"Thank you!" Jimin says when Joy passes the plate to him. "Honestly, I'm glad you were craving pizza today." He bites into the slice, "The baby, I must say, has really good taste!"

They laugh.

"Is that so? Well, it's rare that he or she craves something." She muses.

"He or she? You are not gonna find out the gender?" He asks.

She shakes her head, "No. Cuz I am happy with both!"

"Then you'll be buying neutral colours? When are you going for shopping again? Inform me so that I can also come." He says.

"Okay! I would have gone today but Noel aunty had to visit her sister. So, I think after the next appointment day will be good!" Joy smiles.

Jimin looks around, "Aunty took Aera with her...the house feels so empty."

"Yep. But this is a good change for Aera and aunty. Her sister lives alone in a secured area so I sent her." Joy bites into her slice. 

Jimin hums and thinks a bit, "What does....what does Mr. Kim say? I mean doesn't he want to know whether it is a boy or girl?"

Joy smiles a bit sadly and he realizes he has asked a wrong question unintentionally.

"Sorry." He mumbles.

"That's fine." She shrugs.

After that unusual encounter with Irene, two weeks ago at the hospital,  Jimin was even more curious about their lives. He knew it was inappropriate from every angle but he could not keep it to himself. The haunted and betrayed look on Mrs. Kim Bae Irene's face, the guilt and sadness on both Kim Seokjin and Joy's faces were too confusing and weird.

Why and how?

So the very same day after coming back from the site, he quietly asked Noel about them. He felt embarassed but he had to know.

Noel sighed. It was bound to happen. A person, living under the same roof for months and observing all these abnormalities, would definitely ask about these things. Park Jimin is decent enough to ask after so many days.

So, Noel told him about them.

The next day, after listening to Noel, he apologized to Joy for hearing about her personal life without her permission or presence. He revealed about his curiousness. Joy was a bit awkward about it at first then she assured him that it was alright. Could she blame him? So, she added her own remarks and after that day Jimin becomes her one true friend with whom she can share her thoughts and feelings.

"Namjoon...he always asks indirectly about our health and there is no financial qualms, so...you can say he is not that bad." Joy explains as she thinks that her gesture might have given off any sort of accusation against Namjoon.

Jimin nods. She has said that before when he had asked whether his boss has even a bit of interest in the child.

"I think Mr. Kim does not understand or know how to behave. Or even feel. I mean,  as much I've heard, his childhood was traumatizing and the only close person to him were Mrs. Irene and Noel aunty. So..." Jimin knows that Namjoon is wrong in every way but after knowing him for months, he believes that there is good in him and all these gestures are the proofs.

"Yes. That is why I am hopeful about our baby. Cuz their appa is not a bad person at all! He is...he is just...too lost and hurt. He has not experienced love or care. Well, except from Unnie and aunty." She sighs.

They sit silently and she realizes that the mood has dampened a bit.

"Anyway, enough about us now! How's aunty?" Joy smiles.

Jimin sighs dramatically, "She is as fit as ever! Really wants to meet you all and still looking for the best match for me!!"

Joy laughs, "Oh! So, the bride hunt is going on in full swing?!"

"Hunt?! More like Haunt! Goodness! Who sends mails about blind dates to their son at 2 a.m. ?!" He rolls his eyes.

Joy finds it hard to stop laughing, "Well, I think you should go on some of the blind dates! You never know when you may click with someone!! " She wiggles her eyebrows.

"Okay then! But if they prove out to be awful then you are taking responsibity!" He points his finger playfully at her.

"Fine. I will!" She retorts back with glee.

"What if they are psychopaths?! Trapping innocent victims like me and killing them?! There is a chance she may poison me or kidnap me!" Jimin covers his ears and shudders in mock fright.

The girl keeps on laughing.

Namjoon is walking up to his room. At home after such a tiring day!! He does not even want to have dinner. Just sleep.

He comes infront of the kitchen to find Joy and Jimin having dinner. They are talking and laughing about something. Light and cheerful ambience. He observes them for some more moments and proceeds for his room. 

"Okay, okay stop!" Joy puts her hand on her bump, breathless.

"Yeah..." Jimin shakes his head, smiling.

"Hey, any idea when Namjoon will be home? I mean it is past 7 so..." Joy checks the clock.

Jimin shrugs, "He did visit the site. May be he is busy with other work?"

"May be." Joy murmurs.

