Song Dong Baek woke up with her whole body feeling so weak and painful. The first thing that caught her attention was the presence of a man who seems so familiar to her and that man is sitting right beside her mother.

“Ahjussi.” Dong-Baek murmured as soon as she successfully opened her eyes.

Ji-Hyo was a little startled that she approached her daughter in no time, “Dong-Baek ah, gwaencanha? Anywhere hurts? Eomma will call doctor seonsaengnim, eo?”

Instead of answering Ji-Hyo, Dong-Baek’s attention was all on Jong-Kook as her eyes never left his gaze. Jong-Kook realized that his daughter was looking at him and he couldn’t help but to curl his lips. He smiled and slowly brushed Dong-Baek’s hair gently.

“Anywhere hurts, princess?” Jong-Kook asked.

Dong-Baek nodded slowly and her small hand reached her head, “My head hurts.”

“Then Dong-Baekie has to take more rest, eo?” Said Ji-Hyo, sounding so worried.

Dong-Baek glanced at her mother and asked, “Will airplane ahjussi still be here when Dong-Baekie wake up later?”

That one question successfully made both Jong-Kook and Ji-Hyo to look at each other. Ji-Hyo opened her lips and about to answer but too bad, Jong-Kook is a step quicker.

“Of course. Ahjussi will always be here for Dong-Baekie.” Jong-Kook answered.

Instead of feeling satisfied, Dong-Baek added another question, “Why? Ahjussi is not even my appa.”

It felt more like a slap for both of them instead of a question. Is this the right time to tell the little girl that actually the ahjussi in front of her is actually her biological father who just saved her just now?

“Why aren’t both of you answering?” Dong-Baek asked again when both Jong-Kook and Ji-Hyo kept silent.

Ji-Hyo took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, “Keurae. Now that Dong-Baekie can call airplane ahjussi as appa.”

Jong-Kook widened his eyes disbelief at Ji-Hyo because he didn’t expect her to tell Dong-Baek in such condition.

“Jinjja? Eomma, you are not joking right?” Dong-Baek asked while excitement is so visible in both her gaze and voice.

Ji-Hyo nodded which was followed by her smile, “Eo. Eomma is not lying. So, Can Dong-Baekie do eomma a favor?”

“Can.” Dong-Baek replied.

“Now that Dong-Baekie has to take much rest so that Dong-Baekie can heal faster. Can you do that?” Said Ji-Hyo.

Dong-Baek nodded, “Can.” She said and she glanced at Jong-Kook, “Ahjussi –I mean, appa, keep your promise, eo? That you will not disappear when Dong-Baekie is asleep.”

How could you describe this feeling? He feels extremely joyous and the feeling is even more overwhelming comparing to the time when he got the limited edition Tesla. Slowly, Jong-Kook understood every single thing that his father told him. The feeling when he first heard the word ‘appa’ came out from his daughter’s lips is priceless.

“Appa will always be here for Dong-Baek.” Replied Jong-Kook along with his glazed eyes.

Dong-Baek smiled and slowly closed her eyes as she felt tired and weak due to the little accident. Jong-Kook who sat the closest to Dong-Baek, pulled up the comforter up until it covers Dong-Baek’s chest and laid a kiss on her forehead.

“Appa loves you, my princess.” Jong-Kook mumbled through his kiss.

Ji-Hyo who witnessed the whole scene, couldn’t help but to feel touched as well and without her realizing, a drop of tear rolled down from her eyes. She quickly erased it before anyone sees it. How on earth could her separate her daughter and her father? Although both of them hid a very deep scar in the past, it couldn’t change the fact that Kim Jong Kook is the father of her daughter.

“Mianhae.” It was the first thing that came out from Ji-Hyo’s lips once both of them went out from Dong-Baek’s ward.

Jong-Kook glanced at her, slightly not understanding what she meant, “Why are you apologizing?” He asked.

Ji-Hyo looked down at her own knuckles for a short moment before daring herself to answer Jong-Kook, “For keeping Dong-Baek away from you. I was thinking that Dong-Baek will only need a mother without realizing that she has been yearning for the love of a father as well.” She paused and slowly locked her gaze to Jong-Kook, “Believe me that Dong-Baek is a strong girl. She never really asked me about her father but I can see it through her gaze when she sees her friends with their father. It’s my fault that I am selfish,”

“It’s not just you.” Jong-Kook cut her immediately.

Ji-Hyo looked at Jong-Kook confused as if she doesn’t understand what he wanted to say while Jong-Kook noticed her facial expression.

