Chapter Text
Felix places the last of the streamers around the bannister of the staircase and he turns to look around at the rest of the room. Balloon bouquets are placed on the table, out of reach of Haein’s little, grabby hands. Large shiny metallic balloons are decorated with the number one, and rattles and storks, accompanied by smaller coloured balloons in bright colours, red, blue, yellow and green. A happy birthday banner adorns the far wall of the living room.
He’d hoped to have all the decorations set up by now, but Haein had refused to go down for her afternoon nap. She’d been fussy and Felix had to rock and walk her around the apartment for half an hour before she’d finally settled. Having learnt his lesson in the past, he continued walking around and humming to her for another ten minutes so that when he laid her down in her crib, she wouldn’t immediately wake.
It’s both hard to believe it’s been a year since she was born, and a struggle to think it hasn’t been longer. So much has happened. So much of it has changed his life in ways he hadn’t expected.
He and Chan had always wanted children. It wasn’t a question of if but when. Even now, when he thinks about how Jeongin had offered to carry a child for them, the thought can bring him to tears. Haein is their miracle.
But she’s not just a miracle for Chan and him. Felix had often imagined how well Minho and Jeongin would suit each other. Minho always took an interest in Jeongin by helping him with school, providing advice and feeding him. In return, Jeongin had looked to Minho’s example for guidance, but more than that, Jeongin had a way of getting Minho out of his own head, enjoying life and interacting with everyone, even if Minho spent most of that time being an unmitigated menace. Usually, Felix would have passed it off as a hyung and his dongsaeng interacting, but Felix could see how Jeongin admired Minho, Minho adored Jeongin, and how they seemed to innately understand each other.
While he would never meddle in their lives, he always felt it was a shame that there never seemed to be a time where they were both partnerless and provided the opportunity to see each other from a new perspective. Felix would never have asked either of them about their feelings, certain that the question alone might sway them one way or the other, when desire and attraction is something that should be felt rather than nudged.
It’s impossible to know if Minho and Jeongin would have found their way to being together without Haein, but that doesn’t even matter. They are together now, and Haein provided that new perspective by which they could see each other differently.
When Jeongin had made the offer, Felix's heart had filled with gratitude. He’d been overwhelmed. Before Jeongin’s visit, he had accepted he would never be a parent. It had been a pain tucked into his heart, surrounded by the gentle love and care his mate showed him. Chan had never blamed him for the miscarriages. He’d held Felix tightly as they cried together. Their marriage was as strong as their grief. Though Dr. Park had warned them, Felix had been stunned by his sudden jealousy. The three of them had been having dinner, and then his omega was enraged, ready to fight for what was his.
Later, he’d been ashamed of how his instincts had taken control. He felt unworthy of the sacrifice Jeongiin was making. His remorse had been quickly expressed in apologies, but he no longer regrets what happened. How could he, when the result was Minho stepping in to take care of Jeongin?
Throughout the pregnancy, Felix had noticed things about how Jeongin interacted with Minho. The way he’d stand close to him, the fond looks of yearning when neither of them thought anyone was looking. The way Minho had shutdown, his expression stoic anytime someone questioned his relationship with Jeongin. When they’d gone to the spa, and Jeongin had blushed and swiftly changed subjects anytime Minho was brought up in conversation, though Jeongin often was the one who brought Minho back up as a topic himself.
After the Christmas gathering that year, Chan had asked if he thought something was going on. Felix figured everyone was seeing the same thing he was by that point; Jeongin and Minho may have thought they were being subtle, but they were obvious. Jeongin never allowed that much skinship, and Minho’s soft expressions anytime he looked at Jeongin were far too telling. Felix had agreed with Chan, but also made him promise not to ask. Minho and Jeongin deserved the time to sort out for themselves how or if they wanted their friendship to change.
Felix wonders at times what the others had thought of his relationship with Chan when they’d first started seeing each other. He knows his initial interest in Chan was because his accent alone assuaged his homesickness. He only fell in love after he knew him better. Having the same country of origin was a slim premise to build a relationship. He wouldn’t have blamed anyone for betting against them.
