Yifan’s wrist watch displays 6 o’clock in the evening and he’s still inside the bookstore at the children section, reading a children’s story book. He’s actually a bit tired because he had attended the meeting for a whole day and he was supposed to go pick up Sehun from the kindergarten.

However, he remembers about his promise with Sehun about buying a new storybook for him. Hence, no matter how tired he is, he’s still going to fulfill his promise to his baby and stop by at the bookstore before picking Sehun up. For him, promises are still promises.

Talking about promises, his mind then slowly drifted to the memory that he longed to forget.

“Didi, can I asked something?” Jiaheng asks as he sits down at Yifan’s single bed.

“No, you can’t.” Yifan replies automatically, not even sparing Jiaheng a look other than his textbook. “Go away now. I need to study. You should do the same too, Ge.”

But of course, a fangless threat wouldn’t deter his determined brother “Oh...come on. It’s a very important question.”

A small defeated sigh then comes out from Yifan’s lips. Knowing his twin brother, he wouldn’t bulge until he has answered his question and he really needs some alone time right now to do his revision before making the dinner.

“Fine. What is it?”

“Didi, if I died during childbirth, will you take care of my baby?”

Yifan dropped his yellow highlighter and swing his chair to face his brother, completely shocked and bewildered, “What kind of question is this? Don’t tell me you’re pregnant right now? Who in the right mind tries to have a child with you?”

Jiaheng all but huffs before he flickers his brother’s forehead, “How could you say that about your older brother? I’m not that bad.” He muttered, Yifan not failing to see Jiaheng’s proud shoulders to deflate a little, “And, no, I’m currently not pregnant right now.”

“How are you only two minutes older than me.” Yifan questions as he rubs his forehead.

“Hey, I heard you!”

“I’m not going to waste my time to argue with you. If you’re not pregnant, then why did you ask this question? You don’t even have boyfriend yet...wait a minute, is this somehow related to that pale-skin man who sent you home that day?” Yifan scrutinizes after he recalls back the man that sent his brother home two days ago. He’s not able to see the man very clearly because it was a bit dark that time but his skin complexion stood out for Yifan’s memory.

Blush slowly crept up on Jiaheng’s cheek that made Yifan’s suspicion rose, “What are you talking about? He’s just a normal friend who is also my tutor.” He quickly lies. He’s actually been dating Suho for three months, but he still didn’t have the courage to inform Yifan about their relationship.

“I knew it! There is no way that man can be your boyfriend. The only chance that man will be your boyfriend is either he’s blind or he didn’t have high expectations-”

Yifan’s words were cut off when a pillow hits his face before it ends up falling down on the floor.

“Ge!”

“You deserves it. Who asked you to keep looking down at me? And, don’t ever forget that we have the same face. If you have many admirers in college, what made you think that I didn’t have any?” Jiaheng almost sits on his knees which of course Yifan wouldn’t be intimidated with.

“I bet they’ve changed their minds upon knowing your true personality.”

“Do you want me to throw another pillow on your face?”

“Okay, stop, Ge. I’ll stop now.” Yifan raises his hand in surrendering manner which calms his twin for a little bit.

“Good. Answer my question now.”

“Why are you so serious about this matter if you don’t have any boyfriend?”

“It’s just that I came across this article about male pregnancy.” Jiaheng his lips as he picks on the hem of his shirt, “The article mentioned that male pregnancy is at higher risk on mortality rate during childbirth compared to female pregnancy. That made me thinking what if I die? Who will taking care of my baby?”

“What about your future husband? He can take care of your baby. Why do you have to ask me?”

“I’m scared that he’ll be too depressed by my death that he’ll neglect our baby. So the only person that I can rely of is you. I meant if you die, I definitely will take care of your baby.”

Yifan’s eyebrow rose up, “Can I even trust my baby in your hand?”

“Hey, what is the meaning of that?” Jiaheng shots back, clearly offended, “I’m quite a reliable person  if you want to know and my future husband is there to help me.”

“Ge, I think you’re thinking too much about this matter. With nowadays’ technology, you may not die during childbirth.”

“But we don’t know that for sure, right?” Yifan really wanted to turn down the conversation as he’s growing uncomfortable with someone between them dying but this rare occasion of Jiaheng being dead serious is something he wishes to see every time. “And I wasn’t thinking too much. I only want to prepare for the future. Just in case something did happen to me, at least I’ll be in peace knowing that my baby is in good hands. Please, Didi. Can you promise me that?”

