❝There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment❞ - Sarah Dessen.

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8:01 am

A calm silent morning in a certain comforting way had arrived, yet it was suddenly followed by a loud pitter-patter sound of rain on the leaves of the garden, damping the grass with a impact of coldness through the living room since the entrance door of the garden was left open, erupting its sound in a soothing way but enough for the sleeping lad to wake up as being a light sleeper. 

His head tilted to the side only to feel something warm against the curve of his neck, and slowly, his mind came to grasp to feel a weight on him as his eyes open to blink a couple of times adjusting to the situation as he was met by a ceiling greeting him to coming to the realization of Gayoung sleeping on top of him, with her head on his chest snuggling into his neck while his arms secured around her and a warm blanket securing them. 

His heart jolted up at the realization, and he could feel their tangled legs under the blanket which had him close his eyes squeeze shut with a sudden wave of blush before feeling her stirring leading her hair to brush against his neck, erupting a ticklish sensation which had him freeze for a second as the next second, Gayoung raised her head from his chest to end up face to face with him with her eyes closed, and brows furrowed with a pout. 

His eyes and heart soften to widen the next moment when her eyes meet his, squinting them to open it widely as her heartbeat quickened at the position yet with a confusion of how did they end up like this and Baekhyun was having the same thought, except he was aware of how he ended up sleeping instead of doing the task of carrying her inside. 

The mere closeness had them flustered with a flush of blush yet with a certain tension of nervousness, and she couldn't even utter anything at the moment to immediately trying to help herself up only to slip off the couch as both of them rolled off down the floor with her head almost getting banged but Baekhyun was fast enough to palm the back of her head with him ending on top of her, still wrapped in the blanket as it was tangled around them. 

Their eyes met, nervous, awkward, shyness, and with so much intense tension with the rapid heartbeat of theirs didn't help either while they could still hear the rain sound in the garden pouring heavily. 

She tried to get up but Baekhyun raised his palm as if asking her to stay still with her complying quickly with him untangling the blanket from his side to slowly get up while helping her sit up beside her with his hand still on the back of her head where both of them looked away, too hard to meet each other's eyes at the moment. 

Gayoung could feel her cheeks on fire as she bit her lip nervously, while Baekhyun brushed his hair back with the same nervousness as he could feel his rapid heartbeat and suddenly it felt difficult to talk, like their tongue got tied up with something until Gayoung unconsciously chuckled, feeling his hand still on her head to which Baekhyun turned to her confusingly only to pull back his hand with an embarrassed shake of his head. 

Gayoung took a glance at the chits, to widen her eyes with a bite of her lip as she grabbed the four of them hiding them in her palm and the moment didn't go unnoticed by Baekhyun as he couldn't help but smile where she looked away with a scrunched nose of her embarrassed moment. 

"We're going to the beach!" 

The couple flinched, to look at the direction to find Seojun walking out of the room with his messy hair, and with an excited expression while Areum walking behind him rubbing her eyes with Mongryong by her side but three of them stopped the moment they found the confusing sight of their parents sitting on the floor and blanket. 

"Mommy, dad, why are you on the floor?" 

Areum questioned, her doe eyes looking confused as ever, as well as Seojun with them stopping by the pair along with Mongryong leaving Gayoung to slightly flinch to shift to the side ending up leaning against Baekhyun who tilted his head with amusement. "I can't believe you're getting scared, when you literally fed him a few days back." 

"I was still away from him." Gayoung frowned, meeting his eyes to find his band-aid slightly peeled off as she reached out, applying it back properly and he couldn't help but stare at her silently, without blinking to meet her eyes only to freeze as the earlier moment of them flashed in their minds to have them look away along with Gayoung pulling away her hand. "You should change the band-aid." 

"Mommy, it's raining!" 

"Yeah, so we should stay warm-" 

Both of the kids slapped their foreheads cutting off Baekhyun as he stared at them confusingly with Gayoung bringing her legs to her chest with a chuckle of anticipation of her little beans as how they would lecture their dad who was still clueless like a child. "Then what?" 

"We should go to the beach, dad!" Areum huffed, and Baekhyun tilted his head with his arm draping behind Gayoung on the couch with a frown. "Beach? The weather is getting cold and it'll be cold since it's raining, princess." 

