You finally got into a taxi after waiting in the queue for more than 40 minutes. Once you had informed the driver of your destination, you settled for looking out the window while patting Minhyuk’s back softly as he slept. You took in the familiar sights and scenery and realized just how much you actually missed everything.

You allowed your thoughts to wander but was brought back to reality when you heard a familiar tune playing softly on the radio.

“Ahjussi, can you turn the volume up a little louder?”

The taxi driver nodded and did as you asked. The taxi was now filled with the addictive melody of Ring Ding Dong. You recognised the song because Taemin had sent you a preview of it, which he secretly recorded while they were in the recording studio. You still remember thinking that it sounded really promising and now that you finally heard the actual recorded version, you couldn’t help but feel slightly proud of them.

“Agassi, do you know this group?” The driver asked when he noticed that you were bobbing your head along to the song.

“Deh. I listened to their music a lot when I was in America. Are they very famous in Seoul?” You asked, genuinely curious.

“Yes! They are becoming more and more popular. My second daughter, who is about your age, is totally crazy over them. All she thinks about these days is SHINee. My wife is starting to get worried.” He laughed and you did as well.

“Agassi, I hope you don’t mind me asking but is the little boy that you’re carrying your younger brother?” He asked.

You shook you head.

“Your cousin?”

You shook you head again and nervously bit your lip.

“Agassi, you don’t have to answer if you don’t feel comfortable. I’m just curious since he looks so much like you.” The driver said when he noticed you shifting awkwardly in your seat.

“Aniyo.” You steeled yourself up. Sooner or later, you would have to get used to questions like these. “He’s my son.” You said with newfound confidence. The more you thought about it the more you realized that you had no reason to ever be embarrassed of Minhyuk. He was perfect.

“Oh.”

The rest of the drive to the hospital was silent, except for the radio, but you didn’t feel awkward at all. If anything, the driver was the one feeling awkward. You knew that he wasn’t a bad person but you didn’t know what to say to change the mood so you left it as that. You didn’t really have time to dwell on it anyway because Minhyuk woke up not too long after your conversation with the driver ahjussi.

He shifted and looked up at you, resting his chin on your chest just under your collarbone while trying to blink away the sleepiness in his eyes. “Omma, where are we?”

You smiled and looked down at him, using your fingers to fix his fringe. “We’re on the way to see halmoni, Minnie. We’ll be there soon. Do you want to go back to sleep?” You asked.

He shook his head cutely.

“No? Are you sure?” You asked and gently pinched his nose.

He wrinkled his nose and nodded.

You laughed at his cuteness. “Ok then. Are you hungry?”

He nodded first before pausing and then shaking his head.

You raised your eyebrows. “Hmm? Which is it?”

He thought for a bit before answering. “I’m hungry but eat later. See halmoni first.”

“Aigoo~ My baby boy is the best!” You smiled and pinched his cheek softly. He just gave you a toothy grin in response.

You didn’t see the driver take a glance at the both of you from his rearview mirror and smile warmly.

You arrived at the hospital and after paying the driver, he got out of the taxi to help you take your luggage out of the boot of the car. You gave him a kind smile and thanked him but he held his hand out to stop you when you tried to walk off.

“Agassi, I hope you have a happy life ahead of you and I hope your son grows up well.” You could see and hear that he was really being sincere so you thanked him and bowed slightly. He returned your bow before he went back into his taxi. You stood there for a moment, puzzled at his change of behaviour. You wondered what had happened.

“Omma?” Minhyuk’s gentle tugs of your hand brought you back to your senses. He was out of his carrier now as you had promised him earlier.

“It’s nothing. Come on. Let’s so find halmoni.” You had to walk slower so that Minhyuk could keep up with you with his small strides, but he looked so adorable and happy tottering around that even some of the patients and staff smiled and waved to him as he passed by them.

When you finally reached the room that Soojin that texted to you, you stood outside the door for a moment and took in a deep breath before pushing down the door handle and entering the room.

Surprisingly, you saw your mom, Soojin, Seyong and a doctor in the room when you opened the door and all of them stared at you. Smiles of recognition flashed across your mom, Soojin, and Seyong’s face in the next moment. You abandoned your luggage at the door and walked to your mom, with Minhyuk still walking beside you.

You leaned forward and hugged your mom with your free hand. “Omma!” You sniffled. Tears had unknowingly filled your eyes.

“-------ah! Don’t cry.” Your mom said as she brought up her hand to your hair.

“Deh.” You pulled back and sniffled a little more.

“Ah, sorry to interrupt but may I speak to you for a moment, ------ssi? Outside?” The doctor asked.

“Sure.” You answered before squatting down and talking to Minhyuk. “Minnie, be good and stay here with Soojin imo (aunt in Korean) and halmoni while omma talks to the doctor, ok?”

“Deh.” Minhyuk let go of your hand and immediately held onto Soojin’s hand.

You smiled and ruffled his hair affectionately before standing up and following the doctor outside.

“Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself back there. I’m Lee Jimin’s daughter, Lee -------.” You extended your hand.

“Oh, don’t worry about it. I’m your mother’s doctor, Dr. Kim.” He took your hand and briefly shook it.

“Is there something wrong with my mom?” You suddenly felt really anxious.

“Well, we did some tests and your mom has pneumonia. She probably had trouble breathing since her airways are inflamed, which is most likely why she fainted. Does she get sick often?”

“Yes, she does. She’s very weak and gets colds very easily.”

He nodded and wrote something down on his board. “Her blood test shows that her white cell count is not as high as it should be in an event of an infection. This is why she gets sick often. She’s already responding well to the antibiotics administered but you need to ensure that she eats well so that she can regain her health after this.” He advised.

“Of course. Thank you Dr. Kim.” You bowed slightly as he left.

You let out a breath that you weren’t aware that you were holding. You were relieved that the diagnosis had come back with nothing that serious. You felt guilty for leaving your mom and going to LA though. Somehow, you felt like this was your fault. You knew that you were being foolish but you still couldn’t help feeling guilty.

You were currently at the hospital cafeteria with Minhyuk. You had ordered kimchi stew with rice for the both of you. You had made this for him before in LA so it wasn’t new to him but since you very rarely cooked Korean dishes because the ingredients were harder to find, you were a little worried about whether he would like it. You spooned out a small portion of the stew into a smaller bowl for him and broke the chunks of meat into smaller pieces.

“Do you want me to mix the rice in for you, Minhyukkie?”

He nodded happily and you chuckled. He must really be hungry. You spooned about a quarter of the rice in and mixed everything together before placing the bowl in front of him and handing him his plastic spoon. You watched him happily dig into his meal for a bit and when you were convinced that he was happy with his meal, you decided to fill your stomach too.

When you and Minhyuk had finished eating, you brought him to the toilet for a bit so that you could wash his spoon before storing it back in its container. As the both of you were exiting the toilet to make your way back to your mom’s room, you heard a very familiar voice call out your name from behind you. “--------?!”

Your eyes widened and you froze. 

===================

Guess who?! :P

Oh, after reading some of the comments, I think I must clarify that she didn't see Junhyung. She saw 4 members of Beast but not Junhyung. Which is why she didn't recognise him. You should guess who was the smiling one she saw :) It was an almost meeting for them. Junhyung plus all the Beast members walked right past her with their HORDE of fans ^^