Days of the Spring

Jimin, in his clean, cut suit, stands by the pillar next to the priest as everyone in the audience is caught up in the anticipation brought upon by the silence as many loved ones have their phones and cameras out on record.

Then, the piano plays.

The flower girls stroll through and a couple laughs could be heard here and there by how adorable and innocent they looked as they giggled along the aisle, grabbing uneven handfuls of petals from their small baskets and tossing them in every unknown direction.

The harp strings soon join in.

Maids and men of honor follow shortly after the children and you recognize some familiar faces, those of classmates and some of Jimin’s team members. One of the young women notices you and smiles, to which you return a small one with a short nod in her direction. She used to be rather shy and always avoided your gaze when you greeted her around campus. It seems the tables have turned now as she glowed with confidence and you were the one to remain quiet, avoiding anymore than a brief conversation when socializing with fellow attending acquaintances and guests.

It is when the gasps and shouts occur, that you realize she’s coming. Her arm linked around her father’s as he walked her across the white silk spread on the ground, now decorated, with the effort of the flower girls, with purple and pink petals which gave it a magical contrast of colors.

Bora looks absolutely stunning in her white gown, flashing and pure as you always remembered and still saw her as. She smiles with her row of pearly white teeth as flashes and cameras click, seemingly surrounding her from those sitting in the chairs on the sides. But among them you watch silently; a petite, but caring smile upon your face. You are so, so happy for them.

As she approaches the front towards the beautifully-decorated arch, you observe the way Jimin looks at her and for some reason you feel rather bittersweet. Yet, you find your eyes locked onto his expression, maybe hoping that he’d look your way? What if, today would be the day he realizes that you were his true love? 

...A soft sigh escapes your lips as you let your eyes do the laughing, your hopeless romantic fantasies almost got the best of you.

After they exchanged their vows and tied all their promises with a kiss, everyone began to stand up to gather into the wedding banquet nearby. It was time for lunch.

“Mama,” your now 5 year-old son tugged at your arm, “I’m thirsty.”

You smile and nod as you both stand up as well, “Alrig-

“Y/N?”

You turn around and your eyes widen at the person standing before you with their partner, but your face relaxes and you offer a friendly smile to the matching couple wearing black from the bottom up.

“Ah, Jungkook!” You bow politely to the woman whom you recognized as Soon-hee beside him and she returns the same gesture. “How have you been? It’s been so long...”

“It has! Everything’s been perfect, and goodness...He’s grown so big!” Jungkook exclaimed in awe as he knelt down to greet your son. “His name? How old is he now?”

“Chin-mae and he just turned five last week.” You replied calmly and all of you laughed when he began to shy away from Jungkook, hiding behind you and gripping to the hem of your light-blue dress for dear life.

“Is that so...He’ll grow up well,” He waves at your little boy before standing up and grinning at you, his smile hadn’t changed at all, it was still goofy with a touch of charm from the familiar rabbit-like teeth in the front, “Well, we’re going to start heading over to the banquet, Soon-hee’s starving!”

At that remark, she elbowed his side and he flinched in pain, struggling to keep his posture and this causes you to laugh, “Oh, we were just about to head over as well! Chin-mae’s pretty parched,” You smile softly at your small son, the poor boy’s face was red and irritated from the sun.

“Ohh perfect, then let’s go together?” Jungkook offers and you glance over to Soon-hee.

“I don’t mind,” She smiles, “I’m sure you and Jungkook have a lot to catch up on.”

And so, you joined the couple as you and Chin-mae entered, rushing to find a table before the rest of the crowd came pouring in. Soon-hee got up to bring some appetizers for us and took Chin-mae along to get some punch, allowing you and Jungkook to catch up a bit.

“Who knew these two were so popular?” Jungkook cautiously looked around, unfamiliar with most of the faces as you felt the same way. But you laughed, having realized that Bora and Jimin really did have lives of their own apart from the frolicking days where the only friends you ever had were them and them only. 

“Have you talked to Bora and Jimin yet? Do they know you’re here?” Jungkook asked you before reaching towards the center of the round table for the pitcher filled with pink lemonade and pouring it into his glass then gestures it towards you.

You and Jungkook always shared the same tastes and had many things in common. No wonder you two were so compatible, in the beginning. 

You nod and take the pitcher from him, filling your glass as well, “Ah, I came just to see their wedding, but yes they were aware I was coming,” You rub your neck shyly, “I didn’t want to make anything awkward so I haven’t spoken to either of them today. I bet they were surprised I had accepted their invitation at all as I was surprised they still wanted to send me one. As a matter of fact, Bora wanted to make me her bridesmaid actually, but I rejected.”

Jungkook raises his eyebrow while sipping from his glass, “How come? I thought there weren’t anymore hard feelings?”

“There aren’t any hard feelings,” you explained while twirling your finger along the rim of your glass, “I just didn’t feel like that was my position to take. In a way, I almost took away their happiness because of my own selfishness.”

You notice from the corner of your eye that Jungkook almost reach out to touch you, but he pauses and apologizes quickly as he retracts his hand, “Sorry, old habits die hard.”

I wouldn’t have minded. Jungkook has always been warm and comforting to you. That hasn’t changed.

But you shake your head, reassuring him. 

“Hey now,” Jungkook mutters, “You’re not selfish. Not to bring up war flashbacks from the past but it was both of them who betrayed you first. I’m surprised they even had the audacity to send you an invitation and they haven’t apologized to you for everything you had to go through.”

You watch as Jungkook irritatedly downs the last of his glass and smile at Soon-hee when you notice her making her way back to the table, carrying some dishes while Chin-mae holds onto her arm while stuffing his face with what seems to be a vanilla cupcake.

“My goodness!! They have such a variety of desserts, I can only imagine they hired the most expensive patisseurs to display such attractive pastries!” Soon-hee exclaims as she hands you a plate with a slice of what seems to be a round and glazed lemon cake, "Y/N, you simply must try this lemon cake! It’s out of this world!”

Personally, you aren’t the biggest fan of lemon cake but it would be rude to decline it after all the trouble Soon-hee went through to kindly gather as many dishes as she could from the chaos that was the dessert area. You gratefully take it from her and force yourself to a few small bites for her satisfaction, to which Soon-hee smiled appreciatively towards you.

“Good, right?” She asks with anticipation.

Your try your best to nod your head enthusiastically and based on her reaction, with a big smile spread across her face, she seems convinced enough for you to graciously busy your mouth on the other plates.

You reach out for the chocolate lava cake which works wonders on cleansing your pallet of that lemon cake that tasted of nauseating perfume fragrances.

