By the time I finally have Yuri down for bed, I am exhausted. I throw myself down upon the couch, and after digging through the back pocket of my jeans, I fish out my phone. The damn thing keeps vibrating, and it's starting to get on my nerves.

Ever since dinner, I've been ignoring Seokjin.

He keeps blowing up my phone, I can tell that he's worried. But the truth is that I just don't know what to say right now. Am I being unreasonable?

Honestly, I don't know.

But I'm just having such a hard time coming to terms with the knowledge that he lied to me. And an even harder time accepting that I'd known all along. I'd had my suspicions, but hadn't wanted to say anything, and risk shattering everything.

For the first time in a very long time, I really want another person in my life. But now, how do I know that I can trust him? And he'd so thoughtlessly revealed that there was something between us to Yuri.

I'm furious about it, on the way home Yuri had peppered me with questions.

I'd panicked, and unsure of what to say, I'd simply told her the truth. I told her that Seokjin is eomma's special friend, but that he isn't her appa. That I'm not sure whether or not it's a permanent kind of thing, and that, after tonight, I'm not sure I will be seeing Seokjin again.

She'd taken all of her answers, and fallen asleep in the backseat of the car, leaving me to my own thoughts and worries.

Glancing at my phone reveals thirty-three missed calls from Jo, and fifteen text messages from Seokjin. Half of them are genuine, heartfelt apologies, the other half being of the variety in which he begs me to talk to him.

I'm half tempted to fling my phone across the room, I'm not sure that I'm ready to face the music. I'm still a little peeved, to be honest.

"Mommy? I need to go potty, " Yuri announces, crawling into my bed and taking me by surprise.

"All right big girl, " I stand, and she scrambles to her feet as well. "Let's go potty."

I escort her to the bathroom, and wait patiently on the other side of the door. I try to push my thoughts to the back burner, set on dealing with it later. But no matter how determined I am, I simply can't stop thinking about Jin. Silence fills the apartments hall, and for a moment, I wonder if maybe Yuri fell asleep on the toilet.

"Yuri bug, you okay?"

"Mhm!" She exclaims, voice muffled through the door. "I'm almost done!"

I fall back, resigning myself to waiting.

That's when I hear the doorbell.

At first, I ignore it. It's past eight at night, so I'm fairly certain I know who it is. Well, at the very least I know that it could only be one of two people. But whoever it is continues to ring the doorbell, clearly refusing to go away and leave me be.

I stomp to the door, annoyed to no end.

And when I yank it open, I am met with the sight of Seokjin, hair disheveled and worry etched clearly upon his face. He'd already abandoned the jacket to the nice suit he'd been wearing earlier, not that it makes his shoulders seem any less broad. Standing before me in his button up shirt and tie, he looks nearly manic.

"This is really not the time-"

He cuts me off, planting his lips against mine fervently. I push against his solid chest feebly, half-heartedly attempting to stop him. But I can't deny that his lips against mine feel absolutely divine, and I'd be lying if I say that I don't melt against the onslaught that is his kiss.

He pulls away as the bathroom door creaks open, slipping past me while I am yet dazed and unarmed.

"Jin!" Yuri cries excitedly.

She rushes him, throwing her arms around his waist by way of greeting.

"Are you gonna help tuck me back in?"

"I don't know if that's such a good idea kiddo, " I insert, finally coming to my senses. "Remember everything I told you today? Jin and I have a lot to talk about, but I promise that I'll fill you in first thing in the morning."

She sulks, just a little, as I escort her to her room. Nimbly, she climbs into her bed. And as I you'll the covers around her, tucking them into her sides, she snuggles in.

"Mommy, " she says, yawning wide. "I think you should take it easy on Jin. I like him, he's really nice."

I soften, just a bit, as I realize that Yuri is right. Seokjin is a very kind man. If only that were enough. But now that Yuri is involved, I have to be careful.

"I should have known I couldn't keep the two separate, " I scold inwardly.

Yuri's eyes are already closed by the time I manage to tip-toe my way through her bedroom. With a final glance towards the bed, where Yuri has already begun to lightly snore, I gently close the door.

Jin is still there, standing in my living room with determination written clearly in the set of his jaw, or.in the way that he looks.not in the least apologetic or awkward.

I can see him from here, at the end of the hall. A thousand different thoughts fly through my head as I approach, and a slew of varying emotions through my heart. I want to be furious.

I also can't deny that he has a way with Yuri, and that he genuinely seems to care for her too. But I just can't forget that he lied to me. It's a stupid, simple lie for now. But what about the next one? Or the one after that? I'm only all too familiar with liars.

The look in his eyes as I reach the threshold and cross over into the living room is one that speaks volumes. Equal parts apologetic and determined, Seokjin's usual confidence seems to have fled. But he still carries himself with pride, and not for the first time, I wonder about Jin's childhood.

"I'm so, so sorry, " he apologizes. "I lied to you, and I shouldn't have."

I almost stop breathing.

The look in his eyes is so genuine, so real that I can't help but want to believe him. All of my anger and reservations crumble away, and I step forward, laying the palm of my hand against his face.

It feels every bit as soft as I'd imagined it would, and I take a second to admire the way his milky skin looks, how soft and smooth it is to the touch.

"Promise me, " I demand softly, "that you'll tell me when you're ready. Promise me that you won't lie to me again."

"I swear, " he vows, wide eyed and staring at me in a way that has my stomach tied into knots.

"I really like you Jin, and Yuri does too. I tried to keep the two of you separate, but it's not working out so well."

His arms wrap themselves snugly about my shoulders as I allow my hand to fall, stopping me from withdrawing. My heart beats rapidly against my chest, too rapidly, I can feel it even in my throat.

I want believe him, I want it so badly that I am near tears. But I can't silence the part of me that now screams for caution, for retreat.

"I know that you want the best for Yuri, and I know that you're scared of getting too close for fear that it won't work out and Yuri will be hurt."

I draw a ragged breath, eyes closed as I pinch the bridge of my nose to stem the incoming panic attack.

"I want to be there for both of you. You don't have to second guess me, or my intentions."

His lips tremble ever so slightly, as do mine, as he continues to successfully hit every nail on it's head. I can feel the walls I've built cracking, crumbling beneath his sincere gaze. And I want nothing more than to believe him.