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🤎  HELLO + WELCOME TO 🤎
APRIL'S AFTER MAY!
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Consider this a special thank you book to my beautiful readers for always being patient and believing in me!
Forgive me as this part's a little slow.
Please vote, comment & enjoy!
🤎

My lungs wind slightly from the pressure of the cardboard box I've hoisted towards my chest. With my hands clasped around its corners and my auburn bob swaying, I waddle away from the moving truck and towards our grand new family home.

I never realized moving neighborhoods would be so exhausting, but I suppose it's all worth it in the end. We chose one of the wealthiest suburbs in Adelaide and honestly, this house is plucked right from any couple's dream... A healthy garden, two storeys high, a spacious front lawn with an even bigger interior... It's everything I've ever worked for. Not to mention the autumn leaves that shower Toorak Gardens just hits so different.

In the midst of my admiration, I accidentally stumble into one of the stone steps when—

"Woah! Careful there Big Foot." A pair of hands catch my fall by securing the box from the other side. With a gentle hold of my waist and a big sunny smile, my husband takes the box into his grasp and brings it indoors.

He's so gorgeous... From his lean build to his neatly combed, brunette locks. Hoseok lowers the box and cuts it open whilst hunched over in a camel button-up, exposing his arm hair through rolled-up sleeves and his shirt tucked into some fitted belted trousers. My court heels echo along the floor as I enter our home behind him.

The aesthetic is unmatched. I wanted plenty of neutral tones and oak, but minimalistic enough to still look modern. Our ceiling remains high with only a marble island to separate the kitchen from the living room. Vintage magazines top our coffee table for a minimalistic accent while amongst the walls, hang warm paintings of Florence that constantly feed me reminders of home.

Italy... So many wonderful memories there.

I peer down at the silver sterling that crowns my fourth finger with diamonds. Hobi notices my smile and matches it with one of his own before landing a kiss on my temple.

"You really love that ring, huh Mayana?"

"Mhm. It's just so beautiful. I miss Sicily already... It's not weird if married couples go on a second honeymoon, right?"

"Pfft, of course not. We'll just uh... Start a fight, file a divorce and then get remarried. It happens to the best of us."

"True." I scrunch my nose whilst waving my finger sarcastically. Our lips lock into place momentarily to exchange soft kisses that echo through the foyer, until I pull away and beam.

"I suppose it is nice to be back in Adelaide. At least now we can be back with—"

"Brrr Neeeooww..."

I instantly look over my shoulder as our 4-year-old son, Jiho, trots inside with spread arms and his stuffed sloth in his grip. He's so small and delicate, sporting the fluffiest little brunette cloud of hair to match his oversized sweater and mocha pants. His inflated cheeks and pursed lips make for quiet sound effects as he whirls around the new furniture like a rocket ship.

"Jiho! Come here." Hobi squats with open arms and a euphoric smile, signaling Jiho to enter his embrace. He doesn't hesitate to whisk his son up and proudly holds him on one hip.

"What do you think of the new house?"

Emulating his father's Bambi eyes and dimples, Jiho shrugs shyly.

Jiho is the sweetest baby I could've manifested... But as perfect as he is, he's also quite sensitive. Social anxiety is already a struggle for him and if in overwhelming environments, he can face asthma or panic attacks. It's the reason why I continued pursuing my career in Clinical Psychology. Because I want to help people who struggle with the chemical imbalances Jiho struggles with. Adult or child.

Moving homes was a big change for him but I know that as long as Jiho has his parents, he'll settle in just fine.

"Alright, let me not disturb your fun. Go play." Hoseok places him back down, letting the infant resume his intergalactic adventure. Hoseok then airs a sigh before leaning against the couch's spine with folded arms.

"We do need to talk though. About who's gonna watch him."

"Oh yeah," I suck my teeth. "That."

"We'll both be working a lot, Mayana. I start at the new office tomorrow and you'll be back at your clinic in three days. If we're finishing late then we need someone trustworthy to drop Jiho to school, pick him up, bring him back here and watch him until one of us gets home."

"Hmm... Well it's not like I'm not starting work tomorrow. I can search for some nanny services online for the next few days."

