– Next day –

Tuesday, February 13th, 2024.

7:40 am.

"Here we are, sweetheart," I park right in front of Minjun's school, the engine humming as I bring the car to a halt. He unbuckles his seatbelt and grabs his school bag, preparing to go out.

"Thank you, Y/N," he says in his usual sweet tone, already half out of the car.

I smile, watching him. "I have something to give you before I go," he says, his voice quieter than usual. He leans in closer, holding a small folded piece of paper in his hands. "Open it only when you're back home. Okay?"

Confusion flickers in my mind, but I nod, gently taking the letter from him. "Thank you. I'll read it when I get home, honey," I reassure him, my fingers curling around the paper.

Minjun doesn't seem like his usual self this morning. He's quieter, a little withdrawn. Normally, he would be bubbling with energy, but today he seems subdued, almost as if he's carrying something heavy inside. I'm concerned, but I don't want to push him. I can tell he wants to say more, but he's not sure how.

"See you later," I say, forcing a smile as I watch him open the door and step out. "I love you, my baby."

"I love you too," he murmurs, his voice soft, and without his usual enthusiastic wave, he heads off toward his friends waiting for him at the school gates.

I watch him go, a little concerned by how quiet and distant he's been. He doesn't even look back to wave at me like he usually does. I wonder what's going on, but I push the thought aside, focusing on the letter still clutched in my hand.

As Minjun disappears into the schoolyard, I can't help but glance down at the paper, my curiosity piqued. What could he have written?

I unfold it, unable to resist any longer, and almost immediately, Jungkook leans in from beside me, his eyes flicking to the letter.

Dear Y/N,

I'm sorry for lying yesterday. I know I shouldn't have said I was sick. I wasn't really sick, but my tummy hurt a lot, and it wasn't because I was sick. It was because I didn't want to go to school. I wanted to stay with you at home.

When you're here, it's the best. I don't like when you have to go away, and I miss you a lot when you're not here. I only get two days to be with you now. You're often far away lately. It makes me really sad. Daddy works a lot, and Kook is busy with studying, so when you're not here, I just play with my toys and my plushies. But, I don't love them the way I love you.

I know you have to help a new family, but I miss you so much when you leave. Sometimes, I feel like you spend a lot more time with Jungkook now, and that makes me feel even more sad. I know you love him, and I love him too, but it's just that I want to spend more time with you. I miss you when you're not around.

I wish I didn't have to go to school and could just stay with you all day, every day. I want to be close to you, just like how you're close to my big brother. Maybe you could adopt me? Would you want to? I really want you to be my mommy. I'm not too old for that, right?

Please don't be mad at me for lying. I just really wanted to stay with you because I miss you. It's hard when you're not here.

I hope you're not upset, and I hope you'll still spend time with me, even if you have to go away sometimes. I love you so much and I don't want you to feel bad.

Please don't forget about me, okay?

I love you a lot, I love you with all my heart,

Minjun

I pause, feeling a lump form in my throat. The raw emotion in his words, the tenderness behind each sentence, pulls at my heartstrings in a way I didn't expect. He's such a sensitive little soul, and to think that he's been feeling like this—missing me so much, wanting to stay close, hoping for more of my time. It makes my chest tighten with guilt.

Jungkook is still close beside me, and I can sense his concern as well, though he doesn't say anything. I can feel his eyes on me, though, waiting for me to react. I try to hold back the tears that are welling up, but I can't.

I clear my throat and put the letter on my lap. "I should have waited to be back at your house."

Jungkook, sensing my vulnerability, places a hand gently on my thigh, his thumb brushing against the fabric of my jeans. "I didn't expect him to write something like that," his voice is soft, understanding, not accusing, just empathetic.

I shake my head, biting my lip to keep my composure. In order to set my focus on something else, I turn the ignition back on and drive off.

I wish I could do more for him. "I don't want him to feel neglected...He's so young, and I know how hard it is for him..."

He remains silent for a moment before speaking up again. "You're doing your best. He knows it, and he knows you love him. Don't be worried."

I smile, grateful for his support. "I hope he does."

He stares, his expression softening as he steps back, giving me space. "I promise you, he does. He knows how lucky he is to have you," his words are quiet, but they linger in the air.

I know I'll hold onto this letter for a long time.

When I drive them back home tonight, I'll give him a hug that lasts a little longer, make sure he knows how much he means to me.

•••

4:10 pm.

After bringing the boys back home, I head to the kitchen to grab a drink.

"Y/n," Jungkook grasps my attention, sitting at the table with his little brother to study. "Hm?" I turn around, walking back to them with a bottle of water.

"Our school is organizing a game night in two weeks, and they said we can bring anyone we want. Do you think you could keep that day open and come with me?" he asks, inviting me to that event.

"A game night? What type of game night, and what day?" I sit down next to Minjun and gesture for this little one to get on my lap, which he does without waiting. "There'll be many areas with different types of games. Some board games, arcade games, and stuff like that. It will be on March second."

I nod to him, hugging Minjun and musing on whether or not I should accept. "Don't you mind your friends seeing me?"

