puzzle piece | jeong jaehyun

8

"You've got everything, right?" Jaehyun asked, looking for his keys on the kitchen counter as his little girl waited by the door, strapping on the velcro shoes

"Can we go?" She asked, not wanting to waste another second to be by her new best friend's side

"Yeah, just let me find my—here they are" Jaehyun said, reaching for his keys that he had somehow managed to chuck into the fruit bowl by accident last night

"You first" Jaehyun smiled, opening the door for her and locking up after they left, hoping everything was turned off before he went to work

"Can I ring the doorbell?" Jinah asked excitedly, her hand reaching up for the buzzer anyway even if he was to say no. And in a matter of seconds, the strut of heels could be heard on the other end and the door opened to reveal Yunhui—however she looked different this time.

She was suited up with her hair perfectly done, a bold red lip to signal she really took her time to get ready today, after all, thanks to Jaehyun, she did have the extra time.

"Hey" she smiled widely, waving to Jinah before her eyes met Jaehyun who seemed to be a little taken back by this newfound businesswoman aura

"Hi...is he ready to go?" Jaehyun asked, clearing his throat and wondering if his straight to the chase question seemed impatient

"Yeah he's just looking for something—Minhyuk, let's go!" Yunhui said, rushing the boy a little as he trudged out of his room with his shoe laces undone. She sighed and crouched down to his height, almost stumbling on the pair of heels that were higher than the ones she usually wore.

"Here, let me help" she said, tying his laces up for him while Minhyuk patiently waited

"You can't tie your own laces?" Jinah asked with a giggle and Jaehyun lightly nudged her and sent a small glare, reminding her not to be rude

"Can you?" Minhyuk asked her and she pouted, slowly shaking her head 'no'

"But you're a big boy!" Jinah said, defending herself

"Jinah, everyone learns things at different times. Don't be mean" Jaehyun said, patting her head so she could stop picking on the older boy

"Have fun okay? I'll pick you up after" Yunhui said to her kid

"Will you buy me ice cream?" He asked and she chuckled, nodding

"Daddy I want ice cream too!" Jinah said, her eyes widening in glee

"I'll get you some on the way back" he said and she almost bounced in happiness

"Oh before I forget, there's the car seat" Yunhui said, pointing over to the small booster seat for Jaehyun to grab with him

"You sure you won't be late to work or anything?" Yunhui asked, standing up to her feet as Minhyuk walked out the door, joining Jaehyun's side

"No I'll be fine, I work pretty close to the school. Say bye, guys" Jaehyun said and the kids waved towards Yunhui

"You look really pretty!" Jinah smiled and Yunhui thanked her quickly before closing the front door, returning to the mirror to put on her jewellery.

"Alright, let's get this party started!" Jaehyun said happily once both the kids were strapped into the backseat

"Me first!" Jinah said excitedly, reaching for the karaoke mic

"What's the magic word?" Jaehyun teased slowly, making her pout

"Please!" She said, reaching for it anyway until her dad finally handed it to her, worried that she just might snap her seatbelt

"Minhyuk, do you want to sing next?" Jaehyun asked, looking at the little boy through his rear view mirror as he started the car so they could be on their way

"No" He said, his hands planting themselves under his thighs as he looked towards Jinah patiently for her to sing instead. And the off key note that was being belted out of her mouth caught him off guard. He looked back towards Jaehyun with worry and Jaehyun had to stop himself from laughing at the little boy's shocked expression, before his hands reached up to cover his ears from the loud noises of the mic.

"Yah! Why are you covering your ears?!" Jinah shouted with an angry pout

"You sound bad!" Minhyuk argued back

"Then you sing! I bet you suck too!" Jinah said, shoving the pink mic into his face

"Hey—kids, come on. Be nice" Jaehyun said, the corners of his lips poking upwards regardless of the scolding. It took about 10 minutes in the car for the three of them to reach the school's parking lot.

And this is where the challenge begun.

"Do you want to hold my hand?" Jaehyun asked, looking down at Minhyuk who quietly walked beside him, trying his best to keep up with his long strides as he held Jinah in this arms. Minhyuk looked up at him, lips slightly parted before he turned back to the direction he was facing, not taking up the man's offer.

"You okay?" Jaehyun asked, sensing the slight distance from him all of sudden

"I don't like school" Minhyuk responded, his hands reaching to clutch the shoulder straps of his bag tightly

"I love school" Jinah said with a smile and Jaehyun hummed, tapping the boy's shoulder to make him stop walking along the path before bringing him to the side as they approached the drop off gate where he would have to leave them to their own accord

"Why don't you like school?" Jaehyun asked, crouching down to his height. His hands automatically reached towards the hair on the boy's head as it blew with the wind, patting it down to make it pin straight again like it always was, just like his mom's.

Minhyuk only shrugged at his question, not having an answer for him—or rather not knowing which answer to give him.

"Do you like your teacher? Do you have friends?" Jaehyun asked, feeling a tug in his chest to dig in deeper and penetrate whatever wall the kid had around him which he could sense from the very moment that they had met

"I'm your friend!" Jinah said happily, leaving her dad's side to playfully grab Minhyuk's arm instead, forcefully tugging him away from her dad as she waved goodbye, excited to start another day at her new school

Jaehyun let out a sigh, standing back upright as he looked around him at the few teachers and parents who seemed to have notice that someone new came to drop Minhyuk off this morning. He didn't think too much into it, people these days didn't have anything better to do than to assume every single detail for themselves anyway.

They were just neighbours who help each other out. There was nothing crazy or scandalous about it at all. Just two single parents that were helping each other.

Just two parents who were finally starting to trust someone else with their child—now that was different.