— One year later —

Saturday, March 5th, 2022.

9 am.

"Dad," Hajoon walks up to me as I just got done cooking breakfast, and he comes closer with his phone in one hand. "Yes?" I focus on serving the food for us both, and for my baby as well. "Can we not work out tomorrow?”

"Why?" I frown, wondering why he suddenly wants to change our habit. "Someone is coming tomorrow," the reason gets me to turn my head towards him. "Who?" I grab the bowls and head to the dining room to put everything down on the table, and he follows my steps. "Someone," he smiles, and I become anxious. “Tell me who it is, you brat," I cannot stand this suspense, hoping for this person to be the one I want to see.

"I can’t tell you," he refuses to spill the beans, so I get upset, playfully. "Come on, or else I confiscate your laptop," I move back to the kitchen to take Hyejoon’s dish and put it with ours. "You can’t do that anymore. I’m nineteen. I’m an adult."

"But you live under my roof, and you know it already, my house, my rules," I repeat what he might have forgotten, not being serious. "I don’t care," the threats do not even work anymore. "I hate you," I glare at him but walk up to the living room, behind the wall where a fireplace is, and I pick my baby up. "Let’s go eat, my baby boy," I carry him to the dining table, where my other son is already waiting. I sit down and put Hyejoon on my right to have both of my children by my side, with the windows behind me that show our garden. "Have you texted y/n today?" Hajoon puts his phone down to eat all together. "Yes. I called her last night."

"What did you talk about?" he does not realize that some stuff between us can be private, so I make it evident he does not have to know about it. "That is none of your business," I smile but peek at Hyejoon to check if he enjoys his food. "And what if I tell you that she might be the person who will visit us tomorrow?"

I stop what I am doing to stare at him, smiling without even trying. "I won’t believe you," my mind cannot even process this, even though I slightly thought about her when he mentioned that ‘person’. "Don’t believe me if you don’t want to," he shrugs, smiling but eating.

If she is indeed the one visiting us tomorrow, I will not be able to sleep tonight. We have not seen each other since she left our old house, which dates back to more than one year ago. This will make me so happy but nervous to see her again. This will feel so weird.

"Daddy," my baby asks for my attention, so I give it to him. "Yes, baby?" I focus on him, watching how cute he is while eating on his own. "Can I have this?" he struggles to pronounce his words perfectly but points at my dish. "Honey, you cannot eat daddy’s food otherwise your stomach will be grumpy," I say it again, reminding him of what his brain seems to not want to hear. "Why? My stomach is happy."

"Yes, but if you give him daddy’s food, he will be grumpy because he only accepts and wants yours, which is smaller and for his size," I try to find the right way to get him to understand and not ask again, and he takes a spoon of his cereals. "Okay, but what about Hachoon’s food?"

"Hajoon’s food?" I purposely repeat his words to correct him. "This is the same as daddy’s one."

"Oh, okay," he shows some disappointment but still eats and stays calm about it. This is a blessing to have such a child. "Do you miss y/n?" Hajoon leans over to mention her and make sure he still remembers her, and my baby boy smiles from ear to ear and confirms that he does. "Yeah!" he joyfully reacts at the sound of her name. "Will you want to introduce Bubble to her if you see her?" he talks about the kitten that we adopted only a few weeks ago, and he does not calm down, being the little bundle of joy that he is. "Yeah! I wanna show her Bubble!"

"Well, if she ever comes back, you’ll be able to do it. I’m pretty sure she will be happy," he never stops talking about her, the three of us missing her. "I hope she will stay a few days here," I attempt to get him to expose the truth unconsciously. "I hope so too."

"See, this is her," I laugh, but he expresses some regret and frustration, before feigning some incomprehension. "What are you talking about? That does not mean she’s that one person."

"Sure," I do not let him fool me with this falsehood, but Hyejoon giggles from out of nowhere, putting a smile on my face. "She’ll see how brawny you got in one year," he cannot stop saying that as if I was way more muscular than I was in the past, and I scoff. "She knows I’ve been working out a lot these last months. I told her about it, and she said I’m scary."

"How does she know how you look like?" he furrows his brows at me, and I realize the mistake I made. I need to find a way to say this without being too straightforward. "I just sent her a picture after I worked out the other day."

"We always work out together, and I never saw you take a single picture," my answer does not pass, and I lick my lips nervously. "When you were in the bathroom and took an hour in there."

"Hm, all right," he stays suspicious, but I do not go any further. I just took a picture when I was in my bedroom to not get caught, but there was nothing sexual. "I showed her our new house too, by the way. So she already saw the rooms," I change the subject with awkwardness. "Okay."

Now that he does not talk anymore, I enjoy my food, hearing my baby make some cute noise, and answering him whenever he speaks.

•••

3 pm.

I drop the heavy weights on the ground, panting and sweating after pushing hard. I stretch to not feel sore, and I walk up to my phone that I left on the couch, next to an opened window. I grab hold of my towel to wipe the sweat off my face, neck, and torso, then I put it on my shoulders to take my phone and check the message I received from y/n but did not see or hear because of the music playing in the room.