You notice Jungkook staring at you and it didn’t take you long to read the message behind his expression before Soon-hee began shoving his face with all the desserts she claimed were his favorites.

What about Chin-mae?

What about him? He has been just fine in your care. As he lacks a father, it meant you had to play both roles. Nobody ever asked you about your struggles as a single mother, but it was hard enough work that words wouldn’t be enough to vent with. You were very much alone for the first five years of his life, with occasional support from your own parents.

After surviving on the money and food sent to you by your parents for the first couple years of Chin-mae’s life, you eventually worked two part-time jobs during the morning and the afternoon while leaving Chin-mae at day-care. You would then pick him up in the evening and prepare dinner for the both of you. That has been your daily routine until he will start attending kindergarten in a month.

Chin-mae had grown to be a rather quiet and shy child, very much similar to you as his mother because you also did not have much of a social life anymore. There just wasn’t enough time you could afford to spend for yourself and instead you dedicated it all to ensuring your son had a healthy childhood and grew up well. It took a lot of physical and mental effort for you to fill in both parent roles so that Chin-mae wouldn’t feel neglected in any way.

Naturally, Jimin had tried to reach out a couple times but you ignored him because if he were to enter your and Chin-mae’s new life, there was no telling how this would affect his and Bora’s relationship. Even when both had done you wrong, they were still people you had once called friends and the care and good fortune you wished upon them remained genuine.

You overhear Jungkook and Soon-hee’s convo which pulls you out of your thoughts.

“Here, you should eat more vegetables,” Jungkook persuades Soon-hee but she frowns at him, “Even though you hate them, you have to eat at least some! Don’t you want,” you notice Jungkook bring a hand down to her belly you just now saw as slightly enlarged, “Haru to be healthy when she’s born?”

Haru. Why does that sound so familiar?

Then it clicks.

Ohhh right, wasn’t that what Jungkook had wanted to name Chin-mae?

You then feel a nudge on your knee and notice little Chin-mae standing beside you, lifting up his frosting-covered hands so you could pick him. You lift him onto your lap and wipe his hands and face down with multiple napkins as you murmur with a giggle, “Seems my little man had his dose of sugar today!”

Your son giggles back with a big grin as he bounces himself excitedly on your lap while clapping his hands loudly, sugar high.

After a day full of eating and chatting, it eventually grew late which meant it was time for the first dance and you knew what came next from your share of weddings you had attended even when you failed to have your own. By the time the dance is over, everyone will be drunk and playing wild wedding games to extend the night. You planned to leave early before it got that point as it was fast approaching 10PM and you wanted to be home before midnight to tuck Chin-mae in, who was already dozing off in your arms.

You’re finishing your seventh glass of pink lemonade, sneaking in a couple small sips from a second glass of red wine here and there to avoid passing your tolerance, and have Jungkook and Soon-hee watch over the sleeping Chin-mae while you hurriedly head over to the restroom before the dance.

After relieving yourself, you wash your hands and feel a prescence coming up to wash her hands at the sink next to yours. You glance up to see her through the mirror and you freeze.

It was Bora.

Shortly after, she seems to notice you pause at your sink only to stop with shock as well upon seeing your familiar features.

“Y/N...is that really you...?” she whispers slowly, her eyes reflecting the same bewildered width of yours back, “So...you really did come after all.” Her voice cracked.

D@mn it.

All day you had been hoping to quietly attend their wedding to ensure everything went well and tried to avoid interacting with them at all costs. But nothing could have prepared you for this unlucky encounter.

Then, the unexpected happened. Bora immediately embraced you into her arms and began to sob.

Oddly enough, as if automatically, you also found yourself clinging to her in return just as tightly with a craving for human interaction. For so many years, the only being you had held close was Chin-mae, as your social life had severly gone down the drain the moment you became a single mother. That had always been a sacrifice you were willing to make for your son’s well-being. But nothing could stop you from being selfish right now.

You had forgotten how warm Bora was.

You then began to recall the times when hugs like this used to occur often because Bora had always been an affectionate being who could never keep herself off of you. It got to the point where you were annoyed and sick of all of her embraces. But right now, this desperate and silent hug spilling emotions of regret, guilt, care, and love was all you could ever ask for in this moment.

No words were exchanged and you both lost track of time for how long you stayed in each others’ arms. There was nothing to say. Apologies and forgiveness would never be enough to mend this broken friendship you two shared, but the love you had for each other was still there.

“Jimin must be waiting for me,” Bora laughs, you notice she has toned down quite a bit. She was a lot calmer and more composed from the energetic girl you used to remember her as. “H-how long will you be staying? I’m sure Jimin would like to meet you and you brought your so-”

“I will leave after I watch your first dance, so I can tuck Chin-mae into bed. He actually fell asleep not too long ago.” You interuppted her by sudden impulse, a reflex due to the discomfort you felt from Bora talking about your son and Jimin in the same context.

Bora nods understandingly, “I see...Thank you for coming and I hope you had fun. I hope we can talk again soon Y/N.” She bows to me as she excuses herself out of the bathroom first.

You take a long sigh and stare at yourself in the mirror. Hopefully Bora’s makeup wasn’t messed up. You ponder as you begin to clean your face up a bit as well before heading back out.

You make it back to the table just in time as Jungkook and Soon-hee insist to continue holding Chin-mae as he comfortably lays down across both of their laps, to which you nodded gratefully for your arms were a bit tired from holding him earlier.

Then, hushes could be heard as the lights began to dim and everyone went silent.

You see Jimin take Bora’s hand as he lightly brings her to her feet and walks with her towards the center of the banquet. Everyone has their phones out and you notice people wiping tears from their eyes as the couple begins their gentle choreography.

The song starts to slowly play and instantly, you can feel tears well up in your eyes.

♫ When your legs don't work like they used to before

And I can't sweep you off of your feet ♪

You close your eyes, “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran, as you find yourself swaying with everyone else.

♪ And I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways

Maybe just the touch of a hand ♫

Not the most unique choice to slow dance to, but a charming song nonetheless. You open your eyes again to see Jimin spinning her and you can hear Bora’s giggle as her long white gown follows their matching steps, to which the rest of the guests laugh along too as the dance began to take a more carefree direction.

♫ I'll just keep on making the same mistakes

Hoping that you'll understand ♪

You feel that familiar nudge on your knee and see in the darkness that Chin-mae had woken up. Your eyes meet Jungkook’s and Soon-hee, both who shrugged with silly expressions reading, “He’s all yours again.” You smile with a small laugh to them as you take Chin-mae once again into your arms.

