@โงห j. somin Even though he had expected rejection from Somin, hearing it straight from her made him wince from the anger that was so clearly delivered in her voice. The result of his disappearance was now being slapped right on his face, and he couldn't refute it. Even when his own heart was breaking the moment he stepped outside what once was their house. Seeing her body shake with suppressed emotion, Hyoseop could feel the burning behind his eyes, doing his best to keep his tears from spilling.
Has it really come this way? The once-whispered loving words were gone replaced by the bitter feeling of betrayal; the thing was Hyo didn't have any other way back then except to leave the town and her. And he needed her to know it. He opened his mouth to speak, to finally let her know the truth behind his disappearance that time, but he closed his mouth again. Today was not a good time to do that, not when she was still shaken by his sudden reappearance in the town, moreover his asking to spend time with Yulhan.
His eyes glanced at the little kid who was still reading his book before shifting back to Somin. Biting his lip to avoid him saying anything unnecessary, Hyoseop let out a soft sigh. "the thing was... I never had the choice, Somin." He muttered softly, not knowing if she could catch it or not. "But one thing for sure, I'm not going to take Yulhan away from you. He didn't even have to know that I'm his father. It's fine with me if that's what you wished for his sake. I just... want to spend time with ou-- your son. Helping him fix his toys, teach him to ride a bike, or go fishing together... Just the normal thing to do, just as the ahjussi he knew as his mother's acquaintance, I promise I will never introduce myself as his father if you wish so." He took a step closer to her but still kept some distance, he couldn't afford to make her even furious at him right now.
"Even though it may mean nothing to you... I want to say I'm sorry for all the pain and hardship I put you through... I was weak, I had no control over my life back then... Not when it involved you." His voice dropped, saying those only for her ears to hear. "I know you're doing fine without me all of these years and it made me felt like I'm the biggest jerk in the world, which I probably am. But still, I'm so sorry."
@โงห a. hyoseop Somin stared at Hyoseop in disbelief, her mind reeling. What made him think he could just come back now; of all these span of times, and introduce himself as Yulhan's father? Her heart pounded with anger, old memories of the empty house resurfaced to pierce her chest with an ache so raw that she clutched at her jacket, gripping the fabric tightly, trying to steady her very own emotions from spiralling out of control.
"He's not your son. You're mistaken," she said, her voice tense, the lie heavy on the tip of her tongue. It was a white lie that meant to shield Yulhan from Hyoseop, to keep him at a very safe distance. She had once longed for Yulhan to have a father figure but she knew this man— Ahn Hyoseop could no longer fill that role. He wasn't the man she once thought he was and whatever bond they'd once shared was disintegrated.
"You can't just show up here unannounced and expecting everything to be okay," she continued, her tone sharp with pain she had endured by herself. "You can't come back thinking you can spend time with us like nothing ever happened and you certainly don't need to explain anything because it's very damn clear that the moment your feet step out from door of MY house, you choose to walk away from everything. You betrayed all sort of promise to me—"
Her voice began to waver and she pressed her soft brims together to a thin line, struggling to hold herself together as the emotions begin to overwhelm her heavy chest. She took a sharp breath, squeezed her eyes shut to prevent her tears from seeping through and turned away from Hyoseop, clutching her chest tighter.
"I'm not going to let you take Yulhan from me only to disappear again. I won't let that happen. I'm sorry Hyoseop but we're doing just fine without you." The words felt bitter, painful but necessary. Whatever had brought Hyoseop back to Haepung, she could no longer care at all. It was none of her business now. She kept speaking, her voice rising as her anger spilled over, too wrapped up in her own hurt to notice her surroundings.
A few steps away, Yulhan looked up from his book, his sparkles doe eyes shifting from his mother to Hyoseop. He didn't understand exactly what was happening but he could feel the tension in her hushed voice, the way her body seemed to tremble with emotion. His small brows knitted together, a look of worry display onto his visage.
He wanted to go over and to just stand by his mother side, maybe even hold her hand but he knew this was something beyond himself to give some acknowledgement— a piece of the adult business she always told him to stay out of. Yulhan stayed on the bench, his small digits fiddling with the edges of his book as he lowered his gaze to the ground. A soft sigh escaped him, a quiet sadness settling in his chest as he felt the distance between them grow, even though they were only a few feet apart.
@โงห j. somin The displeasure on Somin's face was so blatant that Hyoseop couldn't help but rethink his decision. Remembering how much of Yulhan's face lit up just steeled his resolution. He waited until Yulhan was seated and engrossed in his book before switching his attention back to Somin, who apparently decided that it was the perfect time to confront him about his appearance.
