Chapter Text
Past.
Present.
Future.
What you did yesterday impacts what happens to you today that will give you choices to choose from on what to do for tomorrow.
Time moves in clockwise direction while memory moves in counterclockwise.
Jihoon and Soonyoung’s past will forever be etched to give them lessons while they’re living their best lives together at present so they can look forward to their future.
[November 7, 2019]
“What if he backed out? What if he realized I’m not the one for him?” Soonyoung asked Junhui nervously. He’s been pacing back and forth since earlier.
“Will you calm down, Soonie? He’s just 2 minutes late. No need to freak out.” Junhui chuckled. “I already called Won. He told me Jihoon’s just having a bad morning sickness—"
“What the actual fruit?! Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Oh my god, let me go to him right now. Fuck weddings. I need to go to Jihoon and take care of him.” Soonyoung was so ready to walk out of the church when the door opened and it revealed the guy he loves the most.
The guy he’s more than willing to spend forever with, if that shit even exists.
But what surprised him more is the fact that Jihoon is not alone. Beside him, there’s a familiar figure. He squinted his eyes to see if he’s not dreaming.
“M-Mom?”
Said woman walked towards him and pulled him into a hug. “Soonyoung, I’m sorry.”
Soonyoung pulled her closer to him. What could be best than having your own family attend your wedding. “Mom, you came. I thought—"
“I’m really sorry.” The woman cried. “I just want the best for you and...I failed. I failed miserably.”
Soonyoung shook his head. “You came at the right time, Mom.” He glanced at Jihoon who smiled contently at him knowing that he made his other half the happiest at their wedding.
Jihoon just mouthed, ‘I love you’ to him.
Going back and forth to Soonyoung’s mom to convince her that Soonyoung deserves all the love in the universe is worth it.
Kwon Soonyoung deserves everything. If Jihoon could pick all the stars in the sky, it would still be not enough to give Soonyoung what he deserves. That’s how wonderful of a person he is.
And now, he’s walking towards him, their eyes fixated on each other. It seems like Time is doing his magic because time seem to slow down and it seems like they’re the only people in there as they stare at each other’s eyes.
“It’s time for the exchange of vows.” The priest officiating the wedding told Soonyoung and Jihoon.
Soonyoung took the box from Junhui. When he opened it, his eyes went wide when he saw nothing inside.
“Did you...” Jihoon creased his forehead. “Don’t tell me you forgot our wedding rings, Kwon Soonyoung?!”
Soonyoung’s worried face slowly turned into a playful one as he fished something out of his pocket. “Surprise~” He said as he revealed the rings on his palms.
Wonwoo and Junhui just facepalmed at what Soonyoung did while Jihoon gritted his teeth. “I hate and love you at the same time.”
Soonyoung took a deep breath before he started saying his wedding vow. He held Jihoon’s hand while letting out the words they’ll fullfill together for all the tomorrows to come.
“Hoonie, you always say that you hate it when I became cheesy but I know you secretly love it. So here.” Soonyoung looked up, and pretended to think. He laughed a few moments after.
“Sorry, I think I forgot the wedding vow I wrote yesterday. I’m too nervous and when I saw you walking down the aisle, with your cute little tumtum where our little Jiyo is, I just...” He took a deep breath. “I forgot every words I tried so hard to memorize for this.”
“Words. I don’t think any word can justify how much I love you. Time. I don’t think forever is enough to show you how much I want to be with you. Fate. I don’t think it can ever justify the way my heart beats for you.” Soonyoung’s lips curved upwards. He saw Jihoon’s eyes getting glassy so he reached his hand to wipe his tears.
“I knew the meaning of happiness when I met you so let me do the same to you for the rest of our lives. You’ll never be alone, Jihoon. No matter what timeline we are in, just know that I’ll always love you the same way I am right now.”
“Of all the ‘I hate you’ we threw at each other for the past years, let me replace all of that with a hundred billions or trillions of ‘I love you’s I will never fail to tell you every day. Let’s be together for a very, very long time, my love.” Soonyoung said. He leaned down to put an ear over Jihoon’s tummy.
“You agree, Little Star, right?— Oh, she said yes! I know you will too. You can never say no to me anyways.” He laughed again and this time, Jihoon slapped his arm.
“I love you, Hoonie. Yesterday, today, until we ran out of tomorrows.” Soonyoung said as he carefully slid the ring on Jihoon’s finger.
Jihoon stared at Soonyoung for a good minute before he found the courage to say a word. “I honestly don’t know how to create decent words for this type of occasions because you know, I’m better with composing songs and lyrics.” Soonyoung held his hand tighter. He mouthed, ‘You can do it.’ at him.
“All those times we’re fighting over the top spot, all the bickering, basically everything, fate and time really did wonders and worked hard for us to be together right now.”
“You know I’ve always been afraid of basically everything even the future scares me. One thing I learned from being with you is to not watch the clock.” Jihoon stared into Soonyoung’s eyes that contains the stars he loves the most. “It’s to do what the clock does. It’s to keep going.”
“Today, just like the hands of the clock, I’ll keep going. I’ll keep moving forward to the future, holding this hand.“ Jihoon felt Soonyoung’s grip on his hand tightened.