At that moment, a maid walks into the kitchen and bows, "Ma'am, Mr. Kim is back. What will he have for dinner?" She asks.

"He is back? But I did not hear his car." She looks at Jimin.

Jimin shakes his head, "Neither did I."

"Ma'am, Mr. Kim came in a taxi." She replies.

"Taxi? Anyway, I'll go check on him. Besides I am done." She puts her empty plate in the sink and excuses herself.

The familiar knock wakes Namjoon. He fell asleep without changing. He opens the door to find Joy. He moves back for her to enter.

She looks at him and says in a worried tone, "Are you feeling well?" She notices his clothes.

"Ahh...yes. Just tired..." He yawns and grabs his towel.

"Oh! You came in a taxi so I could not hear you...Is everything alright?" 

He looks at her closely now. He has been doing this a lot lately...looking at her closely, with no malice. Hmmmm...she is panting a bit...

"The car broke down on the way to home." He states.

"Oh!" Relief is visible on her features, "What will you have for dinner?"

"Nothing. There was a meeting in the evening. Had some snacks there so not hungry... I just want to sleep." 

"Okay..." She still does not look convinced, "I shall leave then..." She is about to leave when...

"Are you okay?"

She turns around.

"You are panting..." He points out.

" I am fine. It is just a bit restlessness due to climbing up...nothing else..." She is happy that he notices.

"You could have asked any maid to come here..." He frowns a bit.

"No!! I always do these. And will do till I can!! Besides it is good. Just one floor. Good exercise..." She brushes it off with a smile.

He hums.

"So good night. Let me know if you need anything..." She walks out.

Namjoon stands there, looking at the door for sometimes and then enters the bathroom.

Namjoon opens his eyes and looks at the watch. It is just 11.30 p.m. He has slept for almost 4 hours now and won't fall asleep easily. Great! So much for going to bed early!! May be he is hungry? He should get something to eat...

His mind trails off to the events of the whole day. From waking up in the morning to the office work, everything. Then with the strings of the memories, he recalls the scenery he saw in the kitchen.

Now to say he does not know or understand anything will be a joke. He is no saint. It is crystal-clear that the young architect has feelings for Joy in a non-platonic way. Or atleast has an infatuation. He had understood that when he thanked Park Jimin for helping her in the hospital. The distant and worried look said it all.

Now to think about this guy. He is a nice person and everyone at home likes him. Namjoon respects him as well. As for Joy, she likes him. He can understand that. But is it only as a friend or something else, that is not clear...

Namjoon does not know why he is thinking about them. With so much analysis... Is he jealous?! No. He is not. He knows jealousy. Oh!! He knows the feeling SO WELL. His mind is diverting towards Irene and Seokjin. He stops and begins to think again about Joy and Jimin. He prefers to think about them.  At least this has no pain...

Should he try to find out what is happening in Joy's heart? HEART?! Wow. It has been SO LONG he thought of this word!!

As much as he knows Park Sooyoung, she will not harbour feelings for a man while pregnant with his...

Namjoon does not realize that though indirectly and unintentionally, he accepts that the baby is his...  

He leaves his room and goes downstairs, thinking about this. He stops infront of Joy's room and finds her door open.

Why would she keep her door open?

He looks at the guestroom door infront of hers to find it closed. Park Jimin is sleeping, most probably.

He peaks inside to find Joy alone in her bed with her back towards the entrance. She is fidgeting and seems very uncomfortable. She is rubbing her back and groaning slightly.

"Baby...why are you moving so much today?! Are you feeling sick?!" Worry and a trace of fear can be found in her tone. "You are not sleeping, not letting umma to sleep..." She has not realized his presence at the door.

Namjoon frowns and knocks.

She turns her head with difficulty and her eyebrows raises spotting him there. She tries to sit up with difficulty but Namjoon gestures her not to. He enters the room and stands near the bed.

"Are you alright?! Should I call the doctor?!" He asks.

Joy smiles slightly at the suppressed panic in his tone.

"No... I need to sit and stand. Lying down is not helping..." She tries again and is astonished to find strong arms around her.

Namjoon puts his one hand on her neck and the other on her back to support her to sit. He keeps his hands on her to make her stand.

She groans, "Thank you..."

Their eyes meet. They are standing very close, very intimately...

Namjoon does not attempt to step back. They are immobile and still staring at each other.

