Natalie (나탈리) is a South Korean singer and actress under SM Entertainment. She is a member of the South Korean girl group Girls’ Generation (SNSD) and its sub-unit Oh!GG. She debuted with Girls’ Generation on August 5, 2007, with the single “Into The New World.”
Stage Name: Natalie (나탈리)
Birth Name: Kim Eun-bi (김은비)
English Name: Natalie Kim
Position(s): Lead Vocalist, Visual, Center
Birthday: April 12, 1989
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Chinese Zodiac Sign: Snake
Height: 168 cm (5’6”)
Weight: 47 kg (104 lbs)
Blood Type: O
MBTI Type: ISFJ
Nationality: Korean-American
Sub-Unit: Oh!GG
Instagram: @/todayis_natalie
Natalie Facts:
– She was born in Pasadena, California, United Stated of America.
– She is an only child.
– She was cast by an SM Entertainment street scout while shopping in Myeongdong during middle school.
– She joined SM Entertainment in 2004 and trained for approximately three years before debuting.
– She was one of the final trainees added to Girls’ Generation’s debut lineup.
– Her nicknames include: Nattie, Angel Natalie, Princess Kim, and Bunny Eunbi.
– Many fans consider her part of SNSD’s visual line alongside Yoona, Yuri, and Seohyun.
– She is known for her bright eye smile.
– Members often describe her as calm, elegant, and surprisingly competitive.
– She is considered one of the best actresses among the members along with Yoona.
– Her hobbies include photography, reading novels, collecting perfumes, and café hopping.
– She enjoys listening to acoustic music late at night.
– Her favorite colors are ivory, baby pink, and sky blue.
– Her favorite season is spring.
– Her favorite flower is the peony.
– She dislikes horror movies and often covers her eyes during scary scenes.
– She is known for carrying a camera on overseas schedules.
– Sooyoung once described Natalie as “the member who looks the most elegant even when doing nothing.”
– She often takes care of younger members behind the scenes.
– Her favorite SNSD song is “Hoot.”
– She participated in writing lyrics for several Girls’ Generation B-sides.
– Natalie made her acting debut in a supporting role in a television drama shortly after SNSD’s success.
– She became known as a popular CF model due to her classic visual image.
– Fans often compare her visuals to a fairy-tale princess.
– She is known for her natural beauty and minimal makeup look.
– During trainee days, she was roommates with Tiffany.
– Her favorite foods are strawberry cake, pasta, and tteokbokki.
– She has a habit of humming songs while getting ready.
– She is afraid of bugs.
– Her ideal vacation is spending time in a quiet European countryside town.
– Her role model is Audrey Hepburn.
– She is frequently ranked among the most popular SNSD members internationally.
– She debuted as a member of Girls’ Generation on August 5, 2007.
Natalie’s Ideal Type:
“I like someone who is thoughtful and kind. Someone who makes people around them feel comfortable and has a warm smile. I think sincerity is the most attractive quality.”
Official Greeting:
안녕하세요! 소녀시대의 퍼스트 러브, 나탈리입니다!
(“Hello! I’m Girls’ Generation’s first love, Natalie!”)
It started innocently enough as most chaos in SM’s halls usually did.
Super Junior was filming a behind the scenes vlog for one of their YouTube segments, and Rina had dropped by the studio to bring snacks. The moment she walked in, Donghae lit up his trademark bright smile instantly appearing.
Donghae: “Rina ya! You came?”
Rina (grinning): “Of course. You said you wanted strawberry milk, didn’t you?”
She handed him a small bag with his favorite drink, and the crew went “Awww~” in the background.
And then right on cue Eunhyuk appeared from the side of the frame like a cartoon villain entering stage left.
Eunhyuk: “Oh? Strawberry milk? Where’s mine?”
Rina: “You didn’t ask.”
Eunhyuk (gasping dramatically): “Oh, so now we’re playing favorites?!”
Donghae was already laughing the kind of laugh that made his shoulders shake.
Donghae: “Hyukjae, don’t start again…”
But it was too late.
Eunhyuk pointed accusingly between them.
Eunhyuk: “This is exactly what I’m talking about. Ever since 2007, she’s been stealing my best friend!”
Rina blinked.
Rina: “Excuse me? He’s not your property.”
Eunhyuk: “He was! We were ‘Eunhae’ before you even joined SM!”
The staff were dying laughing by this point. Someone in the back muttered, “Oh no, here we go again.”
Rina (mock serious): “And what exactly did you two have that I can’t compete with?”
Eunhyuk: “Matching hoodies. Inside jokes. And he used to make me ramyeon after practice!”
Rina (raising an eyebrow): “Cute. He makes me pancakes.”
The room erupted.
Donghae had to step between them, laughing so hard he nearly dropped his milk.
Donghae: “Okay, okay calm down, both of you! There’s enough of me to go around!”
Rina (crossing her arms): “Not sure about that.”
Eunhyuk: “Yeah, I called dibs first.”
Donghae: “You guys sound like divorced parents fighting for custody of a confused fish.”
Rina: “You mean yourself?”
Donghae: “Exactly.”
They all burst out laughing again. Eunhyuk grabbed Rina’s strawberry milk and dramatically pretended to storm off.
Eunhyuk: “Fine! I’m taking this as compensation for emotional damage!”
Rina: “Yah! Give that back that’s mine!”
Donghae (between laughter): “SM should make a show called ‘Fighting for Hae’. You two would win Daesang for comedy.”
And honestly, he wasn’t wrong.
By the end of filming, Eunhyuk and Rina were sitting side by side again, both sipping strawberry milk like nothing happened but still playfully glaring at each other.
