"Mommy, you don't have to lie that you aren't sad," he said with a pout on his face. 

"Why do adults lie?" he asked, shaking his head in dismay, and I couldn't help but to chuckle at how curious and witty my son is. You never fail to surprise me on what you do and say next, you're just like your father.

I didn't know how to respond to my curious child but I must've been blessed when my phone rang yet again. Jung Yonghwa.

"Hey," I said in relief. I owe you this, Yonghwa. 

"You sound so relieved," there was a chuckle at the end of the line, "Bet I saved you again."

"Yeah, you did," I said as I looked down to my child who was grinning widely at me.

"Look behind you," I instantly looked behind and to my surprise, Jung Yonghwa was standing there with a foolish grin on his face. My son, too, turned around and was surprised and excited at the man standing before us.

​"Uncle Yong," he squealed as he threw himself at him. They shared a moment of just laughing by themselves, and hugging the soul out of each other, not minding that I was there.

I cleared my throat, "Jung Yonghwa, you fool, stop showing up like those people in the movies," I said. 

Jung Yonghwa. He wasn't wearing a mask nor a cape, yet he was the one who always saves the day; the one who comes running to you when you're in danger.

He struck out a tongue teasingly at me, "Aren't I fit enough to be a star?" he asked as he and my son had a fit of laughter. I can just shake my head.

"It's early in the morning, why is our baby out from school?" he asked, and the smile that was plastered on my face disappeared. 

​"Uncle Yong," my son said, "I got into a fight with a classmate today because he said I had no daddy."

He gave me a worried glance, and I gave him a weak smile. "Hyunsoo—" he said but was cut off by our son, who to our surprise, put a finger on his mouth, ultimately shushing him.

"I know Andy didn't mean it," he said, "Hyunsoo was in the wrong, too." 

My eyes widened in astonishment. How mature and precious can he get? He is indeed a gift sent from above.

"Mommy doesn't like fighting," he said, before throwing a smile to me, "I don't want her to feel sad, so I'm going to apologize to him tomorrow." 

"That's my boy," I said as I carried him and showered him with kisses. 

"You raised him well," Yonghwa winked at me as he carried my child to his arms.

You did a good job, too, Yonghwa. Six years ago, you took this child and raised him as if he was your own. You were no knight in shining armour, but you were a hero when you took the role of being the father of my child. You who loved, cared for, and supported my child and I. How can I ever repay you?

We arrived at the grocery mart, and I was reminded that I had to buy some ingredients for dinner later. I should cook a meal that's loved by the two, and this is how I can ever repay Yonghwa for all the things he's done.

"I just realized that I needed to buy some ingredients for dinner later," I bit my lower lip, "Is it okay to leave the two of you to go buy yourselves an ice cream?" I asked, feeling guilty having to bail on my son.

The duo nodded fervently, "Seohyun, just go and don't worry about us!" Yonghwa assured whilst my son nodded at his words, flashing me one of his bright and cheeky smiles.

"Be a good boy," I blew a kiss at my child, "and don't be a nuisance to your uncle, alright?" 

"Mommy," he called out, "you worry too much," I let out a giggle in astonishment. He really is a clever boy!

 "Kim Myungsoo!" I groaned at my sleep. I opened an eye to look at the clock, and it was only nine in the morning. So early! And so I put the cover up my head, and went to sleep.

"Kim Myungsoo! Are you going to wake up or not?" I heaved a defeated sigh as I grudgingly removed the warm covers off my body. Who dare wakes me up so early in the morning? 

"Who dare wakes me up?" I yelled in annoyance as I walked down the stairs that leads to the kitchen area of my house.

"Your mother," the voice said in such a stern manner, and I was frozen in place. Uh oh! Red flag, red flag, red flag!

"Oh, hey, mom!" I said with the sweetest tone I can manage, "What brings my beautiful mother here?" I said, giving a kiss on her cheek. You're such a two-faced, Myungsoo!

"Oh for pete's sake," she said, "you're an adult now, yet you can't take care of yourself! Your fridge is empty, how are you going to eat and nourish yourself?" 

I gave a sheepish smile, "That smile won't do, get dressed and we'll go grocery shopping," she said with a strict tone. I couldn't help but to roll my eyes at her words. My mother had always been so controlling of my life, telling me what I should do and whatnot. 

