Chapter one

⭐ ୧ You're safe with us
I promise. ও 🌧️

The bus rattled to a stop, its headlights casting long shadows on the dark, wet road ahead. Aera clutched her small backpack tighter, her fingers cold from the relentless rain that had begun to fall. The small town, far from the bustling life of Seoul, felt foreign, almost eerie, as if the quietness was pressing down on her chest. She had never been this far from home, and the darkness made everything seem even more distant.

Her mother, with a quick, tense glance, hurriedly led her off the bus. Aera's shoes splashed in the puddles forming on the cracked asphalt. She followed her mother's swift steps, trying to keep up as they made their way down a narrow road that led nowhere in particular.

"Stay here," her mother said abruptly, her voice shaky, betraying the exhaustion beneath it. She left Aera by the side of the road, beneath the thick branches of an old tree. "I'll be back soon. Just wait."

Aera's heart pounded, but she nodded, trusting her mother's words without question. She was too young to notice the uncertainty in her mother's eyes or the way her voice wavered. She stood there, shivering slightly as she watched her mother disappear into the mist and shadows.

She waited.

The rain grew heavier, each drop cold against her skin. It soaked through her jacket, making her small body tremble as she sat beneath the tree, her knees drawn to her chest. Aera stared down the road, squinting into the distance, hoping to see her mother coming back. But the road remained empty, a stretch of nothingness disappearing into the night.

Time passed, though Aera couldn't tell how long. Her fingers ached from gripping the strap of the small bag she held, and her backpack felt heavier with each passing minute. The cold crept further into her bones, and her patience began to fray. She called out for her mother once, softly at first, then louder. But there was no answer.

Aera's heart began to sink, a deep, gnawing fear curling in her chest. She felt abandoned. The reality of the moment settled in—a reality too harsh for her to fully understand. The fights between her parents, the cold tension at home, her mother's hurried movements to take her away from her father. And now, she was alone.

Her chest tightened, and she hugged her legs closer to her body, as if making herself smaller would somehow make the fear go away. The rain drummed against the leaves above her, a relentless reminder of how alone she was. Her tears mixed with the rain as they rolled down her cheeks. She tried to stay brave, tried to hold on to her mother's promise that she would come back, but the longer she waited, the more her heart broke.

She curled up tighter under the tree, sobbing quietly, feeling the cold water seep into her shoes and clothes. Each breath was shaky, each sob punctuated by the sound of rain hitting the ground around her. The night seemed endless, and the dark road beside her stretched out like a void.

Aera was too young to understand why her mother hadn't come back, but the sadness and fear gripping her heart were all too real.

The rain continued to pour, turning the dirt into mud, and the air was thick with the smell of damp earth. Aera's small form trembled beneath the tree, her sobs drowned out by the relentless downpour. She barely noticed the soft glow of a flashlight cutting through the darkness or the faint sound of footsteps approaching.

Jeongjae was on his way home, his grocery bag swinging by his side, when he spotted the small figure huddled beneath the tree. His heart clenched at the sight—a little girl, alone in the rain, soaked to the bone. He quickened his pace, his brows knitting together in concern.

"Hey, sweetheart," he called gently as he crouched down in front of her. "What are you doing out here all by yourself?"

Aera looked up, startled by the voice. Her big eyes, red and puffy from crying, met his. She tried to speak, but her voice was shaky, barely audible. "My... my mom said she'd come back... but she hasn't."

Jeongjae's heart sank at her words. He glanced around, seeing no sign of anyone else. It was just her, alone in the darkness, shivering from the cold. He placed the grocery bag down and knelt beside her, careful not to startle her more than she already was.

"Where is your mom now?" he asked, trying to keep his voice calm, though the worry inside him was growing.

Aera wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her fingers trembling. "She left me here. She said she'd come back... but it's been a long time." Her voice cracked, and she looked back down the road, as if hoping her mother would appear any moment.

Jeongjae glanced down the road too, but it was empty, swallowed by the night. He couldn't help the tight feeling in his chest—what kind of mother would leave her child alone like this? The rain was getting worse, and Aera was soaked through. There was no way he could leave her here.

"Let's see if we can find her," he said softly, standing up and offering her his hand. "It's not safe for you to stay out here in the rain."

Aera hesitated, but the warmth in his voice and the kindness in his eyes made her trust him. She nodded slowly and reached up to take his hand. It was much larger than hers, warm against her cold fingers. He helped her to her feet, and together they started walking down the road, his flashlight casting long beams into the darkness.

They walked for a while, calling out for her mother, but there was no response. Jeongjae's heart grew heavier with each passing minute. It didn't take long for him to realize the truth—that Aera's mother wasn't coming back. He stopped, sighing deeply as he looked down at the little girl beside him, her face pale with worry.

"I don't think we're going to find her tonight," he said gently, kneeling down to her level. "Why don't you come with me for now? Just until your mom comes back. You shouldn't stay out here in the rain. It's cold."

Aera looked at him, her lip trembling. She wanted to believe her mother would come back. She wanted to stay where her mother had left her, in case she returned. But the rain was cold, and her body was tired from waiting. The kindness in Jeongjae's eyes made her feel safe, something she hadn't felt in a long time.

