CHAPTER 24

 

LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE

 

“Oppa… What’s wrong?” – Sulli nuzzled his shoulder, asking in concern

 

“Nothing, Ssul… Maybe because of the late Americano and the raisin cookies, so I can’t sleep…” – Min Ho answered, tightened his embrace, pulling Sulli closer – “How about you, does your stomach alright now? No more throwing up?”

 

“Oh… Maybe because I’m a bit stressed out with Yoo Geun having fever these days for his first tooth, and for not having meal regularly, don’t worry oppa…” – Sulli smiled, caressing Min Ho’s arms.

 

“That’s good, don’t scare me out… If you feel uneasy with your digestion again, tomorrow I’ll make sure that you are at the hospital for checking up…” – Min Ho kissed her forehead, murmuring

 

“It won’t happen, cuz I’m alright now, I’m telling you…”

 

“Time to sleep, stop nagging Princess…” – Min Ho pretended to close his eyes

 

“Who‘s nagging here? Ya, oppa… Seconds ago you told me you couldn’t sleep then now you’re telling me you want to sleep?” – Sulli pouted, pinching her husband’s cheeks

 

Without any reaction, Min Ho just hugged her tight and ignored her nagging.

 

After a while…

 

“Oppa…” – Sulli whispered

 

“What now, princess? Still not sleeping?” – Min Ho replied, eye closing

 

“Oppa is still not sleeping, too…”

 

“Alright, now what?”

 

“Oppa…”

 

“Oppa is right here…” – Min Ho leaned down to kiss her forehead again, gently

 

“When we were kids, was it hard for you to taking care of me as an older brother?”

 

“Really hard…”

 

“Jinja oppa? Cuz I don’t remember anything about it, so I was not a good kid, was I?” – Sulli looked up, her voice was a bit frowning

 

“Yeah, not a nice kid, not at all…” – Min Ho said flatly, but then he chuckled seeing the impression on Sulli’s face… And then, right away, he pulled her up to cupped her face in his hands, saying sweetly almost like a whisper – “You’re not a good kid, not a nice one, because how can I call you a good girl while you always tagged along with me and then my buddies started tagging along you? How can I when I won the basketball game and the other games more often because my buddies only came to the play yard because those boys just wanted to see you and your pretty smiles, not for playing soccer or basketball? How can I, when you grew up day by day into a pretty young lady and made me, so – called your older brother just want to become an ordinary boy out there who can woo you and make you mine not related to those things people tried to pair us up as brother and sister? How can I call you a good girl whenever you pout like this I just want to crush my lips on yours and kiss you out of your mind?”

 

Sulli smiled sheepishly hearing what her husband said, she moved closer to give him a peck on the lips whispering – “Oppa… I know you were taking care of me so well…”

 

“…”

 

“Oppa…”

 

“Oppa is here…”

 

“I wish Yoo Geun would be like you, a warm and kind – hearted little gentleman… just like the old couple we met at the Han River park last time, remember it? Yoo Geun will be a good brother if he has a little younger one right?”

 

“Ssul...” – Min Ho was confused and a bit worried hearing what Sulli had just said

 

“I met Seo Hyun unnie this afternoon and I just had that thought, Seo Hyun unnie’s lovely Ji Min is baby girl, and I wonder when our Yoo Geun grows up, how is he if he has a baby sister like Yoo Geun… I just wonder… So, good night oppa…”

 

*Flashback*

 

“Her condition is really good Min Ho, she can remember this and that, and even something when she was only a 4 or 5 - year - old little girl, last week she even told me she remembered you two kissing at grandmother’s garden back in time… And somehow, she said she knew about your wedding and her art class with Tae Yeon and Tiffany, but they are not so clear… But that’s a big move, and I believe her memory can even recover faster…” – Yuri said, she was focusing on the screen and pointing at some upper changes

 

“Yeah, noona… She told me all, and I’m so happy hearing it… But in detail, do you know how can the therapy work so well on her?”

 

“Actually Min Ho, I don’t know how to describe this, but follow the measuring chart here, I can see a huge improvement and I’m still working on it to figure out, the improvement has started to move in an unexpected speed for the last 1 month…” – Yuri sat down back on her chair, writing something on her paper

 

“Maybe about her health? I think…”

 

“I’m wondering so… But I still need time to study on this, her brain’s neutrals are developing healthily and as I’ve just said, more than expected, like there is a huge spark behind… But, last time she asked me about the reason for her to be diagnosed with the syndrome and fell into coma while having Yoo Geun, but I think it’s better if you’re the one who tell her… Does she ask you something? And by the way, you haven’t told her about it?”

 

“Yeah, noona, she’s on the track of recovering and I think I would tell her at the proper time, when she’s ready, I don’t want to make her confused or to scare her…”

 

“Good, let it be…” – Yuri sighed, she was afraid about how they could explain the situation to Sulli, but Min Ho was fully aware of this and that made her relieve.