"That's why we should go to the beach, because it would be fun!" Seojun exclaimed, beaming widely and Gayoung nodded, matching their excitement. "Right!" 

"Right?" He tilted his head towards her with a disbelieving look and Gayoung met his eyes with a sigh as she tilted her head. "You really don't know how to have fun, right? The rain makes it fun, Baekhyun." 

"So we catch a cold by having fun." He tilted his head back and Gayoung huffed, looking outside to the garden to smile. "The rain stopped, we can go now, right?" 

"We can, right?" Seojun said Areum looked at him, excitedly as well as Mongryong along with Gayoung and he couldn't help but feel like having three kids right now yet melted against their eyes to nod. "Yes." 

"Oh, yes!" 

Three of them exclaimed, with the kids jumping on them as they let out a squeal of laughter and while doing so, Baekhyun had held onto Gayoung's shoulder in the flow with her head against his shoulder but both of them were too caught up with the moment to realize it yet it happened like it was meant to be. 

___________

12:01 pm 

"YAY!" 

Seojun and Areum ran ahead with an excited shout as soon as they got out of the car towards the beach, as their little feet grazed the sand underneath bringing out a squeal the moment they reached the shore to let the water splash them making them giggle happily at the moment. 

And there they stood, their parents, staring at them with the ever tender eyes and smile at their happy smiles bringing a sooth in their hearts as they looked at each other only to get reminded of the moment they had in the morning, hitting them with a pleasant yet nervous feeling enough to feel the warm sensation to look away as the more they stared at each other, the more it got difficult to handle the feeling of their rapid heartbeats. 

"We're here!" 

Both of them turned to look at their group of friends, clad in their beach casual attire while walking towards them where Gayoung and Baekhyun got a glimpse of Yixing and Soo-Ah holding hands as they were making their way toward them to glance at each other with a amused yet happy smile. 

"Oh god, I missed coming here!" Yoora sighed, dramatically as she breathed in the fresh air while taking off her slippers as Baekhyun and Yixing just shook their heads at their best friend with Gayoung chuckling. "Then you should thank my little beans for coming up with this idea." 

"Really?! Where are they?!" She exclaimed, looking around them only to find Mongryong standing on the sand with his puppy look, toward her as she patted him with Ji-hu picking him up. "Yo, how are you? I actually missed you the most!" 

"Because he's the only one who took your dramatic seriously." Gayoung shot at him with a smile while tucking her bangs away from her eyes due to the breeze while thankful for tying her hair in a bun and got an eye roll from Ji-hu before she pointed towards the sea. "There they are, already enjoying their time!" 

Everyone walked ahead, with some chit-chats and telling about how their days felt so tiring and how much everyone was missing Gongju, while coming up to a conclusion to visit it again until Yoora took a glance at Gayoung only to gasp with admiration. "Gayoung-ah, what diet do you follow?" 

Gayoung frowned. "I don't follow any diet." 

"Then how come your legs are so beautiful and in a perfect fit, like what?" She stared at her legs with a satisfied yet teasing look as she was wearing a pair of denim shorts with a black shirt. "Lucky you are." 

Except her gaze fell on Baekhyun for a second who couldn't help but blush at her sudden teasing look to push her forehead with his index finger. "Shut your nonsense up." 

Gayoung, who was standing there flushed with a blush couldn't utter out anything, not because she was being complimented by Yoora but because she found Baekhyun's gaze on her legs for a moment which had left her chest and cheeks on fire. 

"Come on, let's enjoy!" Ji-hu shouted, placing Mongryong on the chair to follow Yoora and Gayoung as they walked to the water to enjoy leaving Baekhyun, Yixing along with Soo-Ah behind who sat down on the chair to lean back while picking up Mongryong to pat him. "Are you enjoying yourself?" 

"Oh, looks like they are the kids, more than the actual kids." Soo-Ah commented, as Yixing chuckled, before taking her hand to pull her up as they went for a quick walk not before giving Baekhyun a knowing look to which he just rolled his eyes waving them off but deep down he was happy for them. 