He meets my gaze without hesitation, his smile softening. "No. Why would I? On the contrary. I actually wanted to introduce you to them," he says in a soft tone, his pencil twirling in his hand with practiced ease.

The sincerity in his voice catches me off guard. My heart gives an odd flutter, and I find myself smiling back at him. "If Miss Flores doesn't need me on that day or not, I'll make it happen."

"What about me?" Minjun pipes up, his small voice drawing my attention. He looks up at Jungkook, eyes wide with hope. "Can I come too?"

"Not this time, buddy. There'll be a bunch of students from my grade. So I'd rather not. I want you to stay with dad instead. It's safer," he refuses in the kindest manner.

"Hm, okay," he pouts and goes back to his homework calmly. "We'll go out the day after if you want. It's been snowing a lot these days, so we'll go to the park nearby and build a snowman. Deal?"

The mention of snow immediately lifts Minjun's spirits, and an innocent, endearing smile spreads across his face. "I'm happy with that."

I press a kiss on his head, holding him tight as I check what he is doing.

•••

6:40 pm.

As Minjun and I are still playing a game on his console, Jungkook leans into me, laying down right beside me. "Y/n," he murmurs, leaning closer. His warm breath grazes my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. "Can you come to my room before you leave tonight?" he whispers, his warm breathing tickling my skin.

I nod, keeping my focus on the game as he presses a discreet kiss just below my ear. His touch lingers for a moment before he gets up, brushing past me on his way out.

When we hear his footsteps above us, I bring my eyes to my baby sitting next to me. I straighten my back and take some of my attention away from the game to speak to him. "Do you mind if we talk about the letter you gave me this morning?"

Minjun looks up at me, his big eyes searching mine. "I don't mind," he says softly, setting down his controller.

"Alright, let me pause the game for a minute," I put my controller aside to focus on him and nothing else, and I direct my body towards his curled-up one. "First of all, I'm happy you took time to write this and tell me about how you feel. This means a lot to me, and I'm proud of you for being such a brave boy and being honest with me," I start this softly, showing him he did something remarkable, letting him know how important it is to be honest.

"And this letter really touched me a lot. It was beautiful. You know that you mean the world to me and that I love you more than anything, right?" I ask, making sure he is aware of this. He nods silently, leaving the talk to me.

I smile and continue. "Well, I have something to show you," I step away for a moment, walking over to the dining table, where a bag that I've hidden is. I pull out the wrapped gift I'd prepared earlier, and I make my way back to him.

"Here," I sit back down right next to him and hand him the big present, nearly as big as him. He pushes his controller aside and wastes no time before unwrapping it.

When the cat plushie comes within sight, a gasp of surprise escapes his mouth, his eyes light up, and his face exudes indescribable joy. "It's so cute. Thank you so much, y/n."

A wave of warmth spreads through my chest as he lurches towards me for a hug.

"I want you to remind yourself of what I just said every day. I don't ever want you to doubt how much I love and care about you," I brush his hair back, dropping a kiss on his head while holding him tight. "Whenever I cannot be here, I want you to cuddle this cat and remember I'll be there soon to hug you back."

His head buried into my chest, he snuggles against me but starts to sniffle. The heartbreaking sound of his sudden sobs leads me to squeeze him against my body. "My baby, why are you crying?" I run my fingers over the side of his face, holding back my tears.

"I love you a lot, y/n. I'm sorry for lying to you yesterday," he wipes his tears away, concealing his face in my chest to not let me see. "It's okay. You owned up and apologized, that's what matters. I don't want you to ever do this again, though. If you want to spend some time with me, just tell me, and I'll do my best to be there because I love you a lot too. Okay?"

"I promise I won't do this again. I swear," he brings himself up to wrap his arms around my neck. 'You're a wonderful and amazing boy. I can assure you I'll never forget about you," I rub his back, pampering him with kisses on his warm and wet cheek.

"And if you need it, you can even sometimes call me. We'll FaceTime if you need it. Hm?" I get in a more comfortable position to hold him like a baby, and he calms down. "I'd love to," his breathing hitches from the sadness. I give him a few more kisses and clear the tears from his face. "We'll do this then."

30 minutes later...

As promised to Jungkook, I walk up to his bedroom and bring a present for him too. When I face the door, I knock and wait to get an answer.

In only a few seconds, he opens it. He lets me in and closes the door right behind me. "Your dad just got home, so I won't take too long, but here," I place the box on his desk. "Open it when I'm gone."

"You got me something?" he shows some awe and curiosity while approaching it. "Why?" he takes it in his hand, unable to hold back from touching it.

"Because I wanted to," I say lightly, avoiding the deeper implications. "I got something for your brother too. I can't give a gift to one and not the other."

For a moment, he remains quiet and gazes down at the box, toying with the ribbon. He nods his head and sticks his hands in his pockets, lifting his eyes up to mine. He leans back on his desk and stares silently, nibbling on his lips.

