Jae's lonely life seems stable and dull until he finds out his son has run away from his boyfriend to fulfill some mysterious plan that might break two people meant to be or bring two back together.
The small dusty road behind the orphanage was leading up. Renjun put the sunglasses on then placed the baseball cap over his head to protect himself from the scorching sun. No matter if he will find a kid that will fit into his family today Jaemin is going to sign MeiNei's adoption papers the next morning. It will turn their reality upside down, it will never be the same again.
What big courage Taeyong and Jae had to have to take that step, he wondered walking up the hill ignoring the sweat that was dripping down his spine. Why hasn't he seen it coming five months ago when one stormy evening Jaemin took him out for a date.
"I want you to grow old with me." Was all Jaemin said when after a beautiful opera concert and a candlelight dinner they were slow dancing in their living room.
Jaemin just knelt on the carpet taking a ring out.
"Please be my husband."
Yes, of course yes, was the only thing Renjun could utter, to be wrapped up in Jaemin's loving arms, carried to the bedroom and brought to the stars and further, but he was barely 22, a college student, a singer working on his career, someone who has just taken two cautious steps towards adolescence, yet he was suddenly there - fiancé Renjun, preparing to become a husband, what was extremely scary.
"You know Dalli I'm not sure if I'm ready, but I couldn't say no or not yet to Jaemin." He had whispered into the used fur of his beloved sheep when he had sneaked to the living room that night while Jaemin was deeply asleep.
What about his symptoms? Has Jaemin even thought what will happen if they increase because of the kids, or kid... you haven't found a second child yet, Renjun corrected himself when he stopped in the middle of the road taking in deep breaths.
Was it worth to climb that hill to seek for some child that was a self named prophet? What if he will face another disappointment up there? Will he go back with nothing? Tell Jaemin he's not ready and they shouldn't pursue adoption.
A lot of people were almost crawling up the hill in that insane heat when he was standing there looking at the way down. Wouldn't it be easier to just make a u-turn here, go back to the old life?
Unable to choose, he was like frozen considering each direction as equally unfitting, equally unsatisfying and wrong, his heartbeat speeding up when he took two steps down, but a strange feeling twisted his insides.
Renjun stopped inhaling sharply as some soft pain began to build up in his belly. Great, not here, not now, he swore in his mind.
The way up the hill was crowded, the sun was trying to turn him into a puddle of melted dust so just standing here for longer was impossible.
If I don't like that child, I'll go back and tell Jaemin to cancel the adoption, he thought making a choice - If I like him...
Yes, that perspective seemed scary, still the decision itself was giving Renjun enough strength to keep climbing up the hill step after step to the bottom of huge steps carved out in the slope.
Renjun was watching the stone stairs leading up the mountain, a bridge overfilled with people was raising above a deep abyss of the valley. Renjun has used a map and instructions from passerby's to reach it. He hesitated, before mixing into the crowd that was buying all possible things from small stalls located on both sides of the path. There was food, self-made jewelry, fish nets, clothes. All sellers were shouting at him, definitely noticing the branded things he was wearing, the golden watch Jaemin had bought him some time ago, yes, he was a walking money sign.
"Mr. would you like a prophecy?"
He was stopped by a soft voice turning to see a small boy with thick black hair, that looked like self-cut and vey dark eyes, almost like Taeyong's, yes he could have been Taeyong's son, as he had something like his father in his features. Despite the torn clothes he was wearingnthat claver gaze could make anyone intimidated.
"Sure, how much is it?"
"1000 RMB," said the boy when Renjun took the money out throwing it into a basket that was standing next to the boy's crossed legs.
"Here!" the kid lifted a jar of small folded paper rolls handing to to him when Renjun picked a random one giving it to the boy who unwrapped it, his eyes widening.
"That's impossible!" he said.
"What?" asked Renjun catching his suddenly so vulnerable gaze.
"No one ever drew the secret prophecy, it's the only one on red paper!" the boy's chin started to tremble as if he was about to break out into tears.
"What does it mean?" asked Renjun.
"That you're special," whispered the boy not daring to look at him anymore.
Renjun felt goose bumps appearing on his skin when he lifted the paper reading it quietly.
"I am your Mirror, your mirror is me," he whispered looking up to meet the boy's night black eyes.
"What's your name?" he asked almost unable to take a proper breath.
The boy glanced left and right cautiously.
"Xiaojun," he whispered.
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