 

“But noona…” – Min Ho suddenly lowered his voice, hesitated to ask

 

“Huh?”

 

“Are you sure that the syndrome is about pregnancy?”

 

*End of flashback*

 

 

…

 

Min Ho was at the coffee shop with his SHINee boys, and out of the blue his mind couldn’t focus when the other three kept on chatting and cheering.

 

“Ya, Lee Tae Min, why are you always late? Since the college days, you’re always late!!!” – Jong Hyun shouted, and kicked Tae Min legs, but the latter seemed not having the urge to response. He took a deep breath as his face turned extremely red even when the very first second he rushed into the coffee shop his face was already like a bubble.

 

“Hyung…” – He said, breathlessly

 

“What now, Lee Tae Min…?” – Jin Ki raised his eye brows, realizing something unusual in his younger friend’s voice

 

“Pregnant…” – Tae Min spilled out, falling on the chair

 

“What?”

 

“I’m having a baby…” – Tae Min murmur, his ears turned red, same as his face

 

“Check on him, Jjong, it’s morning and this little bastard is drunk, huh?” – Key elbowed Jong Hyun who was rolling his eyes in surprising curiously

 

“I’m pregnant…” – Again, Tae Min repeated, his eyes couldn’t focus

 

Min Ho was so busy with his own thought that he couldn’t hear what tae Min said.

 

“What?”

 

“Pregnant…”

 

“He’s crazy… Our maknae is crazy, what a day!” – Key said, rolling his eyes

 

“I mean, Krystal is pregnant…”

 

“WHAT??????” – The three except Min Ho choked out their coffee

 

“Krystal is pregnant…” – Tae Min just murmured

 

“Oh…”

 

“… my…”

 

“… God…”

 

“Lee Tae Min!”

 

“I know… We’re not married…”

 

“Daebak, Lee Tae Min, daebak, get your girlfriend pregnant before marriage, I tell you, you’re daebak… and I bet you that her father will roast you alive… Ah, not mention her father, even her Tae Yeon unnie will roast you alive first! She’s back from Paris and in the middle of her stay, you dare to make this trouble… Right, Jin Ki hyung?” – Jong Hyun clapped his hands laughing mischievously and threw a devilish glance at Onew when he mentioned about Tae Yeon, Krystal’s older sister.

 

Onew swallowed hard but he ignored Jong Hyun

 

“Are you mad? I know you guys are dating for almost 3 years and you’re so into her but at least before you blow your mind up you have to remember the key words “PROTECTION”, Taem?”

 

“I’ll take responsibility… I love her and… and… I’m becoming a Dad…”

 

“Now not mention about that, handling pregnant woman is the hardest part here, right Romeo?” – Key flatly said and he turned his head to look at Min Ho who was closing his eyes and didn’t say a word

 

“Ya Romeo, you’re sleeping in this kind of event? Huh? Our maknae is becoming a father and look at you, you’re sleeping…” – Key shouted at him and using his folk with some piece of cinnamon cake on it to poke at his nose

 

“I’m not Ki Bum… Protection… Protection…” – He mumbled nervously and suddenly… - “… Damn it… Ki Bum, get the folk away from me, it smells disgusting!!!!” – Min Ho suddenly exclaimed, he jumped a bit and a horrible expression was on his face

 

“What? One of my friend is becoming a father even before his marriage” – Key pointed the folk at Tae Min…  – “ Another one is torturing himself because his crush was back from Paris and he’s stuck between his feeling towards his girlfriend and that girl…” – He glared at Onew and then he slapped Min Ho’s arm – “And this one is behaving like he’s a girl who is in the middle of her period, ah no… he’s like a pregnant wife the whole two weeks… What’s wrong? What’s wrong with this group????”

 

 

…

 

 

“Hi, young mommy, how are you today?” – Yuri asked happily, seeing how cheerful Sulli was

 

“I’m good unnie, how are you?” – Sulli smiled, handing Yoo Geun to Yuri as she gestured, today Sulli came to visit her consultant and she brought their baby along with her.

 

“Ey ey, Mr. Little Choi, how are you today? Aw, he’s so cute, next time when I come to your house I will bring Min Seok hyung along to play with you, ok cutie pie?” – Yuri talked with Yoo Geun in a aegyo voice, then she lift up a bit to look at the smiling Sulli – “You look a bit pale, are you feeling unwell?”

 

“No, unnie, I’m just a bit tired because Yoo Geun’s first tooth is growing and he has fever and so, maybe that makes me tired... Don’t worry unnie…”

 

“Remember your health is more important… If you need help please make sure you can ask a hand from Min Ho or your in – laws or your mom…” – Yuri said in concern

 

“Thank you unnie, but I’m fine…”

 

“How about your body? And… ehm, even your period? Does it come to the normal track, last time when Seo Hyun told me about your s, I’m a bit upset for you not telling me, it comes together with the therapy so don’t forget to tell me, remember that?”

