Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Cheol feels the wetness of raindrops splatter across his feet as he runs across the long pathway of their front yard, for once cursing the length of it. It isn’t as fun when you need to run quickly to the front door as to play freely on the spacious lawn.

He slips when his shoes collided near the edge of one of the outdoor tiles, Cheol sees his sight tilt sideways until Sang-woo catches him and pulls him closer to his side.

“Be careful, the stones are slippery,” Sang-woo says, holding the child’s hand as they made it to the front porch and the older man drops his business jacket down onto Cheol’s shoulders. Rummaging around his pockets to find his house keys. Cheol knocks instead and after a few seconds, Gi-hun opens the door to find his husband and adopted son soaking wet outside his front door.

“You’re soaking wet!” He exclaims, moving around for Sang-woo and Cheol to enter, watches as their clothes drip water onto the dry, clean floor. He calls for Sae-byeok to fetch a pair of towels.

“I didn’t know it was going to rain,” mutters Sang-woo, taking a fluffy white towel from Sae-byeok and ruffling Cheol’s hair, the 10-year-old grumbles as he tries to fight the older man off, “Cheol said he wanted to walk and I thought a bit of exercise could benefit the both of us- until it rained that is.”

“We were just watching the weather forecast, they said it might rain the whole week- including the weekends.” Gi-hun comments, removing Sang-woo’s glasses to wipe off the rainwater with his shirt. Before placing them gently back on his nose, he moves forward to peck Sang-woo on the lips, “Don’t worry, I’m sure it won’t affect our plans.”

Behind them Cheol shivers, he buries his hands into Sang-woo’s jacket’s pockets and froze when he felt a small, circular metal touch his fingertips.

He glances at the two men quickly, pulling out the item to check his suspicions, and- yep, it was a ring. Simple in design, the only thing worth noticing is the swirly Ivy-like designs on the sides of the ring and a gold shimmering line in-between them.

Cheol shoves the ring back into his pockets, faking a cough for an excuse to talk to run to his room but instead alerts Gi-hun.

“Cheol? Are you catching a fever?” He asks, glaring at Sang-woo for a second before going down on one knee to put his hands on Cheol’s forehead. He pushes him off.

“No, no I’m fine!” Cheol assures, tightening the white towel around him and did his best to stand tall despite his soaked clothes and damped, messily dried hair. “I just need to change my clothes first.” He says, walking towards his room already, taking Sae-byeok’s hand and ignoring the questioning look on her face.

“That’s good,” Gi-hun sighs, pushing himself up from the ground. He held a finger up at Cheol, “Tell me if you’re feeling something though, Ga-yeong is visiting us this week for summer break, her mom won’t let me near her if she knew someone sick is staying at our house.”

“I understand!” Cheol says, dragging his sister with him into his room, sending her an urgent look when she pulls against him, “Call us when dinner’s ready!”

The door to his room slams shut and Sang-woo turns to Gi-hun,

“He grabbed Sae-byeok with him,” He notes, watching as Gi-hun tugs at his hand to lead them both upstairs, “I think something’s going on.”

Gi-hun smiles at him, “You worry too much sometimes, you need to rest your genius brain sometimes you know.”

Sang-woo hums, “Do you think something happened at his school? Then again, I would have noticed right away.”

“He probably remembered something and wanted to share with his older sister,” Gi-hun says with finality, he opens the door to their shared bedroom and pulls Sang-woo behind him, “Come on, let me help you dry off.”

“A… ring” Sae-byeok muses, staring at her brother as he holds the jewelry like it was the last of its kind.

“Well, yes-” Cheol says, throwing his hands around as if he was frustrated his older sister couldn't get the severity of the situation, “But it’s a wedding ring.”

The girl puts her head on her fist as she drums her hands on his wooden desk, “I thought they were already married- well, in everything but papers”

Cheol turns to look at her, eyes wide and hands up in the air as he yells out, “That’s what I thought too!”

“So obviously we were wrong.”

“Obviously”

“Yes, obviously.”

Cheol pauses, staring at Sae-byeok in the eyes as he gapes, “You don’t believe me?”

Sae-byeok huffs out a laugh, ignoring Cheol’s offended exhale as she waves her hand around. “They’re old Cheol, there’s no way they haven’t proposed already. You’ve seen the way they glance at each other. And they glance at each other a lot ”

Cheol looks to the side, contemplating, before turning back to his sister with a determined look on his face, “We should ask him, that way we will know whether to help or not.”

Sae-byeok removes her head from her hand, one eyebrow-raising as she questions, “Help?”

Cheol looks back at her, “Yes, help.”

Cheol opens the door slightly, seeing the dimly lit hallway lighten up the moment it senses someone’s there.

“We shouldn’t, it’s none of our business.” Sae-byeok decided, then in a lower voice, “It’s none of your business”

Cheol ponders, while true he wouldn’t do this kind of thing usually, but he feels happy knowing that they’re married the more traditional way, rings and all.

That and attending a rich, luxurious wedding is one of the items on his bucket list.

He ignores Sae-byeok growingly frustrated calls, as he tiptoes his way down the hallway. Standing in front of the door, he Knocks once, and then twice on the couple’s bedroom.

He waited…

He waited…

What’s taking them so long?

“Cheol!” Sae-byeok whispers, her eyes on the door as her hand moves forward to grip his wrist before he can knock once more, his eyes narrowing at her in annoyance. “I think they’re busy right now.”

“Busy doing what?” he demanded, fighting her off but to no avail,

“Whatever they do at this hour!” She whisper-yells. Trying to drag him back to his bedroom, She sounds almost flustered, like she’d rather be anywhere than here. This makes Cheol drop the subject, despite his growing curiosity about what she knew.

“Come on,” Sae-byeok says, breaking that curiosity into dust as she brings them downstairs, clapping once so the living room lights beneath them. “I think we should start making dinner.”

A delicious sizzle fills the kitchen as Cheol whips up a plan on Sang-woo’s wedding proposal.

“You’re not thinking of that ring, are you?” inquires Sae-byeok, flipping the fish on its back as she checks on the rice to make sure she didn’t forget turning on the rice cooker. “Let it go, if he hasn’t proposed yet I’m sure he will eventually.”

Cheol furrows his brows for a bit before releasing the tension on his shoulders, “I guess you’re right,” he says, removing himself from his chair to set up the table.

“That’s good,” comments Sae-byeok as she transfers the fried fish from the pan, putting together her family’s favored sauces, “Ga-yeong is visiting this week you know, She and Gi-hun both will-”

“Ga-yeong!” Cheol exclaims, almost dropping the plates in his hand as he turns to face his sister.

“Yes, what about it?”

Cheol smiling face answers it well enough to give Sae-byeok a huge headache.

“No- Cheol, don’t.” Cheol doesn’t listen though, he takes Sae-byeok’s phone from his pocket and enters contacts.

“Hi, Ga-yeong! Good evening!” Cheol greets, placing Sae-byeok’s phone against a tall glass as the owner grumbles to herself.

“Cheol, good evening,” Ga-yeong smiles, and Sae-byeok pokes her head in just enough for the camera to catch her,

“And good evening to you, Sae-byeok!”

Se-byeok smiles politely at the younger girl before shooting a glare at her own brother before setting the food on the table.

“Ga-yeong, we have a very important question to ask you,” says Cheol, lowering his voice to a whisper, Ga-yeong widens her eyes and nods, face serious.

Cheol throws a quick look at the staircase before asking, “Did Mister Sang-woo propose to Mister Gi-hun yet?”

Ga-yeong moves her head back in surprise, eyes widening as her jaw drops, “What?” she blinks, giving the boy a very confused look.

Cheol gives a sharp exhale, tilting his head in annoyance as he scratches his head. His sister gives out an amused scoff.

“I found a ring in his jacket pocket; I’ve never seen them wear it before. And it’s obviously a wedding ring.”

Ga-yeong nods, contemplating, “Is it pretty?”

“I guess?”

“We were wondering if you knew they proposed already. We thought perhaps Gi-hun would have told your mother about it? you think you can ask her for us, please Ga-yeong?” Sae-byeok cuts into their conversation, she narrows her eyes at her brother, “This boy here wants to play matchmaker with his parents”

Ga-yeong’s eyes brighten, she nods excitedly before pausing and putting her hand on her chin, “I don’t think Sang-woo proposed though,” she admits,

Cheol smiles and Sae-byeok grimaces.

“But I’ll ask mom just to make sure!” she smiles, hopping off to ask her mother.

Cheol turns to Sae-byeok, “I told you he hadn’t proposed yet,”

Sae-byeok presses her lips together, “She might have not known?”

Ga-yeong returns with a shake of her head, “Sang-woo did not propose,” she confirms, sitting down to take her seat.

Cheol grins, his face lighting up as if someone told him he won the lottery, throwing his hands up to the air as he barks out laughter, “Thank you so much, Ga-yeong!” he bows, feeling his hands shake with excitement,

Ga-yeong mirrors his expression, jumping on her seat, “You’re welcome! So how are we gonna do it?”

“No-” Sae-byeok cuts in yet again, pointing her finger at her two siblings, “Both of you are not doing anything”

She sees Ga-yeong pout at her on her screen, Cheol folds his arms and scowls. It does nothing of course but seeing as these two are as stubborn as a pack of mules, she knew they weren’t going to listen to her. She lets out an exasperated sigh, feeling a familiar headache flow through her head like a snake coiling around a rat.

Sae-byeak backs down, slamming her hand gently down the dining table. The things she does for her family. “You’re not doing anything without me.”

Ga-yeong and Cheol cheers and Sae-byeok slumps down on her chair in defeat.

“Quiet you rascals, let’s eat.”

Chapter Text

Gi-hun brought home Ga-yeong the next day just three hours after lunchtime. Slamming the door behind him he shakes off the excess dirt from their shoes.

“Sae-byeok! Cheol! We’re home!”

Rapid footsteps were heard as Cheol races down the stairs, yelling down the entire way as he dashes to wrap Ga-yeong in a tight embrace, the two’s laughter filling the house like the scent of vanilla baking inside an oven on a sunny day. Sae-byeok turns her head from her place in the living room, stretching her legs as she picks herself up from the floor.

“Okay guys, I know we’re all excited, but we have a full week of school break so try not to break any bones.” Gi-hun ruffle’s Cheol’s hair as he carries away Ga-yeong’s belongings to the guest room. Sae-byeok nods and walks to her two younger siblings, kneeling beside them.

“Did Gi-hun expect anything?” Sae-byeok asks,

Ga-yeong shakes her head, putting her finger in front of her lips, “Not a thing.” she grins,

Ga-yeong removes her jacket and hands it to Sae-byeok, hanging it on the wall as they head into the living room.

“Sang-woo isn’t here right now, he works until sunset on the weekdays.” Explains Cheol, moving the coach cushions aside for Ga-yeong to sit beside him. “He’s busy at night too and might just get out of his office during Tuesdays and Thursdays. There’s a chance he might come out other days too, but it doesn’t happen often.”

Ga-yeong nods, taking a cushion and hugging it to her chest. “So, we have today, Wednesday, and Friday to think of a plan for proposal and Tuesday, Thursday, and the weekend for action.” the young girl declares, using her fingers to list off their schedule for romance in such a determined, serious voice that Sae-byeok almost worries for the chaos that’s heading their fathers’ way

Cheol grabs his blue backpack he hid in the sofa for this moment and takes out several papers and pens, Handing some to Ga-yeong and Sae-byeok.

He writes down the schedule, making a quite impressive timetable as he underlines the days of action. Ga-yeong beside him as she offers proposal ideas Sae-byeok is sure she took inspiration from very cliché kdramas and movies from decades before.

“That’s a good idea,” says Cheol, pointing to an encircled sentence on Ga-yeong’s paper, “I saw this in a movie before, I think it will work great on them.”

Sae-byeok leans forward to see what they were talking about subtly and had to choke back her laughter when she read the suggestion written in red ink. The thought of Sang-woo serenading Gi-hun with a cheesy 80s song in the rain made even the pokerfaced Sae-byeok break a grin. Never in a million years could she see the grim man sing a pop love song, the fact that they had to write it happening in the rain just sells it.

“I don’t think Sang-woo knows how to play guitar though,” comments Sae-byeok, “I don’t know if he’ll consider singing in the rain either, but maybe you can change his mind when you’ll tell him?”

Ga-yeong flinches, whipping her head around, she throws her hands in front of her as she gasps out, “No! We shouldn’t!”

Sae-byeok straightens, the younger girl’s voice startling her as she looks at her with wide eyes, “What? Shouldn’t what?”

Ga-yeong bites her lip, eyes shifting as she raises her shoulders like she was embarrassed, “tell him…?”

Cheol buts in, moving in front of her face with an eyebrow raised and his expression suspicious, “Why can’t we tell him? We can’t help him propose if he doesn’t know what’s going on!”

“Who knows what’s going on?” quips a familiar voice behind them, and Gi-hun returns from the bedrooms and plops himself down on the couch opposite to them. He picks up one of the papers Ga-yeong wrote on.

“What’s this?” he questioned, and Ga-yeong yanks the sheet off his hands before he could read what’s on it.

“Nothing!” she practically screams, handing the evidence of their crimes to Cheol as he scrambles to shove the papers back into his backpack, “It’s a… A project! Yes! A project!”

