To the twenty–five year old timid girl, having a baby was practically impossible. Waking up in the early hours of the morning to tend to crying, being stuck at home during maternity leave when she could be enjoying her job, and the obviously awful weight gain.

Most of her clothes stopped fitting, except the oversized ones, so Jung Ara was overcome with insecurities which stopped her leaving the house voluntarily. Everytime her friends called her to have fun and such, she would — without hesitation — decline, using the same excuse of having to tend to her kids, but it was much less simplistic than that.

"You should really go out with Taeyeon soon."

One day Kyungsoo found himself frowning at Ara's inanimate figure on the sofa, staring tiredly at the television. The now six month old baby was sleeping comfortably beside her, which took her ages to calm him down. He moved to the kitchen after spending a little while deliberating.

"She keeps begging me to convince you," he added whilst chopping vegetables at sonic speed as he prepared dinner for the family of four. Kyungri 'helped' him out — the seven year old was chewing at the chopped carrots unhelpfully.

Ara looked up before sighing. "Tell her I'm busy or something."

"But you're not!" Kyungsoo snapped. "You've been sitting there doing nothing for practically months now."

"You try giving birth to a child then tell me how it goes!"

"I don't need to give birth to know how you're feeling. I know you're unhappy, but feeling sorry for yourself won't help at all. Maybe a girl's day out will relieve the stress. Organize one this Saturday when I'm off work."

"I don't know," she bit her lip, peering at her hands for a few seconds as insecurities ran through her mind. It's been ages since she's actually gone out to have fun, and she wasn't sure if she was ready. "Taeyeon would probably take one long look at me and laugh. I'm a pig!"

Leaving the kitchen, not before placing the knife high enough that Kyungri couldn't pick it up, Kyungsoo walked over to the connected living room and sat beside her on the sofa. "Is this what it is? You're feeling insecure about your looks?"

"What else, Kyungsoo?" Ara refused to look up at him, afraid to see his reaction. "I told you, I've become a distorted version of myself."

"No, you haven't — what are you talking about?"

"Look at me!" She gestured to her body, which in reality hadn't changed very much, almost bursting into tears. "I'm fat, ugly. I've gained a ton of weight that I can't seem to lose."

"You're not fat!" He exasperatingly remarked, grabbing her arms and slightly shaking it. "I know you don't believe this, but take this from me: someone who's seen you blossom everyday since Jinsoo was born. You're beautiful, okay? You've never stopped being beautiful; if anything, since giving birth, you've become only more beautiful to me. You've given me the greatest gift I could've ever asked for and still look absolutely perfect."

Ara was speechless, letting a few lone tears slip down her face. She looked up to Kyungsoo, who was finding his own eyes water, and finally gave him eye contact. "You really think so?"

"Without any doubt," he swiftly said, wiping her tears reflexively. Ara didn't say anything, the irrational thoughts still swimming in her head. But then she felt overcome with tears suddenly, resting her head on his shoulder, beginning to cry.

She didn't stop crying for what seemed like hours.

—

Progress had been made. Significantly. From cowering herself, afraid to even peek at the mirror from the fear of what she thought she had become, Ara was ready to leave the house. Taeyeon was more than patient, understanding that it would take her young friend time to accustom to this new and scary life, making sure Ara was feeling ready to leave the house after awhile.

They kept it within their own — a simple two person dinner at a newly opened restaurant near Taeyeon's neighborhood. They would hang out, talk, enjoy each other's presence like the pair of best friends they grew to be. Although Taeyeon hadn't ever had kids herself yet, she was gifted with amazing empathy so she completely understood where Ara was coming from. And when she was younger, during her vigorous university years, she actually suffered a bout of depression that made her connect even more.

With the baby sound asleep after having its evening feed, Kyungri happily sitting in the living room coloring a complex picture of a princess until her bedtime, Ara was in a comfortable situation to leave the house.

She fixed the collar of her newly bought cream attire — a demure, chiffon dress that reached her knees — since she loved pale colors unhealthily. Wearing a pair of forgotten white heels that felt like daggers everytime she walked, Ara slipped on her favorite white leather jacket also. It was an expensive garment, gifted from her very generous husband with a collection of other gifts for their first year anniversary of dating each other. She didn't get to wear it as much as she'd hoped, but it was still super precious to her.

I'll be at yours in ten minutes? Make sure you're dressed by then. Xx.

"So you're finally leaving the house..."

The distinct, almost soothing deep tone of Do Kyungsoo's voice filled the room, initiating a quick turn around from Ara. She watched as his eyes moved up and down swiftly to examine her more confident, happier demeanor.

Her cheeks tinged with red, she shrugged. "I guess."

"I mean, that's a start," he nodded slowly as a smile fought to make an appearance. In his head he was dancing in glee, thankful that his insecure wife was finally enjoying life like she deserved to.

Ara nodded along with him, unsure on what else to say. "Yep."

The atmosphere soon turned silent as the pair looked anywhere but each other — well Ara was ignoring stares from a certain someone, suddenly feeling a wave of awkwardness. She wasn't fond of when attention was on her.

