ALWAYS SHYY

The tablet was resting innocently on the glass coffee table, showing the full slideshow of your anniversary trip to Bali.

On the screen was a snapshot on the sand: the golden-hour sun catching your sun-kissed skin, you laughing softly in a breezy, open-back beach sundress and matching resort swimwear, while Felix stood beside you in board shorts, sun-drenched and carefree with an arm slung lazily around your waist.

The picture was beautiful, classy, and utterly normal for a beach trip.

Your brothers weren't upset at all—in fact, they thought you looked glowing. But the second your eyes caught the screen in front of all seven of them, the blood rushed straight to your face in an overwhelming wave of pure embarrassment.

They were looking at you in vacation beachwear.

You immediately froze mid-step, your chin dropping to your chest as your face turned bright crimson. Instinctively, you took two quick paces sideways, hiding almost entirely behind Felix's broad shoulder. Your fingers twisted into the soft wool of his sweater, clutching the fabric like an absolute lifeline as you pressed your burning forehead against the space between his shoulder blades.

Felix felt the sudden, desperate tug. A low, thoroughly charmed rumble of laughter vibrated in his chest. He didn't pull away; instead, he smoothly shifted his stance to block you from direct view, offering you a human wall while his hand reached behind his back to find your trembling fingers.

"Aish, look at her," Jin chuckled softly from the couch, shaking his head with fond, warm eyes. "Yah, why are you hiding back there like a frightened bunny? We're just looking at your photos!"

"The view is incredible," Namjoon agreed easily, leaning back with his arms crossed over the sofa cushions, his dimples flashing. "The light in Uluwatu really suited you. You look healthy and well-rested."

"Princess, come sit down!" Jimin cooed from the carpet, resting his chin on his hands as he peered around Felix's hip, trying to catch a glimpse of your blushing face. "You look so pretty in that white dress, like a fairy! Why are your ears so red? Oppas aren't saying anything bad, we promise!"

Taehyung leaned forward, pointing at another candid on the screen where you were wearing an oversized linen shirt over your bikini, holding a coconut. "I like this one the best. The colors look like a movie poster. Did Felix take all of these?"

"Every single one," Felix answered with an easy, proud grin. He squeezed your fingers where you held onto his sweater, his voice dropping into that deep, private, Australian-tinted cadence meant just for you. "Sweetheart, look at me. It's just the photos from the villa. They love them."

From his armchair, Yoongi took a slow sip of his iced tea, his lips twitching into a subtle, knowing smirk. "Leave her alone, Jimin-ah. You know she can't handle eye contact for ten minutes after walking in the door, let alone with you all staring at her holiday pictures."

Jungkook was already swiping to the next photo on the tablet, laughing under his breath. "She's twenty-five and married, and she still treats us like the principal's office. Hey... the ocean looked really clear here, though. Did you go snorkeling?"

You couldn't even answer. The mere thought of looking up while they were discussing your vacation photos had your cheeks burning hot enough to fry an egg. You just buried your face further into the back of Felix's coat, giving a tiny, bashful shake of your head.

Mrs. Kim walked into the room carrying a porcelain bowl of fresh fruit, clicking her tongue fondly at the sight of you tucked entirely out of sight. "Stop teasing your sister, the lot of you. She's tired from the drive." She set the bowl down and smiled warmly. "Felix, bring your shy little wife over to the dining table. Dinner's ready."

Felix chuckled again, his chest shaking against your forehead. He gently reached back, peeling your hands off his sweater only to lace his fingers firmly through yours. Turning around, he wrapped his other arm securely around your waist, nudging your chin up with the soft brush of his knuckle until your wide, hopelessly flushed eyes met his warm ones.

"They're just complimenting you, pretty girl," Felix murmured softly, brushing a strand of hair behind your burning ear before pressing a quick, sweet kiss to your temple. "Come on. We'll sit next to your mom, okay? I've got you."

The afternoon sun filtered through the sheer curtains of the Kim family estate, painting the polished hardwood floors in warm, golden tones. The house was lively, carrying the rich, comforting aromas of slow-braised short ribs and garlic broth drifting from the kitchen where your parents were preparing Sunday dinner.

