so many new books in mind, so many yet to finish

***

two weeks later

"Jungkook!", Lyza yelled through the small apartment they were staying in for now. They had left Miami only one day after their ways crossed but up until now they hadn't decided yet where to move permanently. It was obvious that their old hometown wasn't going to be the place to stay-, just because of all of the history they had there.
"What?", Jungkook looked up from the TV he was sitting in front of all morning. He had watched the news and then got caught up in some series that was on screen for three hours straight.

"I think I found a kindergarden where we can put Taejeon", she said, walking into the room as she sat down next to him. "Oh, really? Here?", Kook asked a little confused, "You wanna stay here?"

"Why not? It's a small city, nothing too big. It'd be good for Taejeon to grow up here instead of a huge town like Miami or anything else, don't you think?"

"Yeah but do you want to stay in a small town?", Jungkook lifted his brows.

"I was only thinking about the kid", Lyza shrugged, "He should be the priority. And I think that'd be the best for him to grow up."
"Taejeon isn't going to be comfortable in a place where his parents aren't comfortable", Jungkook chuckled, "He's very sensitive to his surroundings and only comfortable when the people around him are too. Like, when we were at Taehyung Taejeon only got comfortable when he realized that I wasn't uncomfortable anymore."

Lyza sighed.

"Dad", Taejeon suddenly ran into the room, holding up a paper. "Look Dad, I draw you", he giggled amused and ran over to his father, handing him a drawing. It was a huge mess of colors and in the middle of it sat a little bunny.
"That's a bunny, Taejeon, not your Dad", Lyza reminded the boy but Taejeon only gave her a confused look, "No Dad has same teeth", he explained firmly, "Look, I have Dad's teeth too", he giggled and showed Lyza his brightest smile, showing off his tiny bunny teeth as well.

"Oh you really have", Lyza said surprised.

"Yes, so Dad and me are bunnies."

"That must be it", Lyza smiled, "So do you think you have something from your Mommy as well?"

Taejeon tilted his head a little confused and went silent before he slowly turned to his father and climbed onto his lap so he could whisper something in his ear, "Is it bad when I say I just have you?", he looked utterly irritated when he faced his father who's heart just dropped a little. "But Taejeon, I told you that you have a Mom. It's Lyza, I told you that", he whispered back but Taejeon only nodded like the good boy he was.
"I know that, that is why I ask."

"Taejeon please", Jungkook let out a heavy sigh, "Be nice to your mother."

Taejeon crossed his arms and then looked at Lyza for a long time before he finally replied to her question, "Yeah, you know how I stopped going to kindergarden?", he smiled. "I think I am good at not being around. Mommy taught me that."
And with that he left his parents in shock, smiled innocently and jumped down from his father's lap, giving him a bittersweet smile, "I asked before I said something", he shrugged and then ran off, giggling.

"I'm sorry Lyz", Jungkook hummed, "He usually can't even say full sentences. I didn't know he can say shit like that."

"He's right", the girl said quickly, "How is a child supposed to understand that it isn't always their parents choice to be in their life or not?"
"Isn't it tho?", Jungkook only lifted his brows, "I'm sorry to say that but in my opinion it's always up to the parents whether they stay in their child's life or not."

"So you think the same?", Lyza asked a little offended, "You two are teaming up against me because I chose to live the life my parents wanted for me instead of being a teen mother with no future?"

"I'm not teaming up against you Lyza", Jungkook assured her, "But I was a teen father too, you know-"

"Yeah and see where it brought you. No future and no perspective." Lyza said, feeling bad the moment she had said that but she knew she couldn't take it back anyway.
"I have a bright future", Jungkook said softly, taking her hand while looking at her, "I'm looking forward to the day my son gets into school, to the day he will bring up his first partner, to his graduation and every birthday of his."

"So you're saying Taejeon is your future", Lyza summed that up and felt her heart shatter a little. "You're such a good Dad", she bit her lips.

"Of course he's my future. That child is the only thing that makes me want to get up every day. Being his Dad is the best thing that ever happened to me", he smiled at Lyza but the girl couldn't smile at all, her eyes were getting teary, "I should have been there", she let out quietly, "You get to be our boy's Dad but he won't respect me as his mother."

