[Morning – 7:30 AM]
Haneul's eyes opened slowly.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Something felt warm,heavy and safe.
His lashes fluttered slightly as his vision cleared.
Both of Taekyun's arms were wrapped tightly around him, holding him close even in sleep.
Haneul's own hands rested against Taekyun's chest, his fingers lightly curled in the fabric of his shirt.
Their faces were too close.
He could feel Taekyun's steady breathing brushing against his skin.
His heartbeat stuttered.
Then suddenly,
A faint tightness pulled at his lower abdomen.
Haneul's brows knit slightly.
His hand instinctively moved down, hovering for a second before he slowly pulled it back again.
It's nothing
He told himself.
Haru will wake up soon.
I should go back.
Carefully, Haneul tried to move.
Slowly removing his hands from Taekyun's chest, trying not to wake him.
But the moment he shifted
Taekyun's grip tightened slightly.
His eyes opened.
Haneul froze.
Their eyes met.
"You're awake"
Haneul nodded softly.
"Hmm"
Taekyun blinked once, his gaze still heavy with sleep.
Then slowly, he loosened his hold.
Haneul pushed himself up, sitting on the bed.
Taekyun followed after a second, running a hand through his hair.
"Haru will be waking up soon,"
Haneul said quietly.
"So, I should go back now."
Before he could stand
Taekyun reached out and held his wrist.
Haneul looked at him.
"You don't have to worry about her,". Taekyun said calmly.
"She'll get used to it."
His voice was steady.
Simple but firm.
"Get some more sleep."
Before Haneul could respond, Taekyun gently guided him back down onto the bed.
Pulled the blanket over him.
Haneul looked up at him, a little startled.
Taekyun's hand moved to his hair, brushing through it slowly.
A quiet, absent-minded gesture.
"I'm going out for a bit,"
Taekyun said, reaching for his glasses from the side table.
He put them on, adjusting them slightly.
"Then I'll take Haru to her kindergarten."
Haneul blinked.
"Mina and Bora will handle everything here," Taekyun added.
Haneul nodded slowly.
"Hmm"
He wanted to say something.
I want to go too.
The words stayed stuck.
Taekyun's pheromones slowly spread in the air.
Calm and warm.
Wrapping around him like a soft weight.
"Rest properly,"
Taekyun said quietly.
Haneul closed his eyes.
But he didn't fall asleep.
The door closed softly.
Silence filled the room.
A few seconds passed.
Then Haneul opened his eyes again.
He slowly pushed himself up.
His hand moved to his belly.
Resting there.
Holding it.
For a long moment, he didn't move.
His fingers tightened slightly.
But his heart felt heavy too heavy as if something is going to happen.
[Downstairs]
Taekyun walked into the living room.
The staff immediately bowed.
He gave a small nod in response.
Bora and Mina had just arrived.
"Good morning, sir."
Taekyun acknowledged them briefly.
Just then, another staff member entered, holding a carefully packed box.
"Sir, these just arrived,"
he said.
"Mr. Won sent them.
He said they were made according to your design."
Taekyun's gaze shifted to the box.
"Give it to Bora,"
he said.
Bora stepped forward and took it.
"They're for Haru."
Bora nodded.
"I'll prepare her, sir."
She hesitated for a second.
"Sir, Mina prepared some cakes for Haru.
If she wants to take them to kindergarten"
"okay."
Taekyun replied.
"And her main cake?"
"It will arrive in the afternoon,"
Bora said.
"Lihan ordered it. It's a kawaii doll theme."
Taekyun gave a small nod and sat down on the couch.
A moment later, his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen, then stood up and walked toward the lawn to take the call.
Inside the kitchen,
Mina was arranging things quietly.
Bora entered behind her.
Her expression was tense.
"Mina"
Mina turned.
"What happened?"
Bora hesitated.
Then said it,
"Mrs. Kim is coming tomorrow."
Mina froze.
"What?"
"Who?"
"Mrs. Kim,"
Bora repeated.
"She called last night."
Mina stared at her.
"And?"
"She said she's coming to wish Haru."
Mina frowned immediately.
"But Haru's birthday is today."
Bora looked at her.
"She thinks it's tomorrow."
A bitter silence fell.
Then Mina let out a quiet scoff.
"Of course she does."
Her tone turned sharp.
"All these years she never came.
Not even once."
"Even on Haru's first birthday she didn't show up."
"When Madam Harin personally invited her."
Bora looked down.
"You know why she's coming."
Mina's expression darkened.
"Haneul."
Bora didn't respond.
That was answer enough.
Mina lowered her voice.
"Then what about him?"
"I'll talk to sir,"
Bora said.
Mina stepped closer, worried.
"But your mother"
Bora's gaze dropped.
"Then you tell me what I should do."
Her voice was low.
Frustrated.
"What am I supposed to do?"
Mina didn't have an answer.
After a moment, she said softly,
"Maybe, we should talk to Haneul."
"He'll understand."
"We'll tell him not to come out in front of her."
Bora stayed silent.
Before she could reply,
A voice came from behind.
"What's going on?"
Both of them froze.
Mina turned quickly.