Despite the tension, he couldn't help but admire how she had matured these past years they were away from each other. The situation must've forced her to be stronger and more independent compared to when he was still by her side. He didn't only miss his son's growth, but also the growth of the woman he loved and all Hyo wanted to do was bring this smaller woman into his arms, to hug her tightly and never let go anymore, but he knew he couldn't do that, at least not now. Not when there were still a lot of things that he needed to explain to her.
"You are his mother, of course... But even so, he is still my son, no?" His voice was soft, unsure if he was qualified to call Yulhan as his son, as he wasn't there for the kid since the beginning. "Look Somin... I know there are still a lot of things that we need to talk about, that I need to explain to you about what happened... But can't you let me spend time with my son? I've missed a lot. I know. And I don't even mind if you still hate me for what I did to you... But please, if it's too much for you, just let me be with him just tomorrow? Or on the weekend?" His eyes turned soft as he pleaded for her understanding. Hyoseop knew how it felt to grow up without a father figure, despite his father being around, he was never there for him. He had to navigate through his childhood alone, or with the help of his nanny; for sure he didn't want Yulhan to feel that even though it was a bit late for him right now to just suddenly appear.
"I won't ask for your forgiveness right away, Somin. I know what I did is unforgivable... But please, for Yulhan, let him feel the love from his father? I'm not going anywhere anymore. I'm staying in this town for sure. I won't disappear again."
@โงห a. hyoseop Somin's eyes widened in shock at Hyoseop sudden offer. Her heart skipped a beat as she processed the situation, trying to make sense of why he would make such an assumption without consulting her first. As Yulhan, beaming with excitement, eagerly agreed to the offer, Somin's discomfort only deepened.
"Really?" Yulhan's voice was full of delight as he looked up at Hyoseop, completely oblivious to his mother's tension. "You can definitely pick me up!" His innocent excitement made it clear that he was all for the idea, thinking it would be a fun break for his mother.
Somin's expression softened for a brief moment as she watched her son but then she quickly regained her composure by shaking her head. She reached her hand to gently peeled his small hand away from Hyoseop's with a firm but tender grip. "Come here, Yullie," she said, her voice calm yet firm. "How about you sit down first and read your book, okay?" She guided him to the bench of the bus stop, her voice gentle but her eyes still flickering with an undercurrent of frustration.
As soon as Yulhan was engrossed completely to his comic book, Somin silently huffed, a quiet sigh of frustration escaping her pair of plush. She took a few steps away from Yulhan, making sure there was a clear distance between them before turning her full attention to Hyoseop that was towering over her height. Her arms crossed tightly over her chest, gaze piercing as she looked him in his eyes with a 'what the hell' face.
"What exactly are you doing, Ahn Hyoseop?" she whispered, her voice low and edged with ange that ready to knife him down. Her frown deepened, her eyes narrowing in disbelief at his casualty. "You don't just offer to pick him up like that," she continued, the words leaving her lips with a quiet intensity. "You should have asked me first. I'm his mother first and foremost."
@โงห j. somin Hyo reminded himself that he needed to give a present to Yulhan the next time he came to visit him now seeing that Somin gradually agreed to let him walk them to the bus stop, something that she would reject to do if the kid wasn't here with them. He nodded in agreement, knowing that he shouldn't push his luck too much on the first meeting. "Of course, only to the bus stop. I promise." He smiled, already feeling grateful for the chance to spend at least some more time with both Somin and Yulhan.
The next thing Yulhan did caught him off guard as his tiny fingers reached for his much bigger one. Hyoseop was stunned but immediately he wrapped his hand around Yulhan's hand, as gently as he could, afraid that he might accidentally hurt his little hand. The twinkling gratitude in the boy's eyes made his heart clench painfully. His father's decision robbed this kid of a complete childhood with both of his parents, but as much as he hated that day, he could never return to that moment, all left how serious he was about fixing everything with them. To show Somin how much she still meant to him and how much he wanted to be in Yulhan's life after missing the whole four years of his growth.
"you don't have to say thank you, Yullie. Ahjussi is the one who should be thanking you." his eyes went over to Somin, trying to read her which used to be something that came quite naturally for him when they were together. Lonely. That word struck deep in his heart. And despite Somin's attempt to play it coy, he could see how much of the truth it was that she was desperately to hide away from him. "Say Yullie... Can ahjussi pick you up tomorrow? So your eomma can rest after her long day at work."
@โงห a. hyoseop Somin watched Yulhan's face light up the moment Hyoseop agreed to tag along. With the way his little hands begin to clap and bouncing with joy, Somin couldn't help but sigh in resignation. She knew that with Yulhan looking up at her, doe brown eyes shining and hopeful, she had no chance of saying no.
