Chapter 4. Lunch with Friends (2)

"I can see the trip was a lot of fun," he said with a smile, coming over to me for a warm hug while JunKoo took the baby out of the car.

"Jiwan was telling Jun how much he prefers me. And he doesn't accept it..."

"Such injustice," JunKoo said, laughing, as he came with the baby and handed him to me.

He went back to the car to unload the stroller and all the necessary baby items.

"How chubby he is!" TaeYang smiled and carefully took Jiwan from my arms. "Look at those spiky little hairs... He looks just like you, JaeMin. He's adorable."

"Thank you. Where are the twins and HanGin?"

"HanGin is taking a nap, and the twins are with SiJoon and my dad in the backyard, where we'll have lunch."

Soon, JaeSul appeared at the door as well, coming to greet us.

"Look who's here!" He smiled beautifully, brightening up the whole place. "Welcome, make yourselves at home."

"Thank you, JaeSul," I smiled and looked at JunKoo, who was struggling to open the stroller.

"Let me help," JaeSul went to him and quickly opened the stroller. "Easy."

"Thank you," JunKoo thanked him and started pushing the stroller and carrying the bags.

"We brought gifts for the babies," I said, and saw JunKoo hand three wrapped packages to JaeSul. "Where's Doyun?"

"He's with the couple and my dad. Come on in," TaeYang invited, and he led us inside the house.

The house was beautiful. It was large, spacious, decorated, and colorful. There were beautiful paintings throughout the space, but my eyes immediately fixed on a two-meter-tall painting on the wall, which I knew belonged to JaeSul.

"Wow!" I stopped in front of the oil painting. "It's beautiful, JaeSul."

"Isn't it?" He approached, looking at the canvas fondly. "It's my favorite, my pride and joy."

"We're waiting for one from you, Jae. We'll make sure to put it in a beautiful place in our house, too."

"I'll be honored," he smiled, and then Doyun came to us, smiling peacefully, accompanied by SiJoon, who was holding a baby, Jinie, and Dr. Kim, who was holding another baby.

"Oh!" JunKoo exclaimed happily upon seeing Doyun, who welcomed him with an even bigger smile and a hug. "How are you?"

"I'm well, and you, saeng?"

"I'm doing great, thank you. We brought gifts for the babies."

"You didn't have to," Doyun replied politely, smiling widely at JunKoo.

No one there was surprised by their happiness. We all knew they had become close friends, that they understood each other, and spent hours talking about random things.

"Dr. Kim, long time no see," I smiled and went over to him, giving him a slightly awkward hug due to the babies in our arms.

"Mr. Song! Look at little Jiwan, he's gotten so big!"

"Please, just call me JaeMin," I smiled politely. "How are you, sir?"

"I'm well, thank you. We were having tea, please feel free to join us," Dr. Kim replied.

I nodded and saw Jinie come over to me, reaching for Jiwan to hold him.

"Look at how handsome our little buddy is today," she said, smiling.

"Look, love, he's wearing the outfit I picked!" SiJoon said, smiling beside her.

"What kind of animal is that, SiJoon? JunKoo and I couldn't figure it out..."

"I don't know," he said, looking at the baby and scratching his head awkwardly. "I just thought it was cute and decided it should belong to Jiwan."

"It's lovely, thank you," I expressed my gratitude, feeling JunKoo's hand resting on my back.

"Oh, JunKoo, I found what you asked for," Doyun said, taking out his phone. "A friend of mine is selling a cool space in Busan."

"Don't tell me you want to buy another house, Lee JunKoo!" I looked at him firmly.

He wouldn't be crazy enough to buy another house in Busan. We lived in Seoul, and he already had a house there.

"No," he smiled. "I mentioned the twentieth café I want to open with Doyun, and he said he has a friend who owns a real estate agency and could help me."

"The space looks really good," Doyun handed us the phone with photos of the place. "I just don't know if it interests you because it's on the first floor."

"No, four of my cafés are on the first floor and they're doing great. Can you give me his contact information? When we go to Busan, I'll take a look at the place."

"Of course," Doyun smiled, taking the phone back. "I'll send it to you by message and let him know."

JunKoo nodded, and then Dr. Kim, or rather, Mr. Kim Junsoo, caught our attention.

"Let's have lunch! I prepared barbecue today!"

"You'll love it. When my father-in-law makes barbecue, everyone leaves satisfied," JaeSul said, smiling, and started walking with all of us.

The backyard where we would have lunch was covered, but it offered a view of the vast green yard with well-kept grass and some trees, where three puppies were playing with each other, paying little attention to us.

"Look, Mochi!" JunKoo exclaimed loudly, running over to the pets, looking like a child with his excitement. "What are their names?"

"Zip, Mickey, and Tan," Doyun replied, watching JunKoo.

"We already had them before we met and got married. Mickey was mine, Zip was Doyun's, and Tan was Tae's," JaeSul said, looking at him while playing with the dogs. "Now they get along well, but it was tough at first..."

"Zip had it the hardest. Tan is a little devil, the youngest one, and loved to tease the other two. Mickey is the oldest, and when he got annoyed, he became a true Lucifer," Doyun said, laughing. "You can imagine poor Zip caught in the middle of those two."

"Don't call little Kim Tan a demon, love. He's just a bit too temperamental," Tae said, sitting at the table.

"Ah, of course, temperamental," Doyun smiled, but his smile faded when a soft, calm cry came through the baby monitor that was on the table. "HanGin woke up, I'll go get him."

