[SHORT STORIES] Once upon a time, at the strike of midnight, a reader found themselves tucked underneath their blanket.
The moment they started to read words of magic and fantasy, they are pulled into the realms of their beloved tales.
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Breakfast was hurriedly rushed. Aera couldn't finish her meal and suddenly stood up, running to the comfort room as fast as her weak legs could take her. She insisted her husband that she was fine and that he didn't have to keep on accompanying her to the toilet.
Loud vomiting noises were heard as the door slammed shut.
Taehyung sighed as he picked on his food, poking it with his chopsticks. Seeing her in that state would always take away his appetite. How could he eat when his wife was retching over there?
"She's always been like that for the past few weeks." Mrs. Kim commented, beaming. "I think we are expecting a little one."
He choked on his drink.
"Wait, what?"
"When did you guys do it?" she smirked as she cocked a brow.
"Mom—"
"I'm finally having a grandchild!" Mrs. Kim gushed as she went over to check on the gagging Aera.
Taehyung was at a loss for words.
~*~
Cries of an infant reverberated across the walls of the quiet Kim household. Mrs. Kim delicately wrapped the newborn with a soft white blanket before carefully passing it over to the exhausted Aera.
"You made it, dear." She cooed and wiped the tears on the woman's face.
Taehyung, whose hand was being firmly squeezed during the whole labor, supported his free arm onto Aera's back to help her sit up. He then scooted closer and lent her his chest so she could still lean onto something.
With tired heavy breaths, Aera cradled the baby, her baby, in her arms. The child kept on crying with a high-pitch screech, fists squirming around like an unrestrained flick of a sweeping brush over the blank canvas.
She stared at the small human being. It was a sweet little girl.
The corners of her squinting eyes slanted slightly, her face was adorably round and puffed, her tiny button nose and her thin lips were splashed with a pastel pink hue, and her skin was pale as if embraced by the moon.
Aera's bundle of joy was such a beautiful palette of colors.
She wanted to say something, anything, but the fatigue stole her voice, and she couldn't garner any more energy. Her husband spoke up instead, wary of how tired she was.
"She looks just like you," Taehyung grinned, "but she has my eyes."
Aera wanted to laugh at that, but she obviously couldn't.
"What... should we... name her?" she managed to croak, her vision slowly becoming hazy, and her head starting to spin.
He smiled at her, kissing her as she gradually closed her eyes.
