“So, what are you going to name the baby?”
A spacious and spotless bathroom. In the center of the bright beige marble tiles was a large bathtub.
If it were any other day, the tub would have been occupied by just Seo Eui-woo and Kwon Jae-jin, but today, baby Seo Eui-woo was added to the mix, making three of them soaking in the warm water. A small, bright yellow rubber duck floated and bobbed gently on the surface.
“Hmm. I’m still thinking about it.”
Jae-jin, cradling the baby in both arms, replied absentmindedly. Baby Eui-woo flailed his chubby arms in the water, letting out tiny giggles. His fair skin, slightly flushed from the warmth, and the water droplets clinging to his hair made him look irresistibly adorable.
“Hurry up and decide. Whatever name you choose, I’ll love it no matter what.”
Seo Eui-woo grinned as he responded. He was sitting at the edge of the bathtub, wrapping one arm around Jae-jin’s waist. Reaching into the water, he grabbed the baby’s tiny foot and wiggled it playfully. The ticklish sensation made baby Seo Eui-woo burst into laughter.
“It’s just that nothing feels quite right. If I had a name in mind, I would’ve named him already.”
Jae-jin smiled slightly. Seeing the two playing together softened his usually indifferent tone.
“Really? Nothing comes to mind? Not at all?”
“Mm… That’s not it, but the one that does feels… weird.”
“Weird? How so?”
“It just feels strange. Like, it doesn’t seem right for a baby’s name.”
Jae-jin shook his head. Each time baby Seo Eui-woo flailed his tiny hands in the water, droplets splashed up, causing gentle ripples to spread across the surface.
“What is it? What name is so bad?”
Curious now, Seo Eui-woo pressed him for an answer. Jae-jin averted his gaze, pretending not to hear. But Seo Eui-woo was persistent. Snuggling closer, he leaned in and whispered near his ear, his arm around Jae-jin’s waist sliding teasingly along his side.
“Tell me. You can at least tell me, can’t you?”
“Uh…”
“I’m really curious, Jae-jin. Hmm?”
Caught in an awkward position, Jae-jin slowly blinked.
‘No matter how I look at it, Mal-bok isn’t it.’
Seriously, Seo Mal-bok wasn’t it. It was an embarrassing name, even to say out loud to Seo Eui-woo.
“Like I said, it’s a weird name. Just pretend I never thought of it.”
“Why? How bad can it be? If it’s from you, I’d love it no matter what.”
“It’s really bad. Like, seriously…”
Trapped by Seo Eui-woo’s relentless curiosity, Kwon Jae-jin finally gave up and raised the white flag. Besides, once Seo Eui-woo heard the ridiculous name, he would probably just laugh it off anyway.
“…Mal…”
“Mal?”
Jae-jin barely parted his lips, letting out a sigh as he mumbled.
“Mal-bok…”
His voice was so quiet it was barely audible.
“…What?”
“I said, Mal-bok…”
“…?”
Seo Eui-woo’s eyes grew round. His lips parted slightly in surprise. Seeing such an elegant, finely sculpted face make that expression only made Jae-jin feel even more embarrassed. Lowering his head, he muttered awkwardly.
“See? I told you it was weird.”
“Mal-bok? Why? Of all names, why Mal-bok?”
Even after getting the answer, Seo Eui-woo still looked full of questions.
“Do I look like a Mal-bok?”
He narrowed his eyes, tilting his head in confusion.
“Did I look like a Mal-bok when I was little?”
“No.”
“No? Then why? Why Mal-bok?”
“Ha… There’s a reason. Just stop saying Mal-bok over and over again.”
Jae-jin turned his head completely away. Explaining the reason to Seo Eui-woo was far too embarrassing to put into words. But Seo Eui-woo kept repeating, “Seo Mal-bok? Mal-bok?” over and over, and just hearing it made Jae-jin’s ears burn with embarrassment.
‘There’s no way I can admit that I’ve secretly thought of Seo Eui-woo as a peach all this time.’
Jae-jin had expected him to just laugh and brush it off as a joke, but that clearly wasn’t happening. Instead, Seo Eui-woo only grew more curious. Leaning in, he kissed Jae-jin’s cheek and traced his fingers slowly down his side.
“How can I not be curious about why you thought of that name when you saw me as a baby? I want to know everything about you, Jae-jin.”
“Eui-woo, it’s not like that.”
“I’m hurt. You know I get restless when you keep things from me.”
“Ha…”
“What reason could you possibly have not to tell me? We love each other this much, don’t we?”
He moved his lips, pressing a deep kiss to the corner of Jae-jin’s eye. Then, he kissed his eyelid, and even the delicate lashes that trembled slightly under his breath. Jae-jin, still cradling the baby in his arms, pushed him away—just slightly. Left with no choice, he came up with a quick excuse.
