Yoongi
*In the evening back in Seoul*
Our little gang arrived in Seoul about thirty minutes ago. Hana and Areum took the kids and bags to the apartment so that Jin, Misun and I could go to the station in order to reunite Dylan with his mother.
I parked the car in the driveway since we would be leaving after some time anyways. I looked over at Seokjin who was holding a sleeping Dylan in his arms. Seokjin looked tired but happy – oh so happy. Even though he looked a bit pale and somewhat exhausted, he had a certain light to him tonight.
‘Are you ready hyung?’ I asked as Misun also looked at him. Misun was extremely quiet as she looked at us. She held a small smile but there was something odd – almost as if there was something upsetting her. I wasn’t sure what it was. We had managed to find Dylan successfully and Lee Aera, although was arrested, we were promised she would also be helped by professional people.
‘I’m ready,’ Jin replied as Misun stepped out of the car. She opened the door for him in order to help him and I also stepped out of the car. He looked excited and nervous but like a weight had lifted off his shoulders and, in a sense, it did. I knew how responsible he felt and I knew a part of him blamed himself for not finding him sooner, even though it definitely was not his fault.
We walked to the precinct and I opened the door for Jin. He walked inside as we headed to Misun’s office. I opened the door and Captain Sejin who was with Dylan’s mother instantly smiled. Dylan’s mother stood up and turned around slowly. Her face shifted, showing so many emotions as she immediately started crying. Her face was painted with disbelief and relief, nervousness but also happiness and love.
‘My boy…my baby boy,’ she said as she approached Jin and Dylan. Dylan woke up with the noise as he looked around, his eyes falling on his mother. He scrunched his face before he finally seemed to recognize her.
‘MAMA!!’ Dylan yelled as Jin put him down. His mother went to her knees as Dylan rushed into her arms. His mother let out a loud sob as she hugged him tightly. I felt that sob resonate in my own heart. I stood in the corner of the room as I looked on, yet my mind could not help but imagine other scenarios.
I could not help but imagine if it was my daughter Bong-Cha. I could not help but wonder how Areum and I would have dealt with it, but all I could feel was fear. It terrified me completely that something could happen to my sweet little angel. It broke my heart to know that there would be times I would not be able to protect her, that there were things she had to experience as she got older. I knew she had to experience things herself but I had sworn to protect her as much as I could. I could not wait to go home and hug my daughter and kiss her little head.
‘My sweet little boy. I missed you so much. Mama missed you so much,’ his mother said among her tears as she kissed him all over. Dylan giggled as he hugged her too.
‘I missed you too mama,’ he said as he laughed. The mother stood up as she looked at Seokjin and hugged him tightly.
‘Thank you, thank you so so so much. I can never tell you how grateful I am. I can never repay you for bringing me back my son,’ she said as she still sobbed. She sounded almost out of breath.
Jin hugged her back and rubbed her back. ‘You never have to thank me or repay me. I’m actually sorry that it took me so long to find him,’ Jin said but she shook her head.
‘No, no. Don’t apologize, please. I know you never stopped looking for him. You never stopped asking questions about him and never stopped until you found him. I know others might not have gone to the length you have to find him so please, do not apologize. I will forever be indebted to you,’ she said as Seokjin smiled at her. Seokjin looked like he was struggling so hard so that he does not end up crying in front of her as he tried to comfort her.
I looked over at Misun who looked at them. She had a small smile on her face but her eyes seemed glassy – almost as if she was about to cry but was holding it in as well. I walked next to her as I stood there.
‘Are you okay?’ I asked and she nodded. ‘You sure?’ I asked, again, hoping she would open up.
‘I’m okay. Just a bit tired and a bit overwhelmed I guess,’ she said with a shrug. I nodded in understanding. She did not want to keep on talking about it – whatever it was that was bothering her.
‘I know,’ I simply said.
Jin and I returned to the block of apartments while Misun decided to go for a walk. She said she needed some quiet and peace of mind. I was worried about her but knew better than to keep pressing her.
I sighed as Jin looked at me. ‘You okay Yoongi?’ he asked and I nodded.
‘Yeah. Tired, but I’m okay. I’m just a little bit worried about Misun you know,’ I said and he nodded.
‘So you noticed her too,’ he commented quietly and I nodded. ‘She wasn’t her usual self,’ he added.
‘I thought so too. She was really quiet and seemed upset,’ I said. ‘Maybe this case reminded her of some other case,’ I said and he nodded.
‘Could be. Maybe she just needs some time and space,’ he said. ‘Yoongi, I can’t thank you enough for your help. I’ll be forever grateful for your aid. Without you, we wouldn’t have moved as swiftly,’ he said but I shook my head.
