[ Evening/ 7:00 PM]
It was seven in the evening when Taekyun stepped inside the residence.
Before he could even take another step,
"Abba!"
Haru came running out of the living room.
She hurried toward Taekyun
Taekyun immediately lowered his gaze.
As she reached him,
she gave a small bow out of habit.
Taekyun leaned down slowly and lifted her into his arms.
He could see Haru was excited for her birthday.
Behind her, Bora stepped out of the living room as well.
She bowed respectfully.
"Good evening, sir."
Taekyun gave a small nod in response.
His eyes moved around the space for a brief second.
Subtle and Unintentional.
But it was clear.
He was looking for someone.
Bora noticed it.
She stayed quiet, but her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than usual.
Taekyun caught it.
His brows narrowed slightly.
"Haneul?"
He asked.
Bora hesitated for a second.
Then her eyes shifted toward Haru before returning to him.
"Sir, he's resting in his room,"
she said carefully.
"He wasn't feeling well, so"
Taekyun nodded slowly.
Outwardly calm.
But something didn't sit right with him.
A faint uneasiness settled in his chest.
"Abba"
Haru's small voice pulled him back.
Taekyun looked at her.
"Hmm?"
"Hun..g…ry."
He looked at her.
"Are you hungry?"
Haru nodded.
Before Taekyun could say anything, Bora spoke from the side,
"Dinner is almost ready, sir.
Should I serve it now?"
Taekyun answered calmly,
"Yes. I'll eat first."
Bora nodded and turned to leave, but her steps weren't steady.
Taekyun noticed.
It looked like she wanted to say something yet held herself back.
He didn't question it.
Instead, he walked toward the dining area with Haru still in his arms.
After washing his hands, he took his seat and placed Haru beside him.
The staff quickly began arranging the table.
Bora returned and stood nearby.
Taekyun picked up his chopsticks, then paused.
Without looking up, he said to one of the staff,
"Call Haneul for dinner."
Bora reacted immediately.
"Oh,wait, I'll"
Her words stopped mid-sentence.
Taekyun turned his head slowly and looked at her.
His brows slightly drawn together.
A silent question.
Bora forced a small smile.
"I mean.… sir"
Before she could recover, Taekyun had already stood up.
"I'll check on him."
His tone was calm, but firm.
Bora nodded quietly.
Cause that's what she wanted.
"Yes, sir."
Taekyun turned and walked away toward the stairs.
Haru watched him leave.
Her small hands rested on the table, but she didn't touch her food.
Bora walked over and sat beside her.
She gently tried to lighten the mood.
"Haru-ah so finally tomorrow is your birthday, right?"
Haru nodded slowly, her gaze still fixed in the direction Taekyun had gone.
Bora smiled softly and brushed her fingers through Haru's hair.
"You're going to the amusement park tomorrow?"
Haru's brows furrowed slightly as she looked at her.
Bora leaned closer, lowering her voice playfully.
"Haru-ah, can I come with you tomorrow?"
Haru blinked.
"Amuj….ment.… palk?"
Bora nodded with a small smile.
"Yes. Can I come too?"
Haru stared at her for a few seconds.
Then quietly,
"Umma"
Bora smiled.
"Oh, Umma told me you're going, so I thought I should ask too."
Haru nodded slowly.
But her eyes kept drifting back toward the hallway.
That was the reason Bora had hesitated earlier.
She didn't want to talk about Haneul properly in front of Taekyun.
And especially not in front of Haru.
Since the morning, after Haneul suddenly left for his room, Haru hadn't been the same either.
She had gone quiet abit.
when Taekyun asked about Haneul earlier, she replied carefully.
Because she didn't want Haru to worry.
And she didn't want to say something she wasn't even sure about yet.
But deep inside Bora knew.
Something wasn't right.
Bora said softly.
"Here, let me feed you."
Haru shook her head gently.
She picked up the spoon herself and took a small bite.
Her cheeks puffed slightly as she ate, looking like a small rabbit.
Bora smiled at the sight and patted her head gently.
But her own thoughts were far from calm.
Her mind went back to the morning.
After Haneul came out of the bathroom
She had asked him,
"Are you okay?
What's going on?"
Haneul had looked at her.
His eyes
They were too red.
Too empty.
It felt like he had been crying for hours.
No, for years.
Instead of answering, he had just stepped forward and hugged her.
Tightly.
But he didn't say anything.
Not a single word about what was wrong.
Later, around 2:30 in the afternoon, when Bora went to ask him for lunch
He was asleep.
She had quietly entered his room.
But in the bathroom
She saw his clothes from earlier.
The pants he had changed out of.
There was a large stain of blood.
Her hands had frozen at that moment.
It wasn't the first time.
She had seen faint stains before during laundry a few days ago.
But she ignored it then.
Now
She couldn't.
She carefully folded the clothes and kept them aside.
When Haneul woke up, she brought him food.
He ate quietly.
As if nothing was wrong.
"Haneul-ah, are you having some problem?" she had asked gently.
He shook his head.
"No."
But his voice didn't match.
She tried again.
Different ways.
Indirect questions.
Even about his pregnancy.
But every time
"I'm fine."
That was all he said.
And after that,
He spent the whole day in his room.
Sleeping and avoiding her.
[ Upstairs]
Taekyun stood outside Haneul's room for a moment.
His hand rested on the door handle, but he didn't move.