“It was not only yours. It was my fault too, Song Ji Hyo.” Jong-Kook continued and took a deep breath before adding, “I am sorry for abandoning you.”

“You didn’t. I was the one who chose to walk away.” Ji-Hyo argued.

Jong-Kook’s brows narrowed, “But,”

“You didn’t know that I was pregnant with Dong-Baek that time. I could just tell you but I chose not to and today, I let Dong-Baek know about who her father is but let me tell you that everything will stay the same.” Ji-Hyo continued.

Jong-Kook stayed silent upon hearing everything she said. It was just several sentences but he definitely understands everything she meant. It’s the answer to his question earlier.

What about us?

And there he got the answer.

Three Weeks Later

Seoul, South Korea

Dong-Baek has fully healed and thanks to this lady that now the three of them are now heading for a little gateway. Going to the zoo has never been in Jong-Kook’s bucket list because he’s not that interested and he always laughed at Hyuk who’s being like a total fool by saying yes to everything that his daughter requested. Now that he understands that feeling. He’s willing to do everything as well for his daughter.

“Appa, eomma told me that appa got a very unique friend. Can we meet him?” Asked Dong-Baek and truthfully, this little lady has been asking so many question since they entered the car.

Jong-Kook glanced at Dong-Baek through the rear mirror and answered, “A unique friend? You mean Dong-Hoon ahjussi?”

Ji-Hyo chuckled because she knew who Dong-Baek meant, “She’s trying to say your smart virtual assistant.”

Jong-Kook nodded his head, “Rigel is a robot not a friend. Yah, Song Ji Hyo, how many stuffs have you told my daughter about me?”

“Your little princess has been asking so much question about you that I don’t have any choice but to tell her everything or else she will not stop.” Replied Ji-Hyo.

Dong-Baek glanced at her mother, “But eomma was willing to answer everything too. Eomma, why aren’t you saying that you are always very excited once you talk about appa?”

Jong-Kook giggled a little once he heard what Dong-Baek said. There’s a little joyous feeling in his heart when he knew that Song Ji Hyo still feels excited about him.

“Really? Eomma is always happy when it comes to appa?” Asked Jong-Kook.

“Of course!” Dong-Baek answered energetically.

Ji-Hyo rolled her eyes, “Yah, Song Dong Baek, are you trying to create stories?”

Dong-Baek sticked her tongue out playfully, “It’s a truth. Eomma, did you forget? Kids do not lie. Moreover, am I changing my name to Kim Dong Baek?”

That question caused Ji-Hyo to widened her eyes in surprise. It’s just three weeks since she knew the truth but she already wants to change her last name? How unbelievable.

“Why? Song Dong Baek sounds good.” Ji-Hyo argued.

Dong-Baek pouted instead, “But all of my friends followed their father’s last name.”

When Ji-Hyo was about to open her lips to answer her daughter, Jong-Kook stopped them all as they arrived.

“We have arrived, ladies.” Said Jong-Kook when he finished in parking the car.

Arriving the zoo, Jong-Kook offered to lift Dong-Baek in his arms which was accepted happily by the little girl.

“Dong-Baek ah, you are big enough to walk by yourself. Appa’s hand might break if you –“

Jong-Kook cut Ji-Hyo straight away, “It’s okay. My princess is very light, isn’t she?” He said and smiled at Dong-Baek.

Dong-Baek circled her hand on Jong-Kook’s neck as she drowned her head on the crook of Jong-Kook’s neck. For some reason, it feels like Jong-Kook is spoiling the little girl way too much.

“It’s just three weeks but it feels like she’s much closer to you than to me.” Said Ji-Hyo which was followed by light chuckles.

She noticed how happy Dong-Baek was throughout the trip. She was able to know how does it feel like to receive the love from her father. Both father and daughter stick together like a glue but Ji-Hyo doesn’t mind because what matters most to her is Dong-Baek’s happiness.

“Eomma, why appa is not living together with us?” Asked Dong-Baek out of blue.

Ji-Hyo was a little startled by her daughter’s question and when she was thinking what she should answer, Jong-Kook was quicker to answer.

“Does Dong-Baekie wants to come and see appa’s house?” Jong-Kook asked, trying to change the topic.

However, the little girl is smart enough to not be fooled, “Appa, you are not answering my question, are you?”

Ji-Hyo chuckled awkwardly, “Dong-Baek ah, appa has his own house –“

“But my friends are all living together with their eomma and appa.” Dong-Baek replied and she slightly pouted her lips.

Damn it, it’s literally a hard question because how on earth are you going to tell a six years old kid that her parents