thirty-eight

  “I’m starting to feel that the whole thing is getting rather ridiculous,” Yoona said absentmindedly, standing at the kitchen counter and mashing up the peeled apple. “The entire issue’s spiraled out of control, and in my opinion, it’s your doing, Sehun.”

  He let out a bitter laugh. “You’re being hypocritical right now, aren’t you? If I’m out of my mind and being absolutely ridiculous, then what about you? You’re the one who’s being unreasonable, Yoona, and it’s becoming exceptionally agitating.”

  “I didn’t say that you were ridiculous, Sehun, I said that the entire affair is ridiculous. Besides, why’re you getting all defensive?” Her question was somewhat rhetoric, as though she knew the answer without requiring his reply. “…I see that the aversion you have towards me has not changed, not one bit.”

  “Now you’re being ridiculous, Yoona. I don’t detest you. I just don’t approve of your ways,” he stated simply, placing a hand on the counter.

  It was her turn to stifle a laugh, a laugh that was so deeply lined with bitterness. “You haven’t let it go, that’s all. I know you better than you think I do, Sehun. Your only purpose right now is to find someone to push all the blame to, so your conscience would hurt a little less.”

  “What do you mean?” He shot her a sharp gaze.

  “Krystal suspects that you’re harboring feelings for Seohyun, and naturally, the moment she told Jessica, it was almost like she was telling the rest of the world.” She pressed the spoon even harder on the half-mashed apple, bits of puree sticking on her fingertips. “And I think I’ve been able to find a reason for all the mayhem that you’ve been causing.”

  He bit his lip to suppress the harsh comments that he was tempted to hurl at her. “Oh yeah? Try me.”

  Yoona heaved a sigh, forcing out a smile. “Well, for starters, it was Sulli that began the whole thing. Spending time more often with her sort of rekindled the feelings you had for her, and I guess it made you remember why you even liked her in the first place. I was blind to what you were feeling at that time, but I think I understand it now… Rekindling feelings for Sulli was the same as rekindling feelings for Seohyun, even deeper for Seohyun than Sulli.”

  “And so?”

  “Well, then your feelings for Seohyun returned and your emotions went out of control. Sort of like a hormone rage, only that it truly is incontrollable – in your opinion, at least.” She lifted her head, leveling her gaze upon him. “Only that it’s a bit too late now, don’t you think? Seonjung… Yeonjung might be a little too young to realize, but Seonjung’s sharper than you think.”

  “You’re bringing up the topic of her kids to scare me off, aren’t you? This is why, from all the women in the company, you’re the most formidable. You hide under the cover of childishness and innocence but you’re the one turning everyone against each other.” Sehun’s words were ruthless and brutal, but he couldn’t care less.

  “…I don’t think it’s your fault, Sehun, about everything that happened,” Yoona replied him calmly, indifferent to his insults. “You’re living in the past and not making proper decisions, that’s all. Besides that, I’m not blaming you… We all have our faults, after all.”

  “Now you’re trying to be all nice again, trying to win me over to your side because you think that I know what you’re-“

  “You detest me because I set Seohyun and Kyuhyun up for their first date. You detest me because I supported Kyuhyun-oppa instead of you. And you detest me because I hurt Kai and I took Luhan away… You detest me for that.” Then she paused, her breath hitching. “…I’m getting my repayment for what I’ve done, Sehun. You don’t need to do a thing.”

  He raised his eyebrows with much incredulity. “Repayment? You’re living a jolly life with two healthy sons, a husband who loves you to the core and the probability of your old flame still being in love with you right at your front door! Damn it, Yoona-noona, can you actually hear what you’re saying?”

  “You’re spiraling into confusion, I’m spiraling into depression. Spare me for now, Sehun, I’ll take the blame from you later on. I’m not in an enviable state right now.”

  “Well, I can make that a lot more uncomfortable.” Sehun showed no signs of possible defeat. “Do you want to know who Seohyun has on her mind? Do you want to know why the heck she would agree to-“

  He was interrupted by Xun’s shrill cry over the baby monitor that Yoona had placed on the counter. Without a second glance, she had dashed to her son’s room, leaving Sehun alone in the kitchen.

  He would spare her that day. But he’d make sure she’d eventually find out the truth. She had brought Kai and him to hell, and thus, since Kai was too weak to put his foot down, Sehun would drag her down to hell with them both.

  “No, not like that, Taemin!” Sulli raised her wooden spoon, giving him a playful poke in the ribs. “You’re supposed to whisk the eggs lightly, you see, as if you’re trying to mix clouds! You’re practically pounding them to bits, and oh gosh, there’s a small bit of egg shell in there…”

  Rubbing his sore fingers, he threw a discontented frown at her. “I don’t see why we can’t just buy a cake from the store,” he remarked whiningly, plucking out the bit of egg shell from the bowl of half-beaten eggs.

  “Well, it’s not every day that our little foetus is officially three months, you know,” Sulli beamed excitably, rubbing her hands with glee. “I’m not the best at making cakes, but I’ll eventually have to learn to make some decent ones – I’m sure our little kid will love cakes. I’ll make a world of sweet delicacies for our kid, and he or she will grow up as sweet as cake!”

  Taemin shook his head, chuckling softly. “I’d bet you’re the only mother in the world that celebrates month-days whilst the child’s still in your stomach.”

  “It’s just baking a cake, blowing out a few candles and throwing a small party – it’s not much,” Sulli shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. “I mean, we’ll have to do a lot in the future, Taemin, there’ll be toys, education, and parent-child games… I think our lives will make a one-hundred-and-eighty degree change. What we’re doing right now, it’s preparation for that change.”

  “It looks like my childish wife is becoming more and more mature,” he remarked proudly, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Even so, Ssul, spare me from the cakes – I don’t think I’ll ever be able to conquer that field.”

  “Well, if you can eat them, you can make them!”

  “Try making our six-tier wedding cake then, let’s see if we’ll be successful,” he chall