“Don’t degrade her to an item,” Jongin warned.

Mina held her hands up in surrender. “I’m not insulting anyone.”

“I’ll take my car,” Jongin negotiated.

“Nope, mine,” Mina insisted with head held high. “Or I won’t tell you where she is.”

Jongin glared at her. How could Mina use his weakness so well that she could make him bend to her will?

Gritting his teeth, he stomped toward her car and yanked the door open. Grinning victoriously, Mina slid into the driver’s seat.

“It seems forever since we’ve been alone like this, don’t you agree?” Mina asked when they were finally down the street.

“We’re not exactly doing anything memorable,” Jongin muttered.

“Cheer up, Jongin,” Mina encouraged. “You could at least pretend to miss me.”

“I’m not really in the mood to be affectionate.” Jongin glanced at her irritably.

“Not even when you’re on the way to see your mistress?” Mina raised a brow coyly.

“You know better than anyone else that she’s not,” Jongin said. “Don’t piss me off.”

“Don’t be so sensitive, Jongin,” Mina lightheartedly told not swayed by his mood. “Don’t you know I just want to be with you for a while?” Looking at him innocently she told, “You should feel sorry for me.”

He still glared though with some doubt in his head. Was she being nice or was she playing with him? If she was being honest he should feel guilty.

Mina pulled up to the hotel venue. He glanced at her warily to make sure she wasn’t playing games with him.

She wasn’t.

Loud music pounded against the walls shaking the floors as she led him into a large carpeted room. A makeshift stage was set up and models were practicing their walk across the stage. Hips swaying, eyes sharply focused, expressions taut as they crossed the platform. Stopping at the front to pose before returning. Lights were flashing across the incomplete stage. Curtains still needed to be draped and the stage needed dressing for the fashion show.

“Your lover is right over there,” Mina directed. He looked to the far left to see Namjoo standing by the back of the stage with Taesong. Nodding fervently as he explained something to her.

Mina gripped onto his sleeve in case he bolted away from her. “Why don’t you wait to see if she notices you first?”

He thought about lunch. About being upset with her. On the way home, he had tried to come up with things he might say when he saw her. Now he couldn’t remember any of it.

He just hoped that Namjoo would want to go home with him.

֎֎֎֎֎

“Chairs will be decked out on both sides. VIPs get front seats,” Taesong mapped out the final draft of the room for her to imagine. “Oh, and right over there. I think someone’s here for you.”

Namjoo’s head moved from one side to another as Taesong snapped his hand and called out for a bottle of water. Over the tempo of the music she could hardly concentrate on anything else. Taesong’s staff was all over the room. 40% of them in headsets and murmuring into their mics. Hurrying back and forth to ensure the safety of the stage to checking the audio that she was confident was perfectly tuned just five minutes ago. Then she recognized Jongin who had suddenly popped up out of nowhere. Next to Mina.

Instantly assuming he had come as a pair with her to provoke her. Why was Jongin with her? Namjoo quickly sought her memory wondering if she had seen Mina here earlier or not. How long had he been with her? She worried, flashed with jealousy.

“Here,” Taesong held out a bottle of water. “Bring it to Jongin.”

Namjoo stared it. Unable to think. Picturing the many things Jongin may have done with Mina before he got her pregnant. There it was again. Feeling hurt and then jealous because Jongin didn’t stop Mina from entering his life.

“Take it,” Taesong urged again. “Unless you want to lose.”

Snatching the water bottle Namjoo clutched it in her hands. Pressing her lips together thinking about lunch and her mistake for not picking up Jongin’s phone call. Looking at Mina beside Jongin she bolted forward. Annoyed with the sight of Mina, the ex who just couldn’t seem to leave her alone. Namjoo was irritated with her and didn’t think she had ever disliked someone so much before. If she wanted to bite her bone Namjoo would bite right back.

Look at me she mentally chanted as she strutted toward them. Stopping in front of Jongin she grabbed his hand, threw a glance Mina’s way, and handed him the water bottle. “I brought water.”

When Jongin’s eyes landed on her, her heartbeat fell in sync with the pounding bass beating against the walls. If he as so much looked away from her she would be angry.

“Mina!” Taesong clapped his hands as he came up behind her. “Why, I thought you were here already.”

“I was held back by something I wanted to take care of,” Mina smiled cheerily.

“Since you’ve arrived, why won’t you try out the stage?” Taesong suggested. “Your first walkway, right?”

“Yes, I’d love to,” Mina beamed then glanced Jongin’s way. “My first walkway. It’s all I’ve been waiting for.”

“Stairs are at the back right,” Taesong directed jutting a thumb back. Without even giving them a last glance Mina bounced off like a happy puppy. Giving them a glance, he said, “I still have some work to tend to, so I’ll take my leave. Good night, guys.”

With a wave and a smug grin he walked off leaving them alone. The tense air suddenly misted with awkwardness. Allowing their surroundings to fade into the background they turned to each other saying in unison, “Lets go home.”

Their eyes widened in blissful surprise that they were thinking the same. Breathing a smile, Namjoo felt shy all of a sudden. They should be over this already but clearly, they were still new at this.