"Online? I don't know... The internet's full of weirdos and perverts. We'd have to be careful about this."

"And do you seriously think I'd let just anyone handle my baby?" My eyebrow arches. "Oh no, I'll be interrogating them until their ears bleed. I know Jiho and I'll know what's best for him the moment I see it Hoseok."

Hoseok surrenders with a playful chuckle.

"Uh oh, the Italian's jumping out. Okay okay, I trust your judgment." Hobi rests an arm around my shoulder. Lapping my hand over his, I roll my eyes playfully and tilt my head back to mark his smile with one more kiss.

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➽─THE NEXT MORNING─➤
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That following morning, Hoseok adjusts his tie in the foyer mirror before brushing his palms down his white shirt and sand blazer. I look up to smile at him while tying Jiho's shoelaces on one knee.

"You got your keys, Mayana?"

"Yeah, I'll lock up. Jiho, you got everything baby?"

"Uh-huh." Jiho grasps both straps of his Paw Patrol backpack and twists slightly to show me its closed zipper. I smile and hold out my hand as the three of us exit the house.

Hoseok graces my lips with a goodbye peck once having locked the door. He then ultimately places an extra long one on Jiho's forehead.

"Bye son. Bye honey."

"Bye Hobi, have a great day at work."

"Bye Papà."

Our matching waves fade as Hoseok gets into his metallic-brown Mercedes while we enter my beige one. As I buckle Jiho into his booster seat behind me, maple leaves cling to the rubber of my tire as we drive away and Hobi takes off in the opposite direction.

About 25 minutes of driving go by until we arrive at the colorful gates of Sunshine kindergarten; an institution that's decorated in the cutest cartoonish flyers, finger paintings and streamers. Teachers greet the kids with friendly smiles while the majority are parents say goodbye to their parting children.

"You ready to go in, baby?"

With a nervous pout, Jiho cuddles his stuffed sloth tighter and shakes his head.

"I promise you're gonna have an amazing day. The teachers here are very nice, and they can't wait to meet you and Slothie."

He doesn't meet me with a response. I twist my lips in thought before placing my hand on his knee and pointing with whispers.

"You see that nice lady over there? She's not really from here you know... I hear she's actually from this magical marshmallow kingdom in outer space, on a mission to spread love and cuddles to special little boys who like their plushies."

At my excited whispers, Jiho slowly looks up before motioning his big eyes towards the car window.

"...'weally?"

"Uh-huh... Shall we go meet her together?"

It takes a minute, but I eventually receive a nod. I immediately get out of the car and open his rear door to unbuckle his seat belt and bring him out. I can feel his soft little hand gripping mine tighter and tighter as dozens of loud but joyful school kids laugh and bid goodbye to their families.

Finally, we approach Mrs. Honey.

"Why hello there. You must be Jiho. My my, aren't you adorable?"

"It... Takes some work to get him talking." I chuckle, "He's a little nervous for his first day. Also, I sort of told him you were made of candy to ease his nerves so..." I whisper the latter with a wink.

"Ah... I see. Well Jiho, would you like to come inside with me? I have some marshmallows in the sensory room that need eating by you and your little friend."

At my encouraging nudge, Jiho peers up at me. I softly guide his palm towards the teacher's and let go, making Mrs. Honey smile before saying goodbye and heading inside.

Jiho looks over his shoulder at me, causing me to wave with a smile.

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➽──BACK AT HOME──➤
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"Laptop, check. Neck cushion, check. Coffee..."

I sip my milk tea before resting the glass bottle beside a saucer of cocoa lotus biscuits. "Hot. Alright, time to hunt for a nanny."

A relaxed sigh escapes my lips as I sink into our velvet couch and place my feet up on the coffee table. There's still more furniture to be unloaded, so I ignore the various movers that work behind me whilst slipping on my glasses and typing away.

Alright, let's see what we have here...

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As the movers head home and the clock's hands surpass each other repeatedly, Hoseok eventually returns home to witness my strained eyes squinted beyond glass lenses. He immediately lowers his briefcase with a chuckle before sitting beside me and resting an arm around my shoulder.

