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A tinted van is parked across a busy bar. Inside the vehicle is the Intelligence team of Hongdae’s police department, watching a live CCTV footage of the said place.
“His name is Hyunjae. He’s the manager of the bar. He’s basically the closest link to our prime suspect,” Sergeant Younghoon explains as he points to the said person on the screen, “We’ll be watching him closely and find out Bang Chan’s whereabouts.”
“He’s too pretty to not be one of the hostesses,” Officer Youngjae comments.
“This is a stakeout. Do not fall in love with the target,” Officer Juyeon teases the youngest member of their team.
“I’m just saying. Look I know he’s wearing Cleopatra’s wig but he carries himself so well. Not anyone can pull that off,” Youngjae justifies his remarks as the rest of the team continues to watch as the beautiful man in burgundy sequin dress orders the waiters to serve their VIPs with hard liquor.
“Don’t worry, you’ll get a close-up of him soon, Youngjae. You can go undercover once we confirm some details with our CIs,” Younghoon squeezes their maknae’s shoulder to catch his attention.
Juyeon smirks, knowing Younghoon isn't serious about letting the least experienced member of Intelligence to take on the task and spook their target. He guesses, either him or Sunwoo will be chosen to get useful information from this Hyunjae person.
The next day, Juyeon rides the subway after interviewing relatives of the victim, a 21-year old gang member, who was shot point blank to the head. He was lost in his thoughts, specifically bothered by the mother’s trust in the prime suspect Bang Chan to be innocent when he accidentally took the wrong train back to the station.
“Woah! Shit!”Juyeon almost shouts.
The officer suddenly feels conscious of the curious eyes on him and makes eye contact with someone familiar. A pregnant male in denim overalls sitting across him, holding a pot of a single red dahlia, has his eyes locked on him.
“Juyeonie?”
“Jaehyun Hyung?”
The two people can’t believe their eyes.
“I haven’t seen you in so long!” Jaehyun remarks happily as he tries to stand to get a good look at Juyeon.
Juyeon, by instinct, reaches out to help Jaehyun with his belongings and realizes how heavy the flower pot he’s carrying. “How have you been, hyung?! Are you well?”
Jaehyun chuckles, “Aside from being pregnant, I’m doing alright.”
Juyeon and Jaehyun catch up as they were really close during high school. Juyeon ends up accompanying Jaehyun to a café he works part time at.
“You really did not have to come all the way here,” Jaehyun’s cheeks are visibly red because of the long walk and is now slightly out of breath.
“As a public servant, it is my duty to help out the good citizens of Korea,” Juyeon says wittily.
“May I offer you some cookies to go? I made a nice batch this morning,” Jaehyun is embarrassed for making Juyeon carry the heavy pot which the officer sets beside the many other potted plants outside the café.
“Alright, I’m sure my team would be nicer to me if I bring them snacks for being late to work.”
Jaehyun introduces Juyeon to Sangyeon and Jacob, the couple running the café.
“Sangyeon Hyung asked me to bake them some goodies thrice a week knowing I was having a hard time with sewing as I was always feeling dizzy during my first trimester. My tailor shop is actually just across the street. I temporarily closed it because I can’t really work on my custom jeans in my current condition,” Jaehyun explains.
Sangyeon waves at Juyeon, busy with another customer while Jacob proceeds with Juyeon’s order.
“Oh, how far along are you Hyung?” Juyeon asks.
Jacob cuts in bringing in iced Americano for Juyeon, “Actually he’s carrying small for someone on his 5th month and yet he is wearing a special garment to cover his tummy. If I was being honest, I think Jaehyun should focus on working on this special lingerie to sell instead of his jeans. It is seriously an amazing product.”
“Isn’t it uncomfortable to wear though?” Juyeon can’t help but sound worried.
“No, it actually helps support my baby. If I want to, I even made this one garment that makes me look like I’m not pregnant at all.”
