Epilogue
Three days turned into a month, and a month into moving boxes and hastily made plans.
The convenience of living next door to the bakery made Miles reluctant to leave his shoebox of an apartment, but with Jun’s recording equipment to account for and a baby on the way, there simply wasn’t enough square footage to make the space sustainable.
After weeks of touring disappointingly small units nearby and searching without success for local houses for sale that weren’t overrun with black mold, it was Stella who came through with the solution.
The net proceeds from the sale of Jun’s swanky Los Angeles home were more than enough to tempt even the stingiest slumlord into selling his run-down apartment complex, and Miles’s was no exception.
It wasn’t the soundest financial decision by any means, and Jun was sure his wealth manager was cussing him out under his breath with each new withdrawal he made, but in less than a month, it was done.
The deed was transferred over, and ownership of Miles’s apartment complex came into the possession of one Mr. Ha-Jun Park, streamer extraordinaire.
A flurry of renovations followed, and a few short weeks before their family of two became a family of three, the first phase was complete—Miles’s tiny apartment was transformed into the two-bedroom, one-bath upper floor of a two-story unit.
With a large living space downstairs, a kitchen worthy of a pastry chef, and two more bedrooms and bathrooms, their new home had everything they needed to live a happy life.
It wasn’t glamorous, but cosmetic upgrades would come in time.
For now, Jun was focused on making sure the tenants he’d inherited upon buying the building were cared for—each of their apartments was being updated and improved to make sure they could live comfortably at no additional increase to their current rent.
Plus, having his contractors out of his own space and working on other issues with the building meant he had far more time to devote to Miles as they navigated the end stages of his pregnancy… and the birth that followed.
Su-Jin Park-Palmer was born without complication in the dreamy stretch of time between Christmas and the New Year, and was there to witness his fathers usher in what would be the first of many years they would spend together.
He was an easy baby—quiet and happy—which was a relief, as Jun wasn’t ready for parenting on hard mode just yet.
As it was, he had his hands full with feedings and dishes and laundry.
So much laundry.
It seemed impossible that such a tiny little man could go through so much clothing, but it was either that or they’d unleashed the world’s (literally) shittiest ghost during renovations, because it felt like Jun was running down to the laundry room every other day to keep on top of things.
It was chaos, but strangely, it was also cozy.
Coming back up from the laundry room to find Miles passed out in the armchair with Su-Jin snuggled safe in a sling on his chest warmed him like nothing else ever had.
Everything had come on so suddenly, but moments like this made Jun believe it had been for a reason.
Somehow, the only person who’d managed to spark obsession in him was now his, and they had a beautiful son together. A life together.
A life that was settling into a new normal now that Miles’s paternity leave had ended and he’d gone back to work.
On that day, Jun woke when the baby did and cared for him just the same as he’d been doing for the last four months.
Diaper change—check. Bottle prep—check. Formula mixed and heated to the right temperature—check.
While Su-Jin enjoyed his breakfast, Jun made a point to engage him in worldly conversation.
With both Ms. Rachel and CoComelon now dominating children’s YouTube, what would the future of the industry look like?
Who would next take the world by storm and score a Netflix deal?
Jun had a couple guesses, but Su-Jin didn’t have much of an opinion, which was fine. After all, he was only four months old.
When their morning routine was finished, Jun took Su-Jin to his office so he could start recording. There was a bassinet in the corner, out of sight of the cameras, which meant he was only a few feet away from the baby at all times.
He was just about to put Su-Jin down for his post-meal nap when his phone vibrated with a new message.
Miles: Hey babe. How are my favorite people doing this morning? Hated having to leave you guys :(
Upon reading the text, Jun diverted his course from the bassinet to his computer chair.
Miles had to be taking his first break of the day, and that meant not only did they have time to chat a bit before he went back to work, but that Jun had time to brighten his day and hopefully make him laugh.
Miles had previously expressed how anxious the thought of going back to work had made him, so it seemed particularly important to make sure he knew that everything at home was okay.
Jun plopped down into his seat and fiddled with his camera equipment and ring light, then took Su-Jin out of his sling and set him on his lap.