“Lets go,” Jongin said as he turned toward the doors. Namjoo followed wanting to ask why he had come or more like, she wanted to know why he had come with Mina. She didn’t. Hearing it would ruin the mood. She didn’t want to be upset.

Outside Jongin held his hand out for the keys. “I’ll drive home.”

“I didn’t drive,” Namjoo said, which brought them to a halt. “Taesong gave me a ride.”

“Then where’s your car?” he asked.

“At work.” Namjoo replied then asked, “Where’s yours?”

“Well,” he said, “at home.”

They stared at each other for a silent second figuring out a solution to their situation.

“Then I guess we’ll have to take a cab,” Namjoo concluded. Hiding her happiness that the evening was stretching out for them. They needn’t call it a night so fast. She didn’t think they had spent such time after work hours together without worrying about dinner before.

“It seems like it.” Jongin agreed. “We could walk for a bit.”

This was nice. Peacefully walking with him felt like walking into the sunset. Her heart thud a little harder. Their arms brushing, hands so close to touching.

Namjoo stole a glance at him wondering if he was upset with her about what had happened during lunch. Needing to ask but then thinking it probably didn’t matter to him the way it did her. Perhaps she was really overreacting.

They walked in silence. Absorbed in her own thoughts Namjoo pondered over telling him about the baby. Maybe in the end they wouldn’t end up living together, but he had given her the chance to be a mother. She had to be thankful to him, too. While they were still together she should at least cherish these tranquil moments. When they were unhindered by outsiders. When the world revolved around just the two of them. It would be a nice memory for Jongin she hoped.

“The baby,” Namjoo spoke up, “is growing.”

He looked at her curiously making her heart throb. The anticipation pounding through his body stood out so visibly in his irises. Suddenly Namjoo recalled why she had liked him so hard so long ago. There was a unique way his eyes flickered with lights when he laughed. She had felt it with her entire body when she first saw it, as if he had been sharing his feelings with her even from worlds away.

It had made her feel special.

Namjoo nearly shied. Overcome with these nostalgic feelings hitting her full force. “Do you want to touch it?”

His eyes drifted to her mid-section then to her face. A smile threatening to slip across his eager expression. “Can I?”

She nodded. They stopped walking. Her breathing picked up. Heavily. Nervous. Anxious. Somewhat excited. Knowing she was sharing this once in a lifetime moment with him. She watched him place his hand over her belly. Cupping the tiny bump into his palm and witness the smile of amazement sweep his lips open.

Something about this was so profound. Strangely, Namjoo was deeply touched she could have laid her head on his shoulder and cried tears of happiness. The baby was so much more than a fetus growing inside her.

“It grew,” he said in a whisper his eyes meeting hers.

The baby was a miracle that let her have all her firsts.

֎֎֎֎֎

Namjoo was up first the next morning. With her hair knotted back though some strands were loose. He had woken up regretfully lying in bed. Now that he had washed and brushed his teeth he stood by the wall watching her make breakfast.

She belonged here with him. They could do this every morning for the rest of his life. With his little daughter running around. Playing with her dolls or making them tea in her little plastic cups. His home could be littered with her toys and he wouldn’t think any less of it.

They had literally eloped without a marriage license. Did Namjoo realize it? The thought amused him.

All that was left was asking her to marry him, but he wanted her love first and foremost. He worried about Seojun who hadn’t seemed to have made his exit from her life. Namjoo wouldn’t have gotten over him. She probably couldn’t if he kept his presence around her.

What could he do about it?

If he brought up yesterday this morning, he would just upset Namjoo. He didn’t want her stressed. It was bad for the baby.

His attention came to when Namjoo let out a yelp.

“Goodness! How long have you been standing there?” she breathed with a hand to her chest. “I thought you were still sleeping.”

Shrugging he walked into the kitchen. “I was pretty loud don’t you think?”

Namjoo frowned at him then snapped, “Get the plates.”

“If you ask nicely.” He teased. She lifted the spatula in her hand to warn him. Jongin simply laughed the threat off. “As if you would.”

After breakfast, he watched her drive off before heading to work. Jongin made a quick stop at the store on his way home. Browsing the aisles. Listening to the murmur of mothers; the unknown baby language from a twelve-month-old baby as he passed the clothes section. Drowning in the scent of babies until he came across a set of shoes that made him smile.

Neither he nor Namjoo had spoken about a nursery for the baby. They hadn’t even bought a bottle to prepare for what was to come. If they were closer, if their circumstances were a little different and he actually did know her they would have a set list. Sadly, they were still clueless. Cooped up in their own lives while trying to find a balance with the baby. Trying to make everything work out positively, but truly they were going nowhere.

They had a relationship, but it couldn’t be defined. Did she have feelings for him? He couldn’t tell. They had kissed, but then what? Nothing came next. Nothing had happened. He hadn’t even told her he liked her yet.

What if he did? He had no idea of her reaction.

Could they make something out of this?

He wanted to. He really, really wanted to.

