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Joshua's mother stood at the edge of the unfamiliar neighborhood, her eyes scanning the high-rise buildings. The crisp autumn air of Korea bit at her cheeks, but she barely noticed. Beside her, Joshua’s older brother shifted uneasily, his gaze flickering between the looming structures and his mother’s strained expression.

Six years. It had been six long, silent years since they’d last seen Joshua. Six years of unanswered messages, of phone calls that never connected, of holidays with a seat left empty at the dinner table. For a long time, they didn’t know where he had gone. But now, after countless failed attempts, after grappling with hope that had nearly been extinguished, they were here.

“Are you sure this is the right place?” Mrs.Hong asked, her voice tinged with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Not only Joshua but that little grandchild..He or she must be taller now, somewhere near 5 or 6.

He nodded, clutching the address scrawled on a crumpled piece of paper. They had tracked it down through a mutual acquaintance who mentioned Joshua’s name in passing. It had been a lifeline they desperately grasped. Now, they stood at the doorstep of the building, their hearts a confusing mess of anger, hope, and fear.

"Can I help you?" A guy  in his late 20's approached them with his wobbly step, it's Jeonghan,but that's not what they focused,they focused on the baby bump 'Joshua must've looked like this' Mrs Hong thought, a sudden emotions rushed throughout her eyes.

"Umm Aunty?" Jeonghan stand there with confused look as he subconsciously put his palm over his belly under the lady's stare.

"Oh,sorry,Umm..you know someone Joshua ..or Hong?" Mrs.Hong asked,"he is something this tall" Jaden said lifting his hand to show something near 5'8.

"Ohh yes" Jeonghan smiled,"You must be relatives of Joshua?"

"Mother and he..he is brother" Mrs.Hong said ,her voice hold some undescribed pain.

"Ohh, hello" Jeonghan bowed,"no no" she hold his shoulder avoiding his movers to continue further.

"He lives in C wing,there" he said pointing his hand towards mentioned place,"on floor 7,I don't know the flat number " He continue.

"Thank you."She said.

"But Aunty, he will be at his Job now"Jeonghan said checking his watch to conform time.

"Ohh,when he will be back?" Asked Jaden,"I don't know much.."Jeonghan replied with apologetic smile.

"Ohh wait he knows" he spotted man approaching inside ,"Seungkwan,come here!" Jeonghan screamed little more to get the attention of said man.

Seungkwan saw him and approached him with Haeun by his side,"yes?" He asked Jeonghan eyeing two new faces.

"These are Joshua's mother and brother" seungkwan greeted them and so did Haeun with her little vocabulary.

He further got explained about what just happened and Asked about Joshua's arrival.

Seungkwan told them that Joshua came near something 8, there next question is about where is Joshua's child, ok ofcourse they can't asked directly,it will show there lack of knowledge about there own son and will create suspiciousness between the two youngers.

"Ohh Jeongin?" Seungkwan smiled widely,"you see the day care there,he is there."Seungkwan said pointing.

'Its boy and his name is Jeongin' his mother noted the detail in her mind.

They there thank you and walked towards mentioned daycare.

"Don't you think something is fishy?like they look like they didn't know much things,which mother don't about her son's house and literally a 5 year old grand child!" Jeonghan said face little suspicious.

"I think so too,wait! What if they are not real relative? Will they kidnapp Jeongin?" Seungkwan jumped in place which scared Haeun.

"They told you name?"Seungkwan asked unstable in place.

"No,just that lady is his mother and guy is brother" Jeonghan replied.

"Shoot! Hold Haeun and call Joshua I will run there" Seungkwan pushed Haeun toward Jeonghan and ran Towards day care.

#
"Dad please" Joshua said as holding sob in throat.

"You heard what Jaden said,either choose Us or that filthy  illegitimate  child of yours." Mr.Hong said in villainous monotone.

"Illegitimate? At least don't called  unborn like that!" Joshua hold his hand over his stomach as tear rolls down.

"Who is father? Where is he?" Joshua stayed silent.

"Why you are here alone?" Silence.

"Mom" Joshua moved his feet towards lady."No, don't,I agree with your father"said Mrs.Hong.

Joshua nodded in defeat as his face. shows shock and distress.
##



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So if anyone of you don't know this book goes under genre of 'slice of life' .

Thus,drama  and angst will be realistic ✌🏻

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