Jin stood by the door with Jungkook, fidgeting with his fingers nervously. It was the first time he was going to meet Jungkook's mother, and for some reason, he felt more anxious than he had ever been—even more anxious than when Jungkook had met his parents. He didn't care much about anything back then, but now, it was different. This time, he cared.

"What should I call your mom? You never told me her name."

"Jungkook looked at Jin and replied, "That's because you never asked me her name. Her name is Yunhee."

With his eyes closed and his hands resting over his belly, Jin paid no mind to Jungkook. The weight of 36 weeks of pregnancy had taught him that sometimes saying less was better, especially when Jungkook tested his patience. Anticipation was building, with the due date just under four weeks away.

He felt like he had been pregnant forever and was eager to reach the end of this journey and finally meet their baby. As he reflected on the preparations made with Jungkook, he couldn't help but feel that they had possibly done more than necessary, pouring their hearts into getting ready for their little one's arrival. He was happy about this as he would much rather they were overprepared.

As the door swung open, an older woman greeted Jungkook with a warm smile and embraced him tightly. "My sweet Jungkook, how are you, baby?" she said, planting a gentle kiss on his cheek. "I've missed you. You don't visit like you used to."

Jin stood still, his eyes following the interaction between Jungkook and his mother. He observed Jungkook hugging her but noticed the absence of any verbal response. After Jungkook pulled away from her, he gestured towards Jin and spoke, "Mom, this is Seokjin, my partner whom I have informed you about several times. Due to your repeated requests, I was able to find time for us to meet and introduce you to Seokjin. Seokjin, this is my mother, Yunhee. Please greet her nicely."

Jin's face lit up with a warm smile as he made a courteous attempt to bow respectfully to Yunhee. However, Yunhee gently intervened, halting his gesture by taking hold of his arm. "Please, that's not necessary. You are pregnant," she insisted before enveloping Jin in a tight, affectionate hug. "It's so wonderful to finally meet you. I have heard a lot about you," she expressed, her voice filled with genuine joy.

"Nice to meet you as well. I've also heard a lot about you."

"You did?" Yunhee asked, pulling back in surprise at Jin's response. "I am surprised my son talks about me."

"I don't. He probably found out about you through Yoongi's spouse," Jungkook remarked as he opened the front door and gestured for everyone to enter. "Could we please continue the introductions inside? Seokjin shouldn't be on his feet for too long."

"Absolutely. Seokjin, you're welcome to come inside," Yunhee said, gesturing for Jin to enter with a warm smile on her face.

******

Yunhee stared adoringly at Jin, seated beside him on the sofa. She eagerly showed him an album filled with photos of Jungkook from his younger days and commented, "He has always been so handsome."

As Jin went through the album, he asked, "Was he not one to smile often?"

"He would only smile when he felt like it, and even then, it was mostly with his eyes. When he was younger, capturing his smile in photographs was a challenge. He would only genuinely smile when promised a new book or puzzle."

"Really?" Jin asked as he looked at Yunhee. I am guessing he loved reading and puzzles."

Yunhee found herself reminiscing with a chuckle about the cherished moments from her son's early years. "He had a knack for solving puzzles quickly and was an avid reader. We had to convert one of the rooms into a library and later expand it to accommodate his growing collection of books. My husband and I were amazed by how fast he learned and grasped new things. We then realized his exceptional giftedness, motivating us to learn how to be the parents he needed."

"Interesting," Jin responded. He thought about something but chose not to ask at that moment.

"So, how are you feeling? How has your relationship with my son been?"

"I am good. This trimester has been surprisingly great for me in terms of energy levels. I thought I would be exhausted, but I've been feeling really good. My relationship with Jungkook is going well, too. We're slowly learning more about each other and navigating our way through things as they come up. I've also noticed that some days require more patience than others."

Yunhee chuckled as she noted, "I can definitely see where you're coming from." Then, adopting a more serious tone, she inquired, "Has he been giving you a hard time? I hope not."

Jin shook his head. "No, he hasn't been difficult. Well, at least not anymore. I think living with him changed a lot for us. However, there are some things, and I don't know how to say them without sounding crazy or petty."

"I am sure you are not crazy or petty. What's happening? What is he doing?"

Jin sighed as he shifted on the sofa, trying to get more comfortable. "Alright, let me try to explain this. You know, whenever we're out, and someone comes up to him, not for any good reason, but basically to hit on him, it's like he...I don't know; it's hard to put into words, but it really gets under my skin. And the thing is, when I do get annoyed by it, he acts like I'm overreacting. It's like he can't see why it bothers me, and it's even more frustrating if I have to spell it out for him."

Yunhee probed, trying to grasp Jin's explanation: "So, when these things happen, what you are saying is that he doesn't notice that you're feeling jealous. Is that the issue?'"

"That's it, but he doesn't understand. It's almost as if he is unaware of these situations, which annoys me!"

As Yunhee leaned in closer to Jin, her voice barely above a whisper, she asked, "Has my son ever mentioned to you that he is on the autism spectrum?"

