Lost & Found

Chapter Twenty-Two

Present Day
22-Years-Old

Yoongi raced to the apartment, running as fast as he could. The bus had been moving so slow, he had almost wished he'd just ran home all the way from work. But, in the end, he knew the bus was faster.

When he reached the door, he turned his key in the lock, then threw it open. Aera was standing there, in the middle of the living room, as if she'd been waiting for him to get there.

"A – "

"I know."

Yoongi raced over to her and pulled her into his arms. Then he kissed her before she could say anything else.

"I know what you're going to say," he said when they broke apart. "But you can't think like that. Let's not think negatively until we have an answer."

Aera nodded, but she didn't look convinced. "We have to take him to Mrs. Kang first."

"Okay," Yoongi said. "Let's be sure to pack a bag for him."

"But that's like giving up!" Aera exclaimed. "That's like saying he'll never come back here!"

"A, do you remember when they took him from the daycare? You said if you had known they were going to do that, you would've packed a bag for him. You would've done that whether you knew you were going to get him back or not. So, let's do it now. I'm not giving up," he continued as she opened her mouth to argue. "It's just... Whatever happens, you'll regret not having packed that bag."

Aera thought it over for a moment, then nodded as she sighed. "I guess you're right."

Yoongi ran his fingers through her hair. "It's going to be okay. We'll be okay, no matter what." Then he leaned down and kissed her again.

They both headed to Jungkook's room. He wasn't home; Yoongi and Aera had both come home early when they'd heard the news, and so Aera hadn't picked him up from daycare yet.

All of the people vying to adopt Jungkook had received a phone call that day. The court had come to a decision, and they were to report to the courthouse at 4 PM. It was now 1 PM, and they began going through Jungkook's things, trying to decide which plushies and clothing he liked best, so they could pack a bag that they may never see again.

As much as Yoongi didn't want her to, Aera couldn't help but think negatively. She had been on the verge of tears ever since she'd gotten the phone call, scared to death she and Yoongi weren't the ones that had been chosen. It wasn't until she went into the bathroom and picked up Jungkook's toothbrush that she finally lost it. The toothbrush brought back memories of when she'd taught him how to use one at his aunt and uncle's house, of how Jungkook was always so proud of his "cwean teef", of how it was one of the first things she'd wished she'd been able to pack when he'd been taken away from her.

Yoongi came running into the bathroom just as Aera's sobbing form sank to the floor. He saw the toothbrush in her hand and immediately knew that anything else he could say about trying to keep a positive attitude would fall on deaf ears. And so he simply sat down beside her, pulled her into his arms, and didn't say anything at all.

They sat like that for a good half hour before Aera decided they needed to pick up Jungkook from daycare. At this point, they had less than two hours left with him before going to the courthouse. Neither wanted to waste any more time that could be spent with Jungkook.

They headed out of the apartment, got on a bus, and nervously headed to the daycare. Yoongi hadn't let go of Aera's hand once. He kept squeezing it gently to try to keep her calm. Aera laid her head on Yoongi's shoulder, and Yoongi kissed the top of her head.