Crushed And Bond

Chapter 9: New Beginnings

The morning sun cast a golden hue over the quaint neighborhood where Lalisa's new house stood, nestled amidst a row of charming homes adorned with colorful flower gardens. Inside, the air was filled with the tantalizing aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the tantalizing scent of sizzling bacon in the pan. Lalisa moved about the kitchen with practiced ease, her movements graceful and purposeful as she prepared breakfast for herself and Jiyeon. With one hand expertly flipping pancakes on the griddle, Lalisa held her phone to her ear with the other, multitasking like the seasoned businesswoman she was.

"Yes, I need those quarterly reports on my desk by noon," Lalisa instructed her employee, her voice firm but composed. "And don't forget to follow up with our suppliers about the delivery schedule for next week's batch."

Outside the kitchen window, the world awakened to the gentle hum of daily life, the distant sounds of children playing and birds chirping adding to the symphony of morning. Lalisa paused for a moment, taking in the serene beauty of her surroundings, a sense of gratitude washing over her as she reflected on the journey that had brought her to this moment.

As she hung up the phone, Lalisa's attention turned to her daughter Jiyeon, who sat at the kitchen table with a book in hand, her long hair falling in unruly tangles around her face. With a fond smile, Lalisa set a plate of pancakes and bacon in front of Mia, who greeted the meal with eager enthusiasm.

"Thanks, Mama!" Jiyeon exclaimed, her eyes lighting up at the sight of her favorite breakfast. "These look delicious!"

Lalisa chuckled softly, her heart swelling with maternal pride as she watched Jiyeon dig into her meal with delight. Despite the challenges they had faced, moments like these made it all worthwhile—the simple joys of family and togetherness that filled their home with warmth and love.

After breakfast, Lalisa and Jiyeon set off for her new school, the anticipation of a fresh start palpable in the air. The schoolyard buzzed with activity as students chatted excitedly with friends and teachers bustled about, preparing for the day ahead. Lalisa's heart swelled with pride as she watched Jiyeon navigate the bustling building with ease, her confidence shining brightly amidst the sea of unfamiliar faces.

Inside the principal's office, Jiyeon sat with poise and determination, her eyes alight with curiosity as she answered each question with unwavering confidence. The principal, a kindly woman with a warm smile, looked on with admiration, her heart touched by Jiyeon's intelligence and poise. "Impressive, Jiyeon," the principal praised, her eyes twinkling with approval. "You're going to do great things here."

"You go sit outside for a while, I will talk to your mother about important things." Mrs. Kang gestured Jiyeon to wait outside while the little girl stood up and went out of the door obediently.

As Mia waited outside the office, Lalisa filled out the necessary paperwork, her heart skipping a beat as she came to the section asking for Mia's father's information. With a steadying breath, Lalisa left the box empty, a silent vow to protect her daughter from the pain of their past.

Mrs. Kang took the administration form from Lisa and began to view it once she had completed it. When she saw the column of Father's name empty, she couldn't help but forrow her brows together. She was curious but she didn't ask about it to Lalisa and began talking about the school's fee.

As Jiyeon waited outside the principal's office, her attention wandered to the bustling hallway outside. She watched as students hurried past, their laughter and chatter filling the air with a sense of camaraderie. Lost in her thoughts, Jiyeon barely noticed the group of boys approaching, their mischievous grins sending a shiver down her spine.

"Hyuk, look, our next target, hehe. She seems new." a chubby little boy whispered to the handsome little boy in front of him.

"Ready the weapon." The boy called Hyuk commanded extending his hand towards the chubby boy who handed him something.

Suddenly, the boy called Hyuk stepped forward, a sly gleam in his eye as he brandished a fake cockroach in his hand. With a mischievous smirk, he tossed it in Jiyeon's direction, the plastic insect skittering across the floor with a grotesque realism.

For a moment, Jiyeon froze, her heart pounding in her chest as she stared at the fake cockroach in horror. But then, something inside her snapped, a fierce determination rising up to meet the challenge. With a steely glint in her eye, Jiyeon snatched up the fake cockroach and hurled it back at the boys with all her might.

The boys' laughter turned to shock as the plastic insect soared through the air, landing at their feet with a resounding thud. Jiyeon stood her ground, her chin held high as she faced down her tormentors with a look of defiance.

"Nice try," she said, her voice ringing out with confidence. "But you're not going to scare me that easily."

"Well we don't really care if you're scared or not, what are going to do about that, tell your little mommy about this incident." Hyuk said picking up the fake cockroach from the ground.

"No, but tell it to the principal instead." With that Jiyeon moved herself towards the entrance of the principal's office.

The boys' faces paled with fear as Jiyeon's words sank in, their bravado crumbling in the face of her unwavering resolve. With a muttered apology, they scurried away, leaving Mia standing victorious in their wake.

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At home, when Jiyeon recounted the incident with the boys and the fake cockroach, Lalisa's heart swelled with pride at her daughter's bravery. "You handled that perfectly, Jiyeon," she said, her voice laced with admiration. "You're stronger than you know."

Jiyeon couldn't help but feel a surge of pride at her own bravery. "Those boys won't be bothering me again anytime soon," she declared, a triumphant smile playing on her lips.

Later that evening, as Lalisa prepared dinner in the kitchen, Mia's words echoed in her mind, a reminder of the resilience and courage that lay within her daughter's heart. And as she glanced out the window at the setting sun, Lalisa couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the precious moments they shared together, each one a testament to the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child.

____

Meanwhile, across town, Jungkook listened intently as his nephew Minhyuk recounted the events of the day. Jungkook decided to return to the Jeon family home today. Not that he called anyone his family here except his nephew and cousin in law but he missed the little boy who is always following him around so he decided to pay a visit.

Minhyuk was a handsome young boy, with dark hair and sparkling eyes that mirrored his uncle's. Despite his tender age, there was a maturity in his demeanor that belied his years, a testament to the strong bond he shared with his uncle. Minhyuk was the only son of Mingyu and Tzuyu. However he was close with neither of his parents. His mother was always flying around the world to capturing the photographs of various wild animals. She was busy with her career and his father couldn't care less about him. So, he could only stick to his handsome uncle.

"Jungkook samchon," Minhyuk said, his voice tinged with furry. "Guess what happened at school today?"

Jungkook raised an eyebrow, curious to hear his nephew's tale. As Minhyuk recounted the events of the day, Jungkook listened intently, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

 His heart swelled with pride at the sight of the brave young girl who had stood up for herself.

"Hey, why are you smiling? You are not suppose to smile, she almost brought me to tears when she stepped into the principal's office." Jungkook quickly hid his smile from his nephew and feigned slight anger.

 "Girls are just like that, Minhyuk," Jungkook said, his voice tinged with fake rage. "Complain boxes, every one of them."

And as Minhyuk laughed at his uncle's words, Jungkook couldn't help but feel a surge of affection for his spirited nephew, a reminder of the love and joy that family brought into his life, even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.

And as Minhyuk continued to regale his uncle with tales of the day's adventures, Jungkook couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement building within him, a newfound curiosity about the mysterious new girl who had captured his admiration. Little did he know, their paths were destined to cross in ways neither of them could have imagined.

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{ a/n: I don't know but I am feeling excited for no reason. }