Chapter 9: Craving Turtle Sundaes – March 7 – 9, 2024
“Tae?” Yunseong whispered into the dark one night as her husband crawled into bed with her.
“Hmm?”
“Did your meeting go well tonight?”
“Yes. Are you all right? I was shocked when your eomma said you were already in bed.”
“Mmm. I’m fine. Just tired.”
“Oh, well, I’m glad to hear it. I missed seeing you and Seulgi tonight.”
“Thankfully, I got her down pretty early this evening.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” his voice was laced with concern.
“I’m sure. Turn on the lamp, will you?” she whispered.
He did as he was bid. He smiled down at her as he rolled towards her.
“Tae…I have some news.”
He quirked his dark eyebrows at her. But then he bent to kiss those tempting lips. Yun was still hard to resist. She was so beautiful. She wound her arms around his neck and enjoyed his attention for a few moments.
“Tae?” she murmured against his lips finally.
He drew back slightly and gazed down into those mesmerizing, emerald eyes of hers. “Mmm?”
A lazy smile stretched across her face. “You’re going to be an appa again soon. We’re going to have another little cutie pie.”
Tae’s entire face lit up. “You’re pregnant?”
She nodded.
Tae felt like he had just come home. He wanted to cry out, “With my baby?!” because the joy he was feeling was so intense. But he had long ago claimed Seulgi as his own, and he didn’t want Yun to feel like he loved their daughter any less just because she hadn’t been conceived of his seed. So he bit his tongue. But the gladness overtaking his heart couldn’t be contained.
“I want to pick you up and spin you around, I’m so happy!” he exclaimed. “When are you due?”
“November.”
“Oh, Yun! I’m so happy!”
“So you said,” she murmured as a grin suffused her face with joy too.
“This calls for a celebration,” he informed her as he climbed from bed.
“Hey! Where are you going?”
“To get us some turtle ice cream.”
She laughed. “I don’t need it yet, Tae. Right now, I’m just really tired. The nausea hasn’t started yet.” She held out her hand towards him. “Come back to bed. I want to snuggle.”
“Well, that just so happens to be one of my favorite things to do,” he responded with a grin as he dove back under the covers. “Do you think you might be up for a little more than snuggling?” he teased her as he nuzzled her neck and began to plant kisses along her collarbone.
She giggled. “Perhaps. I did get a pretty good nap in before you came home.”
“Splendid.” He rolled away from her and leapt from the bed again.
But this time, she didn’t ask him where he was going. That was the thing about sharing a house with two other couples. It was wise to lock the door when one wanted privacy. And these two definitely required privacy tonight…
—
In a bedroom not far away, a similar conversation was occurring between Yunyeong and Jungkook.
“Kookie?” she whispered into the darkness.
“Hmm?”
He rolled towards her and slid his arm around her, drawing her close to him. She slipped her arm under his neck so he could pillow his head on her chest. Then he pulled his leg up over hers, cradling her body with his own.
She smiled under the heat of his body. He had just engulfed her with his fire. She loved snuggling with Kookie. He was like her own personal heater. And tonight was a little chilly still.
“I want another baby,” she whispered.
Her words wrapped around him with joy. “You do?”
“Mmhmm.”
“When?”
“Maybe…next spring? Jangmi will be two by then. I think I could handle another one then.”
“Are you sure, Yuni? I don’t want you wearing yourself out. You’re already taking care of Jangmi and babysitting for Seulgi so Yun can finish college.”
“But that’s how I know I can handle it. I’ve already been doing it all year. And I’ll be done with that long before then. Yun will be able to take care of Seulgi by herself come June.”
“All right,” he sighed.
“Kookie? Do you not want another baby?” She could feel her heart sinking.
“No, no! It’s not that!” He took a deep breath before letting it out. “I was just thinking that we’ll be outgrowing your parents’ house once we have another baby. Jangmi and Seulgi are already sharing a room. We can’t add another child – especially a newborn – to that mix. We need our own house, Yuni.”
