🐣Chapter 5: Teasing Hearts
Jiwoo blinked. "What?"
Jimin leaned back, shrugging as if it were obvious. "I mean… the man offered to stay and take care of you—voluntarily. That's not normal behavior for someone who just met you a few hours ago."
Jiwoo scoffed, half-laughing, half-exasperated. "We met literally this morning! You're jumping to conclusions."
Jimin grinned. "I'm just saying, based on his actions? It sure looked like he was about to build a pillow fort and camp here all night."
"What actions, Jimin?" she asked, her tone dry.
He straightened up dramatically, mimicking Seojun's voice with exaggerated concern. "'Jiwoo! You must rest! The doctor said so!' Like seriously, the guy nearly had a panic attack just because you moved a little."
Jiwoo rolled her eyes. "He's just being responsible. He helped me out and stayed respectful. You're reading too much into it."
Jimin tilted his head. "And what about how he looked at you?"
She hesitated.
"…What about it?" she asked cautiously.
"That was not the look of a stranger, Jiwoo," Jimin said, suddenly softer, more thoughtful. "It was like… he was searching for someone he'd lost."
Jiwoo's smile faltered slightly. "Jimin… he has a kid. Don't say such things."
"Wait—what? He's married?" Jimin asked, blinking.
"I don't know," she said truthfully. "But he's definitely a single dad. His little boy came in earlier. Called me Momma…"
Her voice trailed off, the memory of Taehyun's soft voice and big eyes stirring something unfamiliar and oddly warm inside her.
Jimin's eyes widened. "Single dad, huh?" He leaned back with an impressed whistle. "That explains the protective instincts. And judging by Mr. Kim's visuals, that kid's probably a tiny model too."
Jiwoo rolled her eyes, trying to mask the odd flutter in her chest. "If you're so fascinated by him, why don't you go date him yourself?"
Jimin gasped theatrically, placing a hand over his chest. "Excuse you! I am a loyal man to my dozens of imaginary girlfriends."
Jiwoo burst into laughter, tossing a pillow at him.
"Oh my god, shut up, you shameless flirt king! Shouldn't you be at the exhibition handling things instead of trying to set me up in a hospital room?"
Jimin stood and saluted playfully. "Yes, ma'am. Commander Jiwoo, I'm on my way."
He walked toward the door, then paused to smile back at her with a warmth only a true friend could carry.
"Take care, okay? And make sure to tell me if anything happens between you two."
Jiwoo blinked, stunned by his choice of words, but before she could reply, he was already waving his goodbye and slipping out the door.
She sank deeper into the bed, suddenly unsure of how she felt—or why her heart was beating just a little faster.
---
Meanwhile, outside the hospital room...
Seojun crouched near the bench in the quiet hallway where Taehyun sat swinging his small legs anxiously. The little boy's face lit up the moment he saw his father emerge from the room.
"Appa!" he exclaimed, hopping down and rushing to hug Seojun's legs tightly. "You're here! Did you talk to Momma? How is she now? Can I go see her?"
Seojun's heart clenched at the innocent hope in his son's voice. He didn't know how to tell him the truth, or should he even tell him the truth? His baby was too little for all this .
He gently knelt down, placing his hands on Taehyun's small shoulders, trying to smile though his throat felt tight.
"Taehyun-ah… look at Appa," he said softly.
The boy blinked up at him, eyes still sparkling with expectation. He just wanted his father to take him to his momma as soon as possible so that he can always stay with his own momma just like all his school friends.
"You know," Seojun began slowly, "your mom is feeling a little sick right now. So we need to be extra gentle and careful, okay?"
Taehyung tried to make his words as careful as possible, but taehyun's heart skipped a beat, does this mean he can't meet his momma again?
"But Appa," Taehyun's voice cracked as his lower lip trembled, "I missed her so much. I waited and waited. I want to go to Momma!"
His small fists balled up, and the tears began to well up in his eyes. One blink, and they would fall. Seojun swallowed the lump in his throat.
He couldn't bear to lie—but what else could he do?
"Okay, okay," he said quickly, pulling Taehyun into a gentle hug. "I'll take you to her. But you have to promise me one thing, okay?"
Taehyun sniffled against his shoulder. "What?"
Seojun pulled back, cupping his son's tear-streaked cheeks. "When we go in… don't call her Momma."
Taehyun stared at him in confusion, brows furrowing. "But… why? She is my Momma…"
"I know, baby," Seojun said, voice strained, "But remember the story I told you? About your mom being a superhero on a special mission?"
Taehyun nodded slowly.
"Well," Seojun continued, choosing his words carefully, "part of her mission is to stay hidden, even from people who love her. That means we have to help her by calling her something else for now. So we don't accidentally… um, reveal her secret."
Taehyun blinked. "Because she's undercover?"
"Yes," Seojun smiled faintly. "Exactly. She's a superwoman on a secret mission."
Taehyun seemed to think hard, his small hands gripping the edge of his shirt. After a long pause, he finally nodded.
"Okay. I won't call her Momma. But… I still want to see her. Can I?"
Seojun let out a breath of relief and pulled his son into another hug, pressing a soft kiss to his hair.
"Of course. But remember, just for a little while, and no troubling her, alright?"
"Okay," Taehyun whispered, finally smiling.
Seojun stood up, taking Taehyun's hand in his as they began walking slowly back toward the room where Jiwoo was resting—completely unaware that a little heart was about to find its way into hers, all over again.