Eunhyuk (quietly): “You know he’s my best friend, right?”
Rina (smiling): “You know he’s my boyfriend, right?”
Eunhyuk (sighing dramatically): “Fine. I’ll allow it. But if you hurt him, I’m telling Leeteuk.”
Rina: “If I hurt him, I’ll tell Leeteuk first.”
Donghae, from across the room, just shook his head with that soft smile that meant: I love you both, but please stop before this becomes another meme.
And later that night, Eunhyuk uploaded a selfie of the three of them with the caption:
“We fought for love today. I lost. Again. #HaeRina #ThirdWheelChronicles”
masterlist 💎 requests are open
feedback is always important to me!
Hannah watched Harry’s concert from the backstage area as if it was the first time.
It didn’t matter how many concerts she attended, she’d always be shocked at how Harry had the talent to make it different, not two were the same.
Fortunately, their schedule matched while she was in London for a quick photoshoot for LV and he was there with his tour. Hannah felt so happy she would be able to, at least, watch him doing his favorite thing ever in the middle of the whole chaos of their agendas.
From where she was standing, she could have a perfect view from his left side profile that she loved so much and the right side of the stadium, which, as usual, was sold out. Drinking a good sip of her beer, Hannah wasn’t worrying about anything but enjoying that moment.
Every time during a break, Harry would look over at her, wiking or throwing kisses, just to make sure she was being noticed and to reassure her that her presence mattered to him, and Hannah felt like falling for him even more.
By that time, the arena was alive with energy, the crowd’s roar echoing off the walls. Lights flashed in rhythm with the music, and Harry stood in the center stage, pouring his heart into the final chorus of “Golden", Hannah's favorite song.
But Harry's body language suddenly changed and he tensed out suddenly, making Hannah frown as she drank a bit more of her beer, already warm.
As Hannah scanned the audience, even stepping out of the backstage area a bit, making some fans scream for her, a board caught her eyes, probably the same that made Harry mad, with large, bold letters painted in black, the fan screaming "Hannah is a slut" with all her lungs.
She knew some fans didn't like her. In fact, she'd even say they hated her. But it's not like Hannah wasn't used to people having mixed feelings about her. Like, come on, she was a k-pop idol.
But, as for Harry, the words hit him like a punch to the gut. It was his first ever time watching all the threats and misunderstood concepts of his fans in respect of his girlfriend coming to life.
For a moment, everything else - the music, the crowd, the lights - faded into a blur, and his smile faltered.
In the back of his head, even with the in-ear monitors on, he could listen to Hannah's voice telling him that it was okay, to let that go, but his voice trembled slightly as he finished the song, trying to push through the surge of anger bubbling beneath the surface.
As the final note rang out, the arena erupted in cheers, but Harry’s eyes remained locked on the sign. He took a deep breath, stepping away from the mic stand.
Just like Hannah did, the band noticed the shift in his demeanor, the subtle tension in his movements. The audience, sensing something was off, began to quiet.
"What is happening?" Hannah heard Harry's management team murmuring. "Why is he stopping?"
"Is he okay?" someone else, the stylist, asked.
"There's a fan with a board calling me a slut." Hannah said and the whole team went silent. "He can't stop the concert because of that."
"Harry," the sound director said in the mic connected directly to Harry's monitors. "let's move on. We're almost done."
However, Harry walked back to the center of the stage, his voice calm but firm.
"Can we talk for a moment?" he asked the fans, taking his in-ear monitors off, making the whole team sigh.
The crowd hushed, anticipation thick in the air. Fans near the front exchanged confused glances as this wasn’t part of the show. Hannah, on the other hand, placed a hand on her chest, trying to calm herself.
Harry pointed to the section where he’d seen the sign.
"You," he said, his voice steady but intense. "with the sign."
There was a ripple of murmurs as the sign-holder hesitated, as if they couldn’t believe they were finally being noticed. The security approached, ready to intervene, but Harry raised a hand, stopping them.
“No, let them stay.”, he told them.
Hannah felt her heart in her throat. She wanted to tell him it was okay, that it was just some random person seeking attention. Yet, deep down, she knew it ran deeper than that - there were layers of racism and prejudice beneath the surface.
Harry scanned the crowd, his voice carrying a quiet, intense fury that commanded attention. He couldn’t comprehend the hatred some fans had for Hannah. She had done nothing but bring him happiness and love. Why would they target someone so important to him? To Harry, being a true fan didn’t include tearing down the person he loved.
“Hannah is someone I love.” he began, his voice strong and clear. “She is so talented, kind, and one of the strongest people I know. She doesn’t deserve to be talked about like that. No one does.” Harry continued, his eyes scanning the audience. “Words matter. The things we say, the things we write. They have power. Saying something like this to someone is hurtful. It’s damaging.”
A wave of cheers erupted, but Harry raised his hand, signaling for silence. For what Hannah could tell, some people were even crying, the raw honesty in his voice struck a chord.
“This isn’t just about Hannah. It’s about all of us. We’ve created a world where tearing people down is too easy. Where judgment is louder than kindness. That’s not the world I want to live in. That’s not the world I want my fans to be part of.” he continued.
Harry’s gaze returned to the sign-holder, as did Hannah’s.
“I’m not here to shame you. I’m here to ask you to be better. We all can be. Think about the kind of energy you’re putting out into the world.” he told the fan. The sign slowly lowered, disappearing into the crowd. Security moved to escort the person out, but Harry shook his head. “Let them stay. Maybe they’ll learn something tonight.”