"Okay fine..." she muttered, head turn to cast a warning glance at Hyoseop. "Just a walk to the bus okay? But not all the way home." She needed to set some boundaries, even if her heart softened seeing how happy her son was.
Standing up, she took Yulhan's hand, feeling his small fingers wrap around hers with trust and excitement. Yulhan tilt his head up to look at Hyoseop. For a moment, he hesitated as if gathering courage before reaching his free hand toward Hyoseop. His small hand wraps tightly around Hyoseop bigger hand. There was something comforting about Hyoseop's presence that Yulhan couldn't quite understand, like a gentle pull encouraging him to be closer.
"Thank you ahjusshi for accompany us to the bus stop," he spoke softly, eyes twinkling with gratitude. Then he turned to Somin, voice full of reassurance. "Eomma see? Now we don't feel lonely going home." Somin felt a tug at her heart as she looked at her son innocent, beaming face. She tried to play it off with a roll of her eyes, even as a smile tugged at her glossy brims. "Aish Yullie... We're not that lonely..."
@โงห j. somin It was an encounter he wasn't expecting to happen any time soon or the situation he wanted to meet Somin in. The awkwardness was so thick in the air that Hyoseop felt like even a slight move would ruin any chance he got to explain himself to the woman in front of him right now. In her brown eyes, he could see the turmoil she felt inside and truth be told, the tall man couldn't blame her. Imagine the shock of seeing someone you already buried deep in your past suddenly back again and holding your child? She didn't even make a move to slap him, which, in his honest opinion, he deserved to get. But then again, maybe he should thank Yulhan for being there, if not, her slapping him would be a gentle example of what she would and could do to him.
Four years old. The kid is four years old. Just the exact amount of years since Hyoseop left her and Haepung. Seeing the uncanny resemblance between him and Yulhan, Hyo was convinced that this kid was indeed his son. The one that Somin would've shared the news with if his father hadn't stepped into his life and taken him away from his future with hers.
But wasn't that the reason why he went back to Haepung? To fix things? And hopefully, got Somin to forgive him? Seeing how Somin was trying to run away from him, he stepped forward to stop her, but bless Yulhan's heart for asking if he could tag along with them; it gave him an excuse to spend more time with both of them.
Hyoseop shook his head, a smile on his face as he stepped closer to Somin and Yulhan. "I'm free. Sadly I can't offer you a ride back home since I'm using motorbike, but at least... Let me walk you to the bus stop? Please?"
@โงห a. hyoseop Somin struggled to find the right words, her eyes fixed on Hyoseop's face, torn between a storm of emotions she could barely contain. Was she supposed to be happy that he'd finally come back to see their son? Or scared that he would break Yulhan's heart just as he had hers? Anger simmered beneath her calm exterior and for a fleeting second, she wanted to slap him hard and to make him feel even a fraction of the pain he'd caused her.
She pressed her lips together, her brows furrowing as she tried to maintain control, holding back the turmoil that threatened to surface. With Yulhan watching beside her, she knew she couldn't let her feelings unravel. Squeezing her son's small hand for comfort, she forced a faint smile to her lips.
"Hey…" she greeted, scratching her cheek as she tried to keep her voice steady. "I've been… well, very well." Her gaze dropped as Hyoseop asked about Yulhan's age and the words slipped from her with a hint of bitterness, a quiet betrayal woven through her voice. "He's four years old." Exactly the number of years since Hyoseop had walked out, leaving them to fend for themselves.
Placing a hand over her chest, Somin managed a small, pained smile as memories of the struggles she'd endured flashing through her mind. "Thanks for fixing things…" She trailed off, the unspoken words hanging between them. "Um— we have to go now," she said, trying to turn away, hoping to protect herself and Yulhan from whatever lay beyond this encounter.
But Yulhan looked up, tugging on her arm with a hopeful pout. "Eomma, can ahjusshi follow us?" he asked softly, his eyes full of innocent excitement, unwilling to part from his new friend.
Somin's heart clenched and she bent down to meet Yulhan's gaze, brushing a gentle hand over his head. "Yullie..." She said with a warm smile, doing her best to sound lighthearted. "I’m sure ahjusshi has other things to do." She hoped he wouldn't keep asking, praying Yulhan would stop inviting Hyoseop along for both their sakes.
@โงห j. somin His heart skipped a beat when he finally heard her voice. The same voice he had been longing to hear from the day he stepped away from her life unwillingly. The same voice he had never forgetting all of these years. That one voice that used to call his name with love and affection, and now the same voice called out to the boy almost as lovingly as he remembered how it sounded like.
