Beauty Next Door (vsoo)

[07]

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Being a single mother is twice the work, twice the stress, and twice the tears but also twice the hugs, twice the loves and twice the pride.

The scene painted a soft, nostalgic picture of a mother in the kitchen, lost in the rhythm of preparing breakfast. The warmth of the kitchen seemed to mirror the tenderness she felt toward her little one, as she worked with loving precision. The scent of the cooking filled the house, a homey, comforting fragrance that signaled love and care.

As the lady was engrossed in her task, a small bump from behind startled her. Turning around, her initial surprise melted into a soft, loving smile when she saw her son crawling toward her. Her frown turned into playful scolding. "You naughty boy, didn’t I tell you not to come here?" she chided gently, though her eyes betrayed nothing but affection.

Lifting him in her arms, she planted a soft kiss on his cheek, her heart swelling with the joy of motherhood. As she adjusted him in her arms, he giggled, his tiny hands reaching for her hair. She let him play with it, their shared giggles filling the room with a pure, innocent melody. The house felt alive with the laughter of the mother and child, as though it was their own secret song.

She moved into the living room, sighing when she saw the person she had entrusted with her son, busy on the phone. She had hoped for a peaceful morning, a chance to be with her little one, but the work never stopped. She glanced at the man, who was talking endlessly on the phone, his attention elsewhere.

Finally, the call ended, and he looked toward her, his eyes apologetic. "I’m sorry... work issue... now I’ll surely take care of little champion Ji," he said, holding his ear in mock apology.

However, as he reached out to take the baby, the little one started crying, refusing to go to him. The mother couldn’t help but laugh softly, "Oppa... he didn’t seem to like you. That’s why he came to the kitchen looking for his eomma." She said, calming the baby back into her arms. She smiled down at him lovingly, the boy instantly quieting in her embrace.

The man, clearly pouting at the situation, watched them, though his gaze softened as he booped the baby’s nose. His hand then found its way to the woman’s head, patting her gently, with a peculiar smile on his face. It was hard to read — was it care, pity, or something more?

"Ji, keep smiling like this... your oppa is always here for you and little champion," he said, his words tender but laced with something unspoken. The promise he made was clear, but there was more lurking behind his eyes — a wish to protect, to be needed, maybe even something he didn’t fully understand himself.

×××××

After a long day of work at KJ, Taehyung couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of lightness when he called up Jungkook for a dinner hangout. His mind was clouded with thoughts of Jisoo, his boss, the woman who had unintentionally swept him off his feet. It wasn’t just a crush; it was something deeper, something he hadn’t anticipated. Jungkook, of course, was the first person Taehyung would turn to, even if the topic was more than a little embarrassing.

As the two settled into their usual ramen dinner, Jungkook couldn’t help but notice the strange, almost dreamy look on Taehyung’s face.

"Bro, what happened? You’re looking happy today," Jungkook asked between slurps, giving his friend a knowing look. He wasn’t used to seeing Taehyung so... calm.

Taehyung was still caught up in his thoughts about Jisoo when he responded with a serious tone, "Kook, I’m serious now."

Jungkook rolled his eyes, knowing his friend all too well. "What’s new? Anyway, who’s your new LITTLE crush?" he teased, already assuming it was another one of Taehyung’s usual infatuations. He knew Taehyung well enough to expect a short-lived fling, like always.