One preset photo timer, a wireless control, and a pair of headphones later, Jun had exactly what he needed.
He flung the photo into his editing software for a quick touch-up, then sent it to Miles.
Jun: Missing you of course, but it’s not all bad. Su-Jin just pulled off his first 360 no scope and I am so proud
The photo attached was cropped to show Su-Jin gripping the controller and “wearing” his father’s headphones. Sure, the headphones were around his shoulders instead of over his ears, but it didn’t change the fact that their son was obviously a pro gamer.
To fully set the scene, Jun had even scribbled little angry eyebrows onto Su-Jin’s face with the brush tool.
Finer work had never been done. Michelangelo who?
Snickering, Jun pushed the conversation along.
Jun: Anyway, how are things going for you?
Miles: Oh nooo. My poor precious angel is being subjected to child labor by his father already! I should have known better than to procreate with a gamer smh
Miles: Apart from your cruel and unusual torture of our sweet baby, things are going ok.
First official day as co-owner and Astrid and Enrique will NOT stop calling me Chef.
Every time I say anything they go, “Heard, Chef,” and I’m about to fire them both out of spite.
Other than that, though, things are pretty normal.
Just hard to be away. Miriam spoiled me with the extra two weeks of paternity leave. She’s lucky I came back at all.
Jun: Heard, Chef
Miles: I am divorcing you.
Jun: Joke’s on you, you have to marry me first in order to do that ;)
Jun: but for the record, I’m joking… unless you want to get revenge tonight after Su-Jin is down, in which case I regret nothing.
But for real, I am very proud of you. I already know you’re going to be amazing at this, and it sounds like Astrid and Enrique know it too if they’re already pulling your leg like they are.
You think you can make it through a full day, or will I need to disconnect Su-Jin from his CoD game so you can come home for an afternoon snuggle?
He snapped and sent another picture of Su-Jin, this time with a badly photoshopped bottle of Mountain Dew and an open bag of Cheetos beside him. Patchy orange spray dusted his hands, lips, and chin. Su-Jin’s angry eyebrows were now even angrier.
Miles: Thank you. I’m trying to remind myself that Miriam wouldn’t have hired me for this job if she didn’t think I could do it.
Working on limiting negative self-talk is so dumb.
Maybe I like having low self-esteem, did my therapist ever think of that?
? (Jk, I’ll be good, I promise. I will definitely complain about it the entire time, tho.)
Miles: I think I’m gonna try to make it through the full day.
Not sure if I’ll make it, but I don’t want to become one of those helicopter parents who can’t let their kid out of their sight 24/7.
Plus I don’t want you to think I don’t trust you with Su-Jin alone.
Although, you do know you’re supposed to put the Mountain Dew in a bottle, right?
And warm it up in hot water, NOT the microwave, and test it on the underside of your wrist to make sure it’s the right temperature?
C’mon, we covered this in parenting class…
Jun: Oh, right. ngl I did not absorb much. I was way too busy thinking about how lucky I am to be here in person with you. So should I like mash the Cheetos or??
Miles: Su-Jin doesn’t even have teeth, Jun. You PUREE that shit, obviously. Gotta go put in another batch of scones. The new orange pecan recipe I was messing around with at home has been a major hit. (Trophy when??) I’ll be back in a few.
Jun: Idk all of this sounds sus to me. Have you felt how hard he can gum you when he puts his mind to it? Pretty sure if the little dude wanted to, he could gum just about anything to mush on his own.
Jun: But yeah, take your time. I will just be over here getting to the bottom of who’s behind Big Baby (which is similarly evil to Big Pharma, but cuter and focused on turning its victims into indentured servants…
uh… well, shit, that’s Big Pharma, too. If you don’t hear back from me it’s because I’ve come too close to figuring out the truth.)
With Miles allegedly off baking scones, Jun removed all of Su-Jin’s gamer accessories and scooped him up into his arms. He was usually out cold within half an hour after his morning bottle, and the little dude’s eyelids were drooping. It was bassinet time.