Jongin placed the single white rose on the roadside in front of the Dance Studio and closed his eyes. It was the death anniversary of Minzy and Jongin’s child and he can still vividly remember how his life stopped upon seeing Minzy got run over by a motorcycle. He could still hear the screeching of the motorcycle…and Minzy’s cry for their baby is tattooed in his mind. Up to this very day, he still mourns for the loss of their baby and he still can’t bear to forgive himself.

He offered their baby a silent prayer before going inside the Dance Studio where he found Minzy dancing with the crew while Daehan watched them with admiring eyes. Jongin walked towards Daehan and lifted him to his arms.

“How’s your day been little Monkey?” Jongin asked Daehan softly while throwing him in the air playfully earning fits of giggles from Daehan.

“Daddy!!!” Daehan placed his hands on Jongin’s cheeks, squishing them playfully. Jongin makes funny faces for Daehan, making him laugh some more. Daehan just started calling him Daddy and Minzy Mommy one day. He didn’t know how it came about but Jongin couldn’t deny the warmth it gives him every time he hears Daehan call him Daddy.

“Mommy dancing!” Daehan told him excitedly.

“She’s a great dancer. The best I’ve ever met.” Jongin answered softly, putting him down gently.

“Hey man…it’s been a long time…” Sehun approached him with a genuine smile on his face. Jongin nodded at him and stole a glance at Minzy teaching a few dancers left on the dance floor the routine. She was giving them instructions, carefully watching their moves.

“How’s the corporate world treating you? You look sharp in a suit and tie…I heard you’re some big shot stock broker now…” Sehun asked curiously earning a small smile from Jongin.

He couldn’t take his eyes off Minzy. He always admired her passion in dancing which never failed to show on her face.

“You should come by more often…I’m sure you still got ‘em moves…” Sehun continued.

“So you and Hayi?” Jongin asked, subtly changing the topic.

“Well…not exactly…” Sehun blushed and scratched his head.

“I’d never thought she was your type.” Jongin tapped Sehun’s shoulder, squeezing it lightly.

“Oh you’re here.” Minzy approached them, her eyes on Jongin. Seeing him inside the Dance Studio felt so surreal for her, it gave her a sense of loss seeing him there but not dancing at all.

“Shall we go? I’ll just meet you at the front. I parked the car a few blocks from here.” Jongin gently pushed Daehan towards Minzy then nodding at Sehun. He stopped and looked back upon hearing Sehun call out his name.

“It’s really good to see you again. You’re welcome to the crew any time you want to dance like the old times…” Sehun told him honestly. Jongin didn’t say anything and instead, he just nodded at him.

Daehan was standing on his toes, looking at the road, eagerly waiting for Jongin’s car. They were both in front of the Dance Studio and Minzy noticed the single white rose on the road side like the same time last year and the years before.

*****

“Good night Mommy and Daddy…” Daehan murmured sleepily. It had become a daily habit for Minzy and Jongin to tell Daehan a bed time story for going to bed.

“Good night little monkey…sweet dreams…” Jongin said softly.

Jongin got so drunk the other night that he could barely remember what happened. His last memory is seeing Minzy sitting across the table in the restaurant. He could remember snippets of Minzy driving the car for him…and Minzy putting him to bed.

It was almost midnight and he couldn’t get a wink of sleep. He grabbed a couple of beers and sat by the patio.

So many things happened but it felt like his life kept standing still. The things he’s been running away from is haunting him, refusing to back down…

“Taemin…you just had to do this…you just can’t help yourself…”

Jongin chuckled and looked at the clear night sky. He was so immersed in his thoughts that he didn’t notice Minzy sitting beside him.

“Mind if I joined you?” Minzy asked. Jongin shrugged and gave her a can of beer. Minzy opened the beer and took a few gulps.

She blushed upon seeing Jongin’s eyes fixated on her. She could see a hint of amusement in his eyes. She raised an eyebrow while wiping her lips with the back of her hand.

“You still don’t like beer…”

“It’s a taste I will never acquire. I’m a soju kind of girl…”

Minzy gave a small smile, nursing the can of beer in her hands. They shared the silence of the night as they drank their respective beer.

“Jongin…why did you stop dancing?”

Minzy finally mustered the courage to ask the question she’s been dying to ask Jongin. Her eyes tried to uncover the layers that hid Jongin’s thoughts and emotions but he wouldn’t let her.

“That white rose…every year…it’s you isn’t it?”

Her eyes began to brim with unshed tears, her heart ached knowing that not once did he forget their unborn baby. She is filled with regret knowing how much of a great father he would have been. And no matter how he tried to hide behind the walls he surrounded himself in, Minzy could see and feel the love he gives Daehan.

“What happened to you Jongin?”

Her voice shook and her grip on the can of beer tightened showing her frustration over her unanswe