❝just to be clear, there is a timeskip between the previous chapter and this one for around a week; same with my other updates if that wasn't clear with anyone before.❞
— ✿ —

"Alright, I guess these are enough," I whispered to myself as I stacked the folders I had went over on a paper tray.

The clock struck three, and I got up from my seat, stretching my arms. The cool air brushing against my bare skin.

If I were to bring Aeri with me, I'd have to leave now so I could drop by at home and fetch her. Before leaving, I approached Minji's cubicle.

"Minji, if anyone asks, please tell them I went ahead already," I requested.

"Hmm? Sure," replied Minji, not taking her eyes off her paperwork.

"Where are you going?" It was Nari who asked, and I couldn't tell if she were really just everywhere, or it was only due to the fact that Nari and Minji's work cubicles were besides each other.

I cupped my left elbow. "I'm visiting my parents."

"Oh?" Nari thoughtfully blinked at me, and then her lips rounded as she stretched, "Ohhh."

Sometimes, Nari's reactions made it seem like she was a child stuck in an adult's body.

"You're going to visit your parents?" echoed Minji, finishing something before she glanced upwards. "Why not go with Mr. Kim?"

"He's busy. I'll be with Aeri anyway," I told her, no undertones lacing my words when I said Taehyung was busy.

I was sure they all had noticed not just how Taehyung and I didn't interact much the past few days, but also how the two of us got back to our usual banters.

Not to mention, there was also Taehyung's new found daily entertainment which consisted of him ruffling my hair before he headed for his office almost everyday, randomly dropping by my work post and jokingly asking for a kiss out of nowhere with a voice that could be heard from two cubicles away from mine—if not the whole of the small department I was in, and some more of his little antics I gradually got used to. Well, not really.

All of which earned him a complaint from me in a form a facial expression or a verbal reaction. But Taehyung being Taehyung, he didn't mind.

"At least you have another person who'll be your strength from now on," stated Minji, quite thoughtfully, and Nari just nodded vigorously in agreement.

I smiled at her. Taehyung, huh? I guess he'd count as one. Maybe.

"You go now so you and Aeri don't stay out late."

"Ah, I hope they still have hydrangeas," I mumbled to myself, fishing for my phone out of my bag. "Anyway, I'll be on my way now." I sent them a small smile, waving my hand with my phone clutched on it.

~*~

It was half past five when I came back to Taehyung's residence, expecting an empty apartment, but Taehyung was already situated in the living room, watching TV with his head leaning sideways on his fist, elbows resting on the backrest of the couch.

I carefully shifted towards him, and when he noticed me, he stood up, eyeing both me and Aeri who was securely tucked in my arms.

"She fell asleep." I smiled, observing Aeri breathe steadily.

Taehyung soothed Aeri's cheek with his index finger and without tearing his attention away from her, asked, "Where have you both been to?"

"We visited my parents," I truthfully told him.

"Why didn't you tell me so I could've come with you?" He lifted his gaze at me questioningly.

"You're busy, it's fine."

"If I weren't busy earlier, would you have invited me with you?"

"Uh, yes?" I answered, a little uncertain. I wasn't sure where he was getting to. His tone wasn't the usual 'just-asking-no-particular-reason' he often used.

Taehyung hesitated for a moment, like he was deciding whether he should speak out what he had in mind or not.

"Do your...parents know about me?"

I thought for a second.

"Well, they do." I knew they did. I wasn't lying about that.

But my heart felt really heavy all too suddenly—Perhaps due to exhaustion and everything that happened today.

Don't cry, Kyungmin. Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry.

"Taehyung, could I—"

"Why didn't you tell me?" he interjected, and I instinctively snapped my head towards him.

"Tell you what?" I cautiously asked, slowly raising a brow.

"I was sure something was off when I asked about your parents," began Taehyung before frustration flew across his face. "But ugh— fuck, I shouldn't have let the way your eyes looked empty go so easily."

"Taehyung, what do you mean?" It was obvious where he was getting to, but there was this small voice in my head that kept hoping it wasn't what I was thinking about.

Silence consumed the two of us. Taehyung's eyes were fixated on nowhere particular, his profile masked with reluctance and concern.

It wasn't too long until the gap in the air ended, and the inevitable question came into picture.

"Why didn't you tell me your parents died, Kyungmin?"

I figured Taehyung had tried to question me in the most respectful way he could manage. For that, I mentally thanked him.

Though that didn't help me from stopping the tears that escaped my eyes. But because Aeri was in my arms, and I didn't want to interrupt her position, I couldn't wipe the tears away. Feeling exposed and vulnerable, I dropped my head down.

Taehyung didn't seem to approve of my action; He immediately lifted my head up carefully, brushing his thumb to wipe away the tears. His gesture broke me a little inside, like when people wanted to comfort you, but it just reminded you of things and pained you more.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there when it happened," he softly whispered, and I wanted to say it was okay.

But I couldn't. I wasn't sure either.

"Since when?" he asked, just above a whisper.

"Taehyung, I just want to rest." I sighed, pushing my forehead down to lean on his shoulder, making his hands leave my cheeks and move to my hair—running his fingers through it.

"I just want to know. Just this, and I won't ask more." Taehyung rubbed circles on my back, and I gulped down the emotions surging in me.

I wanted him to stop comforting me, just as how I wanted the chaos inside of me to come to a halt, too. But his warmth was something both foreign and familiar at the same time, that I wanted it to stay longer.

For sure, I was already losing my logicality.

"Three years ago," I finally breathed out, my voice staring to break.

True to his words, he didn't say anything more, but only pushed me gently apart from him before he held me on my shoulders to guide me back to my room. He took Aeri from me, with caution as not to wake her up, and when I had questioned him, he told me that I needed to be alone and he'd be fine with Aeri sleeping in his room.

I could feel that he was unsure of what he was doing, but I appreciated the fact that he was trying to do something. So even though I was against not being with Aeri, finding it a bit unnerving, I agreed to it.

"Make sure she doesn't fall on the floor or you'll never see the sun again," I playfully warned him despite my croaked voice.

Taehyung smiled at me softly and I could see the hint of concern and worry in his eyes. Not pity.

"Go to sleep or I'm staying up with you to make sure you do." I shook my head subtly.

"I'll be okay in the morning," I assured him, rubbing my left eye, trying to manage a teensy smile.

He heaved a sigh and adjusted Aeri so he was cradling her with one arm. He used the other to pull me into a hug, propping his chin on the top of my head.

And I let him. Without complaints.

It's okay to lean on someone sometimes, right?

"Being okay doesn't have a deadline, Kyungmin," he whispered... and I probably broke a little more inside than I should have.