"I've just put Kyungri to bed, she has an early day at the karate competition tomorrow, and I don't think Jinsoo will wake up anytime soon," Kyungsoo informed Ara, assuring her that nothing out of the blue would occur under his care. Well, she should believe it. He did parent Kyungri on his own alongside Juhyun years ago.

"Yeah, that's good. I'll leave in the next ten minutes anyways. I won't be long, though. Someone has to make Kyungri's lunch."

He sighed. "Leave it to me. Come as late as you wish. We're a tag team, remember?"

"Yeah, yeah," Ara waved off his words with a shaky hand gesture. "Taeyeon's probably waiting for me."

Raising one brow, Kyungsoo edged forward. "Why are you so nervous?"

"I—I just don't want to fall back into that cycle again," she admitted, biting her lip so hard that she could swear that there was a tinge of blood in her mouth. "Don't get me wrong. It feels so great to finally leave the house. But what if I can't ever do this again? What if we have more kids? Could I ever cope?"

Without word, he closed the gap between them by closing his hands around her forearm, successfully silencing her. "Why are you thinking so far ahead in our future? Think about now: you're about to have a great time with Taeyeon, the children are sound asleep. There's nothing to worry about."

"I don't know why I do that," Ara let out a defeated exhale, encircling her arms around Kyungsoo in exasperation before resting her head on his shoulder. As if it was a reflex, he already reciprocated with his arms tightly around her waist. "I just have to get used to being a mother now, hm?"

"Yes. But it doesn't have to be as bad as you think," he left a chaste kiss on the material of her shoulder, softly stroking a finger against her waist as she leaned closer. "I thought being a father would be hell. It was, but there were amazing moments that I wouldn't ever give up if I had the chance."

"Like what?"

He pulled back to examine Ara's curious face, their noses practically millimetres apart. "Sitting down every evening and helping her with simple math equations, putting her hair in pigtails in the morning how she likes, taking her out to the park and watching her fawn over pretty butterflies or excitedly blow bubbles. Watching her grow up."

Letting him lightly kiss her, she smiled. "That's so cute. I can't wait for us to finally have our own story together."

Unable to resist kissing her yet again, Kyungsoo did so. And again. "Chapter one. Ara leaves the house with Taeyeon, has the best time of her life, comes home and thanks her smug husband gratefully for his role in helping her."

"You wish," Ara scoffed. "I did this all on my own. Just like I coordinated this outfit. Do you like it?"

"Yeah, I especially love the jacket I bought you with my advanced fashion sense."

"Cut the crap, Kyungsoo. Your fashion style is trash, who helped you find this beautiful item of clothing?"

For a couple seconds he stayed mute until Ara's stare became burning he confessed. "Chanyeol might've helped me."

"I knew it," she cheered victoriously at his easy succumb, hugging him afterwards. "Thanks for everything. Giving up your evening to look after the two, I'm really thankful."

"They're my kids too..."

"But it's your evening!"

"You've been spending your evenings everyday for the past six months looking after the children," he retorted with a grab of her small hands. "One day is nothing compared to six months."

Before Ara could let him kiss her again, her phone rang. She picked it up to see Taeyeon's caller ID — a photo of the pair hugging each other excessively close and posing at the camera. "Hey!"

"I'm coming up to your house now, just so you know."

Indeed she was. A minute later the doorbell rang to reveal the hyper girl posing extravagantly at the door. "I'm here!" She enveloped Ara in a secure hug, almost painfully rubbing her back. "You look cute."

However nobody could beat Taeyeon's cuteness. Her fringe and black hair made her look like a teenager, but it couldn't account for her elegant and sophisticated oufit that definitely revealed the woman in her. Ara was always jealous of Taeyeon's pretty body; even though they were the same height, the former had long and slender legs that made her look taller.

The older reached to also hug her old friend, ruffling his hair. "You keeping care of Ara?"

"As always."

"Good," Taeyeon turned back to Ara. "You ready to party? Dance the night away, drink until our senses are inhibited?"

She cringed. "I've got kids, Taeyeon!"

"You can forget they exist once in your life," Taeyeon then gestured to the chuckling Kyungsoo. "You've got him to look after them."

"Ugh, let's just go before I change my mind."

Throwing Ara her purse before her naive self forgot, Kyungsoo kissed her forehead before patting her shoulder. "Have fun and don't stress."

Taeyeon gave the pair a roll of her eyeshadow covered eyes before pulling Ara's arm out of the house. Whilst being dragged by the impatient best friend of hers, she blew a kiss to her very sweet and caring husband. "I love you!"

And there she was. Living life again as she should.

—»

This is, in complete confirmation, the last ever bonus chapter I'll be publishing! It was a sad one at the beginning, which does reflect on how some people see themselves post–partum, which is heartbreaking to say the least. I hope everyone is satisfied with their self–image and is taking care of their mental health. Even if it's not at the best condition you all have someone or people to support you! Thank you so much for reading this book, I'm super super grateful that you all have followed me through this turbulent yet promising journey. Still check out whether I have new books published, which I have one currently apart from this one, so you can read it if you like my books. Farewell x.