“Mmhmm. Well, we have a good down payment already. From my book sales.”
He grinned. “I told you that you were going to become a world-famous author and illustrator.”
She chuckled. “Well, famous in Busan, at least.”
She grinned as she thought of the book signing she’d held at a local bookstore a few months back. Jungkook had even watched Jangmi for the two hours Yunyeong had been gone that day.
“Becoming famous,” Kookie had said.
Now she sighed. “I will miss living in a house with my sister. And my niece. And my eomma.”
“And I’ll miss living with Tae. I won’t have nearly as many opportunities to beat him at MIRᴙOR.”
She giggled. “Kookie, are video games all you think about?”
“No,” he immediately denied her accusation. “I think about pizza too.”
She chuckled. “And Jangmi, I hope.”
“Of course,” he purred, turning his head towards her throat. “And you too.” He began to kiss her neck. “In fact, I’m thinking of you right now.”
She snickered as he hit a sensitive spot. “Ooh, Kookie! Do that again!”
A moment later, she squealed. Then she slapped her hand over her mouth. Right before Jungkook rolled out of their bed and headed to lock the door.
“I think moving into a place of our own isn’t such a bad idea,” he chuckled. As he returned to the bed, he murmured, “You meant that you wanted to make that baby tonight, right?”
She laughed again. “No…but that doesn’t mean we can’t practice.”
That was all the encouragement Jungkook needed.
—
A while later, as Jungkook held a very contented Yunyeong in his arms, he pondered the future. “Yuni, would you be interested in renting a duplex with Tae and Yun? I mean, assuming they wanted to also?”
She gasped. “That’s a marvelous idea, Kookie!”
“We’d each have our own space. But we’d still live right next to each other. That way when Yun needed help with Seulgi, you’d be close by. And vice versa, when we needed a babysitter.”
“And you and Tae could still play video games together,” she murmured dryly.
“Precisely,” he beamed.
“Let’s talk to them about it this weekend. Okay?”
“Sounds like a plan…”
—
“Tae,” Jungkook glanced at his friend.
“Stop trying to distract me! You know I’m about to catch the paragon’s image in the mirror. Wait a moment.”
Jungkook chewed on his lip. Why was he nervous about asking his best friend such a bland question? It wasn’t like he’d set his hopes on moving into the same building with him. Or had he?
But Tae and his family had it good here, living with his in-laws. Yun’s eomma would babysit Seulgi whenever they needed her. Seulgi would soon have her own room and, when Jungkook’s family moved out, Yuni’s room would become available too. Tae and Yun could have another child, and that baby would have a room of his or her own too.
With the departure of Yunyeong and her family, the perks for Tae’s family just kept increasing. Tae was also saving a fortune on rent, just like Jungkook had been. Tae’s bank account was probably singing right now, it was so happy. Why would he want to give up such a perfect situation to move into a place where he’d be responsible to pay all the bills?
“YES! I caught him.” Tae began to wag his finger through the air. “Moving on up to the next level.” He sent a beaming grin Jungkook’s way. “I’m going to catch you! You’d better watch out.”
“Yuni and I are moving out.”
Tae’s mouth dropped open, and he set down his controller. “What?”
“We want to have another baby. And this house is already bursting at the seams. We’re going to start looking around for a new place this weekend.”
Tae simply gaped at him. He was losing his gaming buddy? And Seulgi wouldn’t have Jangmi to play with anymore? His heart sank as he thought of Yun. She loved being near her sister and her mother both.
“The thing is…we were wondering if you and Yun would want to move with us. Maybe we could find a duplex or something.”
Tae’s eyes grew round. “That’s a great idea!”
Jungkook’s eyebrows flew high. “It is?”
Tae nodded vociferously. “Yes!”
The only problem was…he wasn’t the only voting member of his family.
—
“Yun?”
“Hmm?” Yunseong concentrated on changing the diaper of her wiggly daughter. “Seulgi! Lie still, you little twerp!”