He didn't dare to move and just watched as the little boy ran up to his mother, hugging her with his tiny hands, clearly excited and relieved to finally see her; something that could only happen when they have a close bond, and Hyoseop wouldn't dare to argue about that. He wiped the tears that stained his face as he saw Somin straighten up after Yulhan informed her about him fixing his toy's arm.
The time suddenly felt like it stopped, the moment she finally landed her visage on him. The was his name escaped her in a mere whisper, thick with surprise and wonder of why he suddenly appeared back in her life. He couldn't blame her. If he was in her shoes, he'd definitely react the same way. But that was not the only thing he noticed about her. These few years he was away from her life, she had grown into a more beautiful woman. Well, she had always been, but for some reason, there was a certain glow on her that he couldn't put a name to. Maybe it has anything to do with the fact that she was a mother now.
Hyoseop couldn't tear his eyes away from her. His heart filled with a lot of mixed emotions, but he knew, if he acted on those feelings, she might just end up slapping him hard, although, he did think that he, at least, deserved that. Tucking his hands into his jacket's pocket, he gave her a rather awkward smile. In all honesty, he didn't know what to say or do, and if he acted on impulse, she might hate him even more. Hyoseop cleared his throat a little, the corner of his lips tugging up in a slight smile, unsure how she would react. "One and only. How... How have you been, Somin?" His voice caught in his throat as he tried to keep his emotions in check. "Y-your son... H-how old is he...?"
@โงห a. hyoseop Somin practically leapt off the bus, her eyes darting to the clock on her phone. She was running late, and with each second that ticked by, her concern grew. She pushed forward through the crowded sidewalk, weaving between pedestrians with hurried apologies, "Excuse me! Mianhae!" She barely noticed the odd looks from those she’d bumped, her thoughts consumed with reaching Yulhan on time.
Her tutoring session had run long; one of her students needed extra guidance, and she hadn’t wanted to rush him. It was her responsibility to ensure he understood each concept, and she took pride in that. But now, she felt the weight of every minute she’d spent going over the lesson as she dashed toward the daycare, her breathing already ragged from her quick pace.
Finally, as she reached the daycare’s entrance, Somin had to pause, bending over with her hands on her knees to catch her breath. She gasped for air, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to steady herself. After a few moments, she straightened, smoothing her hair and adjusting her jacket. She took a deep breath, readying herself to greet Yulhan with her usual warm smile.
But then, she stopped dead in her tracks. Just ahead, there was Yulhan, safe and sound, but he wasn’t alone. A man knelt beside him, his arm gently wrapped around her son’s small frame. Somin squinted, tilting her head slightly as she tried to make sense of the stranger’s familiar silhouette.
Slowly, she stepped closer, calling out softly, "Yullie?" At the sound of her voice, Yulhan look up and his eyes instantly light up with joy. "Eomma! You finally came!" he squealed, wiggling free of the man’s embrace and dashing over to her. She crouched down, catching him in her arms as he threw himself at her, his small arms wrapping around her neck tightly.
"Mianhae, Yullie. Eomma had to wait for another bus," she murmured, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. She brushed a few stray hairs out of his face as he showed her his prized possession, a newly repaired robot. "Eomma, this ahjusshi helped me fix my robot!" Yulhan announced proudly, holding it up for her to see.
A gentle laugh escaped her as she looked up, ready to thank the man for helping her son. "Oh, sir, I’m so sorry if my son troubled y—" The words caught in , her smile fading as her gaze locked onto his face. Her heart skipped a beat, a sudden wave of disbelief washing over her as she recognized him.
She took in his familiar features, ones she’d thought she’d never see again—his calm expression, the warmth in his eyes, his tall frame hovering over her figure. Her mind raced, piecing together memories she had tried to bury and the surge of emotions she didn't anticipated.
"Hyoseop?" she whispered, barely audible, the name slipping out in shock and wonder. She felt a tremble run through her as she clutched Yulhan’s hand a little tighter, grounding herself as her mind struggled to reconcile the past with the present. Her voice shook, her lips parted as she struggled to understand how, after all this time, he could be standing here in front of her, holding her son.
@โงห j. somin It's been a week since Hyoseop finally learned the whereabouts of Jeon Somin, accidentally saw her in the market, and he decided to follow her without her knowing about his return to the town; he also knew that she already had a son. As much as he was curious to know if that boy was his or if was it someone else's, he just couldn't bring himself to appear in front of Somin. Not when she looked so happy right now, something that he wished for her back when he left her without notice, and with him appearing, he might destroy that by reminding her of a horrible memory.