He smiled, brushing his hair back yet his locks were waving back and forth with the breeze around, before looking ahead to the enjoying people in front of him, and a silent chuckle left his lips Ji-hu was pushed in the water by Yoora as his plan backfired, while Areum and Seojun laughing at the sight, standing damped in their clothes yet the smile of joy didn't left their face and it made him happy. 

His eyes fell on Gayoung, her lips wide in a smile as a soft yet hysterical laugh left her lips and he was far from where she was standing, yet he could imagine her laugh in his ears, her fingers kept brushing her bangs away continuously because of the bothersome yet it wasn't enough to fade her eye smile or the peace on her face the moment she let her feel soak in the water. 

Gayoung let out another giggle at Seojun pushing Ji-hu further while splashing water to Areum who squealed to giggle running away towards Yoora who caught her with a laugh, before her eyes looked at the side to find Yixing and Soo-Ah walking slowly, with their backs facing her and their hands clasped together where the sight had her smile softly. 

Her eyes immediately looked for Baekhyun, as she turned around her torso to find him sitting forward on his knees, not so far away on the chair, clad in his black shirt and shorts reaching to his knees with a thin button down open shirt with his hair waving with the air while his eyes staring right at her, as their eyes met but both of them couldn't look away. 

Different. 

Something definitely felt different. 

Differently awkward, differently nervous, differently pleasant, differently warm, and differently intense enough for their hearts to beat in a speedy way as a sudden shyness had taken over her to avert her gaze down for a moment to look back at him only to find him still staring at her. 

A soft smile graced her lips as she tilted her head while brushing her bangs away to gesture him to join and he shot her the same smile with a shake of his head while brushing his hair back as if imitating her to which she let out a chuckle as he chuckled back, and even if was far away but she could hear it in her mind. 

"Mommy, let's make a castle!" 

Areum held her legs with a pouty look and Gayoung melted, as she nodded to walk a little away from the water to sit down on the sand as they collected enough sand to build up a castle with Seojun interrupting them to ruin it only to get scolded by them as he pouted to run away, not before breaking the pillar they were making only for them to huff in unison. 

Baekhyun stared at the sight with a smile, until his gaze caught the two men staring at the sight as well, not just the sight but his wife who was too immersed in the moment with Areum to realize it and their gazes didn't gave him a good feeling as his jaw clenched with a deep frown and the next second, he was walking to the direction, not before asking Yixing and Soo-Ah to look after Mongryong. 

As he got closer to his family, he stood just in front of them, as if shielding them with his hands shoved in his pocket while his sharp eyes to the men in front of them who took it as a sign of threat, walked away from place. 

"What are you doing?" 

He looked over his shoulder to Gayoung, looking up at him innocently yet confusingly as he sighed. "The thing I'm supposed to do." 

"Like standing?" 

He turned to her as he stared at her for a moment. "Yeah, like standing." 

Gayoung stared back at him, feeling her cheeks heating up until Areum's voice snapped them out. "Dad, look, we made a castle!" 

"Wow, that's my princess!" He giggled, patting her head as the three of them admired the castle until a wave of shore came in the way, ruining the entire thing as well as Baekhyun, who was stepping backwards making them laugh with Gayoung speaking up. "What are you so afraid of?" 

"I'm not afraid." 

"I can see that." 

Areum stood up to run toward Mongryong as she joined Yixing and Soo-Ah, with Baekhyun holding out his hand for Gayoung as taking it, she stood up to pull him ahead with her in the water where he exclaimed. "Hey!" 

"Let's enjoy, Doctor!" 

As she chuckled, a yelp left her lips when he slightly pushed her ahead. "Yeah, enjoy, professor!" 

"You-" She bent over, splashing water on him with a laugh only to get it on her by him as he let out a happy laugh with both of them having a little competition of theirs to who will be safe till the end, and luck wasn't on her side as she was drenched all over as she glared at him who was laughing joyfully. "You're not laughing." 

"Okay, okay." 

He nodded, wiping off his face with a chuckle as he stood in front of her while she was tucking her bangs away from her eyes only to freeze when she felt his thumb brushing against her cheek, while his fingers gently holding her jawline to brush his thumb over the corner of her eyes wiping off the water to stop right by the corner of her lips as her lips parted with a shiver running through her spine with a sudden warmth. 

