*

“Day 23.” Kai yawned. “Don’t pretend to be a SuperDad, because you’ll only become DummyDad.” The man typed the words into Luhan’s virtual diary, before he watched his wife and son sleeping figure in bed. It was 3.AM and he was just managed to put Ruka sleep after ‘diaper change’ attack in the midnight. Boldly he asked Luhan to go straight to sleep with ‘I got this’ grin on him, and confidently took care of Ruka’s need and let the little one rested on his arm, with hope a few lulling sways will drift the boy into sleep.

Big mistake, Kim Kai.

Apparently Ruka enjoyed his warmth –like a certain cutie pie- and every time he put the sweetling into the crib, Ruka will start wincing and trashing restlessly. When Kai held the boy again, Ruka slowly sniffled into his scent and returned to sleep.

This cycle repeated for goddamned three times and an hour passed with him standing in front of the crib, hugging Ruka while watching Luhan peaceful face, unaware to the agony Kai caused for himself.

He tried to sit on the couch, Ruka wailed.

He brought the little one to lie together in bed, Ruka wailed even harsher.

He took a pee with holding his baby and crying mentally.

God, what kind of sin I made in my previous life to deserve this torture?!

Kai snapped, realized he began sounding like his wife.

“Maybe he’s hungry.”

When he stood by the foyer, with his back leaned to the door, Luhan appeared in front of him with hazy eyes and dripping . Kai cleared his throat. Is this another torture? Why those had to grow bigger and swollen? Why the milk had to be overflowed? Why there was restriction in the first place? He was itchy and this kind of itch can’t be cured with simply hand or head!

“Give him to me.” Luhan reached for Ruka, yet as they gently and carefully transferred the baby in between them, Ruka startled at the lack of warmth and began sobbing again. In autopilot, Kai hugged his son protectively, patting the back to stop the sob turned bizarre.

“You can’t hold him all night.” Luhan grunted drowsily.

“It’s fine. I got this.” Kai tried to smile, no matter how stung his leg became from standing too long, or how dry his throat to see Luhan’s exposed chest. “Cover your pajama, Umma, or you’ll catch cold.” He kissed his wife’s temple as he said it, “Now go to sleep. We’ll follow short after.”

“Fine.” Luhan pecked his lips in return, “just don’t overdo yourself. You’ve had work tomorrow.”

Kai knew about it, but as a father he was also feeling prideful. It didn’t matter when he had to endure the next two hours until Ruka got hungry and he could transfer the baby to his wife. His arm felt numb and his eyes droopy from lack of rest. But to see Ruka clung to his wife for a dear life, with eyes closed and lips moved in eager suction, it gave him thrill for his greatest achievement in his life, so far. More than year ago, he had to face a failure, had to go home heart broken.

Now he was here, having decent job, starting a family and having the most precious son from the boy he could only dare dreaming of.

So please spare him if he became a bit overwhelmed at the priceless sight in front of him. and he hoped no one would judge him if he decided to sleep on the floor, just so he won’t disturb two of the most important people in his life.

Yet as he settled with a pillow and cocooned inside a blanket, he saw Luhan stared down at him. He raised a hand to caress the puffy warm cheek, signing the mother to just accompany their baby but Luhan pouted at him, while slowly fell on his blanket and landed softly on his chest. He was thinking of scolding his wife for such childish insecurity, but he knew better of all people, what it meant to be living in the shade of loneliness.

“I love you.”  So he smiled, when Luhan confessed at him, over and again, “Loveyouloveyouloveyouloveyou…”

Kai chuckled, as Luhan cupped his face and whispered softly,

“I love you, for now and always.”

.

They ended making love on the floor, with Luhan on the top of Kai biting into one of Ruka’s stuffed doll to muffle scream as Kai palmed both of them and rocked their body in steady pace, up until both seeing stars and took a glimpse of heaven. When it was over, they sat up and watched Ruka, before exchanging sheepish laugh at each other because for a moment they forgot there were three of them now, and that’s why both parents moved to take each side of bed, trapped the baby in the middle. Kai ran his hand on Luhan hair and Luhan swung his leg to tug at Kai’s as together they were doing the same silly activity of watching Ruka’s sleeping face.

*

“Kyungsoo didn’t come?” Luhan asked when she opened the door for Baekhyun and her three years old daughter, Taeyeon.

Baekhyun sighed as the boy helped Taeyeon with her boots. “I don’t know. Last time I saw him was a week ago, he came to my shop in search for sweet pea flower. I texted him about today but I don’t get any reply.”

“Luca!” Taeyeon immediately ran into the house and sat by Ruka’s bed in front of TV. Baekhyun chided her to not be noisy and not to disturb if Ruka was sleeping. Other else, the little girl allowed snatching Ruka’s first kiss. Luhan grunted in jealousy ‘cause apparently there’s still heated debate between Kai and him of Ruka’s favorite parent.

