CAELUM

CHAPTER 12

MINSEOK'S POV:

Sereia and I stand on the porch with me hugging her from behind. We spend time there with me being quiet. She caresses my hands gently. "Min". I hum in response. "Is something on your mind". "Umm...No". I rest my head on her shoulder. "Stop lying Minnie, are you thinking about what happened in the dining hall". I exhale and hold her tight. "Yeah, do you think Seren was telling the truth when Uncle asked them about kids?". "No, as Seren loves kids, I feel she is ready to take the responsibilities if they have kids". "Hmm, I guess Soo isn't ready to take a step further with her," I reply. She nods and turns around in my arms. "Yeah, and it's okay, let her take their time baby". I smile sadly.

"But Seren is lovable, cheerful, a good cook eats happily, I wonder how can he not love her. For the first three months he was so cold to Seren". I pout. She giggles and cups my face in her hands. "Yeah, but I'm sure he will for sure one day. No one can ever resist her". I smile softly. "Are we sure, Cuz Soo has been resisting her pretty well. I should learn it from him, seriously". "Ah, is it". She looks at me with a pout. "Umm, yeah." She clears her throat "Oh I see". "You look cute with that pout". She huffs "Whatever". "Look at me, darling". "I won't". *Time to tickle her*. I pull her close to me. "Are you sure you won't." "Yeah, I am". "You've become fearless hmm, I like that". "Yeah, whatever, I always am fearless". "Of course, you are dear". "Good that you- ".  and before she could complete her sentence, I start tickling her. Her laughs make my night.

She starts running away to escape from the tickles but not going to let her go that easily, am I? I tackle her and continue tickling her on our bed. "M-M-Minnieeee, S-stop it". "Why you're always fearless right, then fight with it". "E-enough" and she gets up from the bed just to be pulled by me. She falls on top of me and I trap her in my arms. "Where were you trying to escape huh?". "I wasn't trying to escape". "Then". "I was going to search for my husband". I chuckle silently. "Ooh, but am I not your husband". I look into her eyes. She rolls her eyes. "Heh, you wish, I only see a tickling machine here". "But then you have the tickling machine's pics in your phone right". "Yeah, I do- - - but wait how did you know".

Duh, I'm your husband for god's sake. "I somehow know it, so isn't this tickling machine your husband, hmm Sereia". "Alright, Alright, you are". I pout. "It didn't have any feeling in it". She giggles and hugs me. A smile creeps on my face. "Aww, then this will". "It definitely did". "Hmm". She nuzzles her face in the crook of my neck which is a hint she is sleepy. I let her fall asleep with her on top of me knowing the fact that she is a thin sleeper. I slowly put her on the bed making sure she didn't wake up. *You're just so beautiful* Covering us both with the rug, and she snuggles closer. I hug her and sleep.

SOO'S POV:

I stand while setting pillow and rug on the couch. A smile creeps on my face when I see the stars shining in the dark background. "You didn't sleep yet". I know it's Seren's voice. "No". "Hmm, It's late". "Yeah, but I want to talk to you". "Oh, okay. What's it about".  "You didn't eat much today, is everything fine". "Oh, that, umm.... I wasn't feeling that hungry that's why I didn't eat." She answers keeping a small smile on her face. "Seren". She looks up and our eyes meet. "Thanks for supporting me during the dinner". She smiles. "Hmm, I told the truth anyway, you don't have to thank me for that." *Though she's smiling, her eyes show some kind of pain*.

"Also, you didn't have to set my bed, I could have done it by myself, but thanks". I fake a smile. "That's the least I could do". She smiles and hums in response. * Idiot ask her*. My brain tells me. She makes her way towards the couch and sets her pillow according to her liking. "Umm, Seren is the couch comfortable for you to sleep on". She nods a yes and hums. "Mmm, it is Kyungsoo, thanks for asking". "If you say so" *And you believed her right, smh, you really are an idiot*. "Are you sure by the way" "Yeah I am, don't worry and go sleep". "Uhm, okay, good night" "Good night Kyungsoo Sleep well". "Oh, another question, apologies if I'm irritating you" She looks up at me and smiles. *Damn, that smile*. "Go on and don't apologize, I'm glad you're talking". "Correction, we are". "Uhm....... yeah, anyways your question". "Aah yeah, did you prepare the dessert tonight?". "Nope, they are made by the cooks". "Are you sure?". She gulps very slightly that my eyes catch. "Y-yeah". I go closer to her.

"But I thought you made it". She moves back and falls on the couch. I show her my phone in which I clicked her pic while she was busy preparing the desert. "Umm..." "What's it Seren" "Well... fine I agree I did it, but wait a minute... what's my pic doing in your camera roll". And shoot. I'm gone. "Umm... That's.... because I clicked it". *Duh*. "You were keeping an eye on me, weren't you?". "Yeah, because I was scared for the kitchen". "Oh, I won't burn the kitchen down, so rest assured.". "I know you won't". She smiles softly. *I was scared if something might happen to you*. *You're a small bubble* "Good, so any other questions Mr Kyungsoo". "Just call me Kyungsoo". "But you suddenly turned into an investigator, so I thought it's better to be formal. You know better to be safe rather than to suffer".

I chuckle at this statement. "I won't eat you, Seren". "I know, you won't". Her voice showed a type of belief in my words which I don't know why makes me feel strong inside. She looks beautiful when the moonlight shines on her. Her silky hair flowing with the wind makes it even more ethereal. Without even knowing I continue staring at her with a warm feeling erupting in my heart. "Kyungsoo, I guess we should sleep, you have a meeting tomorrow". "Umm... uhh... yeah, good night". "Good night". She lies on the couch and I lay on the bed. *Why didn't you ask her to sleep on the bed along with you, even after knowing her backaches in the morning*. A sigh escapes from my mouth but quietly so I don't wake her up.

I turn and see her fast asleep on the couch. Slowly making my way towards her, my mind floods back to memories we shared, Though I was cold to her on almost every occasion, her warmth didn't fade. I get down on one leg and look at her gently. *Why were you always warm, even if I was cold to you, I loved Naomi and you knew that, but still you never gave me a cold shoulder. Even when I told you that I can't love you, you still didn't stop caring for me, why Seren? * With a soft smile on my face, I lift her in my arms slowly so that her sleep doesn't disturb and gently place her on the bed. I go to my side of the bed and cover us with the duvet. I keep a strand of her hair behind her ear so that it doesn't disturb her while she's sleeping and I stare at the ceiling and sleep.

------X--------------------------------X------------------------------------------------X--------------------------------X----

Here we go with Chapter 12. Huhuhu... what's with Minseok and Kyungsoo today hmm. Why do you think Soo was cold to her during the initial months of their marriage? Is it because he didn't get married to Naomi? Or is there something else? What do you guys think? Let me know in the comments. What're those bolded sentences ? are they lyrics? if so, which EXO song is it?

I'll be away from the keyboard for most of the day, thus I updated the chapter. To be honest, I thought of coming in the evening and then updating but my not so helpful in procrastination brain told me to do it before I go. So here we are. The before week was rough till the very end. that includes yesterday as well. Now that it has passed, Let's start a week full of smiles and happiness.

Having said that, readers please take care of yourselves, enjoy your weekend with a warm cup of coffee/ tea while doing the thing you like the most. Afterall, me-time is really important after a restless week. Pamper yourself to the fullest today but at the same time make sure you all follow all the precautions while you're heading out.

This is it for the day... I'll be signing off for today. Meet you this Saturday. Hoping that you would enjoy the chapter. Till then keep smiling, love yourself and stay healthy.

With love,

Nikki :))))))