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Kun’s birthday falls on January 1st. The new year. Almost his entire life, Kun mostly spends his birthday during a new year’s party. With friends, family, or sometimes just his boyfriend—now husband, Johnny.
Last year’s birthday slash new year party was spent with their friends in Sokcho. The year before that was with Johnny’s family in Chicago. And prior to that year, just the two of them in Sapporo, the moment where Johnny proposed to him.
And so, it’s been almost three years since Kun last spent his birthday and new year celebration with just Johnny. This year, finally, it’s just him and Johnny.
And, well… Their baby.
There’s a bump residing in Kun’s previously flat tummy, a life blooming from within him. Kun’s currently five months pregnant, so a boozy new year celebration was definitely not on the plan. Kun got easily tired out now, so staying up late was not going to work for him. Usually he will sulk if his family or friends refuse to stay up till midnight to wish him a happy birthday right after the clock strikes twelve, but this year, he could care less.
Ten p.m, and he’s already out like a light.
Normally, even out of pregnancy, Kun is not an early riser. And so does Johnny. Their parents often called them a lazy couple, but hey, their sleep schedule matched so it’s wonderful. Usually, three consecutive alarms had to wake Kun up, but since he conceived, someone became his alarm clock.
There’s a small, barely noticeable, yet very insistent flutter in his lower belly. It wasn’t exactly cramp, not gas, not pain. It’s a sensation Kun could never put into words, but has learned to tolerate. He felt it once, twice, thrice, and then he lost count. Kun tried to ignore it. Pregnancy gave him the pregnancy brain, meaning his mind was often foggy or lagging. Waking up becomes harder, almost an arduous task. And so Kun ignored the faint kick in his belly, closing his eyes petulantly.
But the little one has a plan. Annoying plan.
The kick became more insistent. Moving downwards. Southwards. Bladderwards.
Kun mentally groaned. A soft breath akin to a gruff left him. His palm moved to the slight swell of his stomach, rubbing it gently.
Go back to sleep!
But the kicking continues.
Kun turned from his comfy position, and felt the arms around his waist tightened. He momentarily forgot the pressure on his bladder and instead focused on his husband.
Early morning sunlight filtered in through the curtain, casting a soft warm glow on his husband’s sleeping figure. Kun traced Johnny’s features silently, admiring him. His eyebrows are relaxed, his sharp eyes closed, lashes fanning his cheeks. It’s always nice to see Johnny resting properly. Kun tried to be discreet, his fingertips barely ghosting over the sharp slope of Johnny’s nose, his thick lips, his jaw.
A low hum came, and Kun almost chuckled as he felt Johnny tugging him closer, arms still wound tightly around him.
Always protective, even when asleep.
But then, alas, another kick. More forceful this time. One more kick, and Kun thinks he’s gonna wet the bed. And so reluctantly he peeled away Johnny’s arm, waddling towards the bathroom before the little one wreaked havoc on his bladder.
After relieving himself, Kun happily went under the duvet again. It’s his birthday, they don’t have anything scheduled until the afternoon, so it’s perfect to lay around in bed cuddling with his warm bear-like husband.
Or… not. At least not according to Little Johnny inside his womb.
Kun felt a light kick again, this time upwards, a little too close to his stomach.
Oh, baby Suh, calm down won’t you!
Kun begged for at least half an hour of calmness, but no. This baby has half Capricornian and half Aquarian blood. Of course, he’s gonna be twice as stubborn. If their Ob-Gyn’s calculation is correct, the baby is going to be born in April. This is either an Aries or Taurus in the making. Their baby is one hell of a stubborn baby even as a fetus.
Kun whined, burrowing closer towards his husband’s chest, and despite being deeply asleep, Johnny rubbed his back purely on instinct, massaging his lower back.
But right now, Kun is not complaining of sore backs (at least not yet, not this early). Kun is suddenly, randomly, somehow, hungry.
His tummy grumbled. It’s barely eight in the morning and yet the fetus demands breakfast. Kun’s first trimester had been a complete nightmare filled with roundtrips to the toilet bowl due to insatiable nausea, but once the second trimester came, another monstrous symptom emerged.
Perpetual hunger.
This baby is most definitely Johnny’s. Kun is a known foodie. But Johnny? Johnny’s appetite is humongous. He eats a whole tray of pizza without remorse and easily downed a four person hot pot deal by himself. That man is insane.
Which is why Kun looked like he’s almost seven months pregnant even when he’s barely halfway through his fifth month. Their doctor had already warned him that they’re probably going to need a C-section whether Kun likes it or not because they were expecting a giant baby.
It didn’t help when Johnny’s mom cheerfully announced that Johnny was 4.3 kilograms when he was born.
Kun half regretted marrying a giant.
Kun is not exactly tiny, so his genes combined with Johnny’s are guaranteed a huge baby to push out in the next four months. And this ginormous fetus of his demanded his first calorie intake of the day.
Kun sighed.
Fine.
What little Johnny wants, little Johnny gets.
Kun huffed as he slithered out of bed reluctantly. He spotted Johnny’s zip up hoodie lying haphazardly on the vanity chair, so he wrapped it around himself to warm him up from the cold January weather.
He waddled to the kitchen, rubbing his tummy as he thought of what to eat. He opened the fridge, scanning the contents as he caressed his protruding belly.