Gi-hun’s mouth makes an o, pursing his lips and raising his brows, he nods slowly- like he was feeling out the word ‘project’ in his head. He leans forward to prop his hands on his thighs, smiling goofily as he does. “A project for? What exactly?”

Cheol and Ga-yeong looks at each other in alarm, floundering around for a bit before Cheol pipes up-

“For school!.” he explains, and Ga-yeong and he nods approvingly at each other while Sae-byeok places her hand over her eyes in embarrassment, exhaling deeply.

“It’s just- our t-teachers asked us to make a scrapbook.” Ga-yeong stutters, staring at the wall behind her father’s head as she racks her brain for a convincing lie. “They told us to take pictures- And write memories on a photo album during our break?”

Despite the incredibly painful execution, Gi-hun believes it, the corner of his eyes crinkling charmingly as he grins wide. Perhaps it was the fact he had his children all together for the week that made him in such a happy mood.

“Right!” He says, clapping his hands in excitement, “We are going to do so much fun this week, your teachers won’t be disappointed.” He stands up, turning to them for a moment “I will text Sang-woo telling him we’re going to go out tomorrow night, they’re going to be overwhelmed with the pages they have to read”

Ga-yeong laughs awkwardly, taking a moment to spare a look at Sae-byeok and Cheol behind her, “That’s great dad!”

The three waits silently as they watch Gi-hun stroll out of the living room, when the door slam shut behind him Cheol turns to Ga-yeong.

“Did you hear that?” he murmurs, “He says he’s going to convince Mister Sang-woo to go out tomorrow, we can take this chance!”

Sae-byeok stares at the door, silently cursing Gi-hun for being too easily convinced. “He also believes the scrapbook lie, so even if we fail at first try, we can take other easily take other chances for them to propose to each other.”

Cheol and Ga-yeong cheers, high fiving each other as they brought out the now crumpled papers to revisit their plans,

“This is going to be so easy!”

---

It wasn’t easy.

Sang-woo blinks blankly at Gi-hun, Ga-yeong feels her hand tighten on her spoon in panic. They’re having curry tonight, courtesy of Gi-hun, yet she couldn’t taste anything except the lingering anxiety bubbling in her throat. Gi-hun was just suggesting going out tomorrow for her ‘school project’, as during the day Sang-woo didn’t receive his calls nor messages but felt discouraged by Sang-woo’s fatigued aura. ‘a tough day at work’ he says,

“I’m sure you can continue the project without me,” says Sang-woo, scooping a spoonful of curry from his plate, “There’s something going on at the finance department if I don’t give it my full attention it might lead the company into a state of debt.”

Ga-yeong bites her lip; finance, debt, these are all big words to the little girl. It must be serious.

She steals a quick glance at Cheol, who gives a small shrug. Ga-yeong puffs her cheeks at him.

“Ah, I guess it’s alright,” says Gi-hun, shoulders dropping, looking down to move around the curry on his plate. He sighs, “We’ll just go out without you, I guess”

Ga-yeong turns her direction back at Sang-woo, hoping the disappointed housewife act might work on the strict man.

It didn’t, instead, it just makes him look more tired. Making Ga-yeong feel bad for making up the lie in the first place.

“It’s okay, we’ll take lots of pictures for you.” Gi-hun smiles, wrapping his hand around his husband’s hand as they continue to eat dinner,

Ga-yeong thins her lips at Cheol, tilting her head to her parents like she was saying, ‘what do we do now?’

Cheol winces, raising his shoulders as he tilts his utensils up as if to tell, ‘I have no clue’

Sae-byeok drops her spoon roughly against her plate, shooting a look at the two that undoubtedly means ‘shut up or they’ll notice!’

Sang-woo clears his throat. The three dropping their heads down to their food in sync. Gi-hun gives a sympathetic hum, the world silent except for the sounds of metal clinking against ceramics in the elegant dining room.

Once dinner is done and over with Sang-woo heads into his office, and after Gi-hun promises the kids for a fun night out even without the other man, he too turns in early for the night.

“He’s upset,” comments Sae-byeok, and Ga-yeong turns to her older sister with a shamed look on her face,

“I’m sorry this is my fault; I should have thought of a better lie. Now they’re both upset.” Ga-yeong utters, her expression looking like one’s of a kicked puppy.

“No, it isn’t. It isn’t your fault there’s something going on at his company right now.” Sae-byeok assures, pulling the girl closer to her; behind them, Cheol hovers, face contemplating as he stares directly at Sang-woo’s office.

“Besides, now that Sang-woo is busy with his job, I guess we couldn’t really help them out now, hmm,” Sae-byeok stresses, hoping the two take the hint and leaves the not-husbands alone. But just as she was going to suggest watching TV for the time being Cheol steps forward, patting both on the shoulder.

“We have to tell him about the proposal,” Cheol says, not seeing the grimace on his two sisters faces. “Gi-hun has got to be more important than his job, right?”

“We can’t!” Ga-yeong urges, and Cheol turns to her with a miffed look on his face.

“Why not? He isn’t going to propose if he’s cooped up in his office all night!”

“Because-” Ga-yeong bites her lip, eyes flickering from the door to her two siblings. “Because mom says we can’t push people too much or they’ll end up shutting things out!”

“Shutting things out?” Sae-byeok parrots, “Ga-yeong, what are you saying?”

“Mom says that when you push someone too far out of their comfort zone they freeze up and instead close off.”

Sae-byeok muses, she was most likely reciting what her mom told her from memory. But even then, it does sound like good advice.

“But what if Mister Sang-woo goes along with it and what your mom said ends up being total nonsense?” Cheol says and narrowly dodges Sae-byeok’s slap to his arm. Ga-yeong winces.

“Because- well, she thinks that maybe Mister Sang-woo doesn’t really do these types of things as bravely as he thinks?”

Cheol blinks, staring blankly at Ga-yeong like she grew two heads. “What?” he deadpans

“She says that Sang-woo is a coward-” Sae-byeok muses, and Ga-yeong immediently starts defending the poor, older man.

“No! I mean that when it comes to Dad-”

“Ah,” Cheol mutters, his chin resting on his hand deep in thought, “Mister Sang-woo is a sap.”

Ga-yeong flusters; her face is so red right now. She obviously inherited the way her dad blindly puts his emotions on display for the world to see.

“I’ll show you!” she exclaims quite suddenly, and the Kang siblings turn to each other for a moment before turning back to Ga-yeong, who was already marching on towards Sang-woo’s office.

“Quick-” Sae-byeok ushers her brother and her to a safe spot behind a low shelf nearby. She shushes her brother just as she hears a door squeal open.

“Ga-yeong?” Sang-woo questions, putting one hand in his slacks and the other on the doorknob. The top of his dress shirt was just unbuttoned slightly as he squints down at the little girl, he looks like the epitome of a tired, hardworking businessman. “Is there something you need?”

“I-” Ga-yeong hesitates. Shoot, she probably should have thought this through, she thinks bitterly. Well, there’s no turning back now. “I wanted to ask- uhm, what do you think about marriage? And- and… uh rings?”

Sang-woo blinks, one brow twitched in his bafflement as his stepdaughter shifts uncomfortably in front of him, but not for the same reasons he thinks of. The Kang siblings also blink, Sae-byeok refusing the urge not to slam her face on the wooden plank in front of her.

Sang-woo adjusts his eyeglasses, moving his weight from one leg to another as he licks his lips for an answer. Ga-yeong waits; Cheol and Sae-byeok also waiting behind the shelf.

“Marriage isn’t that important as people make it up to be,” Sang-woo says, after a moment’s hesitation.

“People run around, scourging for a person to call theirs but don’t realize maybe the person they’re looking for is right there under their noses the whole time,” Sang-woo says, eyes warm like he’s reminiscing, a rare smile on his face.

“People who marry young are idiots,” He then says, sharply, his eyes flickering to the top of the stairways, “There’s a reason why people who marry young are more likely to get divorced than those who marry late."

“But a marriage isn’t what cements a relationship, and a ring isn’t proof for the love you have for someone.”

Ga-yeong nods, though just a few steps to her left Sae-byeok and Cheol exchange glances. Idiot, they thought, if you really thought that he wouldn’t have bought a ring in the first place.

“Is this for the project Gi-hun was talking about, Ga-Yeong?”

Ga-yeong freezes, before nodding frantically and grinning a bit too widely at her stepfather. “Yes! My project which my dad talked about-” She clamped her mouth shut to stop talking before she makes things worst.

Sang-woo nods slowly, brows furrowing for a moment, thinning his lips. He stops and straightens when he remembers Ga-yeong by the door. “Ah, is that all?”

Ga-yeong nods, smiling up to Sang-woo though a bit of anxiety shows on the corner of her lips. He files the information away for another time. He ruffles Ga-yeong’s hair and tells her not to stay up too late, closing the door behind him.

“You’re right,” Sae-byeok says once they stood up from their hiding spot, “He is hiding from his insecurities.”

Cheol looks up to his sister, “You sure we shouldn’t tell him? It makes things easier.”

Ga-yeong shakes her head, “Mom’s always right, especially when it comes to love. She always knows what a characters gonna do next when she watches her teledramas.”

Sea-byeok runs her hand in her hair, taking a moment to check the time as she tries to soothe herself from this mess of a situation. Day one and they were already stumped.

“Let’s head to bed, we can discuss more of this tomorrow.” Says the older girl, and the three head upstairs to turn in for the night.

Chapter Text

“Sang-woo! You came!”

The siblings turn their heads to find Sang-woo walking out the front door, holding a bottle of wine and a basket filled with bread, jams, and fillings. Sang-woo chuckles,

“I’m not going anywhere technically,” he smiles slightly, sitting down on the crumpled bedsheet Gi-hun took from a closet last minute, gesturing to the place around them after he does so. “We’re only just a few steps from our front porch after all.”

Instead of going out, Sae-byeok suggests starting slow with stargazing right on their front lawn, Cheol and Ga-yeong latching onto the idea immediately. The sun just set hours ago, leaving the world dark in its wake. But the stars shone beautifully, twinkling up above them across the violet sky. The perfect blend of calm and romantic for any person if Sae-byeok thinks correctly.

After the events of last night, they left the ring just right in front of the older man’s office, that way when he heads out the glint of the ring would grab his attention Sae-byeok leans over to grab the picnic basket, checking subtly inside Sang-woo’s jacket for the ring…

It's there, she sighs mentally. She calls out to her siblings messing around with the telescope Cheol asked for last new year’s eve party. It wasn’t the ice cream machine he wanted the most, but it was a welcomed gift, nonetheless.

“So, what made you decide to join us after all?” asks Gi-hun, and Sang-woo huffs quietly, tilting his head a little to the kids huddled over the telescope muttering to each other urgently.

“A little something reminded me of what’s important,” he says warmly, relishing the happy grin Gi-hun gives him in return.

“Barf,” drawls Ji-yeong sarcastically, Sae-byeok shoots her a glare that only makes her giggle. She almost regrets inviting her along.

She watches her younger siblings subtly not subtly whisper amongst themselves turning to their parents every 5 or so seconds.

Almost.

She watches Gi-hun fumble with the camera in the corner of her eyes; tilting her head she strains to hear their conversation which of now consist of slow murmurs and soft laughter.

“I’ll only stay for an hour or so,” she hears Sang-woo apologizes, she can practically feel Gi-hun’s discontent from here.

“Is the problem really that bad?” Gi-hun gives him a beseeching look, gesturing to their little family bonding together under the night sky. “We’re happy to keep you here,”

Sae-byeok couldn’t catch what Sang-woo says next. But with Gi-hun’s shoulders slack and his hands weaken their grip on the camera- she can tell it wasn’t good.

She glanced at Ji-yeong, who only shrugged on her spot on the ground. Her hands lazily spreading cream cheese on rye bread. Useless lesbian.

“Sae-byeok, smile!” The girl in question turns and a click makes itself heard. Gi-hun lowers the camera in his hands, grinning at her carelessly. Ah, he must have finished his conversation with Sang-woo.

She looks back at the man in question and she sees him smile at them from his place on the grass. Sae-byeok huffs, she isn’t going to take this.

Sae-byeok takes the camera gently from Gi-hun’s hands, “Take a break, I’ll take the photos for now.”

“Are you sure?”

Sae-byeok nods, determined. If she spends another second listening to her siblings’ whisper ‘secretly’ to each other while watching someone painfully try to propose she might bang her head against metal.

“Go on, you and Dad deserves it”

Gi-hun gives her one of his signature soft smiles, patting her gratefully on her arm. She watches him go, hoping that their time alone would make Gi-hun sober up and take the risk- if you can even call it a risk.

Sae-byeok snaps a photo of Ji-yeong, the girl protesting that she wasn’t ready, and walks toward the directions of Ga-yeong and Cheol. When she catches their attention she snaps a quick photo, startling the both of them.

“So, did they propose yet?” Cheol asks.

Sae-byeok turns to see them laying on the ground, Sang-woo extending his wrist to the evening sky pointing out constellations as Gi-hun stares into his eyes attentively. Sae-byeok turns back to her brother,

“No,” she states abruptly, and Ga-yeong shakes her head disappointed.

“This is gonna take forever!” Cheol grumbles, stomping his foot on the ground, “We need to do something or else he’s never going to do anything! I’m gonna be 50 until he finally does something!”

