(Snow falls heavily outside. The clock shows 12:00 a.m. Jeon.J sits silently, his thoughts clouded, while Jea organizes travel papers.)
Jeon.J
(looking at Jea, low voice, tense)
If we don't reach before the concert, Kim Joon will get really worried.
Jea
(nods quickly)
Yes, Jeon.J, everything is done. The seat is confirmed.
Jeon.J
Good. Before we leave, tell the animal tracker to keep searching. If there's any update, he should inform us immediately.
(Jea lowers his eyes, hesitant. He takes a breath before speaking.)
Jea
(soft, concerned)
Please don't stress too much about Bamson. He will be found. But if you let this disturb you mentally… how will you focus on your work?
(Jeon.J looks at him, then forces a faint, sad smile.)
Jeon.J
You know, Jea… we've carried our share of pain before too. We worked with empty hearts, hidden tears, and countless sleepless nights.
(beat)
We turned wounds into strength and pushed through storms no one ever saw. That's how we've come this far.
(leans back, quiet but firm)
So don't worry—I'll manage this too.
(Jea lowers his head, silent. A pause.)
Jeon.J
Now, tell me the flight timing.
Jea
(checks his phone)
Because of heavy snowfall, flights are being delayed. Tomorrow looks a little clear, but after that, almost a week of heavy snow is expected. Our flight is at 4 a.m. It's already midnight.
(Jeon.J, half awake but listening, suddenly cuts him off.)
Jeon.J
(irritated but tired)
Jea, just tell me the timing, not the whole weather report.
Jea
(embarrassed, lowering his voice)
Sorry, Jeon.J…
Jeon.J
(soft, reassuring)
No, buddy—don't apologize. Just tell me straight.
Jea
The flight is at 4 a.m.
Jeon.J
(head snapping up, shocked)
What? That's barely four hours from now. Why are you telling me this so late?
Jea
If we miss this one, I can't confirm when the next flight will be available.
Jeon.J
(decisive, standing)
Then we're leaving right now. There's no point staying here anymore. Bamson will be found.
Jea
(thinking aloud)
Why don't you share about Bamson on social media? Within an hour, the whole city will be searching for him.
(Jeon.J freezes, then shakes his head firmly.)
Jeon.J
No, Jea. Only a few people know I'm in Busan right now. If I make an official post, the news will explode.
(voice hardens)
The media will twist it, reporters will track every step, and strangers will flood the area pretending to "help."
(beat)
It won't be about Bamson anymore—it'll be about me. That chaos will only make it harder to find him quietly.
(Jea checks his watch anxiously.)
Jea
We should leave now. The snow will slow us down on the way to the airport.
(Jeon.J stretches, trying to shake off his drowsiness. Jea heads for the door. Suddenly, Jeon.J speaks.)
Jeon.J
Jea…
(Jea stops, turns. Jeon.J sits on the floor, absentmindedly drawing lines with his toe, eyes downcast. A heavy silence lingers.)
Jeon.J
(hesitant, conflicted)
Will you do something for me? It's personal. No one should know—just between you and me.
(Jea studies him, surprised. After years of working together, this is the first time he's seen Jeon.J uncertain.)
Jea
Tell me.
Jeon.J
The flight we took to Busan… can you discreetly check who was sitting in the seat right in front of me? You understand what I mean…
(Jea exhales slowly, nodding.)
Jea
I can. But it'll take some time. And since we're heading back now, it may only be possible once we return.
(serious)
I'll have to do it quietly. If I approach staff directly, they'll recognize me as your PA. At the airport, news spreads fast. One careless move, and the media will know everything within minutes.
(Silence. The snow outside grows heavier. The two exchange a look of unspoken trust.)
Scene: Parents' House – Night
(The living room is dimly lit. Snow falls outside, thick and heavy. Jeon.J stands near the door, suitcase in hand. Jea waits quietly beside him.)
Jeon.J
(quiet but firm)
Jea… this must stay between us.
Jea
(nods once, serious)
Yes.
(Jeon.J takes a deep breath, then walks slowly toward his parents' room. He knocks softly and steps inside. His parents look up, concerned. He bows slightly before speaking.)
