The apartment was silent for minutes and Hyojin knew that she had messed up. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, quickly lifting Hyun Tae’s body off hers as she rushed into her bedroom, closing and locking the door behind her. She heard footsteps on the other side and she could hear Hyun Tae’s bedroom door opened, realizing that Jaebum had carried the child to his bed. Moments later, she heard knocking on her own door.

 

“Hyojin?” his voice was soft. “Please open the door,” his voice sounded desperate.

 

“You don’t have to keep helping us with everything,” she said, sliding down against the door to hug her knees. “I know that this...it’s not ideal. I have a five year old son, and getting in a relationship with me means having a relationship with my son as well,”

 

“Hyojin, please let me explain myself,” a pause, “face to face. Please?” Hyojin turned around, unlocking the door but not moving to open it. The door opened a little, Jaebum’s face partially visible through the crack. “Can I come in?” A nod. Jaebum slid in through the crack, closing the door as he sat next to Hyojin on the floor, shoulder to shoulder, raising his knees to copy her position.

 

“I’m sorry,” the girl whispered, looking straight ahead. Unlike the rest of her apartment, Hyojin’s room was entirely white, from the bed sheets to the furniture to the curtains. The simplicity of the color reminded her of the purity of the world each night before bed, reminding her that everything would work out.

 

Everything would turn out okay.

 

“Why are you apologizing?” Jaebum asked, leaning the side of his face on his knees to look at the girl next to him. “I should be saying sorry,”

 

“You should never be sorry for the way you feel - or don’t feel,”

 

“But I do feel the same way,” he whispered, watching the girl as her eyes widening, turning her head to look at Jaebum. “I like you. A lot,” he started, his voice still as soft as ever, “but I’m scared. What I feel for you, I’ve never felt something this strong for you. And not just you, but Hyun Tae. I want to protect him from anything bad that could ever happen,”

 

Hyojin’s face softened, wanting to pull him closer to her. No one has ever said something that like. She had gone on many first dates after having Hyun Tae, but never got a call back when they noticed that the kid that was her wallpaper wasn’t her nephew.

 

“Growing up, my parents fought a lot. It went on for years before they finally got divorced and even then they still fought a lot. Who would take care Jaebum this weekend? I have to work late, can you pick him up from school? Did you feed him dinner? I heard that all the time after the divorce and it wasn’t until after high school I got away from it. I went into the academy after graduation, and although I don’t talk to my parents now, they had ruined the concept of marriage for me. I’ve dated, but it was never serious for me. I couldn’t see myself with someone only to get divorced, and putting another innocent kid through what I went through,” he took a deep breath, before continuing. “And then I met you. I don’t open up to people. I have 6 friends, and that’s it, no one else that I want. I date girls, and when we break up because we’re on different pages, I don’t feel anything. But then, I met you and Hyun Tae,”

 

“We’re not something special,” she mumbled, looking away to hide her blush.

 

“That’s what you think, but you two are something that are absolutely extraordinary. I was drawn to you, I wanted to know you guys. You guys made me want more. You taught me that I don’t need a reason to smile. I can smile if I want to, it doesn’t matter. I know the names of all the Power Rangers. I didn’t even know what a Power Ranger was three months ago,” he chuckled. “Hyojin, you and Hyun Tae have taught me what it means to have a family, and I want that. I want a family,” he wrapped his arms around the girl. “I want you to be my family,”

 

“I want you to be my family too,” Hyojin whispered, raising her arms to wrap around his neck. “I think I’m in love with you,” she said, realizing what she said giving her a mini-heart attack. “I think,” she repeated.

 

“Good, because I’m in love with you too,” Jaebum chuckled, bringing her to sit on his thighs as his arms wrapped around his waist. “You and Hyun Tae,”

 

“Everyone loves him more than me,” she chuckled, leaning her head against his.

 

“I think I might love you just a tiny bit more,” he winked.

 

“And why would that be?” she asked, genuinely wondering.

 

“Because I can’t do this to him,” Jaebum’s eyes closed, leaning towards her but stopping right before they could touch her lips. Hyojin smiled, closing her eyes as she closed the distance between the two, bringing his body closer to him.

 

“Does this mean you’ll go out with me?”