Over the years, their love has been tested. Felix doesn’t like to consider how they may have fallen apart if it wasn’t for Jeongin carrying Haein. Not so much the surrogacy, but his own jealous reaction to Jeongin’s pregnancy with their pup. Felix had put a brave face on his pain after the miscarriages and moved past it without dealing with the loss properly. Felix hadn’t wanted to talk about the pups that could have been, or his pain, and eventually he and Chan had almost stopped talking about anything important. Felix’s possessive reaction to Jeongin carrying their pup changed everything.
Felix started therapy, and in doing so, he found healing. He no longer thinks less of himself because he wasn’t able to carry their child. It’s been a journey of twists and turns, but he’s moved away from relying on his secondary gender to provide or prove his value; who he is as a person is more important than the fact he’s an omega.
His relationship with Chan is stronger than it has ever been because Felix found the strength to talk about everything, even if it hurt him, even if it hurt Chan. They worked through their loss together. He knew the value of therapy as a concept and actively supported anyone’s decision to seek counselling, but had never understood how it could help him.
Now he’s looking forward to the end of his second semester of university where he’s working towards a psychology degree. His mother still worries that his heart is too tender to listen to people’s hardships all day, but Felix knows that if he can understand how a person feels, then he’ll be able to help them. He wants to be able to empathise with others so they can heal and their lights can shine brighter.
The hardest part of going back to school has been trying to balance his education with being a parent. While he could have applied to more prestigious schools, he’d chosen the university he attends based on the availability of correspondence and evening courses for the program.
This let him spend time during the day with Haein while Chan worked in the studio. The evening classes started just after Haein went to bed for the day. Though she’d only recently started sleeping through the night, the timing of his classes meant he didn’t miss any of Haein’s firsts. He saw her first smile and heard her laughter. He watched her struggle to sit upright. He bit his lip, holding himself back from helping Haein as her legs wiggled and she rocked back and forth on all fours, her knees slipping as she attempted to crawl.
Chan and Felix had to travel to a pool further from their home to make the tiny tot swim class work with their schedules, but it was worth it when Haein’s chubby arms extended just far enough from her life jacket to splash water at them.
As much as he and Chan have worked to plan their lives so they can spend time with Haein, there are some schedule conflicts they couldn’t avoid. Having six uncles willing to dote on their daughter has come in handy when Felix’s exam times happen in the middle of the day and Chan’s busy working, or when there’s an evening event that they both need to attend.
When Haein was three months old, Minho and Jeongin, Changbin and Seugmin, Hyunjin and Jisung had given them a stack of redeemable babysitting tickets they could use so they could each have some time with their niece without parental supervision! The presentation of that gift had made Felix laugh and cry. He knows they all love Haein dearly, but he also appreciates that he gets to have regular date nights with Chan without having to worry about finding a qualified babysitter.
Their first Christmas as parents was a quieter one. They took a trip to Sydney to gather with family, some of whom had not yet met Haein. Upon their return, they did have the usual gathering of friends, but it was still a more restrained celebration than it had been in the past. No one wanted to disturb Haein after it had taken an hour for her to settle for her afternoon nap.
While Felix can scarcely recall what presents he or Chan had received that night, he clearly remembers opening all of Haein’s presents. Minho gave her a set of colourful building blocks. From Changbin and Seungmin, a collection of rearranged and original lullabies. Hyunjin knit a baby sweater to keep her warm over the coming months. Jisung’s gift of bath toys, full of aquatic animals, was a hit at bath time. However, Haein’s favourite remains a terror for her parents, as Jeongin thoughtfully provided a pull along xylophone.
Felix is startled from his reverie as a warm hand lands on his shoulder and pulls him backwards, another arm wrapping about his waist. It takes him only a moment, the scent of ocean breeze familiar and comforting behind him, before he relaxes against Chan’s chest.