“Okay, buddy. What do you feel like eating?” Kun hummed, tapping his tummy twice. The pancake videos he saw last night enticed him, but he needs something nutritious and substantial for breakfast. Pancakes can come later. He looked through the fridge carefully.
“Congee?”
A resolute kick.
“Okay, no. Not congee. But something warm? Hmm. Seaweed soup?”
An offensive kick against his rib.
“Ouch. No seaweed. Okay, noted. What then? Miso?”
A light kick.
“Promising. Hmm. Eggs. That’s protein. Good for you, good for me. Egg drop soup? How’s that sound, Johnny junior?”
A soft kick. That’s a hard yes.
“Egg drop, it is.”
Kun yawned as he blindly reached for a pot, tiptoeing while cradling his tummy, and the stainless steel cookware fell with a loud clang against the granite floor.
“Oh, shi—sweet!” Kun grumbled, reminding himself not to curse. Not good for the baby.
No other noises. Johnny managed to sleep through the resounding noise. Amazing. Kun prayed that once the baby is born, the baby will inherit Johnny’s ability to sleep through an atomic bomb explosion.
“Babe?”
Or… not.
Kun turned around to see Johnny, rubbing his eyes, yawning widely. His hair shoots into different directions like a messy bird nest. His t-shirt was somehow gone even though Kun remembered seeing him sleeping with a t- shirt on a few minutes ago. His sweatpants hung low on his hips, and he trudged barefoot to the kitchen.
That man is insane. Also, insanely hot.
Kun felt hot. Fuck his pregnancy hormone.
Johnny walked towards him and hugged him from behind, nuzzling against his neck while his arms wound against his torso, palms immediately resting against Kun’s round belly, slipping under his sleep shirt, rubbing affectionately.
“Morning, sweetie. And happy birthday, love.”
Kun felt Johnny pressing a kiss against his neck and giggled.
“Morning. Your baby is hungry.”
“Which baby? The one having a birthday? Or the little one here?”
Both of them chuckled when the baby kicked, as if notifying the parents of its existence. And then, Kun’s stomach grumbled. Loudly.
“Both. Both babies are hungry. Ah, yes,” Johnny laughed, rubbing Kun’s tummy as he pressed another kiss to Kun’s temple.
“Baby woke me up too early. I’m still sleepy. It’s supposed to be my birthday. I want to sleep in longer,” Kun pouts.
Johnny turned him around, melting at the sight.
Kun had grown rounder and softer with pregnancy. His cheeks became fuller, blushing easily. Johnny leaned in, pressing a consoling kiss to Kun’s pouty lips.
“Wanna sleep again?”
Kun nodded with a pout.
“But hungry.”
Johnny laughed, “What do my big baby want to eat on his birthday?”
“This baby and the baby inside wants egg drop soup, appa.”
Johnny melts at the endearment.
“Okay, babies. Egg drop soup coming in twenty minutes. Wanna nap on the couch while I cook?” Johnny asked, already steering Kun towards the couch.
“And the breakfast?”
“That’s going to be my job. Come, lay down.”
“Can’t I help cook?”
“You’re sleepy, baby. Take a nap. We’re going to meet our rowdy friends this afternoon, you should rest first.”
Kun relented, laying down on the couch. Johnny took a throw blanket, tucking Kun in. His pregnancy pillow came next to cushion his back and leg. Johnny bent down, pressing a kiss to Kun’s belly.
“Sleep a bit, okay, baby? Your baba’s having a birthday today. Make him happy and relaxed, alright? Twenty minutes, and then you’ll have your soup.”
Kun giggled.
“Oh, Johnny! Also… Um… pancake. I want… I want pancakes.”
Johnny chuckled, “That’ll be thirty minutes then. Okay, please wait, my babies.”
Johnny kissed Kun’s forehead and then moved to rub his tummy before trotting back to the kitchen.
Almost like magic, Kun felt sleepy. His hunger seemed to simmer down a bit, and sleep took over immediately, lulled by the comforting sound of cooking utensils and Johnny’s soft humming of a Christmas tune. Their Christmas tree is still up, and the flickering fairy lights made Kun somehow sleepier. In no time, Kun went back to a peaceful sleep.
Johnny looked back with a soft smile. He’s grateful that the second trimester has been kind so far. Kun regained appetite, and his skin seemed to glow healthily. Their baby is growing well although a little big, and everything’s going according to their Ob-Gyn’s liking.
Last night before they went to sleep, Kun had been nose deep in Xiaohongshu, watching food videos. Johnny had watched at least six videos on cloud pancakes, so last night while Kun slept soundly he had secretly made a batter, ready to be cooked.
While the egg drop soup is bubbling, Johnny takes the batter out from the fridge, and in no time, a stack of fluffy pancakes is ready. Johnny’s not sure about what Kun is craving as toppings, but he prepared a selection. Cut up strawberries and blueberries (because Kun had developed an addiction to them), whipped cream in a can, a jar of nutella, and a bottle of maple syrup. Let Kun choose later, although, based on the videos Johnny watched alongside last night, Kun would probably take the berries and the cream. And so Johnny set aside a small stack with berries and a heaping amount of cream ready for quick demolishing.
Once the soup is ready, Johnny plated everything at the dining table before walking back to the living room, smiling again at the sight of a sleeping, pregnant, Kun.