 

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One little innocent kiss turned into a thousand other ones and the two eventually found themselves on the bed, where they talked and shared more kisses before falling asleep together, Hyojin’s head on Jaebum’s chest, his arm around her body. They were only sleeping for about 45 minutes when her door opened, Hyun Tae walking in, rubbing his left eye with his teddy bear in his right arm. “Mommy?” he called, walking closer to the bed. Hyojin opened her eyes, blinking a few times so her vision would clear.

 

“What happened, baby?” she said, removing Jaebum’s arms so she could get up. “Are you okay?” she felt Hyun Tae’s forehead, frowning as it was a bit too warm.

 

“I’m cold and it hurts everywhere,” he frowned, his face flushed. “Can I sleep with you?”

 

“Of course, baby, but you need to eat something first so I can give you medicine,” Hyojin said.

 

He shook his head in refusal. “Not hungry,”

 

“How about you take a little nap while I make some yummy chicken noodle soup. You like that, right?” The child nodded. “Good boy. Hey, you wanna sleep next to Officer Jaebum?” she asked, knowing that neither the child nor the man would object. A slightly more energetic nod came from the child and he climbed into the bed, instantly clinging to the man’s body that was radiating heat. Jaebum shifted, opening an eye to see the child next to him, and looked up at Hyojin. She mouthed him not to worry and go back to sleep, and he didn’t think twice of it as he closed his eyes, adjusting the blanket to tuck Hyun Tae. Hyojin quietly left the room, going to the bathroom first to quickly wash up before walking into the kitchen.

 

It was only 7 AM and she could hear the birds chirping as she took out a pot to make soup. While letting the soup cook, she opened the medicine cabinet and took out the medicine for Hyun Tae, placing it on a tray. After thinking for a moment, she quickly decided to make some eggs for Jaebum, knowing that he would wake up when she would have to wake up her son. After everything was done cooking, she plated the food and placed them on the tray, heading back to her room.

 

Hyun Tae was on his side with Jaebum’s body behind him, holding the child to his chest as if it were a teddy bear, and Hyojin smiled, knowing this was a sight that she wanted to see everyday. She placed the tray on her bedside table, quietly taking a picture with her phone to set as her phone wallpaper, giggling to herself. She then sat on the bed, shaking Hyun Tae slightly. “Hyunnie, come on. Let’s eat a little and have some medicine,” she said. After a few minutes, she had managed to wake him, as well as Jaebum, up. She laid down next to Hyun Tae, placing the tray in her lap, handing the plate of toast and scrambled eggs to Jaebum. “Eat up,” she smiled at him who smiled back gratefully as he started eating. “Say ah,” she said to Hyun Tae, who listened, his eyes closed as his head was leaning against the headboard, opening his mouth for the soup. She managed to feed him half the bowl before he turned his head away. “Come on, you have to finish the soup,”

 

“I can’t, Mommy,” the child pouted. “I’m too tired,” Jaebum handed Hyojin his empty plate and took the bowl of soup from her.

 

“You know, when I was your age,” Jaebum started, lifting a spoonful of the liquid, “I also hated eating soup when I was sick,”

 

“Really?” Hyun Tae turned his body to fully face the man next to him.

 

“But because I didn’t have my soup, I would be sick for so many days and I didn’t get to play with my friends,”

 

“But I want to play with my friends,” the child pouted, eyeing the bowl. “I can have more soup,” he nodded, leaning forward and opening his mouth, allowing Jaebum to feed him the rest of the soup. Hyojin chuckled at the man who only winked at her before turning his attention to Hyun Tae, not letting him miss one drop of the soup, wiping the drop of soup from the child’s lip. Hyojin got up from the bed, taking the dirty dishes back to the kitchen to wash them, leaving Jaebum to give Hyun Tae his medicine as well. She was just drying her hands when she felt a strong pair of arms wrap around her waist from behind, Jaebum’s chin on her shoulder.

 

“He ate his medicine and fell right back to sleep,”

 

“Thank you,” Hyojin sighed, leaning back against his touch.

 

“Of course,” he smiled, rubbing his thumb against her hand. “Anything for my girlfriend,”

 

The word girlfriend caused butterflies to fly around in Hyojin’s stomach and she couldn’t help but smile.

 

“I’m going to go back to my apartment,” Jaebum went on, instantly wiping away her smile.

