chapter 45 | Grow up

"Jungkook?" a familiar voice brings my mind away from the sweets, and I stumble upon a man that I know very well, and who's with his girlfriend. I haven't seen him in a while. "Hey," I smile, and he does the same, holding Areum's hand in his. "Happy birthday, bro. I can't believe we fall upon you today."

"Thank you," I chuckle. "I didn't expect to see you either, even if I know you always come here to shop," I tell him but take a peek at his girl, who is still as shy as she was when I first saw her. "I know, this mall is pretty, and I just wanted to go out with her since she's starting school tomorrow."

"Ah yeah, you should graduate this year, right?" I ask her, but she nods to me with a smile on her face. "Good luck then," I try not to be pessimistic or scare her about this year, but she takes it in a good way, without talking. "She's shy, don't worry," Dongsik gazes at her with as much love as he used to some months ago, and he rubs his thumb over the back of her hand. "I'm happy to see you though. How is everything going?" he peeks down at Mingi but leans towards us to have a closer look. "He's growing up so fast," he beams at him, probably remembering how he was two months ago when he last saw him. "Yeah. Everything is going well, y/n started the courses again today, so it feels empty at home, but it's fine."

"Ah, and she's still working at our previous school?" he asks, interested in this subject. "Yes, she's still there, with Jungeun."

"Oh, this little guy must be happy," he laughs but states facts. He knows him well. "I hope it won't be too hard for y/n though. I know she will try to work and take care of Mingi as well once she's home, so...don't forget about what I told you."

"I know, I'm taking care of them both. I'm a man and good dad now, I mean," I tilt my head and smile, shyly. "I'm trying to."

"You seem different from when I first saw you with him, so that's a good thing. You're doing better than some dads in their thirties," he compliments me but has no idea how much this means to me. "I'm glad I am, and I'm kinda excited about spending my days with him and taking care of him while y/n is working, I don't know why."

"Probably because of the responsibilities, you must like to feel responsible and all. That's great," he tells me, getting me to agree and believe this is the reason. "What about you though?" I hold my bag with my other hand, feeling the weight pull on my muscles. "When's the baby coming?" I tease him, knowing he would like to have one.

"Ay," he lifts his hand up to gesture to me to decline in speed. "Slow down, boy. We have time," he giggles, but Areum smiles at him. This must be comforting to hear her boyfriend say they have time, that means a lot when that comes from a partner. "We'll wait to have a house for us first. That's the most important."

"Oh, so you plan to buy a house for you both?" I do not stay quiet about this, understanding by this that he finally can see a future with a girl that he loves, and who loves him as much as he does. "Yes, I do, but we already had this conversation together, so you won't make me nervous in front of her, got it?" he ruins my thoughts, and I just chuckle. "I tried."

"I know, that's why I'm telling you," he tucks his free hand in the pocket of his black jeans. "Anyway," he clears his throat but gazes at my son who put his eyes on Areum. "Are you having a party?"

"Just between me, Mingi and y/n, but we'll maybe do something more this weekend with my family. I was planning to invite you actually," I tell him the truth since I always celebrate my birthday with my friends too. "Oh, I'll come with Areum then. Is that all right?"

"Yes sure. Jaehyun and Minjun should be there too," I accept with no problem. "Good, I can't wait."

"Well," I breathe out, checking up on my baby but seeing him still focus on Areum. Is it the soft pink color she wears that catches his attention or he's already attracted to girls?

"This little boy is staring at my girl a bit too much," Dongsik pretends to not like it but giggles uncontrollably once Mingi glances at him. He comes closer to us without letting go of Areum's hand but passes the tip of his finger over Mingi's nose. "This girl is taken, okay, my little boy?"

Mingi laughs in the cutest manner and squirms but hides his face in my chest. "Oh my god, he's so cute," Dongsik cannot handle it either, but I giggle and put my hand on the back of my baby's head. "See, that's what I have to handle every day. My heart can't take it anymore."

"Gosh...I'll feel so soft all the time if my baby is like this," he steps back to be near Areum again. "And I think this will be worse if I have a baby girl."

"Why?" I hug my son but notice something strange in Areum's behavior, something that seems to force her to conceal a smile. "I don't know, the cute clothes with pink, candies, flowers everywhere, then their hair that you can do in different ways with headbands or scrunchies and all that girly stuff, that makes me soft as hell. And we all know that girls are more attached to their father, that really does something to my heart each time I think about it," he smiles while imagining the future. "But if my baby is like Mingi, I'll be as happy as I would with a baby girl, but girls are different."

"I feel like the word baby girl is making your girl blush a little too much right now," I cannot keep it to myself at the sight of Areum's face, and Dongsik gazes down at her but laughs. "Oh baby," he pulls her in a hug to hide her face in his chest and hold her. "Let's just..." he bites his lips to not wheeze. "Let's talk about something else."

"Sure," I do not insist since I feel like this is going to make them feel embarrassed, so I change the subject. "Do you want to stay alone? I'm going to continue shopping with him to find some food for today."

