ASTRA

As you’re lying in bed watching TikToks, scrolling through Instagram, liking and commenting on your friends’ posts, you hear the front door creak open.

Your stomach drops; you’d completely forgotten about Jisung’s “surprise”. You were still so scared to see what he’d possibly brought home. Maybe it was nothing at all, and he’d just been playing a prank on you, right? Right?

“Jagiya! I’m home.” He calls out from the living room. You take a final deep breath to prepare yourself before standing up from the bed and heading out into the hallway.

Jisung chuckles as he watches you approach cautiously from the hallway.

“Hi,” you say cautiously. Jisung smiles at how nervous you are about approaching him.

He lifts his hands, showing you that he has nothing in them. “Babe, I don’t like this. What was that text about? I’m nervous,” you say as you finally reach him. He presses his lips to yours for a quick kiss before taking your hand and leading you into the kitchen.

“Let’s wash our hands first.”

You do exactly as instructed, thoroughly washing your hands with warm water and the unscented soap.

You’re cautious as he leads you back into the living room once both of you have washed your hands. He sits on the floor in front of the coffee table. There was a small plexiglass enclosure you must’ve missed before.

The enclosure was small, a temporary home, made out of plexiglass with holes for airflow along the top of the enclosure. There’s a paper towel lining the floor of the enclosure, a little log for climbing, and a small hollowed-out rock structure to hide under.

You kneel beside Jisung and look inside the enclosure…

“This is our daughter.”

You tilt your head, looking at the small animal currently sitting on top of the log in its enclosure.

“What… What is it?” You ask as you watch it look around and lick its left eye.

“It? Really, jagi? It? She’s our daughter.”

“Alright, alright, I’m sorry. What is she?”

“She’s a crested gecko; her name is Richard.” You pause and turn your head to look at Jisung.

“Richard?”

“Changbin named her.” The expression on your face is a mix of surprise, confusion, and shock. Jisung just looks like a proud father as he introduces you to Richard. “Would you like to hold her?”

“I would love to hold Richard.” You can’t help but smile at how gentle Jisung is with Richard. He places one hand in front of her and another behind her to gently coax her to walk onto his the palm of his hand. You hold out your own hands, and he carefully transfers Richard into your palms. You hold her up in front of your face and study her up close.

She licks her eye.

“Hello, Richard. I’m Y/n. I’m your mom.” You look at Jisung, then back at Richard. “I don’t know if she likes me, babe.”

“She’s not much of a talker.”

It’s a bit of an understatement to say you quickly fall in love with your new daughter. You absorb every bit of knowledge from Jisung. You help feed Richard, even when insects are involved; you cut up fruit into small portions that are more manageable for her, and you clean her enclosure when Jisung can’t do it.

You just enjoy holding her and watching her climb and walk around in her temporary enclosure.

Once her permanent terrarium comes in, you clear out a space in your shared bedroom for her. You go to the pet store and help Jisung pick out the things you need, from foliage and hiding spots to thermometers and substrate.

You both make sure Richard has the best possible living space. You even DIY a little sign that says “Princess Richard” on it to put on the outside of her enclosure.

Jisung quickly changed his wallpaper from a picture of you to a picture of Richard. It probably would’ve made you jealous if you hadn’t done the same.

hey baby want to go get dinner tn?

You look down at your phone and snap a picture of Richard on your shoulder.

Sorry it’s girls night tonight.

wow…

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