Jihyo stumbled into Jun-wan's apartment, her breath hitching between heated kisses. The two of them moved as if they had no time to waste, her laughter spilling out as he guided her through the door. "So, this is where you live?" she teased, her voice muffled against his lips.
Jun-wan smirked, his hands firm on her waist. "You're here, aren't you?" Without waiting for an answer, he scooped her up effortlessly, carrying her towards the bedroom as she burst into laughter.
Meanwhile, Dong-joo stood in his kitchen, the early morning light streaming through the windows. His thoughts betrayed him as he imagined Dahyun standing at the stove, her hair tied back messily as she moved with quiet focus.
"Good morning," came a soft voice behind him. Dong-joo turned, his expression faltering when he realized it was Jisoo.
"I made breakfast," she added, her smile radiant and calm, as if nothing was wrong.
Dong-joo forced a tight smile. "Thanks. I'll have some later." His tone betrayed him, and Jisoo's face fell slightly.
"Are you okay?" she asked gently, crossing her arms. "You've been... I don't know, distant? Yesterday when I woke up, you already left."
"I had an early surgery," he said quickly, brushing past her.
In another part of the city, Dahyun groaned as she slouched in a chair by her bed. Her phone was pressed to her ear, and her voice was slow, still recovering from the aftermath of her night. "I drank too much," she admitted awkwardly. "Like, way too much."
"Alone again?" Jihyo's voice crackled on the other end of the line.
"Yes, alone," Dahyun muttered. "Is this a judgment call or-?"
Jihyo's laugh was muffled by her toothbrush as she moved around Jun-wan's bathroom. "No judgment. But maybe... find a hobby that isn't vodka?"
Dahyun rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Mom."
"By the way," Jihyo began casually, "I'm at Jun-wan's place."
Dahyun froze. "Wait. His place?"
"Don't make it a big deal," Jihyo said quickly, brushing past the comment. "But seriously, why is it so clean here? It's unnatural."
Before Dahyun could respond, the call disconnected, leaving her staring at her phone in confusion.
In the kitchen, Jihyo set her toothbrush down and noticed something out of place. A key sat in a coffee mug, a note propped neatly next to it. Picking it up, she read the words written in Jun-wan's precise handwriting: "For you."
Her heart skipped.
---
In the hospital's chief of surgery office, Dr. Boo Yong-joo glanced up from his papers as Jisoo entered, crisp and professional as always.
"Everything's finalized," she said, sliding a document across his desk.
"Good," Yong-joo replied, his tone measured. "You'll need to be at the top of your game. A quintuplet case is no joke."
"I'm aware," Jisoo said coolly. "I've already requested specialists from multiple departments. Three of the babies will likely need surgery within hours of birth."
Yong-joo nodded approvingly. "Keep me updated."
Later that morning, Jisoo led Sana into one of the patient rooms. "This is Park Hyeri," Jisoo introduced. "She's carrying quintuplets." she paused to check the ultrasound"and previously had triplets."
"Hi," Hyeri greeted tiredly. "Yes, I know-it's insane."
"It's impressive," Sana offered before adding, "But wasn't three kids enough? Oh, I'm sorry I didn't, I mean...I didn't mean to say that..."
Hyeri blinked in surprise before laughing. "I've heard worse. Don't worry."
Once they left the room, Jisoo turned to Sana, lowering her voice. "Next time, try not to say everything that comes to mind. Especially the inappropriate ones."
---
Dahyun and Jihyo sat side by side on a bench outside the hospital, sipping coffee.
"You'd think blind dates would be better after all these happened?" Dahyun lamented.
"They aren't," Jihyo said bluntly, holding up the key Jun-wan had left for her. "Case in point: this."
Dahyun raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"He made me a key," Jihyo said, her tone filled with a mixture of shock and annoyance. "We haven't even had coffee together, and now I have a key to his place."
Dahyun smirked. "Sounds like progress to me."
---
As the day wore on, Sana found herself assisting Hyeri with an ultrasound. "Looks good," she said, studying the monitor.
"Tell that to Yeji," Hyeri groaned. "She's been kicking me nonstop."
Sana tilted her head. "Wait... you named them already?"
Hyeri gave her a knowing look. "You think I'm crazy, don't you?"
Sana hesitated. "Not crazy, just... optimistic."
Hyeri chuckled, placing a hand over her stomach. "This is Yeji," she said, moving her hand. "And this is Mai, my little troublemaker."
As Hyeri continued introducing the babies, Sana felt her heart soften.
---
By evening, Jihyo confronted Jun-wan in the locker room. "Why a key?" she demanded.
Jun-wan shrugged. "Why not?"
"You don't even know me," Jihyo retorted.
Jun-wan met her gaze. "I know enough. You hate peas, you hum when you're stressed, and you think you're invincible, but you're not."
Jihyo paused, taken aback.
"Look," he continued. "If this is too much, say so. But I can't be the only one putting myself out there."
Later that night, Jihyo stood at his door, holding the key in her hand. She let herself in, finding him mid-workout.
"This is a step," he said with a smirk.
"Do you want to know me?" she asked abruptly.
"I already do."
"No, you don't." She grabbed his hand, pulling him out the door. When they arrived at her apartment, she threw open the door to reveal the chaos inside-clothes on the floor, dishes piled high, a general mess of her life.
"This is me," she said. "Are you sure you still want to live together?"
Jun-wan hesitated, his confidence shaken.
---
In the OR, the team prepared for the quintuplets' arrival. Dahyun glanced at Dong-joo, who was focused on Jisoo. Jungkook, Sana, and the others filed in, tension high as the first cries of the babies echoed through the room.
For a moment, they all shared a glance, knowing this was just the beginning of another chaotic day.