Johnny knelt next to his husband, rubbing Kun’s belly. The doctor said the baby is a bit big for its age, but so far, everything is safe and Kun had tested negative for gestational diabetes. Thankfully their baby is big purely due to genes, not because of a metabolic disease.
Despite the disappearing morning sickness, Kun still had other symptoms like lack of sleep, sore back, swollen feet, constant urge to pee, and the perpetual hunger. So far, no weird cravings. Just pure hunger for anything that looks edible.
“Dear puppy, your baba suffers a lot for you. Be nice, okay. You should let him sleep more. He needs a lot of rest because carrying you is a huge burden for him. You weighed like an seven months old fetus. Be good and kick him less, okay?”
Kun blearily blinked his eyes open, and noticed Johnny speaking hushedly to his tummy, rubbing it gently.
“Are you scolding our baby?” Kun asked raspily.
Johnny looked up and grinned, “Our puppy needs to start listening to his dad.”
“Ah, you think it’s a he? And did you just call him a dog?” Kun asked, caressing Johnny’s head as Johnny nuzzled against his belly.
“It just slipped from my mouth. I don’t know, Ten has the ultrasound result. We’ll find out today, right?"
Kun sleepily nodded, “Yeah. We’ll find out soon. But I do also think it’s a boy.”
“Really? Why?”
“Firstly, he’s huge. I just don’t think if I ever gave birth to a daughter it would be this enormous. The baby is already almost a kilogram, Johnny. That’s the size of a seventh month old baby!”
Johnny laughed, peppering kisses to Kun’s very rounded belly.
“A boy it is, then. And well, the statistics of our friendship circle has been male dominated so far. I think our baby doesn’t want to be part of the minority.”
Kun giggled, and before he had the chance to reply, his tummy grumbled and he felt a strong kick inside.
“The huge baby’s hungry,” Johnny grinned.
Kun rolled his eyes, raising his arms. Johnny helped him up, gently guiding him to the dining table.
Kun beamed upon seeing the steaming hot egg drop soup.
“Soup first and pancake later, okay?” Johnny said, handing him a spoon.
Kun nodded, taking a sip of the soup and sighing immediately. It’s warm and comforting, mildly spiced to not upset his finicky morning stomach. Johnny’s cooking ability has grown much better over the years, and Kun’s incredibly happy to witness his development. Kun happily hummed, sipping his soup in satisfaction.
Johnny smiled, relieved to see Kun eating with gusto.
“Good?”
Kun nodded, slurping down his soup contentedly.
Breakfast went down easily. Accompanied by Johnny’s light morning talk, Kun already felt like his day was going well.
“It’s your birthday and I’ve prepared you a present. But, before that, morning dessert first?” Johnny asked, grinning.
Kun beamed, nodding in excitement.
And then the smell of fresh berries hit his nose. And butter. And cream. Kun’s throat tightened.
Not because he wanted to puke. No, he’s passed that phase already.
He felt like… like… like crying.
“I have a plain stack you can eat with whatever topping you like, but, I prepared this one too just in case. You seemed to like berries and cream the most.”
Johnny said it casually, as if he wasn’t already setting the waterworks behind Kun’s eyes from his thoughtfulness. Kun hadn’t specifically mentioned berries and cream pancakes. He just watched too many pancake xiaohongshu videos last night by Johnny’s side, and more than half of them featured berries and cream as toppings. And without Kun voicing his craving out loud, Johnny noticed it.
Kun wordlessly took a spoon and cut himself a bite. The pancake was oh so soft, showing no resistance as Kun scooped it. Some mashed blueberries, small cut up strawberries, a buttery pancake piece, and a generous dollop of cream.
Kun chewed it carefully.
No.
Oh no.
Oh, freaking no.
Decadent butter, fluffy cream, fresh and sweet berries flooded his mouth. It was just like what Kun had imagined tasting when he scrolled through his phone last night.
Kun didn’t say a single word about it and yet Johnny understood it to a tee. It seems as if Johnny was able to see through Kun’s brain and cooked it to perfection with his minimal cooking ability.
Johnny who five years ago was only able to cook fried eggs and ramyeon had made him perfect egg drop soup and perfect pancake on his birthday morning. And it’s not even the birthday gift, yet Kun already felt celebrated.
Kun’s lip wobbled. His eyes glassed. His throat clogged up.
Kun blinked his eyes, one hand traveling to his tummy as if coaxing his stubborn unborn kid.
Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.
Don’t make baba cry. Please, baby, pup, don’t make baba cry.
Don’t—
Ah. Screw the hormones.
A lone tear escaped his eye. And then another. And another. And sobs ransacked his body immediately.
Johnny panicked immediately.
“Kunnie? Baby? Oh sweetheart, why are you crying? Is it awful? Oh love, I’m sorry. Let me throw it a—”
“Good.”
“H-huh?”
“I-it’s g-good,” Kun hiccupped.
Johnny blinked.
“I-it’s t-too good. R-really g-good.”
Johnny’s shoulders sagged in relief. He bent down, pressing kisses to Kun’s temple before wiping his husband’s teary face. He chuckled helplessly as Kun took another bite, tears still falling, sniffling as he chewed with his cheeks puffing adorably.
“Oh, baby…”
Kun embarrassedly pouted, “I-I d-don’t know. It’s so good it made me cry. I wanted this so much and you made it as I imagined it. I’m sorry. My hormones suck. I want to cry again now. Don’t look at me like that.”