“I’m sleepy...” he whimpers and you lightly pat his back.

“We’ll go home soon, after this dance.” You assure him and surely enough, the song comes towards its end and the couple’s dance ends with them hugging each other.

♥ And we found love right where we are. ♫

“Alright, I think it’s about time I take this little one to bed.” You say as you begin to gather your things. Soon-hee helps you pack some desserts and foods to take home and Jungkook offers to assist with bringing everything to your car seeing how Chin-mae was already adding weight to your back.

Jungkook excuses himself and you both end up talking again on the way to the exit of the banquet. You two had always been able to naturally hold a conversation wherever you guys were.

“I can’t help but ask but, does Soon-hee know we were a thing?” you ask in a way, as if you two hadn’t been dating behind her back in the past.

Jungkook nervously scratches his nose, “I...I thought it’d be easier just to tell her we go way back, like friends since college. It made the most sense considering you were friends with Bora and Jimin as well.”

You nod, not happy about Jungkook continuing to lie to his wife and her being oblivious about everything that truly happpened between all of you, but it wasn’t necessary for you to ruin a happy marriage you were no longer involved with the people of.

“Haru, huh?” you bring up and notice the way Jungkook perks up.

“Ohh that’s right, I haven’t told you yet but the news itself was pretty recent,” Jungkook says, you notice the excitement behind his eyes, “Soon-hee is pregnant! With a baby girl!”

“Aww, congratulations guys! I’m really happy to hear that.” You smile at him to which he returns warmly with a grin.

“Yeah, life’s been good. But hey, that means Chin-mae and Haru can be best buddies huh? Maybe Chin-mad could teach her a thing or two,” Jungkook teases and you both laugh. That did sound very nice to let the children be friends with each other.

As you both approach the exit, your heart stops when you see Jimin standing outside having a smoke. Jungkook notices him as well but it’s too late, Jimin’s head had turned to your direction and his eyes widened just as Bora’s had when she saw you.

“Y/N...that’s you, isn’t it?” He blinks multiple times with disbelief as he takes the cigarette out of his mouth to bury into the dust of a nearby ash tray.

Jungkook attempts to step forward, but you put your hand to his arm and shake your head.

“Wow, you look as amazing as always! Love your dress, you’ve always loved light blue huh?” Jimin compliments as he comes up to you with what resembles admiration?

But you didn’t look much different aside from the increased depth of darkness below your eyes from overworking and lack of sleep. But in comparison, Jimin, in his clean, cut suit, looked sharper than ever. His cocoa brown hair split to the side in a way where his bangs fell gracefully slightly above his eyes, his jawline noticeabley sharper upon his freshly shaved face, and from the width of his shoulders and muscular torso he was definitely more built.

You nod your head. He seemed to still remember some of your interests even after many years later since the last time you saw him.

You notice the way his eyes transfer to the little one with his arms wrapped around your neck as he sleeps upon your back and observe his expressions. This was, after all, the first time he had seen his biological son.

His eyes are unreadable, but his smile tells it all. A hurt smile, almost forced. He knows who this child is,

“Mind if I?” Jimin gestures, offering to hold onto everything you and Jungkook were carrying. “I’ll help you take the rest to your car.”

Before Jungkook could respond, you interuppted, “Yes, that’s fine.”

Why? I shouldn’t talk to him. So why, am I allowing it now?

Jungkook turns to you with worry, but you say, “It’s okay Jungkook, it was a bit inevitable that I’d have to talk to him someday right? Just as I did with you, I should catch up with Jimin as well.”

At that, Jungkook hands Jimin the things he was carrying, hesitantly, and tells you before he goes back into the banquet, “Call me if anything happens, okay?”

You nod and you begin to walk towards your car with Jimin. 

It was dark out, but the soft breeze was calming among the stars twinkling in the cloudless sky around the moon that sure to be full tomorrow. 

“So...” Jimin begins, “That’s my-”

“He’s my son, yes.” You say quickly. 

An awkward silence follows.

“Ah...” Jimin says slowly, being careful with his words, “Right, he’s very cute, looks just like you Y/N.” Jimin says slowly and you thank him. Although both of you were completely aware that Chin-mae actually looked practically identical to Jimin. 

Not too long after, your car is in sight and you find yourself hurrying to it. 

“Well, this is my car. Thank you for helping me, Jimin.” He nods back in response as you finish putting everything in the back seat after placing the sleeping Chin-mae in his booster seat.

“Hey Y/N, thanks for coming to our wedding. It means a lot.” Jimin starts awkwardly, but you can hear the sincerity. 

“Of course, I’m hoping only the best for you two. And I contributed $200 of my hard work so, make good use of that building your lives together okay?” You joke and Jimin’s eyes widen until you both are laughing hard together in the night.

“I appreciate it and I’m sure Bora does as well. And I want you to know, you can still count on us okay?” Jimin says, his eyes soft on yours, “I can only imagine all of your struggles so far, so if you need help with anything just reach out. But, I can tell you with certainty that your son is growing up just fine, he looks strong and healthy.” You can’t help but fall for the way his eyes gently watch over the relaxed features of Chin-mae, dare you say it was fatherly.  

“I understand, thank you and I love you both.” You manage to grin and with one strong hug, you both separated ways once more. It hurt much less than the first time.

                                      . ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

“Chin-mae! Hurry and put your shoes on, we’re gonna be late!” 

It was time for your son to start kindergarten. He had been nervous for the past week, last night especially. 

“It’ll be just like daycare, but now you’ll get to meet more friends and learn! Isn’t that exciting? And you love stories too so I’m sure they’ll read lots more to you and you can tell me all about it!”

As a mother, you were feeling really proud and excited for Chin-mae to get his first taste of school and education. You knew he was going to be just fine, just as Jungkook and Jimin had told you he would be.

Rushing to the school was very stressful, but you managed to make it just in time as the last couple parents were coming in to drop off their children. Following behind them, with Chin-mae anxiously clinging to the sleeve of your light blue sweater, you are greeted by a man. He wore a red polo shirt with a logo located slightly above the right breast, black pants, and a lanyard with a card hanging on it. He did not seem to be the friendliest, a bit intimidating and serious by his sharp eyes and rough facial features...or so you thought, until the man knelt down to meet Chin-mae’s eyes. 

“Hi there, what’s your name?” He asks softly, not kiddy language soft, but in a tone that felt trusting and reliable.

To your surprise, Chin-mae responds to the stranger, “Chin-mae.” 