"Give him time", Jungkook reminded her, "He's five, okay? And he's been through a lot. He just met you."

"Yeah, yeah sorry", Lyza hurried to say, "Sorry I'm new to all of this. I didn't exactly had it easy either."

"I know", Jungkook said, "No one ever has it easy. And I'll be there for you to figure everything out but don't make my son feel bad for not immediately acknowledging someone that just entered his life, okay?"

"Your son", Lyza repeated, "He's my son too."

"I know I know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it to come off like that", he bit his lips, looking away, "I'm just used to him being only mine. Taejeon and I have a strong bond-"

They got interrupted again by a little something running back in, now holding up another drawing that he made. The kid got back onto the couch, sat down in between Lyza and Jungkook and rolled his eyes, "Sorry", he then said, "Look I added you to the picture", he showed Lyza the painting where he draw a big sun in the sky.

"I'm the sun?", she asked surprised.

"The sun is pretty, you are pretty. I am pretty. Maybe that is what I have from you", he smiled weakly and then quickly crawled to his right side, got onto his father's lap and whispered into his ear again, "Am I good Taejeon now?"

"The best", Jungkook winked and then wrapped his arms around the little child, cuddling him lovingly, "My best boy."

"But if I had a choice, I want Taehyung back instead of Mom", Taejeon then suddenly said, adding a quick "Sorry" to that when he got another mad stare from his father.
"He really liked Tae, huh", Lyza hummed and Kook nodded, "They were close before I got close to Taehyung."

"Did you love him?"

Jungkook smiled and nodded, "I do."

"Did you come with me for Taejeon's sake?", Lyza asked quietly but Jungkook shook his head immediately, "As I said before, I don't do things just because I think they're right for my son. I want my son and myself to be comfortable and happy. But Taehyung lied to me and he took the chance from me to actually have a chance with you. You and me, we never got to try to be parents together. So I want to give it a try. If it doesn't work out, Taejeon and I will go and be happy on our own. None of this has anything to do with Tae, he ruined it on his own with lying to me."

"When did you become so mature?", Lyza let out a laugh but Jungkook only smirked, "Being a father comes along with maturity", he said while he ruffled through Taejeon's hair. The kid was busy drawing again, not listening to his parents talking.

"Being a Dad suits you a lot", she chuckled.

"Thanks, I bet you make a good Mom too."

*

The phone was ringing when Taehyung pushed off the third prostitute this afternoon. The boy got out of bed grumpily and headed over to the phone, picking it up angrily, "What?", he asked pissed off.

"Good morning, adoption services. Mr Kim, you have given us a call some days ago, I assume you're still interested in adopting a child?"

Taehyung bit his lips as he realized how irresponsible he sounded picking up the phone like this, "Yes yes! I am very interested."

"There's a lot of things to check before I can allow you to adopt a child. You need a stable financial income, a home and a place where the security of the child is given. Are you aware of these things?", she asked from the other side of the call, giving Taehyung anxiety with simply saying that.
"Sure", Tae hummed. "I'm looking for my own place currently, the finances and security shouldn't be a problem."

"How about we meet up tomorrow then? You could come over to our building and see if you're bonding with one of the children already?", she asked and Taehyung agreed quickly, "Yes I would love to", he smiled.
They agreed on 11am and then ended the call.

Taehyung turned around, looking at the prostitute that still sat on his bed, naked.
"I'm becoming a Dad", he said with big eyes.

"You're adopting?", she asked a little confused, "Why don't you get a girlfriend and get a child with her?"

"Because the person I love already has a child and a life that does not include me", Tae explained. "Okay you gotta go. I need to pack my stuff and find a place to live. And get a proper job. And maybe shave and go and buy more appropriate clothes. Oh my god I'm going to be a father-"

"Congrats", the girl laughed out softly as she put her clothes back on and then left the apartment, leaving a Taehyung behind who had the brightest smile on his face since a very long time.

Finally he would not be all alone anymore.
If only he could call Jungkook right now and tell him about this.

***

this book might be a little shorter than my usual books