Sae-byeok hums, “Sang-woo is also leaving soon, he isn’t staying for long”

Cheol throws his hands up in defeat. Ji-yeong arrives next to Sae-byeok, grabbing the camera and instantly searching for her picture.

“I swear, if I look like some oversized walrus, I’ll- oh wait, I look good!” Ji-yeong approves, pleased. Taking the camera away from Sae-byeok and taking a few pictures of the surroundings herself.

Sae-byeok sees Cheol raise an eyebrow at her, she immediately seizes up.

“I’m not going to spend my evening alone with the lovestruck duo and the matchmaking twins!” Sae-byeok defended, sadly the two ignored her.

“Twins?” Cheol preened, giving a pleased look at Ga-yeong

“Maybe next time we might even read each other’s minds!” Ga-yeong laughs, pointing her hands on the sides of her heads like a telepath reading the minds of their victims. Cheol does the same, laughing.

Sae-byeok closes her eyes, exasperated. She loves these two, that’s for certain, but sometimes she can’t believe the lengths she goes through for her family sometimes. She should take a break, go to an island somewhere.

“You know, if you really want to speed things up you might wanna give them a little push,” Ji-yeong says, taking a quick picture of the men across the yard. Gi-hun is now spreading jam on white bread, Sang-woo on the other hand looks like he’s texting someone. With the flash of the camera alerting them, Gi-hun waves his hand to the four of them, Ga-yeong waves back.

“I thought you said you read my messages,” Sae-byeok says, narrowing her eyes at her girlfriend, the girl hums,

“I did- what I meant was tricking Mister Sang-woo into proposing,” Ji-yeong smirks slyly, the absolute definition of smug.

The three siblings blink.

“…What?”

---

“Truth or Dare!” Ji-yeong exclaims, the six of them now huddled together on the clothed grass on the ground. To her right was Sae-byeok, still furrowing her eyebrows at her like she doesn’t know what’s going on. She does, however, know what’s going on. She just doesn’t like that it’s going on at all.

Ga-yeong, however, jumps at the opportunity. “It’s a fun game, dad! We can learn more about each other and-“

Gi-hun smiles warily, tapping the little girl on the nose. “I know what truth or dare is, sweetie.” He says, then turns to look at Sang-woo. The man looking more and more frustrated the more he looks at his phone.

Gi-hun holds the other man’s arm, grabbing his attention away from his cell, “Hey, you still have time for a game?”

Sang-woo was ready to decline, saying he already spent enough time procrastinating as it is but the pouting faces of Ga-yeong and Cheol stops him, as well as Sae-byeok’s daunting, heavy stare. He looks at Ji-yeong instead and the girl nods excitedly, holding the empty bottle of wine in her hands as she lays it just in the middle of them.

“Come on, Mister Sang-woo! Just a few rounds would do!” She says,

Cheol pipes in, “It would be fun!” and Ga-yeong puts her hands together in a plead.

“Please!” she begs, extracting the word as far as she could, shaking her hands as she does so. “Just this once! We won’t bother you ever again!”

“Never!”

“Ever!”

“Okay!” Sang-woo says in a very defeated tone, pushing his glasses aside to rub at his tired face. And Ga-yeong and Cheol exchanged a victorious high-five. Gi-hun and Ji-yeong laugh at Sang-woo’s torment, Sae-byeok just starts the game, spinning the bottle.

It stops just as it points at Sang-woo, to his displeasure. Looking away briefly as he huffs out his irritation, Gi-hun holds his hand.

Sae-byeok opens her mouth, ready to say it when-

“Truth,” Sang-woo briskly says, and Sae-byeok’s mind stutters.

Right, she remembers, miffed. The rules of truth and dare have to include the option DARE as well.

She instead says, “What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done.”

Sang-woo gawks, a direct contrast to the other suddenly attentive faces around him. Cheol was brimming with anticipation; Gi-hun looks like he’s trying to fight off his grin, knowing the other man won’t appreciate it one bit.

Sang-woo sighs, “Joining this game,” he says defeatedly, and Ji-yeong and Cheol immediately express their dissent,

“Fine, fine!” Sang-woo groans, putting his face on his palms once more, “Back when I was in middle school, I wanted to be a-” Sang-woo winces, and everyone else is practically leaning forward, trying to coax the man into confessing.

“A musical actor” He finished lamely, and the yard exploded with noise. With Ji-yeong practically yelling over all of them.

“You wanted to be WHAT ?!” Ji-yeong shrieks, covering up Ga-yeong’s very delighted gasp. Cheol however, scrunches his nose.

“A musical theater actor?” he asks before a thought passes through his head. “Wait, that means you can SING?!”

Gi-hun pauses and stares at Sang-woo too, “HA! I forgot you could sing!” he crows, but then his eyebrows slowly raise on his face, “Wait, didn’t you join that musical production before? Back in high school?”

“No way!” If Cheol’s eyes could get any wider they might just pop out of his head, “Mister Sang-woo can sing?!”

Ga-yeong begins to chant, “Sing for us!”

Cheol, Ji-yeong, and Gi-hun join in- but Sae-byeok cuts through the noise expertly like a knife on paper.

“That’s enough,” She says, and Sang-woo gives her a thankful nod, “We have to continue playing truth or dare, we can force him to do so after.”

Sang-woo pales, and the rest of the company nods to each other determinedly, their minds on one thing only.

“Yes! Let’s play” Ji-yeong says, the bottle of wine spinning once again

---

Sae-byeok resisted the urge to slam the wine bottle across her head; 11 rounds later and she realizes her mistake.

During the game, multiple things have happened: Ga-yeong asks Cheol who is someone he can’t stand (The weird annoying lady who keeps calling Sang-woo ‘cool guy’), Cheol Dares Gi-hun to put every filling and jam on white bread and eat it (He did, albeit with a disgusted look on his face), Gi-hun asks Ji-yeong what she would do with billions of won (head off to Jeju Island with her fantastic girlfriend), Ji-yeong dares Sae-byeok to close her eyes and scrolls through her contacts, texting a random person, “look behind you”, and Sae-byeok asks Ga-yeong what chore she hates doing the most; yet no matter what, when the bottle points at Sang-woo he always, without a doubt, picks truth. Ruining their plans.

“So, Sae-byeok” starts Ji-yeong with a mischievous look in her eyes, “Who’s prettier? Your girlfriend or your best friend?”

Sae-byeok huffs, fondly. Well, she guesses even with their plans failing they still had a fun time regardless.

“Both,” she answers, giving the shorter girl a peck on her cheek. Next to her, Cheol gags.

Sang-woo clears his throat, “I should leave now, it must have been an hour already.” he says, removing his phone from his pocket and cursing when he checks the time. “Crap-”

Gi-hun glares at him, his irises snapping from Cheol to Ga-yeong.

“-It’s almost 10,” He rises, ready to leave when Sae-byeok grabs his wrist,

“Wait, one more round,” She pleads, she stares heads on at Sang-woo, who thins his lips in anger.

“I can’t, Sae-byeok.” He urges, slipping his wrist away from Sae-byeok’s grasp. Gi-hun clasps her shoulder,

“Sae-byeok, I think we should let him do his work,” Gi-hun says, but Ji-yeong catches on what’s Sae-byeok’s throwing and pipes in,

“Just one more dare, please Mister Sang-woo?” Ji-yeong waves her hands at Cheol, who in turn also moves to pout at his father figure, “You did say it’s almost ten. When it does hit ten, we won’t disturb you- not even if you work late at night tomorrow.”

Gi-hun hushes the teens and kids’ crying pleas, but Sang-woo’s defeated inhale stops him,

“Fine,” He exhales, “But promise me you won’t disturb me tonight and tomorrow evening unless something important happens,”

When everyone agrees, he puts his hands in his pockets as he licks his lips, “What do you want me to sing?”

Hearing Ga-yeong’s excited gasp, Sae-byeok shoots her a look that reminds her of their mission. She immediately looks down in disappointment.

Okay, she thinks, her head hopping into overdrive. She must think this through; the words have to be subtle, but clear. Vague but gives him an idea that might just open him to pop the question.

“I dare you…” Sae-byeok starts, feeling everyone’s eyes on her as she looks her dad right in the eyes, “To do what you’ve been wanting to do for a long time.”

Sang-woos face softens considerably, he bends over to squeeze Sae-byeok’s hand.

“Thank you, I knew you were mature enough to know when you have to give up leisure time for hard work.” He says, his eyes shimmering with gratefulness and exhaustion. “I’m very proud,” he greets everyone good night, and before she knew what was happening, he walks back into the house, the door slamming shut behind him.

Shit.

Chapter Text

Sae-byeok doesn’t ask for help. She doesn’t, it’s a common fact of life. The summer is hot, the winter’s cold, and Sae-byeok spends her time in solitude. The only company worth seeing is her brother whom she visits every week in that children’s home.

But that has been another lifetime ago, and instead of the silence she’s grown accustomed to she hears laughter and comfort around the people around her. It’s a nice change of pace, she might add, for her brother and herself. And after months of them breaking down her walls, she guesses during the middle of it she learned to open up a little more, hid away a little less.

Perhaps this is why she finds herself before Ali Abdul’s front door at 1 in the afternoon.

Ali is the most sincere and genuine person she has the pleasure of knowing and she met multiple nuns. A good friend of Sang-woo and an all-right good person who would help his friends no matter what. She just hopes helping a wedding proposal isn’t too out of his expertise.

She rings the doorbell, and after a muffled ‘I’m coming!’ and shuffling from the door; Ali appears just before the threshold, holding his son in his arms.

“Sae-byeok?” he blinks, looking a little too shell-shocked to see the young woman at his front door, “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Sae-byeok twitches her lips into a semblance of a smile, hoping to soothe the confused man, “I need your help with something, I thought you’d be the perfect man for the job.”

Despite his surprised features, he nods, “Oh, of course! come in, come in!”

---

“And that’s what happened,” Sae-byeok finishes, placing her cup of tea down in front of her as Ali nods contemplating, his leg bouncing his bumbling son who seems very keen on staring at Sae-byeok.

“And here I thought they were already married- well, in everything but papers.” Ali laughs, and Sae-byeok blows her bangs out of her face. “And Mister Sang-woo can sing too?”

Sae-byeok shifts her face into her version of a grimace. “Don’t remind me; I’m pretty sure Ji-yeong and Ga-yeong are two steps away from asking Sang-woo’s mother for video evidence.”

Ali nods sympathetically, though his face holds the same amused features from before.

“I just need some help, that’s all,” Sae-byeok says, drumming her fingers on the wooden table. It’s a nice table. In fact, Ali has a very homely house. She looks around at the multiple picture frames hanging methodically on the walls, if she guesses correctly, it must be his mother and siblings from Pakistan.

Ali nods, smiling slightly, “I am the only one in our group who’s married after all,” he grins, and his son babbles on his lap as if he understood. Sae-byeok nods.

“Exactly, how do I get them to propose?”

Ali just smiles at Sae-byeok, he shakes his head fondly at the girl. Like she knew nothing about love and the like.

“You can’t force Sang-woo to propose, Sae-byeok,” He says, eyes tender and sincere like the way he talks about his family. A real romantic, he is “He needs to do so on his own. Without your help.”

Sae-byeok resists the urge to facepalm, Ali doesn’t deserve that disrespect. But she couldn’t let the annoyance off her face in time, and the Pakistani man just chuckles.

“Hey, you want my advice and that’s what it is,” he shrugs nonchalantly, and Sae-byeok drops her head on the wooden table.

“Hey, if it’s worth anything- try bringing them to a more romantic location and leaving them alone.” Ali consults, holding his kid in one arm and patting Sae-byeok gently on the shoulder. “And keep me updated! I want to see where this goes!”

Sae-byeok stays that way for a couple of minutes more before eventually raising her head from the table. She thanks the man and declines when he offers food, she slowly walks towards the door, waving back to Ali and her soon before she pashes the threshold.

“Remember! Keep me updated!” she hears just before the door slams behind her.

She sighs, feeling the thoughts in her head bounce around each other, filling her brain up to the brim. She massages her head.

“The things I do for my family,” she grumbles walking away from the apartment and into the streets.

Her phone rings the whole way home, the texts of Ali suggesting date ideas as she strolls down the streets. It would be 5 minutes later before she eventually sets it to silent.

---

“Dad? Do you think Mister Sang-woo would be too busy for tomorrow’s outing?”

Gi-hun looks up from where he’s mixing, though, he still sees Cheol dips his fingers into the cookie dough thinking he wasn’t looking. The older man raises the bowl away, tutting at him. Setting the cookie dough aside and away from the boy as he moves to check on the batch cooking in the oven.

“Hm, I’m not sure… Why do you ask?” Gi-hun murmurs, his eyes on the rising baked treats. He can hear Ga-yeong fumble with her fingers from here,

“…Nothing,” she says forlornly, she returns to dipping chocolate-covered cookies in rainbow sprinkles. Gi-hun bites the corner of his bottom lip in thought, knowing fully well his daughter is keeping something from him.

“Stop looking so sad!” Cheol proclaims, slamming the bowl of dough on the tablespace right in the middle of Ga-yeong and Gi-hun, snatching the same camera from last night’s truth or dare, “It would ruin the pictures !” he says, hissing the word picture through his gritted teeth as he stares decidedly at Ga-yeong.

