THE AFTERGLOW | | vk

9

Taehyung's Perspective

"He is an orphan," she said bluntly. 

I choked on my coffee as I widened my eyes. "w-what?"I asked being shocked. she looked at me as if I haven't choked on my coffee. Her expression remained calm. she took another sip of her coffee and stared at the wall in front of her. I composed myself back and looked at jeongguk in my arms who was still in his own little world.

  " He was 8 months old when I joined this orphanage. he was in the crib crying. No one here bothered to look at him or tried to know what the problem was. From that day, I started taking care of him with every small thing he needed. I could never find who brought him here, his family, or anything about him. I tried every possible way to find his family but everything went in vain. He was diagnosed with age regression at the age of 13. Children here started bullying him because of his little space. Teasing about how he still needs me for everything after entering into his teenage years. I tried my best to get him adopted but many couples refused to adopt him because they were disgusted by the fact that he has little space. Many children of his age were adopted but he was left out. Growing up, he didn't have friends. All he had was me. I used to spend most of my time with him. I played with him in his headspace. Gave all my attention when he blabbered about anything and everything. Protected him from all the mean people. I secretly bought him toys, candies, clothes, and his little space stuff which were against the rules. But I manage to hide them when there are inspections." she took another sip of her coffee and smiled, probably recalling all those memories. I looked down at Jeongguk who is dozing off. I gently caressed his hair to make him feel at ease.

" Jeongguk aged out. He is too old to live in an orphanage. Generally, If a child is not adopted before 18 years of age, the child leaves the orphanage when turns 18 after he/she finds a full-time or a part-time job and live in school or university dorms. The management wanted to kick him out but I begged them on my knees. They thought that Jeongguk was a huge loss for them as they have to pay all his university bills. But I  pay half of his bills from my paycheck. He grew out to be too innocent for this selfish world. He missed all the little moments that he was supposed to witness. Sometimes, he used to come back here with bruises on his face. That time I understood that he was getting bullied as well. I wanted to complain to the authorities but he being a sweetheart didn't let me. He has no friends to help him or be with. He endured and accept whatever the world had done to him.

 I once found him crying in the bathroom. I didn't go to him but I stood there watching him cry. I let him cry as much as he wanted to. Sometimes crying can make you feel at ease.  He cried and let out all his pain through tears. The pain he bottled up all his life. But You know what hurt me the most, taehyung?" I shook my head when she looked at me with glossy eyes. 

" when he came out with the most innocent smile as if nothing happened in the bathroom. As if - as if he didn't cry for 25 mins all alone without anyone comforting him. she said dejectedly as a tear rolled down her cheek. she was quick enough to wipe it away. I felt my eyes pooling when I thought about what all Jeongguk might have been through. I kissed the crown of his head and hugged him tighter than ever as he snuggled more into my neck. Nana chuckled at his cuteness, so did I. 

"c'mon, I'll serve you lunch. It's time already." she insisted and I agreed. I slowly tried to lay jeongguk down on the bed but he had a tight grasp on my shirt. I slowly detached him from myself and tucked him in the bed. I cooed at his sleeping face cuz it was all red from too much snuggling and pecked his forehead. I slowly made myself towards the and sat down. Nana brought the food and plates and put them on the table. But one thing that was constantly bothering me was why nana had to tell all of this without even properly knowing me. I mean we hardly know each other and I saw her today for the first time.