The fact that he could still be kind after all that, made Hannah’s heart beat even faster - if that was any possible. She didn’t deserve someone like him, he was too precious for all of that.
The crowd erupted in cheers, the energy shifting, becoming something brighter, stronger. Fans near the front started chanting things like “we love Hannah”, “Hannah is the best”, making Harry smile while tears glistened in his eyes.
“Thank you.” he said.
The band took the cue and started the next song while Harry walked over Hannah’s direction, making her notice the tears she didn't even know she had cried. He opened his arms, giving her a quick yet loving hug, kissing her cheek and wiping her tears.
“It’s okay.” he whispered to her. “I love you.” he reassured her.
“I love you way more.” she answered in the same tone.
“That’s impossible.” he answered before winking at her and going back to his spot.
Rina was barely twelve when she joined SM Entertainment quiet, polite, with a shy voice that still trembled during vocal lessons. Donghae was already part of Super Junior, confident but kind-hearted, known around the company for looking after younger trainees.
He used to bring snacks to the practice rooms, crack little jokes to lighten the mood, and Rina always the gentle one in the corner would laugh quietly. Over time, he noticed how mature she was for her age, how she listened before she spoke, how she never asked for attention yet somehow filled the room with calm.
They became close in the way people sometimes do without trying. They texted, shared music, and sometimes ended up staying in the practice rooms long after everyone else had gone home he’d be strumming a guitar, and she’d hum softly next to him.
She always called him Donghae sunbaenim back then. He’d tease her about it, telling her to drop the formality, but she never quite could. There was a quiet comfort between them, something safe.
Then, somewhere around 2010, Rina realized she was seeing him differently. She didn’t say it out loud not even to herself at first but her heart started doing that thing it does when someone becomes more than a friend. She’d blush when he complimented her singing or look away when their hands brushed. It was innocent, soft, and completely real.
First Dating (jan 2012 - sept 2012)
By early 2012, their closeness had deepened. He was 25, she was 19 young, but sincere. They had known each other for years, and he treated her with a care that felt steady and protective.
The night he confessed, they had both been in the SM building late he was working on a demo, she had stayed behind after practice. He offered to walk her home. Somewhere between the elevator ride and the quiet streets, he said it:
“I think I like you more than I should.”
Rina didn’t know what to say at first. But she smiled that small, knowing smile that Donghae would later admit “ruined him completely.”
They started dating quietly. No one outside their closest circle knew. Their moments together were soft coffee in his car after rehearsals, exchanging lyric notebooks, watching dramas in the practice lounge when everyone else had gone home. Donghae was her first love, her first heartbreak, her first everything.
But as 2012 went on, life got complicated. Super Junior was touring across continents; Girls’ Generation was at its peak. They barely saw each other. She was still figuring out who she was, while he was learning how to be a man in the public eye. The distance grew. By September, they ended things not out of anger, but because they cared enough not to ruin what they had left.
Rina cried quietly for a week. Donghae sent her a long message thanking her for “letting him feel something honest.” They promised to stay friends.
Akward State (oct 2012 - sept 2015)
The next few years were strange full of polite smiles, awkward hellos, and conversations that never went deeper than “How are you?” They’d see each other at SM family events, always surrounded by people. Sometimes their eyes would meet just for a second and they’d both look away.
Everyone around them could feel it: that quiet tension between two people who still had something unresolved. Neither wanted to reopen old wounds.
Rina poured herself into music. Donghae focused on work. But sometimes, late at night, when songs got too emotional or old memories played too vividly, both of them would think of each other not with pain, but with that soft ache that comes from missing something gentle.
Military Era (oct 2015 - july 2017)
When Donghae enlisted in October 2015, Rina was one of the few who reached out. She sent him a handwritten letter with no fanfare just words like, “I hope you’re eating well. I’m proud of you.”
Those letters meant everything to him. Away from the spotlight, with nothing but time to think, he found comfort in her words steady, kind, familiar. They started exchanging letters more often, and little by little, the awkwardness between them faded.
When he came back in 2017, the first thing he did was thank her in person, with that same warm smile she’d fallen for years ago.
Second Try (sept 2017 - oct 2017)
After his discharge, they started spending more time together coffee meetups, long talks about music and how much they’d both changed. One evening, he asked, “Do you ever wonder what would’ve happened if we didn’t let go?”
That conversation turned into something more. For a short while, in September 2017, they gave it another try. It was beautiful but brief. They realized they still loved each other, but the timing was still wrong. Their careers were in full motion again, and both knew they couldn’t give the relationship the attention it deserved.
When they ended things a month later, it wasn’t sad it was calm. She told him, “Maybe love doesn’t always mean staying. Sometimes it means understanding.”
Friendship Era (feb 2018 - april 2023)
By 2018, they had found a new balance real friendship. They supported each other’s work quietly and sincerely. When she released her solo EP Ethereal, Donghae sent flowers with a note that simply said, “Proud of you, always.” She kept that note in her journal for years.
They were part of each other’s lives again, not as lovers, but as people who had grown through each other. There was laughter again, shared messages, the occasional teasing comment on variety shows. It wasn’t awkward anymore it was peaceful.
Rina once told an interviewer offhand, “Some friendships are just unfinished stories and that’s okay.” Fans didn’t know then how prophetic that line would become.
Third Try and final (may 2023 - present)
It happened unexpectedly as most real things do.
In May 2023, Super Junior’s Donghae, Leeteuk, and Shindong were guests on Rina’s variety show ShowInterview. The episode was playful, full of laughter and jokes. But near the end, there was a final segment a skit called “Confess Your Love”. The guests had to write a fake love confession on a sketchbook, as part of the bit.
