Panchali’s POV

I stood awkwardly at the door as Suho turned and said “Just a second!” in a very loving tone.

His hair was thoroughly messed up, like he had been in bed. Yet he didn’t seem to be sleepy at all.

I rubbed the back of my neck.

That only left one conclusion. Girl. Bed hair. No sleep. Unless he was gay of course. But I doubted that for some reason.

“Panchali!” he smiled at me and I felt something weird in my chest.

“I’m very sorry for disturbing you. I’ll get going now.” I blabbered and bowed at lightning fast speed before turning to go.

He grabbed my hand. More weird feelings.

“No its all right! Stay!” he said and I turned slowly and shrugged.

I did not want to meet his girlfriend.

Nevertheless upon seeing that gentle smile of his all my arguments were rendered meaningless.

Silently, I nodded and he opened the door and I entered.

“Who is it?” came the same voice from the couch and to my surprise I saw a small pair of hands reaching up and then a cute little head appeared.

A tiny girl blinked up at me questioningly as Suho closed the door.

I grinned and released a breath I didn’t know I had been holding.

She made small grabby hands at Suho and he chuckled and went towards her.

“Your sister or niece?” I asked while waving at her.

He looked up at me as if saying something very important.

“My daughter.” he said picking her up as she called out “Appa!”

Kai’s POV

Luhan rearranged the bed sheets once again as I peered past him.

Where was Panchali?

“Dude where are the rest?” I asked him finally.

“Chanyeol was very upset so Panchali was with him. Suho texted me that he’d left. Then Panchali texted me that Chanyeol was dragging her to a bar.” He said simply.

“Chanyeol? Panchali? BAR?” I asked, my eyes wide.

Luhan nodded and yawned.

No I was being stupid. Chanyeol wouldn’t do anything. I suppose. I hope.

“Hey um… Panchali uh… she seemed okay right?” I asked.

“Okay as in?”

“As in… not hurt in any way?” I said.

He peered at me closely and then said “Yeah but she did have a red mark on her cheek. Her wrists were slightly bruised. And she had a bandaid on her cheek.”

.

I nodded sadly which led to Luhan asking “But why does that matter to you eh Kai?”

He was giving me an all-knowing smile.

“N-nothing!” I said and turned slightly red.

“Tell me!” he said and I quickly said “Oh look at the time! Bro I’m a patient. I’ll sleep. You go back to the dorm too.”

Pulling the blanket over my head, I turned quickly and pretended to snore.

I heard Luhan sigh as he turned off the light.

He must have left.

A few minutes later I turned and to my surprise found someone lying on the couch.

There lay Luhan, all curled up. Wearing a simple sheet.

I grinned. This guy was a good friend.

Panchali’s POV

I stood silently for a few moments gaping at Suho before saying, “Your daughter?”

He just gave me a sad smile and bent to the little girl’s level and said, “Okay Sumin! We’ve played enough! Go to bed now!”

The girl pouted but nodded and then turned to me.

“Good night!” she said cutely and hopped off into another room.

Suho stood up and looked at me.

“You want something to eat?” he asked and I shook my head silently.

After a few seconds of silence I asked, “You’re married?”

“Nope.” He said.

I looked at him questioningly.

“Sit.” He said and led me to the couch where I sat down and watched him fetch two bottles of beer from a fridge.

He offered one to me and I refused but he shoved it in my hand anyways.

Taking a swig from his he said “She’s a little over two years old.”

I looked at him as he sighed and took another large gulp.

“I was only twenty when it happened. I got drunk. Next morning I wake up to a girl’s screaming next to me and she’s in my bed. It didn’t take a genius to put two and two together. She left before I could say anything to her. Two months later I met her and she told me she was pregnant. I was ready to marry her but she said no. She said she didn’t want the kid. Then she started to yell and blame me and ran away. I searched for her for months but in the end she found me. She told me to come to an address and I went. There were really loud sounds of crying coming from inside the room and I knocked but no one opened it. Ultimately I decided to break it down. And I went in…” he paused here and breathed slowly but then continued, “Sumin was lying in a corner and crying. That girl was nowhere to be seen. She’d left Sumin on the floor just like that. I went closer to find that she had been abusing Sumin. Her whole body was bruised. She was my daughter… How could I leave her? So I brought her home. She was just a month old then. My parents accepted her fortunately. But they were clear that she was my responsibility. I raised her while I was in med school. It was tough. We had to move away from her. I had to study long hours. But she was a good kid.”

“Suho…” I said and he turned to me and I instantly hugged him.

“You raised her well.” I said and he smiled. 

She was his daughter ;_;