“He’s sewn one for himself when we used to hang out on the weekends if I remember correctly. But he’s been asked out too many times, it was kind of embarrassing for the other party so I told Jaehyun not to use it anymore.”
Jaehyun chuckles, “Stop telling Juyeonie that.”
Juyeon believes it as Jaehyun used to charm boys and girls alike when they were younger, “No, Jacob Hyung should tell me more. I can’t believe we haven’t talked in more than 8 years.”
“Didn’t you say you have to go to work?” Jaehyun reminds Juyeon.
“Oh shit. I forgot,” Juyeon beams, “Can I visit you again, Hyung? Like really soon?”
“Of course you can visit him anytime,” Jacob answers for Jaehyun as he sends him a teasing wink.
Jaehyun shakes his head at his friend as Juyeon gives him a short hug before he hurries out of the cafe with his bag of cookies.
“He knows your single, doesn’t he?” Jacob asks while Jaehyun helps him clean up Juyeon’s table. He’s very happy for his friend.
“He’s a detective. Probably figured it out the moment he couldn’t find a ring on my finger.”
“He’s really handsome and pleasantly nice to talk to. You should go for it.”
“Wait till he sees my belly protruding without this compression garment,” Jaehyun brushes his friend off.
“Nah, you’re as beautiful as ever. With or without the extra baby bump,” Jacob encourages.
That night, Juyeon and the rest of the team continue to monitor their target, manager Hyunjae.
“Why don’t we just talk to him directly? And save us some sleep?” Sunwoo asks their sergeant.
“We have intel that Bang Chan is his lover and if he’s hiding, he’ll be the first one he’ll contact. We can’t risk alerting our suspect,” Younghoon shares.
Juyeon notices that Hyunjae has been in and out of the bathroom for like the 3rd time, “He does not look well.”
“Upset stomach from what he ate?” Sunwoo suggests, “He probably took a bite in his office.”
“Juyeon, we haven’t had a chance to wiretap that area of the club. You’ll go in tomorrow.”
“Roger that, boss.”
Juyeon visits Café SangCob the next day and finds out from Jacob that he was just about to drop off some seaweed soup at Jaehyun’s place since he was not feeling well.
Juyeon asks if he can check on Jaehyun instead and Jacob, being a good friend, calls Jaehyun to tell him Juyeon is bringing him his breakfast.
Juyeon was instructed by Jacob to type in a passcode on the door beside the main entrance of the tailor shop. Juyeon was flustered at first mainly for Jaehyun’s safety as Jacob freely gives him the code but immediately understood why as the door leads to a 20-ish-step stairway to where Jaehyun lives. His apartment, being on the 2nd floor of his tailoring shop.
“Juyeonie, I’m sorry for bothering-” Jaehyun starts apologizing the moment he lets Juyeon in.
“Hush. I came here on my own two feet to visit. Are you okay, Hyung? You look really pale?” Juyeon checks the pregnant man’s temperature.
“Been puking all night,” Jaehyun gives him a tired smile.
“You think you can drink this soup? It has seafood in it so it might be too fishy for you. Should I make you corn soup or mushroom soup? I can buy some from the convenience store.”
Jaehyun feels warm on the inside with Juyeon being considerate of his condition, “I actually have a can of corn soup in the cupboard.”
“I’ll get on it then,” Juyeon proceeds to the kitchen but not without helping Jaehyun to his sofa where he’s been sleeping. Probably because it's near the bathroom, Juyeon concurs.
Juyeon was late to work that night, “Sorry boss--- there was an emergency with my friend.”
“No worries, Juyeon. Sunwoo has your gear setup. You can easily get in the manager’s office as Hyunjae-shi did not come to work tonight,” Younghoon explains.
“Must be really sick from last night,” Youngjae notes.
