Chapter Text
The light drizzle pouring down the window pane did nothing to spark inspiration as hyunjin groaned for the second time in the span of few minutes, twirling the stylus pen in between his finger and glaring at his iPad like it personally offended him.
Usually rainy days were one his most favourite days as he can rewind and relax while listening to the sound of rain hitting against the roof and the windows, the comfortable coldness draping the room and the inflow of ideas going thrown his head, steadily reaching flow state.
And yet today he seems to be on artist block- or whatever it's called- because he can't seem to come up with a good design for a logo of a business he commissioned with the promise of finishing it within 4 weeks, while ensuring that it is good quality, fits the whole entire theme and concept they are going for.
Hyunjin let out a groan and banged his head on the table, dropping the pen onto the table and decided to just do a bit of colour analysis, review the design brief and finish it off for today.
He can agonise over design ideas tomorrow when he is in a better mindset.
The train of thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a tiny giggle coming from the door that was slightly cracked open, with soft orange light streaming into the kitchen- making him instantly turn around with a soft smile.
"Agiyaa~" hyunjin cooed as he got up from where he was hunched on the kitchen table, his left leg propped up to sit more comfortably.
He pushed open the door and was immediately greeted with a sight that made him beam affectionately, his scent blooming into ripe cherry blossom.
Jongwoo-his child was laying on the crib, babbling away nonsense with his hands up in the air, making grabby hands as drool dripped from the corner of his mouth.
It was an endearing sight, as the older watched while leaning against the doorframe.
"Jongwooya Appa is here!" He announced loudly to the baby who immediately turned around, letting out happy noises as he shakes his little legs eagerly.
Hyunjin grabbed the baby handkerchief draped on the crib frame before gently wiping the baby's mouth, earning some soft giggles in return.
He picked up the baby and stared back at the carbon copy of himself- but with big round eyes, soft chubby cheeks and a healthy pudgy body.
"Buddy is it feeding time? You seem quite lightweight than usual." The baby let out some gurgle in response, making the older smile.
"Feeding time it is."
-•-•-
Hyunjin rummaged around the kitchen cabinet after feeding jongwoo, who is currently tracking his every moment from where his laying in hyunjin's arms. He was careful not to jostle him while trying to find something to eat.
"Should I eat cereal and milk joonie?"
Hyunjin asked the baby while looking for the cereal box, only to find it completely empty.
Hyunjin blinked at it in astonishment.
"Huh.. I don't remember it being empty...do you joonie?" The baby babbled in reply, and it finally clicked.
"Aha! I finished it last Monday while I was so engrossed with drawing a picture of you. Thank you jongwoo." Hyunjin smiled before giving an Eskimo kiss, making the baby laugh.
"Alright... Milk and cereal is out of the options...so how about we check the fridge?" He wandered out loud before opening the fridge which was adjacent to the cabinets.
Cool air immediately rushed out as jongwoo let out a surprised noise.
Hyunjin stared at the completely desolate rows, only inhabited by a lonely expired milk carton, a large kimchi container and a bunch of mouldy spinach stuffed into the crisper.
He let out a sigh.
"Guess it's time to stock up huh? Must have been too busy to realise that the refrigator is completely empty.... I wonder if we have any kimchi left?"
He mumbled out before he decided that he needed his two hands free- so he laid the baby on the couch, wedged between two baby bolster pillows to make sure he doesn't fall off, before going back to the kitchen and opening the kimchi container perched on the shelf compartment.
Inside, there was a bit of kimchi left, the tangy spicy umami scent making his mouth water.
"Guess we are just eating kimchi and rice for lunch today." Hyunjin decided with a sigh.
-•-•-
After he finished eating and chugged some electrolyte he found in a random cabinet, hyunjin decided to go out for grocery shopping before he procrastinates it.
The slow drizzle has now tapered off into a light sprinkle with the bright orange sun finally emerging from under the heavy rain clouds.
Hyunjin stepped into the elevator dressed in dark brown short-sleeved shirt and washed out baggy denim jeans, with jongwoo carefully strapped onto him with a baby wrap carrier.
He pressed the button to ground floor as the elevator closed, the machine letting out a hum as it descended down from the top floor.
The air was fairly humid as hyunjin stepped out, pressing on the scent blocker slapped onto his scent gland to ensure it is sticked on properly.
It took a few minutes to flag a taxi, and once he reached the shopping mall in the district, he thanked the driver and paid his fee before stepping out.
Rain puddles clung to the surface of the roads and the sidewalk pavements, the prominent earthy petrichor smell making him grimace as he dodged past the puddles while crossing the busy roads.
jongwoo was sucking a pacifier after the older noticed that he was sucking his tongue more than usual, making him occasionally smile as the baby let out noises and shook his little arms in excitement.