Johnny absolutely looked at his husband. There’s no way he could look away from this adorable human being currently carrying their first child.
Johnny chuckled, “Baby, you can cry. You are allowed to cry. You’re growing an impossibly large baby inside you.”
Johnny’s soft comforting words made Kun want to cry more.
“S-shut up! I w-wanna cry more. Y-you’re making it w-worse,” Kun frowned as he sobbed again.
Johnny bit back a smile as he pulled Kun into a hug, patting his back.
“I’m sorry, darling. I’ll shut up. I’ll be quiet.”
Johnny did shut up, but he’s anything but quiet.
He carefully cut the pancakes into bite sized pieces and made sure every spoonful of bite contained the perfect amount of pancake, berries, and cream. He patted Kun’s back, wiped his snot and tears, and rubbed his belly. He fetched a tissue box, calmly wiping Kun’s face before feeding him again while Kun sniffled.
He pressed a soft kiss to Kun’s head. Then his temple. Then his forehead. Then his cheek.
“You’re fussing,” Kun commented.
“I do,” Johnny answered before feeding Kun another bite and now pressing a gentle kiss to Kun’s pregnant belly.
Kun helplessly swatted his husband away.
“Stop fussing.”
Johnny laughed, cupping Kun’s cheeks.
“It’s your thirtieth birthday. And you’re carrying my child. You deserve the fussing.”
Kun pouted because sadly, he loved Johnny’s gentle fussing.
“Don’t pout. Why did you cry? Did you really crave these pancakes?”
Kun nodded, opening his mouth, asking for another bite. Johnny patiently fed him and waited for an answer.
Kun swallowed.
“I’ve been seeing it on my phone a lot these past few days. And last night it kept popping on my timeline.”
“And so you’ve actually craved it for days?”
Kun shamefully nodded.
Johnny sighed.
“Baby… You should’ve told me. I would’ve made it earlier for you.”
Kun shrugged, “You were busy. And it’s not like a crazy craving that haunted me or something. And you made it now on my birthday. It makes it extra special.”
Johnny smiled, giving Kun’s nose a playful bop, “It doesn’t have to be your birthday for you to get what you crave. You’re carrying our child—something I could never do myself. Tell me if you want anything, okay? I’ll make it for you if I can. Or maybe buy it. Steal it?”
“No! No stealing! My child can’t have a criminal father!”
Johnny laughed.
“Okay, okay. No stealing. Finish your pancake, sweetie. We have a long day ahead of us. And well, a huge surprise to look forward to.”
Kun grinned, quickly finishing his meal.
For this year’s birthday celebration, Kun and Johnny decided to have a gender reveal party instead of their usual new year’s eve party. They didn’t plan anything extravagant, and instead of having it in their apartment, Ten and Taeyong were gracious enough to let their house be the venue. Everyone agreed because Kun and Johnny lived in an apartment just the two of them, and Kun is pregnant too. Planning a party and cleaning up after would be a tiring task for the couple.
And so after a fulfilling breakfast, Johnny drove them to Ten and Taeyong’s house.
“Wait. Before we head out… I want to give you my present,” Johnny said as he parked their car.
“Present? Now?”
Johnny nodded, smiling as he reached behind his seat, taking something from the back pocket. A small box, decorated with a light orange bow—Kun’s favorite color.
“What is this?” Kun asked curiously, accepting the box, shaking it lightly.
“Open it up.”
Kun carefully untied the bow and opened the box cover. He gasped.
A bracelet.
It was made of gold, and in the center, lies three small charms, also made of gold, shaped like a bear, a cat, and a puppy.
Usually, Kun picked a bear as his spirit animal while Johnny chose a cat. But a puppy charm?
“Puppy?”
Johnny nodded, taking the bracelet and fastening it around Kun’s slim wrist.
“I don’t know… I think it suits our family. Of three.”
Of three. A family of cat, bear, and puppy.
Kun sniffled and Johnny laughed, hugging him before the crying took over.
“Don’t cry, love. We’re about to party and celebrate you,” Johnny chuckled.
“Y-you said I can c-cry this m-morning,” Kun whined.
Johnny scoffed lightly as he pulled away, dabbing Kun’s wet cheeks.
“Of course. I’m sorry. Do you still want to cry? Because I can already see Ten coming here.”
Kun glanced at the window and saw Ten walking towards their car.
“O-okay. I’ll stop crying.”
“Good boy. Don’t make your baba cry, pup. Okay?” Johnny grinned, patting Kun’s tummy before he helped unbuckled the seat belt.
When they got out, Ten was already there, grinning widely in a sky blue shirt.
“Happy birthday, old man!”
“I’m not old!” Kun pouted, grumbling as Ten pulled him into a hug.
“You’re older than me by now, so you’re old. Come in, come in. Everyone’s already waiting for you. I made everyone dress up according to their prediction about your baby’s gender and trust me, you’ll be surprised.”
Johnny kept a hand on Kun’s waist, steadying him as they entered the house.
“Uncle Kuuuun!”
Kun laughed when someone crashed onto his butt, hugging his waist tightly. It’s Ten and Taeyong’s menace of a child, Eunseok. The kid beamed, raising his arm for a hug.
With a huge pregnant belly, Kun is unable to pick him up. And so he bent down, hugging the kid as tight as possible with his belly squished between them.
