Decoupled • KTH : Book 1✔

Chapter 47

Taehyung

Layla welcomes Maya and I at the door with a big hug that huddles all three of us close together. No matter how affluent they are and how expensive their lifestyle is, Jin and Layla have always been extremely friendly, hospitable and humble humans.

"This is Maya," I point my hand towards Maya and then towards Layla. "Layla," I tell Maya, and she bows her head a little with a smile.

Layla gives a knowing smile before she guides us both to their living room, or should I say the courtroom of their palace? The latter would be more befitting.

I had already discussed the disastrous events that unfolded in my life over the past few days with Jin, and I had also obviously told him about Maya and our relationship.

"Taehyungie! You're here already!" Jin screeches as he jogs his way down the imperial stairway that lands right in the middle of the courtroom.

"Yeah because it's 3 pm," I take a seat beside Maya, and Jin settles down next to Layla on the couch facing us.

Maya, Layla and Jin take a little time introducing themselves, and we are also treated to a variety of snacks and bakes along with piping hot tea, none of which seems to make me loosen up.

Sensing my discomfort and how I haven't laid a finger on any of the snacks, which is so unlike me, Layla decides to initiate the discussion right away.

"Tell me, Taehyung. What is it?" She asks me as one of their servants clears the table, replacing the tea and snacks with a few glasses of water.

I breathe out before I begin speaking, and I glance at Maya as she leans back in her seat with her eyes on me.

"This is about Areum. Jang-Mi and I are getting divorced, as you already know. And she has agreed for shared child custody. I am supposed to be feeling relieved, but I'm nowhere close to that. I'm clueless how to get Areum to accept Maya into her life," my eyes lower to my feet when I finish talking.

Layla nods her head, exhaling deeply as she leans back in her seat and crosses one leg over the other.

"That's a genuine concern. What else is worrying you?" Her eyes move from me to Maya and stay on her.

"I want to understand Areum and make her feel comfortable with me, and I don't want her to think that I'm a bad person. I have no experience with children, and I definitely need some tips and help," Maya states her concerns, and Layla nods again.

Jin leans forward with his elbows on his knees, and he is listening keenly to everything that we're saying.

"Are these your concerns? Or are there any more?" Layla quizzes us, and we confirm that this is it, for now.

"Well, do you want me to be fully honest, or give you sugar-coated answers? Because I can't actually do the latter in your case," her question is already answered.

Capitalizing on our silence, Layla continues to talk.

"The first truth is that Areum isn't ever going to accept Maya as a mother figure in her life because Maya isn't her mother. And Areum isn't a newborn who has no vivid memories of anything, or a grown teenager who can just ignore everything and walk out. She is a seven-year-old smart child who has been living in her little world with her mother and father and probably a few friends and teachers. So she just can't forget the fact that Jang-Mi is her mother and accept Maya in that place just because you are with Maya," the truth in her statement feels like bitter medicine that I can literally feel it on my tongue.

I turn to look at Maya who has her head low, and I can't even imagine how powerfully this truth must have stabbed her in the chest. Gently taking her hand in mine, I hold it firmly, doing the only thing that I could do right now to let her know that I'm always by her side.