As Juyeon enters the manager’s office discreetly and scans the room he notices a built-in clothes rack that is the perfect spot to hide the wiretapping device. Juyeon blushes as he sees some sort of intricate lingerie but more like a corset inside the cabinet among all the manager’s usual sparkly dresses.
Juyeon concludes that Younghoon’s intel with Hyunjae and Bang Chan being lovers may be spot on. There’s even a comfortable leather couch where they could have been doing the deed.
Juyeon realizes he’s feeling jealous of their suspect for having such a beautiful lover and immediately shakes it off knowing how ironic that he just warned Youngjae not to be infatuated with their target.
Juyeon finishes his task without hiccups and exits the bar unnoticed.
A week has passed and Hyunjae has not been seen in the bar. Another manager, a Canadian, named Kevin Moon, has temporarily replaced him as from what the team has gathered.
Younghoon gives their night stakeout a break and Juyeon is able to visit Jaehyun during the evening that day.
Jaehyun’s rosy cheeks are back as he is now feeling much better. He asks Juyeon to sit with him on the sofa to feel his moving baby and Juyeon is amazed by this.
“My doctor advised me to stay home and rest. I’m glad I listened and now I’m feeling my baby’s become healthier and more active.”
Juyeon smiles sadly, “Have you talked to the father’s baby?”
“Oh. Did Jacob---
“Sorry, I kind of asked Sangyeon Hyung. It’s because I want to officially date you, Hyung. But do you still have feelings for him?”
“He disappeared the night after we made this little rugrat actually. I don’t know. We were friends for the 4 years I have known him and I used to work for him. The only reason why I think he suddenly ghosted me is because he realized that what we did that night was a mistake. It was kind of one-sided, Juyeonie,” Jaehyun confessed.
“I can wait until you get over your feelings---
Jaehyun cuts Juyeon off with a small peck on the lips.
“Don’t. I have too much baggage. Find yourself a better partner.”
“This little one is no baggage. You know how much I love kids,” Juyeon caresses Jaeyeon’s belly to which the baby reacts with a kick.
Jaehyun chuckles, “He likes you already.”
“A boy?” Juyeon asks excitedly.
“Yeah,” Jaehyun confirms.
“That’s awesome. I can teach him all kinds of sports and you---oh Hyung why are you crying?” Juyeon wipes the pregnant man’s tears.
“You really want me even with a baby on the way?”
“What’s there not to like? You are absolutely breathtaking and unbelievably brave for raising your baby on your own,” Juyeon says without hesitation.
Jaehyun shakes his head, disbelieving.
To prove his statement, Juyeon proceeds to catch the other’s lips, pulling him closer. Jaehyun feeling vulnerable but comfortable with Juyeon reciprocates the other man’s advances.
After making out for what seems like 15 minutes, Juyeon asks permission to take off Jaehyun’s tank top and starts kissing his belly. Jaehyun can’t help but find this Juyeon sexy as he takes off his shirt as well, showing his well-built body.
Juyeon’s gentle touches coupled with clear signals that he wanted to go all the way brings so much excitement to Jaehyun. The pregnant man figured he should do it now before his belly grows bigger. They become more intimate and regret that they didn’t meet any sooner.
Juyeon snuggles closer to Jaehyun in their cramped sleeping space, wondering if the other is comfortable as the other seems to be grunting in pain in his sleep.
He tries to soothe the pregnant man by caressing his melon-sized belly, “You okay, Hyung?”
“It’s just a cramp. I’m okay, Juyeonie. Really.”
“We shouldn’t have---
Jaehyun turns to face Juyeon, “Promise me this isn’t the last time. I’ve really had a traumatic experience the last time I did this.”
Juyeon is taken aback, “I will never abandon you, Hyung. If you remember correctly, you were the one who left me back in high school.”
Jaehyun chuckles, “It’s because I graduated a year before you, silly.”
Juyeon smiles, “But seriously, I’m never leaving you. Ever. Now that I found you again.”
And Jaehyun believes him. He just sees the truth in Juyeon’s eyes.