When it was Donghae’s turn, he joked his way through the first few pages, making everyone laugh. But then, on the last page, he paused smiled nervously and flipped it over.
The sketchbook read:
“I love you.”
The audience laughed, thinking it was part of the show. But Rina froze not from embarrassment, but because she knew. And so did Leeteuk and Shindong, who exchanged knowing looks off-camera.
After filming ended, Donghae waited for her in the hallway. He didn’t make a grand speech; he just said quietly, “You know that wasn’t for the show, right?”
She looked at him, half-laughing, half-teary-eyed, and nodded.
“I know.”
That was the beginning again.
They started seeing each other soon after. No secrecy, no heavy expectations just two people who had already seen each other at their best and worst, finally ready for something real.
And then, just as winter turned to January 1st, 2025, the world found out.
Dispatch revealed them as the first New Year’s couple of 2025, publishing photos of them leaving a quiet café in Cheongdam-dong.
For once, the reaction wasn’t scandal or shock it was warmth. Fans from both fandoms flooded social media with messages like “They deserve happiness” and “Finally.” Even their SM family joked that “it only took them eighteen years.”
Neither Rina nor Donghae denied it. Instead, their agencies released a joint statement:
“They’ve known each other for a long time and have recently begun seeing each other with care and respect. Please show them warm support.”
It was simple. Honest. Just like them.
Now, in 2025, they’re together quietly, steadily, happily. They don’t flaunt their relationship, but their warmth shows in small ways: the way he mentions “someone who makes me laugh” on radio shows, the lavender ribbon she wears during Super Junior events.
People around them say they bring out the best in each other. He makes her laugh louder; she makes him softer. After years of almosts and pauses, they’ve finally found peace not in perfection, but in understanding.
Rina once summed it up beautifully during an anniversary interview:
“He was my first love, my heartbreak, my silence, and my peace. Some stories don’t end they just take a long time to find their home.”
Rina wasn’t a drinker. Everyone in her life knew that SNSD, SHINee, Super Junior, even the managers.
At company dinners she always quietly sipped water or juice, cheeks warming at the slightest sip of champagne.
She always said, “I don’t like losing control.”
But one night one quiet, rare night she let herself.
And it happened in the safest place she knew: Donghae’s living room.
It was after a long week for both of them.
Rina had finished a recording session late at night, and Donghae had just come back from practice. She stopped by his place because she “didn’t feel like going home yet.”
He cooked her late night pasta he always did when she looked tired and then he brought out a bottle of peach wine.
Light, sweet, nothing heavy.
“Let’s just relax tonight,” he said with a soft smile. “You don’t need to think about anything.”
She agreed.
Which was already unusual.
After two glasses in Rina was… different.
Still soft, still gentle, but loose.
Her cheeks had turned rosy, her eyes sparkling a little more than usual.
She sat cross legged on the couch and kept poking Donghae’s arm with her finger.
“Why are you so handsome today?”
“I didn’t do anything,” he laughed.
“Nooo, you’re doing it again,” she said, squinting.
“Doing what?”
“That thing where your face looks like a… like a puppy who knows he’s pretty.”
Donghae had to bite his lip to keep from laughing too hard.
Rina the usually composed, calm, lavender soft idol became clingy.
Sweetly clingy.
She scooted next to him until her shoulder was pressed against his.
Then she rested her head on his chest, sighing dramatically.
“Donghae…”
“Yes?”
“Don’t leave.”
He froze. “I’m not leaving.”
“You’re going to go on tour again one day,” she mumbled into his shirt.
“And you’re going to go too. And I’ll miss you. I don’t like missing you.”
Donghae gently stroked her hair.
He knew she wasn’t talking about schedules.
She was talking about life the years they’d spent apart, the breaks, the almosts, the heartbreaks.
“I’m here,” he whispered into her hair. “I always come back to you.”
She lifted her head, eyes glossy, and said the most Rina thing in the world:
“You better.”
After an hour, she started giggling at absolutely everything.
Donghae spilled one piece of pasta on the floor she laughed for three minutes straight.
Then she looked down at her own hands and whispered, shocked:
“Why do I have so many fingers?”
He nearly choked trying not to laugh.
“You have ten fingers,” he said calmly.
She gasped. “TEN?! That’s too MANY!”
At some point, Rina curled up on his couch under his blanket, clutching the pillow he always gave her.
“Donghae…” she murmured again.
He tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “Yes, baby?”
“You make me feel… safe.”
It wasn’t loud.
It wasn’t dramatic.
Just a soft confession said with drunken honesty the kind she’d be too shy to say sober.
Donghae kissed her forehead. “Good. That’s all I want.”
She nodded sleepily, already drifting.
“You’re my home,” she whispered as she fell asleep.
And Donghae alone in the quiet apartment, watching the woman he loved finally rest whispered back to her even though she couldn’t hear:
“You’re mine too.”
The morning after she woke up on his couch, wrapped neatly in a blanket, head pounding.
Donghae was in the kitchen making porridge.
“…Did I do anything embarrassing?” she croaked.
He turned around with the biggest grin.
“Do you want the short version or the long version?”
She covered her face with both hands.
“Oh no.”
He walked over, kissed her forehead, and said:
“You told me you loved my face. A lot.”
She groaned.
But he added softly:
“And you told me I was your home.”
She froze.
“...I said that?”
“Yes.”
She blushed harder than she ever had on stage.
Donghae just smiled and handed her a warm mug of tea.
It happened on a fan signing event in Seoul, one of those busy, cheerful days where laughter filled the hall and cameras clicked nonstop. She’d been signing albums for hours, smiling until her cheeks hurt, her voice soft and kind with every “thank you for coming.”
