Early Wednesday morning was of infectious giggles resonating throughout the interiors, soft thumps of rushed footsteps against the wooden floors, and occasional reminders to be careful from mouths framed with curled lips.

The humble bakery downtown hadn't exactly been this lively for as long as Geum Boyeon could remember, not at this hour when six in the morning meant a 'CLOSED' signage hung outside the glass doors and silence whilst waiting for the ovens to ding amidst the quiet atmosphere inside for the past twelve years.

A thud followed by a squeal, breaking into another series of laughter and creaking of chairs erupted from the distance.

"Now kids, be careful. You might hurt yourselves," Boyeon warned, shaking her head with amusement for the umpteenth time.

"Jiwon-unnie! He's over there!"

"Yah! I got you this time!"

More chaos emerged within the bakery's interiors. Ovens dinged like it usually did except now, it wasn't the only sound that drew attention.

"Uhh... shouldn't they be cleaning up by now?"

"Don't worry, son," a gruff, masculine voice answered the question which was initially rhetoric. "There's still an hour before opening."

Min Yoongi turned at Beomsu who had just trudged out of the kitchen, balancing a baking pan with a single gloved hand. The wrinkles on his face and arms contrasted his vigor whilst he adeptly carried his task.

"My daughters will come down in a while to help," Beomsu added as he arranged the pastries on the glass cabinet. He raised his brows meaningfully at Yoongi before heading back to the kitchen.

Yoongi's attention shifted back to Jiwon. She was leaning on a table with her palm, the other clasped on her mouth suppressing her laughter. Marks of flour still lingered on her face as well as her hair from earlier's helping behind the kitchen doors.

Ayumi ran up to Jiwon and as the latter dashed away, she was met with Hansung. Not wanting to clash with the boy, she spread her arms instead, welcoming him into a hug, and because of the height gap and the sudden halt, she lost her balance.

The children giggled at their downfall — Hansung sitting on Jiwon's lap and Ayumi hugging Jiwon on the neck from behind.

Meanwhile, Yoongi was occupied with their little sister Yuki, fast asleep on his lap. He'd shift in his seat from time to time, heedful as not to wake the sleeping child. He wasn't sure how the child ended up in his care, but considering the turn of events from the moment they stepped inside the bakery too early for his liking, it didn't surprise him anymore.

"So..." Boyeon's voice snapped Yoongi out of his trance. Didn't even notice when she had been close to him. "I take it that you're her fiancé?"

Yoongi meekly nodded and warmth filled the elder's expression.

"The first time she told me about you, I knew right away that you are a kind person," said Boyeon and sat on the empty chair beside Yoongi. "Whenever Jiwon comes here, she only talks about nice things. Even when she's obviously hurt and feeling down, she'd never talk about it. At first, I wanted her to open up, but my brother Bomseu didn't allow me. I didn't understand back then, but now I realized it's because he wanted her to have a place where there's no room for her worries.

"Up to this day, I am uncertain with my brother's reasoning. But at least we could be part of her happiness."

Yoongi pressed his lips into a thin line. "Does she go here frequently?"

"Not quite." Boyeon scrunched up her forehead. "Whenever she's here, she helps in the kitchen and with anything as long as people couldn't see or recognize her. She told us her father would get mad if he saw her here, although she does it in a joking way."

"Has she told you why?" Yoongi deliberately asked.

"In those four years I knew her, the only complaint that slipped out of her mouth was about her father prohibiting her from doing the things that her mother liked to do. I'd never forgotten how she suddenly got really quiet. When I asked her about it, she was quick enough to brush it off. We never talked about it again."

Pondering over this new puzzle piece belonging to the closed book that was Kim Jiwon, Yoongi remained silent. The way his lips parted and the constant yet steady movement of his irises, however, expressed his thoughts louder than the absence of his words.

"Jiwon bringing you here says a lot about your relationship with her. Thank you for letting her do the things she enjoys."

Before Yoongi could utter a sound, the child on his lap stirred in her slumber. Boyeon extended her arm and insisted on taking the child when Yoongi looked at her with questioning eyes, brows slightly raised.

"She actually explained to me you two won't stay long because of your work. I've read about you in newspapers and even saw you on TV before. You must be a very busy person. But thank you for giving Jiwon as much time. I give my blessings to your marriage."

