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"I see... So you found Gumball two days ago, and now you're taking him in until his mom returns?"

I nod easily with my phone held to my ear, listening to Suran's voice while I make a sandwich. Turns out there's already images of Gumball and I circulating online, but Bighit are taking care of it. I've got to be extra careful from now on.

"I wouldn't exactly call it taking him in... Just watching the headache so he doesn't run into any more cars."

"Well I think what you're doing is sweet. What's he up to now?"

"Uh..." I tilt on one foot to view Gumball on the livingroom rug, scribbling some drawings beside his open storybook as per usual.

"Just doodling. It seems to keep him busy, so I'm not complaining."

"Maybe he'll be an artist when he grows up." She chuckles. "And the song? How's that going?"

"Pretty good. I have most of the lyrics down, now I just need a title..."

"I'm sure you'll come up with something great. You always do."

Her comment makes me press back a brief smile.

"By the way, what were you going to tell me yesterday?"

"Hm?"

"Our morning picnic. You said you had something to tell me."

"Oh, that..." I can hear the nervousness in her laughter before she eventually answers,

"Maybe another time. It's not important... I gotta go, speak to you soon." She hangs up.

Why are women so confusing...

Putting down the phone, I sigh and bring the goopy sandwich over to the living room where I set the plate on a coffee table.

"There, I made you a PB&J."

Gumball stares at me, looks down and continues coloring.

"Yo, kid." I snap my fingers. "I didn't make this for no reason. So get to eating."

He doesn't respond, but only shows me the lake he scribbled in with blue crayon, amongst a smiley-faced sun and little yellow ducks.

"Yeah yeah, pretty lake now eat the food."

At my stern tone, Gumball finally puts down the coloring book, places his storybook in my hands and sits on the couch beside me with his sandwich on his lap. His eyes don't blink nor break from mine, as if waiting for something.

I think he wants me to read to him while he eats...

"Fine. But this is a one-time thing so don't get any ideas."

His naturally pudgy cheeks squish and rotate with every tiny chomp he takes out of the white bread. I sigh whilst opening the dreadful-looking book...

"The Lost Little Duckling, by Sue Barraclough..."

"One sunny morning, Mother Duck led her four new ducklings down to the old pond. 'Stay close, little ones,' she told them. But one little duckling didn't do as told, she didn't follow her mother across the water..."

"She wanted to dart after the dragonflies... Watch the frogs hop on lily pads... And chase the glistening fish..."

The further I read, the slower my voice becomes and I can't help but furrow my brows in suspicion as I read on.

"'Oh no', said the little duckling. She has lost her mother. What will she do now?"

The pieces slowly begin to fit together in my mind. I blink away from the story and grab Gumball's coloring book, evaluating the lake he drew that looks like the one from the story...

Is he trying to tell me something?

"Kid, is this all some clue as to where your mom is?"

He continues to chomps his sandwich without response, making me lean closer.

"Did you lose your mom by a lake? Is that it? Was it in a park?"

Gumball gulps down his final bite of the sandwich before wrapping his tiny hand around my finger and pulling me as he suddenly runs towards the door and hops eagerly.

He wants to leave the apartment. He wants to take me somewhere.

But wouldn't it be stupid to blindly follow a kid who doesn't say a word?

...Then again, this could be it. Maybe he'll finally lead me to where he lost his mom.

I instantly grab a leather jacket, bucket hat, and mask before we hurry out.

∘₊✧ ° 🌈 ° ✧₊∘
༻ CUTE LIL MONTAGE ༺
( PLAY AUDIO )

Following his hops from a slow distance behind, my head cranes back to admire the sunny, yet cloudy sky that's satchelled by a rainbow. This is the most I've been out during spring... I had no idea the sky could be this colorful.

Gumball runs towards a zebra crossing without pressing the stoplight and I immediately run to pull him back by the arm. "Don't you learn your lesson?! Press the button first before you hurt yourself!"

Of course, he just stares back. I sigh and press the button that he's too short to reach as the two of us wait by the stoplight, reminiscent to the first time we met. Once the green man shows, my hand catches his wrist to pull him across the street. His little legs skip to keep up.

*Ding ding ding!*

The ambiance turns to golden hour from the sunrays invading the window of the bus Gumball randomly ran towards. I grip onto the ceiling latch as our bodies jerk lightly with every hump, and eyes discretely train on us but I easily ignore them.

But when the bus hits a harsher speed bump, Gumball nearly falls forward completely until I quickly grab the back of his collar and pull him towards my body.

A series of dings chime once we get off, but that doesn't slow Gumball down. He runs towards a subway train station and I huff with slacked shoulders before jogging behind him.

Before he can just run through the gate, I catch his wrist and point to the ticket booth, indicating what we need to get through. Gumball's tiny fingers and nose latch over the booth counter while I hand the man some cash in exchange for two train tickets.