Joy seems to be the first one to come out of the daze. She looks around anywhere but his face. His gaze is unnerving her. Damn Hormones!!!....

Namjoon smirks. Her face resembles a tomato now. She is not squirming. Let's be honest, there is no space to...

 He remembers how flustered she gets whenever he is near. So it seems his presumptions about her feeings towards Park Jimin is right. Or else she would not be blushing so much now...Their faces are inches apart. His hands are on her back and neck and her arms are still resting on his shoulders which she had grabbed for support to sit and stand.

Namjoon and Joy will remember this night for what he is about to do...

He moves those few inches and presses his lips on hers. Why?! He has no answer to that...it maybe a 'spur of the moment' action, maybe he is confirming his understandings about her feeling towards Park Jimin and perhaps...towards himself... or maybe he is just curious.

So he is pressing his lips on hers. And nothing. That is all...

Joy's eyes are shot open. Her eyeballs may pop out. There is no voices in her mind, no thoughts. She is frozen. Mentally and physically. She cannot even feel her pain!!

Namjoon finds her lips to be...soft. Are his lips soft like this? He does not know. Nobody told him...Nobody knows.

It is a different feeling though...not bad. He tries to press further but cannot. Something or more like someone is causing hindrance. His gaze travels down to it, her protuding mid-section.

The bump looks bigger tonight. It was smaller even few days back. He or she is actually growing...

Joy finally gets the grasp of her surrounding as she feels the missing pressure on her lips. Now she can feel very soft taps on her belly. The hand that was resting on her neck is gone...

She looks down and she does not know how to comprehend the situation.

Namjoon is...he is poking her bump lightly. There is an amused smirk on his lips. His forefinger lightly touching it here and there and it seems like...he is having fun.

Then suddenly his expression becomes something close to aghast. He moves his hand away from her belly and coughs, "Is there something you do to for the back pain?" He tries to keep calm.

Joy has understood what has happened. She bites back her smile and replies, "I...I put a hot water bag. Noel aunty rubs oil there...It helps pretty much..."

"Where is it?"

"Here." She points at her bed-side table drawer. 

Namjoon moves away from her and takes it out, "You could have called any maid..." He is still bewildered.

"I was about to..." Her pain is coming back. "I just had to get some hot water from the bathroom..."

Namjoon walks into the bathroom and fills the bag with hot water. 

Joy looks at him surprised. He gestures and helps her to lie down on her side.

He presses the bag on her lower back and she sighs in relief. 

"Where is the...oil?"

She frowns and hands him the tiny bottle that was on the bed-side table.

Without saying any words he begins to raise her nightgown. She yelps and stops him, out of instinct.

"What?? I've to rub it on your back..." with that he raises her gown to her chest, exposing her back. He is gently rubbing the oil on the hurting area. 

Joy feels like she is going to faint...She is lying on her side, in cotton shorts which has tweety bird printed on them...   

"It is done..." Namjoon pulls down her dress in place and keeps the bottle back. "Do you need something else?"

Joy can only shake her head. 

"If you need anything, let me know..." He shifts on the bed and leaves the room.

Joy cannot understand the events of the night.  At first due to her 'preggy- brain' she forgot to close her bedroom door. Then Namjoon came there all of a sudden!! 

SHE GOT HER FIRST KISS TODAY!!! She pinches herself.  It was not a dream!!! Then he...rubs her back!!! She buries her face in her pillow and gives out a shriek!! She rubs her bump lovingly and says, "Thank you baby....You are also helping your umma and appa...Thank you for making your presence known to him when he was tapping on you...." She chuckles and kisses her fingers to caress her belly with it, "I love you..."

Namjoon lies down. So tonight was...unexplainable.

HE KISSED PARK SOOYOUNG. HIS FIRST KISS... But that was not all!! He gave her a massage!!! Though considering the condition she is in now, it will be hypocrisy to be so outrageous about these things...

What got him so baffled was when he was poking her bump, he had suddenly felt something, or more like someone move. Then it pushed back. Yes, in a wave-like pattern... The proof that this is actually happening...that there is a life...

He thought he was absorbed in that moment. Then that emotion returned. The one he got first time when he had seen that tiny grave in the Kim's front yard. Then he felt it when Aera showed him the sonography plate and tonight...

But tonight... it was more intense, more...more...euphoric!! Yes...It felt surreal and sublime...Cannot be expressed through words...Or maybe he can't...