You had stepped away to the guest washroom for just three minutes to wash your hands, leaving your phone resting face-up on the glass coffee table in the center of the living room.

That was your fatal mistake.

Jin had wandered over to grab his spectacles off the console table, glancing casually down at the coffee table as your screen suddenly flared to life with a rapid-fire string of notifications. Being the oldest and entirely without shame when it came to his siblings, he leaned in to squint at the screen.

Then his eyes went the size of dinner plates.

Within thirty seconds, Hoseok and Jimin were hovering on either side of him. Jungkook leaned over the back of the sofa, squinting at the glowing banners, while Taehyung sat crossed-legged on the rug, tilting his head with intense curiosity. Even Namjoon, who was originally minding his own business with a magazine, had wandered over to see why the entire room had suddenly gone dead silent.

There, glowing in crisp, undeniable high definition against your wallpaper, was the unread thread:

Felix ❤️ (1:42 PM) You looked unreal when you walked out of the closet earlier. That silk slip didn’t stand a chance, baby. Felix ❤️ (1:44 PM) I had to force myself to put my keys in my pocket and walk out the door instead of carrying you straight back to our bed. Felix ❤️ (1:48 PM) Wear that dark knit dress today. The one that hugs your hips just right. Felix ❤️ (1:51 PM) Be a good girl and don't make me wait too long at your parents' house tonight. The second we pull into our driveway, I'm taking that dress off with my teeth. Felix ❤️ (1:53 PM) See you in ten minutes, pretty girl. Leave your hair down for me.

When you stepped out of the washroom, smoothing the hem of the exact fitted dark knit dress Felix had demanded you wear, the living room felt like a vacuum.

Seven grown men stood frozen in various states of shock.

Namjoon had his broad palm clamped firmly over his entire face, clearing his throat so hard it sounded like an engine sputtering. Hoseok was clutching a sofa pillow to his chest, his jaw dropped in sheer disbelief, his face flushed pink right down to his collar. Jin’s mouth was opening and closing like a goldfish in pure scandalized indignation.

Yoongi was the only one who leaned forward from his armchair, reaching out with two steady fingers to calmly flip the phone face-down with a dry exhale. "I didn't see that. None of us saw that."

"Too late, my soul has departed," Jimin wheezed in an octave so high it could shatter crystal, burying his face into the sofa cushions while kicking his feet in chaotic glee. "'With my teeth'?! I'm going to pass out! Oppa is permanently blind! Who gave Felix permission to type that?!"

"Yah!" Jin finally exploded, his voice cracking dramatically as he flapped his hands in the air. "Felix Lee! What kind of degenerate romance novel is being produced in your household?! I am an elder! I have cooked for this family for thirty-three years! I didn't need to read about dresses being dismantled by dental work!"

Jungkook was staring at the space where the phone had been, a slow, wicked smirk spreading across his face as his eyes flicked to you. "So... that’s why you wore that specific dress today."

Taehyung rested his chin on his palm, humming deeply with a deadpan stare. "Very descriptive. Very poetic. I'm calling the police."

The sheer, catastrophic horror hit you all at once.

Every drop of blood in your body rushed straight into your face, burning hotter than molten lava. A strangled, pathetic squeak caught in your throat. Your hands flew up to cover your mouth, your knees turning to jelly as your vision swam with pure, unadulterated humiliation. Every single intimate thought between you and your husband of three years had just been laid out for your seven older brothers like a Sunday buffet.

You couldn't look at them. You couldn't breathe. The sheer instinct to flee took over, and you spun around on your heels to bolt toward the garden terrace—

Right into a wall of solid, tailored linen.

Strong, warm hands caught you by the waist before you could trip over your own feet. Felix, who had just stepped back inside after taking a work call on the patio, easily absorbed the impact of your trembling body against his chest.

"Woah," Felix rumbled softly, his deep voice immediately vibrating against your collarbone. He looked down, taking in your burning, nuclear-red cheeks and the sheer, desperate panic in your eyes. "Hey... what's wrong, baby? Why are you shaking?"

You didn't answer. You couldn't. With a tiny, mortified whimper, you buried your face straight into the hollow of his neck, your hands twisting frantically into the fabric of his jacket, practically trying to climb inside his clothes to disappear from reality.