‘It was my pleasure to help you hyung. I can’t express the feeling I got when I saw Dylan reuniting with his mother so I can only imagine how it was for you,’ I said.
‘It was the best feeling I ever got after marrying my wife, the birth of my son and becoming a member of this team,’ he said with a smile. ‘Goodnight Yoongi. Tell me if you ever need anything,’ he said.
‘Likewise hyung,’ I said as I reached my own door. I waved as he walked in and I unlocked my own door. I walked in just as Areum approached me.
‘Hey baby,’ she said as she came and hugged me. I smiled as I wrapped my hands around her waist and pulled her close to me. I gave her a kiss as she wrapped her hands around my neck.
‘Hello yeobo,’ I said as I gave her another kiss. ‘Is our baby girl sleeping already?’ I asked and she nodded.
‘Yeah. She was tired after the trip. She did enjoy playing with Yoseob a lot,’ she said with a smile.
‘I have a feeling those two will grow up to be really good friends,’ I said and she nodded.
‘Yoseob is already very protective of her even though he’s so young. He’s only a year older than her,’ Areum said.
‘I’m glad we’re going to put them in the same school. It kind of puts my mind at rest that our baby girl always has someone who has her back,’ I said and she nodded. ‘I’m going to go give her a kiss goodnight,’ I said.
‘Okay love. I’m going to go do some coffee for you,’ she said and I nodded as I gave her another kiss before I let go of her.
I walked into my daughter’s bedroom as quietly as I could. The nightlamp was on, giving me enough light to see. Bong-Cha was sprawled on her bed, hugging the soft toy that Taehyung had given her recently. She absolutely loved that Panda soft toy and would not let go of it. She was also holding on to her blanket and as she slept, she seemed to smile.
I leaned over the bed as I could not help but smile as well. I touched her cheek gently, feeling relief as I felt her touch. I felt a tear running down my cheek, almost as if the overwhelming emotions were coming back to me. I sniffed just she turned slightly, butting her bottom up. I let out a soft chuckle as I leaned in and gave her a kiss.
‘I love you so much my princess,’ I whispered. ‘So much,’ I repeated as I felt another tear roll down. I sighed as I left the room and went back to the kitchen.
Areum gasped as she put the mug down and rushed to me. ‘Baby what’s wrong? Why are you crying?’ she asked as she cupped my face in her hands.
‘It’s nothing yeobo. I just…this case, it moved me and it made me think a lot,’ I said. She sighed and nodded.
‘I understand baby. I know, I felt it too. I could not help but think about our princess,’ she said as she shuddered.
‘I promise you baby, I will do everything in my power to always protect her and you. You’re my whole life, my world, my everything,’ I said.
She smiled as she hugged me. ‘I know baby and you’re ours,’ she said. I hummed as I rubbed her back. ‘I love you,’ she said.
‘I love you too my queen,’ I said, making her giggle slightly. I smiled as I continued to hug her just as I heard a knock on the door. I broke the hug and looked at her. ‘Were we expecting anyone?’ I asked.
‘Not that I know of,’ she said. I sighed as I headed towards the door. I looked through the peep hole and saw Jungkook there. I opened the door quickly as I motioned for him to come in.
‘Hey hyung, hey noona,’ Jungkook said as Areum walked in the room as well. ‘Sorry to bother you so late, but I was wondering whether Misun came with you or not,’ he said. I sighed as I shook my head.
‘No Kooks,’ I said. He looked worried and I gave him a small smile. ‘After we reunited Dylan with his mother, she didn’t come home with us. She’s fine don’t worry, but,’ I paused, not sure how to say it.
‘But what hyung?’ he pressed on as he took a step forward. He was clearly worried, another reminder about how close two actually have gotten. I could not help but wonder if there was something more between them.
‘I don’t know. Maybe she was just tired and I read her wrong, but she seemed somewhat upset, like she was sad,’ I said. ‘She said she was going for a walk,’ I said.
‘I see,’ he said as he bit his bottom lip before he nodded to himself. ‘Thanks hyung. I’ll see you tomorrow,’ he said as he quickly turned around and left.
‘Well, bye to you too,’ I mumbled while Areum chuckled softly. ‘I guess he’s going after her,’ I said.
‘I think so too. He probably realized where she might have gone and wanted to check on her,’ she said.
‘I’m glad. I didn’t want her to be alone,’ I said. ‘Want to watch a movie with me yeobo?’ I asked as I reached for the mug of coffee she had made.
‘I’d love that baby,’ she said as I grabbed her hand and led her to the living room. We sat down on the couch and she switched on the TV. She put on Netflix and I reached for the blanket.
‘Come here love,’ I said as I opened my arm and she rested her head on my chest. I covered us both with the blanket as the movie started playing.