As she wrestled her mischievous daughter, her twin began to speak hesitantly, “Yun, Kookie and I are moving out.”
“What?” Yunseong gasped as her eyes connected with her sister’s. “Why?”
“We want to have another baby. And there just isn’t enough room for all of us here.”
An odd wave passed over Yunseong’s face.
Yunyeong noticed. “What is it?”
“I’m pregnant.”
Yunyeong’s face broke into a wide smile. “You are?! Congratulations! Now we really need to move! When are you due?”
“Mid-November.”
“That’s great, Yun! I’m so happy for you. I…Kookie and I discussed it last night, and…we were wondering if you and Tae would like to rent a duplex with us.”
Yunseong’s face fell. “I don’t want things to change. Things have been changing our whole lives! Can’t something just stay good for a while?” Her face crumpled.
Yunyeong frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“I have finally found a place of happiness, Yuni. Here. With Tae. And Seulgi. And my baby niece, Jangmi,” she smiled. “You know how long I wanted a niece! And I like being here with Eomma and Appa. And you and Kookie. I like all of us living together. I don’t want it to change.” It was stupid, but a tear was stabbing her in the eye.
“Ah, Yun! I know. I feel the same way. But…this house is just too small. Especially if you’re having another baby too. Now we have to move. Our girls are already sharing a room as it is. We can’t throw two more kids in there. Eventually, they’d eat each other alive!”
Yunseong sighed. “I know. I just…I just don’t want things to change again.”
“Not all change is bad, Yun. Kookie and Jangmi have been the best changes of my life, and I’m betting you’d say the same thing about Tae and Seulgi…and your new little one.”
“Yes, that’s true. But I don’t want to leave Eomma. If we all leave, then she’ll be alone, her and Appa.”
“That is generally the way life works, Yun. Kids grow up. They move out.”
“I know that, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it!”
Yunyeong frowned. She understood.
A moment later, Tae and Jungkook entered the hallway behind Yunyeong.
“Hey, Yun!” Tae called. “Let’s all meet in the living room to talk.”
“I’m coming,” she responded, picking her daughter up before discarding the dirty diaper.
Carrying Jangmi in her arms, Yunyeong turned towards Jungkook. He smiled at their daughter and held his arms out to her.
“Wanna come see Appa, Jangmi?”
The tiny girl’s face lit up like the noonday sun. Her wee nose crinkled just like her appa’s, and her mouth split into a wide grin similar to his too. Her eyes transformed into quarter moons, reflecting his own.
“I think you found your true mirror, Kookie,” Yunyeong breathed as her eyes slid from one to the other.
“She’s so beautiful, Yuni,” he murmured as the little girl held her arms up towards him. He bent to pull her close to his heart. He stood beaming down at her for a moment. “I love you, Jangmi, my precious rose!”
Yunyeong’s heart melted as she watched her husband give their daughter an Eskimo kiss. Yunyeong always melted whenever Kookie was tender with Jangmi. The soft blade of his nose slid along the teeny tip of their baby’s nose, and Yunyeong felt her heart flipping over. With every passing day, she found herself more in love with this gentle man.
A few moments later, as they settled in the living room, Tae held his arms out towards Seulgi. “Come here, my little emerald.”
He grinned down into her green eyes. Somehow, she had inherited the beautiful gems from her eomma. Tae was delighted every time he looked at her. Her hair was lighter than his too. A lot lighter. It would probably end up being a soft brown rather than dark gold like her mother, but she was going to be just as stunning a beauty as her eomma.
Seulgi was bouncing up and down on his lap as he turned towards Yunseong. “Yun, how would you feel about moving out? Into a larger place with Jungkook and Yuni?” Tae instantly read the distress in her eyes. Surprised, he murmured, “You don’t like the idea?”
“I don’t want to leave Eomma. Or Yuni.” She frowned.
“Hmm.” Tae sighed. “Let me do a little research. I might have an idea…”
—
“Tae, what are you thinking?” Jungkook asked when they were alone again.