֎֎֎֎֎

Jongin was the last to arrive home. Namjoo’s shoes were by the door but she wasn’t in the kitchen or on the couch. He found her in the bedroom taking a nap. He wanted to creep in alongside her. Just lay in the silence and wait for night to darken. Instead, he walked in to adjust her head on the pillow and pull the blanket over her. Full of soft feelings for her he instead prioritized dinner. Namjoo’s needs would come first and then he’d surprise her.

Leaving her he started on dinner while waiting for her to wake up. An hour later Namjoo woke up and sat down at the table ready to be served. Her hair was tousled and her eyes puffy.

“Good sleep?” he asked.

“Why didn’t you wake me?” she grumbled.

“Here.” He opened the fridge to get her her glass of water. “Your voice is hoarse.”

“Are you done yet?”

“You’re lucky,” he beamed, “I am.”

Her eyes lit up at his answer and he breathed a laugh. He set the plates and joined her to eat their hearty meal.

“I have something for you,” he said.

“What is it?” she asked combing through her plate.

“I’ll give it to you after you shower.” He promised.

“Why not now?” she looked at him.

“Because I say so.”

She eyed him suspiciously. “You’re not pulling a prank?”

He laughed, amused. “You’ll like it.”

“That means you’ll wash the dishes?” Namjoo mischievously asked.

“You do it. I cooked,” Jongin said. “It needs to be fair.”

Namjoo made another face at him. He did make her wash dishes and after she showered he made her wait for him. When he stepped out Namjoo was knocked out again. He would have carried her to bed, but he needed to do this tonight.

“Hey, wake up,” he gently shook her knee.

Opening her eyes Namjoo quickly sat up wiping her nonexistent drool. Urgently asking, “What? What happened?”

She was so adorable he couldn’t help but laugh at her. Touching her hand, he assured, “Nothing.”

Deeply sighing as she relaxed she murmured, “Oh…” then her eyes finally landed on him to see him crouching in front of her. “What’s going on?”

“I bought something today,” Jongin started. Taking the paper bag from beside him he placed it on her lap.

Namjoo peered at the bag and stared at the store logo. Looking at him incredulous, she asked, “You went to a baby store?”

All he did was grin. He wanted to wait for her reaction first.

“So, it’s not a trick,” Namjoo said more to herself than him.

Reaching inside she glanced at him. He caught the hint of wonder in her eyes when she finally touched the material inside. Looking away Namjoo pulled a pair of tiny newborn shoes out of the bag. Pleasant surprise lit her eyes and he swore for a moment he saw tears twinkle there.

“It’s the first gift from daddy to baby,” Jongin proudly claimed.

“The baby won’t be able to walk yet.” She looked at him like he was silly.

“I’ll buy her as many shoes regardless,” Jongin happily said and listened to her laugh at him this time.

 “This is really sweet.” Her eyes flittered down to the shoes she was still holding. Eyes on him she thanked, “Thanks, Jongin.”

Leaning up he gave her a kiss. Yearning for her tender mouth and the love she could give him. Moving a breadth back to let her lips linger he opened his eyes to look at her. He brushed his thumb against her temple feeling his heart cry out.

“After Taesong’s show, there’s something I want to tell you,” he told. Forcing himself to end it with a smile he moved back. “I’m going to go sleep now. If you want to, stay up for a few minutes.”

Rising to his feet he walked away. Determined.

֎֎֎֎֎

Jongin had been in high spirits since giving her those baby shoes. She couldn’t imagine what was going through his mind. She also had no idea what he intended to tell her after the fashion show. As the day arrived Namjoo became more worried over what kinds of things Mina would pull. If she saw Jongin or managed to be alone with him made Namjoo nervous.

“You know how to fix a tie?” Jongin broke into her thoughts.

Turning away from the window Namjoo watched him walk out of the bedroom in a formal suit. Appearing suave. He’d make any woman’s heart race. Just walking up to her made her hold her breath. In his hand was a sharp red tie.

“I’m not good at it,” Namjoo quietly told.

Touching her hand, he slipped the fabric into her palm. Hands at his back he said, “Only my mom has done it for me, but she’s not here. I never had anyone else do it for me. You’re my first.”

“I’m not…” Namjoo tried again but he pressed his lips together, stood with shoulders straight, and pushed his chest out. Firm about her doing it. Left with no option, Namjoo twiddled with the tie before linking it around his neck. It was one thing she wasn’t skilled at and she didn’t want Jongin walking out looking like a fool because of her.

Connecting the tie around loopholes was the easy part but when it came to the knot…that was the difficult part. Namjoo struggled. After several attempts she gave up and looked up at Jongin to await his evaluation. He took one glance at the skewed knot and glanced at her accusingly.

Namjoo couldn’t help but burst out laughing as she touched the bundled tie apologetically. Jongin scoffed, “You are bad.”

“You’re not going to go looking like this, are you?” Namjoo asked.

The doorbell chimed and Jongin glanced at the door. He looked at her with a grin, “He’ll fix it.”

***ahhh...Finally! the fashion show! the other turning point of the story I have planned for so long!!! and good moments coming up ;DD