The man brushes the curled, black bangs away from his eyes and smiles warmly, “Nice to meet you Chin-mae, go ahead and head in. I’m sure all of the kids would love to meet you as well.”

You could’ve sworn your son’s eyes twinkled and after giving you a hug, Chin-mae willingly hurries inside the classroom, filled with students more than happy to see him, feeling a little more braver than before.

“Wow,” You bashfully say, unable to hold in your amazement, “You were able to calm his nerves so quickly.” 

The man stood back up and let out a sigh, “The magic of a kindergarten teacher does wonders,” He shrugs and his eyes widen when you find yourself laughing slightly at his comment.

“Ahh so you must be my son’s teacher, nice to meet you. My name is Y/N L/N, please take care of him well.” You politely bow and he nods, returning the gesture.

“Leave it to me, I see a lot of potential in that kid.” The man smiles, “My name is Min Yoongi. Nice to meet you.”

Your heart skips a beat.

                                     »»————-　♡　————-««

Ahahah I have a LOT of explaining to do, don’t I? (^▽^;) //sweats// That’s amazing that it’s been tHReE years (//omg) since I had written and worked on this series! I never forgot about it, rather, I underwent the world’s longest writer’s block which stopped me from picking this up and finishing the epilogue I promised until now. For that, I apologize to my readers if they are still following me and my series <3 ;-;

But finally, this is the end of Onsra~!!! I hope those that have stuck around enjoyed this journey and that the long-awaited epilogue did some justice. Thank you all sooo much for reading and I’m very happy this story of mine became so successful by all your support <3 Have a lovely day everyone!! :’)))

                                                                          ~Boba  ☆ ʕ •ᴥ• ʔ ☆

“Fine,” A mischievous smirk curls at the edge of his lips as he rephrases, “And when we get married, we should have a child. A girl, preferably.” He gives you a cocky shrug, but leans back when you reach forward for his forehead again, your fingers assembled into flick mode.

“Is that so? Well,” As flexible as Jimin was, you still managed to snap at his brow and he retaliated with another shout of pain as you stood up victoriously, “I want a boy!” 

“Why you!!!” Jimin cried out and tackled you with the blanket, holding you down to the carpeted floor and you both end up tangled into a giggling mess that even the TV couldn’t drown out your bursts of ebullient laughter bouncing off the walls.

Jimin and you had been together since your second years in college. Whether it was a mere coincidence or even decided by fate itself, you were always having the same classes together and bumping into each other in the strangest places; sometimes you’d see him on the way to the bathroom or another time, you had gotten injured during a chemistry lab and found him sitting in the nurses’ office as well the same day. Apparently, he had scraped his knee pretty hard during football practice. 

But, because of these frequent meetings, a bond was eventually created between the both of you and Jimin had asked you out on the day his team won the first game that year. You still remember the purple-red sky as the sun was falling asleep and the dusk was taking over, how those very hues reflected against his handsome face and you nodded your head confidentially. 

After a couple weeks of dating, you finally decided to introduce him to Bora, your best friend since high school who was also attending the same college as you but had completely different classes. She had heard so much about him, but you were still far too shy to call him your ‘boyfriend’ still. 

“Wow, so you’re the hunk she’s been hanging out with!” Bora exclaimed and immediately you reached out to cover her mouth, your face was red with embarrassment.

“Don’t mind Bora, she’s a bit too chatty for her own good!” You chuckle nervously and Jimin bent down to hug his stomach, leaning over desperately to contain the fluttering laughter within him at the hilarious scene.

Since then, you three were closer than blood. In college, you didn’t have a particularly large amount of friends, but as long as you had those two, you felt that their love was all you really needed to get through and survive for the next 2 remaining years, and you did.

With the mortarboard proudly atop your head, the tassel playfully swishing behind you, and finely dressed in your black gown as you tightly gripped your diploma in your shaking fingers with thriving excitement; you can’t stop the realization from leaping through your head: You graduated.

“We did it, Y/N!!!” Bora cheers and she loops her arms around your shoulders into a suffocating lock-hold. You smile warmly at her and pat her arm as your eyes search for Jimin whose heading over after sending good wishes to his former football team.

You don’t realize that Jimin hadn’t just sent wishes to his team, but he also gave orders and you’re concerned to see them hurrying and gathering others around you all.

“Uh Jimin what’s─

The words leave your lips dry as you turn to Bora, who left your side and was now standing back into the forming circle of students around you. She grins at you with sparkling eyes as do the others; former classmates, some teachers, and supporting friends with caring smiles upon their faces for this special moment.

Frowning in confusion, you look back towards Jimin and trip on your own feet startled, a few giggles and comments such as ‘Oh she’s so cute!’ whispered among the crowd, to see Jimin, in his gown, cap and all, on his knees holding out a small, red box with a ring shimmering inside.

“Marry me~” He smiled and your heart melted at the soft crease of his eyes as you whispered, 

                                                        “I do.”

And you know what, those had been the best years of your entire life and in all of them, you were with him.

It was until that night, the night after the party and the quiet drive back home that everything, eventually, fell apart.

When you stood beside him as he unlocked the door, a whiff of her wafted over to you and you scrunched your nose in repulse. 

“Who was she?” You ask as Jimin opened the door, but walked passed as the door almost closed on you. When he didn’t reply, you hurried into the house, slamming the door behind you, “Who was she?!”

“What are you talking about now Y/N?” Jimin growled, a slur evident in his speech as he barely spared you a glance, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge in the kitchen.

Marching up to him, you yank the cold bottle out of his hand as he opened it, spilling water all over the kitchen floor, “Jimin, I know what you were doing so go ahead and reveal the truth!” The veins are pulsing out of your neck, you were just so, so angry. How could he do this to you? Were the 6 years that you’d known him not enough? Did it have to happen at a college friend’s wedding ceremony?

“C-can you shut up?!” Jimin lashed out, he still wouldn’t meet your eyes, “It was nothing okay! Whatever you saw, nothing’s going to happen-

“Jimin!” Screeching in outrage, not caring that it was already 3 in the morning and your neighbors were trying to sleep that Monday before work. Your chest was squeezing in hurt as your screams lower into desperate whimpers, “Why...why did you do it?” 

“Y/N,” He still won’t look at you as he focuses on the droplets absorbing into the spaces between the tiles of the kitchen floor, grimacing, “I...I’m done.”

Your gaze slowly drops to recognize that something’s missing, “Jimin...where did your ring go?” His left finger is pale, empty and foreign as the ring was no longer there to cover his bare flesh.