“Uncle, when will the baby come out? Phaw said your baby grows 5 cm every day.”
Ten scoffed, “I didn’t say that, Eunseok.”
“You did! See! Uncle Kun’s tummy is soooo big! Bigger than Uncle Doy!”
Kun sighed. Doyoung is pregnant, just like him. But Doyoung is already seven months pregnant yet his belly is almost smaller than Kun’s.
Kun then noticed something.
Eunseok was wearing a stripy blue jumper. Ten was in a sky blue shirt. Taeyong waved to him in a navy sweater.
Doyoung in all his pregnant glory wearing a loose cerulean cardigan, Jaehyun holding their sleepy first born, Sungchan—the two of them in a matching dark blue polo.
Winwin, Yuta, and their three year old, Shotaro, are wearing matching sweatshirts—electric blue in color.
Everyone’s wearing blue.
“Why is… all… blue…” Kun frowned.
Taeyong grinned, unlatching his kid from Kun’s tummy, “Everyone agreed that our group is overloaded with testosterone. But after seeing a picture of your huge belly, everyone agreed. You must’ve been carrying a boy—unless it turned out to be one gigantic girl. We’ll see.”
Johnny laughed, “Didn’t Ten know? I mean, we gave the envelope from the Ob-gyn to him.”
Ten grinned, shaking his head, “I gave the envelope to the cake store and asked them to keep it a secret. We want a surprise!”
Kun sighed, albeit fondly, “Honestly, I think it’s a boy too. But we’ll see.”
“We’ll see once we cut the cake! Come here birthday boy, let’s celebrate first,” Taeyong said, ushering them to gather.
Kun happily greeted his friends’ children, accepting their birthday wishes. Eunseok gave him a very enthusiastic and slightly off-tune happy birthday song in two languages. Sungchan sleepily said happy birthday. Shotaro, bless the sweet toddler, gave him one drooly happy birthday kiss.
One good thing about having a birthday party slash gender reveal slash baby shower at the same time is that the presents that Kun gets are a lot. No one hesitated to give him great gifts.
Ten and Taeyong gave him a nice designer coat, perfect for winter. It was big enough to still be worn while pregnant, but adjustable so Kun could wear it even after he gave birth. They also bought him an electric breastmilk pump. Taeyong said it was a lifesaver when he had Eunseok. A good investment they said. Eunseok, truly bless that rowdy kid, had drawn him a picture. With a humongous belly. He looked like a whale there while Johnny was drawn as a measly stick figure but it’s the thought that counts, he guessed.
Doyoung and Jaehyun bought them a UV sterilizer. They said they used it a lot even after Sungchan grew up. Perfect for bottles, toys, teethers, and other assortments that needed extensive cleaning. Kun cried a little because it’s something he knew he would use a lot, and everyone laughed at him crying at the expensive and thoughtful gift. Jaehyun cheekily bought him wine too, and said that they should pop it open once Kun gave birth to celebrate. Sungchan made a drawing too, as abstract as Eunseok’s art, but at least Kun looked less like a whale there.
Winwin and Yuta gifted him a lot of things. A heaping amount of herbal tea–Winwin said it’s good for pregnancy and post partum. An amulet from a Japanese temple. A crocheted nursing blanket. And a swaddle they swore to God helped a lot when Shotaro was a newborn. Shotaro is not much of an artsy kid, but his parents made him kiss the birthday card so there’s a pout shaped and slobbered kiss mark on the card.
Kun cried some more, and Doyoung cried watching him cry, and everyone consoled the two pregnant people with the rampaging hormones.
After a lot of hugging and blowing snot into tissues, they decided it’s finally time to blow the candle and cut the cake.
The cake Ten ordered was plainly decorated in white cream cheese frosting. The cake has a double purpose—as a birthday cake and a gender reveal cake.
Happy Thirty, Hot Baba was written in bold, most probably courtesy of Ten.
Kun didn’t have the heart to get mad at the stupid wording because he’s excited to cut into the cake and see if he’s really carrying a boy.
Upon Eunseok’s insistence, Shotaro’s passive resignation, and despite Sungchan’s fight against sleepiness, they sang the happy birthday song three times before Kun finally had the chance to blow the candle off from his cake.
“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” Johnny smiled, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
Kun beamed, hugging his husband, earning whistles and cheers from their friends. Kun felt really happy.
Half of his life was spent with Johnny. They met when Kun was fifteen years old, one year his junior, in a Japanese language school. They became best friends, even until college, where Johnny finally confessed a few months before graduation. They dated for a long time as Kun grew his career as a music producer while Johnny became a photographer and studio owner. They decided to get engaged three years ago and married a year after that.
And now at thirty years old, Kun is expecting his first child with Johnny—best friend, partner, husband, and baby father.
Kun giggled joyfully as everyone gathered to hug him before taking out their cellphones, ready to record the moment Kun finally cut the cake.
“Wait, wait! Let’s just use glasses! It will be more fun!” Yuta exclaimed, stopping the couple from cutting the cake.
The idea garnered positive responses, and so Kun and Johnny nervously held two champagne flutes—not exactly glasses because Taeyong refused to get the perfectly good cake getting ruined with two huge chunks removed from its side.
“Ready?” Johnny asked.
Kun nodded.
With bated breath and camera on record, everyone waited while Kun and Johnny stuck the champagne flutes to the side of the cake.
