The twins ran enthusiastically towards you, wrapping their arms tightly around your legs. Your friend laughed, gently pulling her son and daughter away from you.

“They’re really excited to see you! Thank you so much for doing this.” She smiled gratefully and you shook your head.

“It’s no problem at all, right?” you asked, squeezing your boyfriend’s hand. His hair fell in his eyes as he shook his head as well.

“Not a problem at all.”

Your friend hugged both of you before kissing her children goodbye and driving away. You turned to the children with happiness on your face, ready to embrace the opportunity to play like a child.

“What do you want to do first?” The twins grabbed your hands, pulling you gleefully towards a tiny plastic kitchen. Together they “created” meals with wooden food, insisting you be the mother in their make-believe family. Your boyfriend sat on the floor nearby, quietly observing you with the children. He didn’t know them well, and wasn’t sure how involved they wanted him to be in their playtime. You took little notice in his silence, fully absorbed by the attention of the adorable children.

The little girl, Cheonsa, handed you a pink plastic ring.

“You should wear this one because it’s for princesses. You look like a princess!” You laughed, placing the ring on your littlest finger, the only one it would fit. Jinyoung, her brother, shyly handed you a plastic cupcake on a tiny dish, and you pretended to enjoy it with enthusiasm.

All the while, your boyfriend watched you with observant eyes. He loved the way you laughed with the children, and admired your ability to communicate with them happily.

The hours passed rapidly, and soon the twins were exhausted, rubbing their weary eyes with little fists. As they prepared themselves for bed, you sat next to your boyfriend on the couch. His tired eyes shifted towards you, but he remained sprawled out lazily with a drowsy expression on his face.

“Tired?” you asked, carefully setting his head on your lap. He shook his head, eyes shut. “You aren’t jealous that I spent all the time playing with the kids?” He pouted slightly, shaking his head once more.

“Of course not.” You stared at him with a knowing glance, gazing directly into his dark eyes. He sighed, lifting himself upright to sit next to you. “Maybe a little…” he said, hesitating at first. “It would be better if I was as good with children as you are.”

Before you could reply, the twins returned to the living room with their teeth brushed and their play clothes replaced by cartoon character pajamas.

“Are you ready for a story?” You grabbed your boyfriend’s hand, following the children into their bedroom. They nodded, crouching in front of the bookshelf to make their choice. “Do you want him to read it for you?” Cheonsa turned around, a big smile on her face. Jinyoung eagerly handed the book to your boyfriend and quickly settled beneath the covers of his bed.

Your boyfriend’s expression was one of confused surprise, but he soon grew comfortable with the book in his hands. He read the story with animation, garnering giggles from the twins with his various voices for the characters and his enthusiasm in pointing out every picture. You stood beside him, your hand resting lightly on top of his head. Quickly, they fell asleep, their small heads resting like angels on the white pillows.

His hands grasped you carefully by the knees, and he pulled you down so you were seated in his lap his back resting against the soft mattress of Jinyoung’s bed. His chin settled on top of your head, yet you could sense the smile radiating from his lips. The contented silence in the room lulled you into slumber as well, and your boyfriend remained seated, waiting patiently for your friend’s return.

Your friend smiled when she walked into the twins’ bedroom, shaking your knee gently to awake the both of you.

“You guys are really cute, you know that?” Your boyfriend laughed, standing up and extending his hand to help you do the same. Your friend smiled, hugging you once more before you returned to your own apartment. “Thank you guys again. I owe you one.”

You turned to your boyfriend, appreciating the smile that had remained on his face since he won the children’s’ approval. “It was no problem at all.”