“I didn’t mean to startle you,” Chan says, his lips brushing Felix’s neck. “Still need some help?”
Turning in his arms, Felix finds Chan already dressed in his gray hanbok with navy trim. He’s taken a shower since putting Haein down for her nap, having taken the time to tame his curls into submission. Chan’s scent is barely noticeable beneath the lavender verbena body wash they both use.
Felix runs his finger down the satin trim, the fabric doing little to hide Chan’s well defined chest, as he leans closer to inhale the subtle undertones of sand and ocean spray. “The dolsang table still needs to be set up. I’ll bring the food out for it myself, but the items we’d collected for it are all in the box in Haein’s closet. Could you put those around the edge of the table while I go get dressed?”
He laughs when Chan lifts himself up on his tiptoes so he can kiss the crown of Felix’s head. His murmured words tousle the strands of Felix’s hair. “Of course baby. After all the work you’ve put in, it’s the least I can do.”
Felix shakes his head, his hands resting on Chan’s waist to help stabilise him. “You say that like you’ve done absolutely nothing to help. I couldn’t do this without you.”
Chan dips his head, his tongue briefly lingers on his lower lip and a quick flush of heat spreads across his cheeks, causing Felix to laugh. Chan sighs, turns Felix towards the direction of their bedroom and gives him a little push, followed by a pat on his ass. “Go on. We don’t have forever, little one.”
Striding through the doorway of their bedroom, Felix is already pulling off his shirt and shucking his pants. His last freed leg kicks his sweatpants high enough that he’s able to catch them so he can toss them and his shirt into the laundry hamper, swiftly followed by his boxers.
Thinking about all the things left to do before their friends arrive, Felix is quick to shower, and get ready. His own hanbok is a rich blue a personal colour consultant once told him didn’t suit him well, but he loves the colour too much and chooses to ignore advice he doesn’t care for in his personal life. He’s lived too long as a victim of what other people thought was best for him, especially when it comes to fashion.
When he’s finished getting ready, he has enough time to wake Haein, give her a bottle and dress her, and put the food out before their friends arrive. If he runs a little late, it won’t be the first time they’ve had to wait to eat. At least today the food is already in the house and they’re not waiting for a poor delivery man to make their way through Seoul traffic during a snowstorm on Christmas day.
Prepared to wake Haein, Felix opened her bedroom door to find his daughter already awake and happily drinking from a bottle, her lips smacking at the nipple while she kicked her legs against the bottom of her crib. “Ah, I thought I heard you squawk after I heard Chan struggle to get the box out of your closet. You being awake and fed makes this easier for me.”
Felix fingers catches one of the kicking feet so he can tickle the bottom of it while cooing at her. Haein pulls the almost empty bottle from her mouth, dropping beside her and raising her hands up to grab at the end of the ribbon hanging down from Felix’s hanbok as he leans over her.
Quickly changing tactics, Felix picks her up and takes her over to the change table to get her into a new diaper and dress her in the jeogori he and Chan had purchased in bright spring colours. A red chima is tied about her waist. Though Felix places tarae beoseon upon her feet, he knows she’ll kick them off in no time, or leave them behind as she crawls or walks around the room. Hopefully the gulle will have better success staying upon her head.
Picking up the now suitably dressed Haein, Felix turns to leave the room in time to catch Chan passing by the bedroom door. There’s a tray full of food in his arms, and Felix isn’t sure why he’s walked this way, when Haein’s room is not in a direct path from the kitchen to the living room.
Chan stops and beams at them both. “I have the prettiest family.”
Felix shakes his head and tries not to blush, though he suspects his freckles are no longer quite so easy to see on his cheeks. “I told you I’d take care of the food.”
“Mhmm. You did,” Chan confirms, “but you were in the shower, and I figured I could help, and Haein was sleeping at the time. Then she woke up, but was happy with a bottle, so I kept walking past and checking in while moving the food over. I figured it’d be easier for you to arrange if it was all in the room.”