Ga-yeong’s eyes widen a bit then she nods quickly, putting the moment behind her. She dips the cookies with more gusto now than she did before.

The oven rings with a sharp ‘ding!’ and Gi-hun grabs the oven mitts to take the cookies out of the oven just as Ga-yeong finishes the first batch. Sae-byeok passes through the kitchen entrance right on cue.

“Are you guys baking cookies?” she asks, but before anyone could say anything the teen takes one of the finished cookies off the plate and takes a bite.

“Hmph! It’s good!” Sae-byeok says in between bites and Cheol snaps the camera in her direction. Cheol’s laughter at her photo causing Sae-byeok to chase after him.

“Hey,” Gi-hun whispers to his daughter, rubbing his hands on the apron briefly before taking a cookie off a plate himself, handing it to the little girl before him, “I might convince Sang-woo to join us for tomorrow,”

Ga-yeong furrows her eyebrows at him, and despite her young age, she hears the falter in her father’s voice as he makes the weak promise. She glances at Cheol for a second before staring determinedly at her father

“You don’t have to,” she says, holding on to the cookie. Right in front of them Sae-byeok finally catches up to Cheol, taking the camera away from him as she searches through the gallery. “I know he’s really busy,”

Gi-hun grins, and though it wasn’t as bright as its versions before it, it still manages to create its own light. “I know, but I’ll still try.”

Ga-yeong stares at her father, the sounds of Sae-byeok deleting the dreaded picture triumphally as Cheol groans in defeat in the background. Wondering if the proposal thing was something they shouldn’t meddle in the first place.

“Hey,” Sae-byeok breaks the silence yet again, dropping the camera into Cheol’s hands with a smug look on her face. she turns to the two with a small smile-

“I know where we should go next.”

---

Sang-woo hears a faint knock on the door, wondering who could disturb him at this hour. Ever since he returned home, he stayed in his office the entire time, choosing to have dinner at his cluttered desk then waste time intermingling with his family. Much to their dismay.

He feels exhaustion creep into his muscles, sore from keeping the same position for hours on end. He stretches when he stands up, his bones crackling with the movement as he reaches to open the door.

“Sang-woo, you’ve been in there for hours,” Gi-hun says when the door swung open, Sang-woo casts a quick look at the wall clock and clenches his jaw when he sees the time. 1:52 AM. “Come to bed already, how can you work tomorrow if you’re falling asleep every moment?”

Sang-woo thins his lips. Before letting go of his frustrations with an exhale, Gi-hun sees this and slacks his shoulders. Pushing through Sang-woo, he walks into the office, which is messier than usual seeing as papers were strewn all around the floor and the jacket hung carelessly at the rest of a plush sofa in the room’s corner. Gi-hun frowns, turning back to stare at the other man

“Seriously, you’ve been working nonstop for the last few months,” Gi-hun says, pointing his hand at his incredibly littered sleek mahogany desk which looks more paper than wood at this point. “When’s the last time you’ve taken a full 7 hour sleep?”

Gi-hun holds his temple, mentally counting to ten “I thought you promised me you wouldn’t disturb me after yesterday’s truth or dare?”

Gi-hun gapes, his jaw-dropping at the words of his partner. “I’m not disturbing you, I’m taking care of you!” he hisses, his body moving angrily with every word he spoke, “Besides, that was technically two days ago- seeing as it’s almost two right now-“

“I know, Gi-hun.” Sang-woo cuts in, putting his hands in front of him he starts ushering Gi-hun out of his office. “I will head upstairs soon, just let me finish something real quick-“

Before Gi-hun could cross the door frame, his hands held out suddenly to the wall, effectively stopping Sang-woo from pushing him away any further. He looks back at the younger man with sad eyes and Sang-woo stops himself from cursing, it just looks so wrong on him. He should be happy, making the same silly smiles that always stay on his face despite the worst circumstances.

and who’s fault would that be? his traitorous mind whispers

“You aren’t going with us tomorrow either?” he asks, yet he didn’t phrase it like a question. Knowing the answer already, Gi-hun closes the door himself. Leaving Sang-woo alone again in his clustered office. With just the sounds of the wall clock ticking above him and the terrible feeling he’s done something he shouldn’t have.

Chapter Text

Cheol stares beyond the glass wall watching what might have been hundreds of silvery-brownish fishes swimming about, moving around each other in a fast, yet graceful pace, one by one following each other as they swam in the same direction. It was almost as big as that shark he saw just a few paces back, yet this seems a little more majestic, seeing the fishes move as one. Suddenly, a stingray flies from beneath the schools of fish, making its path upwards and away from the small, awed boy.

Cheol parts his lips in awe, watching the stingray soar above him. The tunnel inside the aquarium feeling so small as the child reaches his hand towards it. Gi-hun, seeing this, lifts the boy up until his hand reaches the glass ceiling. It’s unlike anything the kid has seen before.

Ga-yeong giggles, watching the older boy stare at the ceiling in delight.

“This was a good idea, Sae-byeok,” Ga-yeong sighs, watching sand-eels sway in their place in the sand as she waves at them.

Sae-byeok smiles, “It was Ali’s idea, he kept coming up with places to go for-” Sae-byeok steals a quick look at the older man who is now pointing happily at the small multi-colored tropical fishes just outside the glass tunnel, she drops her voice to a murmur, “Sang-woo’s proposal.”

Ga-yeong drops her hand, feeling the tightness in her chest as she remembers the look on her father’s face early morn. He looked so sad, even when Cheol offered him his morning chocolate milk. He still put on a brave face when they went out though, cracking jokes and complaining about his soon-to-be husband on the train ride to Gangnam-gu but Ga-yeong never likes it when her father’s upset.

“Do you think something happened last night?” Ga-yeong asks, cupping her mouth with one hand as Sae-byoek narrows her eyes at the boys.

“I can’t say for certain,” Sae-byeok answers, she then holds Ga-yeong’s wrist and drags her gently away with a small comforting smile on her face “Come on, let’s see what they’re up to.”

As they approached the two, Ga-yeong now hears their conversation more clearly,

“I wanted a pet fish back when I was in middle school,” reminisces Gi-hun, watching the fish flutter around in its glass prison. “My mother thought I’d forget feeding it so she didn’t get me any, saying the closest thing I would get to a pet fish is the fried one on my plate.”

Sae-byeok snorts, different from Ga-yeong’s giggle and Gi-hun’s deep hearty laughter. Ga-yeong clamps her mouth, ashamed when she sees people give them odd looks. Sae-byeok in turn shoots a dark glare towards them and they suddenly went back at their own businesses, feeling a chill run up their spine.

Cheol kept staring at the fishes, “We should get an aquarium for the house, Mister Gi-hun.” He says, staring up at the man as he activates his best puppy eyes, “Please? I promise to take care of it and feed it well!”

Gi-hun smiles down at the boy, ruffling his hair affectionately. “I might kid, but first we’re going to ask Sang-woo. He’d be pissed at me if I gave you a pet without him knowing.”

At the name of the absent man, everyone freezes, and the air suddenly becomes a little colder, a little more sullen. Cheol ducked his head down quickly in guilt.

Ga-yeong steadies herself, ready to say something until Gi-hun cuts her off unknowingly.

“Say, why don’t you guys go buy a souvenir from the gift shop,” Gi-hun smiles, and if it looked a little forced no one says anything. He waves his hand in a shoo-shoo motion, “Go on now! I think I saw some plushies when I passed by!”

Ga-yeong and Cheol turned to each other, before nodding obediently at their dad and skipping away to the shop. Leaving Sae-byeok and Gi-hun behind.

Gi-hun gestures at the camera hanging around Sae-byeok’s neck, “It’s a shame they don’t allow photography here,” he chuckles, awkwardly. Sae-byeok tenses the corners of her lips.

“Yes,” she mutters, and the two stand in silence for a moment. Letting the sounds of the crowd sweep around them before walking around the aquarium, Gi hun clears his throat.

“Are you having fun?”

Sae-byeok felt her hand twitch, she nods, “Yes, I am.”

Silence surrounded them again, but this time it’s no longer uncomfortable. Sae-byeok follows her father as he reads useless trivia about aquatic creatures from golden, heavy-looking plaques, waiting for the two to come back to end the day.

“Why couldn’t he come?” Sae-byeok asks once they stop in front of one of the biggest aquariums in another room, watching a grey shark as it’s slowly making its way from one end of the aquarium to another, the creature turning sideways as it glides, making everyone around them ooh and awe at its glory.

“He said he’s busy,” Gi-hun answers shortly, thumbing at the metal plaque in front of him, it probably holds information for the majestic creature that’s now turning its way around a corner but Sae-byeok isn’t one to care for that. She cares, however, about the way Gi-hun starts to fidget with his hat since the slip up of Sang-woo’s name some time ago, the look she caught in his eyes as he watches a couple with their child pass by.

How did Sang-woo not notice this? She has no clue.

“And I know he has a job,” Gi-hun says, finally looking over at Sae-byeok, “But he hasn’t been home for a long time in a while.”

Sae-byeok understands what he means, for the past few months Sang-woo has been swept up by his work, solving every crisis and fixing every financial problem just for another to pop up, not to mention before that he went on a business trip outside Korea for a week. She doesn’t know how Cheol can tell himself how he can convince Sang-woo to propose when the man only comes out for a few hours to sit on the sofa ‘watching’ tv just to return to his office later. And even then, he does so at Gi-hun’s persistence.

She realizes she’s been quiet for too long when Gi-hun lets out a disappointed sigh, “Look at me, an old man yet I still complain so much,”

“No, I get it.” The girl’s sharp reply surprises the both of them, but she continues on, feeling like she needs to say something more for the man who’s done so much for her, “…I miss him too.”

Gi-hun smiles softly at her, he opens his arms to bring Sae-byeok into a warm hug only for the teen to push him away.

“Oh- sorry, I-“

Sae-byeok moves the camera around her neck and holds it in her hands as she moves back to hug him again, wrapping her arms around the taller man as she sunk into the warmth of his chest. He holds up his hands, stunned, but slowly he wraps his arms around Sae-byeok too. It isn’t often Sae-byeok asks for comfort, so to be trusted with the honor makes him feel appreciated. Makes him feel loved.

“Dad! You forgot to give us money- oh.” Ga-yeong and Cheol stop. Sae-byeok jerks her head, gesturing at Gi-hun and mouthing at the two to stay quiet.

Ga-yeong nods, but Cheol disregards her words completely as he moves forward, hugging the back of Gi-hun’s jacket too. Startling the man as he whips around to see what’s going on, his eyes soften at the sight of the kids. Cheol ignores the wetness of his eyes.

“Hey! Don’t ignore us! We care for you too, you know!” he says, kicking the older man’s shoes lightly, Ga-yeong runs over as well, holding her father’s hand in hers as she looks up to him, eyes bright and strong.

The four of them held each other for just a few seconds more in the dim lights of the aquarium, uncaring to the world around them as it passes by.

---

“Ah! That was so much fun!”

They now walked down the streets of Gangnam-gu, the sky above them turning orange as the sun slowly makes its way across the horizon.

Gi-hun now walks with a bit more spring in his step, his hands holding one’s of a very enthusiastic Ga-yeong as they swing them back and forth, With Ga-yoeng’s hands on Cheol’s and Cheol holding on to Sae-byeok’s.

“We should eat street food!” Ga-yeong exclaims happily, then whispering conspicuously at her two siblings, “My mom doesn’t let me eat junk food often, she thinks it’s bad for me!”

Sae-byeok nods, Cheol looks a bit more insulted that Ga-yeong’s mom doesn’t like street food.

“Street food is the best!” Cheol declares, shaking his head as he looks at Sae-byeok with a look that says Can you believe this? .

Sae-byeok rolls her eyes, “You like it because the nuns back in your previous children’s home forbid you from eating it,”

The boy grins, opening his mouth to retort but instead makes a confused ‘huh’. There just a few blocks in front of him was a familiar middle-aged woman walking out of a convenience store, her incredibly messy hair falling out of her bun as she checks the time on her wrist.

Cheol panics, grabbing Gi-hun and gesturing at everyone to stop moving.

“What is it?” Ga-yeong whispers and Cheol shushes her, pointing at the woman heading their way.

“Move, move, move!” he pushes urgently, trying to squeeze his family into a computer shop when Mi-nyeo spots them.

“Hey, it’s Kang from my kid’s school.” She grins at them, quickening her pace as the grocery bag in her arms bounces with every step she takes. Cheol looks less than pleased.

“Hello, Ms. Han.” He mumbles, Ga-yeong gives him a confused look before shooting the older woman a smile of her own,

“Hello! I’m Ga-yeong, Sae-byeok and Cheol’s sister!” She says, giving her a happy wave. Cheol looks very unhappy.

Mi-nyeo raises her brows, she turns to Gi-hun with a sly smile, “You didn’t tell me you’ve got another kid Cho-“ She then doubles back, finally realizing the man in question wasn’t the same man she kept annoying every school dismissal every afternoon. “You’re not Cho!”

“He never tells you anything because he keeps trying to avoid you,” Cheol mumbles under his breath and Gi-hun nudges him,

“No, I’m Seong Gi-hun of Ssanmun-dong. I’m-” Gi-hun stops, unsure how to approach this situation. Fortunately, (or unfortunately) she starts to talk over him.

