Chapter 28

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Author's Point of View

Next day | Afternoon

The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the café, its light filtering through the glass windows, illuminating the wooden tables and chairs. The gentle hum of customers talking and the clinking of cups filled the air.

Jungkook stood behind the counter, his hands skillfully moving as he prepared an order. A soft hum escaped his lips as he worked, the melody a reflection of the happiness he carried in his heart today. How could he not be happy? The man he loved—the father of his child—loved him back. After years of uncertainty and silent longing, he finally knew he was not alone in his love. His heart was at ease.

He had dropped Aera at her kindergarten in the morning before coming to work, just as he did every day. Everything was normal. Everything was fine.

Or so he thought.

His humming came to an abrupt stop when his phone vibrated on the counter. Wiping his hands quickly, he glanced at the screen.

Aera’s Teacher

His heart skipped a beat. His hands hesitated before picking up the phone. The last time he had received a call from Aera’s kindergarten, it had not been a good memory. His chest tightened, a sick feeling forming in his stomach. He swallowed hard and hastily pressed the answer button.

“Hello?” His voice came out uncertain.

The voice on the other end spoke, but Jungkook’s world stopped the second he heard the words. His breath hitched, and the room around him blurred. A sharp, icy fear stabbed through his chest, making it hard to breathe. His grip on the phone weakened.

Then, the device slipped from his fingers and crashed onto the floor.

A loud thud echoed through the café.

Hoseok, who had been instructing the other workers a few steps away, turned at the sound. His eyes immediately landed on Jungkook—his face pale, his body trembling, his eyes wide with unshed tears before they spilled down his cheeks.

“Jungkook? What happened?” Hoseok was at his side in an instant, gripping his shoulders gently. “Hey, talk to me!”

But Jungkook didn’t respond. His lips parted, but no words came. His entire body shook as panic took over.

Then, suddenly, he moved—ran.

Ignoring the shocked expressions of the customers and staff, Jungkook bolted toward the exit, shoving the café door open so hard it banged against the wall.

Hoseok quickly grabbed the fallen phone and put it to his ear.

“What happened?!” he demanded.

The voice on the other end spoke, and Hoseok’s blood ran cold. Without wasting another second, he ran after Jungkook.

By the time he reached outside, he saw Jungkook struggling to start his car, his fingers trembling too much to turn the key properly.

“Kook!” Hoseok ran to him. “Let me drive! You’re in no state to—”

“I need to get to Aera—” Jungkook’s voice broke. His frantic hands kept turning the key, but he was shaking too much to control his movements properly.

“Kook, please!” Hoseok pleaded. “I know you’re scared, but you can’t drive like this. Let me do it.”

Jungkook clenched his jaw, refusing at first. But a second later, he gave in, his heart too heavy to argue. He hastily climbed into the passenger seat, his hands clutching onto his own arms, as if holding himself together.

Hoseok jumped into the driver’s seat and immediately started the car. As they sped down the road, he handed Jungkook his phone back.

“Call Taehyung.”

Jungkook’s hands were still trembling as he gripped the phone. With shaking fingers, he dialed Taehyung’s number.

—

The grand conference hall was silent, except for the formal discussion taking place. Taehyung sat at the head of the table, his posture straight, his expression composed, yet there was a hidden softness in his eyes today.

He was happy.

Why wouldn’t he be?

Yesterday, he had confessed his love for Jungkook, and the younger had returned it. The heavy burden he had been carrying in his heart for years had finally lifted. He had woken up this morning feeling lighter than ever before.

His phone vibrated against the table.

The moment he saw the caller ID—My Love ❤—a small smile tugged at his lips.

He picked up the call, intending to tell Jungkook he was in a meeting and would call back later. But before he could speak-

“Hy-Hyu-Hyung… Ae-Aera… She—”

A broken sob. A cry of desperation.

Taehyung shot up from his chair.

The entire room went still. Everyone immediately stood up out of respect. Yoongi, seated beside him, furrowed his brows, sensing something was terribly wrong.

Taehyung forced himself to stay composed despite the panic threatening to consume him.

“The meeting is dismissed,” he announced firmly.

The employees quickly left, sensing the urgency. Only Yoongi remained.

Taehyung brought the phone back to his ear.

“Kook, stop crying, baby. Tell me what happened?” His voice was tight with worry.

“Hy-Hyung… A-Aera… M-my baby—” Jungkook’s sobs intensified.

A new voice came through the speaker. Hoseok.

“Tae, come to Aera’s kindergarten now. It’s urgent.”

Taehyung’s blood turned to ice.

“I’m on my way.” He hung up immediately.

Yoongi placed a hand on his shoulder. “Tae, what happened?”

“I don’t know. It’s about Aera.” His voice was clipped, strained. “Hyung, handle things here. I need to go.”