And then she noticed her.
A little girl maybe six or seven waiting quietly in line, clutching an album almost too big for her hands. She wasn’t wearing flashy fan merch or holding a slogan. She just stood there in a pink dress and white sneakers, her hair tied up in two small braids.
When it was her turn, she shuffled forward slowly, nervous but determined. Rina smiled, leaning down a little.
“Hi, sweetie. What’s your name?”
The girl blinked up at her, wide-eyed.
“I’m Yerin,” she whispered. “I came with my brother.”
Behind her stood a teenage boy maybe sixteen looking both proud and embarrassed. He mouthed, “She loves you so much.”
Rina’s smile softened.
“You did? That’s so sweet. Thank you for coming, Yerin.”
The little girl nodded, then placed something carefully on the table not a letter, not a gift bag. Just a small, hand-drawn picture.
It was a crayon drawing of Rina standing on a stage, smiling under colorful lights. Next to her was a stick figure version of the little girl, holding her hand.
Above them, written in uneven, crooked letters, it said:
“Don’t be lonely. I’ll be your friend.”
Rina froze for a second.
Something about the innocence of those words hit her harder than she expected. Maybe it was because, behind all the lights and the laughter, she’d been quietly tired that week juggling rehearsals, interviews, and the weight of constant attention. She’d been smiling, but her heart had been heavy in ways she hadn’t told anyone.
And here was this tiny stranger this child offering her the one thing fame sometimes takes away: simple, unconditional kindness.
Rina reached across the table and gently held the little girl’s hand.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s said to me.”
The girl grinned shyly.
“I like your songs because they sound like flowers.”
That made Rina laugh a real, unguarded laugh that made everyone around smile too. She signed the girl’s album with a little heart and wrote under her name, “To my new friend, Yerin you make the world brighter.”
Before the girl left, she looked back once more and waved, her braids bouncing.
“Don’t forget me, unnie!”
Rina waved back.
“Never.”
Later that night, back in her apartment, Rina found herself staring at the drawing again. The colors were bright, a little messy but it felt more genuine than anything she’d seen in weeks. She taped it gently to the wall beside her vanity mirror.
That was the day a little fan quietly stole Rina’s heart not with fame or admiration, but with kindness so pure it reminded her why she started singing in the first place.
warnings: swearing; mention of menstruation, food, childbirth
an: it’s done finally! sorry if the ending seems rushed, i so desperately wanted to finish this. feedback and reblogs are much appreciated 💐
harin’s masterlist
Harin swatted Dongwook’s hands away as she applied her blush. He had spent the last ten minutes trying to distract her, but she had to get ready for her dinner with Tiffany and Yoona. It had been a while since the three women had seen each other and, since they were the only of the members available to meet up, they decided to do just that.
“Keep your hands to yourself,” she lightly scolded, glancing at him through the mirror. She resisted an eye roll at the slight pout on his face.
“Why?” He asked, once again reaching for her hip. He pulled her body back against his and started pressing kisses to the back of her neck. “Just stay home with me.”
A laugh bubbled out of Harin’s throat at her husband’s behaviour. “That’s not an option. I already told Tiffany and Yoona that I’d be at dinner, there’s no getting out of it now, not without a real and legitimate reason.” Dongwook sighed behind her, the action tickling her skin. “You’re acting like I’m leaving forever, I’ll be back by nine,” she pointed out, swapping the blush for mascara.
“I thought you guys were just going to dinner.” He raised an accusatory eyebrow. “If your reservation is for half-past six, then what’s taking you so long?”
“Have you forgotten that my members like to talk?” She asked, carefully running the wand through her eyelashes. One of Dongwook’s hands moved to rest on her stomach, and she placed her unoccupied hand on top of his. “Besides, don’t act like you don’t have a crazy night ahead of you,” she teased, grinning when he pinched the skin of her hip.
The ‘crazy night’ in question involved feeding Haesoo her dinner then taking her through her nighttime routine before putting her to bed. By the time Harin arrived back home, Haesoo would have been asleep for at least an hour, meaning Dongwook would have an hour to do whatever he felt like (he’ll probably clean). As if she knew she was being talked about, Haesoo called out from their room, demanding attention. Dongwook pressed one last kiss on Harin’s shoulder before popping out of their bathroom. If it weren’t for the fact that their dogs made it their mission to always be watching Haesoo, Harin would’ve kicked Dongwook out of the bathroom ages ago.
Harin tried, and failed, to suppress the smile that always, always grew on her face when hearing her husband and daughter have their silly little conversations. Haesoo mostly babbled but she made sure to sprinkle in a few words here and there. The fact that Haesoo was turning one in two weeks threw her for a loop. Last time she checked, Haesoo was still five months old, babbling on a FaceTime call because Harin missed her little girl whilst she was on tour.
The vibrating of her phone pulled her from her thoughts. She swapped the mascara for lipstick, swiping it along her lips. Picking up her phone, she opened her messages and brought out her jewellery box.
Tiffany Hwang [18:12] I’m here! 💗
Im Yoona [18:14] You’re there already?
Im Yoona [18:14] Why so early?
Tiffany Hwang [18:15] I finished my schedule earlier than expected
Tiffany Hwang [18:15] Now I’m just having a drink, celebrating
Im Yoona [18:15] Celebrating what?
Tiffany Hwang [18:15] My period ends today!!!