Yifan rolls his eyes at his brother’s dramatic acts, “Fine, I promise you.”

“Thank you, didi.”

“Yeah...yeah, whatever. Can you get out now? I need to continue my revision.”

Jiaheng grins playfully. He then jumps from the bed to launch at his brother.

“Yah! Get off me, ge! You’re heavy!”

Yifan’s ringing tone made him snap out from his trance. He quickly wipes the unconscious tears that fell off of his cheek before taking out his handphone from his pocket. His lips curls into a smile when he saw the caller ID.

“Hello, baby.”

“Mama, where are you? You’re supposed to pick Sehunnie.” Sehun asks. His best friend tries to talk to him but he quickly shushed Tao. Yifan knows who’s attitude the child got it from.

“I’m at the bookstore to buy you a new storybook. You’ve been asking me to buy it since last week.”

“Yeah! Mama, can you buy two books?”

The smile on Yifan’s lips grew bigger, “Sure, baby.”

“And be fast. Sehunnie missed mama.”

The child’s impatience made Yifan chuckle, “Didn’t you just see me this morning?”

“But it’s already been few hours.” Sehun starts to whine without caring that Tao’s watching his behavior. He is mama’s boy after all.

“Okay, fine, baby. I actually missed you too. I’ll see you later. Bye-bye.”

“Bye-bye, Mama. Don’t be too late!”

Yifan then ends the call. He’s about to put it back inside his pocket when his phone rings again for the second time. A small sigh then comes out from his lips.

“Baby, you need to stop calling me. I need time to search for your storybook before I can go pick you up. Weren’t you’re the one who asked me to be fast?”

“Yifan-ssi.” He almost dropped the books he’s holding, “It is me, Suho.”

Yifan purses his lips in embarrassment as he curls his fist and nearly shouts. Inside the Children Section. Inside the library. He had accidentally called the elder ‘Baby’ thinking it was Sehun. However, why was Suho calling him? Although their relationship wasn’t that strained like before, but at the same time, they weren’t that close. They only interact with each other during the time when Suho was the driver on duty to pick Tao from kindergarten or at Yixing’s house so both of them supposedly shouldn’t have any important matters to talk about, right?

“Yes, Suho-ssi. Why are you calling me?” Yifan asks after regaining his self, as if nothing cringe-worthy happened.

“Where are you now?”

“I’m at the bookstore inside the shopping mall nearby the kindergarten. Why do you want to know?”

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. Let’s meet up at the coffee shop. We need to talk.” Suho instructed in a very stern tone.

“Huh? But…”

Yifan huffs in annoyance when Suho’s line was cut off. How rude, he thinks despite that he still needs to know why Suho wants to meet up with him and What’s he serious for? Well, the only way for him to get his answer is to meet up with that petite man as per his instruction. He randomly grabs another book from the shelf before heading towards the cashier counter to pay for it.

“Please have a seat.” Suho offers.

Yifan then sit down on the chair. His mind can’t stop thinking what is the meaning of this meeting? What is it that Suho want to talk about?

“Do you want to have any drink?”

“Orange juice will do.”

Suho calls for the waiter and orders a cup of coffee and an orange juice. There was a moment of silence between them as neither of them wants to talk first which is making Yifan slightly nervous. Maybe he should asked earlier why Suho wants to meet up with him. However before he can ask, the waiter interrupts to serve their drinks.

Yifan starts tapping his fingers on the table as he stares at Suho who was taking a sip from his coffee. Only now he realized that the elder had dyed his hair into light brown and he couldn’t help from thinking Suho looks very breathtaking with his new hair color.

“Ermm...There is something that I need to talk about with you.” Suho started making Yifan quickly avert his eyes. He prays hard that Suho didn’t catch him staring just now.

“What is it?”

“Well...you see...I...we…” Suho was stuttering while his fingers keeps on fidgeting. Oh god, how is he going to ask that question?

“Cat got your tongue, is it? Can’t you say whatever that you want to say? You’re wasting my time. I need to go pick up Sehun after this.”

Yifan then takes a sip from his glass which he shouldn’t have because at that very moment Suho finally asked his question.

“Yifan-ssi, let’s get married.”

Yifan couldn’t help but to spat out his orange juice toward Suho’s face.

Yifan’s eyes widened both from the question and what happened before trying to compose and sink everything in.

“I think I kind of deserve that.” Suho said before he takes the napkin from the table and wipes off his face. Lucky for him, he was wearing a black shirt today. And Yifan actually ordered a cold drink.

