2023

"Appa," his son greeted him at the door as soon as he stepped in. Jongin raised his hands to show him that he bought pizza, expecting the four-year-old to scream in delight but that didn't happen. Instead, Raeon did the most silent dance ever, letting the quietest scream escape the gape of his mouth. Jongin raised his brows, taking his shoes off at the door.

"What's the matter, Raeonie?"

"Omma," Raeon hissed, placing a finger on his own lip. He folded his hands and pressed the to his cheeks, gesturing to his father that she was fast asleep. Jongin sighed in relief, tiptoeing to the kitchen as quietly as he possibly could in order to satisfy Raeon's need to not disturb his mother's slumber. Jongin knew, if someday, Raeon was asked who he loved more out of the two of them, the little kid would make the fastest dash towards Dalrae.

Raeon helped him set up the table. He hummed a song, perhaps one he had learned at school, smiling at the sight of the pizza that Jongin had laid on the table. "Appa will be back," Jongin whispered into his ear before slowly approaching the sitting room on the right. He caught sight of his wife, passed out helplessly on the couch, their little daughter her thumb in the crib, equally asleep. Jongin knelt next to his daughter, pressed a kiss on his pointer and pressed it to her pink cheek. Nayeon had a small smile etched across her face, having put her mother through hell all day long, no doubt.

"Nayeon-ah," Jongin whispered softly, his voice filled with both love and exhaustion, "You've been quite a handful today, haven't you?"

"Kim Jongin…" he heard the faintest whisper from the back. Dalrae opened her eyes, the breadth of a thread, her hand reaching out for him. She looked like a very tired zombie trying to have a bite at him and the thought made him chuckle.

"Didn't mean to wake you up," he told her.

Dalrae hummed, "But the stink of your socks sure did." Jongin laughed, not loudly enough to wake Nayeon, as he kissed the back of her hand. Dalrae yawned, not being able to fully open her eyes yet. Jongin left her there to change out of his clothes, expecting that she would get up in the meantime. But by the time he came back, Dalrae had gone back to sleep. His hand on her cheek made her jolt with eyes as wide as saucers. "Do I smell pizza? No! YOU LEFT RAEON ALL ALONE WITH A WHOLE PIZZA?"

Jongin's shoulders hunched towards his ears with every decibel that her voice reached. Dalrae was now fully awake, sitting up on the couch with horror in her eyes. "I-I…I didn't know…" Dalrae was about to run to the kitchen when Raeon appeared in the room with the box of pizza in his hands. Jongin sighed in relief because the pizza seemed to be still complete. "Relax," he sighed in relief, in the brink of laughing again because her eyes were close to sticking out of her sockets.

Dalrae let out a shaky breath, her heart still racing from the initial panic. "You scared me half to death," she scolded her husband, relief evident in her voice. She couldn't help but give him a playful glare as she reached for a slice of pizza, grateful that it was still intact. Raeon giggled, taking a seat next to Jongin on the mat. "Neve' weave Raeon awone wif a pizzshh. Don't you rememba' wha' happened lasht time?"

Indeed, Jongin remembered.

He chuckled, wiping the sauce off the corner of Dalrae's lips, the memory of the last pizza incident playing vividly in his mind. "Yeah, Raeonie here has a strong connection with pizzas, don't you?" he teased, tousling his son's hair lightly.

Raeon grinned proudly, taking a bite of the pizza with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Pizza is my superpower," he proclaimed, a small dribble of sauce escaping from the corner of his mouth, prompting Dalrae to hand him a napkin.

Dalrae shook her head with a smile, affectionately wiping Raeon's mouth. "Your superpower nearly turned our living room into a cheese-filled disaster last time," she chuckled, her playful scolding accompanied by a warm glance at Jongin.

Jongin nodded in agreement. "But hey, Raeonie is growing up. He didn't even touch the pizza this time. Raeon-ah, let's see how tall you have become," he grinned, winking at Raeon, who immediately stood up and lodged himself against the growth chart his mother had attached to the wall next to the TV. The pizza disappeared within minutes, half of it in Dalrae's stomach. Raeon, as usual, took his liberty to eat most of the toppings and when it came to the crusts, he placed them on his mother's plate so she could eat them too. To Dalrae's amusement, Jongin was doing the same, all without realizing it because he was so immersed in whatever was going on in the TV.

