.•° ✿ °•.
🐣 Vote, comment & enjoy the update! 🐣

The apartment is dark and echoey as I head to bed in navy silk sleepwear and a matching pyjama hat. My eyes squint from the harsh light of my phone when I check the late hour...

I should really get to sleep, it's getting late...

The half-moon is up and surrounded by many milky stars that glitter above, with lightly blowing trees and even an owl in the distance. I gaze out at the scenery with soft eyes before inevitably shutting the curtains and sending the room to darkness.

Finally, I slip into bed, turn off my lap and snuggle comfortably to sleep.

...Yeah. To sleep. Any second now.

Any second...

I'll fall asleep...

*...Cooo, cooo...*

What should be a cozy, deep slumber doesn't happen as effortlessly as it usually does. Instead, my eyes linger open, body shifting around uncomfortably while I repeatedly glance at my bedroom door, as if anticipating something.

Why can't I sleep?

Ugh... This feels weird.

I continue to stare at the door out of habit to the tune of swaying trees and the nightly owl. After at least 20 minutes, I finally drift asleep.

∘₊✧ ° 🪐 ° ✧₊∘

Last night was crappy. I didn't even get enough sleep... Me. I didn't get enough sleep.

The bedroom is just as quiet and empty as it was last night. I instantly look at the foot of my bed, only to be met with empty sheets. My head slumps back into the pillow and I sigh.

Having washed up for the day, I enter the kitchen and unconsciously begin making two breakfasts. One omelet and one PB&J. After slicing through the cushiony white bread, I walk out into the living room but stop and frown to realize the place is empty.

Right... He's not here.

I look down and sigh at the sandwich I made.

Well I'm not going to waste it...

So with a hesitant face, I lift the sandwich and open my mouth into an awkward box, taking the slowest bite. My face instantly becomes a canvas of distaste when I let it fall off my tongue and back onto the plate.

Yeah no.

"Ugh, what is wrong with me today?" I frustratedly throwing away the sandwich and hold my head.

First I couldn't sleep, then I'm making breakfast for nobody. This is fucking weird.

...But this is what I wanted, right? Peace and quiet in my cave. Nothing's different to before I found Gumball 5 days ago...

I don't know... It just feels weird.

It's day 5 of the week, meaning my song for Bighit is due in two days. Maybe working on some music will help.

I walk into my recording studio that's dim and silent as usual. The control table greets me with its shininess as I take a seat at the table and turn it on with a sigh.

The audio plays, but I still find myself glancing at the door with distraction. Getting frustrated, I throw my head back against the chair and huff.

This isn't working.

*Knock knock.*

My head shoots up.

I instantly run towards the door.

Expecting to see another face, I'm instead greeted by Suran who smiles sweetly wearing a midi summer dress.

"Hey."

"Oh... Hey."

My sentence airs unenthusiastic. Suran shuts the door behind herself whilst I head over to my piano and slump on the bench with another huff.

She clears her throat awkwardly, looking around the dull apartment.

"So... You've been sort of quiet lately. Well, more than usual. I thought I'd check on you to see if you were okay. Wanna drink? I brought wine." She shakes the beverage.

Usually this is the part where I'd leap to a glass and drink my sanity away, but this time, I barely spare the bottle a glance. Suran frowns and slowly lowers it before looking around once more.

"...You miss him, don't you?"

"What?"

"Gumball. The child you found." She points at his open coloring book. My gaze follows her finger and eyes droop.

"You miss his company, right?"

"Of course not. I don't miss him I just..." My fingers rub my eyes in frustration.

"...Everything just feels strange. Even though he never talked, the house is so silent now... It's creepy. I mean I always wanted that but now... I don't know if I like it so much."

Suran smiles softly and takes a seat beside me on the piano bench.

"That's what happens when you live with family. One person goes, and suddenly the whole house feels empty. That always happened when my siblings would leave the house. Even for just one night, I'd miss them dearly. It's natural to miss family."

...Family. Hmph.

We sit in silence for a minute until Suran remembers something.

"I thought you should know that I woke up early this morning and posted fliers around town in search of Gumball's real family. No ones responded yet, but I'll let you know the minute somebody gets back to us. Hopefully his mother finally reaches out."

The last word makes me frown even more.

