Haneul’s POV

“Why are you so busy?” I laughed as Minki climbed all over me.

Since there was no one at home, I did not feel like being at home too, so I went over to Seungho and Minji’s place.

“She’s at the monkey age.” Minji said, handing me a cup of tea.

“Seems like Loki never passed that age.” I said as I held Minki tightly in my arms, watching her struggle.

“Mehhhhh~~~” She struggled.

“Meh~ Sounds like you.” I said.

Minji smiled, poking Minki’s cheek.

“Why didn’t you go with them?” She asked.

“Am I not welcome here?” I asked.

She laughed and smacked my thigh.

“Nah~ You know how I don’t like such stuff. Besides, the kids want to bond with Daddy, they wouldn’t want Mummy there. They had enough of me.” I said.

“Minki only wants her Deedee too~” Minji cupped Minki’s cheeks.

“Noooooooooooo~” Minki said.

“Really? You want Mummy too?” Minji asked.

“Deedee! Deedee! Deedee!” Minki finally struggled out of my grip.

She ran upstairs, yelling for her ‘Deedee’, and then ran back down again.

“Deedee!” She pouted at Minji.

“Deedee’s at work, sweetheart.” Minji said.

“Why?” She looked down at her toes.

“He’ll be home soon.” Minji lifted her chin.

“Call Deedee!” Minki said, handing Minji the phone.

“Call? Sweetheart, I don’t know.” Minji said.

“Please~~” Minki pouted.

“Alright, I’ll try.” Minji said.

Minki grinned at me while Minji called Seungho.

“You love Deedee?” I asked.

She nodded.

“Mummy?” I asked.

She nodded too.

“Me?” I asked.

She looked at me for a while, and then hugged me.

“Awww~ You cutie~” I kissed her forehead.

“Here you go~ Go talk to your Deedee~” Minji said, handing Minki the phone.

“DEEDEE!!!!” Minki yelled, holding the phone upside down.

“Wrong side, sweetheart.” Minji laughed as she turned the phone over for her.

“DEEDEE!!!!” Minki yelled again.

She sat at the corner, giggling at whatever Seungho said to her.

“Secret moment with Daddy~” Minji said, looking at her.

“Jealous?” I asked.

“Oh, very.” Minji said.

We continued chatting, almost forgetting that Minki was on the phone with Seungho.

“How long have they been talking?” Minji asked.

“I don’t know.” I said.

“Baby girl! Enough! Daddy has to work!” Minji said, going to Minki.

“Noooooooooooo!!!” Minki pushed Minji’s hand away, not allowing her to take the phone.

“Be good, Minki. Deedee has to work.” Minji tried to coax.

“I want Deedee!!” Minki insisted.

“Sweetheart, Deedee will come home tonight. You can talk to him all night. Be good.” Minji said.

I laughed as Minki reluctantly handed Minji the phone.

“Good girl.” Minji kissed her forehead.

“Come here, sweet.” I said, gesturing her over.

She lied on my lap, smiling up at me.

“Don’t grow up so fast.” I tickled her.

I was so absorbed into playing with her I did not realize my phone was vibrating until Minji alerted me. There was three missed calls from Junhyung.

“Who’s that?” Minji asked.

“Junhyung.” I said, calling him back.

“Hey, Junroro. How’s the trip?” I asked.

“Ha.. haneul..” His voice told me something was very wrong.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

Minji and I exchanged glances.

“Haneul ah~” Junhyung’s voice shouted shaky.

“What’s wrong?” I asked again, trying my best not to yell at him.

“Come to the hospital, Haneul ah~ Now. Please.” He said.

“Hospital!? Who got hurt!?” I yelled.

“Just… come!” He choked.

I ended the call and grabbed my stuff.

“What happened?” Minji asked.

“I don’t know. He asked me to come to the hospital. Now.” I said.

“I’ll drive you there.” Minji said.

“No. It’s fine.” I said.

“You cannot drive in this state. Let’s go.” She said, picking Minki up.

“Thanks.” I muttered.

Minji smiled slightly as she strapped Minki onto her car seat.

“Don’t worry.” Minji said, squeezing my hand.

We were silent throughout the ride except for a few occasional curses coming from Minji when someone tried to cut into her lane or when the traffic light took too long.

“Go on in, I’ll park the car and come.” She said, letting me off at the drop-off.

“Thanks.” I said before running inside.

“Umma!!!!!!!!” I heard a familiar voice call out the moment I went in.

“Tae Hyun ah! What happened!?” I asked.

He hugged me tightly, his face buried into my stomach.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, rubbing circles onto his back.

“Where’s Ji Eun, Loki and your Daddy?” I asked.

He said nothing, except hug me tighter.

“Umma~” Another voice called out.

I turned to find Ji Eun looking at me, her face stained with tears.

“What’s wrong? Where’s Loki? Where’s your Daddy?” I asked.

Ji Eun hugged me tightly, not saying anything too.

“Come on, kids. Say something!” I did not want to shout at them, but their expressions were making me anxious.

“Haneul!” Minji called out, running towards me, dragging Minki behind her.

“What happened?” She asked, staring at us curiously.

“I don’t know.” I said.

“Kids, what’s wrong? Where’s your Daddy and Loki?” Minji asked, pulling the kids away from me.

While she hush them, I looked around for Junhyung. I found him sitting at the far corner with his face buried in his palms.

“Junhyung!” I called out as I neared him.

He looked up at me. His eyes were bloodshot, he looked tired and he was drenched.

“Junhyung, what happened?” I asked, kneeling down in front of him.

He did not say anything.

“Come on, tell me!” I lost my patience.

“I’m sorry.” He cried out.

“Why are you sorry!? What happened!?” I shouted.

He opened his mouth as thou to say something, but he was cut off by someone else.

“Who is here for Loki Yong?” The voice asked.

I turned back to see a doctor looking at us.

“How is he!?” Junhyung pushed pass me, grabbing the doctor’s arms.

“I’m sorry.” The doctor said quietly.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY YOU’RE SORRY!?” Junhyung shouted.

Yea, what does he mean by he is sorry? What in the world happened?

“We tried our best. I’m sorry.” The doctor apologized.

“SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED!?” I yelled.

“He is gone.” The doctor said, looking at me.

“Who is gone?” I asked, trembling.

“The boy. Loki.” The doctor said.

Junhyung was on the floor bawling his eyes out while I stood there in shock.

My Loki is gone? How could it be? He was just jumping and screaming this morning. I could still see his bright smile and hear his laughter in my head. How is it that he is gone?

***
This hurts me too. I'm sorry~ :(