The first few minutes to the ride had been nothing but pure silence.

Being alone with Taehyung made me realize that I still did have all those questions I had thought were long gone. But I restricted myself from speaking of anything regarding that. The last thing I wanted was to create an embarrassing memory that'd keep replaying on my mind.

I just wanted to get home already.

"So," Taehyung began, eyes fixated on the road. "How have you been?"

"That's really the first thing you're going to ask me, huh?" I chuckled humorlessly.

"Well, I actually wanted to ask you about this little Aeri I heard of, and the custody case, but I was trying to keep it casual and not pry," he shot back and turned to me with a grin.

"I've been fine, I guess." I quickly responded. Then, I heaved a sigh and crossed my arms as I stared out of the window.

Taehyung snorted at how I pushed his quirky reply aside, and I grimaced to myself.

"So you're a mom now?" he casually questioned.

"Yeah." I nodded a little, turning forward again. "I thought you're not going to pry?"

"You opened the door for me," he defended. "Since when have you been married?"

"Uhh... since never?"

A hard look formed on his face, and I could tell he was trying to come up with the best version of his question. Probably the one where he wouldn't get misunderstood. I guess that, too, hadn't changed.

"So who are you against with little Aeri's custody?"

Smart question, Taehyung.

But more than that, I found it really cute that he said 'little Aeri' again. I didn't exactly know when it started that people called her that way, but it suited her and I really liked it whenever I heard it.

"Well, it's not really anyone in particular. The court needs me to prove I'm capable of raising Aeri."

"Then what's the problem?" Yeah. He was really good at asking the safe questions but still being able to satisfy his curiosity.

"Single parents need more qualifications to adopt children, and in my case, they don't think it's best that Aeri gets adopted by me." I frowned.

"How come the baby's with you already? And wait, does it mean you're not her real mom?"

I pondered whether I should tell him about it or not. It wasn't some sort of secret of mine, but my mind told me that Taehyung was better off without knowing.

"It's a long story," I muttered.

"I have time," he insisted.

"Don't waste your time on me, Taehyung."

My words might have surprised him and he didn't utter anything for a couple of seconds. To my defense, my voice wasn't cold or harsh at all. Just... bland when I told him that.

"At least you call me Taehyung and not Mr. Kim," he broke in, cooling down the atmosphere.

"It sounds weird." I scrunched my nose in distaste, and Taehyung chuckled.

"We're at the Nochu St. where do I go from here?" Taehyung asked as he turned his car to the right.

"You know, you can actually drop me here," I suggested.

"Don't even think about it," he sternly said.

"Okay, okay..." I raised my arms to my chest in defense. "Just drive straight and there's another street at the end."

Taehyung smiled to himself and I fought the urge to roll my eyes at him.

"You haven't answered my question, you know," he brought it up again, just when I had thought he purposely let it go.

"I told you to just drive straight a—"

"About little Aeri and the custody," he cut off my attempt to avoid filling up his curios mind.

"Fine." I slumped my back on my seat. "I'm not her real mom, but I want to be one who'll treat her just as a real one would."

I was more than ready to take her in and raise her as my own.

"I just don't get it. I mean, if you're still fighting for it, how come the baby's with you already?"

"She's not yet up for adoption," I mumbled.

"Now you're confusing me."

Taehyung was deep in his thoughts with creases on his forehead, eyes fixated in front. I had doubts if I should just tell him the whole story because if things continued like this, it was obvious he wasn't going to stop asking questions.

And I'd be seeing him at work so that wouldn't help me at all.

"Let's just say the one who has custody over her is going to put her in adoption, and I need to prove my stand so things don't go wrong and Aeri doesn't end up having to stay in an orphanage."

I had once questioned why they couldn't just give me the custody since the ones who had it now was fine with it, but I was informed that everything had to undergo legal process, and it just so happened that Aeri's grandparents weren't her parents, so it made things more difficult.

"What's slowing down your appeal?" I could sense the concern in his voice.

"Well, they think that if Aeri's grandparents are going to put her up for adoption, it would be best that Aeri ends up with a family. A complete, happy family." I gulp down the lump forming on my throat. "I wish they could understand a single parent is also capable enough to give children love. Though I agree that a father figure is important... but I just don't want to risk Aeri being sent to the wrong people."

"I want her to grow up knowing how her mother loved her so much," I whispered almost too inaudibly.

This time, Taehyung's silence lasted longer. I mentally thanked him for not prying further even though it was pretty obvious how his brows met once in a while, thinking of something.

Years sure had passed, and maybe I still had those hard feelings for him, but look at me—us—now, talking as if there hadn't been a gap between us.

"It's the one with the glass door." I pointed out to guide him and he pulled over in front of the lobby to my apartment.

"Now I know where you live," he remarked.

"So it's your way of finding out my residence, huh? You should've just asked, you know," I joked, easing out the situation. It'd be best that we parted ways being okay with each other.

"Had I been caught?" He rode along.

"Exposed." I smiled. "Anyway, thanks for the ride. See you tomorrow at work!"

Before I could push the door open, Taehyung stopped me with his hand on my wrist.

"Wait!" I snapped my head to him and quirked an eyebrow up.

"Are you going to ask me to pay?" I deadpanned. Taehyung looked at me, confused, before my words sunk in to his cluttered mind.

"What? No!"

"I was just joking, chill out." I made a weird face, but the seriousness on his expression didn't wear off.

"I think I can help you," said Taehyung, and my ears perked up instantly, eager to know how. "Your only problem is that you're a single parent right?"

I nodded a little tensely as I had gotten a hint of what his idea might be. Knowing him, it would be something crazy and a little too over.

"I can present to be Aeri's father figure."

I waited for him to smile or chuckle, or maybe just do something to change that serious look on his face. However, seconds passed, minutes too, but his demeanor remained still.

"Taehyung, I think you missed the point. I mean, a father figure as in a husband. Someone I am...married...to..." I blinked at him as he only kept on throwing me a knowing look.

"You can't be serious," I mumbled.

"What if I am?"

~*~

Taehyung's offer didn't let my mind rest. I kept tossing to the left and to the right, all too cautiously as not to wake up little Aeri sleeping beside me in her elevated nap mat surrounded by cute printed pillows. I looked at her, studying her features that slowly developed as the days went by. My finger landed on her soft, supple cheeks, and she subtly smiled before giggling.

I couldn't help but smile too, and suddenly, my chest felt lighter.

Oh little Aeri, please help me decide with this.

But just by looking at her, I already knew that I'd go as far as what Taehyung had offered me. However, my question was: Should I?

It seemed very practical and it was an easy pass, no people harmed at all, but then, that wouldn't that be taking advantage of Taehyung's... well, kindness?

But I wanted to be with Aeri, and I couldn't allow it that Mina-unnie's daughter would grow without being loved, and treated just as how Mina would.

Aeri wrapped her tiny hand around my index finger, and I felt my stomach swoon. I lightly brushed her fingers with my thumb, and just from there, I already knew my answer to Taehyung.

I pulled out my phone under the covers and immediately sent a message to Taehyung before I changed my mind.

To: Taehyung 😬🤗
Let's talk tomorrow.
— 2:11am

I shook my head at the smiley he put in his name when he made sure I saved his number and that the one I gave him was correct. Anyway, he'd probably see my message tomorrow, or later should I say.

Or maybe not.

My phone buzzed and a notification flashed on my screen.

From: Taehyung 😬🤗
Sure! :) see you tomorrow, Kyungmin-ah!
— 2:13am