 

“Oh,” she tried not to sound disappointed, but failed. “Okay, no problem,”

 

“Don’t be sad,” Jaebum chuckled, the vibrations from his chest moving against Hyojin’s body. “I have to go to work, and I want to change and shower before I go in. Sleeping in jeans, not the most comfortable,” he turned Hyojin so she was facing him now. “But I’ll see you guys later?”

 

“Sure, if you want,” she tried not to sound so desperate, knowing damn well that she really wanted him to stay here with her.

 

“Don’t play so hard to get, you’re already my girlfriend,” he smirked, pressing a light kiss against her lips.

 

“Don’t get so cocky,” she mirrored his smirk. “My son is my first love and he’s pretty damn cute,” she continued, causing Jaebum to laugh.

 

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“Senior Officer Im?” the young intern spoke softly, refusing to make eye contact with the older man. “The captain would like to see you in his office,” she took a step back, anticipating his harsh words that would come in the form of a question that she didn’t have the answers to.

 

“Okay,” he replied, standing up. “Here, why don’t you take my card and buy coffee for everyone in the precinct. Get something for yourself too,” he said, holding out his card to the intern who stared at the piece of plastic in confusion.

 

“You want me…to buy coffee? For everybody?” she asked, pointing at his card as if it were poisonous. “Yeah, I, uh, I can do that. Of course, sir,” she reached for the card and looked back up at the man that never spoke to her unless if it were to question why the captain was summoning him. “Sir, I’m sorry for invading her privacy, but are you okay?”

 

“I spent the night with my girlfriend and her son and cuddled with them as we slept. What would be wrong with me?” he flashed her a smile before he walked to the captain’s office, leaving the intern there in utter confusion.

 

“Good morning, Captain,” Jaebum greeted, taking a seat in front of the desk, causing the older man to shift his eyes from the file in front of him to the officer.

 

“Who the hell are you and what have you done with Senior Officer Im?” the captain moved his glasses further down his nose.

 

“Hilarious,” Jaebum replied, snickering.

 

“I’m serious,” the captain was confused. He had never seen Jaebum laugh or smile in his entire career. Even when they went out for dinner, the man stayed neutral, refusing to drink alcohol while everyone got drunk. “What’s wrong with you? Did fall in the shower and hit your head,”

 

“I’m fine, sir,”

 

“I have never seen you smile until that museum with the single mother - ” the captain paused. “Has anything new happened in your personal life, Senior Officer Im?”

 

“In my personal life, outside of work, yes,” Jaebum replied. “What was the reason that you called me into your office?”

 

The captain cleared his throat, knowing that anything that he wanted to know would be impossible to find out now. “It’s about the homicide case you’re working on. Our main suspect, Go Daebong, is MIA. He didn’t show up for questioning this morning and even his lawyer has not heard from him. His passport was taken from the court, but he still has his money. He’s going to run, but somewhere in Korea,” a pause. “He knows your name and face, as well as the fact that you’re the lead on this case,”

 

“You think he’s going to come after me?” Jaebum asked. “He’s not that stupid,”

 

“No, but he is angry,” the captain replied. “The CEO of one of Korea’s largest electronic companies was murdered and his son is the main suspect. All DNA evidence will point to him, and he knows that. You have to be careful,”

 

“Sir, thank you for your concern, but I highly doubt that,” Jaebum rolled his eyes.

 

“I’m not taking a chance and then dealing with the death of one of Seoul’s finest senior officers. You are to report to the safe house by tomorrow morning and - ”

 

“No,”

 

“This is a command, Jaebum, not an offer, and if I were you, I would take it a little more serious. Just until Go Daebong is found and we take him into custody,” Jaebum clenched his jaw, but knew that although his captain often made his job difficult due to his stubbornness, he didn’t worry needlessly.

 

“Alright,” Jaebum stood up. “I’ll be there tomorrow morning, but I am to be kept in the loop of what’s happening. I am the lead on that case,” he said before exiting the office.

 

The captain closed his eyes, leaning against his chair for a few moments when there was knocking on the door. “Come in,” he called, and the intern walked in, a coffee cup in her hand. “I didn’t order anything,” he said, sitting up straight.