“No one knows what kind of future is ahead of us but why am I so sure you and I are both in it. They say to always wait for the right time. I say, stop waiting for the right time because right time isn’t waiting for us. So right now, I’m creating my own right time with the right person. It’s to create my future with you in it.”
Soonyoung mouthed, “Cheesy.” at Jihoon. Funny how he always say he’s not good with words but that guy always know how to piece the perfect words together like a song.
“For you who has always been here beside me all this time, let me be here for you too for as long as the hands of the clock keeps ticking. I’m not going anywhere so don’t go anywhere too, okay? You won’t ever lose someone again, Nyong.”
“If anything, you’ll gain more. And that is, the lovely family we’ll be able to build for the years to come. You want a...” Jihoon diverted his gaze. “You want a football team, right?” Soonyoung laughed at the way Jihoon blushed when he said the last line.
“For an imperfect guy like me, you’re the most perfect person. Not in the sense that you can do everything. It’s for the fact that Kwon Soonyoung is perfect for Lee Jihoon in any version of parallel timeline that exists out there.” Jihoon breathed deeply then smiled at his other half, his everything.
“I love you, Nyong. I’ll make sure in our future, the word ‘we’ will always exist.” Jihoon said as he finally slid the wedding ring on Soonyoung’s finger.
“You may now kiss each other.” The priest told them. They both giggled before they leaned in to seal their tomorrows with a kiss.
They pulled away only to catch their breaths. “Where’s Time and Fate when we need them to freeze a moment so I could kiss you nonstop?” Soonyoung said that made Jihoon giggle.
“Stop! Jiyo is watching.” Jihoon said then pointed at his baby bump.
“Jiyo, please close your eyes for a moment.” Soonyoung kissed Jihoon’s tummy before he leaned up and pulled Jihoon into a kiss again.
“Look at those idiots. It feels like yesterday when they’re just planning how to murder each other. Now, they’re in front of me devouring each other with kisses.” Wonwoo told his boyfriend who clung on his arm, sniffing. “Ya! Are you crying?”
“I’m more than proud, Won. Why do I feel like I helped them in getting together?” Junhui said then wiped his tears with a handkerchief. “Won, I’m so proud. I feel like Jihoon’s mom.”
“Stop being cute before I tell the priest to officiate our wedding today after Soonyoung and Jihoon’s.” Wonwoo said casually then reached Junhui’s hand to intertwine it with his.
The other guy gasped. “Oh my god, do I have to do a year worth of aegyo for you to do that, Won?”
They noticed Soonyoung and Jihoon still not breaking their kiss and Wonwoo just face palmed. “I’m hungry, when will they stop eating each other’s lips.”
“Ya! Stop eating each other! We’re all hungry here!” Junhui shouted.
Soonyoung and Jihoon’s stubborn asses who never really listened to their best friend’s advices just kissed each other more.
⏰⏰⏰
[January 21, 2020]
“So is this why you bought all those plushies? To fill my studio with these?” Jihoon said, his hands on his waist as he watched his husband arrange all the stuffed toys inside his studio.
After graduation, Pledis Entertainment hired the two of them. Jihoon being one of the company’s producer while Soonyoung being one of the creative directors.
Soonyoung looked at his husband whose belly is already sticking out. “It’s because my little Jiyo and her Papi needs some company.”
“You mean, all these tiger plushies are Jiyo and I’s company? Kwon Soonyoung, your office is just two rooms away.” Jihoon whined but he secretly love it. Soonyoung and his tiger agenda will never end.
“Stop! These tiger cubs are my babies too!”
“If you still think that you’re a tiger, I think you really need to go to the hospital, Pancake.” Jihoon facepalmed as he flop on the couch.
Soonyoung just laughed then walked towards Jihoon and rubbed his belly. “Jiyo~ Appa miss you already. Can you come out fast? But please develop completely first. Come out when you’re ready so Papi won’t be in too much pain.” He leaned down and kissed it.
He noticed Jihoon’s eyes already drooping. He might have stayed up late again after composing a song. “Ya! Sleep! Dr.Xu told us you can’t stay up late.”
Jihoon lay down with his head on Soonyoung’s lap. He felt at peace when the latter carded his hair.
“Little Star, do you want a lullaby?”
“Oh, she said yes.” Jihoon said sleepily.
Soonyoung took Jihoon’s hand in his then ruffled the latter’s hair with another.
“Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky~”
Soonyoung heard soft snores. He checked and saw Jihoon already sleeping on his lap. He bent down and kissed the other’s temple. “I love you~”
⏰⏰⏰
[June 15, 2020]
Jihoon saw Soonyoung sulking in their room. He stomped his feet like a child with a pout on his face.
He carefully went inside, his baby bump the most noticeable because it’s just weeks away from his due date. He walked towards his husband, went in front of him to fix his tie.
“I can’t believe Junhui and Wonwoo really decided to have their wedding on my birthday.” Soonyoung whined. “I mean, it could have been on Junhui’s birthday...”
Jihoon just chuckled. “What are you so sulky about? The schedule is full on Junhui’s birthday and they have to move it on this day because the only slot available is today.”
“I want to spend the whole day with you. Wonwoo could have picked another day.” He winced when Jihoon tied the necktie a bit tighter.
“You know Jeon Wonwoo can’t wait for another day to marry Moon Junhui.” Jihoon said, matter-of-factly. Their two friends are just as whipped as they both are.
