Translation for Spanish words
used in this chapter —

Melodía — melody
Jódete — fuck you

-

Jeon Jungkook was conflicted. Really damn conflicted.

He was mostly upset though, a love struck heart more sunken than a shipwreck at rough sea.

For Aeri Alvarez was still pissed off.

The boy did not know what exactly he did which made her anger shoot up so quickly. For three weeks he'd pestered her, constantly asked her his reason for apologising to her, but his attempts to get himself back in her good books was next to a failure.

Of course, Jungkook was never really in her good books. Ever since he tried to kiss her all that time ago, she seems hell bent on ripping his existence apart.

So here he was, with his love struck heart, slowly rocking his hammock he laid in as his good friend sat beside him, eating left over croquettes.

"But what I don't understand," Jin started yet again, taking a generous bite on the snack, "Is what you did wrong."

Jungkook let out a scoff. "I guess we'll never know, amigo. Maybe on the Day of Judgement, when I'll be on the steps of Hell she'll confess this secret."

"You're so over dramatic," his friend scolded, folding a leg over the other. "Just forget about her. I'm pretty sure they're dozens of other Spanish beauties waiting to be escorted by you."

"Ah, Jin, that's the problem," Jungkook sighed out, stilling the rocking. "I don't want the other beauties.

"I only want her."

Jin snorted, finishing off one of the croquette. "Then don't come sulking to me when she still hasn't told you."

"She will," the boy only said. "One day, friend, I will wrap her around my finger, and my name will be the only thing she'll have in her mind."

"There's still a long time till your funeral, Jungkook, I'm not waiting that long."

"Jòdete, culo."

Jin laughed out, slightly hysterical as Jungkook shook his head, snatching one of the croquettes from his plate.

"By the way," the elder rasped out, as he slowly calmed down, "I heard you were becoming quite the activist."

Jungkook gave him a look. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, your father was saying to mine how you have the 'wildest idea' to dump a shit load of money to his workers, make them more healthy and stuff like that."

The boy raised an eyebrow at the news. "What's your say on this?"

Jin bit down on another croquette. "I don't know," he admitted. "It is sad, seeing all the poor men and women.

"But business is business, after all."

A sudden cold overcame the boy, stilling him into disbelief.

"Despite that, whatever you're doing, chico, I wish you luck," Jin said. "Because I see no one else doing it.

"Who knows? Maybe some good will come out of this gesture. No matter how non sensical it is."

At that point, Jungkook had a sudden urge to hug his friend and punch him in the face. Both at the same time.

However, he revealed nothing of the sort, as he plastered a smile, and carrying on idle conversation.

But he was a little more upset, realising that the only good friend he has here is just like all the others. A little better, but just the same.

-

"Niño, I'm taking Piccolo out for a walk!"

Jungkook called his mother out in acceptance, bidding her a short goodbye as she closed the gates shut, the black Labrador barking in excitement.

Jin had gone by now, leaving to take on matters of his father's own business. It seemed his old man had given him an important title, and considered him essential in his normal duties.

A tinge of jealousy struck Jungkook.

If only Papa gave me something to look over.

It was a problem to him, how his father treated him at a child still even in his mid twenties. It agitated him a great deal, and even called him out a few times on it.

It was a shame how his father didn't give dogshit over his son or his opinion.

Whatever. Just wait till he dies.

In the meantime, Jungkook accompanied with his mind, his thoughts wondering off to the same worry nagging him for nearly a month.

How should I make Aeri talk to me?

He could hear her in the kitchen, whipping up lunch for herself.

No doubt for that damned child too.

He heard him wailing all day, screeching out these ungodly sobbing that the whole world could have heard.

Aeri's baby. Crying for hours.

Jihoo Alvarez. Her only son.

The boy was almost guilty for being such a dick about it. Almost.

Maybe a little part of him wished she was pure. Untouched from any other man.

So when Jungkook gets to her, he'll be the first one to brand her, and hard enough to have the entirety of Seville hearing the marking.

The very thought had shivers spidering down his spine.

A sudden crash had Jungkook snapping out of his thoughts, his head whipping to the direction of the sound.

The kitchen.

Jungkook practically ran to the place, stopping just at the doorway to see what happened.

Aeri Alvarez was hissing out in pain, clutching her hand as spilt milk splashed around her, steam rising from it.

"What happened?" Jungkook demanded.

She looked up for a second, mouth opening to pour out a hearty explanation when she stopped.

Pursing her lips, she locked her hands behind her back, gritting her teeth from the painful action. "Nothing."

"It doesn't look like nothing," Jungkook pointed out, gesturing to the milk around her.

A few drops stained her black dress too, milking it white. Aeri stepped away from the mess, reaching out to grab a dirty cloth from the counter.

"Everything's fine, okay?" She seethed out.