 

“Senior Officer Im had me get coffee for everybody with his credit card,” the intern explained, handing him the cup. “Sir, can I ask you a question?” she said, taking a seat. The captain gestured her to continue, taking a sip of the drink. “Is Senior Officer Im okay? He didn’t yell at me when I told him you want him in your office, then gave me his card and told me coffee for everyone would be his treat! He even smiled! And when I asked him if he was okay, he said how he was perfectly fine because he spent the night with his girlfriend and her son!”

 

The captain spat his drink on the desk in front of him in shock. “Senior Officer Im has a girlfriend?!”

 

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It was 2PM in the afternoon when Hyojin’s phone rang. She had just finished bathing Hyun Tae and fed him lunch and tucked him back into bed, closing the door as she answered the phone. “Hello?”

 

“Ms. Cha Hyojin?” a deep voice spoke on the other end.

 

“Yes, this is her. Who is calling?”

 

“This is Captain Park. I actually work at the precinct that dealt with your son’s case from the museum?”

 

“Ah,” Hyojin nodded to herself. “How can I help you?”

 

“As Captain, I am Senior Officer Im’s boss. I have just been informed that the two of you are in a relationship. Is that true?”

 

“Uh,” Hyojin was unsure how to reply. Why would his boss care about Jaebum’s personal life. “I’m not sure what Jaebum’s personal life has to do with his job. I can guarantee you that he does not slack off at his job, no matter his relationship status,”

 

The elder chuckled before he spoke. “I am not here to investigate your relationship with him. The reason why I am asking is because Jaebum is to report to a safe house by tomorrow morning. The main suspect of the homicide case that he is the lead on is currently on the run, and for his own safety, I am taking precautions. Since you are in a relationship with him, and I am aware that you have a young son, I would like to ask you to report to the safe house as well with your child. The suspect is proven to be violent and would stoop as low to resort to hurting those around Jaebum as well. I would like you to stay at home for the rest of the day as well, do not open the door for anyone unless it is someone that you know. While these concerns of mine may scare you, Ms. Cha, I hope that my paranoia stays this way. I would rather take precautions and have nothing bad happen then do nothing and regret it later. I hope you understand?”

 

Hyojin was shocked, frozen in her spot as she was comprehending the words. “Ah, yes, of course sir,” she managed to mutter.

 

“Senior Officer Im will be at the safe house with you, and we will stay in touch with you. For now, I will be sending someone to your apartment building just to keep an eye for the day just for safety,” he stopped in his words for a few moments, thinking of how to lighten the mood to comfort the young mother. “I am happy that you are in a relationship with Jaebum. He seems different. Happier,”

 

“I doubt that’s because of me,” Hyojin chuckled.

 

“You are something special, Ms. Cha. Take care of Senior Officer Im, as well as yourself,” he bid goodbye before hanging up. Hyojin sat on the couch for a few moments as she processed everything before walking into her bedroom, pulling out a duffel bag to pack clothes and toiletries that she would need. She wasn’t sure how long she would be staying, but packed enough for a week before walking into Hyun Tae’s room and packing his stuff as well. The noise must have woken the boy as he then sat up, rubbing his eyes.

 

“What are you doing, Mommy?” he asked in the middle of his yawn. “Are we going somewhere?”

 

“Yeah, baby. We’re going on…a vacation,” she said.

 

“Does this mean I get to skip school?” the child’s face brightened.

 

“Yes, Hyunnie,” Hyojin laughed, zipping the small bag. “You feel better?” The child nodded, extending his arms for his mother. Hyojin smiled, sitting next to him on the bed. His fever had gone down and some color had returned to his face.

 

“Mommy, is Officer Jaebum your boyfriend?” the child asked.

 

“Are you okay with that?” she asked, her fingers weaving through his hair.

 

“Yes,” the child confirmed. “I like him. Is he going to be my new daddy?” Hyojin wasn’t sure how to answer, and spent a few moments thinking.

 

“I don’t know, baby,” she confessed. She had just started dating the man this morning, and despite her daydreams, it was slightly early to think of marriage.

 

“I want him to be my dad,” Hyun Tae whispered, hugging his mother. “No one else,” Hyojin’s heart melted at his words. She truly had the world’s sweet child as her son.

 

“Lucky for you, he’s going on vacation with us,” Hyojin said, rubbing his back.The mother-son stayed in that position for awhile until Hyun Tae eventually fell asleep again, tired by his slight fever. Hyojin let his lay down properly, leaving his room and going back into the hallway, deciding to clean if they weren't going to be home for a while.