“Babysitter? Friend? younger brother? -

Sae-byeok snorts, remembering Sang-woo’s irritation at being called older than his hyung

“- cousin? Niece? Son? -“

At that Gi-hun splutters, unsure if she was serious or not.

“Or maybe…” She tilts her head, narrowing her eyes as she examines Gi-hun closer, who tensed his lips into a straight line, furrowing his eyebrows as he tries to lean away from the woman.

All at the same time the siblings pray, hoping that the Mi-nyeo won’t notice Gi-hun’s transparent expressions and habit to put his emotions on his face. For the third time that day, they weren’t that lucky.

“Ah,” Mi-nyeo deadpans, finally leaning back and gesturing to Gi-hun “No wonder why he wasn’t interested in the hot single women there- me- despite ‘not having a wife’”

The four gawks at the woman, who only rummages through her belongings for a pack of smoke.

“And I thought I was getting through to him!” She cries out, “Damn it, there goes my chance of becoming a sugar baby.”

Sae-byeok and Gi-hun chokes, leaving Ga-yeong and Cheol confused about what she meant. The lady couldn’t care less though, she mutters under her breath as she tries to find her pack of cigarettes.

“I am not-“ Gi-hun struggles, trying to find the proper words to refute her claims but comes up with nothing. Sae-byeok on the other hand looks like she was about to cry, puke, laugh, or some weird mixture of all three.

“Oh yeah? You have a job? Or do you just stay at home playing housewife all day?” Mi-nyeo asks, her eyes widening at the word job for emphasis. Gi-hun winces as Cheol’s face lights up with comprehension.

“Oh yeah, he definitely does stay home all day cooking food for us!” Cheol says, and Ga-yeong pipes up beside him.

“Oh? Is that what a sugar baby is?” She asks, and jumps when both Sae-byeok and Gi-hun whips to her yelling a very strong ‘NO!’.

“Let’s go- Let’s just go!” Sae-byeok pleads, and damn isn’t that the most emotion she’s shown all week. Besides painful suffering and silent frustration.

“Hey! If you don’t want him anymore you can throw him my way!” Yells Mi-nyeo and Sae-byeok, for the umpteenth time this week, refrains herself from slamming her face down hard on the concrete.

“So… What’s a sugar baby?”

---

“Hey, can I talk with you for a moment?”

Gi-hun looks up from his cell, turning its face down to cover up the job applications sitting innocently on his screen. They had just finished dinner and the dishes were all done when Sang-woo approaches him from his spot in the living room, sitting down wistfully next to him.

“Yeah, sure.” Gi-hun says, turning his phone off and nervously rubbing his hands on his pants. Readjusting himself so he faces a bit more in Sang-woo’s direction.

Despite the affirmation they stay like that in silence a bit more, the quietness of the house getting to Gi-hun as he pulls on his hands in thought. Sang-woo isn’t one to own up to his mistakes, Gi-hun thinks sadly, often finding some way to avoid it or solve it without confrontation.

“The problem I told you about work a couple of days ago?” Sang-woo finally says, putting his hands on his face to readjust his glasses anxiously, “It’s solved, just this afternoon.”

Despite himself, Gi-hun smiles, genuinely happy for Sang-woo.

“That’s great,” he says, holding his hang out to grasp the younger man’s, Sang-woo almost sighs in relief, the hope in his chest fluttering like butterflies at Gi-hun’s smile as he holds out his other hand to hold Gi-hun’s.

“I know it’s hypocritical of me to ask this, but somethings going on tomorrow,” Sang-woo murmurs to him, and Gi-hun feels the hair stand on the back of his neck. Sang-woo catches this, feeling tightness and a little bit of something else in his chest as he leans in to nose at the spot underneath his ear. Gi-hun shivers.

“There’s a party- a ball you might say. Celebrating the hard work the employees made during the months.”

“Already?” Gi-hun whispers, trying not to give Sang-woo the satisfaction as he wills his voice not to waver. Sang-woo kisses his neck softly,

“You know how they are.”

Gi-hun puts his hand on Sang-woo’s chest and pushes him back, trying to summon an angry look on his face. He fails, the redness of his face spreads from the top of his ears and trails downward and into his shirt.

Sang-woo knows where it ends. But every time he sees it, he wants to find out all over again.

“I’m still angry at you.” Gi-hun hisses, but he feels himself melt from the feeling of the other man’s touch. Feeling himself lose himself and his anger with every kiss the man gives him.

“I know,” Sang-woo says, and he hoists Gi-hun up from the couch. Locking his lips with the older male as he brings them both up the stairs. The two words from Mi-nyeo echoing in Gi-huns ear until all he could feel was the man on top of him.

“Let me make it up to you"

Chapter Text

Ga-yeong gasps as they entered the ballroom, catching the way the crystals on the chandelier glitter as it hangs beautifully on the high above ceiling. Feeling like she transferred into another world as the golden atmosphere- literally, as its décor shines with gold and the lights reflect a golden-orange color, envelope her.

There, just a few meters in front of her is a sea of white, skirted tables with table center roses as they hold very important looking people in their suits and evening dresses. Chit chatting amongst each other in hushed voices.

Jazz music plays in the background. A warm, smooth voice singing on top of it, perched on a stool just above a wooden stage was a lady humming into a microphone, the red velvet of the stage matching the color of her glittering gown making Ga-yeong smile, she looks so pretty!

Ga-yeong looks at Cheol beside her, fiddling with his tie for the 6th time that night. The blue of his vest, tie, and pants that Sang-woo forced him to wear matching perfectly with her dress.

Sae-byeok for once fixed what would be her messy and tangled hair is now straightened and combed to look fluffy and soft, shocking Ga-yeong for a bit; even more than the fact that she came in an all-black loose-fitting tux, the white of her dress sleeves showing as only a sliver underneath her black jacket as her hands rested comfortably in her pockets as she looks on with a very bored expression on her face.

Sang-woo also has almost the same expression on his face, scanning the room with a blank stare. Tonight, he ditches his glasses, wearing a dark black jacket over his three buttoned shirt, black belt, and dress pants. After his eyes finished sweeping over the room, he looks fondly at Gi-hun, who also played with his hair for the occasion. Setting his usual messy hair in place with a gel whose brand name Ga-yeong can’t remember. He wears a full button-down dress shirt with a black jacket with a blue boutonnière pinned in its front, wearing dark pants that stop right at his ankles. Ga-yeong notes he isn’t wearing socks.

“Why do you guys look so cool like that wearing all black?” Cheol complains and Sang-woo slaps his hands away from his now crooked tie and straightens it.

“At least you don’t look like you’re dressed for a funeral,” Sae-byeok swipes back,

Ga-yeong herself wears a royal blue satin party dress, its bedazzled belt and collar reflecting in the room’s golden light. She feels adorable with the frilliness of her skirt and the cuteness of the bow at the back of her waist. Gi-hun thinks so too, snapping about 50 pictures before they took to the car.

“I’m sorry, sirs, but I’m afraid this is a no children’s party.” Says the doorman, gesturing to the duo in blue, “I’m afraid you’re going to have to leave them behind to attend,”

Ga-yeong’s eyes snap back to her dads, feeling herself tense at the situation. Darn it, and she spent so much time with Sae-byeok doing their hair together! She can’t believe she’s going to miss this.

“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid we’ve gotten permission. From my friend? He’s the host of this party.” Gi-hun says to the doorman, holding both Ga-yeong and Cheol’s shoulders, respectfully, “You can ask him if you like.”

The doorman pauses like he was shocked by the sheer audacity of Gi-hun. But before he can say anything else, an old man wearing a sleek black tuxedo that looks more than Ga-yeong’s entire school walks up to them with massive delight on his face.

“There he is! My Gganbu!” he cheers, his arms wide on either side of him as he walks down to greet the family, the young three, in particular, grows ever more confused when he stops in front of Gi-hun instead of Sang-woo, clasping both hands on his shoulder as he grins up to the younger man.

“It is great to see you again,” He smiles, and Ga-yeong smiles herself at the genuine look on the old man’s face, despite the fact he could buy all of BOTH her family’s belongings and leave them bankrupt.

“It is good to see you too, Il-nam” Gi-hun smiles back,

Il-nam gives out a loud belly laugh, he tilts his body back, slapping Gi-hun on the shoulder before turning to the doorman, who looked like his eyes are ready to pop out of his eye sockets any second now.

“What’s the holdup? These five are my most treasured guests!” Il-nam declares, and Cheol and Ga-yeong’s jaw drops at his statement. “Let them in at once!”

“I-im sorry Mr. Oh, but children aren’t allowed in-” Il-nam’s scoff cuts his off, waving his hand as if the rules of this very elite and sophisticated ball is no more than an inconvenience to him.

“Nonsense, I’m the one who’s hosting this party after all,” Il-nam grins, nodding to the doorman (he nods back, quickly) and pulling Gi-hun and Sae-byeok (who was nearest to him) into the ballroom.

“What’s going on?” whispers Cheol to Sang-woo as they weave around the room, following Gi-hun, Il-nam, and an unwilling Sae-byeok right to their table.

“That is Oh Il-nam,” Sang-woo explains, jerking his head to the old man. “He is one of my companies’ biggest investors- ah, someone who provides us money and resources” Sang-woo explains to the two kids, who ‘ah-ed’

“He met Gi-hun when he visited me while I was at work one time and the idiot really went and accidentally meet one of the most important people in business. Even worst, he befriended him.” Sang-woo recalls, and through the complaint was clear there was a different tone in his voice. Something that sounded fonder.

He remembers that day, how surprised he was when he was called up to the main man’s office and spent the whole elevator ride letting his thoughts and anxieties fill his head as he braces for the worst. That is until he found his partner laughing with the company’s biggest sought for investor. The way they talked like they’ve known each other for so long when only they met each other four hours ago. The way Il-nam turns to Sang-woo saying nothing but respect and admiration for his childhood love and how inspired he was by the way he sees hope in humanity. Saying they have been nothing but wonderful as they spent the afternoon playing the games of their childhood.

Sang-woo went home early that day, feeling like he’s stuck in a dream. Gi-hun on the other hand went home with a new friend who from time to time invites him along for expensive yacht parties and- oh God almighty, golfing.

“He didn’t!” Ga-yeong gasps, turning her head to her father in surprise. Sang-woo doesn’t know why she expects anything less from her dad.

“He did,” Sang-woo confirms, fond exasperation haunting his every word.

They stilled their footsteps as they stopped in front of an empty table. It was the right in the middle of the room, just underneath the same sparkling chandelier that Ga-yeong now hopes won’t fall on them.

“You and your family are sitting with me,” Il-nam says casually, his wrinkles grow more pronounced as his eye’s crinkles with years of laughter, leaning down to take his seat in front of them. not noticing the way the family halts in shock at his words.

“Oh, sir we don’t want to impose!” Gi-hun declines, shaking his head as he frantically shakes his hands in front of him.

“Nonsense! Come on, it’s the best table in the house.”

Looking at the stage, everyone had to agree. It wasn’t too far back that they couldn’t see what's going on onstage, but it wasn’t too nearby that they must turn their heads all the way over to the side if something moves on stage.

Sae-byeok sits down first, nodding politely to the old man as he shifts his direction to her. Smiling proudly at her like she won the local spelling bee. One by one they sit right down, no one had the heart to say no to the man after all, or perhaps because they didn’t have anywhere else to sit.

“All right,” Gi-hun huffs, sitting down between Il-nam and Sang-woo, smoothing his pant legs as he takes his seat. “Just because you insist.”

Soon enough, after acres of small talk and introductions. The lights went out and the stage lit up to show the same beautiful woman with the red glittering dress. The orchestra surrounding her filled the ballroom with music that made Ga-yeong felt like she was soaring.

She looks quickly at Gi-hun, who was still chatting happily with Il-nam, then at Sang-woo, who twitches his lips in a half attempt to smile. Ga-yeong smiles back gracefully,

“Are we going to watch this lady sing all night?” Cheol whines, dropping his head into his arms as he kicks his legs under the table. Sang-woo shushes him,

“No- and keep your head up. The food will arrive shortly,” Sang-woo chastises, and Cheol’s head whips up at the promise for food.

“Is it going to be like the movies? Where they would be almost 10 rounds of food every 10 minutes?” Sae-byeok sarcastically quips, Il-nam laughs at this. Pausing his conversation with Gi-hun to look at the young woman,

“No, there would be 12 courses every 30 minutes.” He chuckles, before picking up his conversation again.

Despite the beautiful atmosphere, Ga-yeong now understands why children aren’t allowed in the ballroom. The party was just dreadfully boring and slow. There was nothing else to do except talk, listen to the performance or sip on glasses of wine. Thankfully, the gods have heard her cries as the first course of food has been served to them on a plate.

“A small Smoked Trout Fillet with a Whole Wheat Toast Point and a Horseradish and Chive Mayonnaise, enjoy.” says the waiter, putting down what seems to be a small sandwich on top of a 5-inch plate. It looks impressive if it also wasn’t so small.

“I thought rich people food would have more stuff in it.” Mutters Cheol, staring down at the small plate in disappointment.