“No, I meant… The baby looks like a peach. Pale, soft…”
“A peach?”
“Yeah, a soft peach. That’s why—Mal-bok.”
“Aah, so that’s why…”
Seriously, Seo “Stubborn” Eui-woo. He never lets his guard down. It was always like this—whenever Seo Eui-woo got involved and insisted on something, Jae-jin had no choice but to give in.
Seo Eui-woo gazed down at the baby with a soft smile.
“Now that you mention it, Jae-jin, he does kind of look like a peach.”
“Of course he does. He’s fair-skinned, but there’s a pinkish hue to it.”
“Let’s see…”
Seo Eui-woo leaned in, studying the baby nestled in Jae-jin’s arms. Their flawless, pale faces were so close that their striking resemblance became even more apparent.
The grown-up “Stubborn” Eui-woo and baby Mal-bok.
Long lashes, sharp and distinct features, marble-smooth skin without a single blemish, and those mesmerizing, intense eyes—they were completely alike. Like radiant, prismatic diamonds shimmering under the light.
Seo Eui-woo continued staring at baby Mal-bok and, after a moment, softly called out to him.
“Mal-bok.”
“Byaou.”
“Seo Mal-bok.”
“Bbya!”
…What?
Did they just have a conversation?
Jae-jin blinked blankly at them while Seo Eui-woo burst into quiet laughter.
“So that’s how it is. In Jae-jin’s eyes, I looked like a soft, squishy peach when I was little.”
As Seo Eui-woo laughed, the baby started giggling too. The bathroom filled with warmth as their laughter spread.
“But… this isn’t payback, is it? Because I sang ‘Soft, Squishy Jae-jin’?”
“What?”
Jae-jin looked at him in disbelief.
This was slander.
If they were going to be accurate, “Peach Seo Eui-woo” had existed way before “Soft, Squishy Jae-jin.” He had thought of it first—long before Seo Eui-woo ever came up with that stupid song. Not that he had ever said it out loud.
“Haha! So, soft baby Jae-jin really got to you, huh?”
“I-it’s not like that.”
“Oh, please. I think it is. You saw how soft and squishy I was as a baby, and you figured this was your chance, didn’t you?”
For fuck’s sake, no.
Jae-jin nearly snapped and opened his mouth to protest.
“It wasn’t because of that song! I was thinking it long before—”
But he didn’t get to finish his sentence. Instead, his lips clamped shut in frustration.
Seo Eui-woo erupted into even louder laughter, seizing the opportunity to tease him further.
“Before? Before what? Don’t tell me you thought I was a soft little peach even back then? No way.”
Ha, this is fucking ridiculous.
Jae-jin felt a rage-induced headache coming on. Seo Eui-woo was practically glowing with amusement, the baby was joyfully splashing water everywhere, laughing his tiny lungs out, and yet Kwon Jae-jin was the only one suffering.
Grinding his teeth, he muttered under his breath, barely hiding his frustration.
“That’s not true. You’re not even soft.”
“Then say it properly. ‘From before’—what comes after that?”
“……You are.”
In the end, unable to hold back any longer, Jae-jin muttered as if in passing.
“If we’re being precise, you’re… a hard peach.”
“A hard peach? What… Oh, wait. You mean like those firm peaches?”
“Yeah.”
“So, I’m a hard peach?”
“Seo-Dakbok?”
Seo Eui-woo’s laughter instantly doubled in volume. He was laughing so hard he pounded his fist against the bathtub, completely losing it. Baby Seo Eui-woo, picking up on the mood, got even more excited and started giggling uncontrollably, filling the room with high-pitched squeals. Both Seo Eui-woos—big and small—were exactly the same.
“What? Got a problem? Stop laughing.”
“Pfft, no—ah, Jae-jin, this is killing me. Hahaha!”
“Eui-woo. Honestly, it’s not that funny. I said stop laughing.”
“It’s not because it’s funny—I just love it. I really do. From today on, I’m Seo-Dakbok! Hahaha. You like it too, don’t you, Mal-bok?”
“Kyaa-hahu! Kyaaou!”
“See? Mal-bok loves it too.”
“For fuck’s sake…”
Jae-jin rubbed his face with one hand, sighing deeply. Watching the two of them being so damn happy, he didn’t even know what to say anymore.
‘Should’ve kept my mouth shut.’
He really should’ve.
“Jae-jin, are you embarrassed? Your neck’s turning a little red.”
Seo Eui-woo pulled Jae-jin into a full embrace in the water, pressing a kiss to the back of the hand covering his face. Then, he kissed each knuckle before giving special attention to the ring on Jae-jin’s left ring finger, pressing three deliberate kisses to it.
“…I’m not.”
“You totally are. You’re really red.”
“……Cut it out.”
