Just A Few Numbers Away

Chapter 154

Seoul Season

​The transition from the tropical hum of Surigao to the crisp, biting winter air of Seoul felt like stepping into another world entirely.

True to their word, the following weeks became a blur of festive chaos, domestic routines, and the unique brand of parenthood that only a hybrid schedule could produce.

​With Aen continuing her administrative duties at the Yakult Korea office and Yoongi navigating his own demanding studio hours, managing Carly's school break required a finely tuned family operation.

​Some days, Carly bundled up in her heavy puffer jacket to join Yoongi at the HYBE building, where she quickly became the undisputed favorite of the staff.

On the days Yoongi was buried deep in production or closed-door meetings, the studio transformed into a makeshift playground supervised by the available members.

​With Hobi and Namjoon currently serving their mandatory military service in this timeline, the remaining uncles g up with enthusiastic-if occasionally chaotic-energy.

Jin, Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook treated babysitting duty like a high-stakes competitive sport, whether they were teaching Carly intricate choreography, smuggling extra snacks past Yoongi's watchful eye, or staging elaborate living room concerts.

​Other days, Carly accompanied Aen to the Yakult office, quietly coloring at a corner desk or helping organize stationery while the staff doted on her with endless treats and warm smiles.

​Between the office shifts, studio visits, and uncle-duty handoffs, Christmas arrived with a flurry of falling snow that transformed Seoul into a glittering winter wonderland.

​The holiday season settled into the apartment with warmth, laughter, and flour-dusted countertops.

​It started on Christmas Eve, when the living room became ground zero for the ultimate gingerbread house construction project.

Yoongi, holding true to his promise to let Aen rest and nest, had banned her from heavy lifting or standing for too long, but he couldn't keep her away from the frosting bags entirely.

​"If the roof collapses, it's architectural failure on your part, Dadhie," Aen teased, sitting comfortably on the sofa with a plush throw blanket draped over her 14-week belly, watching as Yoongi carefully glued gingerbread walls together with caramelized sugar.

​"Architectural integrity is my middle name," Yoongi deadpanned, though a fond smile broke through his concentration as Carly eagerly pressed multi-colored gumdrops along the window sills.

​By midnight, the apartment smelled richly of molasses, cinnamon, and roasting chestnuts.

They had set up a small, warmly lit tree in the corner, hung with a mix of sleek modern ornaments and the small, handmade paper stars Carly had crafted during her first week in Seoul.

​When Christmas morning finally broke, the snow was falling thick and fast outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.

​Yoongi had been up since dawn, moving quietly around the kitchen to prep a massive holiday spread before Aen even woke up.

When she padded out into the hallway wrapped in an oversized knit cardigan, she found Yoongi and Carly already deep in a hushed conspiracy over the kitchen island, plating a breakfast of warm pastries and hot chocolate topped with mountains of marshmallows.

​"Merry Christmas, Momhie!" Carly whispered loudly, rushing over to hand her a small, neatly wrapped box she’d spent half the night taping together in secret.