"Hang on... I know your face." The man points. "Are you Namjoon from—?"

I instantly walk away.

"All aboarrrd!"

The rockiness of the train is harsher than that of the bus, with a much cooler tone washing over the awkwardly silent carriage that floods with strangers at every stop. I find myself cringing from the swamp of bodies and pulling Gumball closer towards me.

I can't take this anymore. All these bodies feel so suffocating... Someone give up their damn seat already.

Somebody finally gets off, leaving an empty seat available right in front of me. I almost jump into it... But stop to look down at Gumball who's staring into space obliviously.

Ugh...

"Go. Take the seat." I pat his back.

He looks up at me at blinks worriedly.

"I'm not gonna disappear, geez. I'm right here."

My statement gives him enough reassurance to leap into the seat. I spend the rest of the train ride watching as he innocently swings his legs whilst looking around in a daydream-like fashion.

I wonder where he's taking me...

*Tweet tweet...*

The grass of the steep hill we're climbing is a cushiony field of green with the exception of gentle buttercups that sway in the breeze. With all these flowers and singing birds, this place feels like an old Disney movie.

I struggle to keep up with Gumball who weaves through the meadow effortlessly, though the fluffy marsh mellow clouds above us become more exposed once we make it to the Park entrance sign at the top. Gumball immediately skips inside.

I jog once again after catching my breath. "Wait up!"

After this workout, this surprise better be worth it...

I chase after Gumball as he breezes through the park with airplane arms until abruptly, he stops at the foot of a lake and points to the ducks whilst looking at me.

That's it...?

He lured me all this way... To show me the ducks?

"Is this a joke?! YOU MEAN WE TRAVELLED ALL THIS WAY JUST TO SEE SOME STUPID DUCKLINGS?!"

Gumball's eyebrows frown in fear at my tone, innocently pointing at the ducks once more.

"Yes I know its a duck! ALL PONDS HAVE DUCKS!! We could've gone to a closer park that wasn't a fucking waste of my time and money! Ugh, I swear you're such a headache. We're going home!" I begin walking away in pure anger.

"...Wahhh!!"

My head whips back in surprise to see Gumball standing by the pond with arms by his side, wailing out a hurt cry. Parents begin to spare me shameful looks as the tears river down his cheeks.

"Kid, quit crying! You're making me look bad!" I whisper.

But he only continues, making me shut my eyes and take a deep breath while crouching before him.

"Alright alright, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scream at you like that, okay? Will you stop crying now?"

Gumball's wail gradually fades into soft sniffles as he rubs his big wet eyes and shows a trembly pouty lip.

"Good... Now let's head back home before the train—"

*Honk!*

A mother duck quacks when sailing through the milky-blue pond with her ducklings. Honestly, the scene looks like something straight out of Gumball's storybook. I've never seen such a pretty pond.

Gumball smiles and runs closer to the water, flapping his arms like a bird while the ducks swim around.

...I guess I should let him stay and enjoy the park. Since we're already here.

*Honk... Honk... Hon—*

"Honkkk!"

A little girl flaps her arms next to Gumball, her innocently girly giggles catching his attention. She's slightly taller than him with adorable pigtails and a missing tooth at the front.

"Hewo! I'm Minji! What's your name?"

Gumball looks down at her hand when she holds it out, then lifts it and squeezes her fingers with crossed eyes.

The girl frowns and pulls away her hand. "You're weird... I wike you!" She hops. "What's your name wittle buddy??"

When Gumball doesn't respond, the little girl notices my presence and smiles politely. "Hewo Mr! What's his name??"

You know as much as me kid.

"Uh... It's Gumball."

"Whoaaa, that's the bestest name I've ever heard! I wuv Gumballs! Wanna be my fwend Gumball?! Wook, I have candy!" She breaks her cereal bar in half, opens up Gumball's palm and gives him some.

Gumball slowly peers up at me with the snack laid flat in his hand. I don't think he's used to interacting with other kids much.

I nudge him with my hands in my pockets.

"Go on. Go play."

"Yay! Wet's pway together on the seesaw! I wuv seesaws! Come on Gumball!" She pulls him away.

I take a seat on the park bench behind me and lean back with crossed my legs as I watch them play together.

It's the first time I'm seeing Gumball play with a kid his age... Or any kid for that matter. They both take turns launching the other into the air, Minji's pigtails freefalling and Gumball's fluffy locks bouncing like a mushroom. While Minji lets out nonstop squeaky giggles, Gumball only smiles with pudgy cheeks... Looks like he finally made a friend.

"Come on little Gumball, higher higher higher!" She giggles.

Seesaw...

Seesaw...

Hmm...

"Bro! Is that Yoongi?"

"I think it is. Who else would be wearing all black on a sunny spring day like this?" The higher voice chuckles.

"Hey, Hyung! Over here!"

I turn around to see Taehyung and Jimin strolling towards me with happy smiles.