Today, he decided to just stroll around the town with his motorbike, after finishing some work that he needed to handle all while wondering if he should face the consequences and come to meet Somin before she found out about him returning to the town. It might be a good idea. If she knew that he was back in town from someone else, she would just detest him even more. That was when he drove in front of the daycare and saw a kid outside waiting for his parents or guardian to pick him up. For some unknown reason, there was a strange pull to that kid, urging him to stop and at least wait with the kid until his family member came.
The action when the little kid trying to drink his milk brought a soft smile to Hyoseop's face as he approached the kid, finally noticing the robot with a broken arm. He carefully approached the boy, trying not to startle him. "Can Ahjussi help to fix that robot's arm?" He asked with a soft voice, a smile still on his face, and it surprised him when Hyoseop finally got a clear view of the boy's face. The boy looked exactly like how he looked when he was around the boy's age. His heart started to beat faster at the possibility that this kid in front of him might be his. The boy tugged Hyoseop's jeans and that brought his attention back to his mini-me. "You said you'll fix my robot's arm?" The sassiness in the boy's voice almost made him laugh at how similar it was to how Somin sometimes would talk, but it also brought a painful tug in his heart. If this boy was really his and Somin's, so the moment he left Haepung, Somin was indeed pregnant with their child. And that just made him feel like he was the biggest jerk in the whole world.
Sitting next to the boy while holding the robot, it didn't take a long time for Hyoseop to fix the arm, he then turned to the boy and waved using the robot's arm. "Hello, I am back to protect the world!" He chuckled as the boy's face lit up and immediately hugged the robot close to his chest. "Thank you ahjussi for fixing it. You are a nice guy." His heart dropped. If this kid knew what he did, he surely wouldn't call Hyoseop a nice guy. In return, he just smiled while patting the boy's head, feeling his eyes teared up. "You're welcome. May Ahjussi know your name? Let's be friends. Ahjussi's name is Hyoseop." he brought his hand down, open for a handshake which soon the little hand placed on his, giving it a little shake. "My name is Jeon Yulhan. I guess it's okay to have an ahjussi as a friend." It took a lot of his self-control to not just hug Yulhan and to not let any of the tears fall. "So why are you out here, Yulhannie? And is your mom's name Somin...?" He carefully asked to which Yulhan nodded "Yes, that's my mother's name! How did you know it, ahjussi?" To hear the confirmation from Yulhan's little mouth, Hyoseop's whole body shakes as if he's being dumped with a bucket of ice-cold water. "I...was your mother's friend. What about your father? What's his name?" When he asked this, Yulhan pouted "I don't have a father. Eomma wouldn't talk about him either, so I don't know." He wanted to tell Yulhan that he was his father but the words stuck on the tip of his tongue, unable to utter any words about it, knowing that he had no right to claim the spot, not when he left Somin during the time she needed him the most. Unknowingly his tears started to fall down, and to his surprise he felt a tiny hand on his head, giving a little pat. Through his blurred vision, he could see Yulhan giving him a puzzled look and soon he heard the kid ask "Are you okay ahjussi? Is your tummy hurt?" He let out a shaky laugh as he shook his head. "No, my tummy is fine, Yulhannie. You are such a good kid." Hyoseop contemplated for a bit and decided to be just a little selfish by pulling Yulhan to his embrace, finally holding his son for the first time. "You... just remind me so much of someone..." Hyoseop whispered, unknowing that the said someone might arrived any time now.
@โงห a. hyoseop Somin was running late again, and outside the daycare, Yulhan sat patiently on the small bench, his legs swinging back and forth as he glanced up at the clock on the building’s wall. The sun had started to dip lower, casting a warm glow over the empty playground. Yulhan’s little face showed a hint of worry, his brow furrowing as he wondered if something had happened. But he reminded himself that his mom’s tutoring job often kept her busy—he knew that it was the reason they had a roof over their heads and food on the table.
With a soft sigh, he looked down at the toy robot in his hands, carefully trying to reattach its loose arm. He pushed and twisted, but the arm wouldn’t snap back into place. Pouting, he gave up and gently placed the robot beside him on the bench. Reaching into his backpack, he pulled out a small carton of banana milk, tearing the plastic from the straw with determined fingers and punching it into the carton.
Taking a slow, thoughtful sip, he let his eyes wander down the quiet street, his gaze hopeful and watchful. The faint sound of cars in the distance and the rustling of nearby trees filled the silence, and Yulhan continued to sip, waiting for the familiar sight of his mother coming around the corner.