“I can’t...I don’t love you anymore, Y/N.” 6 seconds, 6 words.

There was nothing more to say, your throat was closing up and your mind couldn’t comprehend anything; the words to say to make him leave, the words leaving his mouth, and the words to make him stay.

Jimin walks past you back to the door, gripping hard on the knob as he twists it, leaving you in the silence of your kitchen in your too-quiet house. Everything felt so numb that you didn’t realize your own ring, that you had always known to be a size too big, simply slipped off and rolled into a puddle of the spilled cold water drenching the white tiles below your feet.

The 6 years you were with him, were instantly stolen by the 6 words he left you with.

You didn’t go outside these days, your heart hurt far too much, and that caused Bora to worry immensely.

“Y/N! You’ve gotta come out, today’s the grand opening of that market we’ve all been waiting for!” Bora is the one calling you, but the memory is of Jimin.

“Hey, have you guys heard of this market? It’ll be refreshing to have real, organic foods unlike the processed ones in the grocery store!”

After all, it was Jimin who had been the first to suggest it.

“Jimin might be there then,” You respond and she goes silent for a second or two before quickly changing the subject. She was a sweet person, always taking the extra measure to cheer you up when you were broken and down, this was why she was your best friend. 

“Then how about we check out somewhere that only you and I have cared for?” She sneers sneakily and you can’t help your own curiosity. “What about that cafe we’ve been looking forward to trying?”

And that was how you met him.

Everything about him was perfect, Jungkook. You both had similar hobbies and interests that made conversation flow so smoothly between you. A match made in heaven, Jungkook and you were something like that.

“Ohh my god, I still can’t get over it!” He’s smiling, bunny teeth out as his cheekbones rose.

“What is it?? Spit it out!” You laugh and he’s shoveling more meat into his mouth as he cheers, “A girl that likes Iron Man!”

You tilt your head and scrunch your eyebrows, “I’m pretty sure there are plenty of other girls that love Iron Man too!”

Jungkook’s eyes look up in thought for a bit, before he shrugs at you with that charming and goofy smile causing you to hide the inevitable blush warming up your face by distracting yourself in your salad as he continued to ramble on about the Iron Man movie you both favored so much.

As your eyes brushed over the thick and lively green lettuce leaves decorated on your plate with a few croutons and tomatoes here and there, you were reminded of your first date with Jimin.

On that day, It was starting to rain while you both were out walking down the streets of the city and you quickly rushed into a pizza diner to escape it. It surely wasn’t fancy, the peeling walls and the muddy tiles, but it would have to do. 

After settling at a table and getting a mini pizza each, you were surprised to see that his pizza was similar to yours with no meat whatsoever. It was then that he revealed to you that he was a vegetarian, just like you. You both were rather shocked that day, having known each other for 2 long years only to find out your eating habits when you finally started dating.

“I’m curious, what made you decide to become a vegetarian?” Jimin had casually asked you after he guzzled down a glass of orange juice and was now taking a bite of his pizza.

“Hmm...” You smiled at him curiously, “I wonder too.”

The night Jimin returned and the morning he broke your heart again, was when you decided you would give Jungkook a chance, give yourself a chance. A chance to move on and find love in someone who you knew would treat you the way you wanted, what you deserved and the three, blissful weeks you spent with him were the best ones you’ve had for a long time. 

Like you, Jungkook had a strong sense of adventure. At amusement parks, he was the one who encouraged you to ride all the crazy roller coasters and by the end of the day, you both would end up terribly sick and too ill for the next day. But as rough as he was, Jungkook was also very gentle. 

Going to the club with you was easy, coming back was another story.

“I shouldn’t have drank that...that was really, really- ugh!” He rubbed your back calmly as your stomach harshly spilled into the toilet. 

“Ahaha I warned you it was a hard one,” Jungkook sighed sarcastically. 

You both decided to leave early because you weren’t feeling well and he ended up needing to pull over into a convenience store on the way home. A sleepy yawn passed through his lips, it was midnight, but he remained by your side that night and gently rubbed your back until you were finished and you could finally go home.

He was so perfect, but why did his one flaw have to be so, so destructive?

“Huh, he doesn’t look like me...but he does look familiar!” Jungkook smiled as he admired your baby’s face, “He’s cute!”  You had been released from the hospital and Jungkook was taking you and your newborn son home. “Did you come up with a name yet?” His head was slightly bobbing to the unusually lower pitch of music playing on the radio.

“Do you love me?”

“W-what are you saying, Y/N? Of course I do…” Jungkook had gotten startled at the sudden question, his hands nervously and tightly gripping the wheel to a stop. Another red light. 

“But, you also love…Soon-hee?”

He goes quiet, even the tunes playing on the radio throughout the car couldn’t overlap the tension between you two. “Yes.”

“Do you or do you not, want this family with me?” Both your eyes drop down to the small, sleeping child resting in the warmth of your arms and the blanket.

Jungkook nods immediately, “I-I do! That’s why I’m here, that’s why I did everything. I’ve told you numerous times and I even made the call, I wanted to have this, to build this!”

You nod, understanding, but one thought continued to remain, “Then why, are you still married?”

He couldn’t find a proper answer. Or perhaps, it was an answer he was worried you wouldn't like. And the drive back home, was quiet.

“You can’t have both, Jungkook.” Though you whispered it so faintly, you knew that he heard it loud and clear as if you had screamed it at him.

Holding the infant in the safety of your arms, sitting in an all too familiar couch of yours, you gather the courage to press the contact number and wait out the rings until there is a pause. Then, you hear shallow breathing on the other line. He answered.

“Jimin,” You begin and due to the stillness, you assumed he was holding his breath, “My baby…” Your courage falters slightly and you can feel your throat start to close, but you wouldn’t allow it. He should, he deserved to know. “He is yours, not Jungkook’s.”

Then, he speaks, “Oh...oh my god are you serious?” The silence lingers and by this point, you know he must be running his fingers through his hair like he usually did by habit whenever he was in a sticky situation. “D...Do you want me to come over? I can come o-

“Is that Y/N...?” It’s faint in the background, but you would recognize that voice anywhere; it was Bora.

“Jimin,” Your voice lowers and though your heart feels like dying, you also felt a strange sense of relief you never experienced before; a sort of..joy for the two of them. Your two best friends, in the whole wide world, were going to be taking care of each other from now on, creating a new life together in the future! It was something to be happy for, despite how everything and all of the mess-ups needed to play out for this to even be possible. Wasn’t fate a rather funny concept?