“Not to worry kid, this is only the first course,” Il-nam says, lowering his head to look the kid in the eyes. “There’s a whole lot more to go,”

Cheol scoffs, grabbing the sandwich with his hands not caring about the numerous spoons and forks plastered in front of him. “I’d hope so.”

---

Cheol never wants to see food ever again.

Six courses later and the kid feels like he’s going to cry. Staring at the food in front of him which name he couldn’t for the life of him remember- it was at least six words if he remembered the way the waiters presented the food like reciting a dead poem, maybe more.

This is just the first meal, Cheol remembers Il-nam says, which is ridiculous because last time he checked fish was also a type of meal. The cod they ate before this tasting was unlike anything he ever tasted before, but even then, he wishes he could go back to street food if this is how the elite eat their meals.

Never, he thinks, pushing his plate away and dramatically drops his face on the table.

Ga-yeong agrees with the sentiment, even if the food looks beautifully prepared, she could not stomach another bite… unless the next course involves something sweet and tangy.

Sae-byeok on the other hand nibbles on her food slowly, watching the two turn green with sickness.

“I need to go to the bathroom,” She announces, pushing her seat back as she stands to excuse herself.

“Me too!” Cheol jumps in, rushing to Sae-byeok’s side. Ga-yeong follows suit,

“Be back before the next course comes in!” Gi-hun reminds them, and Sae-byeok catches the two young ones pales. She can bet they’re never going to another socialite party ever again.

“We will,” She promises, and after Il-nam points to them the nearest restroom the three scampered off, away from the jazz and away from the 5-star meals, until they passed through the arching entrance of the ballroom and back into the hallway. Leaving the golden atmosphere behind.

They wander around in the hallway for a few minutes, and after the umpteenth turn around an unfamiliar corner Sae-byeok has to admit… they are lost.

“WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PLACE!” Cheol yells, kicking the carpet underneath their feet as they pause to observe their surroundings.

Sae-byeok says nothing, more focused on studying a clay vase if she had seen the thing before. Ga-yeong pats down her party dress,

“I think I actually need to go to the bathroom, now.” She laughs awkwardly, and Cheol just groans even harderr.

“Come on, let’s just move further.” Sae-byeok says, and the three immediately scurry on. Turning two more corners until they spot a tall, slim man whose gaze sits innocently upon a giant picture frame. He didn’t spot the three yet, and Sae-byeok gestures at the two to be quiet as they walked a little faster around him.

He wore a V neck black shirt, layered fashionably with a black knee-length coat with back pants and dress shoes. The man was also really good-looking, with his sharp jaw and soft eyes. She wonders what he is doing here, alone in the middle of the hallway.

Suddenly, he turns towards them. His face passive like he knew they were there the entire time. Ga-yeong feels Sae-byeok and Cheol tense their muscles as one and acts accordingly.

“Um, excuse me!” she says, shifting the direction of everyone in the hallway to her. “We were looking for the bathroom and got lost, do you know where we can find it? ...please?”

The man’s lips lifted into a smile, his whole demeanor turning a little friendlier as he points to the entrance on the hall opposite to them.

“Just take two rights and a left. The bathroom would be that way. The main ballroom would then be straight ahead”

Ga-yeong bows and thanks him. She takes the hand of both siblings and half-runs across the hall, that is until the same man who helped them calls out.

“I’m sorry, do I know you from somewhere?” the man asks, and Sae-byeok stops immediately, turning back to the man as her weight prevents Ga-yeong from going further.

She says nothing, the two staring blankly at each other, the tension in the room thickening as Cheol and Ga-yeong exchanges a panic look.

“I-im sorry, I don’t think we’ve seen you before!” Ga-yeong stutters, trying to pull Sae-byeok with her before something drastic happens, likely involving the pocketknife inside the older teen’s pocket.

Cheol paused though, and before Ga-yeong can hiss at him to help her out his eyes widen. Eyeing the young man in shock as he whips his head to Sae-byeok then to the man again.

“You’re the guy who brought me into that orphanage.” He exclaims, pointing at the man in shock startling everyone with him.

Ah, Sae-byeok remembers now. Back when her brother and her first arrived in South Korea, when they had nowhere to go and could only sleep on the hard pavements of the road, the two shivering in the cold. There was a young man, just a few years older than her, who helped them off the streets and Cheol into a children’s home. After a week of them helping Sae-byeok get back on her feet, she left the apartment, not thinking she would see him ever again, only taking away with her the knowledge of the way he smiled at her, the way he whispers at night of his dream to become a detective and the way he cared so much for his brother. The same way Sae-byeok cares so much for hers.

“Ah, the kang siblings.” He smiles, the soft quirk of his lips brightening the already handsome features of his face. Sae-byeok huffs,

“Hwang, Jun-ho” she mutters, and Ga-yeong felt the tension leave her shoulders. She lets a quiet sigh of relief, seriously, this side of her family are too much sometimes.

“Mister Hwang! How have you been? It’s been years since we last saw you!” Cheol asks happily, sidestepping his sister as he makes his way to the man, Ga-yeong- and hesitantly, Sae-byeok, following after him.

He smiles kindly down at him, “I’ve been good, Cheol, thank you for asking. ”

“And your brother?”

His small smile grows bigger, his bright eyes turning slightly into crescents as he shifts his weight. “He’s been well too, in fact, he has lately gotten a promotion. Not that he think to tell me,”

Cheol laughs, and Ga-yeong joins albeit with her laughter a bit more polite. Sae-byeok, however, didn’t allow any emotion on her face. negative, or positive wise.

“It is nice to see you again, Jun-ho, but I'm afraid we have to get going. Our fathers will be worried about us you see,” Sae-byeok says, and with a sharp turn, she walks away, leaving Ga-yeong and Cheol in her wake. Ga-yeong scurries behind her,

“Sae-byeok! Wait for me!” She cries, leaving Cheol behind with the detective. Who smiles cautiously at the kid.

“I'm guessing she didn’t want to see me, even after we've done so much for her,” he jokes, and Cheol furrows his eyebrows at him,

“You know her, she’s… um, shy,” Cheol reassures. Patting his hand on Jun-ho’s wrist respectfully before taking a step backward.

“I have to go now! It was nice meeting you again!” he says, but before he lets off Jun-ho ruffles his head.

“So, so kid! Here, my brother’s business card. In case you want to catch up sometime.” Jun-ho offers, Cheol takes it curiously, he tilts his head up to ask,

“You keep your brother’s business cards?”

Jun-ho shrugs, “He says it’s free advertising.”

Cheol looks at the card in his hands, before looking up again to the older man.

“Hey, you think I can ask for a favor?”

Chapter Text

Sae-byeok enters the sunlit kitchen with bed-tousled hair and exhaustion apparent on her face. Cheol and Ga-yeong were already sitting on the breakfast table as Gi-hun mans the stove, humming a joyful tune as he takes a wooden spoon and stirs the fried rice. The delicious smell of breakfast in the air as she takes her seat beside Cheol, Ga-yeong across them.

“I’m just saying strawberry milk is better,” Ga-yeong quips, looking a little too energetic for Sae-byeok’s taste, it isn’t even ten o clock yet.

Cheol twists his mouth into a scowl, “Obviously, you haven’t tasted chocolate milk. It’s the most superior milk flavor.”

Ga-yeong hums, “I don’t need to, Strawberry milk tastes divine!” she says, letting the latter half of her sentence turn a little more sing-songy as she smiles innocently at her brother.

“Well, maybe the strawberry milk ruined your tastebuds!” He argued, Ga-yeong gasps.

“It did not!” she retorts back, and they both started their first argument of the day. Despite their blabbering, Sae-byeok felt the happy humming of her father in the back of her head. Something’s up, she notices, even in his happiest days, he isn’t this preppy.

“Gi-hun, something on your mind?” Sae-byeok asks, interrupting her sibling’s argument flawlessly like she’s done so multiple times.

Her siblings quieted, curious as well for the reason why their father is happier than usual. He stops his stirring when he realizes the silence. His humming turning into a halt, but his bright expression does not.

“Ah, it’s nothing, don’t worry about it.” He says, brushing off their concerns, a small grin on his face as he continues to stir and hum once again, this time another song Sae-byeok never heard of. Its tune bouncing off the walls of the room as the sunny day reflects the man’s gleeful behavior.

“Did something happen last night?” Ga-yeong asks, rolling out the did, Gi-hun hums.

“Perhaps,” Is all he says as he moves to check the omelets.

“Did the old man give you money?” Cheol guessed sarcastically, making the older man throw his head back with a laugh. He shakes his head in a solid ‘no’ though, making Cheol furrow his brows.

“Was it the ball last night?” Sae-byeok prodded, and Gi-hun shakes his head further.

Ga-yeong stays silent for a moment before snapping her fingers, “Oh! Does it have something to do with Mister Sang-woo?” Ga-yeong asks, looking at her father with bright eyes.

Gi-hun says nothing, his face glowing pinker as he bites his lower lip trying to hide his smile. ‘typical’ Sae-byeok thinks, tilting down to rest her head in her arms on the table.

“Did he… oh, I don’t know, ask you something? Like a question?” Cheol asks, leaning forward as he grips the table sides, and Sae-byeok had to smack him lightly on the back of his head before he might let out something Gi-hun shouldn’t know.

“Well, he said something about how we haven’t been out on a date for a long time,” Gi-hun started, unaware of the dejected looks his kids gave him as he takes out five separate bowls and transferred the contents of the frying pan.

“And so, he suggested that we should take this evening to spend some time together,” Gi-hun finishes, placing the bowls of rice in front of them and the rest of the sides onto the table.

Cheol makes grabby hands for his share, a big contrast to Ga-yeong as she takes the bowl courteously and thanks Gi-hun. Both then both digging in to eat their dad’s amazing breakfast. Sae-byeok takes hers with thanks and stares at the different sides Gi-hun had cooked up for them. There were seriously way too many, even for five people.

“This is a lot,” Sae-byeok notes, and Gi-hun ducks his head to hide his embarrassed expression.

“I went overboard,” He admits, but shakes it off, “But that’s what I have to do when I have three lovely children who need to grow up big and strong.”

Ga-yeong nods happily to her dad, thanking him once again as she gives him a cheerful grin which Gi-hun returns back. Cheol doesn’t say anything, focusing on stuffing his face with his favorite breakfast choices.

Right at this moment, Sang-woo enters the room looking like how Sae-byeok felt when she came in just a few moments ago. His hair was messed up and his usual glasses missing from his face. He sits beside Gi-hun, kissing the top of his head before doing so as he walked by, and dropping down at the head of the table with Cheol at his right side.

“Good morning, Mister Cho!” greets Ga-yeong happily, he grunts back as Gi-hun places his black coffee in front of him. A happy noise escapes his throat as he wraps both hands around it, drinking it down in big gulps that are almost worrying.

Sang-woo finishes with a satisfied exhale, Gi-hun smiling in satisfaction before digging into his breakfast himself.

“So, dinner tonight?” Sae-byeok comments casually, “No offense, but I think Cheol and Ga-yeong would be a little tired after last night’s buffet,”

Sang-woo hums, taking another long sip of his coffee. “Not to worry, you three aren’t coming.”

“We aren’t?” Cheol perks his head up, talking with his mouth full that makes Ga-yeong make a noise of disgust.

“No, you aren’t.” Sang-woo confirms, “It would just be me and Gi-hun tonight, we’re going to head out to that new restaurant everyone’s been talking about, you know where it is,” Sae-byeok nods, signifying to him she knew what he was talking about.

“So… We’re going to stay here? While you guys go to a romantic restaurant alone? All by yourselves?” Ga-yeong queries, hiding her face with her bowl innocently as Sang-woo narrows his eyes at her.

“Yes, that’s exactly it.”

Ga-yeong’s face breaks out in a smile, taking a moment to glance at Cheol and Sae-byeok before smiling sweetly at the two men,

“That sounds so romantic! Don’t you think so too Cheol?” she exclaims, tilting her head to her brother once again with the most conniving look on her face that Sae-byoek wonders why her fathers haven’t caught up yet. “Imagine all the romantic things you can do in a romantic restaurant.”

Cheol blinks, “Like what?”

Ga-yeong slumps her shoulders as she looks at him in annoyance, “Like, I don’t know. Asking life-changing questions?”

Cheol widens his eyes, slowly nodding his head as Sae-byeok puts her head in her hands in defeat. She can’t believe these two, sometimes.

Before Cheol says anything Sae-byeok stands up, taking with her her empty bowl as she walks to place it in the sink. “Cheol, Ga-yeong, Don’t you remember we have that thing we’re supposed to do today?”

“We do?” they both ask simultaneously, Sae-byeok nods patiently.

“We do, we have to… finish up that project of yours. But before that, let’s try squeezing in some pictures, I think inviting Ali and Ji-yeong would do the trick.” Sae-byeok says, hoping the two take the hint. Luckily, they understood and screeched back their chairs to place their bowls on the sink.

Gi-hun glances at each one of them, confusion marking his features, “Where are you guys going?”

“We’re just going out,” Sae-byeok answers, sending a quick text on her phone she brought with her before breakfast and walks out of the dining room, her siblings in tow.

“Don’t worry about us dad!” Ga-yeong yells behind her, “Just spend the day with Mister Sang-woo! We’ll be out of your hair the entire day!”

Sae-byeok scoffs, and as they passed through their spacious living room closing the door behind them, she has a passing feeling that today’s going to be a long, tiring day.