Jungkook furrowed his brows, surprised at his own sudden authority. "Well, it's clearly not. Now step aside."

Aeri reflected his action. "Why?"

"So I can clean the mess?" He droned. "As you would when you spill something?"

The girl scoffed at his sentence. "Oh, you'll clean the mess? Jeon Jungkook? Heir to Jeon's Finest Wine?"

A slight blush stained the boy's cheeks over her mockery. "When you've got a nurse like mine for your entire life, you're usually tended to clean shit up around the house."

He took a step forward. "And plus with your burned hand, I doubt you'll do much good either."

Aeri looked away, no doubt due to the lack of a comeback.

"Just...be quick," she muttered out, picking up the turned over pot and setting it over the stove.

Jungkook slowly shrugged off his blazer, tossing it on the hammock not far from him. "Why the rush?"

Grabbing a fresh bottle of milk, Aeri poured it in the contents in the pot. "It's nothing to worry about—"

Suddenly, another round of the familiar shrieking kicked in, this time much louder than the last time heard.

Aeri grimaced at the sound. "Señor—"

"It's the kid isn't it?"

She stared at him before answering.

"...yes."

Jungkook looked up at the highest room in the estate, the window wide open to let out more sound of Jihoo's crying.

After a moment, the boy speaks up.

"Get the kid."

Aeri frowned at him. "What for?"

"Just get him," he replied, walking carefully over the spilt mess and grabbing a dirty cloth.

It was too bad that Jungkook didn't realise that Aeri Alvarez never took orders from anyone. Especially ones so short and cold.

"And what do you want so badly with my son?" She demanded, crossing her arms at her chest.

Jungkook, his anger tearing the right leash of his patience, snapped, "I'm not going to eat him up, Aeri."

He couldn't help himself, adding on, "It would be quite nice if you'd trust me a little more, considering you snuck in a god-dammed child without my consent. Never mind the fact I haven't thrown it out."

Aeri let out the nastiest scoff. "How dare you—"

"I won't, Aeri," he started, rolling his white sleeves up to his shoulders, "But stop thinking I will. I'm not a fucking monster."

His stare was piercingly intense as he locked it at her. "I'm not going to hurt him. I promise."

Maybe it's motherly instinct that had got Aeri so shaken. Even his nurse had never been so protective of him.

Because she's not actually your mother, Jungkook. Dios knows who the hell she is.

However, as if the law of the universes changed to his advantage, Aeri Alvarez took a step back, closer to the house containing the helpless screaming.

Soon, her steps quickened, into the house.

Meanwhile, Jungkook, with his blazer off, sleeves rolled and eyes fixed on the milk, swooped down with the cleaning cloth, sliding it over the spilt content.

It wasn't that hard a job, cleaning up after spillages, so the boy was done in no time.

He set up another round of milk, as the nurse was out, heating up the stove and setting the pot once more atop the hob.

The wailing became much more louder, and as he looked to his right, he saw a Aeri, rushing in, holding a bundle of wrapped blankets in her dainty arms.

She came closer, inspecting the milk.

"Yes, I did it myself," Jungkook droned on. "And no, I haven't put arsenic in it."

Aeri took no notice of his humour, instead looking down at her child.

Her gaze softened like sweet honey in a matter of seconds. It was truly beautiful, how a human being could love another so quickly, despite not having the love reciprocated yet.

It was more humiliating though, how Jungkook could relate to that situation.

He was about to investigate the child before it let out another set of loud sobbing.

Cringing, Jungkook asked, "What's wrong with him?"

Aeri's face revealed a bit of guilt. "I...I don't know.

"I've been trying to feed him, but he doesn't drink the milk. Maybe he's tired, but he just doesn't sleep."

The girl looked on the verge of tears herself. "It's...it's hard."

Seeing her like this did something to the boy. He didn't know what, but that reaction was enough for Jungkook to dare ask one thing.

"Can I hold him?"

Aeri's reaction changed. She looked shocked, to say the least. "What?"

Jungkook repeated, "Can I hold him? I..."

His eyes, after such long uncertainty, focused once again.

"I think I know what to do."

The boy was sure to be rejected the request. After all, it was very clear that the dancer wouldn't dare hand over her son to anyone, let alone him.

But somehow, by a streak of his unusual good luck, or maybe by the sheer determination in the boy's eyes, the girl slowly raised her baby filled hands out.

"One wrong move," she muttered, quietly but not at all softly. "And you're dead."

Jungkook, nodding hurriedly, let Aeri set the baby boy in his arms, gingerly fitting in the folds of his embrace.

It was then he took a good look of him.

Big black eyes, red rimmed from the hours of crying. Chubby cheeks, puffed up, button nose running and a little mouth parted as screams emitted from the soft pink lips.