“Hmm, and you’re not worried?”

Baekhyun snorted. “Why would I? He’s probably just busy. He worked for Park Group in innovation division, so he’s not only a patisserie chef, he also had to design new specials every week. You know normal people like us already have a hectic life, imagine his!”

“No way!” Luhan eyes widened, “Channie never told me Seoul Hotel is the part of theirs.”

  “Who’s Channie?” Baekki eyes narrowed as they stood making drinks in the kitchen.

“Park Chanyeol, one of my cousin brothers. They came to baby shower.” Luhan chirped happily, “I’m gonna call him, telling about Soo working there. He could give Soo a day off.”

Baekki scoffed a cold laugh, “that’ll be unprofessional, Lu! Besides, Soo didn’t answer the message, why bother-...”

Before Luhan could retort, the doorbell rang and Baekki immediately gestured him to keep making drinks while the older brunette opened the door. Turned out it was Lay, who hugged Baekki like a long lost brother and gained laugh from the former.

“Auntie Lay, you’re getting prettier each day. My flowers will be wilting if you dare coming to my shop.”

“Ah, you too, Baekki Ahjumma, never less radiated that I hope your family didn’t just perish into dust.”

“My family is well, thank you so much. If only you have one then I can ask their wellbeing too.”

 “Don’t be silly, I’m not Luhan. I’m single and happy.”

“Yes yes, poor Luhan, married to commoner man.”

“Like Cinderella story, just reversed.”

At this point, Luhan didn’t care who said what, he only barked at the gossipy boys to stop the stupid banter. He wondered once what if Lay and Baekki met. Now he regretted even wishing that to happen, cause these guys just unstoppable when they’re in the same team. They always offended other people. They even got in Kai’s nerve while everyone knew Kai was the least hostile person on Earth.

“Then we’re going.” Baekki nodded at Lay who stood by the door while holding Ruka. Next to Baekki, Luhan mourned at the sight of his son, stared back at him judgingly. “Oh, don’t separate me with my son.” he said this numerous time, every morning when he had to drop Ruka in Jin’s apartment or in dorm with Lay, his friends only rolled their eyes in boredom.

“He wants to go with me.” Luhan whined when Baekki dragged the younger mom to the lift.

“Believe me you don’t want him around when you’re at spa.” The older snorted. “No, I don’t take second thought. You need massage to restore your condition sweetheart and you have to take care of your body after labor if you still want your husband s you.”

“Baekki!” Luhan snapped in embarrassment.

“What? You’re not stop acting like one.”

Lay watched the mothers disappeared behind elevator door before the boy kissed Ruka on the cheek and closed the apartment door. He’s frequent being here to help Luhan watched over Ruka for an hour or two while the mother took a nap. It’s strange, he thought when he sat by the corner of couch, still holding –and kissing- Ruka. This place is small and ordinary, but Lay never been comfier in his life before. There’s something magical when people built their marriage by love. Lay didn’t know how, but every time he saw Luhan the boy never complains to have no car, no flashy clothes and shoes, or no personal studio for painting anymore. It seemed Luhan always had enough, as if the boy lived in heaven where everything popped up as he wished.

‘I think I can make them into song.’ Lay thought mentally.

“Lay, I want to pee.”

Taeyeon drowsy voice startled Lay from humming melody. He stared at the little girl with a smile.

“Let me put down Ruka first, kay?”

Taeyeon nodded adorably. “I had dream… everything is round and big and swirling… swirling…” she made circling gestures with her finger, and Lay chuckled at her while helping her to the toilet, “are you hungry, lovely? Wants some cream puff?” he asked.

“We don’t have custard? Papa ate my custard last time. Mama says will buy me another.”

 “Then we’ll call Mama to make sure you get your custard this time.”

“Yaay! Thanks Lay!”

When Lay lifted Taeyeon on the basin to wash her hand, he saw a red cup in the corner with two toothbrushes inside.

Lay blushed.

Why I’ve never think of this before?

Marriage is sacred.

Marriage life is a secret.

He went back to the living room and sit next to Ruka bed, watched Taeyeon rummaged her bag and showing off all her toys to Lay. Lay smiled and nodded at her but his mind was heavily distracted. He’s still thinking about the mug and blushed again at how romantic it'll be to start morning time by standing close in front of mirror, sharing a basin together instead having one for each and have their bodies bumped and brushed to adjust with the small space.

How lucky…

Lay surprised to find jealousy in his tone. He immediately brushed it aside, didn’t want to think about his own, shady future. So he erased everything from his mind and focused on kissing Ruka, didn’t forget to take selfie just to make Suho and Min jealous he can be here while they stuck elsewhere.

*

How is it?