---

“Wait, wait, wait,” says Sae-byeok, the ever-so-familiar feeling of pain slithering up her temple and spreading through her brain. She knows Jun-ho is a detective, but she doesn’t think he actually believes she and her siblings can do this.

“You want us-” She points to herself and her siblings for emphasis, “To hide in plain sight in the restaurant with them for what reason exactly?”

Jun-ho shrugs, “I thought you guys said you wanted to watch the proposal?”

Sae-byeok resists the urge to growl at him, she instead rubs at the spot between her brows, “I didn’t think you’d suggest this!”

“You won’t be noticed,” Jun-ho promises, “Besides, I asked my brother for help via earpiece and microphone, but he pretty much told me I’m on my own. And I need someone to tell me more about them. I’m not close to Mister Seong but I’ve meet Mister Cho before. And even so,”

Sae-byeok turns to her siblings. The mixed expressions on their faces as they pondered it over. Cheol seems pretty on board with it, Ga-yeong on the other hand bites her lips in thought, hesitating.

“But what if we get caught?” Ga-yeong asks, her sad eyes directing themselves to Jun-ho, who softens.

“I promise you won’t,” he says, putting his weight on his arms as he smiles at the little girl, “I will seat the three of you in a place that won't be obvious.”

“And when they leave? How are we going to catch up when none of us can drive?” Sae-byeok asks, and to her irritation, Jun-ho twitches the corner of his lip.

“Get someone you trust,” he says simply and Sae-byeok puts her elbows on the table as she presses the heels of her palms to her eyes.

“This is going to backfire on us,” Sae-byeok groans, and she feels Ga-yeong pat her arm in sympathy. Jun-ho only chuckles.

“No need to worry, my investigations usually go the way I want them to… Unless they involve my brother. Then it’s a battle of the wits.” He jokes, waving his hands as he grins slightly. Ga-yeong laughs politely.

“Don’t worry, Mister! we won’t let you down! After tonight, the only thing we have to worry about is planning for dad and stepdad’s wedding!” Ga-yeong beams, holding out a thumbs up which Jun-ho imitates, laughing at the little girl’s enthusiasm.

“I’ll look forward to it!” he promises, standing up as he gives a high five to Ga-yeong and ruffles Cheol’s hair. “I have to get started infiltrating the restaurant. Luckily, I think I know someone who could help.” He smiles, nodding at Sae-byeok, who only rolls her eyes at him.

“Go,” she says, and Jun-ho waves goodbye to them as he exits the restaurant. Leaving Sae-byeok, Cheol, and Ga-yeong alone at their table.

“So, who’s going to be our getaway driver?” Cheol asks after a moment’s silence. And the two girls lower their heads in thought.

“My mother?” Ga-yeong sheepishly suggests, and Sae-byeok wrinkles her nose at her.

“I don’t think she’d agree.”

“Ji-yeong?” Cheol shrugs, and Sae-byeok scoffs.

“She doesn’t even know how to drive.”

“Oh, I know!” Ga-yeong says suddenly, switching her direction from Cheol and Sae-byeok respectively, “How about Mister Ali! He’d help us out, right?”

Sae-byeok thinks it through. He might help out, but if his wife’s out and couldn’t find a proper babysitter on time…

“I’ll worry about that soon,” Sae-byeok says with finality, she stands, the sounds of the chair’s legs scraping against the restaurant’s ceramic tiles. She pulls her siblings up. “For now, let’s head back. And you’ll guys help out Gi-hun and Sang-woo before their date and I’ll ask Ali.”

The younger two nod, determination settling into their faces as they follow Sae-byeok out of the restaurant.

---

Gi-hun huffs his bangs out of his hair as he takes in the atmosphere around him. It’s an elegant restaurant, he’s got to admit but it’s nothing like the ball they went to last night.

It had a more modern take, unlike the ballroom that had a more 1940’s vibe to it, a golden glow that paints the scene around them like a time capsule. Like a page from a book or a scene from a movie. But here in the soft dimness of the room, The soft light of the candle lighting up their table as the waiters and the diners bristle with life around him, his attention is set on nobody but one.

Sang-woo’s gaze felt heavy on him. His eyes half-lidded as his lips quirk up in a little something some people might call a smile, something only reserved for the people close to him; but something like this, the way he lets his hands move closer, ending the gap between them as he takes Gi-hun’s end interlocks their fingers together, something that feels so close and personal? This is all for Gi-hun only.

“Hey, aren’t you gonna say something?” Gi-hun smiles playfully, watching Sang-woo duck his head as he chuckles. A low, soft baritone that shouldn’t be as handsome as it sounds escaping his throat.

“Why should I when I can spend my evening looking at you?” he smirks at him, and Gi-hun yanks his hand away to slap at him.

“Idiot, don’t play stupid with me.” His tone reprimanding, and inwardly he thanks the candlelight covering his heavy blush. Even after seven years of being together, he could never understand how out of everyone out there in the entirety of Seoul, South Korea; Sang-woo chooses him , A nobody working at a car company for ten years barely making it through until his own version of prince charming swept him off his feet like some twisted up version of Cinderella. Despite this, Gi-hun knows he’s no princess.

“I’m not,” Sang-woo says seriously, he takes his hand- both hands in his as he smiles. “You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.”

Gi-hun laughs, throwing his head back and removing one hand to rub at his glowing pink face.

“You’re kidding? We’re almost nearing our 50’s and you still say stuff like that?” he says, combing his hair back that had fallen into his eyes. Sang-woo’s eyes soften.

“Hm, well, it’s true.” He grins, and Gi-hun smiles back.

Until a sharp ringing from Sang-woo’s phone on the table ruins the moment.

“I… Um,” Gi-hun says, unintelligently. Sang-woo checks the phone quickly.

“Shit, it’s from my boss.” Sang-woo curses and Gi-hun’s heart plummets down his chest. “I’ll take this quickly, I’ll be back.”

He watches his significant other speedwalk to the side of the bar, bringing all the romance and joy with him leaving Gi-hun in a depressed, sorrowful state. He puts his elbows on the table and puts his chin in his palms as he watches the people before him. not that they're interesting, but with Sang-woo gone he isn’t sure what to do. In the corner of his eyes, he sees three people hurriedly puts their menu in front of their faces.

He stares at them for a moment before looking away, rhythmicly tapping his fingers onto the cloth-covered round table until he sees a shadow cast over it. He perks up, tilting his head upwards just to find a waiter hovering over him. He unconsciously slumps down,

“Oh,”

If the waiter saw his disappointment, he chooses to ignore it, taking out one menu and giving it to Gi-hun.

“Ah, I’m sorry,” Gi-hun says quietly, smiling nervously to the waiter. “I’m still waiting for someone, can you please-?”

Kindly, the man nods and takes another menu, and places it across the table. Where Sang-woo would have been if he was here right now.

And as the waiter leaves, he puts his face to the palm of his hands. Humming in frustration.

Honestly, he doesn’t know what he expected.

---

“Where is he?” Cheol hisses, his eyes on a sad lonely Gi-hun as he stares at an empty wine bottle in boredom. He makes a mental note to put salt in Sang-woo’s coffee tomorrow when he gets the chance.

“Bathroom, he got a call,” Sae-byeok mutters, her back to Gi-hun as she twists her head to watch him. her face blank as she takes a sip of her iced tea.

“Aww, but dad looks so sad!” Ga-yeong whines, covering the bottom of her face with her fists as Gi-hun sighs for the 6th time. Sae-byeok has to admit, he looks really pitiful.

Their vision of the pathetic Gi-hun was blocked by no other than Jun-ho himself, he smiles quickly at the three.

“Mister Jun-ho! Did you get anything?” Ga-yeong asks as Cheol leans his body sideways to glance at Gi-hun.

“Other than Sang-woo leaving his soon-to-be husband to talk to his higher-up?,” Jun-ho says, refilling their bottomless ice tea as he takes the menus from them. “Not much, though it seems his boss expects much from him. He sounds really frustrated.”

Sae-byeok sighs, rubbing her eyelids. This is not going as planned.

---

“Hey,”

Gi-hun startles, looking up to see the guilty face of Sang-woo across him.

“I’m sorry, there was-“

“Trouble at work, I know.” Gi-hun smiles, though it felt a bit weird on his face. He clears his throat and tapped on the menus in front of Sang-woo.

“You should pick something now, I think the waiter’s going to be here soon,” Gi-hun says, opening his own menu and scanning the list of items to recheck his order. As expected there aren’t any prices found on the sleek booklet.

“I promise my attention will be on you the entire night,” Sang-woo says after placing the menu on the table. Gi-hun smiles at him gently, though his eyes remain wary on his phone.

“You promise?” He asks, and Sang-woo opens his phone to turn it silent. Showing the screen to Gi-hun as proof.

“Promise,”

Gi-hun beams, forgetting his previous despondency as he prattles off about a new recipe he found online and a new tv show he could talk about with Ga-yeong. This continued on, even after the waiter has left with their orders, only Gi-hun talking about and Sang-woo staring lovingly at his significant other, nodding along and commenting here and there when questioned.

“I’m so glad we took the time to do this Sang-woo.” Gi-hun sighs halfway into their meal. Leaning back on his seat as he rubs his stomach. “We haven’t been out for weeks, now. I’m starting to think you’re neglecting me.”

Sang-woo furrows his brows, putting down his spoon and knife as he reaches out for Gi-hun’s hand.

“No, no that isn’t my intention at all,” Sang-woo whispers, and Gi-hun leans forward to bring his face closer to Sang-woo’s

“It’s fine, you’ve been so busy lately. Someone’s gotta make money for the family.” Gi-hun smiles but Sang-woo’s contemplating expression doesn’t fade. Instead, it hardens, and something about it makes Gi-hun shiver,

“Gi-hun, there’s something I've been meaning to say.” Sang-woo starts, and Gi-hun perks up.

“Yeah?”

Sang-woo bites the inside of his lip, holding Gi-hun’s hand in his, “I-“

Sang-woo’s phone shrills as a loud, annoying ringtone startle the both of them. Hurriedly, Sang-woo jerked his hand away from the older man’s as he rummages through his pockets.

“I thought you said your phone’s in silent!” Gi-hun chastised, watching Sang-woo checking the number on his phone.

“Something important just came up,” He answers, making Gi-hun drop his jaw in shock.

“Something more important than me?” He fumes, voice cracking but was left with nothing as Sang-woo practically runs to the bathroom, leaving his meal unfinished and Gi-hun staring after him like a lost puppy abandoned by its owner.

Gi-hun looks down to the food beneath him, feeling himself lose his appetite he pushes the plate away, leaning back to the chair with a defeated sigh as he stares at the ceiling.

It has been months since he and Sang-woo actually spent time together that doesn’t equate to more than a few hours. And he knows he’s being a little clingy and demanding but is it too much to ask for a simple night with just him and Gi-hun alone together?

Gi-hun feels the sorrows of his chest leave as he exhales, anger replacing it as he starts to clench his fists. But as quickly as it appeared, it fades. Leaving only a hollow emptiness in its wake.

He still has that thing he was going to ask me, thinks Gi-hun, silently hoping for a silver lining amidst this stressful night. He wonders what he was going to say.

He smiles, letting himself indulge in his imaginations. Perhaps he was about to suggest a vacation trip? Maybe somewhere abroad or in the countryside? Maybe he was about to say he got a promotion for his job, though he isn’t sure what to think about the workload he would get if he gets promoted once more.

Gi-hun’s eyes suddenly widen, his breath catching in his throat as he realizes. Maybe he was about to-

“Gi-hun, I am so sorry.” Sang-woo interrupts his thoughts, dropping himself onto his seat as he breaths heavily for a few seconds, “It was the CEO of the company, he asked me for an update for something at work.”

Gi-hun says nothing, content with staring at the man across him with ire as Sang-woo fiddles with his phone once more. Gi-hun coughs,

“So, what was it you're going to tell me?” Gi-hun asks innocently, his eyes watch every micro-expression littering Sang-woo’s face as he blanks out. Thinning his lips for a second before facing him.

“We can talk about it later after we finish eating.”

Gi-hun pulled his head back at the audacity. Angrily, he snaps his fingers in front of the younger man, making his look at his pissed-off face.

“No, I think after a dinner like this you owe it to tell me,” Gi-hun says, watching Sang-woo’s eyes twitch in irritation.

“it’s not that important-“

“it’s important to me!” Gi-hun yells, pointing at himself as he feels his face flush with anger. His lips wobbling as he tried not to get too emotional. “This dinner is important to me, my time with you is important to me! What? Am I not important to you?”

“Don’t say that,” Sang-woo hisses, and he feels the stares of the people around them directing themselves at him and Gi-hun and curses, “Just- lower your voice. People are staring-“

“No! Just tell me what you’re hiding!” Gi-hun pleads, and at the sight of his big brown eyes staring into his own, he relents.

“I was offered another business trip. To Dubai. For two weeks.” He says, quickly.

No one says anything, not even as Gi-hun gapes at him in shock and Sang-woo staring blankly at him. No emotions clear on his face. The air growing colder between them, and as Gi-hun opens and reopens his mouth, shuddering under the weight of his anger, Sang-woo waits.

Gi-hun stands up, his chair screeching back on the wooden floors of the restaurant and the items on their table clattering as storms off.