Jeon.J
Appa, please stay in touch with the animal tracker. I'll check everything again once I return. Right now… I have to go.
Appa
(voice heavy, almost apologetic)
Jeon.J… are you upset with us? We couldn't protect Bamson…
(Jeon.J immediately steps closer, shaking his head, his tone gentle but pained.)
Jeon.J
No, Appa. Don't think like that. This isn't your fault. It just… happened.
(beat, eyes clouding)
Bamson will be fine. He'll come back. But tonight, I finally understand Teahun's pain… when he was separated from Hari (Teahun's dog).
(His voice breaks slightly. His parents listen, silent.)
Jeon.J
I remember every little thing about Bamson… the first time he came to me, so small. People may see him as just a dog—but no one knows… he was my son.
(beat, his eyes glisten)
We raise a child with love, care, and patience. I raised Bamson the same way. And I believe—my heart tells me—he'll come back to me.
(A silence. His parents' eyes soften with tears. Jeon.J forces a small smile and bows his head.)
Jeon.J
Appa, Amma… we'll go now.
(Cut to: Outside. The snow is falling harder. The family steps out together to the gate. The car headlights cut through the storm. Sangho is already at the wheel, engine running. Gunwoo, the guard, sits in the front passenger seat. Jeon.J and Jea slide into the back seat. The door shuts with a dull thud, sealing the moment. The car pulls out slowly into the snowy night.)
.....
The next morning, Zoya woke up a little late. She picked up her phone and saw that it was still time for Fajr prayer. As soon as her feet touched the floor, She noticed Bamson lying peacefully on the mattress, fast asleep, with a blanket carefully placed over him. That must have been Hana or Ruhi's doing.
"These crazy girls," She thought, a faint smile forming. "Now even Bamson gets a blanket. Wah, what a scene. Mattress, blanket, and my biscuits too."
She was just about to head toward the washroom when stopped. Her eyes went back to Bamson. Quietly, She moved closer and sat a little distance away, careful not to wake him. Watching his innocent face, her heart ached.
"Bamson…" She whispered softly. "The one you've been crying for these past few days… I've been crying for him too, but for a much longer time. Now our pain has become one, our sadness is shared."
A tear slipped from her eye, falling onto the floor and catching the dim light of the room, glistening for a moment before fading. She glanced toward Hana and Ruhi—thankfully, they were still asleep. Gently, She got up and went into the washroom to perform wudu (ablution).
When she came out, picked up the prayer mat and stepped into the corridor. She offered prayer. After finishing, She raised her hands for dua, her heart felt empty. There was so much she could ask for, yet the one dua she always made after every prayer didn't carry the same feeling today. Still, She prayed for everyone else, said Ameen, and returned to her room.
Since there was still some time left, She opened her favorite Surah—Surah Ar-Rahman—on the Qur'an app. There is no doubt that the entire Qur'an is guidance for us, but her heart is especially attached to this Surah. In a low voice, she began to recite, reading each ayah with its translation and tafseer.
---
Surah Ar-Rahman – First Five Ayahs
1. الرَّحْمَـٰنُ
Ar-Rahman
Translation: The Most Merciful.
Tafseer: This begins with one of Allah's most beautiful names, showing His boundless mercy that covers every creation—believers and non-believers alike.
2. عَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ
'Allamal Qur'an
Translation: He taught the Qur'an.
Tafseer: Out of His mercy, Allah did not leave mankind in ignorance. He taught the Qur'an, the ultimate guidance and cure for hearts.
3. خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ
Khalaqal Insan
Translation: He created man.
Tafseer: Allah reminds us that He is our Creator. From nothing, He shaped us with wisdom, giving us both body and soul.
4. عَلَّمَهُ الْبَيَانَ
'Allamahu Al-Bayan
Translation: He taught him eloquence (speech and expression).
Tafseer: The ability to speak, express feelings, and communicate ideas is a unique gift to mankind from Allah.
5. الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ بِحُسْبَانٍ
Ash-Shamsu wal Qamaru bihusbaan
Translation: The sun and the moon move by precise calculation.