“I’m thinking that Namjoon owns three houses now – you could easily call them mansions. And he’s living in only one. Maybe he’d let us rent one of the other two. One of them, in particular, is huge. It has eight bedrooms. It’s big enough for me and Yun and all of our children – no matter how many we have – plus your family and Yun’s appa and eomma. I’m wondering if they’d be willing to give up this house and move in with us.”
Jungkook’s face lit up. “That’s a great idea! We’d have the best of both worlds! Space and family.”
Tae nodded. “I’m gonna call Namjoon.”
“I’ll go find Saoirse and Changyun. I’ll see if they’re open to moving. Maybe they could rent this house to someone,” Jungkook supposed.
—
“Joon, would you be willing to rent your extra house to me? The one with eight bedrooms.”
“What on earth are you going to do with eight bedrooms?”
“Why, have seven children, of course.”
“What?”
Tae grinned. “I’m kidding. I meant seven sons. Don’t you think seven boys is the perfect number? They can grow up to form a hugely successful pop band and make me rich. Take care of me in my old age.”
Namjoon frowned. “Tae, you’re talking nonsense.”
“I want your house because I’m gonna move my whole family in.”
“Your whole family?”
“My family and Jungkook’s and my in-laws.”
“What?”
“Is it available? Or have you rented it out?”
“It’s available.”
“How much rent would you want?”
The brothers discussed details for the next several minutes while Jungkook cornered Saoirse and Changyun in the kitchen.
“Yuni and I are contemplating moving out.”
Shocked, Yunyeong’s stepfather turned towards Jungkook, but before he could speak, Saoirse, who was suddenly crestfallen, spoke.
“You’re all moving out?”
“Tae and Yun are also considering it.”
“But…why? I thought we were all pretty happy here.”
“We are, but pretty soon, we’re going to outgrow your house. Before that happens, I’d like to be settled in a place that’s big enough to contain us all.”
Her face lit up. “Yuni is pregnant?”
Jungkook shook his head. “Not yet. But we’re talking about having another child.”
She frowned. “I’m so sorry to hear that you want to move out. I’ve loved having you all here. But I suppose it was inevitable.”
“I’d like to discuss with you the part that wasn’t inevitable.”
Stumped, Changyun spoke up. “The part that wasn’t inevitable? What are you talking about?”
“Tae and I would like to rent a house for all of us to share. And we’d like to offer you a place with us. Tae’s brother owns an eight-bedroom house, so there’d be plenty of space for all of us. We were wondering if maybe you could rent this house to someone. If you wanted to move in with us.”
Surprised, Changyun and Saoirse exchanged a questioning look.
“Um, Jungkook, would you give us a few minutes to talk?” Yuni’s eomma requested quietly.
“Sure.”
He wandered back into the living room. A few minutes later, Tae caught his eye, so he wandered down the hallway to Yun’s bedroom.
“What did Namjoon have to say?”
“He’s ready to rent the house to us. Whenever we want it.”
Jungkook’s grin transformed his face. “That’s great!” Then he frowned. “Is he willing to hold it a few months? I mean, we won’t need it for a while, and we’ll have to pack everything up.”
“Yes. He wasn’t planning to rent it out to anyone else. So it’s ours whenever we want it.”
“Is the rent manageable?”
“Let’s crunch the numbers. In fact, let’s show Saoirse and Changyun too.”
The boys headed for the kitchen.
—
The four of them joined the girls and the grandbabies in the living room a while later.
“So, Yun, you don’t want to move out?” her eomma asked her gently.
“I don’t! I don’t want things to change. But, Eomma, they are.” Her eyes darted to meet her mother’s. “I’m going to have another baby.”
“Oh, darling! That’s wonderful!” Her eomma made a beeline for her and enveloped her in a hug.
Yunseong murmured, “I just don’t want to be without you or Yuni. I like having you near. I like having Seulgi growing up with Jangmi. I want us all to be close. Forever.”
