A five-year-old Seungwan and an eight-year-old Joohyun

“Seungwan-ah, eat first then read later, okay?”

The young girl’s daydreaming was put to an end as she heard her name being called. Putting down her favorite book, her tiny hands reached for the snacks her mom prepared for today’s playtime.

Happily munching on some oranges, Seungwan decided that fairytales were probably her absolute favorite. For as long as she can remember, every story she’s read managed to enchant her – maybe it was the cool way that each tale had a different villain: sometimes a witch, then an evil stepmother, and there was even one with a dragon (woah). Or maybe it was also because of the princesses and how they get to meet their princes and eventually live happily ever after together. She honestly couldn’t decide. But after reading the book her best friend Seulgi gave her, Seungwan couldn’t help but be bothered by something.

Still eating away, the little girl turned to face her mother. With a questioning look, Seungwan puffed her cheeks in contemplation. “Mommy, why do princesses only get saved by a prince? Can’t a princess live happily ever after with another princess too?”

Caught off guard, the woman couldn’t help but laugh at the puzzled and quite bemused look on her daughter’s face; a pout showing and all. At just five years old, and despite being so perceptive already, Seungwan had no idea of what her question implied.

Pinching Seungwan’s cheeks and ruffling her hair, she replied. “Aigoo, Seungwan-ah. I think princesses can be happy whether it’s with a prince or a princess. As long as they love each other, there’s nothing to stop princesses from having a happy ending too.”

The once pouty faced child was now sporting a beaming smile, as if relieved by the response she received. And just when she was about to pick up her book and reread it, Seungwan suddenly heard a cry coming from somewhere near them. Glancing over, she saw another kid on the floor just below the monkey bars, silently crying to herself while clutching one of her hands.

Before she could stop herself, the five-year-old found herself already heading towards the other girl to see what was wrong.<