If only the boy wasn't crying. Then Jungkook would have tried to play with him.

It was also an added bonus that he despised children. He was only trying for Aeri, who only had her eyes rooted on her child, and definitely not over the poor fellow desperately trying to impress her.

The idea Jungkook had in his mind, however, was something he was sure would work.

Aeri was about to cry out again when the boy closed his eyes.

And opened his mouth.

The sweetest, most melodic voice bloomed from Jungkook's lips.

She recognised the song pouring out from him. A sweet little lullaby, like a hummingbird's call.

The girl, so shocked, felt her hand going to her chest, where she felt her heartbeat.

The bigger surprise was the very organ racing.

Jungkook started to sway the child, his arms rocking him gently as he hit a low note which had the baby giggling.

The beginnings of a smile caught on his lips at Jihoo's reaction, as he kept on singing like a mother would to her own kin.

It was what made Aeri gape at him. How Jungkook familiarised with her boy quicker than she ever did.

Slowly, he saw the baby's eyes droop, gurgling as the one who held him quietened his retelling of a spanish melody.

The boy's hand held Jihoo's head. It was fascinating to him how he held a life in his very hands, that if he lets go of his head, it's over.

So fragile, babies were. So delicate and vulnerable to the world they all lived in.

Jungkook had this sudden urge to protect him. Hide him from the atrocities of the city, the dirty dangers of the whole world so the innocence that he'd caught on his face would stay.

He was so wrapped up in the thought of Jihoo that when he glanced down, hitting the end of the sweet song, the said boy was asleep.

Adorning a soft rhythm of his chest going up and down, the child beheld a look consumed in his fantasies.

Why, Jungkook could gaze at him forever.

But he didn't.

Looked up at the woman who brought that child into existence.

Aeri Alvarez stared right back, her hand still on her chest, her heart still beating like it raced ahead from the vineyards and into the sunset beyond.

Jungkook made an attempt to speak, but the girl was faster.

"Your voice."

Jihoo stirred slightly in sleep, nuzzling into the boy as he tried to reply.

"I, uh—"

"I tried to sing that song to him," she said. "But it seems my boy enjoyed your singing much more."

He didn't know why he felt so embarrassed over this.

Cheeks reddening, Jungkook opened his mouth when Aeri added on.

"I'm not surprised, señor. Anyone would want to listen to that voice of yours."

Ay Dios. I can't go much redder can I?

It wasn't much, really. He only did what he'd been doing for years and years, when Jimin as a young boy would cry and Jungkook would sing to calm him down.

It worked every time. Just like this.

Aeri stepped closer, just at arms' length with Jungkook.

Oh, right. The child.

Ever so carefully, Jungkook, with both hands, raised the little bundle, setting him in Aeri's outstretched ones.

On instinct, the baby curled against her, recognising his mother even in slumber.

Her sigh conveyed an eternity's worth of relief. Clearly her biggest wish for the past couple of days was the child to just shut up.

She looked up at Jungkook, catching him off guard.

Her face. She wasn't looking at him like she wanted to kill him.

That alone made Jungkook more hopeful than he should.

She opened her mouth, he expecting her to thank him or whatnot, but what she said surprised him even more.

"I'm sorry."

The boy raised his brows. "Whatever for?"

She rocked Jihoo, eyes still rooted to him. "For...for being... it's just..."

She paused, unable to find the words. "I'm sorry for being a bitch."

What even—

Aeri Alvarez? Apologising??

The very thought had Jungkook chuckling.

The girl gave him a look. "What's so funny?"

In the midst of his laughs, he rasped out, "Ah, mi amor.

"You have been giving me a hard time."

He was one step closer to her when she muttered, "Oh, stop."

His laugh turned darker as he dared yet another step, leaning a little lower to level his face with her own.

A smirk signed onto his lips as he locked his hands behind his back. "You're lucky you got the child with you."

She scoffed. "Don't ruin the moment, bastardo."

Jungkook, an eyebrow raised, dared to ask, "Oh, so there was a moment between us?"

The girl stared him down, settling Jihoo at her chest, just above her shoulder.

The boy could have sworn her lips were tugging upwards when she whirled on her heel, strolling back into the estate.

Jungkook, feeling victorious, had the smirk still shining as he skipped to his hammock.

What would have made that grin malicious if he knew that Aeri was returning that smile.

-

"I cAn uPdAtE tHis nOw fRequEntLy!" —My lying ass 2k18

But y'aLL YOU GOT ME TO 50K MY ASS SH 0 0 K THANK YOU SO MUCH :')

Ayy heads up things are gonna get real good from here. Haven't planned the next chapter yet but how I've thought the plot so far...

Oh boy ;)))

But y'all, do give this bitch a vote and tell me your opinions on this chapter. It'll mean a lot :)