Yoongi gave a firm nod. “Call me if you need me there.”

Taehyung didn’t wait any longer. He rushed out of the company, his heartbeat echoing in his ears.

—

By the time Taehyung arrived at the Kindergarten, he spotted a scene that made his stomach drop.

Jungkook and Hoseok were in a heated argument with the teachers.

The second Jungkook saw Taehyung, he ran to him, grabbing onto his suit desperately.

“Hyung, tell them to bring my daughter back!” Jungkook sobbed. “Ask them where she is! Hyung, please-”

Taehyung wrapped his arms around him, pulling him close. His heart ached seeing Jungkook like this.

“Shh, baby. I got you,” he whispered, rubbing soothing circles on Jungkook’s back. “Calm down. I’m here.”

“Tae,” Hoseok’s voice was serious. “They say they can’t find Aera.”

Taehyung’s entire body tensed. His sharp gaze landed on the teachers.

“What do you mean you can’t find her?” His voice was dangerously low.

A teacher hesitated. “Y-You’re Mr Kim, Kim Taehyung, right?”

Taehyung closed his eyes briefly, reigning in his temper. When he opened them, his gaze was ice-cold. “I asked a question. Where is my daughter?”

“We have been searching for the last hour, but she’s nowhere to be found,” another teacher answered timidly.

“What the hell do you mean by that?!” Hobi snapped. “Jungkook dropped her here this morning. Where could she have gone?!”

“She was in the classroom, sir,” the teacher explained. “But after our meeting, one of her friends told me she had been gone for a long time. We searched everywhere, but when we couldn’t find her, we called Mr. Jeon.”

Jungkook whimpered, fresh tears spilling down his cheeks. “Hyung… our baby…”

Taehyung’s heart clenched painfully at the sight of Jungkook so broken. He cupped the younger’s face gently, his thumbs wiping away the tears that just kept falling. His voice was firm yet soothing as he whispered, “Shh… Kook, listen to me. I promise—nothing will happen to our princess. We will find her.”

Jungkook sobbed harder, burying his face in Taehyung’s chest. He felt so helpless, so terrified. His whole body was trembling as uncontrollable sobs racked through him. His hands gripped onto Taehyung’s shirt tightly, his fingers clutching the fabric like it was the only thing holding him together. His face was damp with tears, his chest heaving as he struggled to breathe between his cries.

Aera had never left his sight for too long, let alone disappeared like this. The mere thought of her being alone, scared, or worse—he couldn’t even complete the thought in his mind.

"Hyung, call Eomma and ask him to come here and stay with Jungkook. I left my phone in the car," Taehyung told Hoseok, who nodded immediately and made the call.

Taehyung knew he had to be strong, not just for himself, but for Jungkook. He gently guided Jungkook to the nearest bench and made him sit down, crouching in front of him. Holding his trembling hands, Taehyung looked into his tear-filled eyes.

“Baby, you trust hyung, right?” His voice was steady, but there was a plea in his tone.

Jungkook nodded weakly, hiccupping through his sobs.

“Then sit here, please. I will go and find her,” Taehyung said, preparing to stand up.

But the moment he tried to pull away, Jungkook’s grip tightened around his wrists, shaking his head frantically. “No! I— I can’t just sit here, hyung! I need to look for her!” His voice cracked, full of raw desperation.

Taehyung sighed, understanding Jungkook’s pain. He knew how much Aera meant to him.

But right now, Jungkook wasn’t in the right state of mind. He was panicking, barely able to stand properly with how much he was shaking. If he went searching in this condition, he might collapse from the overwhelming stress.

Taehyung cupped his face once again, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead before whispering, “Please, baby… Just stay here. I promise I will bring her back to you.”

Hobi, who had been standing nearby after ending the call, crouched beside Jungkook, rubbing his back soothingly. “Kook, let us search for her. Please stay with Eomma. He is on his way.”

Jungkook hesitated, his lips quivering. But when he looked into Taehyung’s eyes—full of determination and love—he finally, reluctantly, nodded. He let go of Taehyung’s hands, his own dropping weakly onto his lap as another sob escaped his lips.

Taehyung exhaled, feeling a heavy weight on his chest. He hated leaving Jungkook like this, but he needed to find Aera.

Jin arrived in no time and rushed to Jungkook's side, wrapping his arms around him, whispering words of comfort as the younger sobbed into his chest.

Without wasting another second, Taehyung turned to Hobi and together they began their search inside the building. They left no corner unchecked—except for a few locked rooms.

Taehyung clenched his fists. They had to find her quickly.

Just then, A soft, shaky voice broke through the worried silence.

“U-Uncle… I-I know w-where A-Aera is…”

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ᴛ ᴀ ᴇ ᴋ ᴏ ᴏ ᴋ

Preview ~

To be continued...