Going out, as I waited for Uncle, I met a little version of Taehyung-ssi, staring at me from his little height.

He looked adorable and decorous, had a winsome nature with a bit of sass to it. A smile crept up my lips spontaneously as I knelt down to his height.

ME : Hi!

JAE HYUNG : (-bowing formally-) Annyeonghaseyo.("hi" politely)

I was awed at how courteously he carried himself. His demeanor, enunciating his moral upbringing- the finest a child must have during his growing years.

ME : (-thinking-) Immm... What is your name?

Although I knew that already, I had nothing else to say since I didn't know how to deal with kids. Maybe I needed some nurturing instead.

JAE HYUNG : Kim Jae Hyung-imnida. (-in a cute accent-) What is your name? (-politely-)

"He is so cute!" I mentally rolled over in awe.

ME : (-mimicking his accent-) Kim Jae Ra-imnida. (-chuckles-)

He goofed at my tone, a sheepish grin following by. For unknown reasons, my heart felt a peculiar gloom as I conversed further with the little man.

"What happened to me suddenly?" I wondered at the tears forming in my eyes.

JAE HYUNG : Why are you crying? (-innocent concern-)

ME : (-shaking head-) I am not. (-smiles-)

JAE HYUNG : Don't cry, I will invite you to my birthday party. You can also eat the cake.

His adorable attempt to console me was beyond my heart could take of his innocence, leaving a clench of pure euphoria to it.

ME : (-chuckles-) Really? When is your birthday, then?

JAE HYUNG : Tomorrow! Make sure to come, all my Uncles will be there too.

ME : Ah, is that so? Who are your Uncles?

JAE HYUNG : (-counting in his cute little hands-) Jin Samchun, Naju(namjoon) Samchun, Hobi Samchun, Chuga(Suga) Samchun, Jimi(Jimin) Samchun and Jungoo(jungkook) Samchun too.

He diverted his gaze up to look at me with a proud smile as he finished counting me through all his Uncles on his miniature fingers. It was quite a labour to get all their names on point.

I returned him an appreciative smile and patted his back lightly. He was at an age of either saying the words half-way or pronouncing them cutely.

ME : Wow, you remember all of their names! How old are you going to turn tomorrow?

JAE HYUNG : Four! (-showing five fingers-)

ME : (-folding-in his cute little thumb finger-) Now, that's four. (-sweet smile-)

He gave me a shy smile and looked up at someone who stood near me. I followed his gaze to see the source being Uncle Jang and retained my normal height after.

JAE HYUNG : Who is he? (-looking up at me-)

ME : Umm... He is my Samchun. (-in his accent-)

He appreciatively nodded with a smile just like I did to him earlier. But, he was immediately embarrased and ran towards the entrance door of the workshop.

JAE HYUNG : Appa! (-running to him-)

I chuckled at his little run- Taehyung-ssi taking him up in his embrace with a bright smile.

Jae hyung pointed his finger at me from his Dad's hold whose smile slowly dropped as he noticed me. His lips moved in words with a sad expression on his face as he spoke to his son while looking at me.

I bowed a little which he respectfully returned with his and turned around taking Jae hyung inside.

UNCLE : Let's go.

ME : (-snapped back-) Yes, you leave. I will follow.

UNCLE : (-looking at his driver-) Drive her car home.

DRIVER : Okay sir! (-coming out of Uncle's car-)

ME : Uncle, I can drive.

UNCLE : Don't be stubborn, Jae Ra. I know you will head back to your work. But, I want you to rest for today.

ME : Rest? Wasn't it about SungYeol and Seo-In?

Uncle, ignoring my questions, handed my keys to his driver, plucking it from my hand.

My eyes, with a slightly creased temple, followed every moment he made, from avoiding my eyes to getting on the driver's seat of his car and honking at me after.
I quietly sat in next to him, disturbed and irked with his silence and possible lie about Seo-Yeol(Seo-In and SungYeol ship name).

ME : When did they come back from France?

Seo-Yeol had gone to France for a vacation few days ago and I had a strong feeling that Uncle lied about them.
He ignored my question yet again and continued driving.

ME : Uncle!

UNCLE : Onh?

ME : I asked, "When did they come back?"