"Felix," Jungkook called out from the couch, crossing his arms and grinning like a menace. "You have... very urgent plans for tonight, huh?"

"A true gentleman," Hoseok gasped through breathless laughter, rolling onto his back on the carpet. "Such manners! Such passion! I will never look at teeth the same way again!"

Felix’s dark brows furrowed slightly. His eyes flicked from Jungkook’s teasing smirk to the face-down phone on the table, to Jin’s burning ears, and finally down to the back of your head, where your fingers were clutching his jacket with white-knuckle desperation.

A slow, devilish realization dawned on his features.

Felix didn't blush. He didn't stutter. He didn't even look mildly flustered. Instead, a low, dark chuckle rumbled in the depths of his chest, vibrating warmly right against your forehead where you hid against his skin.

He slid an arm firmly around your lower back, pulling you flush against him and effectively shielding your burning face from the seven pairs of eyes dissecting you. With his other hand, he gently cupped the back of your head, threading his fingers through your hair to keep your face tucked safely into his collar.

"Ah," Felix said smoothly, an effortless, charming smirk curving his lips as his gaze swept across your brothers. "Well. At least none of you have to worry about whether your sister is loved and desired, hyungs."

"YAH! HAVE SOME SHAME!" Jin roared, snatching a throw pillow and hurling it straight at Felix's chest, which Felix casually blocked with an elbow, laughing freely. "Look at her! She’s practically melting into the floorboards! She’s going to turn into pure ash right on my rug!"

"She's my wife," Felix reminded them with effortless cool, his deep Australian drawl dripping with lazy amusement. He leaned his head down, resting his cheek against the top of your hair, murmuring in a low, velvety whisper meant only for you: "Deep breaths, sweetheart. I told you that dress was dangerous, pretty girl. Now they know I don't bluff."

You let out another muffled, bashful groan straight into his skin, your fingers pinching his side in sweet retaliation.

"Stop teasing your sister!" Mrs. Kim’s voice suddenly rang out from the kitchen doorway as she walked in carrying a steaming platter of braised beef, followed closely by Mr. Kim. She took one look at the chaotic pile of laughing brothers and your desperate attempt to fuse with your husband's torso, instantly clicking her tongue. "Look at you seven, terrorizing the poor girl again. Sit down at the table, right now, before I let your father handle you."

Mr. Kim gave all seven sons a single, quiet look over the rims of his reading glasses that made Jin instantly clear his throat and sit upright like a schoolboy, while Jungkook and Jimin scrambled to set the table.

Mr. Kim then turned his warm gaze toward you and Felix, his expression softening into an indulgent, fatherly smile. "Come sit, princess. Felix, take the seat next to me."

Felix offered a respectful nod to your father, but he didn't loosen his hold on you for a single second. Keeping his arm wrapped tightly around your waist, he gently guided your unsteady legs toward the dining room, pressing a warm, lingering kiss against your burning temple while your brothers watched with fond, suppressed smirks.

"Come on, my pretty girl," Felix murmured softly against your ear, rubbing a slow, comforting circle at the small of your back. "Just sit next to me and your mom. I've got you covered."

The velvet jewelry box in your handbag didn't hold earrings or a bracelet. Tucked inside on white satin was a clear plastic stick displaying two distinct pink lines.

You were pregnant.

You and Felix had found out three days ago, crying and laughing into each other’s arms in your bathroom. But today was family dinner, and Felix had gently nudged that you should share the news with your parents and brothers.

The mere thought made your stomach twist into knots of sheer, suffocating bashfulness.

It was utterly irrational. You were twenty-five. You had been happily married to Felix for three full years. Everyone in the family had functional eyes and common sense—they knew you were husband and wife. But your painfully shy brain couldn't get past the mortifying logic: telling them you were pregnant was literally announcing to your seven older brothers that you and Felix did that.

Now, sitting at the long mahogany dining table, you were picking silently at your bowl of steamed rice, your face perpetually flushed light pink.

Felix sat beside you, his long fingers resting naturally over your knee beneath the heavy linen tablecloth. Every few minutes, his thumb would trace slow, reassuring circles against your fabric, a silent reminder that he was right there.