Jin's eyes widened in realization, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "I knew it! He is, isn't he?" Jin had been discussing many of Jungkook's behaviors over the last couple of months with his mother, seeking her thoughts and suspecting that Jungkook might be on the autism spectrum.

"It seems he hasn't shared this with you. He has never fully acknowledged it, so I understand if you're taken aback." Yunhee expressed. "However, since you are his partner and will soon be welcoming a child together, it's important to tell you so that you are aware of his background. I want to clarify that there is nothing wrong with my son; he simply approaches things differently from others, and his perception of the world is unique.

At the age of nine, he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, falling within the level one category, often referred to as high-functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome." Yunhee paused for a moment, reflecting on Jungkook's upbringing.

"Keeping up with his rapid learning pace and finding ways to keep him mentally engaged hasn't always been easy. My husband has done an admirable job ensuring that he remained intellectually challenged. It became evident that Jungkook would achieve great success, which wasn't surprising considering other aspects of his life. However, he faced considerable challenges in social and emotional interactions. Jungkook thrives when explanations are provided in a specific manner, as he processes information differently from the rest of us.

Hence, he has encountered difficulties in forming and maintaining friendships. Fortunately, Yoongi is a dependable and supportive older brother who is always willing to be there for Jungkook when he needs support.

Although intelligent and capable of solving complex puzzles, he often struggles with common sense. He frequently finds it challenging to interpret humor or sarcasm, sometimes perceiving them as insults unintentionally. His literal approach leads him to interpret statements and actions straightforwardly, and he also sometimes experiences difficulty effectively communicating his emotions.

In some instances, controlling his emotions has proven challenging, particularly when he becomes fixated on something or someone." Yunhee's words gained emphasis as she fixed her gaze on Jin.

"He has a tendency to become fixated and obsessive, as was apparent when he met you. I heard about the initial stages of your relationship and his persistent efforts to pursue you. During that time, I made efforts to ensure he had frequent sessions with his therapist, recognizing the potential difficulties he might have caused you. When fixated, he often struggles to perceive perspectives that differ from his own."

Jin's realization hit him like a bolt of lightning: "Wow! So, I am not crazy. He was obsessed with me." Reflecting on his initial interactions with Jungkook, Jin couldn't help but feel a mix of validation and frustration: "I said it so many times, and it felt like no one was listening to me."

"No, you are not crazy, and neither is my son. I am certain you deeply fascinated him, and I can understand why. Not only are you breathtaking, but you also exude a natural calm. Even during your pregnancy, your calmness is noticeable, and I believe Jungkook sensed it, too.

Despite having past relationships, he has never shown such keen interest in anyone. Those relationships only happened because the other parties were interested in him, and he went along with it without real investment. When I asked about his previous relationships, he would dismissively say everything was fine and going well.

However, he fell silent when I asked about you for the first time. His silence spoke volumes. If you know my son, you'd know that silence is not a trait he exhibits often. He is usually quite articulate and eloquent. But when I asked about you, he was silent. That's when I knew he was feeling something indescribable.

I saw him around you today, and he looked content. He may not vocalize it, but as his mother, I sense that you bring him joy. And I hope he brings you joy, too," Yunhee said, her gaze filled with hope as she looked at Jin.

Jin smiled affectionately and nodded as he spoke, "He does. He actually surprised me in ways I wouldn't have expected. To be completely honest, I was initially hesitant about pursuing a relationship with your son. He came across as overly persistent, which made me feel uncomfortable. His egotistical nature and the way he communicated turned me off at first.

However, despite my initial reservations, here we are, and I have no regrets. Over the last seven months, our relationship has changed and progressed beyond what I could have imagined. While I've observed some of the struggles you mentioned, I've also witnessed his unique strengths. His attention to detail and ability to remember important things have been a huge help, especially when my mind is overwhelmed.

Despite his occasional inability to pick up on social cues, I'm thankful that I never feel insecure around him, even though he is extremely honest with his thoughts, which can sometimes be frustrating," Jin said with a laugh. "But I suppose that's what makes our relationship unique. I firmly believe he will be an amazing father, and in many ways, he already is. I see his effort in expressing his feelings, and it makes me happy and thankful."

Yunhee's eyes welled up with tears as she leaned in and enveloped Jin in a heartfelt hug. Overwhelmed with emotion, she struggled to find the right words, but her tears conveyed her emotions. Jin hugged and comforted her, letting her know she had done a good job raising Jungkook.

"How many times are the two of you going to hug?" Jungkook exclaimed as he entered the room, his voice tinged with concern. "Seokjin, you should know it's not advisable for my mother to lean against you while you are pregnant. No one should be that close to you while you are almost at your due date to having our baby. I've mentioned this every time you allow Bam to sleep on your belly, but you are not listening again."

Yunhee swiftly drew back from Jin and turned to her son. "You're back! I didn't even hear the door open. Did you manage to get everything?"

"I'm managed perfectly fine, Mom," Jungkook assured her. "Seokjin, I'm curious. Have you taken a nap, or have you decided to disregard that advice as well?" Jungkook asked, his eyes locked on Jin, awaiting a response.