Mr. Kim was already arranging the plates on the table, distributing the meat and vegetables across it. JunKoo and JaeSul took charge of assembling the other strollers, lining them up right next to each other.

Jinie was playing with Jiwan, talking about the other two future cousins that my little one would have, still in the oven. Meanwhile, SiJoon held EunJin, and I held HyeJin, who had been with the doctor before. I took a sip of the iced tea he had offered me while the little girl watched me attentively.

"Did you receive the call from the magazine?" SiJoon asked me after a few minutes.

I raised an eyebrow, looking at him.

"No... Why?"

"Your artwork was the most valuable at the exhibition, JaeMin. Everyone wants to know about you... You'll be recognized and possibly famous," he said calmly, as my head was already spinning. "You'll sell your pieces at a good price."

I blinked, trying to comprehend his words, but I couldn't even think straight. Me? Among so many other artists, I had the most valuable paintings and would have an exclusive interview?

"They want you on the cover, Jae! Besides the interview, of course."

"M-Me? On the cover of The Korea to the world? Is this a joke? They want me as the cover?" I looked at him, waiting for laughter that would indicate it was a joke, but it didn't come. "Are you serious, SiJoon?"

"Of course I am. I even asked my secretary to call you, but I see he didn't do it... I'm sorry."

"It could have been the signal. Our house is far from the cell towers. Don't apologize," JunKoo said, paying attention, sitting next to me after washing his hands from playing with the animals.

"That's also possible... But anyway, they want you as the cover, JaeMin! We were going to call you to schedule a new photo session, with your artwork and, if possible, at your studio."

"Oh my god!" I smiled, putting my hand on my chest. "SiJoon, don't joke about this! I want to cry with happiness just thinking about it!"

"Believe me," he smiled, showing his dimples as he rocked the little baby. "You have a lot of talent, JaeMin, and all the recognition is deserved. You deserve it so much."

"I have to agree," JaeSul said.

"Oh my god, I'll be on the cover of a prestigious magazine? The biggest one in Korea? It's international, SiJoon! My mom will freak out!"

"Knowing her, she will indeed. She might even have it framed and put it in the center of the hotel," Jinie commented, laughing.

"Don't doubt it," JunKoo smiled and looked at Doyun, who was returning with HanGin in his arms. "Look, such a sleepy little ball."

The baby was quiet in Doyun's arms, snuggling and covering his eyes with his hands.

"He's hungry," Doyun said softly. "If you don't mind, I'll give him a bottle right here."

"Of course, we don't mind, Doyun. It's your house," SooJin said, smiling.

JunKoo quickly glanced at me and smiled conspiratorially. We had made an agreement.

Since Doyun still seemed sad, insisting that his son should only be fed with formula, we had prepared Jiwan's bottle as well, to show him that it's not a problem and that it doesn't make him any less of a father to that baby.

"It's Jiwan's feeding time too, isn't it, love?" he said, pretending to check the time on the wristwatch he wore as he stood up to fetch the bottle from the bag.

"Tae told me that he's also on formula... Does it not bother you, JaeMin?"

"Of course not, Doyun," I smiled at him. "Just look at these two chubby little ones," I pointed at HanGin and Jiwan. "They're healthy, plump, and always smiling. That's all that matters."

"Well," Doyun looked at his son, "HanGin gained nearly two kilograms last month... And the pediatrician said he's very healthy, too."

"Exactly!" I said, referring to all four babies. "If these little ones are doing well, there's nothing to worry about."

"I feel useless, you know?" he confessed sincerely. "I feel like I'm failing as a father..."

"Failing?" TaeYang spoke, looking at his husband. "Who is the one waking up every night to lull all three babies, Doyun?"

"And who is the one who cares and rushes to the pediatrician at the slightest chance of them being sick?" JaeSul added, also looking at his husband. "That's you, honey. You're a perfect father."

"You're not failing or useless, Doyun," I touched his slightly larger hand. "Neither are you, nor am I. We're parents to these babies. Breastfeeding doesn't define who we are or diminish us... But taking care of them says a lot. Love, affection, and protection make us just as much parents as anyone else. We're perfect," I winked and smiled.

Doyun nodded, smiling, and looked at JunKoo, who had the bottle in his hands. Jinie handed the baby to him, and he sat down in front of them, starting to bottle-feed Jiwan.

Tae and JaeSul, in the corner, seemed moved by the words but struggled not to do anything wrong and ruin the moment.

Doyun smiled again, this time looking at the calm baby in his arms, and placed a kiss on the smooth, flowing hair on HanGin's forehead.

He adjusted him in his arms and also gave the bottle to the baby, watching attentively as the little one sucked with force, feeding eagerly, making everyone around sigh at the cute scene.

Doyun closed his eyes and leaned closer to the baby, gently sniffing his short hair, getting emotional before whispering softly, "I'm a proud father, little one... But I love you so much."

JaeSul next to him quickly joined in, embracing the smaller man and planting a kiss on his cheek, looking attentively at the clingy son who suckled and eagerly drank the milk from the bottle.

Tae also approached and slowly embraced both husbands, kissing them while gently caressing them.

After a few seconds, both of them were already sniffing, shedding short and emotional tears at everything around them.

Everyone remained silent, with smiles on their faces, gazing at the perfect scene that radiated love and protection.

Tae sighed and looked at me gratefully, affectionately, saying, "Thank you so much for this, my friend."