"Okay," she whispered, her voice small and uncertain, but trusting.

Jeongjae smiled softly and took off his jacket, draping it over her small shoulders. "Good girl," he said. "Let's get you somewhere warm." He picked up his grocery bag and held her hand again, leading her toward his small home at the edge of town.

As they walked, Aera couldn't help but glance back at the tree, hoping, just for a moment, that her mother would be there. But the road remained empty.

The stairs creaked slightly as Jeongjae led Aera up to his small apartment, his hand gentle but firm around hers. The building was modest but well-kept, the warm light from the windows above casting a soft glow onto the rainy street below. Aera's small legs struggled to keep up, but she felt safe with him, her wet clothes clinging to her as she shivered from the cold.

As they reached the second floor, Jeongjae pushed open the door to his apartment. A soft, inviting warmth immediately greeted them, the smell of something delicious wafting from the kitchen. Inside, a cozy scene unfolded—a small dining table with three kids sitting around it, their plates filled with simple but warm meals. The room was small but comfortable, with little decorations here and there, a home lived in with love.

The moment the door opened, the children all looked up, their curious eyes landing on Aera.

"Everyone," Jeongjae said gently, smiling down at the children, "this is Aera. She'll be staying with us for a while."

Aera stood frozen at the door, unsure of what to say or do, but the warmth of the room and the friendly faces made her feel less scared. She shifted on her feet, still soaked from the rain, clutching the strap of her backpack.

One of the children, a girl about her age, immediately jumped up from her seat. She had big, sparkling eyes and a bright smile that lit up her entire face. Her enthusiasm was contagious as she hurried over to Aera.

"Hi! I'm Joo-won!" she chirped, grinning up at her. "I'm seven, but you look older than me! Are you my Eonnie now?" Her excitement was palpable, even though she looked a little confused at why Aera was so wet.

Aera blinked at her, surprised by the girl's energy, but she managed a small, shy smile. "Maybe," she whispered.

Joo-won beamed and grabbed Aera's hand, as if they were already old friends. "Come on, we'll get you dry! It's okay, Appa always helps!" She glanced back at her father, who smiled softly at the interaction.

The two boys sitting at the table watched them quietly. One of them, a boy with dark, thoughtful eyes, gave Aera a small nod. "I'm Kim Sanha," he said, his voice quiet but kind. He was more reserved, a little distant, but there was a warmth to him that made Aera feel welcome.

The other boy, Kang Hae-jun, immediately stood up, his chair scraping the floor as he rushed over. "I'm Hae-jun!" he announced proudly. "You're the same age as us, right? We can all play together! Do you like soccer? I'm really good at it!" His enthusiasm bubbled over, and he bounced on his feet, clearly excited to have someone new around.

Aera nodded, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the attention, but their kindness was like a balm to her aching heart. She hadn't expected to be welcomed so warmly, especially after what had just happened. She hadn't expected to feel safe.

Jeongjae stepped in, gently placing a towel over Aera's shoulders. "Let's get you out of those wet clothes first," he said softly. "And then we'll find you something to eat. You must be hungry."

As Aera stood there, drying off, Joo-won tugged her hand and led her toward a spare room where she could change. Aera's mind was still racing, but there was something comforting about the little family she had stumbled into. The warmth, the laughter, the care—it was so different from the cold, wet night she had been left in.

After changing into a warm, oversized sweater that Jeongjae had lent her, she returned to the table, her heart still heavy but lighter than before. She sat beside Joo-won, who immediately started talking to her as if they had known each other forever.

As they ate, Aera finally found the courage to ask, her voice small, "Where... where are your moms?"

The table went quiet for a moment, and Aera looked down, afraid she had said something wrong. But Jeongjae, sitting at the head of the table, gave her a soft, understanding look.

Sanha was the first to speak, his quiet voice filling the room. "My mom left me too. A long time ago."

"Same here!" Hae-jun said, though his tone was more matter-of-fact, as if it didn't bother him as much anymore. "Jeongjae-appa took me in. We're a family now."

Joo-won smiled brightly, nodding in agreement. "Appa takes care of all of us!" She leaned closer to Aera, her small hands resting on Aera's arm. "You don't have to worry, Eonnie. Appa is really good. He makes sure we're okay."

Aera's heart clenched at their words. She hadn't known it was possible for other children to be abandoned by their mothers too. It wasn't just her. But as she looked around the table at the warm faces, she realized they had all found something—someone—to hold onto. They had found a home with Jeongjae.

Jeongjae watched them, his eyes soft as he spoke. "You can stay here as long as you need, Aera," he said gently. "You're safe with us. I promise."

For the first time that night, Aera felt a flicker of hope amidst her sadness. She wasn't alone anymore.

࿁ • 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘰𝘬 . . . 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝒚𝒐𝒖
ྀིྀི 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝒎𝒆 𐙚 ~ @ 𝑾𝒐𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 • ࿁

Here's the first chapter! How was it? Did you like it? If you liked it please make sure to leave a vote. Anyways, these first two chapters are gonna be mostly about their childhood, the third chapter is where things are gonna get interesting. Stay tuned! <33