“Still! It’s my birthday. I should be the star—"
He was shocked when Jihoon pulled him by his necktie and kissed him on the lips. It didn’t take long before he returned the kiss.
The kiss turned into a makeout session. Thankfully, they didn’t forgot that they still have a wedding to attend as best men.
“Ahh! See! I want to do this all day, Hoonie~” Soonyoung whined even more.
“Stop sulking and prepare for your best man speech.” Jihoon straightened Soonyoung’s clothes and fixed his husband’s hair that became disheveled because of what they did. “Oh! And please don’t forget to eat the seaweed soup I made you.”
⏰⏰⏰
“I could still remember the day Junhui told me how Wonwoo makes his heart flutter. It’s that one time when he saw Wonwoo care about stray cats. One drunken night, he told me something like, ‘Soonie! I want to have his kittens!’.” Soonyoung chuckled as well as the other guests on the wedding.
Junhui stood up with a shocked face. “Ya! When did I?!”
Soonyoung continued talking. “Now, you’ll be making kittens for the days to come. Congratulations to the both of you. Jihoon and I will always be here for you.” He went down the podium then went to his husband to help Jihoon came up the stage for his speech.
“Hoonie, are you okay? You’re sweating a lot.” Soonyoung asked the other who just nodded.
“Soonyoung and I are two idiots but Wonwoo and Junhui aren’t better. They’re as idiots as we both are.” This time, it’s Wonwoo who shook his head in protest. Junhui stood up again then shouted, “At least, we both have balls!”
Wonwoo shook his head again, contemplating his life decisions as he pulled Junhui to sit down again. “Babe, calm down.”
Soonyoung’s forehead creased when he saw Jihoon’s face looks like he’s in pain.
“Y-Ya! I...” Jihoon bit his lip. He flinched when he felt a sudden pain shooting from his lower abdomen.
“Hoonie, what’s happening?”
Soonyoung freaked out when Jihoon suddenly shouted, “I think Jiyo wants to come out now!”
⏰⏰⏰
“This is why you two shouldn’t have agreed to do your wedding when it’s near my due date!” Jihoon shouted at his two friends who came in with them inside the ambulance.
“S-Stop pulling my hair, Hoonie!” Soonyoung shouted back. He glared at his two friends who just smiled at him apologetically. “This is your fault!”
“I told you, there’s no other options!” Junhui exclaimed. “Won can’t wait to marry me so I have to agree.”
They both shrugged.
“Kwon Soonyoung! I will kill you after this!”
“Breathing exercises, Hoonie. Hoo~ hoo~”
⏰⏰⏰
Jihoon’s eyes fluttered open. The first thing he saw was the white ceiling. Beside him, is Soonyoung holding a little figure in his arms.
He teared up when he realized what that little figure is.
“Look, Hoonie. It’s our baby Little Star.” Soonyoung said as he transferred the baby in Jihoon’s arms.
“She’s so tiny, Nyong.” Jihoon said, tears began to roll down his cheeks. He has seen five-year old version of Jiyo but seeing her in her baby state makes them more emotional. “Oh, Jiyo, I missed you so much. Papi missed you so much.” Jihoon repeated while hugging their little child.
“What do you want to call your baby?” The nurse asked.
It’s Jihoon who answered proudly with tears in his eyes. “Jiyo.” He returned his eyes on Soonyoung whose eyes are watery just like him. “She’s Kwon Jiyo.”
The other kissed him on his forehead. “You’ve worked hard, Hoonie.”
⏰⏰⏰
[December 2020]
“You wrote ‘What Kind of Future’ back when you were still in high school, right? We wondered who caused you such pain to be able to write such painful, tearjerking lyrics.” The interviewer asked Jihoon.
Jihoon just smiled looking back at the memory of him going to the future to run away from Soonyoung on a New Year’s Eve. “That person is someone I love the most. That time, I’m too afraid that our future won’t line up and that there’s no hope for us to meet again in the middle of everything because of what happened to the two of us but...”
Jihoon glanced at the camera and smiled, “I know he’s watching me at our home right now, crying over my first television appearance.” He waved his hand and smiled even wider. “Nyong! Take care of Jiyo while I’m gone, okay?”
“Oh! So it was your husband, one of the creative directors of Pledis Entertainment?”
Jihoon nodded. “Yes, he’s Kwon Soonyoung. The one who composed ‘Bring It’ with me.”
“Oh, right! The song Pledis released that charted for weeks.” The interviewer exclaimed. “So, why did you decide to release ‘What Kind of Future’ several years after you’ve written it?”
Jihoon rubbed his nape. He’s been really nervous about this interview. Soonyoung had been insisting to go with him because he knows how much Jihoon hates those kind of things.
“Pledis ran out of songs so I shamelessly suggested this song.” Jihoon joked that made the interviewer laugh. “Seriously, it’s to tell everyone that even if you think that the future won’t go your way, in the end, things will flow and happen the way you deserve.”
⏰⏰⏰
[February 2021]
Jihoon facepalmed when he saw Soonyoung play ‘Bring It’ for the nth time already.
“You’ve been blasting that the whole week already, Nyong.” Jihoon sighed as he picked up the spoon to feed Jiyo.
