Chapter 36: Balancing Love, Life, and Parenthood

Almost a year had passed since the birth of their baby, and life for Namjoon and YN had taken on a rhythm of its own, a rhythm both chaotic and beautiful. The days blurred into one another as they balanced the demands of parenthood, their careers, and, most importantly, each other. Despite the inevitable exhaustion that came with late-night feedings and early-morning meetings, they had found a way to manage it all. Most days, they laughed about the absurdity of it, finding humour in the messiness of their new normal.

Their baby had become the centre of their world, and though they weren’t married yet, it had been a deliberate choice. They were content, knowing that their love was more than a ring or a title. They were a family, and that was enough for now.

One morning, YN stood in front of the bathroom mirror, brushing her hair as Namjoon passed behind her, cradling their baby in his arms. She caught his reflection, smiling softly as she watched him sway from side to side, soothing the baby. “You’re getting good at that,” she teased, her eyes twinkling.

Namjoon smirked, glancing at her in the mirror. “I’ve had a lot of practice,” he replied, adjusting the baby’s position. “This little guy keeps me on my toes.”

“Tell me about it,” YN muttered, thinking of the countless sleepless nights they had endured together. But even in her exhaustion, there was a deep sense of contentment that came with this new chapter of their lives.

Namjoon walked over, pressing a kiss to her cheek as the baby cooed softly in his arms. “Are you heading into the office today?”

YN nodded, setting her brush down. “Yeah, I’ve got a few meetings lined up. What about you?”

“I’ll be working from home this morning, but I’ll pop into the office after lunch. We’ve got that big presentation coming up next week, so I need to finalise a few things.”

YN sighed, feeling the weight of their responsibilities settle on her shoulders. Juggling work and a baby was no easy feat, but somehow, they had found a way to make it work. “We’ll get through it,” she said, more to herself than to Namjoon.

“We always do,” Namjoon replied, his voice filled with quiet confidence. “And if we need to lean on each other a little more, that’s okay. We’re a team.”

YN smiled, her heart swelling with love for him. “Yeah, we are.”

---

Later that day, at the office, YN found herself in a familiar spot: Namjoon’s desk. Their relationship was no longer a secret, and while their infamous desk affair had once been hidden behind closed doors, it had now become something of an open secret. Everyone knew, and thankfully, it was accepted without too much drama. After all, they were adults, professionals, and most importantly, in love.

“I’m still amazed that people don’t gossip more about us,” YN said with a chuckle as she perched herself on the edge of Namjoon’s desk, watching him as he worked. “I mean, we did get pretty reckless back in the day.”

Namjoon glanced up at her, a smirk playing on his lips. “Well, considering how much work we get done, I think they’ve realised we’re more than just a scandal waiting to happen. Besides, I think most of the team finds it romantic.”

“Romantic?” YN raised an eyebrow.

“Sure,” Namjoon shrugged. “A power couple navigating work, parenthood, and keeping the spark alive? What’s not romantic about that?”

YN laughed softly, shaking her head. “You make it sound so glamorous.”

“It is glamorous,” he said, leaning back in his chair as he looked at her. “Because we make it work. And because I love you.”

Her smile softened, her heart fluttering in her chest. Even after all this time, after all the changes they had been through, Namjoon still had a way of making her feel like the centre of his universe.

“I love you too,” she whispered, her fingers brushing against his as she reached for his hand.

Their baby was with Namjoon’s mother today, giving them a brief respite from the demands of parenthood. In moments like this, when it was just the two of them, YN could feel the balance between them between work, family, and their relationship settle into place. They weren’t perfect, but they were enough for each other.

---

That evening, as they sat in the living room, their baby playing on the floor with a soft toy, YN sighed contentedly. “You know,” she began, glancing over at Namjoon, “there are days when I wonder how we do it all. Between work, taking care of the baby, and managing to keep us… us.”

Namjoon leaned back against the couch, his eyes on their child. “It’s not always easy,” he admitted, his voice thoughtful. “But I think it’s because we’ve always been good at supporting each other. We’ve never let the tough stuff tear us apart.”

YN nodded in agreement, thinking back to all the hurdles they had faced. “Do you ever regret it?” she asked softly, her voice tinged with vulnerability.

Namjoon turned to her, his eyes widening in surprise. “Regret what?”

“Not getting married. Not doing things the traditional way.”

He shook his head immediately. “No, never. I don’t need a ring or a piece of paper to know that you’re mine, and that I’m yours. Our family is everything I could have ever wanted. If we get married one day, it’ll be because we want to, not because we have to.”

YN smiled, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. She had never doubted Namjoon’s love for her, but sometimes, in quiet moments like this, she found herself questioning whether they had made the right choices. But Namjoon always had a way of reminding her that they were on the same page.

“You’re right,” she said softly, leaning into him. “We’re exactly where we need to be.”

Namjoon wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close as they watched their baby giggle on the floor. “And as long as we’re together, we can handle anything,” he added, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

They sat there in silence for a moment, the weight of the day easing away as they simply enjoyed being in each other’s presence. Their journey had been filled with twists and turns, but through it all, they had remained a team. And that, more than anything, was what made them strong.

---

Later that night, as they prepared for bed, YN glanced at Namjoon with a playful smirk. “You know, now that the baby’s asleep, we could…”

Namjoon grinned, raising an eyebrow. “Could what?”

She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Revisit our desk affair.”

Namjoon’s laughter filled the room as he pulled her into his arms. “I think I like the sound of that.”

As they shared a slow, lingering kiss, YN realised that no matter what life threw at them, they would always find their way back to each other whether at a desk, in their home, or anywhere in between. Their love was unbreakable, and that was all that mattered.

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