Lost & Found

Chapter Thirteen

Present Day
22-Years-Old

The next evening, despite the fact that it was raining, Yoongi headed out a bit early to pick up Sunhee from work. He was simply perusing the shops when he saw her.

She was wearing a rain coat, hat and boots, and holding the hand of a little boy clad much the same. Yoongi watched as they jumped around in puddles and laughed together. His heart started beating wildly as he watched. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed her laugh.

And then before he even realized he was doing it, Yoongi was walking toward them. The heavy rain immediately soaked him, but he didn't feel it.

"Aera?" he breathed as he approached them.

Aera whipped around, having immediately recognized Yoongi's voice. Her eyes were wide and she looked nervous.

"Uh, hey," she said quietly. Yoongi's heart dropped. Aera was never quiet. Yoongi was sure she hadn't been since...the last time he saw her.

"Hey," he said, not sure of what else to say.

"Jungkook, this is my frien – This – This is Yoong...i."

Yoongi's heart dropped even further at her introduction.

"Hewo!" the little boy said cheerfully as he stepped forward and bowed deeply. "I'm Jungkook!"

Yoongi observed him with a small smile. "Hello," he replied, bowing back just as deeply. When he righted himself, he saw a small smile also playing at Aera's lips.

They stared at each other for a moment until Aera suddenly looked worried. "Goodness, here!" She pulled a small umbrella from her pocket, opened it and tried to hand it to Yoongi. He stared at it.

"Keep that for yourselves," he told her.

Aera flicked the underside of her hat, then pointed to her coat. "We're fine. You're soaked. Take it."

"I'm fine, really," Yoongi insisted.

"You'll catch your death out here like this, Yoongs!" she exclaimed with exasperation. Then, her eyes went wide and she gasped as she realized she'd called Yoongi by his old nickname.

"I'm so sorry," she said quickly. "I didn't mean – Look, we should be going. Here," she thrust her hand out and Yoongi finally took the umbrella from her.

They then turned to leave and had only made it a few steps before, "It's okay, A."

Aera froze. After a moment, she turned around very slowly and looked at Yoongi. He held the umbrella over his head, but the rain was still dripping from his hair in rivulets. He pushed the hair out of his face and offered a small smile.

"So, uh, how are you?" Aera asked, ignoring Jungkook pulling on her hand.

"I'm...okay. How are you?"

"Mm, not so great," Aera admitted. "But I'm trying to make the best of things."

Yoongi's brow furrowed. "What's wrong?"

Aera glanced back at Jungkook to make sure he wasn't listening. He was once again preoccupied by a puddle. Aera then sighed deeply. "I lost my job, so I had to move. It's not a very nice or safe place, so it's set me back in my pursuit of adopting Jungkook."

Yoongi was dumbfounded. "You-You're trying to adopt him?" He couldn't help but feel hurt about not knowing this incredibly important information about Aera's life.

"Yeah, but it's looking like it's not going to happen," Aera said sadly. "I'm not going to stop trying, though."

"How is he here with you now, then?" Yoongi blurted before he even realized it was a slightly rude and presumptuous question.