THE FIRST thing Cho Euntak did after making it official was to introduce Baek Jeho to his closest friends.

"Sohee Hyung, Sera Noona, this is my boyfriend— Baek Jeho."

Yes, his closest friends were Park Sohee and Hong Sera— both older than him.

We’re the Crybabies Trio.

"Hello, Sohee Hyung, Sera Noona," Baek Jeho greeted the two politely with a bow, and then he placed two simple yet elegant boxes on the table. "For you."

Baek Jeho insisted on bringing gifts.

Since they were hanging out in Park Sohee’s house, Baek Jeho also brought gifts for Kim Heedo and the twins (Kim Woochul and Kim Woosung).

And...

"Oh, you have a gift for Seowon, too," Hong Sera said, her face beaming. The ’Seowon’ she mentioned was the child of her maybe-or-maybe not boyfriend. Nothing was official yet between the two. "You brought gifts for Kim Heedo. Did you not prepare anything for Semin Oppa?"

"I’ll give him a gift once you’re officially dating him, Noona," Baek Jeho said bluntly. "I don’t hand gifts to strangers."

Hong Sera frowned, but didn’t complain. "Well, at least you brought a gift for Seowon."

"Seowon is a child that Euntak is fond of, so of course, I have to give her a present."

Aigoo.

Cho Euntak couldn’t help but smile at how thoughtful Baek Jeho was.

"Aigoo," Park Sohee said, clicking his tongue while shaking his head. "Someone is down so bad."

Hong Sera nodded in agreement. "Baek Jeho, you know that this is your last chance, don’t you? Our Cho Euntak isn’t the same person you used to know. He can and will dump you if you mess up again."

Cho Euntak nodded eagerly. "That’s right."

"See?" Park Sohee said while looking at Cho Euntak proudly. "I raised Cho Euntak and Hong Sera to no longer be a pushover."

"Yes, I can tell, Hyung," Baek Jeho said, nodding. "And, yes, I also know that this is my last chance already. I’ll make it work, no matter what." He then looked back and forth between Park Sohee and Hong Sera. "Thank you for taking care of our Euntak, Sohee Hyung, Sera Noona. But, from now on, it’s my main job to do so."

Park Sohee and Hong Sera complained playfully.

Cho Euntak, on the other hand, couldn’t stop blushing and smiling.

It’s finally sinking in— Baek Jeho is really my boyfriend now.

***

"HELLO, Heedo Sunbae, Jaewon Sunbae, Gaon Sunbae," Cho Euntak greeted the three (scary) Alphas politely while handing each one of them a neat paper bag that contained gifts. "Thank you for your help last time."

"Hyungs, Cho Euntak and I are dating now," Baek Jeho said proudly. "We wanted to thank you for helping us get together, so here we are."

Cho Euntak nodded in agreement.

Earlier, Baek Jeho greeted Park Sohee and Hong Sera (who were now in the babies’ room to play with the twins).

Now it was Cho Euntak’s turn to greet Baek Jeho’s close hyungs.

Thankfully, Yang Jaewon and Kwon Gaon visited Kim Heedo’s house that day to see the twins.

Yes, Baek Jeho and I planned this visit very carefully.

"You know, I’m starting to regret helping the two of you get together," Kim Heedo said in a serious— yet obviously teasing— tone. "I’m sorry, Cho Euntak. I feel like I’ve ruined your life by pushing Baek Jeho to you."

Pfft.

Baek Jeho glared at Kim Heedo, causing Yang Jaewon to burst out laughing. Even Kwon Gaon, known for being stoic, suddenly smiled widely.

They really love teasing Baek Jeho, huh?

That made Cho Euntak chuckle.

"If Baek Jeho makes you cry, just tell me and Sohee Hyung," Kim Heedo said. "We’ll punish Baek Jeho for you, Cho Euntak."

"Oh, Kim Heedo is being serious now," Yang Jaewon said, patting Kim Heedo’s shoulder. "Take advantage of this, Euntak-ah. Since Sohee Hyung treats you like his precious little brother, Kim Heedo will really take care of you."

"You can also depend on us," Kwon Gaon said, making Kim Heedo and Yang Jaewon nod in agreement. "We’ll take your side, no questions asked."

Cho Euntak chuckled. "What if I was the one in the wrong and hurt Baek Jeho, Hyungs?"

Kim Heedo, Yang Jaewon, and Kwon Gaon answered at the same time: "Baek Jeho probably deserves it."

Aigoo.

Cho Euntak looked at Baek Jeho and joked: "Eottoke? They hate you, Jeho-ya."

"It’s fine. I’m glad that they’ll take your side. I won’t hurt you, of course. But I’m still relieved that there are many people that you can rely on, Euntak-ah," Baek Jeho said, smiling at Cho Euntak while secretly giving Kim Heedo, Yang Jaewon, and Kwon Gaon a middle finger— causing the three hyungs to snicker. "If I hurt you in the future, don’t hesitate to ask these annoying hyungs to beat me up for you."

***

AFTER MEETING their friends, it was now time to meet the parents.

Cho Euntak brought Baek Jeho to his house to meet his parents.

Of course, Baek Jeho brought a lot of expensive gifts, causing his mother and father to scold him lightly.

But I have a feeling that Baek Jeho will still bring expensive presents in the future.

Anyways...

His mother and father’s reaction when Cho Euntak introduced Baek Jeho as his boyfriend was pretty interesting.

"It’s about time that you two get together," his mother said, not an ounce of surprise on her face. "I’ve always known that you are into each other, but Baek Jeho is a bit dense. Or, more like a coward?"

Pfft.

Cho Euntak’s father nodded in agreement. "I’ve always known that this would happen. But I only have one concern, Jeho-ya."

Baek Jeho, who was already sitting properly, straightened up even more. "Please tell me, Father-in-law."

Nobody corrected Baek Jeho.

His parents acted like Baek Jeho had been calling them that way for so long.

Of course, that made Cho Euntak smile.

I’m glad to see them get along.

"Our family is comfortable, but we’re just an ordinary middle-class family. On the other hand, we know that your family is on a different level— you’re on the level of chaebols," Cho Euntak’s father said worriedly. "So, I’m worried about what your family thinks about the social gap between you and my son."

Ah.

That thought never crossed Cho Euntak’s mind before.

After all, Baek Jeho and his mother never made me feel like I was inferior to them.

His mother didn’t say anything, so that meant she was worried about that, too.

Aigoo.

"Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, please don’t worry about that. My family, especially my mother, doesn’t care about that. She loves Euntak," Bake Jeho said confidently. "And, even if my family were against Euntak, I wouldn’t listen to them— I’d choose Cho Euntak over them."

Aww.

Cho Euntak had no intention of making Baek Jeho estrange from his family, but he was still glad to hear that from his boyfriend.

Thankfully, his parents looked satisfied with Baek Jeho’s response, too.

Whew.

But wait.

Why does this feel like Baek Jeho is asking for my hand in marriage?

***

FINALLY, it was time to meet Baek Jeho’s mother.

Of course, Cho Euntak was nervous, especially now that Baek Jeho’s mother looked cold, unlike before.

And he knew why.

Baek Jeho said that his mom is receiving therapy, and it’s true that she looks a bit depressed. Auntie used to be a ray of sunshine. But she looks really gloomy now.

That made Cho Euntak worry.

What if Auntie doesn’t believe in love anymore, so she can’t be happy for me and Baek Jeho?

But the first thing that his future mother-in-law said was...

"So, when is the wedding?"

Cho Euntak gasped, a little flustered.

Isn’t it too early for this kind of talk?!

***

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