"Don't tell me you haven't moved from this spot all day."

"Technically, I left to pick up Jiho from school... I just so happened to fall back into this butt print and continue searching."

"I see. Where is Jiho anyway?"

"Having his naptime. See, I told you I wouldn't rest until I found the right nanny."

"That's what I like about you. You have the persistence of a rhino." He pinches my cheek playfully, much to my distaste. "So, find anyone who's a good suit?"

"I think so. I narrowed it down to my top 10 picks. They all messaged back and agreed to meet at that coffee cafe tomorrow. I'm gonna take turns sitting them each down for an interview."

"Well isn't this happening so fast. Hopefully everything goes... Liscia."

"What?" I snort.

"Liscia." He grins, "It means smoothly in Itali—"

"I know what it means dummy. You're not pronouncing it right."

"Oh like your Korean pronunciation is top tier. Say annyeong haseyo?"

"...O-Onion hushayo."

"PAHAAA!"

"SHUT IT!"

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➽──THE NEXT DAY──➤
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With my knees together and a notepad mounting my lap, I sit within our nearby cafe and patiently take in its minimalistic interior. It's hard not to get distracted by their tempting display across from me, hosting an ombré of treats. From nude-to-brown macaroons, to freshly powdered pastries and coffee tarts.

I break my gaze and dust my pleated skirt. My style has always been quiet preppy, so I paired it with a nude beret, a sleeveless knitted vest and a white button up underneath. Hopefully I don't look too snooty.

A friendly smile widens my features when the first applicant sits on the stool across from me, though she doesn't look up from her cell phone. She seems young, about 16 or so, and sports a pink lounge set with vibrant blonde hair. 1 out of 10... Let's do this.

"Hi, thank you for coming. My name's Mayana but feel free to call me May."

She doesn't look up, nor pause her chewing her gum but instead taps her nails against her phone screen. "Yeah yeah, I love kids. So like... Does this place have wifi?"

"Excuse me?"

"Wifi." A gummy bubble inflates and pops between her lips. "I'm literally fighting some bitch on Twitter... Or did you not have wifi back in your day?"

"OKAY. Sir, tell me about yourself. What are your hobbies outside of work?"

The slender man now sitting opposite me stares with an almost lifeless gaze. Dark bags sit under his eyes while his scruffy balding hair matches the patchiness of his coat. He doesn't look anything like his profile picture.

"Sometimes I like to go to the playground and just, you know... Sit there. Watch the kids play... I love kids."

"Uh-huh..." I slip my phone underneath the table and immediately open a police report.

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After those tiresome interviews, I patiently wait for the next applicant to arrive. A few minutes pass before I look over my shoulder and notice the elderly woman who takes ages to make her way over, moving at the pace of a turtle... On crutches.

"Hi! I'm Mayana, how are you today?"

"I... Am... Good... Dear..."

It's as if she's single-handedly slowed down time as we know it. I can't help but sit there with a straight back and plaster the fakest smile of patience.

"Who would you say is your ultimate role model?"

"My ultimate role model?" The obese man sitting opposite me casually picks his nose and wipes it against his gamer shirt. "I can name you loads. Ninja... Dream... Andrew Tate..."

The lifelessness of his tone has me massaging my temple. Before I know it, I'm sitting opposite another young girl, only this one dresses in head-to-toe black with eyeliner smudged all over her eyes and a menacing scowl.

"I would like to know, what is your understanding of social anxiety—?"

"Social anxiety is the facade of weak souls who are too cowardly to face the dark side and live in fear for the day that Satan returns to claim us mortal puppets once and for all."

My brows slant and smile expands with pure fear.

"M-moving on. What is your proudest moment when babysitting?"

The bubbly girl opposite me gasps.

"OH my gosh! I was hoping you'd ask! So there was this one time where the kid I was watching like, totally got his foot stuck in his parents' running machine so I was like, screaming like whattt?! And I called the fire brigade but me using my super smart BRAIN came up with this genius idea to totally use butter to slide his ankle out! But his ankle was like, totally sprained so we had to take him to the hospital so on our way out my hair totally got caught in my coat zipper so I had to get it out but BEFORE YOU WORRY, I got it out without splitting a SINGLE. HAIR. So do I have the job??"