It’s really weird seeing Jiyo as a baby when they have seen her toddler form already. It’s a wonder how babies grow up and somehow along the way, you won’t even notice they’re growing up already.
“I will never get tired of this song. Plus, it’s been a year since Pledis released this.” Soonyoung said, matter-of-factly.
“Jiyo~ Little Star~ look at Papi. Here’s the rocket. Shuuuuung~” Jihoon said to his child, his lips curved into a noot. However, Jiyo isn’t even looking at him. She’s staring at her Appa who’s dancing at the living room.
“Sswa~ sswa~ sswa~” Soonyoung sang.
“Nyong, turn that off for a moment. Jiyo is super distracted. She has to eat—"
They were both startled when they heard something. Something like a soft voice that didn’t came from any of them.
When they looked at Jiyo, the little girl is clapping her hands excitedly. What first came out from her lips made Soonyoung and Jihoon’s mouths agape.
It’s not Appa nor Papi.
“Ssa! Ssa! Ssa!” Jiyo repeated her first syllable and her parents couldn’t help but laugh.
⏰⏰⏰
[April 2022]
“Won, I want a baby too.”
Wonwoo almost choked on his food when he heard what Junhui said. “W-What?”
Junhui stared at Jihoon and Soonyoung doing all those crazy animal impersonations just to make Jiyo laugh. “I never knew I’ll witness a Lee Jihoon imitating a chimpanzee in this lifetime, Won.”
Wonwoo chuckled and looked at his idiot friends doing crazy things just to hear Jiyo laughing. Soonyoung was imitating a crab while Jihoon is doing those crazy moves he can’t even decipher. It’s a success anyways as the room was filled with cute little giggles from Soonyoung and Jihoon’s little star.
“We’ll have our little kitten soon, Junnie. We just have to wait.” Wonwoo reassured.
The other just pouted but changed expressions when he taught of something. “Let’s try kitten-making tonight!”
Wonwoo facepalmed at his husband. For the nth time, he’s contemplating his life choices but nevertheless wouldn’t want it any other way.
⏰⏰⏰
It’s not always rainbows and unicorns. The future is filled with dark clouds too. Soonyoung and Jihoon faced trials but as long as they have each other, they’re more than sure they’ll get through it.
[January 2024]
Soonyoung found no one in their house. He decided to go home early when he didn’t find his husband on his studio. Now that Jihoon’s not in their house too, he figured there’s only one place where he’ll be able to find him.
He’s not wrong. He could never be wrong because it’s the place where Jihoon always goes whenever he’s worried about something.
“Hoonie.”
Said guy turned to look at him, a weak smile painted on his lips when he saw Soonyoung standing not faraway from him. “Nyong, you found me.”
When Soonyoung saw Jihoon’s puffy eyes, he immediately went towards the other to pull him into a hug.
“Nyong...” Jihoon wrapped his arms around Soonyoung’s waist. “Nyong, I can’t find the words. I can’t find the right notes. I can’t do anything. Now, I can’t even give you your football team.” Jihoon cried.
“You went to the hospital?” Soonyoung asked, his sleeves getting wet from Jihoon’s tears.
Jihoon just hummed in response. “The doctor told me I won’t be able to conceive anymore. Nyong—"
“Sssh, stop crying.” Soonyoung wiped Jihoon’s tears. “That’s okay. I don’t need a football team. Our little family is more than enough for me.”
“But...” Jihoon sniffed. He knew it’s that trial. The reason behind future Soonyoung’s letter. “What if you get tired of me? What if we grew apart? What if—"
Soonyoung kissed Jihoon on the lips. It’s to reassure him that everything will be alright.
“But...”
Soonyoung kissed him again.
“How many times do I have to kiss you so you’ll know that I will never ever leave you?”
Jihoon stared at his husband’s eyes. It’s a wonder how the stars inside Soonyoung’s eyes didn’t change a bit. It has always been there just like how Soonyoung is always at Jihoon’s side.
At that moment, he realized he just wants to drown in those stars. Jihoon finaly smiled at his husband.
“I’m actually not sure but maybe you can kiss me again so—"
Soonyoung didn’t need to be told twice. He kissed Jihoon on the lips again, hoping the warmth of their lips can lighten up the burden in Jihoon’s heart.
“I love you~” Soonyoung said in between kisses.
“I love you too.”
⏰⏰⏰
[August 2024]
Soonyoung went home from work only to find Jihoon inside their room, looking at the star projector at the ceiling.
He walked towards the bed then sat beside Jihoon who leaned on his shoulder. “Nyong.”
Soonyoung made Jihoon sit on his lap so he can backhug him. “Hmm?”
“What are you thinking of again?” Soonyoung asked. It’s not a secret to him how frustrated Jihoon is about not being able to write something for months already.
Jihoon is someone who expresses himself better with melodies and lyrics. Not being able to pour it all out is stuffy. Just like how he feels whenever he can’t think of a dance step for a certain dance routine.
He thinks this is one of the reason why Jihoon and him clicked with each other. They share the same worries and carry almost the same responsibilities that they understand each other better than anyone else.
Jihoon just shook his head. “I don’t even know now at this point, Nyong. I want to do something but words just can’t seem to come out even when I want it. It’s just...” Jihoon sighed. “It’s frustrating when things don’t go my way.”
