Toddler - [TAEBIN FF]

Epilogue

And nobody, and I mean, nobody, can resist those baby doll eyes.

"Yeah."

"It's gonna be even more special, as this time... we're both okay."

Taehyun smiled.

"Indeed."

Juhyeok wasn't the only one who started therapy in the Kang household.

After ignoring his best friends' urging wishes for years, before finally giving in due to his partner's pep talk, Taehyun himself found a therapist upon receiving an official diagnosis of his mental health.

He was a few years older, came from Japan, and majored in the field of trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy.

It turns out that Beomgyu's hypothesis had been correct, and Taehyun was indeed suffering from PTSD. Even more, it had caused a lot of damage and disruption in his neurological systems, some of which he'd never been aware of.

However, his therapist was splendid at his job, gave him the right advice and mechanisms needed to cope, and slowly but surely, Taehyun was recovering from all the scars and guilts of the past.

So did his injuries from the car crash, and only the scar left by his stomach wound remained.

Instead of adding it to his list of painful reminders, for him, it was only a reminder of where he's been, and where he is now.

His relationship with Soobin has gotten even stronger and he willingly depended on him more than ever.

His friendships with Beomgyu, Kai, Yeonjun, Taeyeon and Baekhyun only became more established, and they truly were in his circle of loved ones.

But more importantly, his fatherly bond with Juhyeok had grown, and they both were more open and trusting towards each other.

It had been the cruelest season of their lives, spring of the year 2023, but despite all the struggles, the tense hope, and constant persistence, all of them made it through, and were ready to experience the real summer awaiting them soon.

+x+

The bell rang shrilly.

"School's out!" Yubin cheered.

The students of 1A, now part of 2A, erupted into loud roars and cheers of happiness, threw their papers into the air, and some kids who brought bugle horns blew on them.

When they heard the bell ring, Yerim and Juhyeok jumped up, holding hands tightly as they laughed and jumped up and down.

"We did it!"

"We're second graders!" Yerim exclaimed.

Second graders.

It meant so much to them, more than to anyone else, knowing how much of a crazy ride first grade was, and that they're here, at the end of it, still standing.

The door burst open, and students from Class 1B, now 2B, came pouring in.

Jinsong joined his cousin and his best friend, and the three kids jumped around in a circle, yodeling and laughing.

"School's out!"

"Scream and shout!"

"It's our vacation!"

Their laughs became louder, knowing they had rehearsed this before, thanks to binge watching those movies on their very frequent sleepovers.

"Come on, let's go outside!" Jinsong exclaimed.