ENTICE || JJk•PJm•KTh

Chapter 49 || One Step At A Time

"he's with his dad." jiah smiles a little, busying herself with the dinner to ignore all the eyes burning on her head. clearing her throat, she gestures them to eat and sends a sweet smile towards yoongi's fiancé, hana.

she's a beautiful woman with short, blonde hair, good fashion sense and make up, and if jiah had to judge by the looks, she'd give hana a big ten out of ten. although from sitting together since the last few minutes, as yoongi and the rest of the guys to jiah and vice versa, she notices that hana is not really trying to be a part of the conversation. she smiles frequently and seems to be quietly enjoying the exchange of words going around, letting out small puffs of laughter whenever someone says anything funny.

jiah concludes she's introverted, and must be feeling a little shy with so many strangers together all of a sudden. but yoongi beside her seems to be observant of her, often getting her to talk and paying ample amount of attention to her just like anyone else. jiah smiles to herself seeing yoongi being a softie with his fiancé when most of her life passed by hearing his curses and devastating comebacks.

"with his dad..?" yoongi repeats, and jiah suddenly feels the happy atmosphere slipping from the table, for namjoon too, stares at her with worried eyes. seokjin spares her a glance as well, but it's mostly laden with guilt and regret, which makes jiah sigh and turn her head, never looking back at him.

"yeah, he wanted to spend some time with ji. so, he took him. they'll come back tomorrow." jiah says nonchalantly, sipping some water to swallow the food stuck in her throat and lowers her hands from the table, wiping the sweat on her palms on her dress. all the signs giving away how she's restless to have her child back.

a large, warm hand slips on her lap, lacing his fingers with her trembling ones and gives a gentle squeeze. jiah glances at jungkook beside her as he smiles down at her, nodding subtly in an assuring manner that tells her not to worry and he's right here. she sighs softly, holding onto his hand under the table, before focusing back on the elder men.

"and you let him?" namjoon asks.

"yes." she says, "now oppas, please let's not talk about this. today's dinner is for yoongi oppa and hana unnie."

"yes, but—"

"no, buts." jiah huffs at yoongi, eyeing him to shut his mouth and picks up a sushi with her chopsticks, leaning forward and shoves it in his mouth. "the food is really nice. why don't you eat and not talk, oppa?"

yoongi gives her a look, but says nothing, instead his eyes move to jungkook, holding his gaze as though they could talk with some kind of telepathy. at the end, jungkook gives him a small smile, stealing an unnoticed glance at his girlfriend. jiah thought that jihun and his father's topic is done, but then hana asks her about it, actually initiating a conversation for the first time.

"you have a son?"

jiah smiles, nodding her head, "he's two. well, turning three in a few months."

"wait, ji's birthday is coming?" jungkook turns to gawk at jiah, who just giggles.

"there's some time for it. it's october, he was born in feb."

"amazing. we'll throw a big party." jungkook grins, "when is your birthday?"

"why?" jiah chuckles, determined not to tell him, which makes him frown and lean closer to her ear.

"i'll find out anyway. but it would be nice if you told me with this pretty little mouth of yours."

"i'm not telling you. find it out, mr. overconfident." she whispers back, then turns to hana, shifting on her seat to have support from jungkook's body. his arm slides around her as though to keep her warm and make sure that he comes to know when she's not feeling well even if jiah doesn't tell him.