"so...both families want to adopt Jiyoon..."Ms Kim eyed them all.
"We saw him first"The woman spoke , raising her eyebrow at the girl.
"Is he a pair of shoes or something?"y/n looked uncomfortable the other way.
"What did you say?"the woman leaned forwards to see the girl better, since Jaehyun was sitting in between them.
"Ms Park...please"Ms Kim adjusted her glasses better on her face. "As you already know,Jiyoon is a child that refused to get adopted many times."she started.
"But we signed the papers-"
"Let me finish please."Ms Kim who seemed to be patient for the last half an hour,now looked at her dead serious as if she was tired. "If he doesn't want to get adopted,we can't force him."
"He is just five. I heard only kids above 12 can decide on that"
"You heard wrong. We want our kids to be adopted by families they also chose. Would you be happy if you were adopted by people you don't want for a family?"
"He was fine until two days ago."the husband spoke
"If he was fine he wouldn't change his mind easily."Ms Kim tilted her head.
"So you're telling me Jiyoon likes them? Her?"
"Her name is y/n...Why, what's wrong with her?"Jaehyun looked at the woman with a frown.
"Why did he call you mommy? You didn't even get him toys...you don't even know him"
"I didn't know to become a mother you should get toys to catch a childs eye."y/n got up. "Let's just leave,this is childish. We should come some other day."
"Ms Jeong,wait for me in the hall please."Ms Kim cut her off.
"Can I please see Jiyoon?"the woman started but Ms Kim shook her head.
"You all should wait for me here."the woman said to the couple and Jaehyun, following the girl.
"Come with me please"she walked ahead, having y/n follow her this time.
"Where are we going?"she asked but got no answer.
They were soon in the woods,close to Jiyoons cave. Ms Kim sat on a rock and asked the girl to do the same.
"I heard from your husband why you want to adopt."She spoke while having her eyes on her.
"Do you pity me?"y/n smiled in a sad way.
"No... I envy you."she smiled. "I know how you feel...not being able to have your own baby. And thinking of adoption needs so much strength."Ms Kim took a deep breath. "When I was younger I couldn't have my own kids. That's why I started working here"
"Don't you feel sad, seeing all these kids?"
"No...just like you,who are seen as a mommy by Jiyoon, I am their mommy. "She smiled. "Ah! About Jiyoon...he is not a child that opens up easily...how come he called you mommy? I also helped him make the bracelet for you. He didn't say for who exactly it was..."
"Oh,that...he saw me crying and came to ask why I was like this. He then took me to his cave to feed birds and-why are you looking at me like this? I sound funny, don't I?"
"Not at all....y/n...do you want to adopt Jiyoon?"
"Hm...yes. But I don't think I can...the other family signed the papers already"
"They did not."
"They didn't?"
"They have only been here four or five times. Jiyoon only saw them once and ran away. "
"Why would he ran away? Didn't you tell us earlier today they are good people?"
"Yeah..."
"Kids are smart. He probably sees something that you don't. "
"Like you do,right?"the woman asked the girl.
"Right"y/n looked away.
"I don't care about the papers to be honest y/n. I want my children to be happy. So... I would rather let them be adopted by families they chose, instead of waiting for others to chose them only. It takes time to adopt. Jiyoon didn't feel comfortable with others who have seen him a lot more than you did. But you two clicked and you only met yesterday"
"So...? Why are you telling me this? And why did we come here out of all places?"
"I wanted to make sure you want to adopt him."
"I really want to..."
"Then,should we ask Jiyoon if he wants to come with you?"
"What if he refuses?"
"I don't think he will...he wouldn't call someone random mommy just to escape a situation. He also never made a bracelet for anyone else."
"He's a sweet boy"
"And smart. So ...shall we go?"
"Now?" The girl felt her palms sweating.
"Yes. He must be at his cave with Jieun...right?"
"Yeah..."
"What a coincidence. Jieun,Jiyoon..."
"Oh, you're right." Y/n covered her mouth. "But, Ms Kim..."
"Hm?"
"What about the other family?"
"I don't think they're ready to adopt yet. Their behaviour makes them look as if they're really not ready for a child."
"Can she really call the police like she said earlier?"
"No? She has no right to do so"
"That crazy woman...really...I encouraged her to call them"y/ns eyes widened in shock, making the woman laugh.
"I can see why Jiyoon chose you"
[...]
"Jiyoonah..."Ms Kim spoke calmly to the child who had blocked his ears with his hands.
"I don't want to get adopted."he shook his head. "I don't want them to adopt me"he yelled, making y/n flinch.
"Baby...hear me first yeah?"the woman kneeled in front of him. "No one will adopt you without your will. I just called you here to ask you...would you like any of these two families to become yours?"
"I want to go with them"he pointed at y/n who was holding Jieun.
Jaehyun who was standing in the back of the room quietly smiled. "I like y/n and Jieun. She yells a lot"he then pointed at the other woman. "She is scary"
"Jiyoonah...all mothers yell sometimes. They don't do it because they're bad,but they do it out of love"
"I like y/n."he spoke quietly. "She is nice and she played with me."
"Jinyoonah-"the boy heard and his lips started trembling when he faced the older woman.
"Jinyoon,go play with your friends,yeah?...Ms Park, I think we should respect his choice-"
"This is really not fair!"
"Take Jieun outside"Jaehyun placed his hand on y/n back,to whisper in her ear.
He knew the baby would cry soon because of the womans tone.
"You yourself said it takes time for kids to bond with people who want to adopt them, how can you give him to them?"
"Ms Park you are crossing the line!"Ms Kim now yelled, making her stop and give her a surprised look. "How do you expect a child to come with you when you act like this?!"
"Excuse m-me?"
"Can you please leave us alone?"Ms Kim asked Jaehyun and Y/n.
Y/n nodded her head and quickly walked out of the room with Jaehyun. "I didn't know she could yell"y/n whispered.
"Why are you whispering? It's not like she's going to hear you"he chuckled,taking Jieun in his arms since they were outside.
"He said he wants to come with us"
"I know"he smiled big, seeing her excited.
At least she'd forget a little about pregnancy and focus on these two. Jieun and Jiyoon.
"Jiyoonah!"y/n called while walking to the cave. "Jiyoonah!" She saw his head popping behind the rock.
As soon as the boy saw her he smiled big, running towards her. "Ya,did you really mean it? You want to come with us?"the girl wrapped her arms around his body, picking him up. "Did you?"she looked at him, making him laugh.
Jiyoon shyly nodded his head and when the girl started spinning with him again in excitementhe started laughing. "Thank you thank you thank youuuuuuu"she placed her lips on his head for a kiss. "You make me so happy"she teared up
"When we go home I'll make more bracelets for you"he said, making her nod.
"I can't wait to take you home"