Nineteen | SeulMin FF

-18-

"Goodbye Seulgi-sshi!" The young intern greets cheerfully once the called one leaves her office.

"Goodbye." The older woman says expressionlessly and exits the notary office where she works as a PA.

She's gotten that job half a year ago, once she officially resigned from Taehyung and Joohyun's company. Not because of bad blood forming between them, but the memories were just too overwhelming. And since she needed a change of scenery, she thought to use her Law diploma and find a job in a notary office.

Some more employees greet her as Seulgi walks away and she greets them back sternly. She goes to her white VW and drives off to the nursery to pick Jaemin up. She feels sorry for her son, that he has to stay in the nursery from morning until the afternoon, but Seulgi doesn't really have an alternative left. She can't pay a babysitter either, and her being the one supporting them, it's not easy. Of course, she could always count on Hoseok and Hyorin's help, but she's too proud for that.

She's the one working, and raising a child, so she should be responsible of him. And besides, they have their lives as well. Hoseok has been promoted to lieutenant and Hyorin is facing a tough time because there had been no news of her husband for weeks.

Kang Seulgi is a strong woman, and she will survive. Jaemin will be alright.

Arriving to the nursery, she parks the car hastily and hurries in the building, heading to the room her baby boy is always at. Most parents have already picked up their children, but there are a good few minutes until the nursery closes, so she's arrived just in time.

As she steps in the usual room, she notices her son, with his black hair, his tiny back facing her, as he plays by himself in a corner. The scene is heartbreaking for her, for some reason. Jaemin seems isolated, him being in his own world, closing out everything else. It worries her actually.

"Miss Kang," the teacher walks up to her cautiously, and judging by her expression, Seulgi knows that something has happened.

The teacher asks for them to have a talk in the hallway, in case Jaemin might be listening. A lot of parents make the mistakes of speaking important things in front of their children, thinking they won't understand. On the contrary, a child understands everything an adult says.

"Did something happen?" Seulgi asks with a carefully masked worry, though the question is just for show. Her maternal instincts tell her that her son is going through hard times.

The teacher wets her lips and fidgets with her fingers, uncertain how to begin. It's an important matter, after all.

"Well, I found the other children bullying Jaemin because he doesn't have a father. It seems the mothers have been talking among themselves, and it has reached the children's ears as well. And now..."

As mentioned before, careless talk can have great consequences.

Seulgi takes a moment, to analyze what has been said. There it goes, all of her infinite tries to keep Jaemin safe. The consequences of her decisions, the past itself is coming back at her, prepared to make her suffer. And this sufferance is not mild either, for Vengeance has taken a liking in her boy.

"Please don't let the children speak of those matters anymore. And if a parent has something to say, do give him or her, my phone number. Nobody will hurt my child." Seulgi says strongly, as she has her hands balled in fists.

How dare they speak ill behind Jaemin's back? Those vultures, always bad-mouthing others!

Without leaving the teacher proper time to reply, Seulgi turns on her heel and storms in the room, to hold Jaemin in her arms. When seeing his mother, the three year old brunette smiles weakly and closes his tiny arms around the woman's neck. Seulgi pats his back and steps out of the room. She stops for a second next to the teacher.