 

‘Everything will be fine, don’t worry, Hyojin,’

 

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“Jaebum, my office,” the captain called from the doorway, walking to his desk. Jaebum stood up confused, the boss never summoned to his office directly. It was always through the intern. “Take a seat,” he gestured, and Jaebum complied.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“You’re dating Cha Hyojin,”

 

“Are you asking or telling me?” the younger cop asked.

 

“I have just spoke to her on the phone. You are to bring her and her son with you to the safe house,” the captain replied. Before Jaebum could object, he continued. “If you two are in a relationship, Go Daebong could harm her or her child just to hurt you. I want to cover all my bases. Are we clear?”

 

“Yes sir.” Jaebum agreed. Even though he didn’t want to admit it, he knew that the senior was right. He checked his watch, he still another three hours before his shift ended.

 

“Don’t worry,” the captain spoke, his eyes on the paper he was reading. “Just go home, report to me in the morning when you arrive at the safe house,”

 

“Thank you, Captain,” he bowed, ready to leave when the elder stopped him.

 

“If Cha Hyojin makes you this happy, never break up with her,” he joked.

 

“I’m not planning to, sir,” Jaebum smiled softly before rushing to his desk to go back to Hyojin and Hyun Tae.

 

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Before going to her apartment, Jaebum stopped at his own apartment, packing a duffel bag, sure to place his service gun at the bottom of the bag, his badge on top before zipping the bag. He then proceeded to take a quick showerm changing into comfortable clothes, not bothering to dry or style his hair before turning off the lights, grabbing his bag to walk next door. Unsure of what she was doing, he put the code in, taking off his shoes and walked inside.

 

“Hyojin?” he called. “Hyun Tae?”

 

“We’re in my room!” he heard the child’s voice and he followed, opening the door to see the young mother sprawled on the tiny bed, Hyun Tae struggling to stay on the bed. “Mommy fell asleep while we were watching cartoons,” he said. “Do you want to watch with me?”

 

“Sure,” Jaebum smiled, walking over. He lifted the child into his arms before sitting on the tiny bed, moving Hyojin over slightly so she was using his right arm as a pillow, while Hyun Tae was in his lap, leaning against the man’s chest as he held the iPad in his hands. Jaebum was intently looking at the screen, just as intrigued as the child was with the animation, that he didn’t even realize that Hyojin woke up.

 

“Good morning, boys,” she said, her voice slightly groggy.

 

“Hi, Mommy,” Hyun Tae mumbled, not paying attention to the woman next to him.

 

“Hey, sleepyhead,” Jaebum greeted her, pressing a soft kiss against the crown of her head. “Had a good nap?” she nodded, closing her eyes as she stretched her arms and let out a yawn.

 

“What time is it now?” she asked, reaching for her phone that had fallen on the floor. “5:30, I should start cooking dinner,” she said, getting off the bed. “Hyun Tae, time to turn off the iPad, you still have a slight fever, and you know the rule: only one hour of electronics,” the child pouted, but complied nonetheless. “Why don’t you play with Jaebum and your toys, and I’ll call you when the food is ready?” she said, looking at the two boys who nodded at her. She left the room, just leaving the two males on the bed.

 

“Are you going to be my new daddy?” Hyun Tae asked. “Mommy said that you’re her boyfriend,” Jaebum spent a few minutes thinking of how to answer the child in a way that he would understand.

 

“You already have a father, Hyun Tae,” Jaebum started, “but if I marry your Mommy, then that makes me your step-father. Just because I’m not your real dad doesn’t mean that I’m going to love you any less than your Mommy or your grandparents or Seon Joo Auntie,” he stopped for a moment, seeing the slight confusion on the child’s face. “Yeah, in a way, I’m gonna be your new daddy,”

 

“Does that mean I have to call you Appa?” the child blinked, and Jaebum’s heart wavered. He never thought he would ever hear someone call him that, and even though Hyun Tae was biologically his, Jaebum planned to make this kid his family.

 

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Jaebum answered. “You can call me whatever you want,”

 

Hyun Tae was quiet for a few moments and Jaebum was hoping that he didn’t upset the child. “I’m going to call you Appa,” the child decided, nodding.