UNCLE : They didn't.

ME : (-annoyed-) What? Then, why did you-...?

UNCLE : (-little yell-) Because I was worried about you.

ME : (-sighs-) Why? (-soft voice-) Because his name is also, Kim Tae hyung?

He glanced at me before looking back on the road, without any verbals following by.

I whipped outside the window to hide the tears that filled in my eyes.

No matter how optimistically I wanted to accept the truth, a feeling of oppression and unjust never left my thoughts.

Why must it be me who have to suffer without any fault?

Why must I be careful and the one who abandoned me was free to live the way he wanted?

Yet all my resents were conflicted by my heart, profoundly disagreeing with me making it harder. I was one body with disjunctured soul splitted in two. One, aching from the pain of my past and the other, trying not to dwell in the already erased memories and move on.

"What did I even do to deserve this?" I was umbraged.
Tears rolled down my cheeks and Uncle spoke, placing his hand on mine.

UNCLE : It's okay, Jae Ra-ya. Stay strong.

I stayed silent and we reached home in a while. I didn't come out of my room, the rest of the day. In the night, however, I slipped out for some fresh air.

Recalling it was Jae hyung's birthday tomorrow as I passed next to a bakery, I walked to a nearby toy shop. Contemplating quite some hours for an appropriate present for him, I finalised with a remote control car.

ME : (-looking at present-) Hope he likes it.(-slight smile-)

I paid for it and left the shop, the door chymes ringing until the outside rush dominated it by the closure of the door. A pair of children shoes caught my attention that were showcased on the same store as I walked along its glass view.

They reminded me of the son that I never got to hold or embrace even for one mere moment.

"I couldn't even see him once," a pang of sting pricked my heart. "Today, my son would have been just like Jae hyung."

I was smiling with tears in my eyes.

And with a deep breath, inhaling the fresh autumn air, I passed from there holding tight on my emotions- heading back home.

Bemusement took the best of my consciousness- wool-gathering about my absolutely mystified feelings and wonders.
The feeling of complacency, a content one experiences after finally meeting the person that one have been missing and longing for since years.

My heart was at ease.

It was truly in all these years that I felt myself at such tranquility and peace. Somewhere though, it still appeared to hurt- a mixture of ecstasy with pangs of sting having a bashful rave inside.

I was on my bed, sleepless eyes staring into the inanimate ceiling- faintly illuminated by the soft moonlight pearcing in through the open window.

The sided curtains swiftly blowing as a gentle breeze forced itself inside and kissed my eyes close, a nature's consoling embrace asking me to fall asleep.
A smile planted on my lips as I shifted myself towards the source of the calm and soothing air on my right. Closed eyes and crawled up body with the zephyr blanketing me over, I slowly and gradually drifted to a peaceful sleep.

>>Next Morning~

Through the same unbolted window that sang me a lullaby last night, had come in, the rising shine of the dawn with birds chirping a nag to wake me up.

Although I least wanted to, I sat myself up with a morning frown, itching the side of my neck as I lazily put off my warm and cozy blanket to a side.
Though the most depressing break up I faced on a daily basis- as I slipped my feet into my walk-ons- I left the bed stoning my heart to get a shower.

In a short while of me running my morning routine, I was ready to go to work. Upon heading downstairs- apparently the only way I could walk out of the house- Uncle stopped me from leaving while I was pouring myself a glass of water.

UNCLE : Where are you going?

ME : Work. (-avoiding eye contact-)

UNCLE : Okay, fine but, exchange your assignment with anyone else.

Containing my best, I put the glass back on the table with a little force that I tried quenching my thrist with.

ME : Uncle please! (-looking at him-) I don't want to do that anymore. Running away from my past, I have never kept my foot in Korea ever since I am here. I did as you asked me to do all these time. Now, I finally found a way that I can live with my present. Please, don't build a pillar to that as well.

UNCLE : But, what if-

ME : (-cutting him off-) Don't worry about me. I will be fine. Merely this name won't effect me. I am grateful for your concern but I am okay now. I have to go to my work.

Without waiting for his attempted reply, I opted out and left the house before he could stop me.