Dalrae couldn't understand why the news show was getting such an amount of attention from a guy who would rather be playing video games or watching sports.

Jongin was unusually focused on the screen, his eyes fixed on the coverage of the Starry Night Gala that had taken place earlier that evening.

Curious, Dalrae shifted her attention to the TV, where the camera panned over the red carpet, capturing various celebrities trying their best to keep their eyes open despite the thousand flashes on their faces. One person who didn't have trouble at all was Lee Chaerin. You wouldn't be able to make her do a finger heart even if you sold your soul to her. In her navy blue glittery dress, she exuded confidence and elegance as she gracefully made her way down the red carpet. The camera zoomed in on her radiant smile, showcasing her undeniable star power. Dalrae couldn't help but admire Chaerin's ability to captivate the attention of everyone around her, making her the true highlight of the Starry Night Gala.

It all seemed to go in a sort of slow motion after that. She extended her hand for someone and her husband stepped into the spotlight from the shadows. The flashes of the cameras intensified as he placed his arm around her waist, raising a hand to wave at the cameras.

Byun Baekhyun had changed. And she had nothing to say about it, really.

She felt Jongin's gaze on her and met his eyes, noticing the mischievous glint within them. Without missing a beat, Jongin nudged her playfully. "Ah, look who's stealing the spotlight tonight," he teased, nodding toward the screen where Baekhyun stood with his wife, Chaerin.

Dalrae chuckled nervously, trying to deflect the attention. "It's just the gala coverage, Jongin," she said, attempting to downplay the significance.

"Sure, just the gala," Jongin replied with a smirk, leaning closer. "But aren't you glad you dodged that bullet?" he added with a playful wink.

"And got hit by an asteroid instead," she took him by the ear, giving him a playful tug.

As Jongin felt Dalrae's playful tug on his ear, a mischievous glimmer danced in his eyes. He pulled back with a feigned wince. "Ouch! Careful, you'll damage the galaxy's most precious asteroid!"

Dalrae chuckled, rolling her eyes. "Oh yes, the one that crashed into my life and brought endless chaos," she quipped, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Will Mr. Asteroid put his son to bed today?"

Jongin sighed, the TV thrown out of the window as he dug his elbow into the couch, staring up at his wife, who was busy eating the crusts on her plate. "You know that…my love for you will never change, right?" He knew she would be taken aback by the sudden declaration. But only Jongin knew what was weighing him down.

Dalrae, with a glint of playful sarcasm, responded without missing a beat, "Prove it then. Put your superhero son to bed tonight." She raised a brow.

Jongin laughed, his hand rubbing the back of his neck as he nodded. "Challenge accepted," he declared, grinning at Dalrae. He glanced at Raeon, who was still munching on a piece of pepproni, thoroughly engrossed in the TV show. "Raeonie, time for bed, buddy."

Raeon turned his head, his eyes widening at the sudden announcement. "But Appa, I want to watch TV!"

Jongin chuckled, ruffling Raeon's hair affectionately. "You can watch more tomorrow, champ. It's time for your superhero dreams to start."

Dalrae smirked playfully, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Remember, superhero dreams need a good bedtime story too."

Jongin grinned back, scooping Raeon up in his arms. "We'll have the best superhero adventure in Dreamland tonight," he promised, his fingers tickling his little tummy, earning a giggle from Raeon.

As Jongin carried Raeon to his room, Dalrae watched with a smile, her heart swelling with love for her husband and son. She knew that tonight would be a special night for Raeon, filled with dreams of flying through the sky and saving the world with his father.

As Jongin tucked Raeon into bed, the dimly lit room cast shadows across the walls, and the soft glow of the nightlight painted a serene atmosphere. Radium stars lined the ceiling, the planets of the Solar System attached randomly throughout the expanse. Raeon's eyes sparkled in the half-light, his tiny voice breaking the tranquility.

