It certainly wasn’t the first time Jonathan had taken Theodore to the mall not far from where they lived. They’d been once before, when Theodore was only two, when Jonathan had been fawned over by older women for having such a beautiful little boy with him. It hadn’t been such a great experience, and for the toddler - who still had trouble hearing despite the hearing aids he wore - it had traumatized him just a little. Jonathan tried to never do anything to upset Theodore. He couldn’t stand the sight of his little boy crying. Not from pain, or illness, or fear. So he kept clear of the mall, going only when Theodore was at day care or he had work.
It’s been a couple of years since the incident, and Jonathan is out of film. So after carefully explaining to the already so smart Theodore that they had to go out, that he had to be very careful to ‘keep hold of daddy’s hand, Teddy, otherwise you’ll get lost’, he went about getting his son ready to go out. After making sure his clothes were clean, and his hair neatly brushed, Jon gathered his son up in his arms and together they walked to the mall.
It wasn’t that far. Less than three blocks, and on a good day it didn’t take them more than half an hour to walk. Theodore had been excited, curious eyes and wide smiles as he pointed to things and spoke excitedly. Jon loved watching his son interact with the world. The bright eyes, curious looks, the questions regarding everything.
At the mall, Theo had quietened a lot more than usual. Jonathan had gently set him down, taking his hand as they walked through the crowds towards his usual photography shop. The four year old had clung to his father’s side, avoiding gazes and pulling away when ahjummas reached out to ruffle his hair. There had been just one moment in which Jonathan’s attention shifted from his son. In that moment, whimsical music had played from the nearby toy store - and like any inquisitive child, Theodore hadn’t been able to help himself from letting go of his father’s shirt. In that moment, he’d been lost in the crowd.
Nearly an hour later, Theodore had somehow managed to walk all the way to the other side of the mall searching for his father. Already he’d been approached by a number of people asking if he were alright. Older women tried to comfort him, families tried to console him, and an attendant had tried to ask where his parents were.
Now he sits, on a bench too big for him, face red and fingers fiddling with the hearing aid that’s half fallen out of his ear. Sitting it in his lap, he sniffles and rubs his face.
“Appa.”
It has been a bit mediocre to work in the back end of a stock room since he moved to Seoul, and he’s happy to finally have a switch of environments. Even though he finds people a bit stressful, it’s still more than alright. He needs to get used to things like these after all, to being asked questions and to be approached by stressed human beings with requests he needs to try and fulfill. What kind of pediatrician would he be if he couldn’t handle people at all? For all he knows, his future holds a lot of stressed out parents and sniffling kids. So e challenges himself like this, working part time in the mall not too far away from where he lives. He works in a rather small shop, next to the escalators. Selling teas of all kinds, and a few types of pastries, and when he’s lucky his boss allows him to take a package of his favorite cookies hime without having to pay for it.
Today is one of those days, when his shift ends early and he’s given a small package. He smiles, thanks the elderly woman he works for with a smile and a polite bow. He had only been given this job because of his previous employer. She happened to be his son’s mother-in-law. But Baekhyun doesn’t care much for whatever connection they have, he’s just thankful for the transfer, and he makes it apparent with how diligently he works. So with the smile remaining upon his lips, and the package of cookies in his hand, he enters the back room of the store, to change into the sweater he had worn upon arriving. He stuffs the package into his backpack, snatches his jacket from the hanger and slips it over his shoulder. He is eased, not rushing He has nothing aside from studying planned either way.
After slipping his snapback onto his head, after adjusting his hair in the mirror a few times, he’s off. He says goodbye for a second time, offers up the sweetest of smiles he can, both to the lady and the customer she’s busy helping. The mall is crowded and it makes him grimace. He can’t turn off his hearing aid when he’s out like this, it’s a bit unsafe. So he leaves it be, beginning to sidle through the crows with slow steps. He’s as observant as he always is, hazel eyes scanning the people he passes by.
He has almost made it to his exit point when his attention is caught by a child, sitting alone on a nearby bench. It makes Baekhyun stop for a moment, moving out of the way from people heading in each and every direction. He’s a bit curious, but also worried. For as far as he can see, there’s no adult nearby and the child looks quite young. His face is reddened and it makes Baekhyun’s brows furrow. Then he spots the hearing aid sitting in the boy’s lap and his lips press into a thin line. He’s quite sure this boy has lost his parents somewhere in the mall, and honestly, Baekhyun isn’t too keen on leaving him like this.
But as always he’s careful with what he does, because he doesn’t want his actions to be perceived as odd. But he approaches either way, steps slow and he stops a few feet away from the boy, offering him a gentle smile as he crouches, to lever their faces a bit.
Did you lose your parents?
Baekhyun signs slowly, quirking a brow in order to try and show a bit of compassion, to seem less scary. He hopes his own youth will provide a little bit more comfort too, because he supposes other’s must’ve tried to help him too, without much luck.