FATE

chapter 8

Y/N’s POV

The afternoon sun was gentle as I waited outside Durva ’s school, watching the children pour out through the gates.

My heart swelled as I spotted him, his small figure looking a little worn out but still carrying that spark of excitement in his eyes.

He ran toward me, his backpack bouncing with each step, and I knelt down to pull him into a warm hug.

“How was school, Durva ?” I asked, brushing a few stray hairs off his forehead.

He hesitated for a split second, then offered me a smile, but it seemed a little forced. “It was… okay.”

I raised an eyebrow, sensing that there was more to the story.

But I didn’t want to push him. New schools were hard enough, especially when everything was different.

He’d open up if he wanted to, I thought.

“Just okay?” I teased, taking his hand as we began to walk toward home. “Did you make any new friends today?”

Durva looked down, kicking a small pebble on the sidewalk.

“Kind of… I talked to a few kids.” He paused, then added quietly, “But no real friends yet.”

I gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “That’s alright, love. Real friends take time, don’t they?”

He nodded, his eyes focused on the ground. “Yeah, I guess so.”

I glanced at him, his small, slouched shoulders making me feel a pang of worry. But I kept my tone light.

“You know, you’re pretty amazing for getting through the day. I bet things will get better.”

He looked up at me with a tentative smile, as if my words had given him a bit of comfort. “Thanks, Amma.”

When we got home, I set Durva up with a snack, watching as he absently ate, seeming lost in his thoughts.

The quietness unsettled me, and a thought crossed my mind—maybe it was time to consider getting a job.

Things were piling up: bills, the cost of living,the BTS concert tickets, and even small things like Taemin’s school supplies.

And if I could find something close by, I could be there for him whenever he needed me.

I glanced at him again as he finished his snack, still looking a bit down.

I hoped, for his sake and mine, that things would get easier soon.

Maybe, with a bit of luck and patience, this new chapter would bring us both a little more happiness.

After Taemin finished his snack, I could still see a bit of that sadness lingering in his eyes.

He wasn’t his usual bright self, and as much as I wanted to know what had happened, I decided to let him share things at his own pace.

Maybe he just needed a little comfort.

“Durva ,” I said, an idea forming in my mind, “how about we watch some Run BTS together? We haven’t watched it in a while, right?”

His face perked up a bit, the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Really, Amma? You’d watch it with me?”

“Of course!” I grinned, reaching for the remote. “I need to catch up, don’t I? You’re always telling me how funny it is.”

He giggled, scooting closer to me on the couch as I pulled up the show.

We settled in as the familiar faces of BTS appeared on the screen, their playful antics filling the room with laughter and a warmth that seemed to lift the lingering gloom.

As we watched, Durva began to relax, laughing at their jokes and nudging me whenever something funny happened.

Soon enough, we were both cracking up at Jin’s jokes, Jimin’s adorable laughter, and Jungkook’s competitive spirit.

At one point, Durva looked up at me, his eyes shining with joy. “Amma, don’t you think they’re the best? They’re just… they’re like friends, even though they’re famous.”

I nodded, smiling. “They’re amazing, Durva. It’s like they can make people laugh no matter what’s going on.”

We watched a few more episodes, and by the end, Durva's sadness seemed to have faded completely, replaced with that sparkle I was used to seeing.

I hugged him close, feeling grateful for this simple moment.

“Thank you, Amma,” he murmured as he nestled into my side.

“Anytime, love,” I replied, my heart feeling lighter.

For now, I’d treasure these small moments and let the rest fall into place.

Author's pov
In the private lounge of their hotel, BTS gathered around a low table, enjoying a rare break between rehearsals and schedules.

The upcoming concert was looming, but it wasn’t just work that had been on their minds.

Each of them was still thinking about that brief encounter with Y/N—the woman with a warm smile and gentle presence, whose gratitude had been as genuine as it was rare.

“Did you see the way she looked at us?” Jimin asked, leaning back with a small smile.

“She didn’t even hesitate to come over and thank Jin. It’s like she didn’t see us as idols, just… regular people.”

Jin chuckled, his expression thoughtful. “Yeah, she was so sincere. Most people usually get nervous or ask for a photo, but she just looked so relieved, so grateful. It was refreshing.”

Namjoon nodded, adjusting his cap. “She’s different. The way she talked to us… it felt like she genuinely cared. She wasn’t starstruck—just really sweet.”

Yoongi crossed his arms, nodding in agreement.

“There’s something about her, though. It’s like she has this calm energy… like she’s gone through her share of struggles but keeps going. It’s rare to meet someone like that.”

Taehyung, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up. “She felt real, you know? In this world where everything can feel fake… meeting someone so honest, someone who didn’t try to impress us, it felt good.”

They all exchanged a silent agreement, each lost in their own thoughts.

Y/N had left a soft but undeniable impression on them.

They couldn’t quite explain why, but something about her presence felt like a breath of fresh air.

“She was just… sweet,” Hoseok said, smiling as he thought back. “Like she’d never let the world change her kindness. It’s rare to meet people like that.”