Felix tilts his head and looks at their daughter, “Did you hear that? That means your Appa saw me changing your diaper when he knew it was his turn, and he kept letting me do it!”
“Well, you seemed to have everything in hand.”
“And you hoped it would be a poopy diaper.”
“Well,” Chan stretches the length of the word out, and Felix knows if his hands weren’t full of a tray of food, he’d be awkwardly rubbing at the back of his neck. “Maybe?”
Felix scoffs, his grunt of dismissal cast low for dramatic effect. “Then you’ll be happy to know it wasn’t poopy, but it will be your turn for the next diaper.”
As Chan sighs, Felix cackles and walks out of the bedroom.
Shaking his head, Chan follows him down the hallway. “Right. I suppose I deserve that.”
“Hyung, I love you, but you can’t avoid all the poopy diapers.” There’s a droll dip to Felix’s timbre, carrying the cadence of his laughter. “Besides, I got to deal with the poopnado last week, so you really owe me one.”
When Felix stops in the entrance way of their living room to look over all the decorations, Chan places his hands upon Felix’s waist and leans forward to kiss his nape. “I love you too, and I’ll take care of the next diaper, and won’t let you have a turn again until I change a poopy one.”
“Ah, see Haein, he really does love me.” Felix laughs, looking over his shoulder. He moves further into the room so Chan can put the tray of food down. He surveys the food Chan’s already brought out. “That’s the last of it, right?”
“Mhmm.”
Felix waits until Chan puts the food down on the table before handing over their daughter. “Alright, keep her occupied and I’ll arrange the food. Everyone should be showing up soon. It’s almost time.”
As Felix is rearranging the dishes on the table, removing lids from banchan containers and tucking serving spoons and forks alongside the food, the first of their friends arrive. He hears Chan greet them at the door, and he’s not surprised to learn that it’s Changbin and Seungmin who have arrived first.
Looking over to greet them, he finds Changbin encircling Seungmin, Haein in his arms, as he makes attack plane noises. Seungmin sighs as he catches Felix’s gaze, and Haein is laughing gleefully as she and Changbin dive towards Seungmin, a rat-at-tat sound of incoming combat, before Changbin lands Haein safely in Seungmin’s arms and then snatching her away so she can fly again.
At first, after learning Changbin and Seungmin were together, and had been for months, Felix thought two things at the same time. The first was ‘Why did they hide this from us?’ with a concern that he wasn’t seen as supportive enough to be told. The second was ‘How did I not see how well they fit together?’ The moment he started to work out how their relationship worked, he realised that it did because they made it work. Changbin’s ability to perceive people and his casual compliments and thoughtful gestures allow Seungmin to feel seen, understood and appreciated; Seungmin’s energy and attention, chaotic and rankling as it might be, draws Changbin out of his introspection so he participates rather than experience the world around him.
With the last of the dishes set out in a pleasing manner, Felix walks over to join his friends. He stands next to Seungmin so they can watch Changbin play with Haein together. “Have things settled down?”
Seungmin’s lips pressed firmly together, the comforting library scent of old books and leather chairs turning dusty. “The press doesn’t plague us like they did after the Dispatch article.”
“I know I’ve said it before, but I’m glad you were able to tell your families before the story came out.”
“Same,” Seungmin says, followed by a sigh. “One of my upcoming films was cancelled. The producer pulled out.”
“That’s a shitty thing to do.” Felix frowns.
“It is, but I’ve had some independent film studios reach out lately.” A reserved smile crosses Seungmin’s features. “Smaller roles, but also less traditional ones. I don’t need the money, or the fame, and action movies pay and play well, but they don’t often tell stories. My agent keeps saying things will pick up after the
scandal
dies down, but I think I want to take on some of that work anyway.”
“Want me to look over some of the scripts or story pitches you’ve seen?” Felix offers. He’s intrigued. “I think it’d be great to see some other stories out there than what’s expected. So few people actually live that life.”
