"What do you think of Miss Xiao?"

Namjoon almost did a double-take. Turning to look at his son from the corner of his eye as he kept a good look on the eggs he was currently frying atop the stove, he asked, "Miss Xiao? As in, your grade teacher?"

Daejung blinked back at him, totally unfazed by what had just sprouted out of his mouth.

"Uhm," Namjoon racked his brains in search of something to say. Where in the world had that come from?

It wasn't something totally out of the blue. Daejung was used to finding the most random questions to throw at his father and sometimes, Namjoon wondered whether his son did that just to spite him or make him run around in circles. He was only nine, but was smarter beyond his years and seeing his lack of motivation to hang out with kids his age had proven that. Namjoon had gotten regular remarks from the teachers about Daejung's inability to adapt too well, always finding him alone with a faraway look in his eyes and entertaining himself with his own company. While Namjoon thought it wasn't a problem at all, everyone else seemed to think so, had even asked whether Daejung wanted to start seeing a counsellor as he might have some deeply buried secrets that was weighing down on his heart.

But having been treated the same way as Daejung was now, Namjoon understood that his son was definitely not problematic. No, his son was just a normal kid like any other. He was just quieter by nature, more comfortable to get lost in his thoughts. And plus, if that wasn't enough, the circumstances that life had thrown their way hadn't gone by unnoticed by the small boy either.

Daejung's mother had left them when he was five, not big enough to understand why, but old enough to feel the sense of loss that had accompanied her departure. But Daejung had never asked why she left and Namjoon had never delved into the details. He just hadn't wanted to hurt Daejung more than he had to.

So it was quite a surprise to hear Daejung's verbal inquiry on how his single father found his grade teacher, one that Namjoon didn't really know how to answer.

"Why do you ask?" Namjoon slid the eggs off the pan to place them on a plate, one for each of them, while Daejung popped the two slices of toast out of the toaster and offered one to his father.

"Just curious," Daejung shrugged in a manner that seemed dismissive, except his father knew he wasn't. It wasn't in his nature to ask about such things, much less the fact that Daejung had never probed his nose into his father's love life.

Namjoon passed him a piece of buttered toast that he nibbled on happily, poking his egg yolk open with his fork, "so what do you think of her? isn't she pretty?" he said through a mouthful.

Namjoon chuckled before flicking his forehead lightly, "what did I say about talking with your mouth full?"

"Sorry," Daejung washed it down with some orange juice, watching as his father dug into his own breakfast, "So? What do you think? She doesn't have a husband yet!"

"And how would you know that?"

"She told me, dad! Look, I can even ask her on a date for you if you want."

"I think," Namjoon swiped a bit of his egg with his toast and popped it in his mouth, "that your dad can very well find dates on his own, Daejung."

"Yeah but I don't like the ladies you go on dates with. They're stupid."

"Daejung," his father chided, although he couldn't help the chuckle from bubbling up the back of his throat. It wasn't like he'd brought many women home. They were mainly blind dates set up between his friends and other mutual acquaintances, and while the women had all been very pretty and to his liking, he found that he wasn't really interested in the dating scene as of late. It wasn't fun anymore, especially now that Daejung was all too aware of his surroundings. Namjoon didn't want his son believing that he was out and about getting into every woman's pants in the neighbourhood.

Plus, he had a job to attend to, bills to pay and a child to raise. Namjoon worked twice as hard as anyone else to get money onto the table; he was a bookstore manager by day and taught english classes online by night when the city was asleep. He didn't really have so much time left to start new relationships and find romance.

Once, Namjoon had been excited at the prospect of becoming a known prosecutor, poring over old books and memorizing endless laws so that he knew them like the back of his hand.

But that was long gone now, merely a dream which would stay as one.

"But you're going to end up like an old geezer," Daejung pouted, "and my friends keep asking why I don't have a mum."

Namjoon couldn't help but feel guilty at that, "well," he leaned forward, smiling mischievously as he gazed into Daejung's chestnut-coloured eyes, "you can tell you friends that your dad is so cool he makes up for not having a mum."

"But that's not the same, and you know it," came his son's grumble.

Namjoon tried to ignore the pang of envy in Daejung's voice as he spoke. Instead, he gathered up his son's belongings and by eight, they were out the door and making their way to the primary school just around the corner.

"You still haven't answered my question," came Daejung's poignant remark as they walked through the school corridors and narrowly avoided a pair of kids running out with their squeaky clean shoes, their laughter echoing through the hallways.

"What-- about Miss Xiao?" Namjoon's tone held a tinge of exasperation. Really, his son was just as stubborn as she was.

