Single father Kim Jongwoon takes the stairs to the kindergarten building with feather-light steps and casually loosens the tie around his neck. It's a nice afternoon in the early spring and the man's mood is good as well, thanks to a very successful day at work. All of today's meetings went to his liking and he finished two important projects before the deadline. 

All in all he is very happy today, and if he were as talented as his brother, he would even cook to celebrate the day. But he's full aware that he'll be doing himself and his little son a favor by ordering dinner tonight, knowing Ryeowook will be excited about it, too.

Despite being a bit cold, this spring afternoon is sunny and knowing the teachers take every opportunity to let the children play outside, Jongwoon aims straight to the backyard. He enters the garden elated, but when he sees his little boy sitting on a bench crying, the face buried into the giraffe doll's yellow fur, the father's heart drops in his chest.

"What's wrong, my dear?" The worried dad asks after kneeling in front of the little one, who is framed by his two friends. 

"K-Kiki... is... si-sick..." The boy hiccups and shows his crocodile tears to his appa, "We... we... need... to see... a doctor." As proof, he shoves the stuffed animal under his father's nose for inspection, and yes, the little tail is only hanging by two strings. 

"Oh no. How this happened?" Jongwoon asks sympathetically and carefully takes over the fluffy giraffe. When he learned one thing from his son and his favorite plushie, then this: If your little one tells you that his stuffed friend is sick, you have to play along! 

"Don't no..." Little Wookie whines, "Kiki... don't... wanted... to eat... today..."

"I told you it's still to cold for giraffes to play outside," Kyuhyun informs, "They like it warm and now her tail is falling off."

This makes Wookie whimpering even more.

"Don't be so rude!" Donghae scolds the other four years old, and rubs his upset best friend's back.

"I only said what's true." Kyuhyun replies and shrugs.

"Should we buy something for Kiki on our way home?" Jongwoon suggests and Ryeowook’s nodding wild, while rubbing the sleeves of his jacket over his wet puffy cheeks. 

"We made a shopping list for Kiki, today. Wait, I'll get your backpack." Donghae offers and rushes over to a bench with piles of colorful bags.

Jongwoon sighs and lifts his little one, pecks the wet apple cheeks, then thanking little Hae for helping Ryeowook, as the boy is back with his buddy's belongings.

When father and son bid their goodbye, Wookie has buried his face deep into the crook of his appa's neck, to hide from the world. So they just wave to the kids and their teacher from a far.

Luckily, the father's promise to go straight to the supermarket and work off the list that Ryeowookie has worked so carefully on, lifts the boy's mood a bit. Hence the four year old grabs his backpack to rummage for the important paper, as soon as his appa is done checking the safety of his seat. The injured plushie in his lap. 

"Tell me what we need to get, my dear." Jongwoon requests when he starts the engine, what makes the boy in the back seat unfolds the list with a lot colorful symbols. 

"First, cocoa."

"Why?" 

"Kiki is sad, because of her tail." 

"Ok, next?" 

"Tissues."

"Does Kiki have a running nose?" 

Please Subscribe to read the full chapter