Lost & Found

Chapter Seven

Present Day
22-Years-Old

"What's that?"

"Hmm?"

Sunhee sat up in bed. "What's that noise?"

Yoongi opened his eyes at the movement, and looked up at her. "What noise?"

"You don't hear that?"

Yoongi laid there, listening. After a few moments, it hit him what it was. He jumped up and out of bed.

"Yoongi?"

"That's Aera," he said, pulling on a shirt.

"Okay? Why are you getting out of bed?"

"She's crying," Yoongi explained, heading to his dresser to grab a pair of shorts.

"And?"

Yoongi stopped, then glanced over his shoulder at Sunhee.

"And? She's crying. I need to make sure she's okay."

Then as soon as he was dressed, he made his way into the living room.

"A?" he asked, looking around. "What's going on?"

He eventually found her in the kitchen. She was standing against the counter, her arms wrapped around herself. Yoongi hurried to her side.

"A, what's wrong?"

"I-It's Jungkook," she said quietly. "His uncle hit him."

"What?!"

"Up until now, he's just been neglected by them. But I felt like as often as I was seeing him, he was being taken care of at least somewhat properly. But this... Yoongs, I can't just look the other way. I need to tell the police."

"Well, of course," Yoongi said. "Have you already called them?"

"Not yet, I..."

Yoongi watched her. She looked down.

"I'm scared to."

"Why?"

"When I tell them, they'll take him away from them. And then I may never see him again."

Yoongi sighed. "That is a possibility, A, but – "

"I know," Aera interrupted. "I have to do it. It's just going to be hard."

Yoongi pulled her into a hug. "I know, A. I'm so sorry."

"What's going on?"

Aera looked up over Yoongi's shoulder. "Oh, hi, Sunhee."

"Is everything okay? Yoongi said he heard you crying."

"Yeah," Aera said as she disentangled herself from Yoongi. "There's just a lot going on with the little boy I watch, and it's getting to me. He's in a bad situation and it just gets hard sometimes."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Sunhee said. "Maybe you and I could hang out together sometime soon. Have a girls day or something. Maybe it'd get your mind off of things."

Aera smiled a small smile. "Thank you, I'd really like that, actually."

Sunhee grinned as Yoongi wrapped his arms around her. "Great! I actually need to get going. I have to work tonight. But I'll call you, okay?"

"Okay."

Yoongi walked Sunhee to the front door. "You're amazing."

"Well, I know," Sunhee said teasingly. "But why this time?"