Tafseer: The universe is in perfect balance—nothing is random. The order of the sun and moon shows Allah's power and precision in creation.
---
After reciting and reflecting on these verses, tears welled up in her eyes again. She whispered, "Ya Allah, I love You deeply… I love Your name Ar-Rahman more than I can explain."
She closed the app, placed the phone aside, and leaned back on bed. Slowly, her eyes grew heavy, and she drifted into a short sleep.
She woke up when Hana shook her.
"Zoya, get up! We'll be late for the mess. Today is busy—I need to submit my assignment."
Still half-asleep, she sat up. Ruhi was already climbing down from her bed.
"I don't have an assignment," Zoya replied, and said "but I do have typing work from our seniors. They gave it to us instead of ragging, remember? I need to return it today. Honestly, after yesterday, I don't even know how I'll manage. Maybe I'll ask for one more day."
"Then tell Minji," Hana teased. "She'll straighten them out for you."
She gave her a look. "No, I'll manage on my own. They gave work to Minji and Sofia too. Let's see what happens."
Zoya quickly changed into a simple dress—frock, joggers, a long coat, and warm trousers underneath. It didn't feel awkward since the frock covered half her legs. Hana wore pants, shirt, and a warm coat. Ruhi dressed the same.
Just then, Sofia and Minji came in. Minji went straight to Bamson.
"How's Bamson? Did he sleep well? You checked him, right? He didn't feel cold?" she bombarded with questions as she sat beside him, stroking his fur.
She narrowed her eyes at her, amused. Hana was about to answer but seeing her speak, she stayed quiet.
"No, Minji," Zoya said. "We were asleep. And yes, Bamson also slept fine. After all, he had a mattress and a blanket. And don't worry, we did check him every second—but now that you're here, go on, check your 'nephew' yourself while we head to the mess."
Minji bent down, stroking Bamson's fur, and suddenly blurted out,
"Stop calling him my nephew. I want to be his amma!"
For a moment, Zoya froze, her lips parted in disbelief. Inside, her heart was burning, but on the outside, She kept her face straight. Quietly, under her breath, She muttered,
"Ya Allah, give me patience."
She wouldn't even react properly—no one knew what storm was going on inside her, and didn't want to show it off either. Just as she was about to reply to Minji, Ruhi jumped in:
"Okay, leave it. One of us has to stay with Bamson while the others go to the mess. But whoever stays will need food too… and Bamson also needs to eat. The problem is, mess food isn't allowed to be taken outside, and right now we don't have time to go out of the hostel and buy something for him. So…" Ruhi lowered her voice dramatically, "…someone will have to steal it."
Zoya's eyes widened.
"Steal? Are you out of your mind?"
Minji shrugged casually. "So what? What's wrong with stealing food?"
She shot back, "Meaning, for you so-called nephew, now we'll become thieves too?"
"Stop, Zoya! He's not our nephew," everyone shouted together.
She nearly jumped from shock. Ya Allah, they'll strangle me someday if I say one more word wrong.
"Okay, okay!" She raised both hands. "Your idol's son is fine. Happy now?"
They all narrowed their eyes at her like detectives catching a liar.
"Fine!" Zoya sighed dramatically. "I'll stay in the room. You all go to the mess, steal food, do whatever you want. Just bring me some breakfast too."
"Whatever we bring will be stolen food," Minji ground her teeth, glaring.
"That's fine," she shrugged. "As long as you do the stealing, I'll do the eating. I don't care how you bring it."
Sofia burst out laughing, clapping her hands.
The girls started heading toward the door when she suddenly stopped them.
"Wait—first tell this nephew of yours… I mean, idol's son… to behave properly until you come back."
Minji looked at Bamson, still sleeping innocently. "He's smarter than all of you anyway."
Hana shook her head and walked out. Zoya jaw almost dropped.
"Now he's smart too? If he was really that smart, why did he lose his way home? Wah! We're about to steal food for this 'genius,' and he's the one who created all this mess in the first place."
She muttered to herself, throwing her hands in the air.
To be Continue.....
Regards
ZK💌