"Princess, you've barely touched your short ribs," Jin pointed out with a frown, setting down his chopsticks and leaning forward over the table. "I marinated them for two days. Felix, did you feed her pastries before coming here? Why is she eating like a sparrow?"

"She's just a bit tired, hyung," Felix covered smoothly, smiling easily as he reached over to ladle a spoonful of seaweed soup into your bowl. "Eat a little broth, sweetheart. It’s good for you."

Mrs. Kim looked between you and your untouched dish, her sharp maternal intuition ticking behind warm eyes. "Darling, are you feeling unwell? Your cheeks are so flushed, but you look pale around your lips."

"I-I'm fine, Eomma," you managed in a tiny, quiet voice, staring resolutely down into your bowl. You could feel the collective gaze of all seven brothers shifting toward you like heat lamps.

Jimin tilted his head, resting his chin on his palm with soft, concerned eyes. "Did Felix make you mad? If he made you mad, oppa will handle it."

"No!" you blurted out quickly, your face instantly burning hotter. "No, he didn't... Felix is great."

Jungkook raised an eyebrow across from you, chewing on a piece of pickled radish. "Then why do you look like you're about to confess to a crime?"

Under the table, your hand reached over and clamped onto Felix’s thigh with white-knuckle desperation. Your knuckles turned pale. Your heart was thumping against your ribs so loud you were convinced Namjoon could hear it from across the table.

Felix looked down at your trembling grip, then looked up at your wide, panicked eyes pleading silently with him: Please don't say it, please, I can't, they'll know.

A thoroughly charmed, infinitely tender smile curved Felix's lips. He covered your shaking hand with his broad palm, intertwining your fingers tightly and bringing them up from under the table to rest directly over his lap in plain view.

"Actually," Felix began, his deep, resonant voice cutting clearly through the clinking of porcelain and chopsticks.

The entire table went dead silent.

Jin paused with his water glass halfway to his mouth. Yoongi slowly shifted his gaze from his rice to Felix. Mr. Kim set his silver spoon down with quiet interest.

"Felix, please," you whimpered in a whisper so quiet only he could hear it, turning your head completely to bury your burning face against the shoulder of his jacket, practically trying to vanish into the weave of his fabric.

Felix didn't let go of your hand. Instead, he wrapped his other arm firmly around your trembling shoulders, tucking you against his chest to protect your blushing face from the firing squad of eyes, while his free hand reached into your coat pocket and pulled out the small velvet box.

He set it gently on the table right in front of Mr. and Mrs. Kim, clicking the latch open.

"She was far too shy to say it herself," Felix said, his Australian drawl softening with immense warmth and pride as his eyes crinkled. "We're having a baby."

For three agonizing seconds, nobody breathed.

Then Mrs. Kim gasped, both hands flying to her mouth as tears instantly welled in her eyes. "Oh, my sweet girl! Yeobo, look!"

Mr. Kim’s usually stern face broke into the widest, proudest grin you had ever seen, his chest swelling as he leaned over the table. "A grandchild... My daughter is having a child!"

And then came the brothers.

"WHAT?!" Jin’s voice hit the ceiling, knocking his chair back an inch as he stood up, waving his hands frantically. "A baby?! A tiny one?! An actual niece or nephew?!"

"Wait, wait, wait," Jimin shrieked, clutching his head with both hands, bouncing frantically in his seat with tears of pure excitement springing to his eyes. "I'm going to be an uncle?! An uncle to my baby sister's baby?! Oh my god, she's so small, how is she holding a baby?!"

Taehyung was already out of his chair, walking around the table with wide, sparkling eyes to hover near you, looking at your stomach like it was a miraculous museum artifact. "Can we buy the crib tomorrow? I'm designing the nursery."

Hoseok was clapping loudly, laughing through happy tears. "Congratulations! Yah, Felix-ah, you did so well—"

Across the table, Jungkook froze mid-chew. His brain visibly processed the logistics for two seconds before his eyes widened into saucers, his jaw slightly dropping as he blurted out without thinking: "Wait... so that means you two—"

"JEON JUNGKOOK!" Namjoon roared instantly, smacking the younger boy’s arm with a folded napkin so hard it made a loud thwack, his own face turning slightly red as he cleared his throat. "Shut up! Have some decency! Congratulations, Felix. We're happy for both of you."

