Lost memories: A mafia romance

🌼13: jaleousy is inevitable.

Jiwoo laughed, catching him tightly. "Aigoo! I missed you too, baby."

Jimin, who was now frozen on the spot, slowly turned his gaze to Jiwoo with the most dramatic expression he could muster. "Momma?!"

"It's not what it sounds like," Jiwoo whispered quickly, her face heating up once more.

"Oh really?" he whispered back. "Because it sounds exactly like what it sounds like."

Taehyun had nestled into Jiwoo's lap, clinging to her like a sleepy koala. Jiwoo gently stroked his hair, still smiling like he was the most precious thing on the planet. And honestly, he might have been.

"Where's your appa?" Jiwoo asked softly, glancing at the hallway behind him.

"He's outside. Talking to someone on the phone."

"Got it."

Jimin leaned forward, offering Taehyun a small wave. "Hello there, Mr. Taehyun. I'm Park Jimin."

Taehyun blinked at him, then gave a polite little bow. "Hello, Mr. Jimin. Nice to meet you!"

Jiwoo leaned down to whisper in his ear. "Baby, you can call him mochi Uncle. That's his nickname."

Taehyun lit up. "Mochi Uncle! You're so cute!"

Jimin clutched his chest dramatically. "Oh my god, he's stealing my heart! Who told you to be this adorable?!"

Taehyun pointed proudly at Jiwoo. "My momma!"

Jiwoo's eyes widened to full moons, and she looked like she was about to choke on air. Taehyun kissed her cheek again with pure affection.

Jimin gasped. "WAIT! Sit just like that!"

He scrambled for his phone and pointed its camera at them. "I need to capture this. Taehyun, just sit there with that cute face. Jiwoo, stop blinking. I'm serious."

"What are you doing now?" Jiwoo asked, genuinely alarmed.

Jimin lowered the phone and stared at them like he'd seen a ghost. "Jiwoo… he looks exactly like you."

"Huh?" she blinked.

"I'm not joking!" Jimin insisted, leaning in. "Look at his eyes. That nose. That exact dimple when he smiles, Jiwoo, this boy could literally be your child."

Jiwoo stared down at Taehyun, her hands trembling slightly as she cradled his little form.

Taehyun's smile stretched ear to ear, his little hands flapping in excitement.

"Really?! Taehyun looks like his momma?" he asked, his voice filled with so much happiness that Jiwoo's heart fluttered. His wide eyes gleamed with pride as he tilted his head toward Jimin. "Mochi uncle said so too!"

Before anyone could reply, the office door creaked open and Seojun walked in, his phone now tucked back into his blazer pocket. His gaze instantly found Jiwoo only to drop down to Taehyun clinging to her lap like a little prince to his throne.

"Appa!" Taehyun called out, jumping off Jiwoo's lap and running toward him with quick, eager steps. "Appa, Mochi uncle said I look like momma! Do I really look like momma?"

Seojun looked at his son for a moment, then at Jiwoo. Her cheeks held a pink tint. And when he saw them side by side, even without comparing features, something in his heart whispered: Of course, you look like your mom. Her eyes, that dimple, even the faint curve in their smiles, it was all there. Subtle, but clear to someone who once knew her best.

His throat tightened for a second, but he kept his smile steady.

"Yes, baby," Seojun said softly, brushing a hand through his son's hair. "You really do."

But his voice shifted slightly, a firm undertone slipping in as he added, "Now come on. We should leave. We're running late, remember?"

Taehyun nodded enthusiastically, skipping back to grab Jiwoo's hand one last time. "Momma, let's go now— mochi uncle I'll miss you!"

Jimin bent down, kissed his forehead gently, and ruffled his hair. "I'll miss you too, my handsome little man. Be good, okay?"

"Always!" he chirped.

While Taehyun returned to Seojun's side, Jimin slowly went towards Jiwoo, dusting imaginary lint off his jacket. His eyes flicked to Seojun, catching something in the way the man's jaw tightened whenever he went near Jiwoo. Jimin arched an eyebrow, his smirk returning.

"Well, since you guys are heading out," he said slowly, his voice laced with deliberate mischief, "I should get going too. Wouldn't want to intrude on your time."

Before Jiwoo could say anything, Jimin pulled her into a sudden, tight hug. "Take care, Jiwoo," he said softly, but loud enough for Seojun to hear every syllable.

Jiwoo blinked in confusion but returned the hug awkwardly, patting his back. "Uh… you too, Jimin."

Over Jimin's shoulder, Seojun's expression visibly shifted. His gaze hardened, and his hands curled into quiet fists by his sides. Every fiber in him screamed jealousy, though he tried to keep it hidden behind a practiced smile. But he wasn't fooling anyone, especially not Jimin.

Jimin stepped back from the hug with a triumphant grin, meeting Seojun's eyes with the silent message: I know what's going on.

"Okay then," Jimin said cheerily. "Bye, everyone!"

And with that, he turned and walked out like he had just dropped a bomb.

Seojun stared at the closed door for a second too long, still visibly tense.

Jiwoo cleared her throat, glancing awkwardly between the two men. "Umm… he's a little weird sometimes. Don't mind him."

Seojun snapped out of it and turned to her, forcing a light chuckle. "Yeah… no worries."

She looked at Taehyun and smiled, "Shall we go?"

"Let's!" Taehyun chimed, grabbing both their hands without hesitation, linking them together as if he knew that was exactly where they belonged.

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The afternoon sun poured softly through the glass walls of the mall's rooftop café, casting a warm golden hue over the table where Jiwoo sat with Taehyun. The little boy was swinging his legs under the seat, humming some made-up tune while holding a small shopping bag filled with his new favorite dinosaur t-shirt.

Jiwoo smiled watching him, her elbow resting on the table, her chin lightly cupped in her palm.

Seojun approached their table with a tray in hand. His eyes sparkled slightly as he reached them, and the warm scent of pizza and pastries followed his steps.

"The food is here," he said with a gentle smile, placing the tray down. "Taehyun, your pizza. And Jiwoo, your favorite chocolate pastry."

Taehyun instantly lit up. "Yayyy! Pizza!"

Jiwoo's smile froze for a second. She tilted her head, curiosity twinkling in her eyes. "Wait… how do you know chocolate pastries are my favorite?"