Saturday

The air in the office the next morning was heavy with a quiet tension, the kind that clings to important decisions. Woonhak sat beside Jaehyun, his hands clenched together tightly in his lap. The chairs felt stiff beneath them, and the hum of fluorescent lights buzzed overhead. Jaehyun's mom sat to Woonhak's left, her presence steady and reassuring, though her own hands were clasped tightly as if trying to anchor her nerves.

Across from them, two officials - a social worker and a legal representative - reviewed the documents before them. The social worker, Ms. Lee, a woman in her forties with kind eyes and a professional demeanor, cleared her throat.

"After reviewing the case and, of course, considering the recent events," Ms. Lee began, her voice even and measured, "it's clear that Kim Woonhak's aunt and uncle have been found guilty of neglect and abuse. The custody has been officially revoked." She paused, glancing at Woonhak with a softness that seemed to understand the weight of those words. "We're deeply sorry you had to endure this, Woonhak."

Woonhak swallowed hard, a flicker of relief flooding through his chest. The reality of it was slowly sinking in - he was finally free from them. After two years. Two years of loneliness and feeling like a stranger in his own life.

He stole a glance at Jaehyun, who offered a small, encouraging smile.

Ms. Lee continued, turning her attention to Jaehyun's mom. "We've received your formal request to become Woonhak's legal guardian. We commend your willingness to take on this responsibility."

Jaehyun's mom nodded. "I want to do everything I can to give Woonhak the home and support he deserves." Her voice was steady, but the emotion behind it was clear.

The legal representative, Mr. Yoon, adjusted his glasses and looked at both Woonhak and Jaehyun's mom. "This process will take time - a thorough investigation into your household, background checks, interviews, and assessments. But your request has been accepted for review, and we'll begin the procedures immediately."

Woonhak's heart pounded. There still was a lot to do - interviews and evaluations - but he was free now, and surrounded by people who supported him and cared for him. Over the past two years he stopped believing he would ever find that again.

Ms. Lee smiled warmly. "We'll be in touch to schedule follow-up visits. For now, you can go home and try to rest. You're making a big step toward something better."

They thanked the officials, bowed politely, and stepped out of the office into the hallway. The door clicked shut behind them, the sound like a punctuation mark to the whirlwind of the past few days.

***

The walk home was quiet. The afternoon sun bathed the streets in gold, casting long shadows on the pavement. Jaehyun walked beside Woonhak, their hands brushing occasionally, an unspoken comfort passing between them. Jaehyun's mom walked a little ahead, giving them space, perhaps sensing that they needed a moment.

When they reached the house, Jaehyun's mom gave them both a gentle smile. "I'll get started on dinner. You two take some time to unwind, okay?"

They nodded, and Jaehyun led Woonhak into the living room. The familiar space felt more like home than ever before. Japchae greeted them with a wag of his tail before flopping down by the couch.

Woonhak sank into the cushions, a sigh escaping his lips. His body felt both heavy and light-a strange mix of exhaustion from carrying the weight for so long and relief from finally letting it go. Jaehyun sat beside him, close enough that their shoulders touched.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The quiet felt sacred, a delicate bubble that neither wanted to break. Jaehyun glanced at Woonhak, taking in the tired lines of his face, the fading bruise on his cheek, and the way his eyes, though weary, held a spark of light.

Jaehyun's chest tightened. The urge to protect Woonhak surged through him - a fierce, almost overwhelming need to keep him safe, to shield him from any more pain. He thought back to everything they'd faced together, the way Woonhak had cried in his arms, the way his smile felt like sunlight breaking through clouds.

I like him, Jaehyun thought again, the realization settling deeper. It really wasn't just friendship anymore. It was something more, something that made his heart ache and his hands itch to reach out.

He shifted slightly, his voice soft. "Hey, Woonie... You okay?"

Woonhak turned to him, eyes glimmering with exhaustion but also with something gentler. "Yeah. Just... it's a lot to take in."

Jaehyun nodded, his fingers brushing against Woonhak's. He didn't pull away. "I know. But you don't have to go through it alone. We're figuring this all out together, okay?"

Woonhak's lips curled into a small smile. "Okay."

Without thinking, Jaehyun reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind Woonhak's ear, his touch lingering for a second longer than necessary. Woonhak's cheeks flushed faintly, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he leaned into Jaehyun's side, resting his head on his shoulder.

Jaehyun let out a quiet breath, his heart pounding but steady. He wrapped an arm around Woonhak, holding him close.

Whatever came next Jaehyun knew he was ready to face it - because protecting Woonhak wasn't just something he wanted to do. It was something he needed to do.

Maybe... maybe that was what love felt like.

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Word count: 842

I did so much research for all the custody stuff, I hope it turned out at least somewhat logical haha😅