Echoes of the Past || Jakehoon

Chapter 29: A New Adventure Begins

Saturday dawned bright and early in the Heo household. The sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow on the sleeping figures of Sunghoon and Jake. Slowly, they began to stir, roused by the distant sounds of birds chirping and the gentle rustle of leaves outside their window.

Sunghoon stretched languidly, his arm reaching out to pull Jake closer. "Good morning, my Chèvrefeuille," he whispered, his voice still husky with sleep.

Jake smiled, snuggling into Sunghoon's embrace. "Good morning, Hoon. Did you sleep well?"

Sunghoon nodded, pressing a kiss to Jake's forehead. "Always do when I'm with you."

Just then, the sound of small feet padding down the hallway reached their ears. Moments later, Heeseung appeared in the doorway, his hair adorably tousled from sleep. "Mama, Papa, can we go on another adventure today?" he asked, his eyes bright with excitement.

Sunghoon and Jake exchanged amused glances. "Good morning, little man," Jake greeted, sitting up and patting the space between them on the bed. "What kind of adventure do you have in mind?"

Heeseung climbed up eagerly, settling himself between his parents. "I want to go to the zoo! Mrs. Kim said they have new animals. Can we go, please?"

Sunghoon chuckled, ruffling Heeseung's hair. "The zoo sounds like a great idea. What do you think, Jake?"

Jake smiled warmly. "I think it's perfect. Let's have breakfast first, and then we can head out."

With their plan set, the family got ready for the day. Heeseung was practically bouncing with excitement as they made their way to the kitchen, where Mrs. Kim had already prepared a delicious breakfast spread. They enjoyed their meal together, talking about the animals they hoped to see at the zoo.

After breakfast, they packed a small bag with snacks, water, and Heeseung's favorite hat to protect him from the sun. Soon, they were on their way, the anticipation palpable in the air.

The zoo was bustling with families and children, all eager to see the new additions. As they passed through the entrance gates, Heeseung's eyes widened in wonder at the sight of the various animal enclosures. "Look, Mama! Look, Papa! There's a lion!" he exclaimed, pointing excitedly.

Sunghoon and Jake shared a smile, their hearts swelling with joy at Heeseung's enthusiasm. They spent the next few hours exploring the zoo, marveling at the majestic lions, playful monkeys, and graceful giraffes. Heeseung was particularly fascinated by the penguins, giggling at their waddling movements and the way they slid into the water.

As they strolled through the zoo, they stumbled upon a new exhibit featuring a family of pandas. Heeseung's eyes lit up. "Mama, Papa, look! Pandas!"

They approached the enclosure, watching as the pandas lazily munched on bamboo and rolled around playfully. Sunghoon crouched down to Heeseung's level. "Did you know that pandas are very special animals? They're known for their black and white fur and their love for bamboo."

Heeseung nodded, captivated by the pandas' antics. "They're so cute! Can we take one home?"

Jake laughed softly, shaking his head. "I don't think we can take one home, sweetheart. But we can visit them whenever you like."

Satisfied with that answer, Heeseung continued to watch the pandas with rapt attention. After a while, they moved on to the next exhibit, enjoying the variety of animals and the informative displays.

As they made their way to the petting zoo area, Sunghoon couldn't resist the urge to tease Jake a little. "Hey, Jake," he began with a mischievous glint in his eye, "do you remember that time we went to a petting zoo and a goat tried to eat your hat?"

Jake rolled his eyes playfully. "How could I forget? That goat had a taste for fashion."

Heeseung giggled, looking up at Jake with wide eyes. "Mama, did a goat really try to eat your hat?"

Jake nodded, smiling. "It did. And your papa thought it was the funniest thing in the world."

Sunghoon laughed, wrapping an arm around Jake's shoulders. "It was hilarious! But don't worry, Heeseung, we'll keep a close eye on Mama's hat today."

As they moved on, they passed by a café where they decided to take a short break. While Sunghoon went to get some drinks, a young man who worked there approached Jake and Heeseung. "Hi there, welcome to our café! Can I help you with anything?" the man asked, his eyes lingering a bit too long on Jake.

Jake smiled politely. "Thank you! My husband is just getting us some drinks."

The man's expression faltered for a moment before he recovered with a charming smile. "You have a lovely family. Must be nice to spend a day like this together."

Jake nodded, still oblivious to the man's interest. "It is. We're having a great time."

Just then, Sunghoon returned, his eyes narrowing slightly as he noticed the man's attention on Jake. "Hey, love," Sunghoon said, slipping an arm around Jake's waist possessively. "Everything alright here?"

The man quickly excused himself, sensing the tension. Jake looked up at Sunghoon, puzzled. "Hoon, what's wrong?"

Sunghoon sighed, shaking his head. "Nothing, just... some people don't understand boundaries."

Jake chuckled softly, leaning into Sunghoon. "I didn't even notice. You're so silly sometimes."

Heeseung, catching on to the mood, grinned. "Papa's just protecting Mama from admirers!"

Sunghoon ruffled Heeseung's hair, his expression softening. "That's right, little man. We have to protect Mama from anyone who gets too close."

Jake laughed, rolling his eyes playfully. "You two are impossible."

They spent a few more hours at the zoo, making sure to visit every exhibit and even taking a ride on the zoo train. By the time they were ready to leave, Heeseung was tired but content, his head resting on Jake's shoulder as they made their way back to the car.

The drive home was quiet, with Heeseung dozing off in the backseat. Sunghoon and Jake shared a comfortable silence, reflecting on the wonderful day they had spent together as a family.

Once they arrived home, they gently carried Heeseung to his room, tucking him in for a much-needed nap. Sunghoon and Jake then retreated to the living room, settling on the couch with a sense of fulfillment.

"You know," Sunghoon began, his voice soft, "days like today remind me of how lucky we are to have each other and to share these moments with Heeseung."

Jake smiled, leaning against Sunghoon's shoulder. "I couldn't agree more. Our little family is everything I've ever wanted."

Sunghoon looked deeply into Jake's eyes, his expression softening. "You know, Chèvrefeuille, I can't help but feel protective. Seeing that guy flirt with you, it just... reminded me of how much I adore you."

Jake's eyes sparkled with affection. "Hoon-ah, you have nothing to worry about. I only have eyes for you."

Heeseung, now half-awake from his nap, wandered into the living room, rubbing his eyes. "Mama, what's 'Chèvrefeuille' mean?"

Jake looked at Sunghoon curiously, clearly not knowing the meaning either. Sunghoon smiled mischievously and ruffled Heeseung's hair. "That's a secret, little man. Only I know what it means."

Jake laughed, nudging Sunghoon playfully. "Keeping secrets now, are we?"

Sunghoon winked. "Some secrets are meant to be kept, love."

Heeseung pouted, crossing his arms. "That's not fair! I want to know too."

Sunghoon chuckled, wrapping an arm around both Jake and Heeseung. "One day, maybe I'll tell you. For now, it's just between me and my Chèvrefeuille."

Jake smiled, leaning into Sunghoon. "Fine, keep your secret. But know that I'm very curious now."

As they sat together, enjoying the quiet afternoon, they knew that their love and the bond they shared with Heeseung were the foundation of their happiness. No matter what adventures the future held, they were ready to face them together, as a team, with hearts full of love and gratitude.