“Exactly.” Seugnmin shifts his weight, standing taller, more confident. “Let’s meet up later this week.”
Minho and Jeongin arrive not long after. They’re still finding their house slippers as Hyunjin and Jisung show up, so they all make their way into the room together. They’re not quiet and Haein wiggles in Changbin’s arms, excited to hear voices she recognises.
“Interesting to see neither of you brought a plus one,” Chan teases as he follows Hyunjin and Jisung into the room.
Hyunjin rolls his eyes and flips his hair back, proclaiming, “I am Jisung’s plus one.” Just as Jisung pauses to turn to Chan, points at Hyunjin and states, “I’m his plus one!”
Minho snorts in amusement as he smirks. “What I’m hearing is that neither of you are actually invited, so why are you even here?”
Jeongin stifles his honk of laughter and shakes his head. “Hyung, don’t be mean. We should be happy they’re happy.”
“Iyen-ah, I am happy they’re happy.” Minho wraps his arm around Jeongin’s waist and pulls him closer. “I can be happy for them and still tease them.”
“Hmm. I suppose that’s true.”
Chan steps between Hyunjin and Jisung, patting their shoulders. “As an invited person or a plus one, you’re both still welcome and you know it.”
Situation defused, Hyunjin walks over to greet Felix. “How long has Changbin been playing with Haein? Think he’d be willing to share yet?”
Felix laughs as he lifts himself up on his tiptoes to return Hyunjin’s hug. His nimble fingers massage at Hyuyjin’s shoulders. “You need to quit slouching so much while you’re painting. As for Haein, you’d have to ask Changbin if he’s ready to let her go. I don’t think she’s heavy enough to tire out his arms so quickly.”
While Hyunjin moves off to cajole Changbin into sharing their niece, Jisung takes his turn at receiving a Felix hug. His grunt as Felix’s thumb digs into a stiff muscle has Felix giggling and holding onto Jisung’s weight as a lighter scent of cheesecake tickles his nose along with the hair at Jisung’s nape as Felix finds he’s now holding more weight than he’d planned. “Everything alright Jisung?”
“I think so. Finally got a good night’s sleep last night.”
“You and Chan both. That last project had you all burning the candle at both ends.” Felix looks over with concern at Changbin. While Changbin doesn’t wrestle with insomnia as Chan does, or anxiety like Jisung, even his eyes look a little puffy and tinted with lack of sleep. “Hyung was saying it’ll be a week or so before you have to dig into your next contract, right?”
“Don’t remind me. A week doesn’t seem long enough right now,” Jisung whines, “I love the work, but I also need the rest.”
“You deserve it. You all do.” Felix steps back as he lets Jisung go. “At least Haein’s mostly sleeping through the night these days. Chan has enough issues sleeping as it is.”
Jisung nods, but his attention seems to be focused more on Hyujin’s attempts to pester Changbin into handing over Haein, his eyes fixed upon him with fondness
“Things are going well with you and Hyunjin?” Felix keeps his tone subdued. He’s confident of what Jisung will reply, but the answer hasn’t always been favourable in the past.
He watches as Jisung smiles, his cheeks rosy as he shifts his weight and his hands hide within the wide sleeves of his handbok, fingers gathering the edges. “They are. I never thought we’d get here. We still fight sometimes. But don’t all couples? The difference is that we’re fighting for each other, not with each other. Even when we’re angry or frustrated, we both want the same thing. To be together. To be happy.”
Felix reaches out to squeeze Jisung’s hand. “I’m glad. You deserve all the happiness. You both do.”
Jisung leans closer to knock their shoulders together. “I’m going to add our items to the table. Then I’m going to go save Haein before Changbin and Hyunjin start fighting over her.”
Laughing for a moment, Felix sways against Jisung’s side. They both know that Changbin and Hyunjin would never come to blows, and certainly wouldn’t do anything that might harm Haein. He follows Jisung with his eyes as he approaches the others. Seungmin’s laughing, watching the antics as Changbin continues his circling fighter plane manoeuvres around Hyunjin who reaches out as if to steal Haein who keeps dodging away, the room full of her giggles.