Her eyes immediately meeting his eyes, his thumb still stayed, frozen as his heart jolted up the moment his eyes fell over her parted lips to meet her eyes back with a sudden blush rushing up to him enough for him to pull away with a harsh gulp as he looked away, and Gayoung did the same, still feeling the touch on her skin like a burning sensation. 

"Here." 

She turned to him only to find him holding out his button down toward her which revealed his sleeveless black shirt underneath to frown. "What?" 

He just sighed, stepping closer to wrap it around her shoulder as he gestured towards her arms and still perplexed, she complied by sliding her arms in the sleeves as he folded back the sleeves. "You're drenched." 

That's when she realized, her damp shirt being touching to her skin too much as she stared at him softly at his gesture with Baekhyun blinking at the buttons to which Gayoung took a hold of the hem of each sides to make it in a knot in front of her stomach, making it in a style as she grinned. "How's it?" 

Baekhyun nodded with an impressed look. "Not bad." 

"But are you going around like this?" She asked, pointing at his sleeveless shirt as she took notice of some women eyeing him which didn't really make her happy and Baekhyun shoved his hands into his pockets with a shrug. "I'm good." 

But she was not. 

He walked ahead, leaving her with an unconscious grumpy pout until Baekhyun looked over shoulder. "Come here." 

With a stomp of her foot, she walked to him to walk past him ahead leaving the latter confused as ever but still followed suit yet with a chuckle at her stomping foot adorably. 

As soon as they stood by them, Yixing informed him about their presence in the hospital was needed right now, and even though they wanted to spend more time, the doctors had to leave where others understood with Gayoung assuring him to go as she'd reach home safely with her friends and Baekhyun nodded, leaving with his friends. 

Soon the trio of the friends also left, with Ji-hu asking about the head injury of Baekhyun with Seojun telling him about how her mommy hit her dad with the whisk which had her friends laughing the whole ride to her home with the constant of their neverending teasing and left her with nothing but a fluttering blush. 

___________

4:30 pm 

Baekhyun pulled over the car by the house, and stepped out the next minute to walk through the front door to find the silence in the home, only his car keys jingling in his fingers could be heard in the entire silent living room as he peeked through the garden from afar to see no sight of them, even the room of the kids was silent to check to find it empty except Mongryong sleeping in his small house built up by the kids and his brows knitted to walk cautiously to their room. 

As he opened the door, the sight had his heart soften, as Seojun and Areum were sleeping, lying on the bed either side of Gayoung who was sleeping as well, sandwiched between them, with their heads on her chest as she had hugged them with all her might, like they were in a safe place. 

Indeed it was. 

His lips graced in a soft curve, a slight blurry vision because of his eyes teary at the moment unknowingly as the sight gave him nothing but peace, a warming comfort, something he didn't know he'd ever have in his life but yet he was having it. 

Taking a slow, and soft steps toward them, he wrapped the duvet over them properly, while leaning down to kiss Areum and Seojun's forehead, to avert his gaze at Gayoung, where he could feel the discomfort of her head against the headboard to which he took a cushion to carefully hold her head as he placed it under behind her head with a soft hum leaving her lips as if she was comfortable. 

His face was inches away from her, staring at her intently, yet with an adoration and before he knew it, his lips were pressed on her forehead softly in an affectionate way as his eyes were closed at the moment to lean away with a smile as he stepped back to take a shower with a smile still graced on his lips. 

Stepping out while wiping his hair with the towel and clad in his hoodie, his eyes gazed at the sight only to chuckle silently as now both of the kids had tangled their legs around Gayoung who had no idea what was happening since she was snoring softly in her deep sleep, before hanging the towel on the chair with a knowing smile of how his wife doesn't like it, to walk to the bed as he laid on Gayoung's place since his side was occupied by his little ones and his wife. 

He propped himself up with his torso, as he reached out, carefully, unwrapping their legs around her for her not to have any cramps to whine about it later, to stop as he stared at them with an utter fondness, as he couldn't get enough of the sight before laying back as his arm circled around Seojun beside him indirectly hugging her waist to close his eyes as a sense of peace had beamed in his heart to sleep right into the warmth. 

