"Are you going to the toilet?" you heard someone asking and you shifted the baby in your hold to see who's asking you and you saw a tall, broad man, standing in front of the lavatory door waiting for your answer.
You hesitated before answering, "Yes, but you can go first." You let him to go before you because the baby in your hold was still crying and you couldn't soothe him yet. You paid your attention back to your baby and didn't realize that the man asking you just now didn't move and he even started to study you.
"Are you going to change the nappy?" he asked again and you jumped a little. You thought he has gone to the lavatory but he was still there, eyeing you up and down. "But you don't bring anything," without waiting for your answer he concluded himself when he saw you just holding the baby without anything else in your hand.
"Oh no," you found yourself answering, "It's me that need the toilet."
"But you are holding your baby," he pointed the obvious. "How can you go to the toilet with a baby?" he asked no one really but you found yourself irritated by the question.
"Don't worry about it, I'll find a way," you gritted your teeth and he looked up at you apologetically.
"Sorry, I don't mean to pry but I can help you holding the baby while you go to the toilet," he surprised you with his offer. He even stretched out his arm to prove his sincerity and you hesitated for a few seconds before taking his offer.
You transferred the baby to his hold and even though he seemed awkward holding the baby but he was quick to cover it up. He stepped away to let you go into the lavatory and you thanked him while passing him and he nodded in response.
Jaebeom POV
"Why are holding a baby?" Youngjae asked when he spotted the baby in my hand.
"I saw a lady in front of the lavatory and she's going to the toilet but she's holding her baby. I thought it would be awkward for her to go to the toilet while holding a baby, so I offer her some help," I explained while entertaining the baby. Somehow this baby wasn't afraid of me. Usually all kids and baby would cry just by the sight of my face, but not this baby. I thought it would awkward to hang around the lavatory so I brought the baby back to my seat while waiting for her mother. I rocked him in ny arms, "Where's your dad, little one?" I asked him but he just gave me a silly grin. "Why is your mother travelling alone with you?"
Soon, the other spotted us and they took turn to hold the baby. Everyone seemed excited to have a new toy to play with to fight the boredom on flight. I also enjoyed the change of scenery too much until I forgot to check whether his mother has finished or not.
"Oh shoot, I forget to check his mom," I stood up frantically and told Jinyoung to hold the baby while I walked back to the lavatory but I found them empty. I stood in front of the aisle of the economy cabin and scratched my head. If I went ahead and looked for his mother myself, there was a risk someone spotted me and it would cause a nuisance if they saw me with a woman and a baby. I could think of the headlines if I ever spotted with them.
Idol spotted with a mysterious woman and a baby.
Is he having an illegitimate child?
Wedlock child? Or a secret marriage?
I shook my head and decided to just wait from a distance. If she saw me standing here, she would come up to the front. And I was right. I saw her walking up and down the aisle and I waved at her. Once she was close, I could see that she was angry? I walked over and once I stood in front of her, she didn't waste any second to scold me.
"Are you planning to kidnap my baby?" She fumed and I put up my hand in defense.
"I'm sorry," I smiled apologetically, "I should've told you that I brought him to my seat so we didn't crowd the lavatory area."
Her anger diminished a bit but not gone completely. She eyed me and asked, "Then, where's my baby?"
"Ah, he's with my friends. Come," I invited her to the business class. She hesitated, especially when the stewardess came to us and informed that the business class was strictly for business class passenger.
"It's okay, she's with me," I informed the stewardess and she let us pass.
Once we were at my place, the baby was with Jackson. The rest was taking turn to coo or to entertain the baby.
"Jackson, his mom is here," I informed him and he stood up instantly, still rocking the baby in his arm. The mother looked relieved when she saw her baby was unharmed. Jackson transferred the baby carefully to her arm and she thanked him.
"He's a charmer, everyone here is smitten," Jackson praised the baby and his mother blushed.
"Thanks," she replied curtly.
"You're in the economy cabin?" I asked her again and she nodded.
"Okay, I'll walk you to the lavatory area but I'm sorry, I can't walk you to your place. By the way, what's his name?," I apologized and she nodded understandingly.
"His name is Jihoon."
"Sorry to pry, but where's the father? Why are you flying alone?" I couldn't stop myself from asking. Somehow I felt sorry for them for having to fly alone just the two of them and maybe felt angry a bit toward the man that left them alone on board.
She seemed sad for a few second but gathered herself quickly and looked up at me before answering, "He's sick so he'll fly with medical escort later. I'm going home first so I can prepare everything for him first."
There was something in her eyes but I couldn't pinpoint it.
"I'm so sorry," I apologized and she said it was okay. She nodded her goodbye when we reached the economy cabin border and I nodded back before heading back to my place.
Eight years later, your POV
"No, we didn't meet again at my book cafe," you told Jaebeom when everyone gathered around in the cafe.
"Really?" He seemed surprised and it was cute to see him raking his brain to remember the event.
"Yes, we met once when me and Jihoon went back to Korea," you told him and he still didn't remember it.
"Really? When?" He asked curiously.
"About 8 years ago? You helped me when I had to go to the toilet and you held Jihoon for almost half an hour for me. I thought you were kidnapping Jihoon, but you told me the rest was fond of Jihoon as well that you forgot to tell me your whereabouts," you retold him the story and he remembered finally.
"The baby is Jihoon?" Mark's eyes went wide when he remembered the event as well.
"Yes," you answered and Jaebeom's jaw dropped.
"That means you two are really fated for each other," Jinyoung continued and you smiled.
"Yeah, maybe."
Who knew, the stranger that helped you years ago turned out to be your fiancee now.
