Caught You [ Stray Kids | Seo Changbin ]

E I G H T

THIRD PERSON'S POV:

"Changbin?", Mari shouted.

"Mari? What are you doing here?", Changbin asked with confusion.

"Hyori wanted to eat some cotton candy so I brought her here. You know, since she barely ever requests for anything, I fulfill for what she actually does.", Mari chuckled.

"Where is she?", Changbin asked as there was no sign of Hyori with Mari.

"Oh, she's playing in the play area with a few other kids. Right there.", she pointed at a play area.

"Oh.", Changbin nodded.

"What are you doing here? Working?", she asked.

"Yeah, actually I'm on patrol because there was theft reported here.", Mari deadpanned. Changbin had realized that it was her so he started to look for a way to change the subject.

"You know, I'd love to see Hyori. Can you take me to h-", she didn't let him finish.

"You should work.", her gaze was on the ground."I'll see you around, then.", she bowed and ran back to the play area.

"Hyori, let's go.", she called for Hyori.

"Already?", she asked, a bit disappointed.

"Yeah. I have work so we have to leave. We can come some day later?", she smiled at Hyori.

"Alright, mommy.", she jumped into Mari's arms and she picked her up.

"Let's go home.", they both giggled.

They both left for their home meanwhile, Changbin was a bit ashamed for the rest of the day. He felt sorry for making Mari feel that way. He didn't want to be the one to make her sad in fact he wanted to be the exact opposite.

While he was patrolling, he knew it was useless to do so because even if he did look for the culprit all day, he won't be able to because it's Mari who will have to be punished, the love of his life.

He worried, as to what he should do so she can be free from all those worries of getting arrested and live her life in peace with him. He wanted to help her and he had to find a way, soon.

°°<A FEW WEEKS EARLIER>°°

"Thanks.", Changbin handed Mari and Hyori ice cream cones. Mari picked up Hyori so she won't lost her. Changbin saw how she was carrying Hyori, some shopping bags and an ice cream cone so he took the shopping bags from her.

"I can hold them-"

"Do you like the ice cream?", he asked, completely changing the subject. Mari chuckled.

"Yeah."

They've been hanging out almost every other weekend. Everyday when Changbin had a day off, he'd hang out with Hyori and Mari. He liked to spend time with them and they also liked his company. Especially Hyori, she'd grown close to Changbin. Extremely close. Sometimes she would, herself, ask her mom to go somewhere with Changbin. They felt like a family.

Mari had also shared a few of her secrets with him. She trusted him completely but she still feared how he'd react if he'd find out that what she does. She doesn't know how Changbin knows about her wrongdoings since a long time ago.

"He-"

"Are you Kim Mari?", a cluster of people in the police uniform, blocked the way of the three.

She knew that if she tried to deny it, they would show all kinds of proof that she is Kim Mari. Plus, she had Hyori in her arms and by running away, she'd also put her life in danger. She had to tell Changbin.