"Aish, this brat," Yoongi muttered, flicking Jungkook’s forehead before offering you and Felix a rare, gummy, completely fond smile. "Good job, kid. Eat your soup now."

At Jungkook's half-finished sentence, every single drop of blood in your body erupted into a five-alarm blaze. A muffled, agonizingly mortified whine escaped your throat. You didn't just hide your face—you wrapped both arms around Felix's waist, burying your burning face entirely into his chest, refusing to look at a single person in the room.

Felix let out a low, velvety laugh that vibrated straight through your ear, completely unbothered by the chaos.

He leaned down, pressing a lingering, tender kiss into the crown of your hair, his hand rubbing comforting strokes up and down your spine while your mother pushed a plate of fruit toward your side of the table with endless coos.

"See?" Felix whispered softly against your ear, his thumb brushing your burning cheek as he shielded you from your shouting brothers. "They're just thrilled, baby. You did great."

The nursery wing of your parents' home smelled faintly of baby powder, warm milk, and Mrs. Kim’s simmering herbal seaweed soups.

Two weeks had passed since you gave birth to two healthy, beautiful twin boys. Between the exhaustion of postpartum recovery and the overwhelming rush of caring for two newborns at once, your parents had strictly forbidden you and Felix from returning to your own apartment. You were staying at the family estate, pampered round the clock.

The living room looked like a luxury baby boutique had exploded across the carpets: plush blankets, diaper caddies, sound machines, and seven grown men hovering around two small, moss-green bassinets like an eager flock of mother hens.

Jin was delicately adjusting the swaddle on Baby Min-woo with the precision of a surgeon, whispering warnings at anyone who breathed too loud. Taehyung and Jimin were sprawled flat on their stomachs on the rug, practically hypnotized by the flutter of Baby Min-jae’s tiny eyelashes. Yoongi and Jungkook were sitting cross-legged on the floor, quietly organizing a mountain of baby onesies, while Namjoon and Hoseok watched the monitor feeds with hushed, proud smiles.

Mr. and Mrs. Kim sat on the adjoining sofa, watching their grandchildren with soft, serene smiles.

Everything was peaceful—until a tiny, high-pitched whimper broke the silence.

Then came the chorus. One twin started squirming, and within five seconds, the second twin’s lower lip quivered in sympathy. A pair of simultaneous, hungry newborn wails echoed through the cavernous living room.

"Ah, the alarm has gone off!" Jin whispered frantically, hovering his hands over the bassinet. "They're hungry! Felix, are they hungry?"

"Yeah, right on schedule," Felix answered with an easy, quiet chuckle.

He moved smoothly, carefully picking up Min-jae, supporting the tiny neck with practiced ease before resting the baby against his chest. Meanwhile, Mrs. Kim gently scooped up Min-woo, wrapping him securely in a soft muslin swaddle and bringing him over to where you were curled on the chaise lounge in your soft, oversized button-down pajamas.

"Here you go, sweetheart," Mrs. Kim cooed, gently placing the wriggling, crying newborn into your arms with a maternal pat to your knee. "It's feeding time for the little princes."

Your heart immediately did a violent somersault against your ribs.

Every logical bone in your body knew this was normal. It was the most natural, ancient human thing in the world. You were a mother feeding your hungry children. Your mom was sitting right there, your dad was reading the paper, your devoted husband was holding the other twin, and your brothers loved you to pieces.

And yet.

The mere reality that nursing your boys meant unbuttoning your shirt and exposing your chest—even concealed beneath a blanket, even with all proper nursing modesty—in a room populated by your seven older brothers sent a wave of pure, blistering panic straight to your cheeks.

Your throat went dry. A deep, agonizing blush flared across your skin from your chest up to your ears. You froze with little Min-woo rooting against your collarbone, your fingers paralyzed against the buttons of your pajama shirt.

You couldn't do it. Your brain simply flatlined at the thought.