 

“I would like that a lot,” Jaebum smiled, wrapping the child in his arms. “Aren’t you the cutest kid ever?” he joked, ruffling his hair. “Come on, let’s do airplane!” Jaebum lied down on his back, placing the bottom of his feet on the child’s thigh as he raised his legs, holding the child’s hands to support him as the child went up as well, giggling.

 

“I’m flying!” he laughed. Jaebum moved his legs slightly to move the kid, pretending that Hyun Tae was a real airplane when he heard a phone ringing. The ringtone was the one that he had as his default, and he placed the child back down properly before realizing that Hyojin had left her phone in the room. He reached over, holding the phone.

 

Caller ID: Seonnie ♡

 

“It’s Seon Joo Auntie!” the child exclaimed, answering the FaceTime call before Jaebum could react. “Hi, Auntie!” the child smiled brightly, sitting back down on Jaebum’s lap.

 

“If it isn’t for my handsome godson! Look how big you got since the last time I saw you!” she cooed before realizing that she didn’t recognize the background. “Hyun Tae, where are you?”

 

“I’m in my room with Appa!” the child exclaimed, shocking Seon Joo whose mind instantly went to his biological father in England.

 

“Appa?!” she shouted. “Give him the phone,” she said, bracing herself to let out the anger that she had been holding in from the last five years. “Yah, who do you - Senior Officer Im?” she asked, confused to see his face.

 

“Hyun Tae, why don’t you go check if Mommy needs help cooking dinner,” Jaebum said, encouraging the child to leave so Jaebum would have some privacy, grateful that the child complied. “Hello. I should properly introduce myself,” he cleared his throat before continuing, “my name is Im Jaebum, and I am Hyojin’s boyfriend,”

 

“That confessed, thank god!” Seon Joo exclaimed loud enough to make Jaebum wince, chuckling at her word choice. “You’re not messing with me, right?” Jaebum shook his head. “Oh man, stay here. Jinyoung!” she yelled, looking away from the screen. “Get in here! My daughter finally asked out that hot cop!” Jaebum heard footsteps and a masculine voice getting louder.

 

“Wow, little one, I didn’t think you had it in you but - you’re not Hyojin,” Jinyoung said, looking at the screen.

 

“No, I’m the hot cop,” Jaebum replied.

 

“You should’ve told me that he was on the phone,” Jinyoung muttered to his girlfriend before turning his attention back to the phone. “Please excuse the way I spoke, I thought that Seon Joo was speaking to Hyojin,”

 

“It’s quite alright. I see that you are also close to Hyojin and Hyun Tae?”

 

“Yes,” Jinyoung chuckled. “Seon Joo, Hyojin, and I all went to middle and high school together, but it wasn’t until Hyun Tae that we became closer as Seon Joo and I started dating in college, and Hyun Tae is my godson as well,” he explained. “But when did you two become a thing?”

 

“Officially today, but honestly, we’ve been spending a lot time together the past few weeks to just be friends,” Jaebum smiled.

 

“Take good care of her,” Seon Joo finally spoke up. “She’s more than a best friend to me. She’s my sister, no, she’s like my daughter,” despite her playful words, her tone was serious. “She hasn’t been with anyone since Hyun Tae’s father, and this isn’t just a thing with you. She has serious feelings for you, a relationship that she sees more than just boyfriend-girlfriend,”

 

“I don’t plan on settling until I marry her,” Jaebum replied. “She’s more than just a casual relationship. Her and Hyun Tae,” Seon Joo and Jinyoung were quiet on the other end before she spoke up.

 

“I think you’re the one she’s been waiting for,” Seon Joo smiled. “Tell her to call me when she gets the chance. Nice talking to you, Jaebum,” she winked before hanging up, leaving Jaebum holding the phone in his hand in the quiet room.

 

“Dinner’s ready!” he heard Hyojin’s voice from the kitchen, and he stood up, leaving the phone where it was before, joining the two at the table.

 

“Now that Appa’s here, we can start eating!” Hyun Tae smiled, shoving rice and meat into his mouth.

 

“Appa?” Hyojin asked, appalled. “Huh?”

 

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“‘Oh Seon Joo, he doesn’t like me like that! He’s going to reject me!’” Seon Joo imitated Hyojin’s words from the day before. “What the heck happened in the last 24 hours because when I called you a few hours ago, your son picked up, calling Jaebum ‘Appa’?”

