You Belong With Me | Jeongcheol Fanfic

Chapter 71

The next morning, after a restful sleep in their newly settled apartment, Jeonghan and Seungcheol woke up early, ready to take the first concrete steps toward building the family they'd dreamed of. The sun streamed through the window, casting a soft, golden light across their living room. Despite all the unpacking and setting up they had done the past few days, today felt different. Today was about beginning something new, something they both felt in their hearts was meant to happen.

Over a quick breakfast of toast with butter and jam, Jeonghan made the first move. "What do you think? Should we dive into it today? Start looking into adoption agencies?" His voice had a mix of excitement and determination.

Seungcheol looked over at him from across the kitchen table, the morning haze still evident in his eyes but softening as he processed the question. He wiped his mouth with a napkin and nodded slowly. "Yeah, I think it's time. Let's start now. If we're serious about this, we need to understand what's out there. I think the sooner we start, the sooner we'll feel more ready."

They cleared their breakfast dishes and moved to the living room, sitting down on the couch where their laptops sat open and ready. The large windows framed the view of the bustling city outside, but for the moment, their focus was solely on the task ahead. Jeonghan opened a few tabs and began browsing the websites of adoption agencies. He scanned through pages of information, including general adoption requirements, the application process, and testimonials from families who had walked this path before.

"This one looks good," Jeonghan said, pointing to one agency in particular. "They've been around for a long time and seem to have a really personal approach. I like that they emphasize matching children with parents based on shared values and interests. It doesn't just feel like a transaction, you know? It feels more like they care about the relationship between the child and the family."

Seungcheol leaned over to read through the page, nodding in agreement. "That's really important to me, too. It should be about the bond, not just paperwork. And look, they also have an option for post-adoption counseling and support groups for parents. That could be helpful for us as we navigate the process."

Jeonghan smiled at Seungcheol's thoughtful response. "I think we should contact them. Ask for more details, see if we meet their criteria. But, uh... we should also look at a few more. We can't just go with the first one we like."

Seungcheol chuckled and leaned back into the couch, a playful glint in his eyes. "You're right. We'll take our time, make sure we're choosing the right fit for us. But I do like what I see so far."

They spent the next few hours diving deeper into their research, scrolling through multiple adoption agency websites, comparing services, reading through eligibility requirements, and noting down important points in a shared document. They talked about what they wanted in the agency they chose—someone who was transparent, compassionate, and had experience matching children with same-sex couples. It was a topic that held its own set of challenges, but they both knew that if they worked together, they could overcome them.

"I like the idea of adopting a child from South Korea," Jeonghan mused after a while, his fingers tracing over the edge of his coffee cup as he sat back in his chair. "I feel connected to this place, and it would be wonderful to give a child the chance to grow up here, in a home that feels familiar and safe."

Seungcheol looked over at him with a thoughtful expression. "I've thought about that, too. It feels like home already, and we could be giving a child the same sense of security we've built here. I like the idea of our child knowing this city, growing up surrounded by family, friends, and culture."