The two closed their eyes, locking their free hands together, before slowly pulling the glasses out from the cake.
Kun softly counted from one to three, and then he opened his eyes.
He paused.
Blue buttercream.
He turned to see Johnny’s eyes already brimming with tears, before he got embraced and twirled around.
“I knew it! It’s a boy! We’re having a boy! Our pup’s a boy!”
Kun laughed wetly, hugging Johnny’s neck as he spun around.
They’re having a boy!
🐱🐻🐶
“Have you guys prepared a name?”
“Not yet, Ma. We just knew the gender earlier. We’ll look up for something that sounds nice,” Kun said with a small yawn.
"Korean? Chinese?"
"He's going to be born and grow up in Seoul so we'll think of a Korean name first with a good Chinese equivalent. The English name can come later," Johnny explained.
After going home, the two decided to video call their parents on the car ride home. And of course, their parents were happy about the news.
“The baby will be huge then! Johnny was 4.3kg when I gave birth to him!”
Kun sighed as his mother in law, again, reminded him that he’s carrying a humongous baby, “Omonim, the baby right now is already almost one kilogram. The doctor said he’s bigger than he’s supposed to be.”
Johnny’s father laughed from the other land.
“Poor, Kunnie. You have to rest a lot. It’s going to get heavier with time. Johnny, take care of your husband well, okay?”
Johnny chuckled, glancing at the screen before focusing back on the road.
“Of course, appa.”
“Do you have any cravings, son?”
Kun grinned sleepily at his mother, “Sometimes. But nothing too weird.”
“Cut down on sugar since your baby is already big! Be careful of diabetes!”
“Don’t worry, Ma. He tested negative for diabetes. The baby is just genetically huge,” Johnny placated.
“It’s still worrying! How about baby stuff? Have you gone shopping?”
“Our friends gave us a lot of presents, so we’re going to check our list first. We’re still contemplating on bassinets and strollers.”
“Leave the stroller to us! We’ll buy our first grandson a good one!”
Johnny chuckled, “Thank you so much, Ba.”
“We’ll be visiting soon before the due date. We’ll buy you a nice feeding chair that the baby can use up until toddler years. Your mother saw something on Amazon that cannot be shipped to Seoul so we’ll bring it to you ourselves!”
Johnny smiled in gratitude, “Thanks, appa.”
He glanced at Kun who was leaning back sleepily against the car seat, one hand rubbing his full tummy, the other one holding the phone.
“Any concerning symptoms during the pregnancy, son?”
Kun hummed, “Hmm… Not really. I’m just easily sore and tired. And hungry. Always hungry.”
Their parents laughed.
“Of course you’re hungry. All your nutrition is being sucked up by that giant baby of yours!”
Johnny chuckled, reaching over to rub Kun’s belly, earning a soft kick from the inside.
“Pup’s been kicking a lot too. Our friends said they haven't felt it this hard at five months. I think our baby’s just too huge, so Kun can already feel all the kicks and jabs.”
“Oh, poor Kunnie! Give it a lot of rubs, son. When your mother was pregnant with you, rubs helped a lot.”
Johnny smiled, rubbing the round belly, easing the tenseness and the naughty kicks as Kun melts even more to the car seat.
“Of course. All the rubs in the world for Kun and the baby.”
“Wait… Johnny! Kun’s asleep! Oh poor Kunnie, he must’ve been really tired!”
Johnny glanced and chuckled when he realized Kun had fallen asleep, his pouty lips slightly ajar as his breathing evened out in deep sleep. The phone is still loosely held in his hand, so Johnny carefully parked his car at the side of the road, taking the phone away.
“Ma, Ba, eomma, appa, sorry I have to cut the call. Kun woke up pretty early today, and he must’ve been tired after the party with our friends. We’ll call you guys again tomorrow…?”
“Of course, son. Let him rest. Please wish him a happy birthday again, and wait for the gift to arrive! We tried ordering early, but maybe because it’s the holiday season, shipping has been delayed.”
“Yeah! I checked on the tracking app and the Chinese postal service has begun to slow down since it’s almost Chinese New Year too. But our gift for Kun and the baby is on the way! We’ll go there for Chinese New Year, okay? Flying is not good for the baby, so we’ll do the flying this year.”
“Thank you so much eomma, Mama. Okay, I’ll end the call and drive back home. See you again soon. We love you.”
“Bye!”
Johnny ended the video call, putting the phone back into Kun’s bag. He smiled fondly, taking a neck pillow and the spare blanket from the back seat. He slipped the pillow behind Kun’s neck, making sure Kun slept comfortably for the remaining ride home. The blanket was draped around his bulging pregnant tummy, keeping both Kun and the baby warm.
Johnny leisurely drove back, enjoying the vacant street. It’s still nine p.m but the road is already fairly empty. Maybe people are still tired from partying yesterday. In no time, they made it back to their apartment complex. Thankfully they’ve eaten dinner in Taeyong and Ten’s house earlier. All there’s left to do is clean up a little before bed. Johnny will bring and tidy the gifts from their friends tomorrow. For now, they should rest.
Johnny felt bad about waking him up, knowing that Kun needed a lot of rest because pregnancy had taken a toll on him.
He carefully unbuckled the seatbelt and softly caressed Kun’s cheeks.
“Baby…? We’ve arrived. We should head upstairs to our unit.”
