Eighteen
REDEMPTIONAera is observant. She may be a small, 2.5 feet, 3 years old. No, sorry, a 3 years and 9 months old, but she knows things. Gets things. Like she understood something happened to her Jooyy two nights ago and Noil is taking care of her. A lot! Even Chensa calls twice to check on her...
She was very scared to see Her Jooyy so white with red eyes and crying so much. She did not even speak a single word to anyone. Aera wanted so much to know what had happened but Noel said she should be sleeping in her room to let Joy have some time to herself. Everyone, except her father, says that Aera is a good girl who listens to elders. So she did not ask any questions and obeyed Noel.
But did that help her cute mind? No! She could not sleep properly and could feel Noel walking to and fro in her room. But she kept her eyes closed. Then she heard the gates open for the car.
Oh!! It must be that nice unkeel!! What is his name?...ummm... Yes!! Nemjjun!! Kim Nemjjun!! Yes!! He is a nice man!! He saved me and Jooyy that day!!
She always wanted to talk with him but he leaves very early in the morning before she wakes up and comes home very late after she falls asleep. On weekends he is always busy and no one is allowed to disturb him. Only Noel and Joy talk to him but very little.
He must be very lonely. It is very sad to stay all alone with no one to talk to or play with!! She was also very sad and scared but after her Joy came and Noel stayed, she became so happy and she also has many friends in her play-school. Joy also goes to school like her!! She is very happy for her and tries to help her by not being fuzzy.
Aera could hear Namjoon walk into the room.
Should I sit up and say hello?
But that did not seem to be a good idea. Because they were very quiet. It was like Noel was mad at him.
But why?! He so nice!!...
She opens her eyes slightly to see her giving him the thin book they had brought with them.
Namjoon read it and looked at Noel. But did not say anything. Then she said something to him which Aera did not remember or understand but she could get that her ajhumma was very sad and angry. He left then...
Aera had a lot to think. But all this thoughts made her exhausted and she drifted off.
Her sleep flies away with Joy's cuddles and kisses. She giggles and opens her eyes to find her Jooy smiling down at her.
My Jooy happy again?
She hugs her tightly, "Are ya fa-in now?" She whispers.
Joy kisses the little girl's head, "Owww...my Aera was worried about me?"
She nods.
"Don't worry love...your Jooyy is fine now..." She kisses her again. "But...there is something..." She contemplates telling her or not. She will start to show eventually... Should she wait till then?
"What?" Aera asks curiously.
Joy shakes her head. "Nothing love...at least not now but I'll tell you soon...I promise." She should wait till she completes her first trimester, both the older women said it is safer...
"You will?! Okay then!!" Aera smiles at her and they get busy with their usual morning routine.
"I hope the lunch will be liked by the boy! I don't know his likings and..." Noel looks at the piping hot food infront of her.
"Oh Aunty!! You are an exceptionally good cook!! I think he will like them...no love them!!" Joy assures her smilingly.
They are talking about the guest who will be living there for months till the construction is over.
"Is the guest-room ready?" Noel asks one last time.
"Oh my goodness Noel aunty!! Relax!! I myself was there when the maids were preparing it!!" Joy shakes her head playfully.
"Joy...the hospitality of a household reflects its prestige..." Noel begins her lecture on home and courtesy.
He is an important person for Unkeel Nemjun's work...that was what Joy had said to Aera. She is supposed to be nice. That Unkeel shall live in this house for a certain time. He will arrive and have lunch here. And Namjoon will also come...
Which meanz I will meet Nemjun unkeel at lun-ch!! Yay!! She cheers mentally. She just hopes they come quickly. The cheesecake looks too appetizing...
"So Mr. Park...how do you like the mansion?" Namjoon asks the young architect who is sitting in the dining room with him. They have arrived some minutes ago and are now having lunch. Noel has also joined them.
