"Dara lived with her father in Busan, actually. But five years ago she moved out and came here. This house was owned by a friend of mine who had also just moved and I told Sanghoon and he bought this house for Dara to live in. She was already pregnant at the time too I bet. I live only two houses down from here and I know all of my neighbors and none of us ever saw Dara with any male company at all during those times, and not even eight months since she came here, she gave birth. I knew Dara needed all the help she can get, seeing as her job could barely keep her up with all her kids, and since I am a widow with no children of my own, I volunteered to help in any way that I can. Everyone else around the neighborhood helped in every way they can too, like giving her advice or sending over some things for the babies. It wasn't easy for Dara believe me, I mean, being a single mother taking care of three kids by herself? She broke down more than a dozen times early on but of course she's doing a lot better now. I really admire the girl, not a single complaint out of her from day one of motherhood. She's a real fighter."

Just talking about Sandara, Jiyong noticed, brightened Hino's features. It was apparent at this point, although she wasn't at the age of being a grandmother, that that was how she felt for the kids and that she sees Sandara as somewhat like a daughter to her.

"What is Sandara's job anyway?" he asked, trying not to imagine Sandara weeping from all the stress of taking care of the kids. He couldn't- wouldn't be guilty. She brought it upon herself after all. She wouldn't have had such a rough time if she hadn't left in the first place.

The older woman's features brightened even more.

"She's a coach, she does voice lessons. She's one of the more popular music teachers around Seoul actually."

Somehow, Jiyong wasn't surprised at this. But he was slightly surprised however that Sandara settled with giving singing lessons rather than pursuing a career of being an actual singer which he knew she wanted for as long as he knew her, or rather when he thought he knew her.

"But it isn't enough though," Hino continued, getting Jiyong's attention yet again. "You can only earn so much at being a voice coach and it's never enough for her to support her kids, not to mention she's got three of them. So on weekends she sings at Triple J's, a western themed restaurant for additional income."

"She can't support her own kids?" Jiyong asked, trying to stop a frown from showing on his features. This thought alone was disturbing to him. He never knew Sandara had any sort of financial issues. When he knew her then she wasn't the richest of people but she and her father got by well enough for an average family.

Hino shook her head. "That's why she, or rather, we are all grateful for Seungri's help."

Jiyong clenched his jaw at the mention of the man. "What about Sandara's father?" he asked, trying not to think about Seungri or Nabi. He's had a hell of a time trying to control his temper on his way here. He drove like a maniac and it had taken him every ounce of control in him to not purposely hit someone with his car along the streets.

The smile on her face faltered, replaced by a sad one.

"Sanghoon died only just a year ago because of an illness. He had been helping Sandara in every way he could by visiting often, spending time with the kids, offering financial aid, so when he passed away, Sandara was left to fend for herself and take care of the children. I bet she would've broken down to no return if Seungri wasn't around for her. Without Seungri, Nabi would probably have- are you alright?"

Jiyong snapped out of it and turned to her. Hino was looking down pointedly at his hands which were on the arms of the chair he was sitting on. They were both pale, as white as a sheet from his death grip on the wood.

"I-"

"Jiyong?"

The two adults turned to the doorway where the boys were standing, watching them with questioning faces.

"What're you doing here?" Yonggi asked him before glancing at their nanny.

Hino smiled at them and set down Nabi's dress. "We were just having an adult conversation boys. Now, you two get changed into your pajamas. It's about time you two get into bed. Sandara would have a fit if she found out you were still awake at this hour."

"We'll be back, don't leave yet okay?" Yonggun told Jiyong before the two left and ran down the hallway to their room.

Sighing with a loving smile on her face, Hino shook her head and turned to Jiyong.

"The boys really are taken with you. It's like they're treating you as if you were their father."

A smile tugged the corner of Jiyong's lips as she said this. 'You have no idea,' Jiyong thought exasperatedly, before a thought entered his mind. "Do you have Sandara's cell number?"

Hino nodded and cocked her head to the side in question.

"I need to ask her something," he replied simply.

With a puzzled look, Hino searched Sandara's name in her cell phone's phonebook and handed it to him.

"Thank you," he said before leaving towards the living room for some privacy.

Seungri looked at Sandara worriedly as she started to cry yet again.

"But Dara," he said tentatively, "Kwon Jiyon is their father, there's pretty much nothing you can do. As such, he has his rights over them and he might do something about it. And now that he knows he's the father, what if he tries something to take them from you? You have to tell them."

Sandara looked up at him, her face frantic. "I know that," she said in barely a whisper. "It's just, I-I'm afraid the kids might hate me if they find out."

"I understand but think about it. Would it really be better finding out from him? Their supposedly-dead father? Or from you? Their mother whom they know and trust and have been by their side since they were born?"

Seungri felt guilty as he saw the new tears starting to form in her eyes. He didn't know just how long they spent sitting by the chairs along the hallway outside Nabi's room, but he has certainly been faced with the most confusing predicament he's ever heard for some time now. He knew Sandara didn't tell him the whole story, from everything she's said, there were a few holes in it that got him wondering. But what she's basically told him was that she and Jiyong dated since they were teenagers, until they broke up when she was around 21 years old. She left him without knowing she was actually pregnant with his kids and that marked their separation and Jiyong's rise to fame as an actor. And now that Jiyong's back, he found out that the kids were his but the kids didn't know he was their father.

The question that lingered in his mind and what he was itching to ask her was why did she even leave him in the first place? The way she's been talking about him got him thinking she loved him, so…why?

"What the heck am I gonna do?" Sandara asked helplessly before letting her face fall onto her palms yet again with another round of tears.

'Maybe I'll ask later,' Seungri thought before settling his arm around her shoulder and rubbing her arm up and down comfortingly.

"W-What?"

"You heard me Sandara. The boys are going to change in their rooms, I want you to talk to them and tell them they have your permission. Early in the morning, I'll take them with me since your busy doing God knows what with your other kid and that guy from before. I'll bring them back Sunday evening."

Sandara could feel new tears springing to her eyes. Just how many times has she cried in the last few hours?

"I…" she trailed off but Jiyong was still silent in the other line. She didn't have a choice. "Okay, can I talk to Hino? I'll tell her about it so she can prepare a change of clothes for the boys."

There was a short pause before the older woman's voice spoke.

"Dara?"

"Hino, Jiyong will be there tomorrow morning to pick up the boys. They'll be staying over with him for a night. Can you please pack some overnight clothes for them?"

"Very well, what about you though? What time will you be coming back tomorrow?"

"Hold on," Sandara covered the phone and turned to Seungri. "What time will Nabi be able to leave?"

"I discussed it with the other doctors earlier. It'll depend on her test results that'll come tomorrow morning."

Sandara nodded at him before turning back to the phone. "I'm not sure yet. It'll depend on tomorrow's results. So I guess it really will be better for the boys to be with him for the week