"I-I can just... I'll take them upstairs," you stammered, your voice tiny, breathless, and cracking with pure mortification. You made a clumsy move to shift your weight and stand, despite your sore, recovering body protesting the sudden movement. "I'll go to the bedroom—"

"Hey, no, sit down," Felix’s deep voice intervened instantly, firm yet dripping with infinite gentleness.

He was at your side in a single stride, using one arm to cradle Min-jae while his free hand pressed softly against your shoulder, gently urging you back into the plush cushions so you wouldn't strain your healing stitches.

Felix looked down at your burning, wide eyes and caught the sheer, desperate panic in your expression. A deeply fond, sympathetic smile softened his mouth. He leaned down, pressing his lips to your burning forehead, murmuring in a low rumble meant only for your ears: "Sweetheart, don't walk all the way upstairs. You're still sore, baby. Just breathe. I’ve got you."

"Felix, but... they're here," you whimpered, your bashful eyes darting frantically toward the seven brothers who were all looking over with wide, curious concern.

"Princess, why are you getting up? Your back must hurt!" Jimin fretted, already stepping closer with a velvet throw pillow. "Stay sitting! Eomma said you need to rest your hips!"

"Yah, feed him quickly, he's turning into a red pepper," Jin urged, pointing a worried wooden spatula from the kitchen archway. "Babies get gas if they cry too long!"

Jungkook tilted his head, blinking innocently from the carpet. "Don't you just, like, unbutton the shirt? Why is she turning as red as a tomato?"

"JEON JUNGKOOK, SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Namjoon snapped in a frantic, hushed whisper, his own neck flushing slightly as he grabbed Jungkook’s hoodie and yanked him backward.

Yoongi let out a long, weary sigh from the sofa, closing his book with an audible snap. "She's shy, you idiots. Have you met your sister once in twenty-five years?"

Mrs. Kim rolled her eyes affectionately at her chaotic sons, reaching over to pat your trembling wrist. "There's nothing to be ashamed of, my girl. But these loud boys don't help."

Before the room could spiral further, Felix took complete charge with the smooth, unwavering confidence that always grounded you.

He deftly handed little Min-jae into Mrs. Kim's eager arms for a minute, then reached for the large, breathable cotton nursing drape folded on the side table. Shifting his broad frame, Felix sat right on the edge of the chaise lounge, placing his solid back directly between you and your brothers, creating a literal human fortress that blocked their line of sight entirely.

He shook out the lightweight drape, draping it over your shoulders and chest like a private, secure tent, before adjusting the collar of your pajama top with his own gentle fingers so you didn't have to fumble alone.

"Look at me, pretty girl," Felix murmured in that velvety, grounding cadence, brushing a loose strand of hair behind your burning ear. His warm thumb stroked your cheek, catching your gaze and holding it steady. "Nobody is looking. Nobody is seeing anything. You're doing amazing, mama. Just feed our boy."

With Felix's broad shoulders shielding you completely from the room and his warm hand steadying your trembling fingers under the cloth, the terrifying knots in your stomach slowly began to untangle.

Keeping your burning face tucked into Felix’s shoulder, you guided little Min-woo under the drape. The second the newborn latched and his fussy cries settled into sweet, rhythmic nursing sounds, a shaky, relieved breath shuddered out of your lungs.

"Good girl," Felix whispered, a proud, tender grin touching his lips as he kissed your temple. He reached out to gently cradle your little one's back through the cloth, keeping his presence rock-solid.

Behind Felix’s back, the living room fell into a soft, reverent hush.

"Look at that," Hoseok whispered in pure, awe-struck wonder, his hands clasped over his heart. "He stopped crying immediately. That's our sister's magic."

"She's an actual mother now," Taehyung murmured softly from the floor, resting his chin on his knees with wide, glowing eyes. "Our tiny baby sister made two entire humans."

Jin sniffled dramatically from the kitchen threshold, using the edge of his apron to dab at the corner of his eye. "Aish... she's all grown up. Even if she still hides behind Felix like he’s a bulletproof vest."

From his armchair, Mr. Kim lowered his newspaper, catching your timid, peeking eyes from over Felix's shoulder. He gave you a slow, gentle nod of profound fatherly pride. "You're doing well, princess. Rest well, eat well."