"...But what if she doesn't?"

"What?"

"What if Gumball never sees his mother again?" My eyes finally meet Suran's. "What if he doesn't even HAVE one? What if that's the reason he ended up in my hands in the first place... Because nobody wanted him and he was abandoned. What if this is all some sort of sign that I was meant to take him."

Suran falls silent, never before hearing this side of me. I'm not usually a "what if" guy, but after being isolated for two days, the sad realities finally hit me.

I've tried to stay optimistic. I keep telling myself we'll find his mother but maybe Gumball just isn't supposed to see her. Maybe it was fate that I saved him and took him home on Monday.

Suran watches me with soft eyes as I get lost in my thoughts.

"Have you considered... Adopting him?"

I continue playing with my fingers that are rested on the piano top, processing the question before shrugging and replying quietly,

"...I don't know."

As much as I'd want to, I'm a celebrity. I'm young with a busy schedule and once this comeback is out, I don't even know if I'll have time to watch over him. But at the same time, I don't want him to end up back on the streets.

Suran rubs my back while resting a head on my shoulder.

"Well even if Gumball doesn't have a family, he'll have all the love in the world from us. That little boy is something special. He'll get his happy ending, I just know it."

I press back a small smile before looking at the open coloring book that's been left on the floor.

There's a colorful crayon drawing that catches my eye enough to pick up the book. It's a man and child holding hands in a sunny park surrounded by flowers, butterflies and even a rainbow. The man wears all black and has a scowl, but nevertheless, the little boy wears a happy smile.

...He shouldn't be with Jimin.

He doesn't belong with him. This isn't right.

I quickly stand up and go to grab my jacket.

"Where are you going?"

"To get Gumball back. Come on, we're finding Jimin."

Suran smiles and instantly follows behind.

∘₊✧ ° 🌤 ° ✧₊∘

Suran and I approach the door of Jimin's luxury apartment. After three attempts of knocking however, there's no answer.

"Maybe he's out."

"Ugh, he's so annoying. I'll call him." I dial his number but to no response. I call Taehyung but he doesn't pick up either.

"They're not answering."

"Then they must be together, right? Should we try Taehyung's house?"

"Wait." I scroll through our joint twitter to see Taehyung posted a video an hour ago of his parents' family farm. He must be visiting them.

"Taehyung posted this an hour ago. They must've taken Gumball to their farm. Come on!" I hurry off.

∘₊✧ ° 🌳 ° ✧₊∘
— 2 HOURS LATER —

Nothing but greenery, cloudy blue skies and farmhouses adorn the train windows as we whizz our way into the countryside. It's pretty relaxing. We're the last ones on the train, having stayed on for such a long distance.

I tap Suran on the shoulder and point when the train reaches our stop, the wind attacking our hair once we get off. Suran admires the distant cows, sheep and horses whilst holding down her sun hat and allowing her dress to blow back.

"It's this way, come on." I take her hand. She blushes at the contact.

The walk is longer than I expected. My foot accidentally slips into mud and I almost burst out into anger before Suran giggles which somehow calms me down instantly. After 15 minutes of looking around, we finally arrive at a corn field-surrounded farmhouse.

*Woof! Woof!*

Yeontan gallops over and excitedly circles around my feet. It's been a while since I've seen him since I'm always in my music studio. Suran gasps and excitedly pets him.

"Aww, hiya Yeontan!"

Taehyung follows behind not long after, wearing a straw hat, loose pants, sandals and a boxy smile.

"Hey guys, what are you doing all the way out here? Come to see my little Tannie?" He coos, picking up his puppy and kissing him sweetly.

My eyes shift between the two with low brows.

"Wh— NO we didn't come for that! Do you know how far we traveled to get here?! Why would we travel all this way to see a damn dog!!"

My sudden outburst makes Taehyung pout in offense and Yeontan whimper.

Suran holds my shoulder, "Yoongi..."

I shut my eyes and sigh.

"Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean it. It's just... We traveled 2 hours to get here because we thought you were with Jimin and Gumball."

"Oh, well why didn't you say so? Jimin took Gumball out for a play day."

"What?"

"Yeah, they're at a petting zoo right now. I can send you the address of where he took him."