Kun whined, blinking his eyes open blearily.
“Home?”
“That’s right. We’ve arrived.”
Kun pouted, whining softly.
“Johnny. ‘M tired. And sleepy.”
“Of course you’re tired and sleepy. Want me to carry you upstairs then?” Johnny offered.
Kun nodded, closing his eyes again, nodding back to sleep.
Johnny chuckled as he went out of the car, opening Kun’s door and carefully hauling Kun into his arms. He used his leg to close the door and waited for the car to lock automatically before finally heading to the elevator, Kun snuggling against his neck like a cat.
“Oh, he’s asleep?” The old security guy asked, familiar with this expecting couple.
Johnny nodded, thankful as the security guy pressed the elevator button for them.
“Pregnancy is difficult. He needs his sleep. Go on and rest well.”
Johnny smiled, bowing his head as the guy held the elevator door open and pressed their unit floor button for them.
“Thank you, Uncle. Have a good night.”
Johnny tapped his foot against the carpeted floor, smiling softly as he watched Kun calmly dozing while the elevator rose to their floor.
Ding!
The number eight lights up and the door opens. Johnny stepped out, balancing Kun on his thigh and holding him secure with one arm as his other hand quickly pressed their apartment’s passkey.
The door opened and the hallway lamp lit up immediately. Johnny kicked off his shoes and padded inside, laying Kun down on the couch and opening his shoes. Kun was still asleep even as Johnny peeled off his jacket and scarf, curling against the couch.
“Baby. We’re home. Let’s clean up before bed. Do you want me to help you wash up?” Johnny asked softly, carding his hand through Kun’s thick lock.
He really felt bad about waking Kun up but he knew Kun would be mad in the morning knowing they went to bed with their outside clothes. Kun also had a strict nighttime routine and would wake up upset if he missed them. Johnny would rather clean up a half asleep Kun rather than facing his wrath tomorrow.
Making his final choice, Johnny stripped Kun down to his underwear before carrying him to the bathroom, sitting him on the toilet bowl. Kun frowned, opening one eye.
“Johnnyy. Sleep.”
“Of course. We’ll sleep after this. I’ll help you clean up first. Let me get your underwear off, baby. Will you help me?” Johnny asked softly.
Kun whined but obediently lifted his hip so Johnny could take off his underwear.
Johnny patiently took a face towel, wetting it with warm water, before wiping Kun’s face and body, being careful with his tender chest and the pregnant belly. Kun looked gorgeous, even pregnant. Even more so while pregnant.
Kun had been self conscious about his inevitable physical changes. They’ve been friends since the awkward teenager era, so they’ve seen each other in many phases of life. Johnny knows Kun had his struggles with body image, and had only been comfortable with how he looked some time after college when puberty finally stopped and he had grown to accept his body the way it is.
Johnny loved him. As a chubby acne prone fifteen year old Kun, as the lanky and nerdy twenty year old Kun, as the gorgeous and confident twenty five year old Kun, and even more so now as a pregnant and glowing thirty year old Kun.
Johnny quickly fetched a fluffy dry towel, drying Kun’s body before he shivered from cold, and grabbed the nearest clothing item at their bathroom rack.
Kun’s skin became more sensitive after being pregnant, so his go to for sleeping is this silky pajamas from this one particular brand. It’s soft and cool to the touch, easy and gentle on the skin, and it’s loose enough around his belly.
Johnny patiently buttoned the top and helped Kun into his bottoms before carrying him back to the bed.
“Johnny?”
Johnny smiled upon hearing the sleepy mumble.
“Hmm? Skincare first, baby. Go back to sleep. I got you.”
Kun had his own skincare routine that he adheres to religiously. After knowing he’s pregnant, he had to change his products. The skin took time to adjust, and combined with the horror of the first trimester, Kun used to look pale and gaunt. But now, he’s back to being healthy and glowing. Johnny knew the routine like the back of his own hand now.
First, a gentle toner. Then, a pregnancy safe hydrating serum. Lastly, a thick moisturizer. Kun said his skin became dry and peeled off easily like a reptile during the shedding season after being pregnant. This skincare routine helps a lot. And so Johnny carefully applied the products one by one, grinning when he saw how plump and moist Kun’s skin now.
Next, comes Johnny’s favorite routine.
One thing Kun had worried about was the stretch mark around his tummy and hips. Johnny didn’t mind them—he found them kind of hot, even. But it bothers Kun a lot, especially since they’re expecting a large baby.
It turned out that stretch marks are beyond physical images. Kun’s previously smooth and flat tummy had to stretch beyond imagination to accommodate their growing baby, and in the process, it was very uncomfortable. Their pregnant friends had testified that stretchmarks can be very itchy and annoying. In Kun’s case, since his skin somehow dried out a lot during pregnancy, the skin sometimes peeled, making it painful too.
Johnny doesn’t like Kun suffering.
Upon tips from Taeyong, Doyoung, Winwin, and Kun’s doctor, they’ve found a good routine. Every morning and every night, Kun had to meticulously apply an oil and a very thick moisturizer to keep his skin smooth and supple. At first Kun used to do it himself, but then Johnny saw that and found the routine to be adorable.
Johnny took the routine as his, making it a good chance for him to bond with their baby too.