“Gi-hun!” Sang-woo yells at him, pushing his chair back to follow him, grabbing his wallet fast as he throws money to the table, not caring how much it’s worth as he follows Gi-hun out of the restaurant. Clueless to the three figures following him.

He whips his head around, frantic to find his partner, and sees Gi-hun stomping his way along the street a few meters in front of him. He calls to him, desperate as he grabs him by his shoulder.

“Where are you going?” he demands, turning Gi-hun around so he could face him. But he wasn’t prepared for the way his eyes shone with intense anger, the scowling of his lips, and how he flinches back from him, away from his boyfriend.

“Is that really what you’re starting with?” Gi-hun yells, pushing Sang-woo away from him as he cries out, “Don’t you have a job to get back to?”

Sang-woo smacks the older man’s hands off him, jabbing him in the chest as he moves forward to scream in his face. “Stop being so difficult! You don’t even do anything except stay at home all day!”

Sang-woo regrets the words immediately after they escape his mouth, watching as Gi-hun stops to stare at him in betrayed disbelief, but then his expression turns into fury as he bares his teeth, brows lowering as he takes his steps forward, making Sang-woo walk backward into a wall behind him.

“STOP!”

A boyish yell makes both Gi-hun and Sang-woo stops in their tracks. Gi-hun with his fists clenched on Sang-woo’s chest and Sang-woo hovering his hands around Gi-hun. They turned to find Cheol looking angrily at them with his eyes squinted and his fists at his sides. A scared Ga-yeong and a worried Sae-byeok behind him.

“Cheol? Ga-yeong? Sae-byeok?!” Gi-hun gasps, releasing his hold on Sang-woo as the young boy runs towards him. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be home!”

“I am sick! And tired of everything!” Cheol screams at them, and Gi-hun kicks Sang-woo when he mutters, ‘yeah, same’

A bright, red car pulls up beside them, and the windows roll down to reveal a concerned Ali in the driver’s seat. Beside him was a young man Gi-hun has never seen before.

“Detective Hwang?” Sang-woo mutters behind him, and the younger man looks to his children with suspicion, “You three, explain what’s going on.”

Cheol says nothing and is instead interested in scowling at Sang-woo like he was the one in trouble. Ga-yeong is no help either, biting her lower lip softly as she clutches to Cheol’s side. Sae-byeok answers for them.

“Your pocket.” She says, pointing to Sang-woo’s jacket “Check it,”

Sang-woo hesitates, before shoving his hands into his pockets rummaging for whatever it is.

He froze when he felt a small, circular metal touch his fingertips. He glances at everyone briefly, pulling out the item to check his suspicions, and- yep, it was a ring. Simple in design, the only thing worth noticing is the swirly designs on the sides of the ring and a gold shimmering line in-between them.

“A ring?” Gi-hun murmurs, leaning in to see, putting his hands over Sang-woo’s as he inspects it. Sang-woo hands it to him.

“I didn’t bring this,” He says, eyeing the kid in front of him. Cheol scoffs, looking at the side as he kicks the asphalt.

“Yeah, I sneaked it in there before you left.” He says simply, and he turns his direction back to Sang-woo, “Well? Aren’t you going to propose?”

Everyone was watching them, quiet, waiting for the two old men’s next move; and in the soft glow of the streetlight shining down upon them Sang-woo and Gi-hun look at each other and laughs.

“Wha-what's so funny?” Cheol asks, as Gi-hun places his hands on his knees and Sang-woo covers his smile.

“We’re already married,” Gi-hun says, holding the ring between his two hands as he stares at it lovingly before handing it to Sang-woo. Immediately, the street bursts into sound, especially with Cheol screaming and Sae-byeok yelling about how much work she had to do to get here. “In fact, Ga-yeong? Didn’t you already knew?”

Everyone turns their direction to Gi-hun’s daughter, who sputters and flushes bright red even in the darkness.

“You LIED to us?!” Cheol yells, his eyes widening with hurt as Ga-yeong shakes her head in panic.

“I didn’t!” she cries, and points to Sang-woo. “It wasn’t Mister Sang-woo who proposed.”

Everyone turns their faces back to the two old men and Sang-woo sighs in exasperation. Bringing his hand up to rub at his temple.

“No, she’s right, it wasn’t me who proposed,” Sang-woo admits, and Gi-hun shines beside him. “It was this dunce right here.”

Ali gasps as Jun-ho leans forward in his seat, opening the passenger’s door to hear a little better. Cheol blinks.

“Mister Gi-hun? But I thought if anyone would propose… It would be Mister Sang-woo,” He admits, tilting his head to the side like nothing makes sense at all. Gi-hun wrinkles his nose, what does that mean?

“But the ring? In the pocket? When it rained back in Monday! Why keep it in your pocket?” Cheol urges on, trying to understand what went wrong, and Sang-woo shakes his head.

“I always wore it with a chain around my neck. But it broke and I had to buy another.” He answers,

“And you still haven’t?”

Sang-woo sees Gi-hun move his head in his direction. He exhales.

“I was busy,”

It was silent once again and Sang-woo feels his muscles sore and his body ache. A headache slithering up into his temple as he felt exhaustion weigh him down. He had enough for one night.

“After a night like this, I think we should all go home,” Sang-woo says, pointing at his three children with annoyance. “Especially you three, don’t think you’re not in trouble for this.

The three of them nodded slowly. Ga-yeong pouting, Cheol furrowing his brows with his head down, and Sae-byeok looking as annoyed as can be.

“I could bring you home,” Ali offers, and Sang-woo gives him a grateful smile.

“Thank you, Ali,” he says, and the family slowly enters the car. And Sang-woo manages to chat with the man in the passenger’s seat.

“Detective Hwang don’t tell me these annoyances brought you along too,” He scowls, looking down at the young man. He shrugs,

“They wanted the best for you, I just wanted to help.” Is all he says as he walks down the street and back into the restaurant with a wave.

The car ride back home was silent, the air filled with tension, yet no one utters a word. Except for Ali who tried to lighten up the situation, but to no avail.

Soon enough, he drops off the family in front of their house. He hears Gi-hun thank him, hugging him in a tight embrace. Ali says not to mention it.

“You three go back to your rooms, we will discuss what happened tomorrow,” Sang-woo says to the trio, who looks more worn out than they should. They slowly head on inside, With Ga-yeong gripping onto Sae-byeok’s shirt and Cheol looking back on them twice before they closed the door behind them. He hears Ali driving off.

“So, they tried to wed us together, huh?” Gi-hun laughs softly beside him. and he’s so close he could almost hold his hand.

“I’m sorry,” Sang-woo mutters, and Gi-hun whips his head to look at him.

“Ah, well, I’m sorry too, I shouldn’t have been so demanding with you. You're right too, I don't do anything much except to cook and clean,“ Gi-hun laughs, though it sounded weak to Sang-woo's ear. Especially after how happy he'd been this morning.

“No, you shouldn't apologize, everything is my fault. You wouldn't have complained if it wasn't for me,” Sang-woo explains, moving to face his body towards Gi-hun, “It wasn’t my intention to neglect you. And even if I was busy, I should have made time. Especially for tonight.”

Gi-hun says nothing, only staring at his husband in surprise.

“Let’s start the night over, Maybe a movie?” Sang-woo suggests, but Gi-hun shakes his head.

“I’m too tired, I’m sorry, ” Gi-hun says, stepping away from him. And as Sang-woo watches him walk away he decided to reach out for him, something he doesn’t do very often.

“Do you remember? The night of when you proposed?” Sang-woo says, holding Gi-hun’s hand tight in his own, Gi-hun’s face softens

“How could I forget?” Gi-hun whispers, stepping a little closer to Sang-woo. “I was so scared of losing you that I just went for it.” He laughs, ducking his head as his cheeks colored slightly, “I didn’t even know if you liked me back then.”

“You think there’s a time in my life where I didn’t want you?” Sang-woo mumbles and Gi-hun tightens his mouth.

“You make it hard to believe,” He admits, not daring to see the look on Sang-woo’s face, “You make me question so many things, Sang-woo. I don’t understand why the pride of Ssangmun-dong picked me. A jobless nobody whose biggest achievement was knowing you.”

Sang-woo looks up to the sky, the stars glittering alongside the moon, and takes a deep breath.

“Have you heard me sing?”

Gi-hun looks at him, eyes confused. “I haven’t.”

Sang-woo wraps his arm around Gi-hun’s waist, his other hand locking their fingers together as summons up every inch of courage to sing.

“Fly me to the moon, let me play among the stars,”

He heard this song before, hearing it after he graduated from SNU but before he reunited with Gi-hun. He remembers the romanticness of the song, how it fills him with a feeling he couldn’t describe as the orchestra brings him higher and higher.

“Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars”

He takes a step to the side, Gi-hun stumbling clumsily after him. He knew he ruined dinner, he knew he ruined his chance at making it up to Gi-hun. But for this one night, he prays, for this one moment let him have this.

“In other words, hold my hand.”

Sang-woo tugs him backward, and Gi-hun yelps as he trips, but Sang-woo catches him. He always does.

“In other words, darling kiss me”

He takes a step sideways and this time Gi-hun follows, following the rhythm of the song and the warmth of Sang-woo’s chest as they glide across the front yard. And Sang-woo chuckles, watching Gi-hun watch their feet in sync with each other, mesmerized.

“Fill my heart with song, let me sing forevermore,”

He tilts Gi-hun, dipping him so that Gi-hun’s eyes were on him.

“you are all I long for, All I worship-“

Sang-woo kisses Gi-hun’s lips softly,

"-and adore.”

He brings Gi-hun back up, and the man laughs happily, letting himself be manhandled as Sang-woo leads. Twirling around each other like they were young again, carefree with nothing to worry about.

“In other words, please be true,”

Sang-woo sings, a smooth vibrato at the edge of the lyric as drags out the last word of the verse. He leans in to kiss Gi-hun one more time- that was until he sees it.

Three shadows hiding behind a bush just in front of the terrace. And Sang-woo sighs unconsciously making Gi-hun turn to check whatever made him stop. Those three are in trouble for sure.

“Get out, everyone, I’ve seen you,” Sang-woo calls, and one by one an annoyed Sae-byeok, a frustrated Cheol, and a guilty Ga-yeong jump out of the bush.

“Sorry, Mister Sang-woo,” Ga-yeong says, and Sang-woo softens, Gi-hun even more so.

“I thought I told you to go to bed?” Sang-woo scolds, and Cheol twists his lips into a scowl.

“Not until you propose! Please? We worked so hard for this!” Cheol begged, putting his hands together as he lowers his head and cries, “I’ll never ask for anything ever again,”

Sae-byeok hushes him, reminding him that’s the same thing he said when they played truth or dare. But to everyone’s surprise, Sang-woo turns to Gi-hun, a serious expression on his face as he tilts the older man’s head to face him.

“Sang-woo?”

Sang-woo doesn't know what he's doing. He isn't the type of person to act without thinking, to move without calculation. But he is always the person who always reaches for his goals no matter what, and maybe, after years of being with Gi-hun, he'd find the courage to actually face what's in front of him without meaning to hide.

“Gi-hun,” He exhales, taking both Gi-hun’s hands in his. “Gi-hun, you say how I chose you out of everyone else but I ask you how can they compare? Everything I worked for, everything I did; working, studying, getting into SNU- I never could have done any of it without you.

Sang-woo breathes in, feeling his hands shake and his smile falter. He doesn’t know why, they’ve been married for seven years, yet… “You scare me, I’ve been through temptation after temptation, and yet none of them was as sweet of an offer as you. I don’t think I would have allowed myself to have someone like you.”

“You say I’m the pride of Ssangmun-dong but Ssangmun-dong is nothing to me without you.”

He kneels, and Ga-yeong gasps, covering her mouth with both her hands as Cheol shakes her by her shoulders. Gi-hun gapes, his jaw-dropping as he stares down at Sang-woo kneeling before him.

“Please, marry me. Marry me all over again. And when the years pass by, I want to marry you again. Maybe that will drill into your head that there’s no one else for me than you.”

Gi-hun blinks, then blink again. His knees weakening as he feels himself shudder in the cold breeze. Faintly, he hears Sae-byeok shout,

“Say yes already!”

Gi-hun didn’t say yes, instead, he drops down and meets Sang-woo’s scared expression with a kiss.

In other words I love you

---

Gi-hun shuffles, stretching his limbs as he tries to slowly spread wakefulness to the rest of his body. His eyes shot open when he feels Sang-woo kiss behind his ear, he smiles at his husband. But pauses when he sees the phone in his hand.

“Are you texting someone?” he mutters, like talking any louder would ruin the moment.

“Just my boss,” Sang-woo says, and Gi-hun felt the room go cold. “I’m telling him I can’t make it to the business trip, and that I’m taking a week off. He understands, thankfully, knowing I haven’t used any of my vacation time yet.”

Gi-hun knows he’s smiling like an idiot now, but he can’t help it. He buries himself into Sang-woo’s chest and laughs.

Sang-woo puts his phone on the nightstand and lowers himself back to bed. Pulling Gi-hun closer to him as he does so. His left arm under Gi-hun’s neck as the older man’s face is buried under his chin.

“Let’s sleep in for this morning.” Is the last thing Sang-woo says before they fall fast asleep.