"We can stay together unless you want to be alone with him," he slides his hands down his girl's back as she hugged him. "I have to be home for two, so we can stay together, that's more fun," I invite him to not go separate ways, and we both go towards the shop I need to go to.

•••

1:50 pm.

I drop the bags on the floor as soon as I'm home, feeling some ache in my back. I pull the hood of my hoodie down but stay quiet while taking my shoes off since Mingi fell asleep. I leave my sneakers on the right spot, and I get inside the other room to make my way upstairs, head to his bedroom, remove the baby carrier, and put him in his crib.

"Sweet dreams, baby," I peck his forehead and get out. I ruffle my long and messy hair but walk down the stairs. I put the baby carrier on the sofa and go back to the entry room to take the heavy bags and bring them to the kitchen.

Now I just need to put everything on the right spot, wrap the gifts up for Mingi and y/n, then take a nap because I'm drained.

However, I take a break first. I land on the sofa and take my phone out. I received a text from my brother thirty minutes ago but didn't see it.

< hey, irs official, y/n is still my french teacher😌 ]

[ good. You better defend her if a jerk bothers her >

< I will. I'm dongsik number 2 ]

[ is that supposed to hurt me?😐 >

[ piece of shit🖕 >

< sorry😌🤟 ]

I chuckle in front of my screen but realize something.

[ wait a min. Why are you texting me rn? You should be in class >

< the teacher left the room 10min ago to get some "work" done in the director's office. I feel like this dude is taking a shit ]

[ 🤣 >

< I swear he hurried to leave, I'm not kidding ]

I laugh like a dumbass but sit up, not believing what this conversation turned into.

[ just work instead of looking at your phone then. Its the first day and you're already chilling during class >

< its the first day, its worthless ]

[ no its not. Work >

< work too. You need to take care of mingi ]

[ mingi is sleeping dumbass >

< well...then do something else ]

[ I came back from the mall so I'm gonna take care of all the things I bought >

< what did you buy? Some gifts for me i hope, I deserve it for being your bro ]

[ what about me? I took care of you, thats what you deserve >

< not enough😒 being your bro is hard ]

[ being yours is too so shut up and work >

< 🤟 ]

[ send me this emoji again and I go in our house, in your bedroom to throw your computer out the window >

< ... ]

I smirk in front of his defeat, but not even one second later, he comes back.

< 🤟 ]

< I know you'd never dare to do that cause dad bought it for me:) ]

I hate this smart-ass. I leave the conversation since he has to focus, and I get in the kitchen to do what I have to do.

•••

4:30 pm.

"Mommy's about to arrive," I keep on feeding my baby while impatiently waiting for the front door to open now that the decoration is done and perfect. I gaze into Mingi's big eyes while feeding him, but he places his small hands over mine that holds the bottle, and I smile, broadly.

"Let's give mommy a big hug once she's home, hm? She must be tired after such a long day," I speak in a soft and low voice, hoping for her to be fine even though she had to wake up at five and leave the house at six in the morning because this is the first day. I lean in to press a kiss on his forehead, but he finishes the bottle, so I take it away in a gentle manner and put it on the coffee table. I change his position and put him on my chest to rub his back and make him burp.

While waiting, I whisper a song and close my eyes, thinking about when y/n will come in and see everything, see her gifts and open them. I wonder if Mingi is going to react to the ones I got him too.

The front door makes some sounds, getting my eyes to dart in that direction, I straighten my back and keep my attention there but Mingi does the same. "Mommy is here," I bite my lips but smile at my baby, and he reacts with the same expression as I couldn't help but bounce my legs.

A small and adorable noise runs out of his mouth, and our woman finally steps inside, so I stand up and walk up towards her.

"Hey, baby," she smiles, taking her shoes off. "Hey, we missed you," I step forth and press a kiss on her lips, but Mingi leans towards us for a hug, and she takes him in her arms. As I told him, he's giving her a big hug, so I do it as well but do it from behind to not crush him. "The house feels empty without you," I kiss her ear, but she beams and pecks our son, then she turns her head to kiss me as well. "I missed you both too. It feels good to be greeted like that."

Her words soothe me, but I step away to give her some space, and I help her to take her jacket off. "Why are you pampering me like that? It's your birthday, not mine," she softly laughs, cuddling our baby. I hang her jacket on the coat rack but shrug. "Making you happy is way better," I pass my hand over her back but walk up to the living room, and I let her come in.

"Aw," she looks around the room filled with balloons, golden, grey, and black decorations, but I smile at her reaction, feeling like she likes it. "This is so pretty," she directs her eyes towards me. "It makes me feel so sad to know you did this all alone, why didn't you wait for me, baby?" she pouts and comes closer to give me a kiss on the lips, and my heart beats faster. "I wanted to surprise you."