“Yeah?” He asks, hesitant and slightly nervous when you don’t continue.

“Jimin,” You repeat once you find your voice again, “You’ve always meant so, so much to me. There had been times where I had gotten frustrated and upset, saying I didn’t need you, that I didn’t need your kindness nor pity. But the truth is, I was so dependent on you for so long. And now...it’s about time I learned how to take care of myself and focus on doing what is best for ou-...my son by doing so.” Stroking your baby’s smooth face as he smiles up at you with innocence, you whisper the last words, “Thank you and I loved you so, so much Jimin. Don’t worry about us, and take care of Bora, you hear?!” And you hang up.

The room is silent, peaceful, the only noises heard were those made by a baby. Your baby boy. You smile at the small bean wrapped in your arms, stroking his head and lightly patting his fragile back. The hiccups were beginning to lessen.

“You’re doing so well…” You whisper gently to him, preparing to rock him slightly. It was nap time.

Never in your wildest dreams had you expected yourself to be in such a position ─ a single mother.

Suddenly, he started to whimper and weep. Your son was surely the crybaby though, wouldn’t his father love to know that he resembled him by so much? The same nose, same eyes, that unique curl at the end of his lips, he was the very resemblance of Jimin. Observing his close features, you try to find something, anything that seems to have you in him and the only part that could somehow prove to someone that he was in fact your son, was the single mole that marked the clean slate of the right side of his collarbones because you had one there as well.

Quiet, light little breaths ring in the silence and you sigh in relief, the hiccups had finally stopped. Cradling him in your arms, you close your eyes and sing a small tune before praising him, “I knew you could do it, Chin-Mae~”

        Chin-Mae; Truth, a person who always speaks the truth

                                                    … … …

“─ou poor thing…”

That voice, it sounded human. You jolt awake and instinctively roust up your frozen wings, desperate to rise and fly away from danger, but is cut short when the soothing voice urges you to relax and you stagger from the pain shooting up your leg, causing you to shriek and settle down.

“Shush, shush now, you’ll be alright,” Your eyes sought the source of the soft-spoken sound, it was a man. His hair was hiding his eyes, but observing the amazingly large bundle of sticks tied and hooked around his robed shoulders dusted with a light layer of snow, he was out gathering firewood, “And…there you are!”

Looking down cautiously to see what made him smile so cheerfully, you’re startled to see a white bandage wrapped tightly around the wound. You experimentally stretch out your thin leg and rejoice in the missing sensation of pain. 

Some mists of clouds rolled in the night sky, rather dull and a still coldness remained. Snow covered the barren land and all of the trees were dead, not an animal in sight as it was the season of hibernation and many were already asleep. Anxious to return to your nest, you stand to balance yourself before you’re in the air, wings out and free once again.

The young man watched you with care and his light eyes crinkled with relief, for even a crane could make the cold and empty night sky of winter look bright and beautiful like one summer’s day.

春 ─ SPRING

“Is this the correct house…?” You ponder, tilting your head curiously as your eyebrows furrowed, squinting at the small, little house in the middle of the forest.

The winter had passed and the snow melted into fresh water for the emerging growth of life and plantation. On a spring day, you turned into a human and went to seek for the man who rescued you to express your gratitude for his kindness.

You roll up your white sleeves, brushing off a couple of green leaves that had fallen on you before you tread carefully and quietly to the door.

In front of it, you hear and listen in on the low humming from inside and instantly fall in love with the melody, testing a small whistle of it. He was in there, you were sure of it. And nervously, your knuckles rattle along the rough wooden surface. The humming stops and there is some shuffling before the door is opened.

The man’s eyes widen at his unexpected guest, a beautiful and unfamiliar woman dressed in clothes white as snow. A kimono with a red collar hugged her form while a white cloth blanketed and covered her head. 

“Oh my, to what do I owe the pleasure?” 

Shyly, you tug the cloth down to wrap around your shoulders to see a playful smirk tug on his lips and he welcomed you in graciously.

Spring was the opposite of winter. Instead of being cold and isolated, the spring was filled with life and color. The gentle breezes brought trees and flowers to life and food was bountiful for many creatures that also called the forest their home.

You fell in love with the warm and tender man, Jungkook, as he had fallen for you during that very spring. And surrounded by the joy and purities of life, you two got married in the name of love.

One day during that same spring, it was snowing and while you both found it to be too cold to play outside, for today, you would stay bundled inside in front of the sizzling fireplace.

As he was holding out his chilly palms against the cracking wood, you admired how his pale hands soon turned pink and began to whistle an old song you used to sing as a crane.

“What a beautiful voice,” He brought his hands back to rub them together, observing how you sang until you grew rather shy, shielding his eyes away from you until he burst out in laughter.

You raise your own hands to the licking flames and ask him, “If…If one day, I don’t sound beautiful anymore,” Lifting your eyes up to him as he looks down at you with his usual comforting gaze, “Would you still love me?”

“Of course I would,” Jungkook’s eyebrows raise, surprised that you would’ve expected a different answer. He pulls up his black kimono slightly before tugging you over to him, tightening his hold around you as you placed your own hands over his forearms comfortably, both sinking into the warm embrace.

“You know, we should’ve done this earlier, this is much warmer than the fire.”

And Jungkook laughs.

夏 ─ SUMMER

The summer was drearily hot as the sun kissed and altered the color of your skin while you both had decided to harvest the crops you planted in the spring.

After battling and successfully pulling out the last carrot, you collapse on the dirt and slightly raise your hat to rub away the salt at your forehead. 

“I’m finished, what about you Jun- JUNGKOOK?!”

When you turned around, Jungkook was holding both of his hands up and pressing them hard against his mouth as he coughed harshly, blood slipping through the cracks of his fingers.

You both were a poor couple living in a small house set in a quiet forest, you couldn’t possibly afford the expensive price it took to get some medicine. 

Watching Jungkook in the other room, heaving as his face flushed with illness and eyeing the many tissues and towels colored crimson with his blood in the waste bin, your desperation and worry was increasing.

Then, you remember the forgotten loom he kept hidden away in the house. Unwrapping the tight kimono that hugged your torso, you dryly look over the white feathers that decorated your body. If you could make clothes with your feathers and manage to sell them, you would be able to get the money to buy some medicine.

And so that day and every day since, you would remove a portion of your feathers and weave them into cloth, pure and white like the color of snow and soft, like the wings you lost.

秋 ─ FALL

These days were quite windy, forcefully rustling the trees to drop their brown and shriveled leaves. Watching them, you determinedly continued to weave your feathers together; you would not allow Jungkook’s life to fall like them.