Soonyoung kissed the exposed skin on Jihoon’s neck. It sent tingles on Jihoon’s system. He then whispered something on Jihoon’s ear that made the latter more intoxicated. “If you’re tired, you can rest.”
He continued trailing kisses on Jihoon’s neck. When Jihoon couldn’t take the pleasure shooting up from his body, he adjusted his body so he could face Soonyoung and pull him into a kiss.
Soonyoung carefully lay Jihoon down on the bed as he continued gaining further access on Jihoon’s lips. His heart jumped crazily inside his chest when he heard the other moan his name.
He pulled away, their foreheads touching, lips grazing against each other’s while Jihoon’s hand were wrapped around his neck.
“N-Nyong...I—"
“Don’t say anything and just let me make you feel better tonight.” Soonyoung said before linking their lips again.
⏰⏰⏰
[September 2024]
It’s already late and Junhui lazily walked towards the door to his and Wonwoo’s house to open it to see who’s knocking at this time. His husband is away on a business trip and he’s alone inside their home.
Well, he’s not really alone since he’s with the baby inside his tummy. He remembered what Wonwoo told him about not opening the door just to anyone if he’s alone. So before he open the door, he went to the kitchen to get the frying pan in case it’s some psycho or a bad guy.
The knocking intensified and Junhui felt his heart beating loudly inside his chest. He took a deep breath before slowly opening the door and preparing to hit the frying pan to whoever is at their fromt door.
He shut his eyes tight and screamed. But when he heard another familiar voice screaming, he quickly opened his eyes and saw Jihoon standing outside in his pyjamas, mirroring the terror in his face.
“Jihoon? What are you doing here?”
“Soonyoung and Jiyo are not home.” Jihoon said, his head hanging low.
Junhui crossed his arms, his belly sticking out. “So, you don’t want to be alone?”
Based on how Jihoon’s face got red, Junhui took that as a yes. Now, they’re facing each other, eating some midnight snacks.
Junhui looked at Jihoon who’s busy dipping the bread to the vinegar. He also glazed the hotdog with Nutella. “Wow, Jihoon, what a weird taste you have.”
Jihoon sipped on his idiot latte before talking. “Why? It’s delicious! You want to try? Give Wooju some nutrients.”
The other just scrunched his nose at Jihoon. “You call that nutrients? It reminds me when I’m craving for weird foods when I’m in my first trimester with Wooju.”
“I didn’t experience that with Jiyo.” Jihoon said. He sighed when he remembered what his doctor said about him not being able to have a baby again. “And I will not experience that ever.” He whispered.
“How’s Wonwoo being a husband?” Jihoon asked Junhui who’s sipping his tea.
Junhui’s lips curved into a smile, eyes sparkling when he heard the name of his husband. “Jeon Wonwoo is the sweetest. I don’t know why he has that cold image back in college when he’s the cutest.” He said proudly. “How about Soonyoung?”
“He’s the perfect melody to my every song.” Jihoon said simply.
Junhui stopped himself from snorting. Lee Jihoon may not admit ot but he’s the best at weaving the right words together.
Jihoon watched fondly as Junhui kept baby-talking to his and Wonwoo’s unborn baby. “Baby kitten, Daddy is not home. Don’t feel lonely. Dada is here.”
He stood up when he remembered something. It’s to light up the aroma candles Wonwoo bought for him.
Jihoon sniffed something in the air and his insides suddenly churned. He quickly ran towards the sink and threw up. Junhui patted his back. “Y-Ya! What’s that smell?”
“What?” Junhui began to sniff the air. “You mean our scented candles? Why? What’s wrong?”
“They smell like shit.” Jihoon said before throwing up again.
Junhui continued patting his friend’s back. “But it’s scent is really sweet, Jihoon? What do you mean— Oh my god! Don’t tell me—“ Junhui gasped when he realized something.
“What?”
“Did you—" Junhui smiled teasingly at Jihoon while clapping his hands dramatically. “Kwon Soonyoung, the sharpshooter.”
What Jihoon did the next day is go to his doctor to ask for an ultrasound. He’s a crying mess when he came out of the room.
So, when he told Soonyoung that he’s in the hospital while crying, said guy ran his way towards there.
He spotted Jihoon on one of the seats there, head on his both palms. He worriedly rushed to his husband.
“H-Hoonie, baby...” Soonyoung knelt down in front of him. “What happened?”
“You got yourself a new tiger cub.”
Soonyoung’s mind took a minute before he finally processed what Jihoon said. He pulled the other into a bone-crushing hug, a huge smile tugging on his lips.
“Where’s your other shoe?”
Soonyoung shrugged when he saw his left shoe is missing. He must have left it somewhere when he rushed to the hospital.
“Shoes be damned. I can run barefooted right now that I got another tiger cub.” Soonyoung exclaimed as he twirled Jihoon around. “I love you, Hoonie. I love you so much.”
⏰⏰⏰
[October 2024]
“I don’t think you can use that.” Soonyoung told Wonwoo. Both of them has their arms crossed as they stared at something in front of that.
“What do you mean? It looks fluffy.” Wonwoo arranged his glasses.
Soonyoung just shook his head. He placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Those diapers aren’t that soft. You should use this brand.” He handed another packs of diapers to Wonwoo. “It’s 100% guaranteed. Wooju won’t have rashes.”