"I'm almost twenty-seven, yet here you are, still telling me what I should do," I said in a hushed manner. Ever since I can remember, my mother ruled and dominated my life. There are times where I don't complain about it, but there are moments where I wished she'd just let me be. However, I only have my mother to rely on, so I had to learn to cope with her and her ways.

"Well," she said, "you are almost twenty-seven, yet here I am reminding yourself to pick up for yourself you won't starve!" Her eyes beamed with a glare as she found a newspaper to whack my head with.

"Mom," I cooed, "I can't wait to go grocery shopping with you!" I said, hugging her arm coyly, and she could only shake her head.

"I'll go search for the chicken for dinner," I said, leaving my mother with a cart full of ingredients for what's supposed to be food for my empty kitchen.

I really did search for chicken but there was a toy section for cars nearby as I walked over to the meat section. Who am I kidding? I'm fond of cars, even as a grown man, I can't help myself! Okay, yeah, maybe I did intentionally venture to the toy section.

"Excuse me, sir," a deep yet friendly voice called out, "Are you looking for something?" I could only manage a sheepish and coy smile, embarassed to admit that an adult still has an interest on toys.

"Is it for your child or niece, sir?" He was quick to ask, flashing a bright grin.

"A-ah, yes," I said in much relief, "I'm checking out some toy cars for my uh.. nie—" As I was about to utter the word "niece," something clung on to my leg. It was as if a monkey clinging on to a branch of a tree.

"Oh, your son, sir?" The staff beamed with a smile on his face, looking down at the monkey that had his arms wrapped around my leg. What did he just say? What does he mean by "my son"?

"I don't have a son,"—I looked down at what, or rather who was clinging on to my leg for dear life, and I saw a pair of round eyes staring back at mine.

"Daddy," the child said. I looked around, thinking who this kid was talking to. Stupid, he was already on to you, and looking at you with his puppy eyes, of course he was talking to you!

"Hey, kid," I said, "Are you talking to me?" Great, state the obvious, genius!

"Yes, daddy," he said with a brief nod, tightening his hold with his little arms around me.

"Wow, dad," the staff cheered, "you're excellent at acting! Are you sure you're not an actor? You could pass for one." I wish I was acting with this kid mistaking me for his father.

"You play with your son well," he laughed before he pardoned himself to entertain other costumers. I couldn't even explain myself as I was too shock that this just happened.

"Mommy and I miss you alot," he waved his arms in the air, "this much!" For a brief moment, I felt pity for this child. He said that he misses his father. Where could have been his father?

"Where is your father?" I asked, feeling sick on my stomach for even asking. I don't wish to hear it as to where his father may possibly be. Could he have been possibly gone, leaving him and his mother alone? What happened to him?

"Mommy said you were on a different planet that's why you were gone for so long," he said with a bright smile," "Hyunsoo missed you alot, but now you're here, daddy!" He still thinks that I was his father when I wasn't. This child, desperately clinging on to me, is fatherless for a reason I don't know, but it lead to his mother having to lie to him for his own good.

"What a ridiculous lie your mother had to say to protect you," I muttered under my breath, heaving a sigh as I pat the child's head.

I took a breath and said, "I hate to break it to you but"—a man, seemingly around my age, appeared with a frantic look on his face, came running for the child that was still clinging on to my leg for dear life.

"Hyunsoo!" the man said in relief and anxiety, throwing himself to the child. The man seemed to be his father, breaking the assumptions and thoughts I had about this kid. I smiled in relief. He was a kid, afterall, he must've mistaken me as his father. As wild as the idea can be, I possibly can't be a father of this child.

"Hyunsoo, where have you been?" the man questioned, cupping his face with his hands, before showering him with kisses.

"Your mommy's going to kill me!" he said, "Don't you disappear from my sight ever again."

"I found daddy," he told the man infront of him, who was his father I assumed, pointing at me. Why is he calling me his "daddy," when he's already in front of us? Did this kid have a drink?

The man sighed in disbelief and said, "Hyunsoo, you can't claim a stranger as your father," tousling his hair but the latter gave him a pucker of the lips.

"It's daddy," the child stated firmly but he can only chuckle in return.

"I'm sorry, this kid's imagination can run wild"—the man apologized before diverting his attention from the child to mine. He was frozen in place as his eyes widened in surprise when he met mine. All I could think of is: why? Why was he looking at me as if I was some criminal on the loose? 

Thank you for the support you've all shown! Please continue to do so as to cheer me on this journey. Thank you so much!