our crossed paths | jww.

Special Chapter #1

A little something as a thank you for 10k+ reads! 

"Jeon Ahrin! Jeon Jaerim! Uncle Gyu is here to pick you up!" Jiwoo's voice rang through the house, followed by the chaos of tiny feet scrambling across the floor.

"Coming!" Ahrin's voice responded from somewhere upstairs, while Jaerim's giggles echoed from the living room.

Mingyu leaned against the doorway, watching the scene unfold with an amused expression. "You weren't kidding when you said they were excited," he said, hands stuffed into his pockets.

Jiwoo sighed, glancing at the half-packed bags on the floor. "Sorry, Mingyu, I don't know what's taking them so long. I already packed their essentials, but they insisted on adding more stuff to bring along." She picked up Jaerim's backpack and groaned. "This one is suspiciously heavier than it was ten minutes ago."

Mingyu chuckled. "Let me guess—Jaerim packed his entire dinosaur collection?"

"Among other things," Jiwoo muttered, shaking her head before calling out again, "Five seconds, or I'm unpacking your bags!"

Ahrin and Jaerim finally appeared, dragging their small suitcases behind them. Ahrin had her arms full of books, and Jaerim was balancing his stuffed T-rex on his head.

"Mommy! I packed my coloring books, but I need my pink one!" Ahrin whined.

"Mommy! I need my other T-rex! The baby one!" Jaerim echoed, spinning in circles.

Jiwoo gave them a deadpan stare. "You don't need a baby T-rex, Jaerim."

"But he'll be lonely!"

Mingyu swooped in, grabbing Jaerim and hoisting him onto his shoulders. "Alright, alright, we gotta go. Whatever's packed is packed. We're already running late, and Uncle Gyu is a very busy man."

Jaerim, now sitting high up, squealed with delight. "You're not busy! You said you're jobless this weekend!"

"Wow, can't believe you're exposing me like this, kid." Mingyu clicked his tongue.

Jiwoo laughed, shaking her head. "They're all yours, Mingyu. You sure you can handle them?"

"Ji, it's not the first time you've sent them away. They'll be fine with me. You go and enjoy time with hyung. It's not like you two get a holiday that often." Mingyu grinned.

Ahrin turned to her mother. "Mommy, we're leaving now!"

Jiwoo bent down, fixing the straps of Ahrin's bag. "Be good for Uncle Gyu, okay? Listen to him, and don't fight with your brother please."

Ahrin nodded, and Jaerim wiggled his fingers for a hug. Jiwoo pulled them both into her arms, kissing the tops of their heads before sending them off.

But as soon as they were seated in the car, the kids became too absorbed in their excitement, already planning what snacks to eat first.

Jiwoo sighed dramatically. "They don't even care about their mother anymore."

"Don't be too sad, Ji. I'm sure they'll miss you when they're hungry." Mingyu rolled down the window, smirking.