“Okay, copy that.” Wonwoo replied.
They finished paying for the supply of diapers when both of their phones beeped.
Soonyoung and Wonwoo looked at the message and they both chuckled at it.
“Let’s go, Soonie. Jihoon and Junhui’s pregnant yoga class is over.”
⏰⏰⏰
“Papi, are babies made out of hotdogs?”
Jihoon was taken aback with Jiyo’s question. The little girl is leaning on his tummy, trying to get Jiyong to kick from inside him.
“W-Who told you that?”
Jiyo chuckled. “I heard Uncle Hui talking to Wooju. He told him that all the hotdogs are worth it.”
Jihoon almost choked with what her daughter said. He patted Jiyo’s head and told her to just sleep since Appa will be home late and won’t be able to sing them their lullaby.
“Papi, can I sing Jiyong a lullaby first?” Jiyo asked, her hands clasped together with her lips in a pout. “Papi, please?”
Jihoon couldn’t help but kiss Jiyo’s cheek. Their little star is really adorable. “Of course, you can.”
The little girl clapped her hands excitedly then leaned his ear again on Jihoon’s baby bump. She’s also rubbing it, imitating the way Soonyoung does it every time.
“Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are~”
“Sleep well, Jiyong. Noona can’t wait to see you.” Jiyo said as she drifted off to sleep too.
Soonyoung came home late to choreograph another routine. All his weariness disappeared when he saw Jihoon and Jiyo sleeping on their bed.
He walked towards them to plant soft kisses on their temples.
“I’m home.”
⏰⏰⏰
[June 15, 2025]
“You have to get on the bus.”
Jisoo brought his eyes up and saw Jeonghan and Seungcheol in front of him. “Where are you taking me again?”
The two didn’t answer him. He couldn’t do anything but to follow. He went aboard the bus then went to sit at the last seat.
He was staring outside the window when he felt something fuzzy inside of him before the bus stopped.
“Get off.” Fate told him.
Jisoo got off the bus only to see the same bus stop where they came from. “What are you—“ Before he could even complain, the bus is already gone. He sighed when he realized Fate and Time might be joking on him again.
He was rummaging his bag when he heard something.
“Ahjussi!”
Jisoo looked up and saw a little girl in front of him. She’s munching a bar of chocolate.
“Are you lost?” Jisoo said as he bent down in front of the little girl.
“I’m not but I’ve been waiting for my teacher since earlier. I think he’s the one lost.”
Jisoo laughed at her cuteness. He ruffled her hair. “Ahjussi has been lost for years already. I wonder what it feels like to be home.”
“Oh! Oh! Do you want to take me home? It’s me and my Appa’s birthday and my Papi cooked the best seaweed soup in the whole universe. I’m sure you’ll love it.” The girl said, her eyes formed slanted lines and a dimple peeked from the corner of her lips that made Jisoo remember those two guys he miss the most.
“Didn’t your parents teach you not to talk to strangers?” Jisoo asked because the little girl talked to him like they knew each other already.
“They taught me that but I know you’re not a bad person because you have such pretty eyes so, please? Can you come with me?” The little girl pouted and it’s the cutest pout Jisoo has ever seen so who is he to say no to that.
Next thing he knew, he’s being tugged by the little girl to god knows where. His heart is beating loudly inside his chest. He didn’t even know why.
“Appa! Papi! Jiyo’s home!”
“Jiyo, where did you go—"
As soon as the door opened, it revealed a familiar face. A familiar face Jisoo has been waiting to see again, he broke down in tears.
“N-Nyong...”
“Jisoo hyung?”
Soonyoung and Jisoo pulled each other into a hug. When Jihoon went out of the kitchen, he witnessed something very heartwarming at their doorstep.
His tears started streaming down his face as he slowly approached two of the most important persons in his life.
“J-Jisoo hyung...”
“Hyung, you’re back! You’re back for real!”
“You’ve waited long enough.” Jisoo cried. He saw Jihoon not far away, wiping his own tears. “Thank you.” Jisoo said when he pulled away from Soonyoung to hug Jihoon who’s carrying a baby in his arms. Jisoo will forever be grateful to him. “Thank you so much, Jihoon.”
“Papi! You know ahjussi?” Jiyo asked Jihoon. She reached out her arms so she could play with her baby brother’s small fingers.
“It’s Appa’s best birthday gift, Little Star.” Jihoon said as he watched the two cry on each other’s arms again. There’s a lot of catching up to do but who cares? There are a lot of tomorrows to come for them.
“Is she—" Jisoo bit his lip as he stared at the little girl in front of him. “Is she Jiyo?”
Soonyoung hummed in response. Jisoo bent down and spread his arms so he could hug her niece. “She is indeed a miracle.”
“Our miracle.” Soonyoung said as he went beside Jihoon. He took the baby on the latter’s arms. “Hyung, this is Jiyong. Our second miracle.”
Jisoo looked up and played with the baby’s small fingers. “Jiyong, hello. This is Uncle Jisoo.”
“You will never be alone again, Jihoon. I’m so happy for you.”
“Hyung, we miss you so much.”
The door suddenly opened and revealed Junhui and Wonwoo who’s holding a baby too. “Happy birth— Oh my god! Is that you, Jisoo hyung?” Junhui exclaimed as he ran towards the other guy. “Oh my god, where have you been?”