"Why did you want me to come here?" I step closer to him, waiting for him to respond. When I finally stand in front of him and tilt my chin up, he flicks his eyes down to my lips and suddenly leans in to kiss me.

The kiss is soft and gentle, sending a rush of warmth throughout my body. Some butterflies join the excitement in my stomach as he slows the kiss down, cupping my waist firmly as if holding me in place. My breath catches as he deepens the kiss, his warmth seeping into me.

Pushing forward to make sure I don't break our kiss, he brings one hand to my face, and I feel his tongue graze my bottom lip. Right as I feel myself melting into his touch, he slides his hand down my body again and switches spots to have me against his desk.

"I know our relationship is not official yet, but since tomorrow is Valentine's Day and I won't get to see you...I got something for you too," he murmurs, his voice low.

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small box, holding it out to me.

For a moment, I freeze, my emotions swirling in a chaotic dance between joy and dread.

I know I am still wearing his ring, but him giving me this first gift for a special reason hurts more than I ever imagined. I trust him, but I know this beautiful gift could become a painful memory in the future.

"Baby, why don't you wait for us to really be together?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper, thick with the ache in my chest.

"Why?" he asks, his voice breaking ever so slightly as his eyes search mine, wide and vulnerable. The light in them dims just a little, like a candle flickering in the wind, as if he's bracing himself for a rejection he isn't ready to face.

The way his lashes lower, shielding the rawness in his gaze, sends a pang through my heart. I can see how much this moment matters to him. How much I matter to him, but I can't stop the distress creeping into my own heart.

I take a shaky breath and let it out slowly, feeling the weight of my own thoughts pressing down on me. I grab the box gently and open it. Inside, I find a red string bracelet.

It's simple, but there's something so deeply personal about it. My throat tightens as I stare at it.

He stays silent, watching me carefully, and when I glance up, I see him pull another identical bracelet from his pocket.

He holds it out, fingers grazing the red string. His eyes meet mine, soft but unwavering. "I have mine," he says, his voice low, almost reverent. "That's why there's an empty slot. I want this to be a reminder of our connection...It's like...a bond...a reminder that I love you."

His words wrap around me like a blanket, warming me and making my heart ache all at once. It's such a simple gesture, yet so profound.

I force a smile, though it doesn't quite reach my eyes. "It's beautiful," I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. I don't want him to see the conflict swirling inside me. The way my heart aches with love for him, and the way I fear it will only be temporary for him.

The way I fear he'll grow tired of me, outgrow this bond, just like I've seen happen before.

The fear is real. But I can't let him know.

I look up, meeting his gaze, and I see the flicker of hope in his eyes, the way he's waiting for me to say something more. "I'll wear it all the time," I add quickly, my tone light, as if nothing's wrong. "So we'll always be connected."

The smile that pulls at his lips makes my heart ache again. He doesn't notice, though. He doesn't see how my chest is tightening, how much I want to just hold him and tell him everything I'm too afraid to say.

I watch him slip the bracelet onto his wrist, both of us matching now. He reaches for my hand, his touch sending a jolt of warmth through my body. "I'm glad," he murmurs softly, and I hear the sincerity in his voice.

His thumb brushes over the back of my hand, grounding me in the moment. But the thought that this could all fade someday doesn't leave me. It lingers, like an invisible weight on my heart.

I lift my hands slowly to his face, cupping his warm cheeks. His skin is soft, and I can feel the faintest tremor in his breath as I lean in, pressing my lips gently against his. I pull away, searching his eyes, trying to convey everything I can't say. "Thank you. It means a lot," I whisper, my voice fragile.

He pulls me into his arms, wrapping them around me tightly, burying his head in the crook of my neck. I close my eyes, letting myself feel the comfort of his embrace, the warmth of his love. His voice is muffled against my skin as he asks, "Are you not free this weekend?"

I run my fingers through his soft hair, the sensation grounding me even as my mind races. "Probably not, but I'll ask Miss Flores tomorrow," I reply, brushing my thumb against his ear. He moves back, fixing me with those beautiful, loving eyes of his, searching mine for something. Something more.

"And if you're free, could we spend some time together, or not yet?" His voice is gentle, but I can hear the hope in it, the vulnerability of wanting to be close to me.

"Where would you want to go?" I ask, lowering my hands to his waist. "Your house...?"

A smile blooms across my face, and I nod, feeling the tug of affection in my chest. "Fine. We'll spend the day at my house."

He grins widely, his eyes sparkling with genuine happiness. "I can't wait to be there," he says, the words heavy with the promise of something special.

"I gotta go now. Stop studying for today, you've worked enough. Play with your little brother a little," I kiss his cheekbone and step aside, and he lets go, obviously reluctantly.

"I will," he says, his voice soft with affection, his concern for me clear. "Be careful on the road, okay?"

"I promise I will. See you on Thursday, hm?" I graze his cheek with my thumb one last time, and he takes this opportunity to steal a quick kiss from my lips. It's soft, fleeting, but it makes my heart race. "Hm," he nods, licking his lips.

I smile, the warmth of the kiss lingering on my lips as I step out of his room.