A Still Day or A Hurricane | Jungkook

Part 24

It turns out, all you needed was a good cry.

Ever since that night you laid in bed between Taehyung and Yuri and cried, as silently as you possibly could, things felt lighter and easier to manage.

You let yourself play the scene of Jungkook and Yae-won in your mind for the last time a week after, with Byeol holding you that time, though no more tears were shed.

Hobi and Jimin took you to lunch the Monday after that on the pretense that they'd just missed you, but what they wanted was to apologize.

"We weren't sure if we should tell you, if you wanted to know," Hobi said, "but I swear I didn't know he would be there that morning at the cafe. I'm not on top of those little things like he is."

"I'm sorry, too. I'm the one who sees you everyday and I'd known about them ever since it started and I..." Jimin stammered. "I just didn't know how to tell you."

"It wasn't your information to share, it's okay," you assured them. "I wasn't hearing much about him from both of you and he didn't seem to have been hearing about me from either of you, too, so it's fine. I wouldn't have wanted you guys to feel like you had to take sides just because."

"That was kind of it," Hobi affirmed. "We didn't want to meddle any more than we did and we just... we weren't sure how both of you decided to move on from each other so we decided to just not mention anything at all."

You repeated that it was good that they did, and that you wanted to keep it that way. It was easier to keep your mind off of Jungkook without hearing about him, and you'd gone on with your life after, now appeased that you at least know he's happy, no longer wondering if he was, and that was enough.

Life goes on as it should.

Work remains stressful. The pro bono work you continue to do in counseling and representing struggling single moms makes things fulfilling and worth it.

Yuri moved out of your apartment upon your insistence when her girlfriend asked her to move in together. You hadn't minded, especially with Heejin being ready to go to a daycare, although on some days, your mom or any one of your friends still goes on babysitting duties. Ma-Ri also recommended Subin's sitter, whom you ask over when no one would be available to pick up Heejin from the center on a busy weekday.

Things are looking up, you think, as you're able to come up with a manageable schedule with Heejin. You have routines as well, like taking her with you to Blue Side during some mornings before handing her over to your mom or Ma-Ri. You find that the little one likes the smell of freshly-baked pastries, and she quiets down when you tell her to, as long as you make her sip some baby-appropriate chocolate drink.

You go to the park most weekends, sometimes with Namjoon's family, sometimes with your mom or any of your siblings who happen to be available, or just you and Heejin. Yongsan is her favorite with the little playground and small ponds and the pigeons that she chases about.

This is what you wanted, being able to experience things with your daughter, giving her everything she needs and wants and not worrying if you'll have enough. Your schedule revolves around her, and aside from work that tires you out, you're never without energy to run after her when she pulls your hand and squeals for you to chase her.

You're always able to read her a story every night and tuck her in bed, and you're able to take her to new places, observe the new things she gets to do and say, and memorize the way her eyes light up when she's happy and how her lips form into a pout when she's upset. She likes being around people once she's familiar and comfortable with them, but she always, always searches for you, melting into your hug the moment you cradle her in your arms.