“So, you got yourself a family too, Junhui?” Jisoo asked when they pulled away.
Junhui smiled the brightest when he mentioned ‘family’. He went beside Wonwoo and nodded. “This is my husband, Wonwoo. Oh! Oh! And this...” He patted the baby’s head. “This is our baby kitten, Wooju.”
Jisoo felt his heart at peace. All his dongsaengs finally found their other halves and has already built their families. He’s happy yet he’s also a bit empty, knowing he has a lot of years to catch up.
Funny how he came from the future but he still has a lot of catching up to do.
Just like fate, the doorbell rang. Jiyo ran towards the door to open it. She clapped her hands when she saw the person who came.
“Appa! Papi! It’s T.Seoknim!” Jiyo shouted while tugging a guy inside. He has a really noticeable pointed nose and a smile that would leave the sun jobless.
“Jiyo, it’s Seokmin.” The guy corrected. “Repeat after me. Seok!”
“Seok!” Jiyo repeated.
“Min!”
“Min!”
“Seokmin!”
“Seoknim!” Jiyo repeated.
“Okay, never mind.”
Jiyo introduced her teacher to her uncles. “Uncle Hui! Uncle Woo, this is T.Seoknim. He teaches us Math and English.”
“Really?” Junhui asked. “What number comes after nineteen?”
Jiyo looked up then think. She also counted with her tiny fingers. “Oh! Oh! I know!” She proudly exclaimed. “It’s two-teen! Eighteen, nineteen, two-teen!”
She tugged Seokmin’s shirt. “Aren’t you proud of me, T.Seoknim?”
The other guys can’t help but laugh at Jiyo’s cute mistake.
“Jiyo! It’s twenty.” Seokmin explained.
“But two-teen is cuter~” Jiyo pouted.
“I’m sorry, I’m late. I rescued a stray dog on the alley on the way to the bus stop. I freaked out when I didn’t saw you there, Jiyo.”
“It’s okay, T.Seoknim! An angel actually fell from the bus so I got home safe.” Jiyo said as she tugged the other again towards another person. “Uncle Jisoo!”
“Yes, Little Star?”
“This is T.Seoknim!” Jiyo said. She smiled brightly when the two guys shook each other’s hands.
“Nice meeting you.” They both said.
“I’m Jiyo’s teacher, Lee Seokmin.”
“I’m Jiyo’s uncle, Kwon Jisoo.”
They smiled at each other and the sun became totally jobless as two people with the brightest smiles met.
“Oh! Oh! I remembered our last lesson in Math, T.Seoknim.” Jiyo exclaimed.
“What is it?”
“One and one makes two, right?” Seokmin hummed in response. “Since Appa has Papi, Uncle Woo has Uncle Hui, if you and Uncle Jisoo will be together...” She gasped cutely. “Wow! It’ll be perfect!”
The two guys blushed with what she said while the other guys just laughed.
“Her mind.” Jihoon shook his head but smiled.
“Oops! That’s my daughter right there.” Soonyoung proudly said while Jiyong is also clapping his hands like he understood what’s happening.
⏰⏰⏰
Jihoon woke up when he felt their bed creaking. When his eyes fluttered open, there are three people jumping on their bed doing pillow fights.
“Papi! Wake up! We’re going to the beach!” Jiyo exclaimed.
Jihoon pretended to sleep again. He draped the blanket over his head. “I want to sleep more~”
“Jiyong, Jiyo, attack Papi!” He heard Soonyoung tell their little ones. Soon enough, Jihoon felt weights on him. Fits of giggles resonated inside the room when they started tickle fights.
“Okay, okay. I lost! I’ll get up now.” Jihoon surrendered.
Soonyoung pulled Jiyo and Jiyong to him then carried them in his arms. “Okay, tiger cubs, Appa will give you a bath before I help Papi shower.”
“Wow, Appa! You’re so helpful.” Jiyo exclaimed and gave him a thumbs up.
Soonyoung winked at Jihoon then kissed Jiyo’s cheek. “Of course, Little Star. Let’s go?”
When their family is all ready, they went to the house next to them to pick up Uncle Woo, Uncle Hui and Wooju.
“Where’s Jisoo hyung? He’s late.” Jihoon asked Soonyoung who’s already calling the older.
They sighed in relief when they saw Jisoo making his way towards them. What surprised them is that he’s not alone.
“T.Seoknim? You’ll be joining us?” Jiyo exclaimed.
Seokmin rubbed his nape shyly then looked at Jisoo. “Uhh, yes. I’m your Uncle Jisoo’s plus one. Two is better than one, remember?”
“Oh! Are you holding hands?” Jiyo shouted again. When Jisoo and Seokmin looked at the guys in front of them, they’re all looking not at their faces but at their hands.
Their intertwined hands.
Jisoo and Seokmin turned their faces away from each other, cheeks as red as the shirts they’re wearing.
⏰⏰⏰
[July 2029]
“Mom, I’m back.”
Jihoon placed the bouquet of hibiscus on the sidewalk of the bus stop. The bus stop which is the witness to every important events in Jihoon and Soonyoung’s life.
“No, scratch that. We’re back.” Jihoon corrected then stood up to intertwine his hand with the guy beside him. He smiled at him as he tugged him so they can sit at the bench.