Im Yoona [18:16] It’s a good day today~~
Harin sent cheering emojis before turning her phone off. She put on a pair of gold earrings, wearing a matching necklace. Just as she was about to reach for her rings, she paused her movement, her mind racing a mile a minute. Tiffany’s period finished today, she thought. Her period finished today. When does mine end? Did mine start? My period… She picked her phone up and went to her period tracking app, seeing that she didn’t bleed in the month of August. It wasn’t the first time Harin missed her period, and it probably wouldn’t be the last, but she couldn’t ignore the nagging voice in the back of her mind that said that this time was different.
“You’re stressing over nothing, Harin,” she mumbled, putting her phone back down. But still… She picked her phone up and unlocked it, quickly going to a convenience store website and ordering a packet of pregnancy tests. The tests weren’t going to arrive before she left, so she’d have to wait until she came back to check for herself. Checking herself in the mirror, she decided she was good to go and left the bathroom.
Dongwook gasped dramatically, drawing Haesoo’s attention from her toys. Poppins and Cucumber raised their heads then went back to lying down. “Oh, look at eomma,” he told his daughter, who started clapping.
“Pretty!” She cheered, looking proud of herself for saying the word her dad taught her for this very reason: to compliment Harin. The woman quickly forgot about her previous stress when she saw how excited her daughter was to see her.
“Do you think I look pretty, my love?” Harin picked up her daughter from the bed and pressed kisses to her cheeks, her heart squeezing at Haesoo’s giggles. She pressed a final kiss to her forehead and held Haesoo at her hip. The young girl reached for the end of Harin’s hair, running her fingers through it. Ever since Harin cut her hair short, Haesoo enjoyed playing with it.
“Why don’t you react like that when I compliment you?” Dongwook questioned.
“You’re not an eleven month old,” Harin quipped, smirking at the annoyed grunt he let out. She walked out of the bedroom, Dongwook trailing behind her with her bag in one hand and her knee-high boots in the other, not surprised to not hear the pitter-patter of the dogs’ footsteps. They would only move if Haesoo wanted them to.
When they got downstairs, Harin placed Haesoo on the ground and took her shoes from Dongwook, pressing a kiss to his cheek in thanks. She put them on and shouldered her bag.
“Do I look okay?” She asked.
Dongwook titled his head, pretending to evaluate her outfit. His eyes trailed over her cream high-neck halter top and denim maxi skirt. He sighed, lowering down to a crouch and taking Haesoo in his arms. “I’m not sure,” he said. “How does eomma look?” He asked the toddler.
“Pretty!”
“I think the same,” he said, sending a wink Harin’s way. He stood up, holding Haesoo in his arms. “Say bye-bye,” he instructed.
Harin would be a liar if she said her heart didn’t squeeze at the frown Haesoo made at the realisation that she would be leaving. She watched her daughter wave at her and stepped forward, pressing a kiss to the young girl’s cheek.
“I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Mo’ning?” Haesoo asked.
“I’ll wake you up with a song,” she promised, and watched as Haesoo began to smile. “Goodnight, my princess.”
“And what about me?” Dongwook questioned. “Do I get a kiss?”
Harin hummed as if deciding. “I don’t know. Should I give appa a kiss?” She asked her daughter, who immediately nodded. Dongwook wrapped his free arm around her, pulling her close to him and pressing his lips to hers. The kiss was soft, tender, Dongwook’s arm pulling her impossibly closer as he pressed his lips firmer against hers. Haesoo let out a short giggle at her parents’ display of affection.
Harin pulled back with a laugh. “I have to go now if I don’t want to be late,” she said, walking to the garage. “Have fun, my darlings.”
“You too, babe!”
Harin rolled her eyes at the joke Yoona made, a soft smile on her face. She took a sip of her soda, watching as Tiffany tried not to choke on her food, too busy laughing.
“Wait, wait,” she managed between a few coughs, holding up a hand. “Give me a second.” Once she regained her composure, she chewed her food and swallowed.
“Why didn’t you do that before?” Yoona teased before popping a roll of kimbap into her mouth.
“You were busy making me laugh!”
“Even when I leave home, I’m surrounded by children,” Harin groaned, picking up a leaf of lettuce and placing some beef inside.
“We’re more mature than Haesoo,” Yoona complained, her mouth still full of food.
Harin squinted her eyes at her member, showing her disbelief. “You guys even eat the same.” She shoved the wrap into her mouth.
“She doesn’t even know how to hold chopsticks!” Tiffany argued, her face going slightly red — whether that was from the alcohol or indignation was up for debate. “She doesn’t even know how to jump!”
Yoona nodded in agreement, having swallowed her food. “We know how to hold chopsticks,” she said in defense of her and Tiffany.
“And jump!” Tiffany added.
“But speaking of her, how is she?” Yoona asked. “Last time I saw her, she didn’t want to go near me until I gave her a toy,” she said, letting out a frustrated huff of air.
Harin felt her lips quirk up at the memory of Haesoo clinging to her, refusing to go to Yoona. “She probably just doesn’t remember you,” Harin had explained, trying not to laugh at how Yoona was sulking on the couch. “This is why you have to show her pictures and videos of me, so she doesn’t forget me,” she had whined in response.
“She’s fine. She’s recently been trying to sleep in the dog beds, which is lovely.”
Tiffany chuckled. “At least she's not eating the dog food?” She shrugged her shoulders. “Look at the bright side,” she encouraged.”
“I was talking about this with Sooyoung unnie,” Yoona began, “and we can’t believe she’s going to be one years old so soon. It feels like just yesterday you texted us that you gave birth.”
Harin felt the same way. She remembered the day she gave birth as if it were yesterday. It was almost midnight and she was so, so relieved to have given birth before the 22nd, as that was Hyoyeon’s birthday. That was the reason she held off on telling her friends and family that she had given birth. That and the fact that she was exhausted. On the 23rd, she sent a picture to every important person in her life, along with a short message: Lee Haesoo was born on the 21st of September at 23:51.
