ACT XV | SCENE LXXV

❝SUITCASE❞

SORA AND JANGMI sipped on ginger and lemon tea, listening and watching their children move from one nursery rhyme to the other. sooyoung had already headed into the guest room to rest, tired from the drama of the whole day. and jimin was yet to return. sora's gaze shifted to her friend who couldn't seem to keep her eyes off her child.

"his mother really took her, huh?" she let out, disbelief lacing her voice. "so it would seem." jangmi sighed, she was too exhausted and happy at once to be thoroughly pissed by hyunjoo's actions. "i'm just waiting for jimin to return so he can explain everything." she glanced down at the contents of her cup.

"at least she wasn't hurt. she looks as bubbly as she's always been. maybe even more than before." sora remarked, smiling at the way the girl giggled when heejun poked at her dimple. jangmi nodded her agreement with a purse of her lips. "that's the only thing stopping me from driving to the park estate and screaming profanities at the woman like a banshee." she took another sip of her tea while sora chuckled. "that'll be a sight."

"you know, i'm really surprised. i know park hyunjoo is capable of a lot of things but somehow, i can't picture her doing this, kidnapping her own granddaughter just to know if she's indeed her granddaughter."

sora leaned back on the couch, eyes fully focused on her friend. "you're saying this wasn't her plan?" she asked with a lift of her brow. "jimin's dad did say she never used to be like this." jangmi shrugged, tucking her hair behind her ears. sora gasped as a sudden idea hit her. "is it possible that she planned this with that nari woman?" she questioned. jangmi shook her head. "no, not possible, nari was the one who put us on to hyunjoo." she answered. "well, she could have sold her out at the last minute. maybe because she felt guilty or to make herself look good in jimin's eyes." sora suggested, her theory gaining more flesh to its bones in her mind.

jangmi paused at that. "oh shit." she breathed low, shocked by how much sense it began to make in her head. she inhaled sharply and shook her head. "nari doesn't seem that cunning. she-" she shook her head again. "i don't know. i don't know. at this point, anything is possible." she rubbed her temple, not liking the feeling of her thoughts flying all over the place with possibilities.

"but i may be wrong. i do have an overactive imagination." sora pressed her lips together in thought. "if you want to know, you can ask his mother and try to find out who may have planted the insane idea in her head." she suggested, sipping her tea. jangmi gave her a look, snorting. "park hyunjoo and i having a civil conversation like normal people? ha! that's rich." she laughed again, unable to picture her and the woman actually having a conversation without hyunjoo taking a shot at her.

sora sighed, placing her now empty cup on the coffee table. "well, then. can jimin ask?" she queried, resting against the couch again. jangmi breathed out heavily. "right now. i think his mother and i have a better chance at having rational discussion. jimin is the scariest person i've ever seen when he's proper pissed off." she leaned back as well. "he's never hurt you, has he?" sora whispered, voice full of concern. jangmi's eyes widened, head shaking vigorously. "no, never. no matter how pissed he got at me all he did was yell or just ignore me. he's not that kind of person. and if he was, i'd have gotten his ass arrested."

sora let out a breathy chuckle, not really surprised by the reply. "look, i think it's important you all get to the bottom of this so everything is clear and out in the open. being angry never did anyone any good." she returned to the initial topic. jangmi sighed, throwing her head back. "i guess you're right."

"by the way, does brigitte know about this whole rosalie missing thing? because i get the sense she's the kind of person to call every half hour to find out what's going on or be on the first flight to seoul to be with you." sora turned on the couch to face jangmi who chuckled. "that's because she is. which is exactly why i didn't tell her." she scratched the back of her hair. sora gasped, face showing shock. "she's going to have your head when she finds out."

"if she finds out." jangmi corrected, raising her index finger in front of her. "she's going to find out." sora deadpanned, expression straight. "it's going to slip out sooner rather than later. and you're the worst liar i've ever met in all the twenty six years i've lived on this earth." she added with a slightly teasing tone. "i'm going to pretend that didn't hurt." jangmi sucked in a deep breath, face looking somewhat pained.

sora laughed as her phone buzzed on her thigh where it sat. she glanced down at it, a small frown pulling her features together. "it's sejun. he needs me at home apparently." she smiled small, looking up at her friend. "you two are cute." jangmi remarked with a cheeky grin. "it's getting late anyway, you need to be getting home." she grabbed sora's hand. "call me if you need me." sora put her other hand over jangmi's, giving it a slight squeeze. "i will." the younger woman took in a deep breath, chest rising with the action. "heejun, sweetie, we have to get going. your dad is missing us." sora glanced back at the children. heejun and rosalie let out loud whines, bottom lips jutting out in cute pouts.

the mothers cooed, shaking their heads at the two. "no whining." sora tutted, eyes narrowing. "you'll have all the time to play together this summer." she added. "school will be out next week. then you'll have all summer to have fun, okay?" jangmi tilted her head forward. with matching pouts both kids nodded. "good." the parents said in unison.

just as they both got on their feet, the sound of the security code being entered reached their ears. "i think that's jimin." jangmi glanced past the archway towards the front door. "come here, heejun." sora held her arms open. the jet haired boy ran into them, giggling a little when she lifted him up with a soft grunt. rosalie ran towards her mother, holding up her own arms. jangmi bent over to pick her up the same time jimin appeared.

"papa!" rosalie squealed, a wide grin on her lips. "hey, princess!" he smiled, eyes crinkling into crescents. "hi, uncle!" heejun beamed. "hey, little man!" jimin looked at the boy. "hi, sora." his gaze moved to the child's mother. "hi again, jimin." sora smiled softly. "well, i have to be going now." she added. "see you tomorrow, jangmi. have a goodnight."

"you too." jangmi replied but her attention was on something else. she couldn't pull her gaze away from the suitcase that stood by jimin's feet. she waited to hear the door shut before she spoke to him. "everything okay?" she queried, watching him pick up blanche who was pawing at his feet. "yeah," he breathed audibly, intense gaze on her, "everything's fine." he stroked the cat's fur gently.

she pressed her lips in a straight line, glancing down. rosalie glanced between them, brows pulled together. "why is everybody sad?" she asked, voice curious. automatically, both parents had smiles on their faces. "what do you mean sad? we're very happy. especially since we have you with us." jimin leaned over to nuzzle her. she giggled at the action, grabbing his cheeks.

"hey, rosie, uncle hobi really wanted to talk to you. should we go call him?" jangmi quipped, tone cute and loving. the four-year-old's eyes widened and she bobbed her head enthusiastically, humming cutely, "mm!"

☀️☀️☀️

double update because it's my birthday. and because i know i won't be able to update in a while.
so did sora's theory throw you off? because i was hoping for that. so do you agree with her or not?

also i decided to do the instagram live later today at 10pm kst since i'll be going on a hiatus and today is probably one of the few days i'm certain i'd be free. so if you have questions you want to ask me about any of my stories or myself, you can ask me during the live. my instagram is jiminiumswp.