The stars are out. They happily gazed at it while feeling the warmth of each other’s hands.
Soonyoung took their intertwined hands and lifted it so he can kiss the back of Jihoon’s hand.
They always go back here everytime they feel like going back to all the memories they had with the bus stop. The bus stop didn’t seem so lonely when Soonyoung started accompanying his husband everytime the latter goes here for his mom.
“I can’t believe we’ve come this far.” Jihoon said, eyes never leaving the stars above them. “I mean, it’s a real rollercoaster of emotions, right? From strangers to friends to mortal enemies to friends again then boyfriends and now...” He gazed at Soonyoung. “We’re here, watching the stars.”
“I wonder how Fate and Time is doing.” Soonyoung said as he stared back at the other guy.
“I think they have their new favorite idiots now.” Jihoon chuckled.
Fate and Time. They work together in every person’s life. They determine who enters your life but it’s your own action that decides who gets to stay.
At the end of the day, life is all about a series of decisions. Fate and time brings someone together but it still depends on those people to make it happen.
Meeting each other by chance is their doing but keeping that someone to stay in your life is definitely a choice.
Isn’t it a wonder how Soonyoung who’s always been afraid of losing someone found someone who’ll never let him go while Jihoon who’s always been afraid to be alone found someone who’ll always stay beside him no matter what.
“So, what’s the reason we came here, Hoonie?” Soonyoung felt the need to ask. His husband actually always comes here whenever he’s worried about something. “Having trouble writing lyrics again? Do you want me to kick Pledis in the ass? I swear to God. After they made us do all the work.”
Jihoon chuckled then cupped Soonyoung’s face. “You’re nagging again, Nyong. Don’t worry, it’s not.”
“Then, why? You always tell me to come with you here whenever there’s something bothering you.” Soonyoung worriedly asked.
Jihoon leaned on Soonyoung’s shoulder and played with their fingers. “Actually, I’m feeling a whole lot better lately. I’m more inspired to write so many songs. But—“ Jihoon took a deep breath. “I think, I’ll have to stop working for a while.”
Soonyoung made Jihoon face him, his eyebrows knitted. Jihoon might not say it but he found it hot. “What the actual fruit is happening? Are they stressing you? Tell me. I will fight them! I told you we should just build our own company where you can—"
Jihoon shut Soonyoung up with a kiss. “Shut up! You’re too noisy. You might wake them up.”
Soonyoung’s forehead creased even more. Jihoon couldn’t help but laugh because of his slow-witted husband. “Wake them up?”
In the end, Jihoon just took something out of the pocket of his hoodie then handed it out to Soonyoung.
The latter gasped when he saw what it is. It’s a piece of paper with black and white photo printed on it. “Hoonie, this is an ultrasound result...”
“I don’t think I can work for the next months because...yes, I’m pregnant again.”
“Hoonie— you— oh my god.” Soonyoung hugged Jihoon tight as he can’t contain what his feeling because of the news. He pulled away then kissed Jihoon. “Oh my god.”
“But why is it different from Jiyo and Jiyong’s result? I mean, there are— one, two, three...” Soonyoung’s eyes widened when he realized what that means. “Don’t tell me...”
Jihoom chuckled, eyes forming crescents. “I knew it! Dr.Xu is a quack.”
“Hoonie—"
“Congratulations, we’re six tiger cubs away from our football team.” Jihoon giggled before leaning in to kiss Soonyoung again.
They kissed each other, not really caring about the few people that passed them by. Because right at that moment, what they’re feeling is too much happiness.
Too much happiness for in the past, at present, and in the future, they have each other. They will always have each other.
Time is priceless. It’s something that we can never own but we can use to find our happiness. We can’t keep it but we can spend it with the people we love.
What Jihoon and Soonyoung has in between them, with the past that binds them, the present that they’re creating together and the future that they’re preparing together, it’s more than the top spot they’re coveting and fighting over in the past.
It’s way, way more than that as it all root down to three words: love, happiness and family.
Life is not all about right and wrong timings. It’s all about choosing the right persons to be with so when that so-called wrong timing strikes, you’ll always have a shoulder to cry on and a hand to hold to face each tomorrows to come.
When the yellow bus stopped in front of the bus stop, Soonyoung stood up then held his hand out, his lips pulled upwards as he stared at his universe.
“Let’s go home?”
Jihoon stood up, smiled at the other, his eyes never leaving the stars inside Soonyoung’s eyes before taking the other’s hand.
“I’m already home.”
[🍓 080520: Thank you for this beautiful fan art. It's been a year since I started writing this fic and my heart feels so much warm knowing it still has the same effects on people. Please click here for the artist's original post. Support this wonderful artist. She deserves all the love too. Thank you so much for the support for WKOF.]
[🍓 091020: Another cute fanart for our babie, Jiyo. Yey! Thank you so much, Joy, for this beautiful fan art. Seriously, I don't know how to thank everyone enough for all the love I've been receiving up until now. Thank you so much and God bless you all. Click here for the artist's original post. Please support fan artists. They deserve all the love.]
[🍓 092120: She didn't have to but she made a digitalized version of her fanart and it's making me sooooo touched I want to cry. Thank you so much really. All this love makes me want to write more. Thank you and I promise to work harder in the future too. Click here for the artist's post and please give it lots and looots of love too.]