“Are you pulling some kind of prank right now?”

“No, I was being serious. I really want us to get married.” Suho speaks calmly as he puts the napkin to the table

Yifan slams the table making some of the occupants in the cafe staring at them.

“Have you lost your mind or something? Why the hell should we get marry in the first place? Aren’t you the one who told me that you aren’t planning to replace me with Ge?”

“I was telling the truth. I indeed wasn’t planning to replace Jiaheng with you.”

“Then what is it?” Yifan scoffs at the elder sporting a convincing sincere look, “Why out of blue you’d ask me to marry you? Clearly it is not because that you love me.”

“To give Sehun a perfect family.”

“Excuse me? Who are you to judge? Sehun may not have a perfect family, but he had me and I have been doing the perfect job this five whole years!”

“Then why did he asked me to become his father?”

“He will never--” It was Suho’s deadly serious expression that stopped Yifan from his rage, “Wh-what? When...did this happen?”

“Yesterday afternoon. When I bring Tao and Sehun out for ice-cream.”

“H-he asked you? Oh my god...why would he do that?” He knows the elder wouldn’t call him just to bluff him that made him think of his child—his baby. What happened on those hours?

“I didn’t know. The kids ganged up on me yesterday. They kept forcing me to accept it and I had to say yes because I didn’t want to upset them especially Sehun.” Yifan couldn’t even blink as he massages his temples out of stress, “He is quite hopeful that I’ll be his dad.”

“And you said yes?!”

Suho could only nod his head because Yifan looks very scary right now. Maybe he should’ve wait for a few more days before asking Yifan, but the more he waits, the more anxious— or chickens he get.

“No! How could you do this to me? You’re being unfair to me right now. Out of sudden, you’d ask me to marry you because of that stupid promise you made with my son and Tao?” Yifan all but wants to screech, if not for Suho reminding him that they’re in a public place. Great place to talk something very important. “I-I can’t become your husband. I’m very comfortable living like this.”

“Being looked down by people because you’re a single parent. Is that what you call comfortable?” Suho asks as he stares intensely at Yifan, “Are you telling me this whole five years, you didn’t receive any rude comments or insult from people around you?”

Yifan could only stare at the tablecloth. Suho’s words keeps making his blood boil in anger. Who said that he didn’t received any insults from other people? Who said he was comfortable with it?

“Yes, I do received insults coming from lot of people. And you can see it very well on the kindergarten with Mrs. Lee. I even received much more than that. You think I like living like this? You think I didn’t feel heartbroken by it?”

“Then why wouldn’t you accept my proposal?”

“Do you even hear yourself right now?” Yifan couldn’t help but spat out his anger towards Suho who looks very calm as if marriage isn’t a big thing. “Look, if you think this talk is like a plaything, a house or roleplay you’re willing to do for a child that doesn’t even know the extent of that favor, then I’m done with you.” Yifan walks out of the place knowing how he had created a scene but his mind is too preoccupied that he hadn’t even registered Suho grabbing his arm just to turn face to which he had flinched roughly.

“Look, I didn’t meant to upset you. I was very reluctant at first which made me think about it for whole night and I finally come to one decision. This may sound unusual not only to you, but also to me. However, I’m very sincere with my intention. The promise that I made with Sehun did open my eyes a little. Let us give Sehun a perfect family.” Suho said as he grabs the younger’s hand.

Yifan quickly slaps Suho’s hand away, as if being burned from the touch. “Don’t touch me! I don’t care for whatever reason that you want us to marry. I couldn’t even marry you.”

“Why? Do you have someone? A lover? Boyfriend?”

Yifan was getting frustrated by this situation. He thought that his life had finally changed back for better, but he thought wrong.

“That wasn’t it! I couldn’t enter a loveless marriage especially with my ge’s ex boyfriend!”

“Yifan-ssi…”

“Just save it. I seriously regret for giving you a chance to enter my life. Goodbye.”

Yifan quickly takes the cab that was about to be taken by another passenger and instructs the driver to take him to the kindergarten, not minding of his car being left there. He just need to get away from that man as fast as he could as he couldn’t stay composed and think rationally when he hears Suho shouting at him from the outside of the cab.

“I wouldn’t give up that easily, Yifan-ssi!”

Yifan clenches his fist, thinking of giving him his piece of mind, but he quickly drowned it along with his initial friendship he’d thought they’ve built on. There is no use for him to waste his energy and time to argue with that gremlin.

Author's note: The path for Suho getting Kris to agree to become his husband is not easy. XD