You Belong With Me | Jeongcheol Fanfic

Chapter 77

The next morning, the sun peeked through the curtains, bathing the room in a soft glow. Jeonghan stirred first, blinking against the light as he stretched lazily under the warm covers. The faint hum of the city waking up outside filled the air, reminding him of the busy day ahead. Beside him, Seungcheol was still sound asleep, his face serene and partially hidden by the pillow. Jeonghan smiled fondly, taking a quiet moment to admire him before slipping out of bed.

The apartment was quiet as Jeonghan moved through the familiar motions of his morning routine. He prepared their usual breakfast—a spread of scrambled eggs, slices of avocado on toast, and fresh coffee. The comforting aroma soon drifted through the apartment, coaxing Seungcheol out of his slumber.

"Mmm, you're spoiling me again," Seungcheol mumbled as he shuffled into the kitchen, his hair adorably tousled and his voice still heavy with sleep. He wrapped his arms around Jeonghan from behind, planting a soft kiss on his shoulder.

"Always," Jeonghan replied with a smirk, plating the last slice of toast. "But only because we have a busy day ahead. Eat up—we need all the energy we can get."

Over breakfast, they discussed the two major tasks on their agenda: the home visit from the adoption agency in the morning and drafting an email to the landlord of the boutique space Jeonghan had found. Both tasks felt monumental, each bringing them closer to the dreams they had been working toward.

~

After breakfast, the couple set to work tidying the apartment, ensuring everything was spotless and presentable for the agency's visit. Jeonghan took charge of the living room, carefully arranging the throw pillows and lighting a vanilla-scented candle for a warm, welcoming touch. Meanwhile, Seungcheol focused on the guest bathroom, folding fresh towels neatly and giving the mirror a quick polish.

As Jeonghan smoothed the fabric of the couch for the third time, he glanced at Seungcheol, who was inspecting the bathroom one last time. "Do you think it's enough? I mean, do we look like we have everything together?"

Seungcheol turned to him with a reassuring smile. "Jeonghan, relax. We've done everything we can. Just be ourselves. That's what matters most."

Jeonghan nodded, taking a deep breath as he straightened up. Moments later, the doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of Ms. Kim, the social worker from the adoption agency.

~

Ms. Kim was warm and professional, with an air of calm authority that put them at ease almost immediately. After exchanging pleasantries, she stepped inside, her keen eyes taking in the apartment with a quick, approving glance.

"Your home is lovely," Ms. Kim said as she settled onto the couch, setting her notepad on her lap. "Shall we begin?"

For the next hour, they shared their journey as a couple, their reasons for wanting to adopt, and their hopes for building a family. Jeonghan's voice was steady as he spoke about their mutual desire to provide a loving, stable environment, and Seungcheol chimed in with heartfelt details about their life together.

"We've always known we wanted to be parents," Jeonghan said at one point, his fingers nervously twisting a strand of his hair. "And now that we're back in Seoul, it feels like everything is falling into place."

Ms. Kim nodded thoughtfully, jotting down notes as she listened. She asked questions about their parenting values, their support system, and how they planned to balance their personal goals with raising a child. Jeonghan and Seungcheol answered with honesty and enthusiasm, their shared excitement palpable.

After the interview, Ms. Kim conducted a brief tour of the apartment, taking particular interest in the second bedroom they had tentatively set up as a nursery. She left them with a warm smile, assuring them that they would hear back soon with the next steps.