'𝐇𝐞𝐲 𝐄𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚, 𝐇𝐞𝐲 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐚'

⌱ [𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟖]

Jungkook heaved a heavy sigh as he sat back in his chair. His surroundings were disorganised, with papers and equipment lying around indiscriminately. He couldn't shake off the strange encounter with the young man, who had claimed to be a time traveler and his son. It was absurd, almost laughable, but it still clouded his mind.

"Obviously, it can't be true," he mumbled to himself, his fingers shuffling through the mess of scattered sheets. "He can't be a time traveler, and if he is, then why and how did he come out of ChronosAion?" His brow furrowed as he stared at the raw structure he had been previously working on.

Then, like a lightning bolt of realization, it hit him. 

"I did it! I did it! I'm a successful scientist now! Yay!"

The young man's words and face flashed vividly in Jungkook's mind. His eyes widened as the puzzle pieces started to fall into place.

"Damn, damn! What if he's really my son?!" Jungkook exclaimed, his heart racing with newfound urgency. He couldn't afford to dismiss the possibility any longer. With that revelation, he stormed out of his cluttered lab, determination etched on his face, on a quest to find Jungsoo and unearth the truth that had been eluding him for far too long.

Jungkook stepped out onto the bustling streets, his eyes scanning the surroundings until they landed on the duo standing not too far away. Frustration welled up within him as he muttered to himself, "How in the world did he meet her out of all the people on this planet?"

As if on cue, Jungkook couldn't contain his astonishment any longer as he yelled, "Ya!" his voice echoing through the street. He sprinted towards them, coming to an abrupt stop right beside Jungsoo, directly in front of Hyejin.

Jungsoo greeted his father with excitement. "Oh, Appa, you came too."

Jungkook, still catching his breath and trying to process all the evidence that supported Jungsoo's incredible claims, stared at his claiming-to-be son for a moment.

Hyejin, oblivious to the tension in the air and consumed by her determination to find out who Jungsoo's father might be, cheerfully chimed in, "Ah! You look like Jungkook-ie!" She clapped her hands together, her face beaming with pride. Little did she realize that the person she was comparing Jungsoo to was, in fact, her future husband. 

Both Jungkook and Jungsoo exchanged unbelieving glances, their eyes widening. Jungsoo opened his mouth to speak, but Jungkook acted swiftly, wrapping his arm around Jungsoo and stopping him from uttering what would undoubtedly be a shocking revelation for Hyejin.

Jungkook felt the weight of the situation, desperately searching for a way to explain the uncanny resemblance between him and Jungsoo without revealing the truth. He gulped nervously, attempting to concoct a not-so-obvious lie.

"You are right. He looks alike because he… he..." Jungkook hesitated, his voice trembling slightly. "He is my cousin. Yeah, my cousin. Am I right, Jeon Jung..." His gaze shifted to Jungsoo, who was making an effort to escape his father's grasp but froze when their eyes met. A silent understanding passed between them as Jungkook's eyes signaled Jungsoo to play along. Jungsoo nodded once and mouthed his own name, helping his father complete his words since Jungkook wasn't even sure if he knew the name correctly.

"Yup, Jeon Jungwoo...." Jungsoo began to panic and mouthed a correction, "No, no, Jeon Jungsoo," Jungkook clarified. 

Jungsoo tapped his hands on his Appa's arm to signal that he should let him go. Jungkook released his hold on Jungsoo and stood up straight, shifting his gaze to Hyejin.

"Tch, you should've guessed this sooner," Jungsoo chimed in, his annoyance evident on his face.

Hyejin appeared taken aback as she stammered, "But he said... He said that he's from the future and—"