"Yes! Send it to me. Come on, let's get there before they leave. Thanks Tae." I pull Suran away. She giggles and waves over her shoulder at him, "Bye!"

Yeontan barks, still cuddled up in his owner's arms. Taehyung smiles and puppets Yeontan's paw to wave us goodbye.

∘₊✧ ° 🦥 ° ✧₊∘

The petting zoo is filled with childish giggles and excited screams. Kids hold hands with their parents who swing them happily while others are on a school trip, paired into a line while the teacher roll calls their names. Suran and I continue to weave around them in search.

"Do you think they've left alrea—?"

"No, they'll be here. We just need to look harder." I answer.

Even I have to admit, it's hard not to get distracted by cuddly little animals that roam around within the wooden picket fence. There's ponies, donkeys, lambs, alpacas, bunnies, guinea pigs, chickens, ducks, and even sloths.

As we pass the pen of alpacas, my eyes instantly latch onto the back view of a kid with fluffy black hair and fair skin wearing denim overalls. It's as if the rest of the zoo disappears around me, my focus narrowing solely on the child.

"Yoongi—!"

I immediately march over and turn him around by the shoulder, only to be met with a blue-eyed white kid who stares back at me in confusion.

"That's not him." Suran whispers.

But I thought...

The child's mother pulls him towards her waist while giving me a displeased look. I bow and raise my hand in embarrassment. "Sorry."

...Where the hell are you Gumball?

"Teacher teacher wook! It's licking my hand!" A little girl giggles.

"Alright kids, it's lunchtime. Everyone hold hands and follow suit, come on."

The crowd of kids surrounding the lamb farm slowly disperse to reveal a certain blonde man and dark-haired child in the distance. Gumball giggles, an ice cream cone in one hand with his other poking through the cage as a fluffy baby lamb eats out of his tiny palm. Jimin crouches behind him with his hands on Gumball's waist, pointing and laughing at the cute animal with apple cheeks.

"Wah~ he really likes you Gum Gum." Jimin laughs.

"It's them..." Suran says in amazement.

I walk towards them with firm feet.

"Jimin."

The two instantly look up at me with round eyes. Jimin stands up and grins widely.

"Yoongi! What are you guys doing here?"

"Came to find you. What are you doing here?"

Jimin looks down and smiles at Gumball who peers up at him.

"We had the best day. First we went to this waterpark that had a cafe in it and in the afternoon, we went to the arcade and won a toy before passing through a trampolining place and getting pizza. Gumball loved the ball pit. After that, we went to grab some ice cream when we saw a petting zoo poster and wound up here. We had a jam-packed day, huh buddy?"

Gumball's eyes squint when he smiles harder.

My lips slowly tug a faint smile before nodding.

"...Sounds like you two had fun."

Suran notices my expression and frowns, as does Jimin whos smile slowly fades.

He looks down at Gumball but I blink rapidly and shake my head.

"You know what... You two should stay together." I compress a smile. "I shouldn't have interrupted your day. Just... Keep him safe and enjoy yourselves."

Jimin's gaze bounces between us when I begin walking away. Suran frowns over her shoulder and hesitantly follows me.

He's clearly able to explore and go on more adventures when he's with Jimin. Maybe wanting to take him back was a mistake... He should be with whoever makes him happier. I guess realizing this makes coming here not so pointless after all.

"...Bro wait."

I turn around when Jimin sighs and delivers a gentle grin.

"You take him."

"What?"

"You're clearly both happier when you're together. You have a deeper connection, it's only right. Besides, he's already spent enough time with me. I think it's your turn. You enjoyed your day with uncle Jiminie though, right Gumball?"

Gumball smiles at him brightly.

"Are you sure about this?"

"I'm positive." Jimin motions Gumball forward. "He belongs with you."

The smallest sigh of relief leaves my lips when Gumball stands before me and stares with those big round eyes. I crouch on one knee, softly smiling and blinking.

"...Let's have our own day out tomorrow."

Gumball tilts his head.

"Wherever you wanna go, I'll take you. We're gonna have our own day out, to make up for the time I've kept you cooped up in the house. Sound good?"

I hold out my fist, waiting for him to reciprocate the fist bump. Gumball smiles and presses his knuckles against mine which has Suran and Jimin smiling more than ever.