When You Came || Namjin

40. The Case

"As you know, Your Honour, Mr. Kim is in a relationship with another male. This might not be a very good influence to his daughter-","Objection, My Lord. My friend here is disrespecting my client and his preferences", Jimin cut Mr. Choi off. "Sustained", the judge said and Jimin sat back down.

"Your Honour, I would like to call Ms. Dahee Young as my next witness", Mr. Choi said and Dahee made her way over to the witness box. "So, Ms. Dahee, tell my what happened eight years ago, how did you get separated from your daughter?", he asked.

"I don't have a good feeling about this", namjoon murmered to Jimin who nodded back. "Neither do I. But trust me, hyung. We'll win", he assured.

"Well, eight years ago when me and Namjoon were dating, my financial conditions weren't good and I wanted to pursue physiology to help my family. Unfortunately, I got pregnant and had to give up my daughter to Namjoon who was my boyfriend at that time. However, I told him that I'd be back and we can raise our daughter together. We raised her together for seven months before I moved to abroad. But by the time I came back, 3 months later to be exact, I never found him there. I tried contacting him as well but it was no use", Dahee explained and namjoon was baffled. He couldn't understand why she was lying straight to his face.

"Thank you, Ms. Young", Mr. Choi smirked and Dahee nodded, glaring at Namjoon when she sat back in her seat. "Point to be noted, My Lord. He wasn't found when my client came back", he said, turning to the judge again. "Your Honour, I'd like to call Mr. Kim Namjoon to the witness box", Mr. Choi said and the judge nodded, jotting something down.

"So, Mr. Kim, is it true that you didn't want a kid?", the lawyer asked. Namjoon's eyes widened and he shook his head, looking at the judge and responding, "Yes, it's true", he said and everyone gasped, Jin looked at him like he was crazy.

"But", he stretched, "I was eighteen back then when I said I didn't want a kid. I think it's very normal wanting to focus on your career rather than having a kid at such a young age", he replied calmly like the intellectual everyone knew he was.

"That doesn't really change the fact that you were reluctant to the idea of having a kid. Anyway, we'll go to the next question. When Ms. Kim Jiyoo was three, you lost her in a zoo. Is it true?", the man asked next.

Namjoon looked at Jimin in shock, how did he know this? Jimin just shook his head, looking perplexed. "Y-Yeah, it's true", namjoon stuttered. He was scared this might be used against it.

"Shall I assume you did that intentionally. Maybe because you were fed up?", Mr. Choi smirked. "What the-? Of course not! I never-", "Maybe you thought you'll just leave her there. You said it yourself, no one wants a kid at such a young age", the attorney said, cutting namjoon off.

"Objection, My Lord! Mr. Choi is trying to put words into my client's mouth", Jimin stood up abruptly. He could see namjoon being mortified by whatever Dahee's lawyer was saying. He was usually a very calm man but all his composure broke when it came to his jiyoo, his daughter.

"Objection sustained. Mr. Choi, the court's warning you to not make any extra comments from here on", the judge said, making the addressed lawyer sigh.

"That'd be all my honour", he said and went back to his seat. Namjoon rubbed his face and went to sit down beside his boyfriend who rubbed a hand over his thigh in comfort, giving him a small reassuring smile.

Jimin stood up from his place and presented some documents to the judge. He fixed his coat and started speaking, voice unbelievably authoritative, "My Lord, these are some of the records of Ms. Jiyoo, including her birth certificate and you'll notice that everywhere, there's only Mr. Kim's name. In her birth certificate and her regular documents as well".

"What are you trying to prove by these, my friend?", Mr. Choi raised and eyebrow, an amusing smirk adorning his lips. Jimin smiled sweetly before looking at the judge. "Ms. Dahee confirmed that her and Mr. Kim raised Ms. Jiyoo together for seven months, right?", jimin paused before an evil smirk took over his face.

"But if that is the case, her name should've been mentioned in these early certificates too", he said as a matter of fact. "Objection!", Mr. Choi screamed. "For what?", the judge mused. "For- for- I'm sorry, Your honour", Mr. Choi slumped back in his seat as people in the court snickered.

"Point to be noted, My Lord. Ms. Young doesn't have any certificates that would prove her claims right", Jimin demanded.

"Silence", the judge ordered and the room went silent.

"My Lord, now I would like to call Ms. Jiyoo in the witness box", Jimin said. ''Objection!", Mr. Choi said once again. Jimin sighed. Why was this man being so difficult? "Ms. Jiyoo cannot be a witness. She's just eight, she's a minor", he said.

"Well, according to article 13 in the South Koran Constitution, a child who's six years and older, has a right to express their views regarding their parents during a Custodial Case", Jimin said easily. Then, he smiled, "I think you should consider learning law again", he said mockingly.

"Mr. Park, no personal comments", the judge said and Jimin nodded respectfully. "I'll keep that in mind, My Lord", he smiled, turning back to his niece as Mr. Choi glared at him and sat back down, huffing in annoyance.

"So, Ms. Jiyoo, tell us about your dad and what you think of him", "Objection, My Lord. This is irrelevant to the case", Mr. Choi jumped in his seat. "Objection overruled", the judge nodded for Jimin to continue, not sparing a look at the opposing attorney.

"My dada is very, very, very nice and I love him a lot. Even more than I love chocolates", she said sweetly and everyone giggled. "He doesn't really know how to cook and we used to go to Kookie uncle's house most of the time but now that we have Papa, he cooks for us. We don't need to go out as much anymore", she said. "Dada said he would do anything for me".

"Point to be noted, my lord. The person who didn't want a kid wouldn't really do everything for her, right?", jimin mocked.

"And what about your mother?", he asked. "I don't like her", she said simply. Dahee looked at her as if she just stole her breakfast.

"And why is that?", he asked further, waiting for the answer he knew he would get. Namjoon expected her to say that she didn't like her because she didn't want her but what she said shocked everyone.

"Because she hurt my dada. He never cries but she made him cry", she pouted. She didn't like the person who made her dad cry.

"Hmm. So you would be opposed to the idea of living with her?", jimin asked. "I don't wanna go with her, Jiminie. You know that!", she shouted a bit, tears welling up in her eyes, suddenly overwhelmed by the situation.

Jimin looked at the judge with pleading eyes and the judge nodded hesitantly. Jimin took out his handkerchief and gently cradled the child's head, wiping her tears. Jiyoo sniffled, nuzzling into his shoulder.

"Just a few more, baby", he whispered softly and she nodded.

"My Lord, I would like to request a short break for Ms. Jiyoo. She's just eight and it might be overwhelming for her. Mr. Choi can bring his witnesses in the meantime", Jimin said, not wanting to upset the toddler.

"Okay, so my next witness is Mr. Kim's ex, Mr. Kim Yugyeom", Mr. Choi smirked at namjoon as if giving him a silent warning.

Namjoon sighed.

"This is not gonna be fun".