Lost & Found

Chapter Nineteen

Present Day
22-Years-Old

Within a week, Aera and Jungkook were moved out of their apartment and into Yoongi's. Aera had insisted she would sleep on the couch, as she wanted Jungkook to have his own room. But Yoongi had looked at her like she had three heads and moved her into his room instead. He purchased a new couch, one that pulled out into a bed, and set himself up there.

Yoongi and Jungkook quickly fell in love with each other. It didn't take long until Jungkook was calling Yoongi 'daddy'. And whatever awkwardness there may have been for him calling a non-couple 'mommy' and 'daddy' was erased by how incredibly sweet Jungkook was when he said it. Aera was happy that Jungkook now had a father figure in his life. Or at least a male that he could look up to.

Mrs. Kang had assured Aera that she had delivered Aera's adoption application directly to the judge, and he'd promised to consider it. Mrs. Kang was also keeping Aera informed as best she could as to where they were in the adoption process.

Eventually, it was time for Mrs. Kang and some of her fellow social workers to do a home inspection, to ensure Jungkook was and would be in a safe environment should Aera be accepted to adopt him. They were impressed with Yoongi having given up his bedroom so that Jungkook could have his own. And, after seeing Jungkook interact with Yoongi, Mrs. Kang had told Aera that Yoongi was the perfect second parental figure for Jungkook. She was definitely pulling for Aera to be chosen to adopt Jungkook.

It was the next week that Yoongi began acting odd. He was staying a little late at work in the evenings, and Aera thought he was acting very secretive. She'd tried asking him about it, but he would brush her off. A client was recording an album, he'd told her, and it required a lot of overtime to get all of the production done for each song. Aera wasn't sure she believed him, but accepted his answer as she had no idea what other reasons he might be staying out late could be.

One day, Yoongi insisted that he would pick Jungkook up from daycare. Aera thought this as one other thing that was odd, considering she was always the one to pick him up. And, if Yoongi had been working so late on his music for a week, why would he suddenly be able to get off early to pick up Jungkook?

He wanted to take Jungkook to the park, he'd told her. But when she said she'd like to go with them, Yoongi had insisted that she not. He wanted to spend some alone time with Jungkook. Aera was skeptical and honestly, a bit nervous to let Jungkook out of her sight for any longer than he was at daycare. It wasn't that she didn't trust Yoongi...she did, implicitly. But she worried that, if she wasn't with Jungkook all the time that she could be, the court would maybe take him away again. That if she wasn't present in his life all the time, she wouldn't be considered a fit mother for him.

But Yoongi was insistent and Aera finally gave in. She'd told Yoongi to be back by dinner, because she was going to be making it for all of them that night.

So when they returned home and Yoongi sent Jungkook to his room to play, he found Aera in the kitchen, stirring a soup as rice was cooking.

"Hey," Yoongi said as he came up behind her, so as to not startle her. "What're you making?"

"Kongnamul guk," she replied. "Where is Jungkook?"

"In his room."

"Did you guys have fun at the park?"

Yoongi smiled nervously, though Aera didn't notice. "Uh, yeah. He, uh, has a lot of energy."

Aera laughed. "That he does!"

"So," Yoongi said, changing the subject. "Have you heard anything from Mrs. Kang about the adoption process lately?"

"No," Aera said, turning her back on him to continue stirring the soup. "I'm getting more and more nervous that they won't consider me. I just worry they'll think I won't be able to provide him with everything he needs."

"Isn't it true that they would be more likely to place him with a married couple?"

Aera gripped the spoon tightly and grit her teeth. "Yes, but then what am I supposed to do, Yoongs?"

"You could – "

"Just up and marry someone I don't even know?" She furiously stirred the soup.

"No – "

"I mean, I'd do anything for that kid, but – "

"That's not what I mean, A. I – "

"Then, what?!" Aera shouted with frustration. "What's the answer?!" She spun around, waving the spoon. "What do I – "

She froze. The spoon fell to her side, then clattered to the floor.

Yoongi was in front of her, on one knee, holding a tiny box in his hand.

"Marry me."

Aera stared at him. Yoongi patiently waited for her brain to catch up with her eyes. Her head eventually began slowly moving side to side. "Yoongs..."

"Marry me, A. We can adopt him together."

"Yoongi."

His eyes never left hers.

"Aera."

"But...you... Do you even love me?"

"Yes."

"No, Yoongi. This is serious. I don't mean do you love me like a friend. I mean – "

"I know what you mean. The answer is still yes."

Aera sucked in a gasp. "But..."

Neither of them said anything further; they simply stared into each other's eyes. Aera took a deep breath before she finally spoke again. Her voice shook slightly.

"Since when?" she whispered.

"I don't really know," Yoongi admitted. "I think I have for a long time – maybe even since the beginning – but my fear of losing you as a friend pushed it into my subconscious. I realized it fully a few weeks ago; when I brought you home from the bar."

"Why then?"

"Because I realized that all I wanted to do was take care of you. You called me your safe place, and I knew I wanted to always be that for you. And as I watched you while you slept, I finally recognized how truly beautiful you are. But please know that I don't just mean on the outside. Your soul, A. It's beautiful. And you have an amazing heart."

Aera was quiet again. She just continued to stare at Yoongi, wide eyed. A few long moments passed between them.

"You watched me sleeping?"

Yoongi blinked, then laughed.

"That's all you got from that?"

Aera cracked a smile. "Well, yeah. Because you're a creep."

Yoongi laughed again. "Sorry," he said sheepishly.

"I think..." Aera continued suddenly. "I think I love you, too."

"You think? It's okay if you don't, A. I'll underst – "

"No, I do," Aera interrupted. "Just like you, I think I have for a long time. I was just scared to admit it."

"Because you didn't want to lose me as a friend?"

Aera nodded. "I guess we think alike about yet another thing."

Yoongi smiled, then looked down at the box in his hand. He opened it, and showed the ring inside to Aera.

"So... What do you say?" he asked as he looked up at her again. "Will you marry me?"

Aera stared at the beautiful ring that was just her style; a thin rose gold band with a raw white diamond. Then, she took a deep breath.

"Yes."