 

“You spoke to him?” Hyojin sat up in her bed. “What did he say? What did you say?” she asked.

 

“That’s between me and him,” Seon Joo pretended to zip her lips and throw the key away. “Where is he by the way?”

 

“Hyun Tae woke up with a fever today, so he’s been sleeping all day, and his fever went down, but he was being fussy with taking some medicine before bedtime, so Jaebum told me to call you back while he dealt with him,” she explained. Seon Joo nodded, continuing her words from before.

 

“And Hyun Tae calling him Appa?” she asked, causing Hyojin to sigh.

 

“Not sure when that happened either. The two must have talked while I was cooking dinner because when Jaebum came to the dinner table, Hyun Tae was calling him Appa and he didn’t look surprised at all,” she explained.

 

“And how do you feel about it?”

 

“Well, the day that his father left is the day that I became Hyun Tae’s mother and father. The only thing that he gave was 50% of his DNA and money once a month that you know I haven’t touched. Hyun Tae doesn’t have a father, period,” Hyojin paused. “But I am in a relationship with Jaebum, and it’s moving fast and it’s serious, and if Hyun Tae wants to call Jaebum Appa, and he’s okay with that, it’s their decision, not mine,”

 

“I’m really happy for you, you know that, right?” Seon Joo said, smiling. “It felt like just yesterday, we brought home Hyun Tae, and here you are, a grown woman with a healthy son in a healthy relationship,”

 

“You sound like my mother,” Hyojin laughed, but was heartfelt at her best friend’s words. “I love you too, Seonnie,” she said, blowing a kiss through the phone. “Did Jinyoung speak to Jaebum as well?”

 

“Yeah, he did,” Seon Joo replied, turning the screen to show Hyojin that Jinyoung was also in the room with Seon Joo, sitting at the desk in the couple’s room. “Jinyounggie, say hi to your daughter,”

 

“Hi, little one,” he mumbled, waving at the camera as his eyes never felt his laptop screen.

 

“Ay, don’t make me bother him if he’s working, Seon Joo,” she said.

 

“It’s almost 11 PM, he should be in bed with me, not working,” Seon Joo pouted. “I’m gonna drag him to bed before he falls asleep at the desk again, okay! Sweet dreams, my Jinnie,” she made a little heart with her hands smiling as she hung up just as Jaebum walked into the bedroom.

 

“Seon Joo?” he mouthed, pointing to her phone.

 

“She just hung up,” Hyojin answered, moving over so her body wasn’t taking up the entire bed. “Hyun Tae complain about the medicine?”

 

“Nah, he’s a good kid. But he did get me to agree to let him have extra dessert tomorrow, and we pinky swore to it,” Jaebum chuckled, getting under the covers. Hyojin instantly gravitated towards his body heat, placing her head on his chest. “What’s my contact name on your phone?” he spoke up.

 

“Uh, your name?” Hyojin replied, confused. She pulled up her contacts list and handed her phone to Jaebum.

 

“My number is saved as Senior Officer Im?” the man asked, and Hyojin could’ve sworn that he looked downright adorable as he was pouting. “Jinyoung is saved as ‘Jinyounggie Oppa’ and Seon Joo is ‘Seonnie’ with a heart emoticon too! I’m your boyfriend,”

 

“Jinyoung saved that as his name and I never bothered changing it, I don’t even call him Oppa to his face. And Seon Joo is my best friend. Are you jealous of my best friend?” she giggled. “What’s my name on your phone?” she asked.

 

“Ms. Cha Hyojin,” he mumbled.

 

“Hey, you can’t blame me! Here, you can save your name as whatever you want, and I get to change my name too,” she said. Jaebum reached for his phone, opening her contact page as the two typed for moments before returning the phones to their respectful owners.

 

Bummie <3

Jinnie 💕

 

“Bummie…” Hyojin said to herself, pressing a kiss against his jaw. “Cute, just like you,” she smiled, snuggling closer to the man.

 

“Not as cute as you,” Jaebum smiled back, showering her face and neck with butterfly kisses before the two settled for the night. Hyojin’s head was on his chest, his arm wrapped around her body to bring her closer to press a kiss against her forehead. “Good night, Jinnie,” he whispered.

 

“Night night, Bummie,” Hyojin whispered back, letting the rhythm of Jaebum’s heartbeat serve as her lullaby.