"Hello Teacher K!"

Somehow, I got a third name.

Jongin smiled at the owner of the voice and replied, "Hello there, Hana. Come, sit beside me."

Hana then occupied the space beside Jongin as he asked, "How's school today?"

Hana smiled and said, "I think I did well. Especially in English."

"Oh. What did teacher Min Jung tell you to do?"

"She made us draw what we'd like to be in the future."

Jongin's mouth formed an "O" and he nodded. He then asked, "So what did you draw?"

"Guess!" Hana playfully said.

"A musician?" Jongin played along but Hana shook her head.

"A teacher?" Jongin asked again. Maybe she has the same dreams as Suzy.

Hana shook her head again and grinned playfully. Jongin pretended to think and asked non-stop,

"A businesswoman? A doctor? A nurse?"

But Hana shook her head again ang again, laughing. Jongin sighed and said,

"Okay. I give up. What did you draw Hana?"

"It's not what Teacher K. It's who." Hana corrected him which made Jongin chuckle.

"Okay. Who did you draw?" Jongin said, squinting his eyes.

Hana smiled and her eyes glistened as she said, "I drew mom."

Jongin's facial expression turned sad and silence engulfed him as Hana continued.

"If I grow up, I want to be like mom. She's pretty and happy all the time."

Jongin smiled. "You're pretty and happy too, Hana."

Hana giggled. "Thank you teacher K." Then she added, "But the difference is, omma already found her prince charming."

Jongin's heart started clenching at what Hana said. He simple knew that Hana is talking about her dad. But he forced a smile and nodded.

"And I want to have a child like me too. I think that my parents are lucky to have me." Hana said with confidence but in an innocent manner.

Jongin laughed and ruffled the girl's hair. "They sure are. Because you are a kid full of confidence."

"Of couse! Confidence is beauty!" Hana retorted.

"Confidence is beauty." Jongin remembered Suzy said the day that he truly accepted her in his life. "Did your mom tell you that?"

"Oh. How did you know?" Hana asked, eyes-wide.

Jongin was taken aback a bit. "I just guessed."

Hana, the gullible one, just nodded and asked, "What about you teacher K?"

"Hmmmm?"

"Have you found your princess?" Hana's curiosity is at its' peek.

Jongin smiled sadly. "I did. A long time ago."

"Oh! Where is she now?"

She's your mom.

"She's in a far away place; living happily." Jongin said,trying hard to hide the pain in his voice. But Hana noticed.

"Are you okay?" Silence surrounded the two. "Perhaps, you did not end up with your princess?" Hana gasped.

When he replied with a smile, Hana said, "I think that's a yes."

Jongin panicked when the girl started sobbing. He instantly hugged the girl and patted her back.

"It's okay, Hana. The prince and princess are happy now."

"But the prince is not." Hana said.

Jongin kept quiet. He did not have the nerve to lie to the girl who just saw through him. Hana unveiled his mask just like how Suzy did years ago.

"So how's school?" Suzy asked Hana as she prepared her bed.

"It's fine omma. I did well."

Suzy paused and then asked, "Is something wrong?"

Hana looked at her mom as she plopped herself on the bed. "Teacher K is sad."

"And that made you sad too?"

"It's called "empathy" omma. To feel what others feel. I learned that the other day."

Suzy nodded and sighed in relief. "Your teachers are doing well."

"But Teacher K is not. He's sad." Hana repeated.

Suzy sat down beside Hana and said, "Okay. Tell me about it."

"He did not end up with his princess." Hana gloomily said.

"And?"

"But prince and princess always end up together!" Hana whined.

"Yes, they do but at the end, Hana."

"Hmmm?"

Suzy smiled. "It only means that it's not the end of the story for your Teacher K and his princess. Their love story