Since the Day We Met

Twenty-Two

HongJoong's POV

I couldn't disembark the plane quickly enough. The anticipation of reuniting with Jennifer and Harper was overwhelming, even though it had only been a few months since I last saw them. Those three long months felt like an eternity, and I eagerly awaited the moment when I would be able to embrace them and see their faces up close once again.I knew they were waiting for me at the gate, but Harper had no idea it was me coming home. As I walked swiftly through the airport terminal, my heart was pounding in my chest. I clutched my carry-on bag tightly, feeling the pebbled texture of the handle beneath my grip. I navigated through the familiar halls until I finally reached the gate. 

There, amongst a bustling crowd of passengers and airport staff, stood Jennifer and Harper.Harper's delicate hands were cupping her mother's cheeks as she pulled Jennifer down to whisper something in her ear. Jennifer nodded with a warm smile before glancing up – and our eyes met. In that instant, everything else faded away – the noise of the terminal subsided, and it was just the three of us.I grinned and waved as I started to approach them, but then stopped short. I didn't want to ruin their little moment together. Time seemed suspended as I stood there; I took a deep breath and relished in this sweet, shared experience.Finally, Harper turned around and noticed me standing there. Her face broke out into an even bigger smile as her eyes sparkled with curiosity. 

"Mommy!" she exclaimed with pure glee. 

"It's daddy!"Jennifer winked at me covertly, acknowledging that she knew about the surprise before turning back to Harper with a theatrical gasp. Acting it up for her daughter's benefit, she said playfully.

"Wow! That is Daddy! But what is he doing here?"Harper's eyes widened with excitement, but she didn't say anything for a moment. She looked back at me and then back at her mother before answering cautiously:

 "I think... because he loves us?"I heard Jennifer stifle a chuckle before responding grandly: "That's right! He does love us!"By then, I couldn't contain myself any longer—I rushed over to them both and swept Harper up into a bear hug that left her squealing in delight. Jennifer reached her arms around us, and the three of us stood there, embracing one another after so much time apart.Overwhelmed with emotion, my eyes brimmed with unshed tears. 

This moment was more than anything I could've imagined. Harper's laughter filled the air like music as she squirmed to get down.Once she was back on the ground, Harper eagerly grabbed my hand and started leading me away from the gate. 

"Come on, Daddy! We have so much to tell you!" she chattered happily, practically skipping with each step. Jennifer followed close behind, her smile never leaving her face.We made our way through the airport and out to the parking lot where Jennifer had parked their car. Harper couldn't wait to share everything that had happened in the months I'd been away, and her excitement was infectious. With each story she told, I could see how much she'd grown and changed in such a short amount of time.

As we drove home, I listened intently to Harper's animated descriptions of her new lessons at school, stories about her friends, and all the adventures she'd had while I was gone. Jennifer occasionally chimed in with her own updates and anecdotes – some funny, others touching – but it was clear that she, too, took great joy in hearing Harper's stories.

When we finally arrived at our cozy suburban home, I couldn't help but admire its warmth and familiarity. The familiar scent of lavender and vanilla filled the air as we entered – a testament to Jennifer's diligent upkeep. I noticed new family pictures hanging on the wall in the hallway—a recent trip to a local park came into focus—the three of us laughing together on a bright sunlit day.

Exhausted from traveling halfway around the world just hours before, I felt my body begin to crave rest. But there was no way I could sleep yet—not when there were so many little things to appreciate about being home again after months apart.

At dinner time, we sat around the family table enjoying a homemade meal prepared by Jennifer—she always knew just what my taste buds longed for upon returning from any lengthy journey abroad— spaghetti bolognese with warm garlic bread on the side.

As we ate, my attention was split between devouring the delicious food and gazing at both Jennifer and Harper, marveling at how lucky I was to have such a loving family. My fork would occasionally pause in mid-air as I watched them intently, momentarily overwhelmed by the magnitude of appreciation welling up within me.

After dinner, we sat together in a comfy silence.

"So I have one last gift for you," Jennifer smiled, playing with he engagement ring. "Which is?" I asked. She took my hand and rested it on her stomach smiling brightly. I stared at her, puzzled for a moment, until it hit me. My eyes widened in disbelief as I comprehended the enormity of her announcement. 

"You're pregnant?" I whispered, feeling a tidal wave of emotions wash over me. Joy, nervousness, and disbelief all fought for dominance inside me.

Jennifer only nodded, her smile growing wider. Harper's eyes darted between us with evident confusion, not quite grasping the situation but sensing that some sort of happy surprise had just occurred.

"We're having a baby, Harper!" Jennifer finally clarified for our daughter's sake, excitement making her voice a little breathless. 

"You're going to be a big sister!"Harper's eyes went impossibly wide before she squealed in delight and clapped her hands together. 

"Yay! I'm gonna be a big sister!"Our little family erupted into excited chatter—Harper bombarding us with questions ranging from the baby's gender to what they would wear while Jennifer and I did our best to satiate her endless curiosity. That night, as we prepared for bed and tucked Harper in, she announced that she would be sleeping in her future sibling's room—wanting to be as close to them as possible even while they were still nestled safe inside their mother's belly.

"It'll be right here!" she insisted, pointing at the empty space beside her bed where she imagined her little brother or sister's crib would one day stand."How do you know the baby will want to sleep there?" I teased gently while tucking the covers around her.

Harper just smirked before confidently responding: "Well, duh! Because it's close to me!"With sweet goodnight kisses exchanged between us all, Jennifer and I quietly retreated to our room—Harper getting settled under the covers while chattering excitedly to herself about all the adventures she'd take with her new sibling once they arrived.

As we lay in the dark, Jennifer and I whispered our hopes and fears for the future, our plans for raising our growing family, and how immensely happy we were to share this journey together. We spoke of everything from baby names to nursery colors until we eventually drifted off to sleep, my hand protectively cradling her stomach and our unborn child.