< I just got home, and you? ]

[ I got done working out, did you enjoy shopping? >

I sit down to take a break and slow my breathing down.

< I did, I bought new dresses, pajamas, and a few products, so I’m in a good mood ahah. And you? How was the workout? I hope you didn’t do too much ]

[ I’m glad to hear it. I didn’t, I’m a bit exhausted, but this is good exhaustion >

< I see, you should take a rest now, you deserve it ]

[ I can’t. I need to stretch, take a shower then cook dinner because my little monsters are getting hungry >

< I’m going to tell Hajoon to cook for once instead of playing video games ]

[ I don’t want him to cause a fire in the house, so no, I’ll take care of it >

< true ahah ]

I smile but look up at the sound of the door opening, and I stop the music. "Daddy," he runs towards me, so I put my phone aside and put my hands on his sides once he is close. "What is happening, honey?"

"Where are Bubble’s biscuits?" he places his small fingers on my forearms to try to lift himself up while staring at me. "They’re in a cabinet, but you cannot give her the treats yet. We only give them before we eat dinner."

"And when do we eat dinner?" he reflects his brother’s personality, and I smile at him but peck his chubby cheek. "Soon. Daddy needs to shower, then he will cook. Okay?" I comb his fluffy hair to put them properly, and he nods. "Okay, daddy," he runs away in the most adorable manner, and I laugh, quietly. Now that he is gone, I check my phone but do not see any new text, so I lock it and focus on the things that I have to do.

I truly cannot wait to be tomorrow, but at the same time, I am extremely nervous. I do not know how this will go once we are face to face. I know that she is visiting us because Hajoon has been asking her to come, but the fact that I will see her again after so much time, after all the things that happened and that I have not forgotten, makes me feel tense. This might be awkward at first, but I will handle it.

I get out of the room with my phone and towel, and I pass by the kitchen and dining room, but I look in the living room, all of them open to make a single space that is separated by a wall. Hearing how loud Hajoon’s game is, I stay on my spot. "Turn it down, Hajoon," I raise my voice, and he perceives my voice and does as told, so I walk up the stairs and get into my bedroom.

I leave my phone on my bed and take my clothes, drop them in the laundry basket with the towel, and I open the glass door of my bathroom to enter it. A few minutes will be enough.

•••

10 pm.

< hey, I’m going to bed a bit earlier today, so have a good night, sweet dreams, and do not overwork 😊 ]

I read the text I just received, lying down in bed without doing anything but watching TV. I smile at the sweetness and care she always offers me, and I answer.

[ Alright, have a good night too, sweetheart. Sweet dreams. I won’t, don’t worry, I’m watching a movie then I go to sleep as well >

< alright, enjoy your movie ]

[ thank you, sleep tight >

I send her one last text, and once I am sure that she is away from her phone, I put mine down on my bedside table.

A notification already makes my phone rings anew. I take a look at it to see who this is but read my favorite woman’s name, and my lips curve up.

< I’m sorry for coming back and bothering you, but when are you going to sleep? ]

[ I don’t know yet, why? Stop saying that, you know you don’t bother me >

< I can’t sleep… ]

[ wait, you closed your eyes five seconds and knew you couldn’t sleep? >

I laugh in front of my screen, finding her adorable.

< I- I just feel it, you know… ]

[ You’re cute. What keeps you up though? Does something worry you? >

< I don’t know, I just haven’t heard your voice today…my brain isn’t fine…maybe ]

I smile but press on the vocal option, and I make one by saying ‘Maybe? Are you sure?’. I send it, but she quickly answers with a blushing emoji, getting me to giggle.

< Are you tired or sick? What’s gotten your voice to be so husky? ]

[ Husky? Im just lying down and I spoke quietly, this is probably why it sounded like that ahah >

< well, that was very deep ahah ]

[ I’ll answer with texts then, this is better >

< not at all, I love your voice like that ]

I do not type but send another vocal. "And what do I do if I want to hear your voice too?" I send it after speaking to my phone, but she does not type, even though she listened to it. Once I see a voice message pop up in the chat, I play it, eager to hear her voice. "I have to whisper, my friend is sleeping in the room next to mine," her soft and delicate voice gives me butterflies, but I put an end to this. I call her.

She picks up the call in a single second.

"You can whisper, I don’t mind it at all," I answer to what she sent me, and her cute giggles flutter my heart. "I must sound stupid though"

"You don’t. It’s soothing," I do not agree with her, loving how good this is for my ears. "It’s free ASMR for you, Mister Jeon," she says in her little voice, and I chuckle. "Then you’re the only ASMR I love," I turn my TV off, not interested in the movie anymore but only her. "I’m happy you do, you’re the only one who gets to hear it anyway."

"Oh, so I’m lucky,' I run my fingers through my hair and keep my hand in it, resting my arm on my pillow. "Why did this sound sarcastic?" she does not even believe me. "No, it was not. I meant it. I could fall asleep to your whispers because of how soothing this is."