"Um... no. What interests you to apply for this role as Jiho's nanny?"

"...I'm in an interview?" The clueless teenage boy looks around.

With my head boredly slipping down my forearm, my eyelids flutter every time I doze off as the old lady continues to make her way over...

"What is a nutritional after-school meal you would make for a 4-year-old?"

Red nose, nasally voice, pimples. This girl's retainers are so big that drool practically dangles from her mouth. She quickly wipes the snot from her red nose and snorts the smear back up before replying in a nasally voice.

"I'd make him couscous! You know, get some semolina *SNORT* and some beans... *ACHOO* and then mix it all together with my hands!"

"Oh absolutely not. I see you've, uh, taken care of dozens of children? Tell me more about your methods if Jiho were to feel anxious— "

"Anxious?! I'll tell you about my methods alright!" The loud and aggressive ex-juvenile soldier weighs his fist onto the table, causing many cafe-goers to glance at us. "Kids are little sissies who need to be whipped into shape and get with the real world! Ain't no such thing as anxiety I know that for damn sure! I'd say JIHO, Suck it up and GIVE ME 10 PUSH UPS! Oh you crying?! NOW I WANT 20 GODDAMN IT!"

With the old lady finally sat, I wake up with my sleeve's print indenting my cheek. She silently sits opposite me with a polite, squinty smile.

"Oh, you're here. Finally. Ahem, ok uh... Question 1: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?"

Regret instantly strikes my features once I read the question aloud. There's a silence thicker than sound, as my lips shrink and I awkwardly flicker my gaze between the old lady and the paper.

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I slump my fist beneath my cheek and boredly tap my pencil against the table. This is hopeless. That's nine people interviewed and so far nobody is even remotely close to what I'm looking for...

Honestly I just want to pack up and go home at this point, but there's still one more person to get through. I suppose I might as well give them a chance.

"Hi, are you Mayana?"

I instantly look up at the girl that greets me with a friendly smile. She looks about my age and height with long platinum-blonde hair that remains tied back into a ponytail. Her white tracksuit brings a sporty vibe to the otherwise preppy cafe and while a little casual for an interview, it certainly looks cozy.

"Oh yes, hi! Please, call me May."

"You look defeated May. I take it your previous interviews weren't so good?" She shakes my hand, fuelling me to groan as she takes a seat and chuckles.

"You have no idea. It's been a rough selection so far."

"Well hopefully I stand out from the crowd. I'm April by the way, in case you forgot."

"April and May... I love that. You're getting on my good side already." I raise her printed file with a grin.

"So, April, from the look of things you have your DBS check, a degree in social care, no prior convictions and it seems you have plenty of experience with children."

"Yep. I've worked at Orphanages, Kindergartens... Don't tell anyone but I've even babysat for celebrities."

"I can see that," I nod at the paper with an impressed nod. "You've even volunteered at North Adelaide Primary school?"

"Yep. I taught a tennis class to the kids there."

"No way, I used to play tennis!"

"You did? How long did you play for?"

"I stopped before moving to University so about 9 years?"

"Same!"

"Nice! Okay okay, I have to bring this up. Although it only happens occasionally, Jiho can sometimes suffer from asthma attacks. Will you be reliable for emergencies and willing to stay later if needed? My husband and I work a lot so your hours would need to be flexible."

"Of course. I have a car plus I live on Barker Grove so not far from here."

I lean back in surprise, "Oh. That's literally a 5-minute walk from us. Great! And for my final question... What would you say are your best and worst qualities?."

April chuckles.

"My best quality is that I'm always there for the people that I care about. Whether they need me at that moment or not, I'm always there by their side. And I'd say my worst quality... Is that I love too hard."

At that, I place down my notepad.

"You know what, I don't think there's any need for thinking time or a callback. You've got the job."

"I have? Thank you so much! I really appreciate this."

"Of course. You seem like a lovely woman and you've got all the qualifications we need. Now, let's discuss your hours..."