"Lihan?"
He stood there, holding a few packages.
Bora frowned immediately.
"What are you doing here?"
Lihan walked in casually.
"Sir asked me to drop these off."
He placed the packages on the counter.
"They're for Haru."
Then his gaze shifted between them.
"But what were you saying?"
"What can't you tell Him?"
Bora stiffened.
"I said what are you doing here?"
she repeated.
Ignoring his question.
Lihan smirked slightly.
"I just told you."
Mina stepped in quickly.
"Oh, it's nothing,"
she said lightly.
"I was telling her about a drama."
"It's really interesting."
Lihan narrowed his eyes at her.
"You?"
"When do you even get time to watch dramas?"
"You come early. Leave late."
"Still have time?"
Mina forced a smile.
Before things could get worse
A sound came from upstairs.
"Abba?"
All three of them looked up from kitchen door.
Upstairs,
Haru stood at her door.
Her small hands gripping the frame.
Her hair slightly messy from sleep.
She blinked slowly.
Then called out again,
"Abba?"
Haneul stepped out of Taekyun's room slowly.
For a moment, he just stood there.
Then his eyes landed on Haru.
She was standing in the hallway, still in her night clothes, her small figure surrounded by a few staff members.
"Happy birthday, Miss Haru,"
they said one by one, bowing with soft smiles.
Haneul's lips curved gently.
He walked toward her.
Haru turned.
The moment she saw him, her eyes lit up.
Without hesitation, she walked straight to him.
Unlike last night, there was no distance in her steps.
Haneul slowly bent down on his knees in front of her and pulled her into a hug.
"Happy birthday, Haru-ah,"
he whispered softly.
Haru leaned into him immediately, resting her face against his shoulder.
"Umma"
That one word
It hit him deeper than anything.
The heaviness in his chest tightened all over again, but this time it wasn't only fear.
His lips trembled slightly.
"Yes… yes"
Haru pulled back a little and looked at him.
"Umma, 사랑해요,
(I love you)"
she said softly.
Haneul's eyes softened instantly.
A faint, fragile smile appeared on his lips.
"Umma loves Haru too
So much,"
he replied, his voice barely steady.
He held her small hand and pressed a soft kiss against it.
Haru smiled.
A small, warm smile.
She held his hand tighter.
Footsteps echoed from behind.
Bora, Mina, and Lihan arrived upstairs.
Bora's face lit up the moment she saw Haru.
"Ahh, Haru-ah!"
She rushed forward and pulled her into a tight hug.
"Our little girl has grown so much
you're six now!"
Haru giggled softly.
Bora cupped her cheeks, smiling widely.
"This gummy smile of yours
I want to see it forever, my little girl."
Mina gently nudged Bora aside and bowed slightly.
"Happy birthday, Haru."
Haneul stood there quietly, watching.
There was something warm in his chest.
The way everyone treated Haru
Not like staff today
But like family.
Lihan stepped forward next.
"Happy birthday, Haru."
Haru looked at him.
Then just nodded.
No reply.
Lihan placed a hand over his chest dramatically.
"Wow, I don't remember committing a crime that made this young lady treat me so coldly everytime."
A few staff members chuckled.
Even Haneul couldn't hold back a small smile.
Haru looked at him again.
Then slowly stepped closer.
She raised her arms slightly.
Lihan blinked.
"Me?"
Haru nodded.
He gasped dramatically.
"Everyone, witness this moment."
Then he picked her up.
"I've finally been accepted!"
Haru let out a small laugh.
The hallway filled with light laughter.
And then
Footsteps.
Everyone turned instinctively.
Taekyun walked toward them.
The moment the staff saw him, they immediately straightened and formed a line.
But then, they froze.
Because Taekyun was smiling.
Not a faint polite curve.
Not a cold expression.
A real smile.
Soft,warm and alive.
It was the kind of smile no one had seen in years.
Except Haneul.
Haneul's eyes met his.
And he smiled back.
But for everyone else
It felt unreal.
The last time
3 years ago.
Just few days before Haru's third birthday.
The morning of Harin's accident.
That was the last time they saw Taekyun smile like this.
And now again.
Silence filled the hallway.
Taekyun walked closer.
Lihan gently put Haru down.
Haru looked up at her father.
Her eyes slightly widened.
Even she was surprised.
She had never seen him smile like this.
Not even once.
Taekyun bent down and picked her up into his arms.
He gently brushed her hair back.
"Happy birthday,"
he said softly.
Simple words.
But filled with something unfamiliar.
Warmth.
Haru stared at him for a second.
Then slowly smiled.
Haneul stepped closer.
His gaze stayed on Taekyun.
Taekyun looked at everyone.
"You should prepare,"
he said calmly with a smile.
The staff immediately bowed.
"Yes, sir."
But their voices carried clear shock.
Taekyun didn't say anything more.
With one arm holding Haru, he reached out with the other and placed his hand on Haneul's shoulder.
Pulling him slightly closer.
Then,
The three of them walked downstairs together.
Like a family.
A complete one.
Behind them
No one spoke.
They just stood there.
Looking at each other.
Still unable to process what they had just witnessed.