TITLE: here for you, always SUMMARY: In which, Mi Young has a nightmare.  

 

  Jong Kook released a deep sigh as he settled against the headboard, a mountain of pillows supporting his slightly aching back. He reached to his side and grabbed the remote, already decided on spending the rest of the night watching a rerun of one of Ryu Hyun Jin’s games before he grew sleepy.   Arm already poised up and pointing at the TV across the bed, he stilled in his movements when the door to his room opened and soft sounds of pattering feet against the wooden floors echoed throughout the room.   “Appa?” a small voice called for him.   Jong Kook immediately sprung up from the bed and hastily crouched in front of his 5-year-old little girl.   “Wae, aegi-yah? What happened?” he asked, alarmed. He scanned Mi Young from head to toe and realized she had tear stains on her cheeks. His heart ached at the sight.   “I had a bad dream, Appa,” Mi Young answered in almost a whisper.   Jong Kook let out a sound of sympathy as he gathered her in his arms, softly patting her back and shushing her as Mi Young began to cry again.   “I’m sorry, aegi-yah. It wasn’t real, okay? Whatever your nightmare was about won’t come true.”   Jong Kook moved back to the bed and settled his daughter on his chest, making sure she fit tight and snug in his arms while he let her cry. It must have been a really bad dream if she was this shaken, he thought to himself.   When Mi Young’s sobs seemed to die down and be reduced into sniffles, Jong Kook attempted to question her about the nightmare.   “What did you dream about, aegi-yah?” he asked as lightly as possible, shifting Mi Young so he could look at her clearly.   It took a couple of seconds and a few light prods before the 5-year-old spoke, “I dreamt about eomma leaving us and n-not coming back.”   Ah. The dream must have been a result from missing Ji Hyo while she was away for her drama filming.    Jong Kook’s heart went out for his daughter. He too missed Ji Hyo a lot. “Eomma won’t leave us anytime soon, Mi Young-ah. She’s just away for work, but she’ll be back tomorrow morning,” he tried to assure her.   Mi Young could only whimper in reply before burrowing back into her appa’s embrace.   “I promise, Mi Young-ie — eomma will be back very soon, and she’ll even bring you presents!” Another attempt to pacify her, but there was nothing, only sniffles and whimpers. “Aioo~, what can I do to make you believe appa, ah?”   Jong Kook was thinking long and hard on what he should do, when a sudden idea popped into his head.   “Mi Young-ah, how about we’ll give eomma a call? Do you want to speak to eomma?” he suggested and lightly bounced Mi Young to help cheer her up.   There was a beat of silence before Jong Kook could feel her nod against his neck. “Neh, appa. I want to talk to eomma please.”   “Alright, aegi-yah. Just give me a second, okay?”   Jong Kook quickly grabbed his phone from the bedside table and pressed #1 on his speed dial, setting the phone on loudspeaker and requesting a video call too while he was at it.   After two rings, the call picked up.   “Eo, oppa? Is there anything wrong? We just called awhile ago,” Ji Hyo spoke through the phone. She was sitting up in her place on the bed, her face free of make-up and her hair up in a messy bun. She was just about to go to sleep when the call came in.   “Uri ddal was looking for you,” Jong Kook said. “Here, yeobo. Mi Young-ie is right here.” He angled the phone to show their daughter.   “Look up, aegi-yah. Eomma’s here.”   Mi Young snapped up and squealed, “Eomma!”   “Ah neh, annyeong, Mi Young-ie! I miss you so much!” Ji Hyo greeted brightly with a smile.   Mi Young burst out crying at the sight of her mother, opting to hide again into Jong Kook’s arms, so Jong Kook brought the phone back up to his face.   Through the screen, Ji Hyo was alarmed and concerned.   “Oppa? What happened? Why is she crying? Do I need to come home now? Aish, I knew I shouldn’t have taken this overseas job.”   Jong Kook shook his head, “Aniya, you’re already set to come home tomorrow. It’s okay, we’re all fine here. It’s just that Mi Young had a nightmare awhile ago because she misses you.”   Ji Hyo cooed sadly, “Aw oppa, I miss uri Mi Young too. Can you ask her what the nightmare was about?”    Jong Kook angled the phone back to Mi Young, “Mi Young-ah, eomma is asking what you dreamt