“Well, I think that your appa and I – along with Tae and Jungkook – might have found a solution that answers the needs of your growing families and the cry of your precious heart.” Saoirse glanced down into Yun’s face before looking at Yuni too. “How would you two feel about moving into a larger house with us all?”
“How large?” Yuni asked, narrowing her eyes.
“Eight bedrooms,” Jungkook responded.
Yuni’s eyes grew huge. “Eight bedrooms? Where would we find such a mansion?”
“My brother owns one. And he’s willing to rent it to us,” Tae answered her questions.
“For a billion won a month?” Yuni asked teasingly.
“No. Actually, the numbers are quite workable for all of us,” Changyun finally made a contribution to the conversation.
“Wait,” Yun responded. “So…you mean all of us would move into this house?” She glanced around the room as she made eye contact with each of the adults.
Her mother nodded. “What do you think?”
The twins’ faces lit up with joy.
“When can we go look at this house?” Yun asked.
“Right now if you want. It’s in the same neighborhood that Namjoon lives in. I can stop by and get the key on our way.”
“Let’s go!” Yun declared, jumping up.
She was clearly excited. But she glanced at Yuni just to make sure that her twin was on the same page. As she swung Seulgi up onto her hip, she asked her sister, “What do you think?”
“I’m ready to check out this house. All of us could have our own bedroom! And I bet the kitchen is huge!”
“It is,” Tae confirmed.
“Awesome,” Jungkook opined. “I love a huge space to cook in.” He bent to pick up Jangmi off the floor. “Let’s go now so we can be home before the girls need to go down for the night.”
A few minutes later, the whole group filed out of the house and into two cars on their way to check out their dream home.
—
Everyone loved it. They all agreed that it was perfect. Little argument ensued over the choice of bedrooms. By the end of the evening, they had all come to a consensus on the details.
“But when would we move in?” Yuni queried.
“I’m not due until November. So we’ve got several months.”
“But wouldn’t you like to get settled before you’re uncomfortable?” Yuni asked her twin.
“That’s true. I’ll probably feel the best between July and September.”
“Is Namjoon willing to wait that long for a renter?” Changyun asked his son-in-law.
Tae nodded. “He’ll just use it for his own purposes until we’re ready to move in.”
“Perfect,” Saoirse responded.
“But, Eomma, who can you rent your house to?” Yun questioned her mother.
“Hmm…I might have an idea,” her mother smiled secretly.
—
Heejin glanced at Yunseok. “Is there a particular reason that your eomma invited us to dinner tonight?”
He glanced at her before furrowing his brow. “She often invites us to dinner.”
“I know. It’s just that she didn’t call us until fairly late last night. I feel like something is up.”
His eyebrows danced upward. “We shall see.”
—
As the ten of them ate dinner a while later, Yunseok glanced at his eomma. Heejin was right. Something was up. There was too much excitement in the air.
“All right. What’s up?” he finally asked.
His mother didn’t miss a beat. “Seokie, are you and Heejin about ready to move into a house?”
She glanced at her daughter-in-law and wondered if she was going to have a baby soon. She and Seokie had been married for over two years already.
Yunseok’s eyebrows nearly touched the ceiling. “Uhhh…we’ve never discussed it. I think we’re pretty happy where we are.” He glanced at his wife.
Heejin looked at him. Before her eyes strayed to his mother. “Why do you ask?”
“We’re looking for a renter.”
Yunseok stared at his eomma. “A renter? For…?”
“This house.”
Now his eyebrows threatened the ceiling. “You need a renter for this house?” he echoed. “But why? You live here.”
“Not for much longer.”
“What?” He gaped at his mother, his chopsticks dangling in midair. Seulgi watched as her uncle’s chicken and rice plummeted towards his plate after freeing themselves from the two sticks.
“We’re all renting a house together,” Yun explained. “So Eomma wants to rent out this house. We thought you might like to raise your family here. Where we all grew up.”