Juyeon moves in with Jaehyun two months after and they enjoy their evenings together watching movies, eating popcorn and doing whatever goes on in bed. They eventually have to use the actual bed since Jaehyun's tummy grew a few more inches in his third trimester.
Juyeon surprises his lover with a picnic at a nearby park. Jacob tells Juyeon that they should date more now before welcoming the baby. Juyeon agrees as he knows he’s also going to be busy with work very soon with news of Bang Chan being seen at a port the previous night. He’s afraid he won’t be seeing his boyfriend for the whole week starting tonight.
Juyeon and Jaehyun enjoy their time as they stay under the shade of a huge cherry blossom tree eating a variety of fruits and their egg salad sandwich.
“What is it, Juyeonie? Tell me. You’ve been wanting to tell me something since this morning.”
Juyeon explains about his new schedule at work to which Jaehyun considerately accepts.
“Don’t worry about me. I’m much healthier now and this little baby’s growing well too. Besides, we still have a few more weeks before I’m ready to deliver. Just focus on work. I’ll be waiting at home for you every morning.”
“I love you, Hyung.”
“I love you too, but I’m kind of thirsty,” Jaehyun says cheekily.
“I’ll go grab some water from the convenience store,” Juyeon happily obliges to his boyfriend’s request.
Jaehyun was waiting patiently for Juyeon to return when he heard the sound of ping on his phone. The message on his phone makes his heart race.
“I’m sorry I’ve been out of touch. I had my reasons but I didn’t want you to be involved for your own safety. Meet me at the bar tonight. I’ll explain everything.”
Just like what Younghoon expected after the news of Bang Chan’s return, Hyunjae appeared that night at the bar, he’s wearing his usual Cleopatra wig and a sequin black dress that is as stunning as ever.
Sunwoo teases Juyeon and Youngjae who’s had their mouths dropped after seeing the beauty for months.
“He’s gained some weight but he’s still mesmerizing,” Youngjae comments.
“I think he’s pregnant. Now someone close to me mentioned above those special garments they use to cover their baby bump. I think that’s what I saw in the manager’s closet months ago, now that I think about it. I’m positive he’s carrying a child,” Juyeon says worriedly, “if we go in and Bang Chan retaliates---
“Juyeon, your job is to protect Hyunjae-shi. We can’t sacrifice innocent lives just to catch a murder suspect.”
“I’m on it, boss. I’m coming in first.”
“I repeat, the suspect has appeared in the premises. Be ready to catch him.”
“Hyunjae! You’re pregnant---don’t tell me it’s from that night---I----is that mine?”
“Don’t sweat it, Chan. You don’t have to take responsibility. I’ve met a good man.”
“But I can explain. I disappeared as I was being chased by the same people who---
“This is the police! Bang Chan! Down on the ground! Hands where I can see them!” Younghoon shouts.
Some customers start rushing out of the bar in panic. Juyeon pulls Hyunjae close to the wall, out of reach from the suspect. They come face to face in shock.
“Hyung?! What are you doing here?!”
“Juyeonie?” Jaehyun cries in fright.
Juyeon’s heart break at the sight of his boyfriend in tears, startled by the sound of guns as Bang Chan shoots at Younghoon in defense.
Juyeon brings Jaehyun safely to his empty office and locks the door.
He immediately embraces his trembling boyfriend, “You’re safe now, Hyung.”
“Oh Juyeonie, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you---
“You’re Hyunjae?” trying to erase the dread of feeling betrayed by his boyfriend’s secret life.
Jaehyun comes to his senses as Juyeon mentions his other name.
“Yes I go by that name when I helped manage this place until a few months ago. I was struggling on getting my first jeans collection out when Chan reached out needing someone he could trust to run this place.”
“Chan’s the father, isn’t he?”