Felix looked over his shoulder at the row of doting, softened faces, chuckling low under his breath before turning back to tuck your blanket closer around your legs.

"See?" Felix whispered softly, his hand resting warmly on the side of your neck, his thumb tracing your jawline to soothe the remaining flush on your skin. "You did perfectly. Now just relax, sweetheart. I'll take the other little monster the second you're ready."

The twin boys were just turning one year old, toddling around the living room in matching dinosaur overalls, babbling incoherently and clutching at everything within arm's reach.

And in your coat pocket, wrapped in three layers of tissue paper, was another positive pregnancy test.

Your soul had already evacuated your body three times this morning.

The mathematical, biological reality of the situation was having an absolute party in your terrified, painfully shy head. With the twins, it had been bad enough—an unspoken confirmation of what married couples do. But now? One year later? You were literally about to announce to your parents and your seven older brothers that not only had you done it once, but you had actively done it again while juggling twin toddlers.

Every time you looked at your brothers, all you could hear was the inevitable, chaotic, scandalized teasing that was about to rain down upon your head. You were convinced you would spontaneously combust into ash right there on the plush living room rug.

Right now, Min-woo was busy trying to pull down Jin’s apron strings, while Min-jae was being carried on Jungkook’s broad shoulders like a tiny prince.

"Look at this strong boy!" Jungkook cheered, bouncing slightly on his heels. "Hyung, he has my calf genetics, I swear. He’s going to be an athlete."

"Yah, watch his head near the chandelier!" Jin scolded, hurrying over with a rubber baby biscuit in hand. "Give him a snack. Aish, they grow so fast. Soon they won't even want oppa to hold them."

Jimin was sitting on the floor with Taehyung, building a tower out of soft foam blocks only for Min-woo to immediately knock it over, sending both grown men into dramatic fits of pretend sobbing that had the baby giggling hysterically.

From the kitchen threshold, Mrs. Kim was pouring fresh barley tea, while Mr. Kim watched the grandchildren with that relaxed, proud grandfather glow.

You, meanwhile, were sitting on the edge of the three-seater sofa, your knuckles bone-white as you gripped your knees. Your face was perpetually oscillating between pale panic and burning crimson. You had barely spoken three syllables since arriving forty minutes ago.

Felix sat right next to you, looking utterly calm, radiant, and sickeningly proud.

He leaned back comfortably, one arm draped along the top of the sofa behind your shoulders, his fingers lazily playing with the ends of your hair. Every few seconds, his hand would drop to give your tense shoulder a firm, soothing rub.

"Sweetheart," Felix murmured, leaning down so his deep, velvety voice hummed directly into your burning ear. "You're chewing your lower lip so hard it's going to bleed. Breathe."

"Felix, no," you squeaked, the words barely louder than a mouse's whimper as your wide, terrified eyes darted toward your seven brothers. "I can't. We can't say it. Not today. Maybe in nine months. Maybe never. We just show up with a third baby and say we found it outside."

Felix let out a low, deeply charmed chuckle that made his chest shake against your arm. He brought his hand down to cover both of your clenched fists on your lap, prying your trembling fingers open and lacing his warm hand through yours.

"A third baby we found outside?" Felix teased, his lips curving into that devastating, easy smirk as his Australian accent rolled smoothly. "Baby, you’re twenty-six. We’ve been married for over four years. Having a third child is kind of what happens when your husband is completely obsessed with you."

"Shut up!" you gasped in horror, burying your burning face straight into the curve of his shoulder, your fingers violently pinching his thigh under the cushions. "They're going to know, Felix! With the twins it was one thing, but now—they'll know we did it again with two babies in the house!"

"Of course they know, pretty girl," Felix rumbled, not flinching at the pinch, only tightening his arm around your waist to pull you securely against his side. "And I have zero intention of hiding how much I love loving you."

Before you could smack him, Hoseok looked over from the dining table with a bright, sunny smile. "Princess, why are you hiding behind Felix again? The twins are being so cute today, come play with them!"

