Taekyun stood outside the nursery building, phone still in his hand, his expression unreadable as he ended the call.
Through the glass wall, he could clearly see Haneul inside.
Haneul sat on a small wooden stool, knees together, hands resting neatly, watching Haru with a soft, gentle smile.
The room was filled with the faint smell of wet soil and tiny green plants;
kids were laughing and running around the teachers.
Haru came skipping toward him, holding a tiny pot with a sprout in both hands.
"Mongi,"
She said proudly.
Haneul leaned closer.
"This is a sunflower sprout,"
He said softly.
"It means hope."
Haru giggled, loving the sound of his voice more than the meaning itself.
She ran back again.
A few teachers looked toward Haneul, whispering.
One teacher nudged the other.
"Who is he?"
"I don't know, but look at his face.
Is he a idol?"
"And Haru never smiles this brightly look at her today."
Another teacher added quietly,
"Is he related to Sir Taekyun?
Or is he Haru's parent?"
"Maybe he's her uncle"
Meanwhile,
parents who had come to drop their children also glanced at Haneul.
A mother whispered to another with shy admiration,
"He's beautiful like someone from a dream land."
"Look at how gentle he is with the child."
Haru returned again, this time placing a tiny lavender stem in Haneul's hand.
"This?"
She asked, eyes wide.
Haneul smiled softly.
"Lavender,
It means peace.
People keep it to feel calm."
Haru laughed again, a sound so bright the teachers turned their heads instantly.
No one had ever seen her like this.
She ran back once more, returning with a small pot of baby's breath.
"Mongi"
Haneul chuckled, brushing soil off her sleeve.
"This one means pure happiness."
Haru clapped her hands, then leaned forward, bumping her forehead gently on Haneul's shoulder as if marking him as hers.
Across the glass,
Taekyun's fingers stiffened slightly.
A senior teacher walked outside toward him.
"Sir Taekyun,"
She greeted politely.
Taekyun nodded.
She smiled warmly.
"Haru, she's different today.
She's laughing, interacting showing plants to someone.
We're really happy to see her like this."
Taekyun exhaled quietly.
"Mm."
"May I ask the boy with her?
The one sitting on the stool?"
Taekyun looked through the glass at Haneul again.
His voice softened without realizing.
"He's Haru's best friend.
He takes care of her."
"Oh,"
The teacher nodded with a gentle smile. "She seems comfortable.
More than she is with anyone else."
Taekyun didn't respond, but the faintest shift in his expression appeared.
After greeting,
The teacher returned inside.
Haneul turned around and walked toward the exit, thinking Taekyun had left.
He tugged his coat closer around himself.
When he stepped outside, his breath hitched lightly.
Taekyun was still there.
Haneul blinked, surprised.
"You..... didn't leave?"
Taekyun's eyes lowered over him, noticing Haneul had been sitting without his coat earlier.
His voice was low.
"Something came up."
"Oh…" Haneul nodded softly.
Before he could say anything else, a car horn sounded.
Lihan's car pulled up.
He stepped out quickly.
Taekyun turned toward him.
"I'm going. You stay and drop them home."
"Yes, sir."
Before getting into the car,
Taekyun paused.
His eyes moved once over Haneul, slow and unreadable.
"Wear your coat."
Haneul froze.
He looked down
He was holding the coat but hadn't worn it.
"Oh..... okay,"
He muttered, slipping it on quickly.
Taekyun nodded once.
Expression stern.
Voice quiet.
"Take care."
Haneul stared for a second longer than needed.
As the car started,
Lihan looked between the two, sensing the tension.
Haneul bowed politely to him and went back inside.
The mothers sitting in a small circle instantly brightened when he joined them.
"Sit, sit!" one insisted.
"It's cold outside."
Haneul sat shyly.
"You're Haru's parent?"
Another asked.
"Yes,"
He whispered.
"Aigo… you're so handsome and pretty up close,"
One mother whispered, fanning herself with a worksheet.
Another laughed.
"No wonder Haru clings to you.
She's adorable today thanks to you."
Haneul rubbed his neck awkwardly.
"I didn't do anything"
Laughter rose among the small circle.
Haneul's eyes drifted to Haru.
She was sitting with her classmates, munching on snacks.
A boy beside her split his chocolate bar in half and gave her one.
Haru bowed politely.
She smiled sweetly at the boy before eating it.
Haneul couldn't help smiling at her innocence.
After a while,
Haru came running into their circle.
She hugged Haneul tightly, rubbing her face against his arm like a sleepy kitten.
Haneul cupped her cheek gently.
"Are you tired?"
Haru nodded, rubbing her eyes.
"Abba…"
She mumbled.
Haneul brushed her hair softly.
"Abba left for some work.
We'll be going with Lihan, okay?"
Haru pouted.
"Are you hungry?"
He asked.
She nodded again.
"Okay," Haneul whispered.
"Let's ask permission from your teacher. Then we'll go."
She nodded softly,
[In the car]
Lihan started driving.
Haneul sat in the back seat,
Haru leaning on his chest, half-asleep.
But something felt off.
Her cheeks too red.
Her lips slightly swollen.
Haneul frowned.
"Haru?"
"Are you OK"
Haru nodded weakly.
After ten minutes,
She suddenly burst into tears, crying painfully.
Her body heated up, her face turning bright red.
"Haru! Haru, what's wrong?"
Haneul panicked.
He leaned forward desperately.
"Lihan… Lihan, she's not okay!"
Lihan immediately pulled the car to the side and rushed to the back.
"Oh no"
He grabbed his hair in frustration, quickly checking Haru's face and pulse.
He looked up sharply.
"When did this start?!"
"Since we left
She was quiet but red Lihan,
what's happening?!"
Lihan's hands shook as he dialed Taekyun.
He stepped outside, talking fast.
Inside the car,
Haneul held Haru close.
She was crying, kicking, her breath uneven.
Haneul's tears spilled instantly.
"Haru… no, no, breathe, please"
Lihan came back quickly, sliding into the driver seat.
"Haneul"
"What happened to her?!"
Haneul cried, voice breaking.
"Don't scare me, please tell me!"
Lihan's throat tightened.
"It's an allergic attack."
Haneul froze.
"Allergic?"
"We're going to hospital?"
"Yes. We're going straight to the hospital. Hold her tight.
Don't let her scratch her face."
Haneul nodded, trembling, tears falling without stopping as Haru sobbed painfully in his arms.