Felix watches Jisung saunter over to the others, smooth as he wraps his arm around Hyunjin’s waist and pulls him to his side. It’s a contrast Felix is becoming used to seeing, the tall lanky artist and the soulful poet musician. Some might say they met at the wrong time. That they could have avoided the animosity of their youth if they’d only met later in life. Felix would disagree; the sweetness of their relationship now could only follow the fractious beginning. They had seen the worst of each other, compelled it out by taunting words. They had studied one another so they could pierce the armour and stab one another with the sharpest of blows.Without such a past, they couldn’t choose now, day after day, to be vulnerable and trust they would be safe doing so.
He smells apricot danish before he hears Jeongin approach to stand next to him. “Do you think they even remember why they fought in the first place?”
“The specifics? No.” Felix looks over at Jeongin and chuckles as a dimple winks into existence on Jeongin’s cheek. “They remember why they felt the need to fight, but not what caused them to first argue. I think they don’t really care to try to remember.”
“No, probably not.”
Jeongin steps closer, their shoulders meet, and Jeongin lets his head rest upon Felix’s, though he’s no longer looking at Hyunjin and Jisung, his gaze upon Minho and Chan, still talking by the entrance to the room.
Even six months ago, Felix knows Jeongin would not have stood so close to him. It had taken time to rebuild their relationship. Instincts are hard to overcome, and while Felix hadn’t physically attacked Jeongin, he knows that if Chan hadn’t been so quick to act, he likely would have. Patience and being open with his feelings had mended their friendship.
Which is why he felt safe to turn and wrap his arms around Jeongin, resting his chin upon the crux of Jeongin’s neck. It was a shock to have Jeongin wince and flinch away and Felix was quick to lower his arms and step back. “I’m sorry Jeongin-ah.”
Try as he might to keep a neutral expression, he knows he failed by how quickly Jeongin is to move closer to him and take his hands. “Hyung, no. It’s not you. My neck’s sore. I must have slept on it wrong.”
Felix holds Jeongin’s hand and starts to lead him over to a nearby chair. “Have a seat. I’ll give you a quick massage.”
To his astonishment, Jeongin baulks, refusing to follow and letting his hand slip out of Felix’s hold. When Felix looks at him, Jeongin’s cheeks are a bright red and he’s looking over to where Minho and Chan were talking. Glancing in that direction, Felix finds Minho focused on Jeongin, his gaze full of concern, but also possessive, if the clenching of Minho’s jaw and the white knuckles of his fist are any indication. “Jeongin-ah, is everything alright?”
Jeongin looks away from Minho. As Felix watches, the flush extends from Jeongin’s cheeks down his neck and to the tips of his ears. Jeongin dips his head and shuffles from one foot to the other. “Everything’s fine, hyung. It’s just…a massage wouldn’t help.”
Raising his head, Jeongin looks over at Minho again, who gives him a small shrug and an inscrutable smile which Felix can’t read, but Jeongin obviously can as he responds to the gesture with a sigh. “We didn’t want to take away from Haein’s big day. Minho hyung and I, that is.” Jeongin says as he leans closer while turning to face away, his back to the rest of the room. With his hand he pulls the collar of his hanbok aside to reveal a still healing bite on his scent gland.
“Oh…” Felix blushes and then giggles, leaning against Jeongin. Though it wasn’t common for omegas to have mating bites these days, and not traditional for alphas to receive a mating bite in return, he knows their relationship is neither common nor completely traditional. “I’ll be careful if I hug Minho hyung later.”
He laughs as Jeongin squirms and any still displayed skin reddens in colour. “Hyung!”
Felix pulls Jeongin into a hug, careful of which shoulder he hooks his head on this time. “Congratulations. I’m happy for you both. I would have thought you’d get married first though.”