His thoughts were elsewhere.
Since last night and especially after the restaurant scene something had been off.
And deep down
He knew it was because of him.
He had already spent the whole day regretting it.
The way he reacted.
The way he ignored him in the morning.
Haneul was hurt.
That much was clear.
But now he didn't know how to fix it.
Taekyun let out a slow breath.
And finally, he pushed the door open.
He thought Haneul would be asleep.
But as he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
He saw him.
Haneul was sitting on the bed, covered in a blanket.
His face turned toward Taekyun.
His eyes were red.
As if he had been crying for a long time.
Taekyun paused for a second.
Then walked toward him.
"I thought.... you were.... asleep."
Haneul nodded slightly.
He pushed the blanket away and stood up.
Before Taekyun could say anything
Haneul suddenly stepped forward.
And hugged him tightly.
His arms wrapped around Taekyun, clutching his shirt like he was holding onto something that might disappear.
Taekyun froze for a brief moment.
Then he felt Haneul's pheromones.
They were heavy filled with sadness and guilt.
Taekyun's expression changed.
He slowly wrapped his arms around him in return.
Haneul buried his face into his chest.
Tears soaked into Taekyun's shirt.
Taekyun gently placed his hand on his head, stroking his hair slowly.
"I'm…. sorry,"
He said quietly.
"I won't react like that again."
Haneul heard him.
His grip tightened even more.
Then slowly, he pulled back just enough to look up at him.
His lashes were wet, sticking together.
Tears still falling.
"In the restaurant…. I…."
His voice broke.
"I really didn't mean to push you"
"I didn't want you to feel"
He struggled to speak.
"I… I just was"
Before he could finish
Taekyun pulled him close again.
"Don't... cry"
His voice was low.
Almost strained.
Taekyun closed his eyes tightly as he buried his face into Haneul's shoulder.
At that moment
He felt something he didn't expect.
Guilt.
Strong and heavy.
He hated seeing Haneul like this.
Haneul's pheromones were overwhelming.
The sadness….. the guilt
It made Taekyun's chest feel tight.
"Haneul….. don't cry,"
he whispered.
So quietly
It was almost like he was saying it to himself.
"Please…. I can't bear it."
Haneul's breathing hitched, small broken hiccupping sounds leaving his throat as he tried to calm down.
"I…. I really don't want you to misunderstand me"
"I really didn't mean it"
Taekyun pulled back slightly.
He lifted his hands and gently cupped Haneul's face.
His thumbs wiped away the tears from his cheeks.
"I know,"
Taekyun said softly.
"I know you didn't mean it."
He paused for a second.
"It… was my fault.... for ignoring you."
Haneul looked at him.
Their eyes met.
His face still held between Taekyun's hands.
His eyes were too red.
Too hurt.
Taekyun felt worse looking at him like this.
A quiet guilt settled deeper inside him.
"I know…. you're pregnant,"
Taekyun continued slowly.
"And…. you might have mood swings sometimes."
He exhaled slightly.
"I've never really experienced this before….
or maybe it's been too long"
"So, I... overreacted."
Haneul's heart stilled for a moment.
The words hit him differently.
"I'm sorry,"
Taekyun said.
"Next time I'll be more careful."
Haneul kept looking at him.
But his thoughts were somewhere else.
Yes he was hurt by the morning.
But that wasn't everything.
The dream.
The fear, pain.
That was what had broken him the most.
As he stood there lost
Taekyun slowly placed his hand on Haneul's belly.
Haneul's eyes widened immediately.
His body stiffened.
Taekyun looked at him carefully.
"Do you feel any discomfort?"
he asked.
"Or any pain?"
Haneul looked up at him.
Taekyun was waiting for an answer.
But his own heartbeat had started to quicken too.
After a moment, Taekyun slowly removed his hand and straightened.
"I mean….. if you do… tell me,"
he said.
"We'll visit the doctor together this time."
Haneul's heart clenched.
The words he had been holding in all day
They still didn't come out.
Not a single one.
The tears that had been falling earlier
They had stopped too.
He just stood there.
Like a statue.
Looking at Taekyun.
Taekyun's jaw tightened slightly.
He waved his hand lightly in front of him.
"Haneul?"
Haneul blinked.
Then slowly reached out and held Taekyun's thumb.
Haneul slowly reached out and held his thumb.
Then he stepped forward and looked at him.
Taekyun lowered his gaze and leaned in slightly.
Haneul rose onto his toes, lifting himself to reach Taekyun's height.
He gently pressed a small kiss on Taekyun's lips.
It was brief but enough to shack Taekyun's soul.
Then he stepped back down, his eyes still wide, as if he himself didn't understand why he had done it.
Taekyun looked at him quietly, his gaze fixed on Haneul.
He didn't say anything, nor did he react immediately, only watching him closely.
As Haneul stepped back, Taekyun lowered his eyes briefly to Haneul's lips.
Then he took a step closer and leaned in again.
As he moved toward Haneul's lips, Haneul instinctively took a step back.
A faint smile appeared on Taekyun's face, almost like a smirk.
He placed his hand on Haneul's waist from behind and pulled him closer.
Then, in a voice unlike what one would expect from him, he said,
"It's an apologetic kiss so accept it."
Before Haneul could react, Taekyun kissed him again this time deeper and more intense, almost devouring his lips while holding him close.