50. The Bet

It was Sunday afternoon and they were spending the remaining weekend time in his study. Seohyun was lying on the couch with Euna sleeping on her chest while he was focused at some documents he missed working on the other day. Yonghwa wasn’t able to get anything done since the baby was in her good mood that he couldn’t focus on anything.

Euna just discovered that she could now roll back from being on her tummy. This realization was a source of amusement for them since she spent almost the whole afternoon rolling over. Their little one realized that she could move about by rolling and so she was almost unstoppable until she got tired and angry. And so Yonghwa offered to look after her while her umma worked. They also slept late that night since Euna decided to pull an all-nighter but this time, all she did was to play with her appa.

In the end, Seohyun got annoyed with him since she repeatedly told him to stop making the baby laugh so she’d be sleepy. When the room got a little quiet, Yonghwa found her already asleep with the book she was reading lying on her stomach. By that time too, Euna was starting to get cranky that he decided to put her to sleep.

And when Sunday came, the house was rather peaceful. Euna’s energy seemed to wane and was obviously spent the other day that she went back to her broody self. Yonghwa managed to work since she wanted her umma more today. A small laugh pull him out of reverie that he looked up and noticed Seohyun still laughing. He stood a little straighter and only then he felt the stiffness on his back.

Seohyun looked up to him when he stopped beside the sofa and noticed how he was kneading his shoulder, “Take a little rest—“

Before she could continue, he lifted her legs and sat on the edge of the sofa. Seohyun squirmed, like she always does, but he knew that she wouldn’t really pull away. And he was right. After a while, she relaxed that he was able to plant her legs on his lap. Her eyes were focused on the screen but he could tell that her attention was all on him.

Pushing his luck even further, Yonghwa took one foot and massaged her gently. “What are you watching?” He asked in an attempt to discourage her from giving him a snappy retort.

“Superman is B-back,” Seohyun replied her voice hitching a little when his fingers languidly moved on the ball of her left foot. “Stop, it’s ticklish…”

Yonghwa chuckled, holding on to her ankle, “Arasso, I’ll be gentle.”

“The gentler it is, the more ticklish it becomes,” she snapped lightly.

“Then let me do it hard,” he winked and chuckled when she grunted so he went on lazily, “So… Seohyun-ssi likes it hard…”

She tried to pull her foot hard by using her free leg but he only laughed then tapped her leg as if to scold her. “What’s that show all about?” He asked so she’d relax, or pretend that she was.

“The fathers,” Seohyun started then swallowed when his thumb pressed on her soles. When she caught that small smirk on his lips, she continued rather tightly, “Take care of their children for 48 hours without the mothers.”

“I see,” Yonghwa replied watching her from his periphery and when she tried to pull her foot again, he spoke, “They make show about that?”

She rolled her eyes, “Are you trying to distract me, Yonghwa-ssi?”

He laughed then faked a disgusted look as he spoke, “Now why would I do that?” When Seohyun made that particular sound at the back of , he continued calmly, “I’m just wondering why you find this show entertaining enough to watch.”

“First of all, the children are really cute and I’m learning so much,” she rubbed Euna’s back when she flinched then went on, “Why do you sound cynical about it though?”

Yonghwa shrugged as he took her other leg and started massaging her foot, “I don’t know. I think it’s normal for fathers to take care of their children?”

Seohyun laughed despite the discomfort his touch was making her feel. Maybe it was better to encourage this conversation because there was no way she would be able to stop him from ‘massaging’ her feet. She countered, “When exactly do they take care of their children without their wives?”

He frowned and looked thoughtful for a beat then nodded, “That’s a valid question. But I think there’s nothing interesting if I take care of Euna for 48 hours by myself.”

“So you think you can do that?”

“Of course!” Yonghwa playfully tapped the bridge of her foot, “Why are you doubtful?” Seohyun only laughed shaking her head so he pointed a finger at her, “Oh, you are. You don’t trust me with Euna? You don’t think I can take care of her by myself?”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you…” she shifted in a sitting position that her legs slipped off his touch then continued softly especially since his voice sounded a little bit upset, “I’m just a little skeptical. I mean, I’m always around when you’re looking after her so anytime I can run to you when you need me…”

“Nevertheless, I can take care of her…” he shrugged noticing that the little one in question was stirring awake.

“I don’t doubt that,” Seohyun replied hugging their baby who was now waking up. She stood and rocked her softly when she wouldn’t stop whimpering sleepily, “But not for 48 hours…”

“Probably not…”

“How long do you think you can do?”

Yonghwa thought carefully before responding, “A day?”

Seohyun laughed again that Euna shifted in her mother’s arms looking curious at what was happening. “Seriously? I bet you won’t last a day…”

He frowned at her as he stood and walked closer to them. Taking Euna carefully, he kissed her temple but she squirmed and reached out for her umma whining softly. Seohyun gestured that the baby’s attitude was an indication that it was a bad idea but he didn’t seem to notice as he spoke, “Let’s make that bet official then…”

“Are you serious?” She asked taking Euna back then sitting on her armchair instead of the couch.

He grunted watching her moved away from him then grinned as he sat on the couch across her, “Seohyun-ssi, I’ll look after Euna for one day. If I call you and ask you to come home before the 24 hours is over, then you win.”

“Hmmm… that’s interesting.” She nodded for a moment then glared at him because of that cocky grin on his face, “However, I think I won’t really like the other stuff in that head of yours.”

He laughed, then pursed his lips and tapped a finger on them.

Yonghwa watched her with interest. It was obvious that she was avoiding his eyes but was curious enough that she would flick her hair to his direction so she would see him on her periphery. It was so her character, he grinned a little bit more playfully, his lips then spoke, “If I win, I get to kiss you. Not that touch-my-lips-to-yours kind of kiss but the one that involves tongues and the works.”

She grimaced, “I knew it. And let me make it clear how I’m grossed out at the way you described it…”

“It only sound gross, but feels amazing,” he winked.

Seohyun glowered at him then stood placing Euna on her baby swing and handing her a rattle. She looked over her shoulder and asked, “And if I win?”

“You get to kiss me,” he shrugged then drawled, “Any way you want…”

“What difference does it make?” She asked as she gathered the toys on the floor.

“A lot. You can kiss me any way you want…” he repeated then chuckled when she shook her head without even looking at him. Yonghwa glanced at the mirrored wall and noticed the smile she was wearing so he continued, “It wouldn’t make a difference if you also want to kiss me with tongue and the works.”

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