“Here,” You speak quietly these days so you wouldn’t frighten him in the silence of the cold and dark house, handing him a bowl of warmed and boiled herbs.

Jungkook watches you fondly, taking the bowl and his face contorts into hurt as he stares at the bloodied bandages encasing your torn hands. “Such beautiful fingers,” He whispered, smiling at you, placing the bowl down to appreciate your digits, holding them carefully in his own as if they were made of fragile glass. 

Your heart skips a beat to the familiar spark electrifying his dark, brown eyes. Such words would have made you feel happy, but then, to see how pale his face was, the deep circles around his eyes and his skinny structure, you only felt pained as his condition was not getting better. And the hand that held your bruised fingers, were too, too cold.

“If one day,” You force out a chuckle, how stupid of a question it was to ask now, “My beautiful fingers were no more…would…would you still love me?”

His answer remained the same, no matter how weak and hoarse it came out, “Of course I would.” And your hands reached out to pat rapidly at his back as a fit of broken coughs followed after the words slipped past his pale, dry lips.

Each and every night, you weaved on the loom and you removed your feathers for cloth. You ignored the aches that blistered your hands and the opening sores that made them bleed with fresh blood every day; you turned away from the active weather changes of the fall and desperately prayed and begged that Jungkook would make a healthy recovery soon.

Down

to

the

very

last

WINTER ─ 冬 

feather. You stood outside, fingers lingering worriedly over it, sticking out mockingly from your shoulder. The last one, hanging as a reminder of your old wings when you were still a mere crane. 

It was a truth you were afraid Jungkook would figure out, fearful of what he would have thought, worried that he would feel remorse and regret the promised marriage you both initiated together. 

But it was also a fond memory, the small marriage at the nearby shrine. Your fingers laced together and gentle smiles exchanged while rings made of grass tied loosely around your ring fingers, bounding the both of you together as one. Of course, those wilted and fell off overtime, but the promise of marriage stayed true. Jungkook had promised that one day, he would buy you a ring glittering of diamonds and he made you laugh so, so hard.

A melody finds its way up your throat and you realize you’re whistling the song Jungkook had been humming on the first spring day you both met. 

“If one day, even if I’m no longer human,” A small, damaged smile finds its way across your face, tears at the brims of your eyes as you realize it is once again, snowing, “Would you still love me?”

It was a truth that would remain untold.

Alone and shivering in the snowy forest of the night with a starless sky not even protected by the light of the moon, you break the feather off with a small cry and then, you feel a warm pair of arms hug you from behind, a soft hum continuing your melody. 

“Of course I would, do I really have to keep saying this?” His voice is barely understandable now, but you smile, the irritation obvious in his usually caring tone. He presses his cold lips to your shoulders, scarred with the memory of your lost wings, “Even now, I still remember the crane that flew so beautifully that lonely night and even now,”

When he didn’t respond, his eyes directed away in shame, you sharply turn to Bora who froze at your voice before she could even lay a finger on Jimin. “You, were you the one that he…” But there is no need to complete the sentence, for both of their eyes were hidden from you, from each other. 

Jungkook watches you with shadowed eyes of pity, the scenario unfolding, though clear and the intentions revealed, was still a tangled up knot of string that struggled to tie up what remained or even dared to still be considered as friendship. And Bora, wasn’t she your best friend?

Your haunting memories return you to that awful night at the cruel party. There, you watched him hold her against the wall of the banquet, confetti covered every inch of the floor, there you see her. The young woman’s chin resting on his broad shoulder as he buries himself into the crook of her neck, smiling softly as her eyes glimmer over with lust. A woman’s face too familiar behind that cover of auburn hair, she was indeed, Bora.

“Y/N…” Is all Bora can say as your teeth continue to gnaw at your bottom lip, daring yourself the courage to make it rip and bleed. “J-Jimin and I…” The words fall out of her mouth once your eyes catch the way the light-bulbs, hung from the ceiling of the porch, lit up a sparkle of silver and diamonds from her left hand. It was a metal band that encircled her ring finger and you close your eyes. 

The last straw, was broken.

You grip onto your stomach, coughing as you choke out sobs. It was too much for you to handle, you couldn’t understand why this was happening, but truth be it, you didn’t care to hear. For the truth came out in bad times and sometimes, too late.

Jungkook immediately comes to take you into his arms before Jimin can register you falling and you admit yourself to him.

“Leave.” He demands and Jimin hesitates, lingering in case maybe you’d reach out for him. The irony that now, he wants to stay with you. “Get away from her, you’ve hurt her plenty. You know, coming back wasn’t going to fix anything.”

His gaze shifts to Bora who cringes at the menacing glint reflecting in his harsh eyes, “I did not sign up for this.” Bora and Jimin look at each other as his eyes then trail back and forth between them, “Don’t involve her in this kind of…sick affair you two brought upon yourselves.”

“Jungkook,” Bora warns him cautiously before she turns away with Jimin to their separate cars, “Don’t forget about your...situation as well.” You notice that he flinches ─ slightly and hardly noticeable to the naked eye, but you see it. And you can’t bring yourself to pretend that it never happened, because that small detail was enough to reveal a rather nasty, dark secret, more so a dirty habit that you would learn to perceive. Jungkook is a liar.

You’re hiccuping, each time embracing your stomach by the pain each motion triggered as Jungkook kept you in his arms. His soft whispers telling you it was okay, and as much as you wanted him to leave too, while you hear Jimin and Bora get into their cars, you hold him closer despite the strong urge to push him away. Cringing slightly to the recent kicks you were still not accustomed to even 6 months passed and afraid of being lonely much longer, just for tonight you’d let him stay.

“Woah Y/N!”

You giggle at Jimin’s startled reaction when you managed to step up from the couch on your own, your over-large stomach carefully caressed in your caring grip. 

He smiles lightly, scoffing out, “How many times do I have to tell you? You can depend on me sometimes you know!” Jimin still hurries to your side as he walks you to the kitchen. “Anything you want in particular, honey?” 

Your heart beats gently to the nickname, you and Jimin had gotten rather comfortable these past months. Had it already been 6 months since he started living with you?

To think, that he was actually keeping in touch with Bora during all these moments and memories you used to find fond. The nerve.

Observing the different delicacies he bought and stored for you in the fridge, your eyes rest upon the chocolate pudding and that’s what was for dinner tonight.

“Y/N! You’re gonna spill!”

“Y/N!”

