Downpour | Kim Taehyung

chapter 31

I wouldn't deny the fact that Chuwon was Aeri's biological father, neither would I deprive him of his rights of being a father to her. But from what had happened back at the hospital with him, I could not find the heart in me to trust him with Aeri.

Taehyung and I had consulted this issue with Namjoon, and he had told us that if Chuwon would pursue for Aeri's custody, the possibility of him winning over the case would depend on how he would defend his side. If he could come up with a solid and acceptable reason for his absence, the court would probably favor him.

However, Namjoon also gave us grounds that incase Chuwon would fall under them, the court would definitely not let him take over the custody. Most of them were related to his capability to raise Aeri as her daughter.

True to Chuwon's word, we were going to meet him in court.

Today happened to be the unfortunate day.

I was not supposed to be here with Taehyung and Namjoon in court, but I couldn't ease myself unless I hear what Chuwon had to say and see for myself how this hearing would go.

"Nervous?" Taehyung nudged me lightly on my side.

I shook my head and took a deep breath in. "I'm not Aeri's birthmother, but I just have this gut feeling that she wouldn't be safe with him," I admitted. "Am I judging him too much? I mean, you were there too, you saw how he suddenly changed his tone."

He held the crown of my head and caressed my hair, showing me his rectangular box smile; The corner of my lips instinctively curved up at the sight of Taehyung looking like a kid.

"It's okay to feel that way."

Nodding my head, I sat up straight to compose myself. Only a few more minutes and the hearing would start. However, no sight of Chuwon could be seen until now. It made me wonder what he was up to, probably a dramatic entrance of some sort. It felt weird, since his lawyer was already here.

Five minutes.

Chuwon was already five minutes late and we could see his lawyer pacing back and forth with his phone, concealing franticness. I assumed that he was trying to contact Chuwon.

"If he doesn't appear in ten more minutes, they would cancel the hearing," informed Namjoon as he got back to our side after some lady called her.

"What happens if he doesn't show up?" I asked.

"The hearing will be scheduled for another day, but this would affect the judge's decision in some way," explained Namjoon.

So again, we sat there, patiently waiting for Chuwon, half of me hoping his non-appearance would stand as a ground for irresponsibility and the like. Call me desperate but the trepidation of losing Aeri was just so strong.

I watched the big clock on the wall above the platform tick when suddenly, I felt Taehyung shift beside me, taking his phone out.

I absentmindedly studied Taehyung's face as he conversed with whoever was on the phone. He had a calm, straight face for a moment, and then his gaze went towards me, averting his attention elsewhere quickly.

A curious look etched on my face when Taehyung's expression formed into a hard look—which he obviously held back. When he hung up the call, he whispered something to Namjoon, and Namjoon's eyes widened, immediately standing up and told something to the lady.

All the while, it kind of irked me to see how they exchanged words and felt like there was something I should know.

Finally, Taehyung turned back to me. "Promise me you'll stay calm, and whatever happens, we will think about what to do carefully."

"What—"

"Let's go." Without warning, Taehyung held me up, and together with Namjoon, we hurried out of the court room.

I peered over my shoulder and the last thing I saw was Chuwon's lawyer with his palm on his forehead before the door closed behind me.

It felt like some action scene, as if we were running away before the enemy would see us. But whenever Taehyung's words echoed in my head, I could not help but feel lost. Neither Taehyung nor Namjoon spoke up, but I could feel the tension they were trying to mask.

Taehyung knew how I hated being clueless over important things, and inside the car, I wanted to question them. However, the atmosphere was so heavy that Taehyung seemed like he would break his window any minute now. Namjoon kept tossing glances at Taehyung as Namjoon drove like he was catching a flight.

What the hell is going on?

And what blasted my thoughts away was the fact that we arrived at the hospital and I could see a mass of guards in front of the entrance.

All three of us left the car and hurriedly went inside, Taehyung clutching on to me tightly. The guards blocked our way at first, but when Taehyung said, "We're Kim Aeri's parents" and then showed them an ID, they let us through.

Something happened, I know something happened.

Everything occurred so fast and all I had in mind was Aeri. I had to see my daughter. Right. Now.

Once we reached the floor to Aeri's room, I squirmed my arm out of Taehyung's grasp and ran, only to come to a halt when I was faced with Somi-ajumma, crying so hard whilst a couple of guards and officers in their walkie-talkies scattered around.

She gave me an apologetic look just as an officer came running past me, and that was when the air got knocked away from my body. I wanted to step forward, but my feet failed me. I could only stand there, staring into space, the noise slowly fading and being replaced with a clouded echo of something I could not comprehend.

Taehyung's cold hand brushing against my arm brought me back, and he guided me forward to where everyone was.

"Taehyung," I said, holding onto him as I slowly whirled around like a lost, confused child. "Tell me what's going on." I gasped. "Aeri, I need to go to her, I—"

"Aeri is missing."