Kun had lied sideways, snoozing off. Johnny knelt on the floor, squirting some oil on his palms, rubbing them to make it warm, before softly lathering it on Kun’s bump. Johnny felt a light kick, very light, almost imperceptible.
“Ssh, hey, pup. It’s night time. Go to sleep,” Johnny whispered chastisingly to the bump.
“Do you feel happy today, bud? Your ba had a lot of fun. It’s his day and everyone celebrates him. Everyone including us found out your gender too. We’re happy with anything, and we’re delighted to know that you’re a boy. You have three friends already. Eunseok, Sungchan, and Taro are all looking forward to meeting you.”
The baby kicked again and Johnny laughed, pressing a soft kiss to it.
“We love you so much, baby boy. You’re growing big so fast, I hope you’re healthy inside. Your baba takes such good care of you. Don’t worry, appa will take care of you and baba too. I live you both to the moon and back,” Johnny whispered.
He massaged the tummy some more carefully, being mindful of it, and then moving to now apply the moisturizing cream. Johnny squeezed some more cream, this time massaging Kun’s lower back, his aching calves, and his swollen feet. Kun had begun to complain about them lately, and massaging them at night seems to help a lot to make Kun sleep better.
Kun hummed, lightly purring in comfort with his eyes still closed, enjoying the massage. Johnny chuckled, closing the tubes and storing them before standing up so he could clean up himself.
“John?”
“Hmm?”
“Sleep?”
Johnny bent down, pressing a kiss to Kun’s forehead, “In ten minutes, sweetie. Let me take a quick shower and change first, and then I’ll join you. Sleep, baby.”
Kun mumbled something unintelligible, too sleepy to make a coherent response.
Johnny made sure to be quick, tidying up Kun’s clothes they left on the couch, before rushing to shower and change into his sleeping attire. He dressed into an old pajama pants, deciding to forego a top, before quietly slipping under the warm covers.
Kun was still sleeping, unperturbed. It’s not midnight yet, but today’s event must’ve been too tiring for a pregnant Kun. Johnny quietly took the forgotten pregnancy pillow, slipping it under Kun’s back and leg.
“Johnny?”
“Hmm? You kept waking up. Sleep, baby.”
“Today’s my birthday,” Kun mumbled, half-asleep.
Johnny huffed a small chuckle, easily draping himself over Kun’s back, one hand going around the front, slipping under the shirt to gently caress the round belly.
Their baby boy gave a light kick of approval.
“Did you have fun today?”
“Mm hmm. Happy.”
“Happy birthday, my love. Stay healthy, okay? Let’s grow old together, raise our little boy together. I love you both so much.”
Kun smiled, feeling Johnny pressed a soft kiss at the back of his nape.
“Pancake.”
“Hm?”
“Wan’ your pancake again tomorrow.”
Johnny chuckled, feeling a light flutter under his palm, their baby moving inside Kun’s tummy as if emphasizing his craving for pancakes.
“With berries and cream?”
“Yeah. Lots of them.”
“Pancakes with lots of berries and cream for my two babies tomorrow then. Sleep now, baby. And little pup, please let your baba wake up late tomorrow.”
Johnny received a light kick under his hand in response.
“Johnny?”
Kun turned back and Johnny raised his brows in question.
“Kiss.”
Johnny chuckled at Kun’s pouty lips. He leaned in, pressing a long kiss, feeling Kun grow lax in his arms.
“Happy birthday, baby. Love you.”
With a full heart, Kun closed his eyes and slept.
Happy thirtieth birthday, Kunnie. To more years with you.
🐱🐻🐶
It's your birthday
Every day is full of you
I turn round and round by your side
Let's be together again to celebrate
🐱🐻🐶
[epilogue]
March 21st, 2025.
Kun gave birth to a healthy baby boy at only 34 weeks of gestation—baby got too big, Kun's blood pressure got too high, and the doctor decided that early delivery would be the best option for both Kun and the baby.
Suh Chanyoung was born weighing a whopping 3885 grams despite being born almost a month earlier than he's supposed to. Cried like a beast once out of the womb, and nursed for milk like a competitive eater. A calm and docile baby who seemingly inherit Johnny's ability to sleep through the craziest storm, a foodie who never refused milk or food.
Chanyoung who wakes up every three hours for milk, Chanyoung who loves warm bath, and Chanyoung who enjoyed dozing off in the arms of his fathers. Chanyoung who was treasured by everyone, Chanyoung who cannot sleep without a puppy plushie his parents bought him for his one month old birthday gift.
Chanyoung would grew to fast for Kun's liking. Johnny passed down his gigantic genes well, and Kun didn't know if he's supposed to be pleased or sad when Chanyoung grew taller than him even when the boy was still in middle school.
Kun ended up giving birth to two more times—to another gigantic boy just a little over a year after Chanyoung, Daeyoung, and finally a girl (also a giant baby) four years later, Yoonah.
Daeyoung weighed 3780 grams when he was born. Yoonah weighed 3700 grams. All through surgeries, delivered before they got too big and endangering Kun's safety. After Yoonah, Johnny got vasectomy. There ain't no way he could stand watching Kun suffering to another gigantic pregnancy.
To no one's surprise, all three kids grew way taller than Kun—even their daughter. Three giants and one midget in the Suh-Qian household.
It's alright. That means, Kun now has four giants protecting him and loving him, celebrating him as he always deserved.
Happy birthday, Baba! You are always loved!