“Yeah. She walks and talks now.” Harin reached for her glass, taking a sip of the soda. “We’ve been singing Happy Birthday to her everyday for the past month to make sure that she doesn’t get startled when everyone starts singing for her.”
Tiffany and Yoona laughed at the visual. Haesoo’s birthday lunch was going to fall on her birthday, and Harin and Dongwook had invited friends and family to it. It wasn’t going to be a grand event by any means, just a lunch spread, a cake, and, finally, the doljabi.
“I’m so excited!” Yoona squealed. “I had so much fun shopping for her gift.”
“I’m sure you wanted to buy something for yourself as well,” Harin joked, smiling sweetly when Yoona pouted.
“I’m so sorry I’m missing it,” Tiffany apologised, not for the first time. “I’ve got practices and performances and–”
“I know,” Harin interrupted, placing her hand atop hers. Despite the indifference of her tone, her expression was sincere. “Doing a play’s a lot of work.” She shrugged. “This just means you have to be at all her other birthday parties,” she quipped, tapping Tiffany’s hand before pulling hers away.
Yoona laughed, throwing her head back at the face Tiffany made. “She looks so displeased.”
“But are you going to celebrate her birthday every year?” Tiffany asked hesitantly, trying to school her expression. “You don’t even celebrate your birthday every year,” she pointed out.
“Well, we’re not going to do a party every year, sometimes we’ll buy a cake and call it a day,” Harin said. “And then, when she’s older, if she says she wants a party every year, what choice will I have?”
“You’re a good mom,” Yoona commented, catching Harin by surprise.
“All of a sudden?”
“We all know it,” Tiffany said. “You’re amazing with Haesoo.”
“I know that,” Harin replied. If Tiffany and Yoona didn’t know her as well as they did, Harin would worry that they’d interpret her words to be cocky or arrogant, and not to be grateful. Of course she knew that she was a good mother, but she didn’t mind being told so every now and then. “Anyways, that’s enough talking about me.”
The conversation was then steered into Tiffany talking about her practice woes and how demanding the play was. As she gave Tiffany advice with how to deal with the exhaustion and body aches, she couldn’t help but feel lighter. As much as she loved spending her days at home with her husband and daughter, she also cherished the moments that led her outside with friends. This was just what she needed.
Harin put her hand on the doorknob, pushing the door open so she could walk inside. She didn’t turn on the light, instead letting the light from the hallway illuminate Haesoo’s room. Walking to the cot, Harin leaned over it and peaked inside, checking on Haesoo. The young girl was sleeping peacefully and would probably only wake up once during the night. Some days, she would sleep through the night, others she would wake up for a feeding.
Walking back to the door, Harin closed it, leaving it slightly ajar. She walked down the hallway to her room, pushing open the door.
“Hi, gorgeous,” Dongwook greeted, resting on the bed in his pyjamas. In his lap was a stack of papers, but he was scrolling through something on his phone.
Harin raised her eyebrow, her eyes zeroing in on the papers. “Is that work?”
Dongwook, to his credit, had the courtesy to look sheepish. As a couple, the two decided to not do anything work-related in their bedroom. Since they were both workaholics, they needed to establish boundaries between their work life and personal life. “I know, I know. But I just wanted to lay down and read my script.”
She placed her bag on the bench, pulling her socks off her feet. “It looks like you’re on your phone.”
“Well–” he rolled his eyes, scoffing– “I took a break.” His lips pulled up into a smile. “How was your evening?”
“Good,” she answered, moving through the bedroom to sit on one of the armchairs with a huff. “It’s always nice, seeing those rascals. How was your night?”
“A bit hard,” he sighed.
She began to take out her earrings. “Tantrum?”
Dongwook nodded. “She didn’t want to finish her food, and then she was upset that I took it away. It took me forever to calm her down.”
“Sorry, baby,” Harin apologised, removing her rings and bracelet. Whilst Haesoo was a relatively calm baby, she was still a baby, meaning she would get easily overwhelmed — by her environment and emotions — and cry. The fact that she wasn’t able to properly communicate what was wrong probably contributed to her frustration.
“It’s fine. She ate her dinner and she was fine after that.”
Harin nodded before standing up, collecting her jewellery in her hand. “Let me go change.” She disappeared into the bathroom, putting her jewellery in its respective cases. She retrieved her face wash and turned on the tap, lathing it onto her face so she could wash off her makeup. After she rinsed the soap off, she dried her face and applied her moisturiser.
“Oh, babe!” Dongwook called out.
Harin walked out the bathroom, standing by the bed as she fetched her pyjamas from behind her pillow. “Yeah?”
“A package you ordered came after you left,” he told her, pointing at her bedside table, where there was a small brown box.
Harin stared at the box, not recognising it. “Thanks.” She picked it up and started walking to the bathroom.
“Why don’t you change here?” Dongwook asked, putting his phone down.
Harin’s lips curled into a sly smirk as she looked at her husband. “I don’t want to distract you,” she teased, her eyes dipping down to look at the script across his lap. She laughed at the groan he let out, walking into the bathroom.
“I can multi-task!” He called out.
Harin bit her lip, concealing her smile as she put her pyjamas and the box on the counter. She shook the box gently, hearing a soft thudding sound. She made quick work of opening it, letting out a soft “Ah!” when she pulled out another box that had pregnancy tests. Somehow, her dinner with her members made her completely forget about her suspicions.