"Yes," Daejung looked up from their clasped hands that swung between them.

"Oh sure, she's pretty. But Dae--"

"Do you want to go on a date with her?"

Namjoon glanced around, ears reddening in embarrassment, "Daejung, I don't think it's appropriate for me to date your grade teacher."

"But you said that Miss Xiao was pretty!"

"Yes, but that isn't all that's important," having reached Daejung's classroom, Namjoon bent down to nip at his son's nose in an affectionate manner.

"But dad, I think you'd like her if you gave her a chance!"

"Think he'd like who?"

The unfamiliar soprano caused the pair to whip their heads up, only to come face to face with nome other than the said woman in question.

Daejung's face broke into a grin, "Miss Xiao!"

The young boy didn't even hesitate before jumping right into his teacher's arms. She laughed and stumbled back slightly upon impact, before ruffling his hair in an affectionate manner.

"Is Daejung giving his dad a hard time again?" Miss Xiao tilted her head up to throw Namjoon a playful, knowing smile.

"No, I was just telling him that--"

Namjoon moved forward, "Daejung, don't you--"

"--that I think you're pretty and that you'd make a pretty cool mum!"

Namjoon's entire face flushed with heat. A silence followed Daejung's statement and though his father averted his eyes towards the ground, he risked a quick glance at the teacher's face and noticed how she had pinked.

And then, a cacophony of voices erupted.

"Your daddy is dating Miss Xiao? How lucky!"

"Are they going to get married?!"

"Is Miss Xiao going to be your new mummy?"

"I want Miss Xiao to be my mum!"

"Now now, kids," Miss Xiao was quick to throw her hands in the air, gesturing them all to stop, "let's all calm down here. Miss Xiao is too young to be a mum, alright? Now settle down and go back to your seats."

"Yes, miss," they all chorused.

Namjoon's chuckle caused her to turn back towards his tall frame leaning against the doorway, "I honestly don't know how you manage. I can't even take care of one."

"You get used to it after some practice," she grinned back, two red splotches still present on her face.

"Also, I'm sorry about--" he gestured in Daejung's direction, who only scowled in return, "he's at that stage, what without his mum and all."

"It must be hard to raise him alone," she murmured in understanding, chocolate brown eyes glistening with genuine admiration, "but for what it's worth, he's turning out to be a wonderful boy."

"Thank you," he met her gaze, slightly amused by how she was still blushing and briefly wondering how it would be like to date someone like her, "I try my best."

"Well, you're doing amazing," her gaze softened and for a minute, they locked eyes. There was something there, something flickering besides the sympathy and the understanding that swim within her pupils. And seeing her so up close, it really did strike him that she had the most interesting set of features, a face that -- despite not what he'd usually be attracted to-- was so intriguing to him.

He imagined, for a brief moment, what it would be like to reach up to tuck her lock of hair back.

He wrenched himself out of the daze, quickly averting his gaze to Daejung's. The latter had on a knowing expression, so similar to the one that Namjoon would give him whenever he'd catch him eating ice-cream straight from the tub, and that flustered the man even more.

"I'll--I guess I'll just leave now," Namjoon quickly bowed, and before Miss Xiao could say anything else, he'd swerved onto his heel and had walked away.

 

------------

 

 

"Bye Miss Xiao!" 

"See you tomorrow!"

Meilyn Xiao waved at the trail of students exiting her classroom, a chaotic eruption of chatters filling the air as the classes were dismissed to signal the end of school. It was always the same routine of dismissing her class and the noise that could pierce right through her skull in a throbbing headache, only to die down in a quiet, ghostly hum the moment that the hallways were free of young, excited sopranos.

She re-arranged her files, tucking them all into a single pile before opening her drawer to stow them away. Her arms went behind her head as she stretched her body out like a cat. It had been an especially long day, for she'd had to meet with parents during lunch time, and as her eyes flickered down to the Mcdonald's takeaway box in her trash can, she mentally scoffed at her past self, who had been so adamant that she was going to start preparing her own meals from now on.

That was always something that Meilyn tried coaxing herself into the habit of doing. Every single Monday, she'd start off by bringing an egg and avocado sandwich, revved up to make the most of her new week and eat healthy, nutritious meals in order to keep her body happy. 

That spiralled out of control almost every day after that.

"Oh well," Meilyn let out a huge sigh, deciding that it was stupid to belittle herself about it, since the damage was already done.

"Miss Xiao?"

Her head cocked up, noticing Daejung's figure hanging by the doorway, "Daejung?" she straightened her shirt, "what's wrong? Your dad's not here yet?"

