayun cooed, "Heyoung-ya, he already likes you."

Heyoung laughs and carefully takes Heechan into her arms. "Wah...he's so warm and heavier than he looks!"

"There's a bottle and snacks in the bag. Heechan takes a nap around two, but good luck with that—he's been skipping his afternoon naps lately." Ayun said.

Heyoung nods at her.

"Call me if anything happens, okay?"

"Yes, eonni, I'll call you if something happens."

Ayun kissed Heechan's forehead and waved them goodbye. Heyoung closes the door as Ayun leaves the scene—she looks down at Heecahn, who is now happily chewing on his sleeves.

"Okay, roomie—the first rule of Heyoung's apartment is no drooling on the couch."

=====

In the kitchen, Heyoung ties her hair up and glances between her—with a baby food recipe pulled up and the small stack of ingredients on the counter.

"Okay...mashed banana and sweet potato for baby Heechan, and a sandwich for me," Heyoung muttered to herself.

She quickly peels the banana, slices it into a bowl, and then moves to check on the sweet potato steaming on the stove.

Heyoung calls out to Heechan. "You better appreciate this, little bean—I don't even cook for guys I dated before!"

Heechan squeals at her while kicking his feet.

Heyoung laughs. "I'll take that as encouragement."

Back to the business she was doing earlier, Heyoung mashed the banana and sweet potato into a soft, smooth blend, carefully spooning it into a cute baby bowl with little bears on the rim.

"Gourmet baby food: complete."

"Okay...one for you," Heyoung said as she placed both meals on the counter. "one for me...Let's eat like royalty, Heechan."

She walks over to the living room, picks up Heechan with a playful kiss on his cheek, and carries him to his high chair.

"I hope you're hungry, little bean—'cause this is top-tier Auntie Heyoung cuisine."

=====

Late in the afternoon, a cozy living room with soft toys scattered on the floor. Afternoon sunlight filters through the curtains—Heyoung sits on the floor, gently bouncing Heechan on her lap.

Suddenly, her phone lights up with an incoming video call from Coups.

Coups-ya is inviting you to a video call...

Heyoung answered it and a sweaty smiling Coups appeared on the screen.

Scoups grins. [ "Heyoung-ya, I thought I'd steal a minute before the guys dragged me back." ]

"You look like you've been through a storm," Heyoung softly laughs

[ "Practice is the storm—what about you? Having a lazy day?" ] Scoups asked

"Hardly, I'm babysitting today. Ayun-eonni had something urgent to care for, so I've been running around with this little bean all morning."

Scoups raised his eyebrow with a questioning look on his face. [ "Little bean?" ]

Suddenly, Heechan pops his head into view, clumsily pulling at Heyoung's phone with wide eyes and babbling.

[ "Wait—who's that?! Did we...did I not know that you had a secret child? Does Jaehyuk-hyung know about this?" ] Scoups visibly startled.

Heyoung laughs so hard, making Scoups look more confused. "No! This is Heechan, Ayun-eonni's baby. He's nine months old and apparently very interested in your face, Coups-ya."

Scoups blink for a few seconds, processing the information.

[ "He's so cute...and bold—look at him taking over the whole call like he's the star." ]

Scoups smiled at the screen as Heechan giggled.

Little did Scoups know, some SEVENTEEN members peek over his shoulder.

[ "Yah! Hyung, who are you talking to—is that a baby?!" ] DK pointed at the screen.

[ "Did you secretly adopt a child with Heyoung-noona?" ] Wonwoo deadpan said.

[ "Congratulations on the family expansion, Hyung!" ] Jun teased, patting the shoulders of Scoups.

Scoups groaned. [ "Guys, no! Heyoung's just babysitting." ]

Heyoung grins at them. "You're handling this very calmly. I thought you'd panicked, thinking that I had a secret child. Despite you're courting me."

[ "That's because I trust you, but also—he does have your eyes...maybe I should be worried?" ] Scoups smirked.

Heyoung let out a mock gasp. "Excuse you—this little bean is a charmer, and he's already stealing your spotlight."

Heechan squeals with laughter, smacking the screen of Heyoung's phone—making the SEVENTEEN members adore the baby.

["Honestly...I think he's our new maknae."] Hoshi said.

["Can we invite him to our next practice?"] Mingyu asked.

Scoups turned back his attention to his screen. ["I only leave you alone for one afternoon—suddenly I've got a rival, this kid got great timing."]

Heyoung smiled. "Don't worry, Coups-ya...you're still my favorite sweaty idol slash suitor."

["Good, I'll take that..."] Scoups softly said.

Heyoung glanced at Heechan. "He's not so hard to love...like someone else I know."

Scoups and Heyoung smiled at each other—making Heechan claps as if he was approving the moment.

SEVENTEEN, along with Heyoung, groans at the sweetness.