She looked anxiously to her bedroom, where she could hear Dongwook reading his lines aloud to himself, muttering under his breath. She knew he probably didn’t have time to go through his script during the day and that was why he was doing it now, so she didn’t want to disturb him, but she also didn’t want to take the test by herself. She let out a huff of air, resting her hands on the counter as she began to worry on her bottom lip, her eyebrows furrowing.
Trying to get out of her head, she focused on the soft sound of Dongwook redoing his lines with different intonations and emphasis on certain words, and felt her nerves settle a bit. Before she could change her mind, she walked back into the bedroom.
“Did you rethink my offer?” Dongwook asked. When she stayed quiet, he looked up at her, noticing how she was biting her lip. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Harin said, inwardly cursing the slight quiver to her voice. At Dongwook’s concerned look, she sighed. “Nothing’s wrong,” she repeated, her voice more clear and confident. “Um… Before I left, Tiffany said something about her period ending and it made me realise that I didn’t bleed last month. And I knew it was probably nothing, but there was… something that made me buy pregnancy tests, but I left before they got here, but they’re here now so…” she trailed off, looking at him expectantly. “Would you like to go find out if I’m pregnant?”
Dongwook gaped at her, a smile growing on his face, his eyes sparkling. “Yeah, let’s go,” he said, throwing the script to the side as he jumped off the bed.
Harin’s shoulder sagged, the tension leaving her body. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” He stood in front of her, taking her hand in his and pressing a kiss to it. “Let’s go.”
They walked into the bathroom together, and Dongwook opened the box of pregnancy tests. They decided to do three tests, just to be sure, and read the instructions. They followed the instructions as written, placing the caps on all three tests when they were done and setting a five minute timer.
“Do you know what you want it to say?” Dongwook asked from his position on the floor. He watched as Harin paced back and forth in their bathroom.
Harin shook her head. “I don’t know. I guess I’ll find out when I’m about to flip the test over.” She shrugged her shoulders.
“Well, whatever it says,” he began, his voice making Harin stop her movement, “it’ll be okay and the world will not end, okay?”
“Okay,” she sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I’m probably worrying for nothing.”
“It’s okay to be nervous, baby,” he comforted, standing up with a groan. Harin’s lip twitched, a tease on the tip of her tongue. “But I’m here with you, you’re not alone.” He held his hand out, looking at her expectantly. She placed her hand in his, laughing when he pulled her to him. He wrapped his arms around her, beginning to sway in place.
“Do you know what you want it to say?” Harin asked softly; if it weren’t for the fact that her head was nestled into the juncture between his shoulder and his neck, he probably wouldn’t have heard her.
His chest rumbled slightly as he hummed. “I do.”
“Are you going to tell me?” Harin asked, when he offered no further answer.
Dongwook shook his head. “No.” He pulled back slightly, so Harin did the same. They looked each other in the eye, and Harin felt warmth spread in her chest at the sincerity she saw in Dongwook’s eyes. “I’m fine with anything, my beloved.”
Harin hummed in response. “Has it been five minutes yet?”
Dongwook laughed. “It’s been one and a half.”
“Fucking time,” she muttered. “You’ll have to entertain me until the timer’s up.”
“How would I even do that?” He complained, poking her side. She let out a yelp, scrambling to get out of his hold. “You have to keep quiet, baby,” he scolded, smirking at her, “Haesoo’s sleeping.”
“If you don’t tickle me, then I won’t make any loud noises,” she said, swatting his hands as he reached for her. She pointed to one side of the bathroom, swallowing a laugh when he obeyed. This damn man, she thought, and his need to distract me from my worries. How I love him.
A quiet settled in the bathroom, neither of them having anything to say. Harin continued to gnaw on her lip, tapping her foot incessantly and Dongwook checked the timer on his phone every five seconds.
“Do you want me to do a ten second countdown?” Dongwook asked, drawing Harin’s attention.
“Why would you do a ten second countdown?” Harin questioned.
Dongwook shrugged, still checking his phone. “To make it more exciting.” He didn’t wait for Harin to respond before he started counting backwards, until he got to zero.
Slowly, so slowly, Harin made her way to the bathroom counter. She took the tests out of the cup, wiping them with tissues. Bringing one close to her face she looked at the test window, a gasp leaving her mouth. She quickly checked the other two, seeing the same result. She felt Dongwook place a supportive hand on her back, rubbing soothing circles.
“What does it say?” He asked. Instead of speaking, she showed him the sticks, letting him check for himself. “What does that mean?”
“It’s positive,” she breathed out, feeling his body tense in shock. She looked at him through the mirror, seeing a slowly growing smile on his face.
“It’s positive?” He asked, meeting her gaze in the mirror.
She nodded, biting her lip – this time to conceal her smile, not as a nervous tick. “We’re having another baby,” she whispered, putting the sticks down. She turned around, his hands going to rest on her hips.
“You’re pregnant,” he said, still a bit shocked. He rubbed his thumbs back and forth on her body. “How do you feel about it?”
“I… I’m happy. And nervous. And a million other things.” She breathed out a sigh, a slight furrow working its way into her eyebrows. “You?”
“Same as you,” he answered and pressed a kiss to her forehead. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips, swallowing the chuckle she let out. “Another baby,” he muttered against her lips before deepening their kiss.
Later, they would properly discuss everything they needed to — telling Haesoo, booking doctors appointments, rearranging their schedules — but for now, they wanted to do nothing more than bask in their happiness.
tagging: @lyskooluv
an: cat’s out the bag (FINALLY). the last time i was around a baby was three years ago, so i dont really know how they speak or anything like that. i hope you enjoyed!