“We still might later. Hyung said he’d go through with the ceremony if needed, but he doesn't share my faith. We’ve been talking about it for a while now and decided we didn’t need a big celebration, or a piece of paper to define us. We didn’t even really need the bite, but…”
“It’ll be a great fashion statement once it’s healed.” Felix flashes him a grin.
Jeongin groans and pushes away from him. “I’m going to place our items on the table. Then maybe if our hyungs can quit picking up Haein, she can tell us all what her future might have in store.”
Felix laughs, and he’s wiping tears from his eyes as Chan wraps his arm around his waist, pulling him closer. “Thought you might fall down, you’re laughing so hard.”
Stabilizing himself against Chan, his small hand pressed against the muscles in Chan’s forearm, he tilts his head to find Minho looking at him with an arched brow. “Congratulations, hyung.”
Chan looks perplexed and Felix giggles as Minho blinks slowly as his ears turn a deep maroon.
Minho clears his throat and gives Felix a pointed look. If it were anyone else, there might be mention of Kleenexes or the proper temperature setting for an air fryer. “We’ll talk about this more next week.”
Swallowing his laughter, Felix nods. “I’ll look forward to it.”
Chan’s brow is furrowed, his eyes glancing between Felix, Minho and over to Jeongin before his expression clears and he smiles with his whisker dimples. “Felix will bake a cake.”
Minho rolls his eyes before he huffs and heads over to Jeongin, He entangles their fingers together, his hand almost disappearing from view, hidden by Jeongin’s palm.
“It’s about time,” Chan murmurs, his lips teasing the curve of Felix’s ear.
“Mhmm.”
Felix steps away, sliding his hand down Chan’s arm to tug at his hand so he’ll follow. Now that he’s closer, he can see all the items added to the lower tier of the table. The food is placed on the higher tier, out of reach of Haein’s curious hands. There are bold greens, reds, orange and yellows from the various fruits and vegetables. Various grilled meats and seafood are at the center of the table on a warming plate. Various banchan fill the remaining space, japchae, a bowl of tteokbokki, a platter of jeon and red bean filled rice cakes.
On the outer edge, lay the items which Chan placed earlier: a clip of won, a small notebook with a treble clef on the cover and a toy stethoscope. The first is something they both want for Haein to have as she comes of age; the security of having enough wealth to be comfortable. The other two items represent items that might speak to her following either of their career choices in the future. Felix had considered adding a Louis Vuitton silk scarf instead, but Chan had insisted he was more than his modelling career. While Felix still believes being a model moulded him in many ways and he wouldn’t be who he was without it, he quickly admitted that it wasn’t a future he wanted for their daughter.
The other items on the table are new, brought by their friends as representations of their own lifes, and their wishes for Haein. There’s a mixtape which Felix knows Changbin brought based on the handwriting and that means the guitar pick is from Jisung. The paintbrush can only be from Hyunjin. Jeongin brought a chalkboard eraser, while Minho’s contribution was a child pair of ballet slippers.The playbill is from Seungmin’s last stage appearance. Each couple had brought an additional item for paths they hadn’t taken, though Felix isn’t sure which pair the gavel or calculator came from. The spatula is obviously Minho and Jeongin’s contribution.
Chan tugging him against his chest and then wrapping his arms around his waist pulls Felix out of his sentimental thoughts.
“Were you about to cry?” Chan's amusement is clear in his hushed words.
Felix sniffles and blinks the moisture from his eyes. “No, of course not.”
Chan laughs and sways them back and forth while they watch their friends play with Haein. They’ve formed a circle around her, each holding a toy, trying to see who can cajole her into walking towards them. There seem to be some rules to the game, as there’s muttering about cheating, and how using scents is off limits. Seungmin keeps leaning over to poke and prod at Changbin, who finally reacts, pulling Seungmin down to wrap an arm around his neck. “Shall we interrupt them and see what item Haein will choose from the table?”
Felix shakes his head as he leans against Chan. “They’re all having fun, and no matter what future Haein has, it will be filled with love and support. I’m not in a hurry to make her choose.”