"Ah, thank you," a smile exudes through the intonation of her voice, and I grin but close my eyes, picturing her in her bed. "What are you going to do tomorrow?" I bring this up, despite what I know. She did not tell me about it, so she must have wanted her visit to be a surprise for me, but Hajoon could not keep it to himself. "I don’t know yet. What about you?"

"I don’t know either," I do my best to not show any joy or sound obvious. Hearing nothing from her, I put my arm under my head, and I nibble on my lips. "How many dresses have you bought at the mall?"

"Three. I’ll show them to you tomorrow," she already plans to take more pictures of herself that will be added to the ones I already have in my gallery. "I can’t wait to see you in them."

"Ah, you want me to wear them?" she humiliates me for thinking that she would put them on and take a picture. "Oh, no, you don’t have to if you don’t want to. I just thought you would wear them for a picture," I explain myself for her to not misunderstand, but she silently giggles. "I can wear them, I wouldn’t mind. It’s just for you anyway."

"Well, if you don’t mind, I don’t either," I pray for her to not hate my straightforward reply, but given the cute sounds she makes, it does not seem like it. "Okay then, I’ll wear them. You’ll rate each one out of ten."

"Rate the dresses or rate how you look in them?" I want her to specify since the answer will give her the results right away. "The dresses, but also how I look in them."

"All right. I can already assure you that I’ll give you ten out of ten for how you look in them," I fluster her with compliments, and she complains before even doing anything. "Stop lying. You don’t even know how they look."

"But no matter what you wear, you’re beautiful. You know it," I do not even tell a lie, meaning my words. She cannot help but laugh out of shyness, and I smile at the sound of it. "Let’s talk about something else, Mister Jeon."

"Why? Does it make you shy?" I tease her even more, speaking in a low voice to make sure her cheeks warm up. I slide my hand down my torso and chuckle once I hear her emit some noise full of cuteness as she seems to struggle with the nervousness I cause. "What are you gonna cook for breakfast tomorrow?" she changes the subject with no transition, and I stop playing with her. "Pancakes with whipped cream because Hajoon has been asking for that the whole week."

"Will the whipped cream be like the one you made when you let me try the best strawberries ever?" she does not forget about this moment, making me feel like every memory that was created between us has remained in her mind. "Yes, I never buy any, I make it because it’s way better."

"Your kids are pampered," she says, not knowing how much this means to me. "And my kitten too, I sometimes cook some stuff for her, she is treated like no other kitten," I chuckle, but she does so. "Jeez, even your kitten? Well, I wouldn’t have expected one day to envy a kitten."

"She sticks to me like glue all the time though," I mention this part of the reality. "I cannot do anything without her trying to climb on me, lick my fingers for no reason, lie down on my lap and sleep on it. She is more needy than a baby."

"That’s because she loves you, she’s addicted to the kind man’s attention," she goes back to the flattering when I do not even deserve half of it. "She…no…that’s not true," I deny it, not accepting those. "Yes, that is true. Why does she lick your fingers though? Why do you put on them?" she focuses only on that sentence while scoffing, and I cannot even give a clear reason for that. "I don’t even know. I don’t put anything on them. She does that when I hold her with one hand. Like, yesterday, I was on the sofa with her while everyone was sleeping because I was watching the rest of the movie alone, and she started to play with the strings of my sweatpants while lying down on my lap, so I tried to stop her by putting just the tip of my finger on her mouth to play, but she smelled it and then started to lick it," I tell her, feeling soft at the thought of it. "The other day it was with my belt, she literally plays with everything she sees, and leather is the worst. I came home and sat on a chair to relax for a few minutes, but she climbed on my lap and tried to play with my belt, she is a little bug, I swear, but I love her."

"She must be so cute. You make me want to get a kitten now," she feels the same as I always did when I used to see cats in the past. "Honestly, they’re the cutest. She even cuddles up against me and curls up into a ball before falling asleep, she makes me a weak man too."

"Ah, your heart just can’t resist cuteness," she states what I cannot deny, and I admit it. "That’s true," I lift my arm up but stretch as a yawn took me by surprise, and I moan unwillingly out of satisfaction. "Gosh…"

"Okay, I take the hints. I’m annoying you…" the lilt of her voice tells me she is just kidding, and I laugh. "No, don’t you dare say that. My back is just painful."

"Stop working out then!" she gets upset about it, understanding by this that I work too hard. "But it makes me feel good, I can’t."

"Well…if it makes you feel good, okay, but you should still go easy," she cares about me and my health more than I do, and I do not even get bothered, I love it. "Hm. I know. I don’t go too hard, don’t worry."

"You better not," she speaks as if this was a threat, and a chortle escapes me. "Or else what?" I raise my eyebrows, daring her to continue this sentence. "Or else…I…get angry. Okay?"

"Wow. I’m scared now, I’d rather not play and see the angry y/n," I do not mean a single word that I said. "Exactly, don’t make me unleash this side of me."

I do not mock her but find it pretty funny given the size difference between us. She would never stand a chance, but she knows it.