8 CO-PARENTING

"I'M SORRY, Nikolai-ssi. I wasn't laughing at you– I just find it cute that you wore a matching outfit with Nero today."

Hmm?

"How did you know I'm wearing a matching outfit with Nero, yeobo?" Nikolai asked curiously. "Did you see our son?"

"I wish I saw him in person," Mona said while smiling sadly, then she put a cup of black coffee in front of him before sitting down on the chair across from him– holding a cup of matcha tea for herself. "But no. I just saw Nero's post on his social media account. He posted a picture of his outfit for today."

Ah, it felt nice to talk to his wife about their children.

[Especially when only the two of us are here right now.]

Mona closed her café to attend Neoma's event later.

Since the interior of the coffee shop was cozy, it felt like they were just at home while talking about their children.

[Yes, this is life.]

And the best part of that little date?

[We're wearing matching clothes!]

Mona wore a brown wool coat over a beige chunky knit turtleneck sweater, a pair of light wash jeans, and a pair of black ankle boots.

[My wife looks chic whatever she wears.]

"Nero rarely posts pictures on his social media, so I wonder if today is a special day," Mona wondered out loud, cutting off Nikolai's train of thought. "After all, you two are wearing matching clothes."

"Oh, Nero has a date with his girlfriend today."

Mona looked surprised, then worried. "Nero has a girlfriend already? Are your parents already setting him up with a potential marriage candidate…?"

He couldn't blame his wife for thinking that way.

If Mona hadn't gotten pregnant when she did, Nikolai's parents would have set him up with another girl. Thankfully, his grandfather helped him fight for Mona and their babies back then.

"No, it's not like that," Nikolai assured Mona. "Nero is genuinely dating Hanna Baek."

"Hanna Baek?" Mona asked, pleasantly surprised. "Rufus oppa's daughter?"

Nikolai got close to Rufus during his university days.

Naturally, Mona and Amber-ssi (Rufus' wife) also became friends.

"Nero and Hanna are attending the same school," Nikolai explained. "They have genuine good feelings for each other. And you know Rufus hyung, too, yeobo. He's not the type of person who'll force his daughter to do things she doesn't want to do."

Mona looked relieved by that. "You're right, Nikolai-ssi. Rufus oppa isn't that kind of person. He's a fool for his daughter." She sipped her matcha tea before talking again. "I'm glad that Nero has found someone he likes now."

"You can hear more about it from our son," Nikolai said, then he didn't beat around the bush anymore. "I've already told Nero about my memories and my intention to be family with you and Neoma again. Our son expressed his desire to reunite with you and his twin sister."

There, he said it.

Fortunately, his wife didn't react aggressively.

[Not that I think she would. Even in the past, she had always handled my parents' bullying with style. In fact, she acts more of a dignified person than my parents who were supposed to be raised with class.]

"I also want to be with Nero again," Mona said calmly. But the joy in her eyes was clear. "To be honest with you, I've already told Neoma that you've regained your memories. However, she was indifferent towards it."

He could tell.

Neoma didn't look thrilled when they met earlier.

[And that's understandable. My daughter has all the right to resent me.]

"I think Neoma resents Nero, too."

That was painful to hear.

"Neoma resents Nero?" Nikolai asked, his heart throbbing painfully. "But why…?"

"I'm not sure about that," Mona said worriedly. "Every time I asked Neoma about it, she would just change the topic."

Oh.

If Neoma wouldn't open up to Mona, then there was no way their daughter would open up to him.

"Nikolai-ssi, I know I don't have the right to tell you how to spend your money. But since I know you moved to our apartment complex because of me, can I say something about it?"

"Of course, yeobo."

"It's giving stalker vibes, Nikolai-ssi."

"Huh?"

"Please don't be like that," Mona said sternly. "I understand that you want us to be a family again, but Neoma and I suffered in the past. We need time to process everything first. Your presence does nothing but put pressure on us."

Ah.

He didn't realize that he was putting pressure on his wife and daughter.

As soon as he returned to the past, his mind had been occupied by nothing but his desire to be a family with Mona and Neoma again.

"Nikolai-ssi, I know that it wasn't your fault that you lost your memories," Mona said calmly. "But the past seven years since your accident have been nothing but cruel to both Neoma and me. It may take us a while before we open up to you again. So please don't be impatient."

Right.

He should slow it down.

"I understand. I'll move out of the apartment tonight," Nikolai promised Mona. "I'm sorry for being selfish and pushy, yeobo."

"It's fine, as long as you understand."

"Can I still ask to meet you and Neoma?"

Fortunately, Mona nodded. "If Neoma agrees, I don't see why I should stop our daughter from reconnecting with you and Nero. The children shouldn't suffer because of the adults."

He also agreed with that.

However…

"What about us, yeobo?" Nikolai asked carefully. "Please give me one more chance."

"Nikolai-ssi, I'm sorry but I don't have time to even think about us at the moment," Mona said apologetically. "Can't we just prioritize our children for now?"

That was a fair request.

[According to Glenn's investigation, Mona is really busy with her new drama these days. It's a miracle that she gives me the time of her day.]

He should back down for now.

"I understand, yeobo," Nikolai said, nodding. "Let's focus on our children for now."

[Emphasize on 'for now.']

***

IT WAS a man's perfume.

Nikolai was frozen in the passenger seat while staring at the perfume on the dashboard.

He was excited when Mona offered him a ride after she found out that he didn't bring a car. But his excitement died as soon as he saw the perfume.

Because he suddenly remembered what Neoma said in the past.

["Mom is doing good, and she's dating someone new now."]

Nikolai felt a pang in his chest.

[Is Mona already dating whoever that man was around this time?]

Of course, he could have just asked Mona if she was dating someone at the moment. But he realized that he was too afraid to do so.

Nikolai realized that he was a coward when it came to his wife.

[If Mona is already in a relationship with someone else, then how about me?]

"Nikolai-ssi, are you alright?" Mona, who was behind the wheel, asked worriedly. She wasn't looking at him because she was driving, but it was clear that she was worried about him. "You look pale. Should I bring you to the hospital?"

Mona was kind, so he didn't dare to put meaning into her actions.

"I'm alright," Nikolai assured her. "I can't miss Neoma's event for the world."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, yeobo."

"Alright, then."

"Yeobo, can I ask you a personal question?"

"Depends on the question."

"Are you happy now, yeobo?" Nikolai asked carefully, clutching the seatbelt tight. "Is someone making you happy?"

Mona fell silent for a moment as if she was pondering about his questions, then a soft smile appeared on her beautiful face. "Yes," she said gently. "It's a 'yes' for both questions, Nikolai-ssi."

That was bittersweet.

Needless to say, Nikolai cried inside on the way to Neoma's event.

***

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