Jaehyun nods, confirming Juyeon’s suspicion.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was coming here tonight---I
Jaehyun is surprised that Juyeon is hugging him tighter, “Are you hurt? Is the baby okay?”
“We’re both okay, I think. Thanks to you, Juyeonie.”
“He’s wanted for murder. Chan is. Anything could have gone wrong---”
“What?!” Jaehyun pulls out of Juyeon’s embrace, “That’s impossible, he just carries the gun he has for protection. It’s empty. The bullets. He’s never killed anyone.”
Turns out, Hyunjae is right. Bang Chan was innocent, the night his gang member Hyunjin was killed, he was with Hyunjae, making love. Their baby is proof.
The reason Chan skipped town was that he had a target on his back. The club was a legitimate business. Him being involved with gangs was not. He did not want Hyunjae mixed in with the gang life.
Jaehyun was now cooking dinner for Juyeon and he’s been feeling very guilty about his boyfriend being supportive of him despite him keeping secrets and even resigning from the task force to be with him 24/7 knowing Chan’s enemies might come after him anytime.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Jaehyun scoops a bowl of rice for Juyeon as the other sets up the table.
“What do you mean, Hyung?”
“I don’t know---like how disappointed you are that you’ve met me and how I ruined your career.”
“That’s not true. I will never regret meeting you again. And I quit my job because I want to protect you not because I have to. I love you, Hyung. That never changed.”
Jaehyun cries in frustration, “I wouldn’t love me, if I were you.”
“Because you worked in a bar? Come on, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“You must think I’m a slut.”
“Don’t say that. We both know that’s not true.”
“And Bang Chan says he wants to take responsibility---
“And you’re letting him?” This time Juyeon raises his voice, “I told you not to talk to him anymore.”
“I asked him to leave me alone like you told me, actually,” Jaehyun says in a small voice.
Juyeon apologizes, guilty for getting angry.
Jaehyun excuses himself from the dining room to calm down.
Juyeon gives him some space. He patiently waits for his boyfriend to eat the now cold kimchi jjigae with him but is panicked after hearing Jaehyun scream in pain from the bedroom.
Juyeon rushes to the bedroom to see Jaehyun sitting on the floor in a pool of amniotic fluid mixed with blood.
“Juyeonie! Aaaah! It hurts!”
Juyeon rushes to Jaehyun’s side as he pulls his phone from his pocket to call an ambulance.
Jaehyun continues to cry as more blood gushes out between his legs.
“Hyung! Try to breathe! Do you feel the baby coming?” Juyeon massages Jaehyun’s back hoping to ease the pain of labor as the pregnant man wraps his arms around his boyfriend’s shoulders.
“Juyeonie, I think I’m getting punished for keeping secrets from you. Aaaaaw, it really hurts,” Jaehyun bawls in pain.
“You are gonna get through this, Hyung. And if you hadn’t noticed, I have forgiven you a long time ago. Are the contractions coming in faster?”
Jaehyun nods while crying, “I think so---aaaah!”
“Hyung, I promise you, after this. I’ll make you the happiest man---
“Yah! Are you proposing right now?! This is not the time!”
“Maybe you need to push. Let me check,” Juyeon kisses Jaehyun’s temple to console him.
Jaehyun lets Juyeon help him on the bed and alas he confirms that the baby’s crown can already be seen. “Hyung, you really need to push---
“It really hurts!” Jaehyun screams as he gives a mighty effort to push but to no avail.
“Hyung, just one more time. Take a deep breath, then push!”
Juyeon and Jaehyun register their marriage a month after little Jimin is born.
Chan cooperates with the police to capture the enemy gang who wanted to kill him. To avoid any more conflicts, he permanently moves to HongKong without even seeing his child.
Jimin grows up to be a healthy boy who enjoys playing baseball and soccer with his father, Juyeon, a now successful businessman. He runs his business with his husband, Jaehyun, Jimin’s loving mother, whose custom corsets are now the most sought after garment at every department store in Seoul.