Soon enough, the sun had set welcoming the dawn as the time struck 7 in the evening and a smell of damp soil in the house which erupted more in the garden after the rain, bringing a sense of coldness around yet the warmth was felt in the room of theirs, and some soft giggles and whines echoing in the living room had went through Gayoung's ear enough for her to wake up with a soft whine. 

The clutching of the material tightened against her hand had her eyes fluttered open, and the view in front of her eyes got her breath hitched as the side profile of Baekhyun was in her sight, and so close.

Her face was literally buried in his neck, her hand was clutching the material of his hoodie, and his arm was under her neck which was folded around her shoulder and as the position was adjusting to her mind, a warmth crept over chest to her cheeks with a panic rising up in her system.

And the next second, she rolled over to the opposite side of the bed, ending up on the floor with a thud as a silent yelp left her lips with a whine as she sat up, leaning against the board of the bed while rubbing her lower back.

"Gayoung-ah, when will you let go of this habit? And why does it keep happening? And when did he even come home?" 

She mumbled, looking at her palm with a rapid beating heart behind her chest, and as she recovered from it, a subtle gasp left her lips when she felt the movement over the bed, indicating that he had woken up as Baekhyun, who had just sat up to stretch his arms ahead only to find Gayoung's back against the bed on the floor.

He frowned, leaning his torso over the edge of the bed as his head stopped just beside her shoulder. "What are you doing on the floor?"

Gayoung felt her heart stopping for a second, upon hearing his deep voice right beside her ear sending goosebumps through her spine, as she sighed. "Nothing, just the floor looked so beautiful that I couldn't help but stare."

A smile curved on his lips as he decided to play along as he hummed. "How do you like the color?"

"It's beautiful." She nodded, "White and pure."

"I know, right?" He chuckled, and Gayoung frowned, as she looked over her shoulder at him to find his messy hair and lazy grin on his lips greeting her as she swallowed at the sight. "But why white?"

"Because," Baekhyun trailed off, staring at her softly. "Simple is beautiful."

She nodded, before frowning. "But why are we discussing this?"

"Because you started this?"

"No, you started this." Gayoung said back and Baekhyun leaned over his side on his elbow to face her properly. "I just asked you why were you on the floor?"

"Because I couldn't kick you out of the bed." She snapped, and immediately cupped as she blinked at him innocently and Baekhyun's eyebrows raised in amusement. "You wanted to kick me out of the bed? Seriously?"

Gayoung looked away, sheepishly as she rubbed her lower back again while getting up. "Gosh, my age is approaching me."

"Yeah, so be careful with your age."

She heard him behind while walking towards the bathroom as she looked over her shoulder at him to find him holding back his laugh making her squint her eyes at him. "Speak for yourself!"

She closed the door with him breaking out in a soft laugh as he laid on his back comfortably, "Gosh, Gayoung." He mumbled, softly with a smile until it subsided, slowly, with a sudden realization of how his emotions were evoking something, a certain emotion which he had been afraid to feel again, as its fear still hasn't left his heart. 

On the other hand, Gayoung had felt same the moment she looked at herself in the mirror to find a smile on her face, it was a smile which was leading toward a certain emotion which she was afraid to feel it again, and she didn't wanted to end up with that feeling which had led her to the pain of disappointment. 

Yet they were unaware of how their hearts have already welcomed that certain emotion, that the emotion was blooming deeply and strongly but waiting for the warm embrace of theirs. 

And it will be embraced, not now but soon it will. 

The evening was going usual, yet the air around them was different again, and this time it was more different than the pleasant one, their minds and hearts were in the verge of contemplating about their thoughts earlier, enough for them to put a little distance and both of them had noticed the other's behavior which had left an unknown displeasing pierce in their hearts yet they weren't confronting it. 

Until Baekhyun who had hung up the call from one of his fellow doctors to hear Gayoung's shout from the living room, enough for his heart to be worried, enough to walk out only to find her sitting on the couch with her arms crossed and a frown of anger on her face. 

"Is everything okay?" 

She heard him, as she looked up to find him coming to her with a worried face and she bit her lip when took a seat next to her with his arm unconsciously draping behind her on the headrest, before her head shook still not looking at him. "Nothing."

"Oh,