She keeps her hand on my waist, this spot that is as sensitive as the others to her touch, but she eventually catches sight of the gifts that I put in a corner, near the TV and the large windows. "What's that? Did you receive some gifts?"

I think as fast as possible to know what I should say, and I end up lying, "Yes," I nod, believing this will be even better for her once she'll realize those are for her and our baby. "Aw. I'm glad you did. I should wrap the ones I kept as well."

"You should rest," I skim my fingers over her arm, but she removes her hand from my waist and holds mine. "You had a long day at work, I want to make sure you're not tired for this little party between us. We'll start to celebrate it at around seven so that Mingi is awake."

She gazes at me but nods. "Let's rest together then. I don't want you to do anything while I'm sleeping. Okay? Let's cuddle."

I brush my fingers over her skin but agree to this. "The cake is already in the fridge since I baked it last night, so I'll just cook the rest once I'm awake," she does not ever think about doing nothing, she glances back at the decoration, but I move forth and put my hand on her hip to kiss her lips. "I love you," I murmur, but she stares deep into my eyes. "I love you too, baby. You're too precious," she shows a lot of delight and glances down at my lips before kissing them.

•••

7:20 pm.

"Happy birthday, baby," my beautiful woman theirs her arms around me and kisses my lips, so I hug her back and smile. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," I kiss her back, and she sits properly on the floor to be around the coffee table. "Let me cut a piece for you," she grabs the knife to take care of this, so I take a look at Mingi right next to me, lying on the floor and playing with his feet. I giggle but tucks his belly, getting him to laugh cutely and make me repeat my action just to hear this precious sound again.

"Here you are," y/n places the dish with a big piece of cake in it in front of me, so I take Mingi on my lap and did in the food like a kid who's been starving for days. "You should open your gifts," she does not eat yet but crawls towards the boxes, and she slides them onto the floor to bring them all to me. However, since I know what's inside the ones wrapped in a black and gold material, I pick the red one that is from her and open it.

She does not even try the delicious cake that she baked, she stares at me to check my reaction while Mingi is sneaking under the table. "Baby, don't," she pulls on his legs in a kind manner to make sure he does not go any further, and she takes him in her lap to hug, but once I come across what the box contains, my heart bumps violently into my chest, and my eyes shoot up towards hers.

"Do you like it?" she softly but nervously gazes at me, and I beam like an idiot but look at the two rings again. "I...Is it...?"

"Is promise rings. I wanted to make sure you wouldn't feel pressured or anything, so I thought this would be perfect for our first rings," she explains as if I was not happy, but I move towards her and press my lips on hers. "I love it so much, y/n..." my vision starts to get blurry as some water is filling my eyes, but I take hers out of it and touch her hand to lift it up and put it around her ring finger. Then I put mine on, before kissing her again out of emotional shock. I did not expect her to buy rings for us, this means so much to me.

"I feel like crying," I smile no matter the tears that run down my face, and she tenderly wipes them away, showing the same emotions. "Don't cry, I put makeup on just for you, I'm going to cry too and ruin my face."

"You don't need that makeup," I point out what has to be said, but the meaning of my words widens her smile, and she hushes me. "Stop. My heart needs to calm down. Open your other gifts."

I shake my head and grab the one that is for her, the biggest one. "Open it," I put it between us, but she gives me a questioning look. "Why would I?"

"Because," I put my elbow on the left part of the sofa next to me while the other is behind my back, and I rest my head on my hand while gazing at her, toying with my ring unconsciously. She peeks up at me multiple times before removing the wrapping.

"Don't tell me you bought me something on your birthday," she expresses her feelings but opens it, and the items finally comes within sight. As soon as she takes them out one by one, the bliss and joy soften her features even more, and I smile. "Oh my...this is so pretty..." she keeps her eyes on the rose teddy bear but places it on the table carefully to look at the rest, and each of them provokes the same reaction, which fills me with happiness. "Baby, this is so adorable and beautiful," she expresses her pleasure and elation, but Mingi looks up at her, wondering what is happening. His interest gets drawn on the teddy bear and he remains focused on it.

"Come here," she cups my chin and makes me lean forth to kiss. "This must the hundredth kiss I give you today, but I don't care, you deserve them all," she strokes my cheek with her thumb but makes me feel like a proud and happy boy for making her feel that way and receiving all those kisses and love in return. "You can kiss me again, I don't mind," I giggle but feel some heat cover my cheek, and she gives me what I required. "Everything is so pretty, this is so special, Jungkook. Really, this is the most beautiful gift I've ever received, and I mean it."

"I'm happy it makes you happy too," I watch and enjoy it, loving to see her react like this because of me. Nothing else could make me happier than that. "Gosh...and this necklace is so gorgeous too..." she opens it and takes a look at the magic glass, and she reads what is written, but I peck her jawline and dare to do something that will make me blush even harder. "Je t'aime, ma chérie," my sentence full of shyness gets her to exude a lot of fondness, and she responds. "Je t'aime aussi, mon coeur," she flutters my heart, and I exult internally.