 

“Yeah, unnie…” – Sulli was a bit worried hearing about her period, she was late for about 2 weeks, but she thought probably because her body was still recovering.

 

“You have soothing to tell me?” – Yuri asked, seeing Sulli’s hesitation

 

“Ehm… about… Urgh, nothing unnie…” – She hesitated for a while but decided not to say anything.

 

“I know there’s something…” – Yuri narrowed her two eyes

 

“Ah… That… I mean… Hee Chul oppa, have you met him lately?”

 

Yuri chuckled at the expression on Sulli’s face, no wonder why Min Ho loved her so much, this woman, she was the most beautiful girl in the world, both outside and inside

 

“Waeyo unnie?”

 

“He met Min Seok yesterday…” – Yuri smiled

 

“Really unnie? You… you told him?”

 

“No, sweetheart, I haven’t… just let it be, I need more time, and I think I can let Min Seok be comfortable with him, then, when I’m ready, I’ll tell him…”

 

“I guess so…” – Sulli sighed in relief

 

“And about you, are you hiding me something?”

 

 

…

 

 

She was outside at the garden and she smiled looking at Yoo Geun who is playing with his toys… The cherry blossom bloomed around them… The breeze flapped her silky hair…

 

“Princess Mommy!”

 

She stood up, waving at her son, he laughed shouted out.

 

“Princess Mommy, come here…”

“What’s that, boy?”

 

Yoo Geun held the girl’s hand, she was a pretty little girl with her curly brown hair and a pink bowtie dress. The little girl smiled at her shyly then she ran towards Sulli her as she kneeled down, arm opened

 

“Mommy, Princess Mommy… I want cotton candy just like oppa…” – The little girl whispered, some cherry blossom’s petals feel on her head

 

“But you did have one, didn’t you?” – She smiled, rubbing her back

 

“Mommy, I want more…”

 

“Remember what great grandma told you before coming here, sis?” – Yoo Geun came, touching the baby girl hand… - “She told you to be a good baby, don’t sulk at Mommy…”

 

“Mommy, great grandma told me I have to be a good girl, she told me to protect you… But I don’t know how…” – The little girl cupped her face in her two tiny hands

 

…

 

 

Min Ho stepped inside the room and saw Sulli sleep soundly with Yoo Geun in her arms, he snatched the baby boy from her and put him gently on his cradle before planting a soft kiss on his forehead.

 

He went back to the sofa and looked at his sleeping beauty, these days, he was bothered by his thought, but seeing her peaceful face like this, his heart was lift up and he felt at ease.

 

Sulli stirred a bit and opened her eyes, she smiled at him, pulled him closer to lean her head on his chest.

 

“You’re late again, oppa…”

 

“I’m sorry… I’m finishing my new project…” – He said, penetrated his hand into hers

 

“You put Yoo Geun in his cradle?”

 

“Oh, he’s deep in his dream now…” – Min Ho couldn’t help but cuddle his wife, her soft body and her fragrance blinded his senses

 

“Oppa, I remembered on thing today… Though it was not a sure to be a good memory…”

 

“What’s that…” – Min Ho asked, waiting

 

“Uhm, oppa… Something happened and I told you to hold on to me and Yoo Geun rite? I only remember we fight and I cried so hard, somehow it gripped my heart remembering it, but maybe it was just because something petty, not a big thing, rite? And I’m just too sensitive being pregnant, rite? Newlywed couple, we’re just one of those common ones, rite?”

 

“Ohm, just… oh… something petty…” – Min Ho didn’t know how to reply her, she hadn’t know the reason and he was also not ready to tell her, and these days, he felt unwell and was choked up with his workload, so… He was distracted…

 

“Oppa, what if… I…”

 

“What if what?

 

“Nothing oppa…” – Sulli smiled sheepishly… and she pulled him down to peck on his lips

 

“Really, you did have something…”

 

“Nothing, really…”

 

“Jinja?”

 

“Yeah…”

 

“Promise?”

 

“I told you oppa, nothing... And by the way, is your stomach alright now? You haven’t eaten well…”

 

“I’m ok… Don’t worry, I’m just fed up with my work and… so…”

 

Actually he felt alright by then, but she mentioned it and that thing in his stomach brimmed up again

 

“I told you to go to the hospital…”

 

“I’m alright, don’t wor…r…y”

 

Min Ho tried to hold it back but the more Sulli asked, the more he felt that uncomfortable urge, and he did struggle but…

 

He ended up releasing his wife and ran into the bathroom, just like every day for the past 2 weeks.

 

 

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