Yoongi, leaning against the archway with his mug, narrowed his cat-like eyes at the two of you. His sharp intuition was already picking up on the suspicious level of scarlet on your cheeks and the smug, glowing satisfaction radiating off Felix.

"Something is up," Yoongi muttered bluntly, his low voice instantly cutting through the baby babble in the room.

The entire living room halted.

Jin froze with his wooden spoon. Namjoon looked up from his book. Jungkook slowly lowered Min-jae from his shoulders into his arms, his eyes squinting across the rug.

"What's up?" Jin demanded, marching over with a suspicious squint. "Why is she trembling? Felix Lee, what did you do? Did you break something in our sister's house?!"

"Did you lose the stroller again?" Taehyung gasped.

You wanted the earth to split in half. Your stomach dropped into your socks. You buried your face so deeply into Felix’s neck that you were practically trying to fuse with his clavicle, your hands clutching the lapels of his sweater in absolute, five-alarm panic.

Felix just smiled. That relaxed, unflappable, confident smile.

He kept you securely tucked into his side with his left arm, his hand resting firmly on your hip to ground you, while his right hand smoothly reached into your coat pocket on the sofa back.

He pulled out the tissue-wrapped test, set it on the glass coffee table right between the scattered foam blocks, and unwrapped it with two fingers.

Two pink lines. Bright, undeniable, and screaming.

"We have another announcement, hyungs," Felix announced in that smooth, baritone voice, completely unbothered by the sheer chaos he was about to unleash. "Min-woo and Min-jae are going to be big brothers."

A dead, ringing silence blanketed the room for three entire seconds.

Then, pure, unadulterated pandemonium.

"ALREADY?!" Jin’s voice cracked into the upper atmosphere, his arms flailing so wildly he nearly dropped his spoon. "ANOTHER ONE?! The twins just learned how to crawl last Tuesday! Felix! Do you ever sleep?!"

"OH MY GOD!" Jimin screamed, dropping flat onto his back on the rug and kicking his legs in the air with hysterical giggles. "Number three! Baby number three! Oppa is having three nieces and nephews! I can't breathe!"

Namjoon stood up, his jaw slack as his face turned bright pink, his hands flying to his waist. "Wait... the twins are only twelve months old... that means... biologically speaking, the timeline—"

"DON'T DO THE MATH, HYUNG!" Jungkook yelled, his eyes wide as saucers as he pointed an accusing, scandalized finger right at Felix. "HE DID IT AGAIN! In the same house as the twins! Felix, you menace! Have you no shame?!"

"JEON JUNGKOOK!" Mrs. Kim’s voice boomed from the kitchen, swatting Jungkook’s shoulder with a folded dish towel as she rushed forward with misty eyes and a radiant smile. "Watch your mouth in front of your father! Oh, my darling girl! Another sweet angel!"

Mr. Kim’s chest puffed up with massive, booming laughter from his armchair, clapping his hands together. "Three grandchildren! A full house! Good work, Felix, my boy!"

At Jungkook's shout and Namjoon's mention of the "timeline," your brain completely short-circuited.

Every single capillary in your face, ears, and neck exploded into pure crimson heat. A muffled, agonizingly mortified shriek died in your throat. You didn't just hide—you threw your arms entirely around Felix's torso, pulling your knees up onto the couch and burying your face so hard against his chest that your forehead hurt, wishing with all your might that you could simply dissolve into thin air.

Felix threw his head back, a rich, delighted laugh booming out of his chest, vibrating straight through your body.

He wrapped both arms completely around you, hauling your trembling, curled-up body into his lap, shielding you like an impenetrable fortress from your howling, teasing brothers.

"All three of them are going to be loved and spoiled, hyungs," Felix shot back, his Australian drawl thick with pride and amusement as he casually dodged a plush toy thrown by Taehyung. "And my wife is doing amazing."

He tilted his head down, pressing a warm, sweet, lingering kiss right into the flushed shell of your ear, his large hand gently resting over your lower belly beneath your sweater.

"Deep breath, pretty girl," Felix whispered against your burning skin, his low voice wrapping around you like a warm blanket amidst the family shouting. "Let them make their noise. You're giving us another beautiful baby, sweetheart. You're perfect."

.