Annyeongz One-shots

131. Safe

The soft yellow streetlights blurred past the windows as the car moved quietly through the empty roads. Rain from earlier still clung to the glass in tiny droplets, reflecting the city lights outside.

It was late.

Too late.

Wonyoung leaned her head against the seat for a second, exhausted after the long day at work and the dinner at her parents’ house. Her makeup was already slightly faded, her hair messy from Jeremy constantly climbing onto her lap earlier.

In the backseat, little Jeremy was strapped into his baby seat.

Fast asleep.

His tiny cheeks were puffed against the side cushion, lips parted softly while hugging the small dinosaur plush Yujin bought him last month.

Yujin glanced at the rear mirror again.

Still asleep.

Good.

Before they left the house earlier, Jeremy had fallen asleep in Yujin’s arms almost immediately after dinner. Yujin had quietly carried him to the car without even letting him wake up, carefully tucking the blanket around him once he settled him into the baby seat.

Wonyoung remembered watching that silently.

The way Yujin adjusted the blanket twice because Jeremy’s feet were cold.

The way he brushed Jeremy’s hair away from his forehead without even realizing he was doing it.

Small things.

But they always made her heart ache.

Because no matter how cold or quiet Yujin looked to everyone else…

He was impossibly gentle with their son.

The car remained quiet except for the low sound of the engine.

Then suddenly—

A small cry broke through the silence.

“Mm… ahhh…”

Wonyoung immediately turned around.

Jeremy’s face was scrunched up now, his tiny hands moving weakly as sleepy tears rolled down his cheeks.

“Baby?” she called softly.

Another cry escaped him, louder this time.

“Mama… mama…”

Wonyoung quickly unbuckled slightly to reach him better. “It’s okay, baby… Mama’s here…”

Jeremy cried harder.

His face was red now.

“Mih… mih…”

Milk.

Wonyoung’s expression instantly fell.

“Oh no…”

She looked down near her feet.

Then the front.

Then her bag.

Nothing.

Her eyes widened slightly.

“I forgot the milk bottle…”

Jeremy’s cries became louder immediately, his tiny legs kicking helplessly against the seat.

Yujin kept driving quietly, one hand resting on the steering wheel.

“Mih… mihhh…”

Wonyoung tried calming him down fast.

“Baby, we’re almost home… okay? Just a little longer…”