The shopping mall was bustling with people as he entered from the automatic door which let out a small huff, the doors parting upon his entry.
"So..what should we get first?" Hyunjin asked jongwoo who just blinked back at him with big round eyes, aggressively sucking on his pacifier.
"Groceries it is."
After stocking up his groceries, with his left hand filled with plastic bags that he constantly shifted from one hand to another- he instantly ran towards the food court as he got distracted by the appetising aroma of junk food like oily fried chicken, fresh bread and fried sausage coming from the top floor.
-•-•-
It’s to enjoy myself... I should spend money on myself every once in a while... he thought- desperately trying to convince himself that eating an obnoxious amount of stuffed bread and jajangmyeon wouldn't make his wallet cry.
Mentally checking off all the items he brought, he decided to finish off for today before he spends more money than he was originally supposed to- and besides, jongwoo is still incredibly fussy after using the escalator- which he harbours a hate over for some reason.
Best to go home quickly before jongwoo starts getting too overwhelmed and start crying.
He thought while impatiently waiting for the elevator to come.
He froze in anticipation as the elevator finally slid open with a loud ding!- and immediately hesitated with seeing how crowded the elevator was.
Begrudgingly, he decided to get in so that they can go home quickly.
He bowed briefly to everyone in the elevator while pressing to ground floor, feeling extremely awkward as he stood Infront of a blond who looks about the same age as him.
Hyunjin didn't want to assume anyone's sub gender but the blond appears to be an omega, with all soft features and a skinny petite frame.
He smiled momentarily at the stranger before looking away due to the slight redness creeping up on his ears.
Damn his social battery dying at the worst times.
I'm so glad that everyone is using scent blockers. with how anxious I am- all the strong pheromones spinning around would makes me nauseous.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he failed to notice the slight movement as jongwoo peeked behind him, looking at the blond who immediately noticed as he beamed in excitement.
"Hey baby." The blonde cooed as he momentarily patted jongwoo's head which was visibly poking out to a side now- before grabbing his left hand and lightly shaking it.
It immediately triggered his protective instincts- watching some stranger touching his child, who looked slightly uncomfortable- as he glared at the blonde who was completely oblivious to it.
He was boiling with rage as he growled quietly.
"Let go of my child."
The blond immediately flinched at the hostility of the tone as he stepped back, his round eyes doe eyes widening in fear like he didn't mean it- making hyunjin falter with guilt for a split second before it was swallowed by his anger.
He stared back at the blond coldy, and watched how the fear morphed into slight irritation and rationalization.
"I-I wasn't going to do anything!-your overreacting-" he spluttered out defensively instead of apologising, crossing his arms like he was protecting himself.
Hyunjin's eye widened in shock and incredulously at the reply before his anger hit him full force, trying not to cause a bigger scene by clenching his fist tightly.
The tension was palpable despite the lack of angry pheromones, as the elevator door finally opened to ground floor just in time- as if realising how close they were to throwing hands.
The elevator was deadly quite as hyunjin was the first dart out, not bothering to glance at the others faces partly due to being embarrassed and ashamed at causing a scene in public, yet seething mad at what happened.
"Stupid mother loving asshat thinking he can touch other people's children without permission and instead of apologising, coming up with flimsy excuses- and saying I was overreacting-" hyunjin mumbled angrily under his breath while furiously walking towards the exit.
He only halted once he realised to his dismay- the rain has kicked up heavily, and stupid him forgot to bring an umbrella.
Hyunjin took a deep breath to calm himself down so he won't combust in anger and also because jongwoo was visibly getting anxious as he let out muffled whines- as if realising the shift in his mood.
"Shush agiya... please don't cry I'm okay."
Hyunjin crooned as jongwoo spat out the pacifier and started wailing loudly.
It took a good few minutes to stop him from crying as hyunjin dropped all the bags onto the floor near the entrance and rocked him back and forth while walking in circles.
Hyunjin could see some familiar faces from the lift emerging from that area out of the corner of his eyes, which he visibly ignored- especially since hyunjin did not want to see him when he's in the middle of a crisis.
He was completely drained by the time jongwoo stopped crying, resorting to staring at the sight of rain dripping down the window as people continued shuffling around, trying to find shelter.
As the sound of rain pounding against the roof started to increase, more people found shelter near the entrance- and soon there was a large crowd surrounding him and making him feel suffocated.
he finally decided to go home rain be damned- dragging the shopping bags and walking towards the entrance with jungwoo half asleep all cuddled up after his crying session, sleepily sucking on his pacifier.
Never going shopping again.
he thought grumpily, not realising that this just might actually be the last time he might ever go shopping again.