Unedited; may contain grammar/spelling mistakes. Edit05042024; had to edit because I realised the original chapter breaks were missing.       Yixing turns his head to the sound of the door closing.   He had expected to see his usual doctor for an update on his wound but instead, he is met with a view of a pretty nurse staff. She smiles at him with a light bow, showing off her white teeth. Her hair is styled perfectly in a bun and her baby hairs kempt behind her ears. Her dress is crisp and clean – just as any nurse were ought to be in, and she had an overall air of calmness.   “Dr. Yoon had to step out to take care of another surgery. I’m Jung Haneul, and I’ll be checking in his stead.” She greets him as she swiftly put on a pair of surgical gloves and a mask.   It would be an understatement to say that Yixing was completely smitten. He gasps when he feels her cool hands against his left calf, and suddenly he is overwhelmed with the vanilla fragrance that she was emitting. She tells him to scoot further up the bed so that she could rest his limb on a lower stool and inspect the open wound.   As a guy who has served the country for well over nine years, it had been a very long time since he had felt any wavering feelings of romance. He’s handled battalions, brought victories during all the crossfires of training. He rose up the ranks quickly with his skills and determination. But now that he’s facing a pretty lady whose facial features are triggering his insides to do flips and summersaults, he doesn’t know how to react.   “Battle scars are really the worst,” she says. Her cheekbones show themselves from behind the mask, indicating that she is smiling. “But I guess you get to show them off to the world as evidence of your life-risking adventures.”   Yixing watches her as she continues looking at the raw flesh that had started to develop in the past week, jotting down notes every once in a while, and asking him simple questions on his daily regimen. It took him awhile to catch up to her words and answer, making her giggle at his dazed expression.   “Are you sure you’re alright? Do you think you might need a look at your head?” She teases him when she is done with the check-up.   Yixing stutters, his cheeks turning pink from being flustered. “I-It’s just… You’re—” He wonders if he should be truthful, and then wonders why he even had to wonder about that. “You’re really pretty, Nurse Jung.”   “Why thank you, Mr. Zhang. You’re quite an attractive man yourself. Now, bring this slip to the pharmacy and they’ll get the medications ready for payment.” She begins to move around him, cleaning up and disposing of the soiled dressings. As she wipes down the low stool with an alcohol swab, he speaks again, causing her to still her movements.   “Will I get to see you again?”   It was meant to have been a question in his head, but apparently, his mouth had a brain of its own, shocking both the nurse and Yixing himself. He brings a hand up to cover his mouth when he realized what just happened.   Nurse Jung chuckles at his expression and then returns it with a rather affectionate smile.   “Only if you want to.” “Baby,” Yixing hears the girl calling out for him from their living room. He turns his head to the bedroom door as he s his uniform.   He had just arrived home from a deployment training in the States, and he is dying to have a long, warm shower. He hums in response as he watches his wife lean on the doorframe.   It has already been six years since he had gotten to know her; five of which they have spent as husband and wife, and yet he still loves to admire her healthy figure. She is wearing his favorite baseball jersey with a pair of booty shorts, showing off her honey thighs for only his eyes to see. He sees her calculating eyes, as if preparing herself to say something.   “What do you want for your birthday?” She questions, walking closer towards him so that she could help him take off his shirt. Her hands are warm against his chest. Maybe he can have her under the shower with him, he thinks.   Also, he remembers that his birthday is still a long way from now, roughly in another eight months.   Yixing watches her for a minute, contemplating whether he wanted to be romantic or y.   “The only present I want is for you to always be by my side.” He tells her, his arms moving to wrap around her waist, bringing her even closer.   She smiles at him, although he could see the tinge of disappointment hidden behind her eyes. Yixing caught the hint that his answer wasn’t the one that she was hoping for. Yixing panics a little in his mind, wondering if she had actually wanted him to initiate something more ual.   But his worries are soon replaced with relief when he notices her seeking out his eyes, instead of turning away from him as she usually would when she gets disappointed with him.   “Are you sure you only want me? For the rest of your life?”   Okay, maybe it was a little too early for him to feel relieved. Why would she suddenly ask him such a question? Hasn’t that already been answered when he promised his life to her on the day they exchanged their vows?   “Y-yes?” He replied, now unsure if that was the answer she wanted earlier.   There is a slight change in her eyes, looking a little cheekier with a teasing glint. “Really? Is that your final answer?”   Unable to handle the doubt, Yixing exasperates.  “Sweetheart, please. What’s wrong?”   Haneul rests her chin on his shoulder. He feels the slight tremor in her spine when he places a cold hand on the small of her back. Her lips graze his ear as she whispered. “Well then, I guess I’ll have to tell little baby Xing that he can’t come out yet because his father isn’t expecting him.”   Yixing feels his world come to an abrupt stop. His ears are ringing, and he can only stare intently at the pastel blue wall in front of him. He swears his heart had stopped beating for a few seconds.   And then he feels movement from the girl, who had pushed herself lightly off him, leaving her hands on his chest as she looks up at him.   “Yixing? Did you hear what I said?”   Her husband nods slowly, still doubting her words. “Say it again. I feel like I’m in a dream.”   She giggles at his dazed expression.   “I said,” she repeats with mock frustration. “I’ll have to tell our little baby Xing that he can’t come out in the next 9 months because his daddy isn’t ready for him.”   A smile breaks out on his face as he finally takes in her words. Haneul grins back, happy that he wasn’t having a panic attack.   “A-Are you sure? When did you get checked?” He asks. He needs to make sure that this really is happening before he gets his head too high up in the clouds.   “I’ve been feeling nauseous the past few days and I’m already a week late from my usual period timing. I had a hunch when I made an appointment with the gynecologist, and when she checked the signs, she confirmed that I’m really pregnant.” She told him, bringing her arms to wrap around his neck. “You’re going to be a father, Oppa.”   He nods, this time more resolutely. “How far along are you now?”   She quickly counts the days in her head. “Three weeks.”   “That means I scored the night before my flight to the US.”   She laughs at his comment.   “Yeah, you sure did.”   She sighs at the question.   The news really does travel fast. She remembers only telling her husband of the pregnancy, but the next thing she knows, both their families and friends are congratulating them.   Two days later, her mom makes an appearance at their house and begins nagging and advising them on all the dos and don’ts while in pregnancy.   “Has he?” Her mother asks again.   “Has he what?” Another voice joins in on the conversation. Haneul turns to see her husband finally out of bed, hair slightly ruffled and sleep still crusted on his eyes. “Hi, mom. What brings you here so early in the morning?”   She forces herself not to roll her eyes in front of her mother as she speaks. “It’s almost noon, Yixing. Come sit.” She patted the empty space on the sofa beside her. He moves to occupy the space, immediately latching onto her hand and bringing it to rest on his lap. Both of them sat facing her mother.   “I was asking her if you’ve been drinking the tonic I bought for you. Have you?” The lady eyes the couple.   “Yes, mom. I’ve been taking them daily like you asked me to. I even made an alarm to remind me every day to drink it in the evening.”   The elderly woman claps in joy. “I knew it was because of the tonic!” She turns to her daughter then, playfully giving the younger one the stink eyes. “And you didn’t believe me when I said it works! Who’s the pregnant one now?”   “Yes, mother. I was wrong. I’m sorry.” She sighs, knowing that her mother loved being right all the time.
“Now, remember what I told you about your food intake…” Her mother continues from where she had earlier stopped at.   Yixing watches his wife in amusement, rubbing a soothing hand up and down her back as she grudgingly sits and listens to her mother’s wise words.   “Are you sure you’ll be okay? We don’t have to attend this, you know. I can just tell them that you need more rest.”   “I’m fine, babe. Now come on, I miss being out and about.”   Haneul opens the car door and slowly slides out of her seat. She looks down at the small baby bump she is now sporting, hidden under the baggy t-shirt she chose for the occasion.   She has been waiting for this annual occasion, giving her the rare chance of mingling with Yixing’s fellow platoon mates and their families. It is only during the Marines’ Family Day gathering that she really gets to spend time with all of them present. After being introduced to Yixing’s ‘second family’ – as he always refers them as—a few weeks into their relationship, she grew close to a couple of his friends, as well as their wives. However, with her ever-demanding job as a full-time nurse, and their constantly busy schedule as full-time housewives, she doesn’t get much opportunity to meet them as frequently as she wishes to.   This year, the scene was set overlooking the Han river, with dozens of tents pitched up, and a buffet table ready to serve by the time she arrives. Yixing wraps an arm around her waist to guide her through the crowd of running kids and fellow Marines with their families, ushering her towards a large, bright orange tent near the trees. From the distance, she slowly makes out the familiar faces that were hanging around under the shade.   Haneul speeds up her walk a little, making her husband chuckle at her enthusiasm. She didn’t care that he was laughing at her, she just continues forward, using a hand to pull him with her. A head turns from the group, a smile on their face. Haneul waves at the person, glad that she had urged Yixing to attend this year’s Family Day.   “Haneul! You made it!” The woman brings Haneul into a hug, to which she returns with the same amount of pressure.   “Of course I did. I wouldn’t miss this for the world!” She replies, grinning.   “Hey Joohyun,” Yixing greets the third party after the two ladies had pulled away from the hug.   “Morning, First Sergeant!” She chirps, raising a hand to salute him.   Yixing flushes a little at the title, especially since this was an informal gathering. “I told you not to call me that when we’re not at work.” He nods at her salute either way.   Joohyun smiles sheepishly, having forgotten about it time and again. She grins at him. “Have you been taking good care of my dear Haneul? You know I won’t stand aside if you don’t treat her well!” She threatens her sergeant.   “I’m sure he’d win you in physical fights, so that threat won’t work on him.” A tan male walks up to her left, coming to stand beside Haneul. “Hey sis-in-law.”   “Hi, Jongin. How have you been?” She questions good-heartedly.   “Well you know, the same. Seulgi’s been complaining about her third pregnancy. She’s blaming me again for making her pregnant. Can you believe it? I mean, it takes two people to make a baby!” He pouts.   Haneul giggles at his words, already used to the way he treats her like his own elder sister, always coming to her to complain about his wife.   “By the way, though, congratulations! Is what I wanted to say in the first place.” He has a smug look on his face. It earns a hit on his arm. “Hey! I’m really happy you’re finally getting with the band of pregnant ladies!” He teases before running back to his wife who had been sitting peacefully under the shaded tree, rubbing on the growing belly.   Haneul moves forward, along with Yixing and Joohyun, the three of them joining the rest of the group. After the usual gree