"Ah... yes." Yoongi rubbed his nape, an awkward smile making its way to his lips as he glanced at Jiwon through the corner of his eyes. "Thank you, Boyeon-ssi."

Later on, Bomseu's daughters arrived through the front doors. By then, Yoongi had been standing beside Jiwon as they gave them the presents they had bought from the children's store.

↠

"See you again, unnie and unnie's fiancé!" bid Ayumi.

"Thank you, noona," cheered Hansung. The boy ran up to his sister but turned around as if he had forgotten something and stopped in front of Yoongi. "You'll take care of noona like she takes care of us, right?"

In his astonishment, Yoongi had lost his chance to respond when Hansung spun around and caught up to his sister, this time, for real. Jiwon, who had heard all of it, chuckled at Yoongi.

The couple watched as the kids climbed the stairs and waved their goodbyes as they entered the apartment.

"What do you think about kids now?" asked Jiwon as she faced Yoongi.

"They're tolerable."

"Hmm? That's what you said last time."

"And it's still my point of view about them."

Clasping her hands behind her, Jiwon released a breath of content. The smile dangling on her lips ceased to leave her glowing face.

"I guess it's time to go," she chimed, throwing Yoongi a knowing look. She whirled around and ambled on the pavement, humming to a low, playful tune.

Until Yoongi unconsciously reached forward, his fingers wrapped around her upper arm.

Nonplused, Jiwon cautiously gave him her attention, head flitting first before she pivoted on her heel to fully face him. She couldn't point out if he were staring at her or at her direction due to Yoongi's expression, void of any emotion. Swallowing hard, her eyes blinked owlishly, gaze settling anywhere but Yoongi.

But if Jiwon thought they'd be back to status quo and Yoongi would soon snap back to his usual self, she was mistaken.

Jiwon swore all four chambers of her heart went turmoil when Yoongi touched her face, his palm cupping her cheek whilst his other hand kept her in place. His thumb brushed on her cheek, causing a burst of red hues to splatter across her features, the burning sensation on her face embarrassing her further.

But she couldn't avert her attention. Not when Yoongi held her firmly with no intention of letting her go.

"W-What—"

"You still have flour all over your face," Yoongi nonchalantly told her and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. He proceeded to dab the cloth lightly on her face.

Regaining her senses, Jiwon pried his hand away. "I can do it by myself," she mumbled, dropping her gaze.

But no. Yoongi wasn't done yet.

Whilst Jiwon had her head bobbed down, Yoongi ran his fingers through her hair and dusted the remnants of white powder on her head.

That was the last straw for Jiwon.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Jiwon clenched her teeth. For a split second, she hesitated, but fighting the pulses blitzing through her, she placed her palms on Yoongi's chest and stepped back. Jiwon didn't have the courage to look him in the eye, so she hung her head low.

"You're acting really weird right now, Yoongi," she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What's wrong? Does it bother you?" Yoongi asked, a little too serious than his usual demeanor, and Jiwon's arms helplessly flailed back to her sides. The questions were almost like a trap, a bait challenging her honesty.

Jiwon was unsure whether to take it.

But Jiwon's heart decided on its own before her mind could even think.

"It's just... I don't know why, but it scares me," admitted Jiwon, her voice wavering, almost gone by the end of her response, almost replaced by the suppressed sob in her throat.

Yoongi didn't understand her mind, but then, neither did Jiwon. She couldn't decipher why she felt this way - why the smallest gestures from Yoongi distraught her. Why, instead of feeling thankful for his care, it perturbed her.

"I'm sorry Yoongi." Jiwon heaved a sigh. "I really appreciate your time today. Let's split ways here. I'll just take a cab home."

They stared at each other for a second too long, and the next, they were out of each other's sight.

— ✿ —
❝I'm really thankful for all your patience and support. thank you for sticking with me and Double Trouble despite my lack of a consistent update schedule. I am still busy as of the moment especially with my upcoming internship this April, and in June, I will be starting my last year in uni, hence, I cannot promise anything. But I really really try my best to write the chapters. I also just don't want to give you anything half-baked or where my heart isn't there — you all deserve more than that. again, thank you so so much and I appreciate every single one of you. take care everyone! all the love ♡❞