The Lost Prince

Chapter 22

As Jungkook walked Jin up to his apartment, the two were holding each other's hands. It was too soon for them to part ways, but it's also late already.

Jin turned to Jungkook as they arrived in front of his door. "I think this is me." Jin said in a sad tone.

Jungkook smiled at Jin as he noticed him being sad.

"I will see you tomorrow, then." He said.

Jin pouted and looked at Jungkook. "Do you really have to go home?" He asked.

Jungkook chuckled. "Jin, I am just living downstairs. You know I still need to go home and pick-up my father from the bus parking, right?"

"Oh, y-yeah, of course. Sorry for holding you back." Jin said.

"It's okay." Jungkook said as he brushed away some hair on Jin's forehead so that he can kiss it. "I will see you tomorrow. Please rest well, okay?"

Jin closed his eyes as he felt Jungkook's lips on his forehead and nodded to whatever the man said.

"Goodnight, my prince." Jungkook said before kissing Jin again on his lips.

Jin smiled in their kiss as he felt Jungkook's lips on him.

When they both pulled away, they smiled at each other.

"You should get inside. It's cold." Jungkook said and Jin smiled at him before unlocking his front door.

"Goodnight, Jungkook." He said then left a quick peck on his lips before leaving him and closing the door.

Jungkook smiled more after feeling the initiated kiss of Jin. He touched his lips with his thumb as he remembered the feeling. He then walked back to their apartment, with a smile on his face.

~

Jungkook found his mom cleaning some of the dishes in the kitchen when he got back home. He hugged her and rest his head on her shoulder.

Aera stopped whatever she was doing and turned off the running water.

"Would you mind telling me what is up, Jungkook-ah?" Aera asked.

"I like him, Eomma."

"Jungkook, if---"

Jungkook stopped him. "I already know about him being the prince, Eomma."

Aera gasped upon hearing it then turned to look at Jungkook. She looked around, making sure that Hoseok is not anywhere that could hear them.

"Let's go to your room." Aera said then pulled Jungkook to his room.

Aera closed the door behind her and locked it, making sure that no one will hear them.

"Speak." She said to Jungkook.

Jungkook told her everything that he knows and about the marriage as well.

"Eomma, if there's anything, I am willing to experience this with him, even if it's just temporary rather than regretting it in the future. He is here now and he is with us.

I will make sure to make him feel what love is and how much I can do for him while he is still here." Jungkook said.

"I am scared for the both of you, Jungkook. I always knew how much he feels for you even though he won't tell me. I am sure that whatever you are feeling for each other are both genuine. However, I am scared how this would impact you both.

Both of you are still too young to be involved into any political problems of the kingdom and Seokjin is not strong enough to protect you from the King.

Status should not matter when the two are in love but he'll eventually have to go back to the palace and fulfill his position as the future king, and to be married to Prince Taehyung." She said as she held his son's hand.

Instead of acknowledging the worries she feels, he held his hand and smiled at her. "Eomma, what I would like to focus now is the preseng wherein he is here with me, with us. Whatever the future may hold, it might be good or bad for the both of us, but at least we won't regret the fact that we gave in to our emotions to make each other happy.

He is a smart prince and I know that he will do whatever is best for him and for the kingdom when the time comes. Still, whatever his decision will be, I know that I have also made my choice to stay by his side right now until he would tell me to go.

I know you are just also worried about me after experiencing a heartbreak. My relationship with Insu faded even before it ended, we both knew that. We were both ready for the ending that we tried to delay because we thought we can still save it.

This one with Jin is new and is startng. I hope that I can have your approval and support on this. I promise you that I am and will be ready, no matter what the future will bring." Jungkook said.

Aera hugged him after and rubbed his back.

"Why did you have to grow up so fast?" Aera said and Jungkook chuckled.

"Thank you, Eomma. I promise that this time I will be stronger than my last." He said and Aera nodded at him.

~

Jin breathes in and out nervously before he knocked at the Jeon's door. He wanted to help Aera again in the market but is scared that the woman might still not be happy to see him.

He pulled his hand back and lowered down his head as he was contemplated on the decision that he had to make when the door suddenly opened.

He looked up and saw Aera smiling at him. "I've seen you from the window since earlier, Jin. You should come in because the wind is still cold." She said and gave Jin a wide space to enter the house.

Jin's eyes widened and followed. "Ah, y-yes, Eomonim." He said then entered the house.

Just then, Jungkook also saw him because he was about to carry the fruit boxes. Before going to the boxes, Jungkook smiled and walked towards him.

"Good morning, Jin!" He said with a good mood than any other days.

"Hi, J-Jungkook. Good morning." Jin said and looked at Aera, scared for her reaction.

"I'll wait for the two of you in the car." She said and left.

When Aera closed the door, Jungkook gave Jin a quick kiss on his forehead. "You look nervous in meeting my mom." He said.

"I---I t-think she's still worried." Jin said, biting his lips.

"She is. You can't remove that from her since she's a mother. However, we already talked about it last night when I got home." Jungkook said.

Jin looked to his eyes. "You did?"

"Hm." Jungkook said with a nod.

"What did she say?" Jin asked expectantly.

"You don't need to worry about anything but she said she's scared that either of us will be hurt. She's a mom to you, too. You are also her son, so she is worried about you, too. She knows that this is not an ideal relationship." He said. "But of course we can work on it, right?"

Jin smiled at him then nod. "Hm. Of course, we will." Jin said then hugged Jungkook.

"We might be late, Jin. Let's go in the car now, hm?"

"I'll help you with the boxes." Jin said.

"Okay, just carry the small ones. I'll take care of the bigger boxes." Jungkook said.

Jin smiled and nodded at him.