“Y/-

“Y/N?” Your eyes open to the voice that had been growing steadily louder and louder to see Jungkook standing at the edge of your bed, looking down at you with wide eyes, his hands gripping against your shoulders. His hard features settle into a comfortable state when he sees you staring back up at him in curiosity. “Come on…I made us breakfast, you said you were craving chocolate pudding earlier right?” 

Jungkook had been staying and taking care of you and your baby for the past 3 months. He was insistent to remain in the house because surely, there wasn’t much you could do, being pregnant and all  ─ his words.

You stiffen, but nod and you allow him to carry you up from the sheets with your pale hands into his while you both head to the dining table.

“Be careful next time…” Jimin scolds as you are forced to watch him scrub at the spilled pudding on the floor. “It feels like I’m cleaning poop, geez…”

You warn him, laughing, “Take it as a practice before the baby arrives.” You reach for the spoon and tilt it, pudding splattering next to him and he glares at you playfully.

“Hey! That was on purpose!” And you continue to laugh as he wipes that down as well. You miss the way his voice resounded with yours, making a musical melody that bounced against the hollow walls, constantly bringing the house to life every day.

“What are you doing?” 

You blink and realize you’re holding out the spoon of pudding, barely threatening to tilt it to the floor before Jungkook snatches it from you and smirks.

“Say Ah~” He teases and you glance away, opening your mouth slightly to the airplane as he inserts it past your lips. It just all felt, different.

You didn’t know if it was because of the fact that Jungkook had been married prior everything or because you were simply missing Jimin again, that everything didn’t feel right.

“Jungkook,” You begin. You both moved to the couch shortly after the small 'breakfast’, your head resting on his shoulder while you both laze around in the silence of the house.

“Hm?” he hums, eyes dropping to yours and he plays along with your cold, empty fingers.

“Your wife…how, how were you able to initiate this divorce…did she know?” 

He flinches against you and then there’s a long, quiet pause until, “She doesn’t know.”

You pull back, yanking your hands away from his and your eyes are hard on him, “What?”

“I lied, there were no papers or contracts…Soon-hee, my wife, she, she doesn’t know anything. She can’t know, it would break her hea-”

Her heart. Break her heart.

“Jungkook,” You’re crying out in disbelief, your face stricken in horror at the very tenacity to keep your child, your own son, a secret. All to save what? A marriage he can return to right after your son was born? “You’re…you’re really amazing you know that. To think that even someone like you could be like this, you’re no better.” Than Jimin. “For 3 months, Kookie. Not even half of the months Ji-”

Then, there’s a pain. Small, but it doesn’t feel like the kicks you’re used to feeling during the afternoon or the night while you try to nap. It suddenly feels very moist where you’re sitting and you know Jungkook can see it as well and you’re panting in panic before Jungkook is grabbing onto you, hoisting you up to stand on your weak and shaking legs. Your water broke.

Your mind is dizzy through the whole car ride, barely able to hear or have the strength within you to take comfort into his consoling words as you repetitively heave out uneven breaths. They could not balance as they once could when Jimin was with you.

Slipping in and out of consciousness, the next thing you awake to are the heavy shouts of the nurses and doctor as Jungkook prayed for you to be okay, to be successful.

“It seems you’ll have a baby boy,” The older doctor smiles as the both of you lighten up, eyes bright and excited. You had always wanted a boy and now you and Jungkook could raise him, together. Nothing could be greater than the surprise you had today. 

You couldn’t stop smiling even when you got into the car, the world seemed to glow and everything was full of hope. “Jungkook,” You murmured and he turned to you, stopping at the red light and tilting his head to urge you on, “I wonder…what we could name this little guy.” 

His eyes lower to where your hands gently caress the smooth bump that is his son, warm and protected in the safety of your womb. “How about…” He drives forward when the light turns green, “Haru?”

                                                      Haru; day

“Ehh, sounds so common and ordinary! You can do better than that!” You tease and Jungkook scoffs, but joins you later in laughter.

“Then do you have a better name in mind?”

“Hmm...I like the sound of─ 

“Y/N?”

“Jung…kook?” A groan rasps from your throat and you feel his arms carefully pressing your shoulders back into the bed. 

“Rest a little…you’re okay,” You notice he’s smiling at you once your vision clears up. White walls, spotty ceiling, and the scent of hygiene and chemicals. Then, you panic.

‘Push, Push, Push! Almost there, honey!’ Your eyes squeezed shut as the nurses urged you on and then there was relief before you quietly blacked out.

He shushes you, noticing that you are aware that a sound could not pass through your torn lungs. “The doctor says he came out just fine, but he’s being checked and prepared right now before we can see him…” You find assurance in his large hand stroking through your matted hair, nodding as exhaustion restricts your body that is covered in IVs and needles pricked through different areas of skin.

“Jungkook…” You are hardly able to utter, but he hears you, “H-how did you keep it from her…this long?”

“I-”

“The truth, please.”

He shyly scratches at the back of his neck and clears his throat, eyes down in shame and face red with embarrassment, “I told her that I would be going on a business trip, for a couple…few months.”

“So there were no papers, contracts, nor agreements in this, you made a sole decision like this on your own?”

“Y/N, you know, I did this for the baby-

                    Another lie. Otherwise...wouldn’t have things been different?

Bzz… He cringes, the timing was perfect. Pulling out the vibrating sensation tucked in his pocket, even you don’t fail to notice the way his phone screen is lit with the name reading Soon-hee. His eyes linger on it for a second longer, thumb daring to decline but you stop him, “Pick it up and tell her,” He presses the answer button, “That you’ll be landing and returning to her tonight.” And he nods, hesitantly. Her voice barely heard through the speakers before he excused himself out of the room.

Even now, your heart ached from the white lies he told you and the fibs he created for his wife. The infidelity and unfortunate events that occurred, the journey it took to have your son, your life was tangled in haywire. You’ve lost faith in your best friend and you became wary, as you wished you remained so, of your ex.

The door creaks open and you see a nurse with the doctor accompanying her, your baby boy wrapped in thick blankets, resting in her arms as they both hurry over to you. Together, the excited energy radiating from all of you reminded you once again of what it was like to feel joy and genuine happiness. Taking the covered ball of purity and sleep, you’re grinning so wide that the water in your eyes begin to fall. 

“Hello,” You whisper, slowly and carefully undoing the top of the blanket that veiled his face. Halfway through, you freeze and the rest comes apart on its own.

Small, dark brown eyes consisting of mono-lids, a tiny, wide nose, and slightly plush lips. He resembled him, and very well at that; you had difficulty trying to find yourself in the infant’s features.