"No," he jutted out his lip into a pout. He looked like the perfect, spitting image of his father and Meilyn found that adorable, "it's been fifteen minutes. It's hot outside."

"Well, you can wait here with me if you like," she fished out her cellphone from her bag, typing away to check whether she had his father's number. Nope. That took her by surprise, considering that it was a normal occurrence for parents to be late. She usually had every single parents' contact number by this time of year, "do you know your father's phone number? I can try calling him."

Daejung recited the number off by heart and Meilyn dialled the number, her lips curving into a fond smile at the determination on his face. He was smart and calm, unlike many kids these days who had been coddled and practically showered with gifts handed onto a silver plate, Daejung had an alert, attentive air about him, always conscious of his surroundings. He reminded her so much of herself as a kid that Meilyn couldn't help but find her heart opening up to him a little bit more than the rest.

She knew it was bad for a teacher to have favourites. But was a teacher even a teacher if they didn't have any favourites?

"Hello?" came a breathless alto after four rings.

"Mr. Kim?" she pressed the phone to her ear and Daejung walked up to her, leaning his body against her arm. Her hand unconsciously reached out to tousle his dark locks, "this is Miss Xiao, Daejung's teacher. I just wanted to confirm that there's someone coming to pick him up?"

"Oh ," something crashed. Namjoon swore once more. Something shuffled, "I'm sorry, that was not directed at you--I mean, of course it wasn't--not your fault. Uhm, I'll be there. Yup."

"Do you know what time?" Meilyn tried restraining her laughter at Namjoon's flustered response, "I'm just asking out of curiosity, since the school closes at four thirty."

"Oh, uh, I'm not sure--four thirty, you say?"

"It's okay if you don't make it. I can always bring Daejung home with me and you can pick him up there."

The idea of Namjoon turning up at her home almost made her blush again. He was, after all, a single man who had the most beautiful, intelligent eyes she'd ever seen. Meilyn would be lying to say that there wasn't an ounce of attraction towards the said man.

"Shoot, I'm so sorry. Do you mind? I'm sorry, this wasn't supposed to take this long but I lost track of time and I--"

"It's okay, Mr. Kim. I understand, don't worry," Meilyn glanced at Daejung's face, who was looking up at her with a frown, "I'll text you my address and you can pick him up there. Okay, alright. Mhm. Bye."

Tucking her phone back into her coat pocket, Meilyn turned to Daejung and clasped his little hands into her own, "Daejung, do you mind if you come to Miss Xiao's house for a little bit? I think your dad might be late and I don't want you to wait here alone."

Daejung was more than happy to oblige to her request and they stopped for ice-cream at a convenience store on the way home, the child skipping happily as he on hhis lollipop like it was the greatest gift she'd bestowed upon him.

"Dad never lets me have ice-cream on weekdays," Daejung stated, chocolate smeared over his cheeks. He allowed Meilyn to wipe it off with a napkin, "he says it's bad for my health."

"You know what? That's going to be our little secret."

"Is it a bad secret?"

"Huh?" Meilyn looked down at him in surprise, "bad secret?"

"Well," the child's expression suddenly clouded over, face sombre and mixed with anxiety, "mum used to tell me to keep secrets. When men came to see her. She said it was a bad secret and that daddy wouldn't be happy if he knew about it."

Sympathy trickled through Meilyn's chest. She gazed down at the little boy, wondering how much atrocity he'd gone through in his life to feel the pain that came with a broken family. He was too young to be subjected to this, too vulnerable to be taken advantage of so easily and for a minute, her veins boiled with irritation. That mum of his should've known better, she thought to herself.

Meilyn dropped to her knees then, so that she was face to face with the young boy, "Daejung, you can tell your dad. I will take the blame for it, okay?"

Daejung looked at her for a moment. Then, he nodded.

"No secrets," Meilyn clarified, using her thumb to wipe at the excess chocolate on his lips.

"No secrets," Daejung echoed, "I like that."

Meilyn lived in a small flat just two blocks away from the school. It was tiny, but was enough to sustain her needs. Since Namjoon texted her and told her that he was tied up with work and would be there a little later than he'd hoped to be, she told him that it was no worry at all, not wanting him to feel bad. He was a single father after all, one that had to pay the bills and take care of someone else's wellbeing to top it all off.

She bustled about the kitchen after setting some child-friendly channel for Daejung to watch, cooking up some quick dinner consisting of fried omelette and tofu, some pan-fried beef, miso soup with a side of rice and kimchi. She was astounded, however, to find that the child was well-mannered and ate with a modesty that was lacking with children of this generation, and once more her heart swelled in admiration for his father.