Mr. JANG's POV

I feared her recalling the past that would result all my patience and hard work to drain away in vain.
However, I didn't further try to stop her because I knew Taehyung would positively stay away from her if he was foolish enough to believe in the empty words I said last morning.

I dialed my trusted guy, the one who informed me of her meeting Taehyung yesterday.

*Over the phone*

ME : I will leave her to you. Don't be late like yesterday.

GUY : Yes sir. Don't worry.

I ended the phone call as I reached myself at the threshold of waitings till I could implement the finale of my plan.

JAE RA's POV

I roared off to office without having my coffee, a little unlikely of my regular mornings.

Having a mild sinus headache, I had a coffee in the company canteen mulling over my reckless behavior earlier. I was feeling bad to have acted around that way towards Uncle.

Slowly as it was time for me to leave for Taehyung-ssi's set, I took my stuffs and drove off to the workshop with my car- deciding to confine my personal worries inside the house doors.

Reaching there, as I parked and got off the car, I opened the back door to take Jae hyung's gift out. Only to be startled by the birthday boy himself running towards me from the other side. A bright smile flashed on my face as I knelt down to his height.

JAE HYUNG : (-sweet smile-) You will come to my birthday party today, right? (-politely-)

Seeing such keen and enthusiasm in his sparkling round eyes, denial felt a little too dispiriting.

ME : Of course, I will! (-smiles-)

JAE HYUNG : Did you buy any gifts for me? (-cute voice-)

ME : (-fake gasps-) Oh! What to do? I forgot to buy one for you. (-sad pouts-)

Before he could react to my tease, a lady interrupted us from his behind. Looking up, I recognized her at once to be Taehyung-ssi's wife, Ji hae-ssi. I stood up with a sweet smile and greeted her after.

JI HAE : (-holding Jae hyung's hands-) Why do you always keep running away? (-a little annoyed-)

My smile instantly dropped, witnessing her conduct to a merely four year old. She totally ignored my presence, let alone respond to my greetings and took Jae hyung away with her.

He struggled with a little whine to her as she firmly held his small arms, both quibbling over something I could faintly percieve from their slowly fading voices.

JAE HYUNG : I want to go to Appa! (-whining-)

JI HAE : I brought you here on your wish, didn't I? You can go to him once you finish your breakfa~ (-not audible anymore-)

"Forget it Jae Ra, it's probably normal, you don't even know how it feels to have a kid and how to handle them too." I revised to myself.

"Besides, she seems decent." My inner reflected on these few undebatable fronts as I reminded myself to mind my own concerns.

Like last day, I went straight to his makeup room without a hassle to the already chaotic workplace.
He was there sitting on his chair, probably waiting for his call. But, he didn't show any changes in his features like last time neither did he spare me a glance when I knocked on his dressing table.

ME : Sir! (-nearing him nervously-)

TH : (-still not looking at me-) You don't have to call me that.

ME : Okay. (-soft voice-) I heard it's your son's birthday today. So, here's a small present for him. Please, wish him in my stead. (-placing the gift in front of him-)

He, eyeing the wrapped box I kept, squizzed at me for a few miliseconds before looking away.

TH : Sorry if he bothered you yesterday. (-looking down at his hands-)

ME : No, no he was really sweet and well-mannered. (-smiles remembering-)

TH : It wasn't needed but thanks for the present. He would really love it.

ME : (-awkwardly-) Ah~ I hope he does. (-slight pause-) So, shall I wait?

TH : Onh? Uh-..Yeah, we will do the talk after the shoot.

ME : Alright, as it suits you. (-slight bowing-)

I excused myself to a side and settled on an empty chair away from the rush.
For the entirety of my wait, I was looking at him in wonder and a slight worry.
He had an obvious gloom worn on with a few strokes of anguish and resent, highlighting his mood- grief still dominating them.
I wondered what could've happened and worried if he was okay.

TAEHYUNG's POV

I pondered over the talk I had with Kimchi's Uncle last morning. I was feeling helpless and couldn't do anything even after knowing Kimchi was alive.
I was upset and extremely disappointed with myself. The sole fact that she was breathing seemed like the best I could be greedy for in the present.

"Why did I do this to my Kimchi?" I wondered embracing a resent towards myself.

___________

What is he talking about??
What did he do his kimchi?

What are your thoughts, do share!