"Appa, Omma was really busy today. She forgot to check my homework again," Raeon confessed, a mix of innocence and understanding in his voice. "But it's okay, I think I got everything right. She is very tired today."

Jongin's heart swelled with pride and a tinge of sadness at Raeon's maturity. "You're right, buddy. Omma works really hard for all of us," he affirmed, gently tucking the covers around Raeon. The weight of Raeon's words seemed to linger in the air.

"Next week is my recital, Appa! Will you come and watch me play the piano?" Raeon's eyes lit up with anticipation.

Jongin hesitated for a moment, his heart clenching. He wanted nothing more than to be there for Raeon, but his demanding work schedule made it nearly impossible. Despite this, he put on a smile for Raeon. "I'll try my best, Raeonie. I'll do everything I can to make it, okay?"

Raeon beamed, nodding eagerly. "Thank you, Appa! I'll play my best for you!"

With a soft pat on Raeon's head, Jongin bid him goodnight, silently hoping he could keep his promise.

Exiting Raeon's room, Jongin found Dalrae sound asleep on the couch, cradling Nayeon in her arms, her face serene despite the exhaustion etched into her features. Nayeon had stopped drinking, just as asleep as her mother. They were blessed that this one baby of theirs was a silent one. Raeon did not let Dalrae sleep for a whole year. Jongin carefully lifted Nayeon, placing her gently into her crib before buttoning up her shirt. He attempted to lift her in his arms.

However, years had passed since the effortless days of carrying her. Now, Dalrae's weight felt heavier against Jongin's tired arms, and he hesitated, realizing how much she had changed physically. Jongin stood there, heaving a silent sigh. Then there was a quick run into their bedroom and he returned with a neatly folded blanket in his hand. Jongin dug into the space between her and the couch, squeezing her back into his arms before she could fall off.

"My human teddy bear," Jongin murmured softly, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. He always noticed the softness of her body, the marks of motherhood that adorned her. While he cherished her for the sacrifices she made, he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret for the emotional distance that seemed to have grown between them.

Dalrae stirred, her eyes fluttering open sleepily. "Jongin..." she murmured, her voice barely audible. "We have a bed."

"Shh, go back to sleep, my love," Jongin whispered, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead, relishing the closeness even as he grappled with the turmoul inside his head.

The night wrapped them in its embrace. As Dalrae drifted back into slumber, Jongin stayed awake a while longer, contemplating the weight of Raeon's innocent words and the subtle shifts in their lives that seemed to have drifted them apart. But those weren't the only things on his mind.

On his mind, there was an image of Lee Chaerin. His phone buzzed to life in his pocket.

I cant breathe when he is next to me

She had written without any punctuation. Jongin hated that. But he couldn't see that right now. All he saw was the end of a path which divided into two different directions, each leading to a different future. One path was familiar and safe, while the other was unknown and uncertain.

He threw his phone into the sofa adjacent to the one they were currently occupying. Pulling the blanket to Dalrae's chin, he closed his eyes.

A lazy Sunday rolled in sooner than Dalrae could blink. "I know, I promised," she held the phone against her cheek as she stirred the soup in the pot. "But I forgot to tell Jongin last night," she muttered at the absurdity of it all. Her sister was on the phone, reminding her of the promise she had made.

"What am I supposed to do then? I already told my in-laws that you will be here today," Areum was half screaming into the phone. Dalrae could imagine her doing her best not to tear her hair out.

Raeon was tugging at her skirt, trying to show her a scratch on his knuckle. "They can just call. It's not that—"

"Oh and you can just ing wake your husband up and tell him that just one day of the week, he needs to watch his own kids—"

Dalrae's eyes widened. "Why are you talking to me like that? Sunday is the only day he has to himself—I don't want to explain these to you. Not all families work the same way. First of all, it isn't even his fault. I forgot to tell him last night."

Dalrae couldn't wake him up now. It wasn't in the imaginary rule book of this family. No one bothered Jongin on Sundays. She kept all of her children far away from their bedr