He knew what she wasn’t saying. Where their birth appa had raised them for nearly twelve years. Yunseok felt a lump forming in his throat. His eyes slid towards his wife. She understood.
“You lived here from birth, right?” she whispered.
A slight nod of his head followed.
“Excuse us,” Heejin murmured as she stood up. She held her hand out to Yunseok. “Come, Seok. Take a walk with me.”
He reached up to grasp her hand before following her down the hallway towards the bedrooms, of which there were four. As her eyes perused the home, she asked, “Do you want three children? Like your eomma?”
He chuckled suddenly. “Errrr…maybe not like my eomma. How do you feel about triplets?”
This time her eyebrows flew sky high. “Uhh, I’m thinking your eomma likes to do things the hard way. I would love three children. But maybe not all at once!” Then she smiled up at him. “Show me where you grew up. And tell me your stories.”
Half an hour later, they had toured the entire house. They were now standing in the kitchen. Heejin had fallen in love with the house as Seok had told her stories of his childhood. A couple of them had drawn tears to his eyes. And to hers. But most of them were filled with love and laughter.
“Seok,” she glanced up into his eyes as she wound her arms around his neck. “I would love to raise a family here. And it’s close to the restaurant. And not too far from your work.”
He gazed down at her. Stupefied. “But you grew up in the lap of luxury. Our apartment is much newer than this old house. I – are you sure?”
“The question is: do you want to raise a family here? Or are there too many sad memories?”
“No,” he shook his head. “My memories of my appa are all good. Except for the last one. And it didn’t happen here.”
“Is that a yes?”
He stared down into the eyes of the woman he had come to love the most in all the world. The girl with whom he was hoping to create a new family. “I would very much love to live here with you. And to raise our children here.”
She beamed up at him. “My house was only ever a place of coldness to me. A place of fear. It was never a home. But from the first time I set foot here, in your eomma’s house, I felt like I had come home. And, Seok, it’s just perfect. I mean, we had our first date here. And we got married here.”
“Really? This house feels like home to you?” Now there was a lump choking off his voice. He cleared his throat, but he couldn’t keep the tear that had surfaced from sliding down his cheek.
“It does. Especially when you’re here with me, Seok.”
As she lifted her face to kiss him, the whisper of his name flowing from her lips breezed over him with comfort. He wasn’t sure why, but he absolutely adored the way she spoke his name. He bent his head and brushed his lips across hers. And he knew that they had both finally found a home. Together.
—
A couple of moments later, Tae and Yun stepped into the kitchen. Tae crossed to the freezer to grab some ice cream. Yun accompanied him and pulled some hot fudge, caramel sauce, pecans, and whipped cream out of the fridge. As they turned around, they caught the eye of the couple embracing each other in the midst of the kitchen. Yunseok quirked his eyebrow at Yunseong.
“What?” she responded defensively. “A pregnant girl needs her turtle ice cream sundaes.”
Heejin’s face spread into a wide grin. “You’re going to have another baby?”
Yunseong nodded. “In November. That’s why we all need to move. We’ve outgrown this house.”
“Ah,” Yunseok replied, “then it’s time for me to come home. Because this house is just perfect for me and Heejin.”
Yunseong’s eyes grew round. “You’re gonna take it?”
He nodded.
“Oh!” She set down her burdens on the counter and crossed the room to throw her arms around her brother. “Seokie! Thank you so much! That’s just perfect. Now I don’t have to worry about someone else living in our childhood home. Or deciding they want to buy it.”
He embraced her as a sweet smile lit up his face. “We’ll take it. On one condition.”
Yunseong frowned. “What condition?”
“You all have to come and visit us once a month.”
She and Tae stared at him. So did Heejin. So he finished his thought.
“So that we can all enjoy turtle sundaes together.”
His wide smile was contagious, for it was suddenly lighting up three more faces in the kitchen.
Everyone, it seemed, had found a happy home. And together they would spend many days in the future relishing the joys of family and turtle ice cream sundaes.
