secret pain | baekyeon (on-going)

Chapter 6

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Taeyeon hesitated before speaking, "There's another thing, Tiffany... Liam saw Baekhyun on TV."

Tiffany raised an eyebrow, a bit taken aback. "Okay? But Taeyeon, we both knew that could happen. Baekhyun's a public figure, he's on TV often. Is it really that big of a deal? Surely, Liam wouldn't immediately jump to the conclusion that he's his father just by seeing him on screen, right?"

Taeyeon shook her head, her expression troubled. "I thought it would be like that too. But when he saw him, I noticed a certain intensity in his gaze. Liam was more attentive than usual, like he felt an innate connection. And then, he turned to me and asked who he was."

Tiffany's eyes widened in realization, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "Oh my god... And how did you handle it?"

Caught off guard by her son's inquiry, Taeyeon admitted, "I was paralyzed for a moment, didn't know what to say. I... I ended up telling him I didn't know who Baekhyun was."

Tiffany's jaw dropped, disbelief evident in her tone. "What the fuck? With everything at stake, you chose to play that card?"

Taeyeon's voice rose defensively, "I was cornered, Tiff! What was I supposed to say? 'Hey Liam, that's your dad on TV'? It's not that simple!"

Tiffany took a deep breath, trying to keep her own emotions in check. "Taeyeon, you can't just keep avoiding this. What happens the next time he sees Baekhyun on TV, or if he hears about him from his friends?"

Taeyeon's eyes flashed with frustration. "I know, Tiffany! But this isn't something you can just bring up casually over dinner. He's seven. How do you explain to a seven-year-old that the celebrity he's watching is his father? Especially when that very celebrity doesn't even know he exists?"

Tiffany ran her hands through her hair, exasperated. "By telling him the truth, Taeyeon! In a way that he can understand, of course. Kids are resilient. It's the secrets and the lies that hurt them more in the long run."

"But it's not just about Liam," Taeyeon countered, her voice rising with emotion. "It's about Baekhyun too. He has a right to know, and I'm terrified of how he'll react."

The room was thick with tension as the two women faced off, the weight of years of unspoken words and pent-up emotions between them.

Tiffany softened her tone, her earlier anger replaced with genuine concern. "I know you're scared. But avoiding the truth won't make it go away. You need to confront this, for Liam and for yourself."

Taeyeon's eyes filled with tears, the enormity of the situation pressing down on her. "I just want to protect him. I want to protect them both."

Tiffany moved closer, wrapping her arms around her friend in a comforting embrace. "I know you do. But sometimes, the best way to protect the ones we love is to face the truth, no matter how painful it might be."

Following their heartfelt discussion, the gravity of the situation settled heavily on Taeyeon. The relentless march of time became all too apparent to her. However, the thought of directly confronting Liam's father about his son wasn't as straightforward as it seemed, especially given the intricate and tumultuous nature of their past relationship. And now, with the recent revelation that he was in a relationship, introducing such a pivotal piece of information could throw even more chaos into the mix.

Caught between the fear of the truth being accidentally unveiled and the need to protect her son's feelings, Taeyeon felt trapped. In the short term, the only solution she could think of to prevent a repeat of the recent incident was to limit Liam's exposure to television. This would, at the very least, reduce the chances of him coming across his father unknowingly and raising further questions.

.

The warm and familiar sound of Liam's voice was the first thing Taeyeon heard as the morning sun's rays streamed into her room. "Good morning, mommy," he greeted with enthusiasm.

Blinking her eyes open, Taeyeon was met with the sight of her son, already alert and eager to start the day. "Well, look who's the early bird today. How long have you been up, little one?"

Liam considered the question, his little fingers tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm, I didn't keep track... but it feels like a reeeally long time," he stretched out the word, making it sound even longer than it was.

A playful expression of mock shock took over Taeyeon's face. "Oh my! So you've been up and didn't think to wake mommy?"

Liam's gaze softened, a gentle wisdom in his eyes that belied his young age. "Well, mommy sounded so peacefully asleep. I didn't want to disturb your sweet dreams. Plus," he added with a cheeky grin, "I really like looking at your face when you're sleeping. You look so pretty, just like a fairy."

A warm and affectionate smile curled Taeyeon's lips. That charm, that thoughtful nature, and his choices of words, she mused to herself, he's definitely inherited that from his father.

Feeling a rush of love for her son, Taeyeon stretched out her arms inviting him for a morning cuddle. "Come here, you little charmer," she said with a chuckle.

Liam, without any hesitation, jumped into his mother's embrace, wrapping his tiny arms around her as they shared a warm hug. The bed was filled with their laughter, their bond evident in every shared moment.

Breaking the embrace, Liam looked into Taeyeon's eyes with an innocent curiosity. "Mommy, can we make pancakes today? You know, the fluffy ones you used to make with lots of maple syrup and ice cream?"

Taeyeon's heart melted at his request. "Of course, my love. Pancakes it is! But only if you help me in the kitchen."

Liam's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Deal! I can be your little chef."

As the sun began to shine through the kitchen windows, Taeyeon and Liam started their day preparing for a delicious breakfast. Taeyeon sifted through the pantry shelves, gathering the necessary ingredients, while Liam perched patiently on a stool, watching his mom's every move with eager anticipation.

With a worried frown forming on her face, Taeyeon lamented, "Oh, Liam... it looks like we're out of eggs and maple syrup. I can't believe I missed these when I last checked." The rare request from Liam had taken her by surprise, especially given that he wasn't usually fussy about food, and she was determined to make it perfect.

The young boy's bright eyes widened in surprise, and his once-upbeat expression faltered, revealing a hint of disappointment. However, recognizing the guilt apparent in his mother's face, Liam's innate positivity and understanding shone through. His features quickly softened as he offered her a beaming smile.

"Hey, don't worry, mommy! We can always improvise. Let's get creative with whatever we have in the pantry," he suggested enthusiastically, pointing to the shelves stocked with various ingredients.

Taeyeon felt a whirlwind of emotions - a deep appreciation for her son's maturity and understanding, coupled with guilt for not being able to fulfill his simple wish. It wasn't common for Liam to be with her every day or to express particular desires, and she wished she could make every moment with him special.

"Absolutely not, Liam. You wanted pancakes, and pancakes we shall have," Taeyeon asserted with a playful determination, eager to make her son's wish come true. "How about a little adventure to the grocery store with mommy? We can pick out everything we need together."

Liam's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "Really, Mommy? I'd love to!" he responded, his youthful excitement evident in every feature of his face.

Grinning widely, warmed by his eager reaction, Taeyeon extended her hand towards him. "Let's go, then!"