"Dad always tells me to eat slowly," was Daejung's response when she complimented him on that very fact, "he says that I should take one piece at a time."

"Your dad is very well-mannered," she smiled back at him.

"Miss Xiao, what do you think of my dad?"

She almost choked on her kimchi, "w-what?"

Daejung just blinked at her, "my dad. What do you think of him?"

"Daejung, that's not--" Meilyn quickly gulped down some water, "that's not my place to tell."

"Why not? My dad is smart and he says you are pretty," Daejung started ticking off Namjoon's characteristics off his fingers, "he's not the most handsome, but he is very caring! He hates eating seafood because he doesn't want to kill his sea friends, he says. He's quite clumsy too, but he's funny also. He's also very nice to people. He's a nice man. Don't you think so, Miss Xiao?"

"I--" she racked her brains for something to say. But what exactly was she supposed to say in such a situation? She could already feel her face growing hot, "why do you even want your dad to date, Daejung? I think he's pretty happy with it just being the two of you."

Daejung sent her a look that suggested that she was dumb, "no, I don't think so. I think he's lonely. Sometimes, I see him looking at mum's picture. But I don't like mum much, even if she buys me a lot of presents," he crossed his arms at that and huffed.

"Your dad probably misses how things are supposed to be. And I'm sure your mom loves you just as much as he does. She's just probably bad at showing it, that's all."

"But I want my dad to be happy. I think he should get a girlfriend," the young boy grinned up at her then, "what do you think, Miss Xiao?"

Just when Meilyn thought that there was no way of making it out of this sticky situation, the doorbell rang and she was out of her seat faster than one could scream 'coming!'.

Namjoon stood on the other side, hands shoved in his pockets and looking so worn out she feared he'd pass out at any given moment.

"Oh gosh, are you okay Mr. Kim?" Meilyn was quick to reach out when she watched him sway unsteadily. But he caught himself at the last moment, shaking his head and flashing her a small, albeit sheepish smile.

"Sorry for being so late," he murmured while his hand went up to scratch the back of his head, "I got caught up with work so suddenly, I couldn't get away fast enough."

"Don't worry about it," Meilyn stepped aside and gestured, "would you like to come in? Daejung and I were just having dinner."

"Dad!" Daejung beamed.

"Hey son," Namjoon looked back at Meilyn with a grateful expression, "thank you so much, really. You--You're a lifesaver."

"It was no problem at all, really."

Namjoon sat himself at the table and accepted a glass of water as he waited for Daejung to finish his meal, and despite Meilyn's constant food offerings, he adamantly shook his head and stated that she'd done quite enough, thank you very much.

"Anyway, I think we've overstayed our welcome," he beckoned towards his son when all plates had been cleared and washed, "Daejung, come on. You've troubled Miss Xiao enough. Let's go home."

Daejung went up to Meilyn before wrapping his arms around her middle. He looked up at her with those brown, sparkling eyes, the same eyes as his father's, "thank you, Miss Xiao."

"You're welcome," Meilyn smiled back softly and hugged him to her chest, feeling his heartbeat against her own.

"Will you cook for me again one day?"

"Daejung," Namjoon was about to warn him of his manners when Meilyn shook her head, grinning fully this time as she replied, "I'd be honoured."

"See?!" Daejung whipped around to stick out his tongue at his father, "Miss Xiao likes me."

"Sure, sure pal," Namjoon said before ushering his son out of her flat as soon as he could. They had troubled the young lady enough as it was. He turned just as Daejung was skipping down the corridor, grateful that she had taken him in. If not, Daejung would've probably still been at school, scared and alone.

"Thank you," he murmured in hopes that his sincerity could be felt, eyes intense on her face.

"Really, it's no problem," Meilyn murmured back and unconsciously tucking a few loose strands of hair away from her face. He wondered briefly whether her hair was as silky and soft as it looked.

He turned to follow his son when he heard him shout his name. Then, as if hesitating, quickly swivelled back around, "hey," his voice dropped an octave and something inside Meilyn sparked, causing her to flush, "I'd like to make it up to you, sometime."

"Oh--" Meilyn's thoughts ran amok, "s-sure. That would--That would be nice."

Her eyes found his. She watched as his mouth danced with a soft smile, "great," he cocked his head, eyebrow quirked up, "I'll text you?"

"Y-Yup."

They held each other's gaze for a moment longer, before she heard Daejung's holler, "dad!"

That was enough to break Namjoon out of his spell and he muttered a quick apology, flashed her another bashful smile, before he was striding down the hallway.

Meilyn's insides felt like mush, her brain the texture of jell-o.

Oh my.