"Well...I must say compared to what Mrs. Noel said about its age, it is in a very good condition...I really liked its vintage yet modern structure. It seems it was designed keeping all the aspects in mind..." Park Jimin gestures a little with his hands to emphasize his thoughts.
"Glad to know...or else it would have a bad decision to buy 60% of it with such a huge amount..." Namjoon jokes.
"60%? I am sorry to intrude but how...?" Jimin frowns a little.
"Well you could say it was the only way to save the mansion." The finality and coldness in Namjoon's tone prevent Jimin to ask further.
"I am so sorry...I was putting Aera to nap. Good afternoon! I am Park SooYoung... but known as Joy..." A young girl in early twenties enters the dining area quickly and bows.
"Hello...I am Park Jimin..." He introduces himself.
She smiles a little and gets busy with the maids to serve them properly.
Jimin now looks at her closely. She does not look like a maid. Nor she said how is she related to this household. Even Kim Namjoon has not said anything. But one thing is for sure. She is very beautiful...
Namjoon enters his bedroom and sighs. He looks around. He has never been home during the lunch-time. But today there is no important work or meetings for him so he will not go to office and may be...take a nap? He has not napped for years. Well he rarely gets any sleep at night so napping is a luxury... Irony how he has become so rich and successful yet he has to consider 0slumber no less than an opulence.
He walks toward the closet when he almost has a heart attack. He puts his hand on his chest. There is something behind the couch. He peers from distance at it and can see... a pigtail?! What?!
He walks to look closely and sees the little girl sleeping, sitting and leaning to the back of the couch.
What the...?! Why and how is she here?! Sleeping...shall I wake her up?? Goodness!!
Namjoon is about to touch her on her tiny shoulder after a lot of hesitation when she squirms and rubs her eyes open. She looks around confused but smiles brightly upon seeing him.
"Hullo Unkeel!!" She stands up, looking up at his tall figure excitedly.
"Ummm...hi. What are you doing here?" Namjoon asks. He is not angry but cannot understand the reason behind finding her in his room, that too like this...
"Oh! I alweez wantid to meet ya but ya alweez go out befo' I wek up and come back when me is seeping..." She pouts her small rosebud lips.
"Okay...so how are you here?" Namjoon is feeling amuzed.
"I waitid fo' yu wen I hear yu coming with another unkeel but yu were late so Jooyy fed me lu-nch and put me to nap. But I did not!! Wen she go to di-nin room, I..."she puts her finger on her lips,"hush hush way come here..." She smiles.
Namjoon smirk slightly,"You 'hush-hush' came here?"She talks so cutely considering her age.
"Yesh!!" She is quite proud of herself.
"I also came to as-k yu, R yu ok?" She takes few steps toward him. "Noil is mad at yu... I saw!! But she is no more engry. I think." She circles her tiny arms around his leg and just like that day Namjoon stiffens. "She be no more engry...there there..." She pats his knees softly.
Namjoon has no idea how to react but then his eyes fall on the shocked figure at his open door.
He clears his throat to hide his awkwardness, "Can you please..."He points with his eyes downwards where the little human being is still clinging.
Joy blinks twice to get out of the state. She quickly walks to them and puts her hand on her hips.
"What is going on here? What are you doing? Weren't you napping?" She asks a fake thick voice which makes Namjoon frown a bit in surprise.
"Oh!! Sowyy Jooyy!!! I just came here to say 'ello' to Unkeel..." She lets go of his legs finally and looks at Joy sheepishly.
"I was looking for you everywhere when I did not find you in bed!! Now come along!!" She holds her little hand and lokks at him apologically, "I am sorry if she was troublesome..." Her mind still plays the scene she saw before. Namjoon looked awkward and unnerved but...not vexed.
He just shrugs carelessly.
The ladies are walking out of his room when Aera calls back, "Gud bye Nemjjun Unkeel!! I'll come to meet yu agen!!"
Joy picks her up and a smile adorns her face when she catches a ghost of smille on his lips while she closes the door after them...
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