Jong kook sighed as he stood in front of the cold metal gate of their house. He hesitated as he touched the handle. He clenched his fist, trying to shake off the nervousness. He looked like a teenage boy in front of his girlfriend’s house. Sadly, it was not romantic at all, but rather a nerve wracking experience. Jong kook felt guilty wooing someone other than Eun hye, but he had made his decision. You are just making it up to them… for your hyung and your omma and for Hyo Jong.

 

He took a deep breath and entered the big house. As usual, it felt empty. You could almost never tell that it is inhabited, and that there is a child living there. Jong kook made his way inside and he heard Hyo Jong going down the stairs. “Appa! You are here! I thought you were gone again.” She excitedly ran to him and he caught her with one arm. “Hi little girl… how was your day?”

“It was really, really fun appa, we had practice today and I’m going to dance your song. The sarangsoowo ones.”

“You mean ‘Loveable’? Wow that’s really great.” She laughed as she excitedly told him the rest of her day but then she suddenly frowned. “Why Hyo Jong-ah? What’s wrong? Did someone bully you in school?” she sighed as if she is carrying a huge burden, she has this funny habit of wrinkling her nose but it looked adorable. She let out a little sound and fiddled with her little fingers. It made Jong kook chuckle seeing that his habit was passed down to his daughter. “Hey, don’t pout like that… what’s wrong?”

“Omma said I shouldn’t disturb you but…” he raised his brows, coaxing her to continue. “But I really, really want you to go and watch my first dance.”

“Is that all? Silly little girl, don’t frown anymore… of course, appa will watch. Do you want to practice with me? I’d love to dance with you.” her bright eyes widened and she placed her hands on and screamed. Even that looked adorable to Jong kook despite the ringing in his ears. “Really, really appa? You are really, really going to our school?”

“Neh! Of course, I’m really, really going. Happy?” she nodded hard, her little head furiously bobbing up and down and Jong kook had to steady her before she flipped over to the floor. “Whoah, I’m dizzy! But I’m really, really happy! You’re going with omma, don’t forget, huh? Huh, appa?” Jong kook smiled and nodded, he didn’t realize that Ji hyo was there, watching them. Their eyes met and he knows well that she is not pleased at all. “Put me down now appa, I’m going to sleep.”

“Should I tuck you to bed?”

“No! You can't see my costume yet... it’s a surprise. Good night appa!” she gave him a kiss then ran to her omma and did the same. She hurried up to her room and Jong kook was left there looking awkward while he tried to hide behind him the bouquet of flowers.

 

“Did you have dinner?” he nervously asked and she nodded. Shyly he showed her the flowers, it to her direction, and did not dare to look her straight in the eye. “J-Ji hyo, I know you hate me… and I don’t deserve to be forgiven, but can you give me a chance?”

“Why are you doing this?” Seriously Ji hyo I don’t know too and it took my everything to do this after what I had just discovered today. I can’t tell you about that mission or anything, but I sincerely want to make it up to you and to them. He thought but instead he opted for a shorter reply, “I was wrong.” She did not respond. Jong kook felt restless under the scrutiny of her gaze.

 

It was taking too long and he almost thought she was going to ignore him to the end. To his surprise, she accepted the flowers. “You haven’t forgotten yet how much I like these… I’m just doing this because you made my daughter happy, it doesn’t mean anything more than that.” Google wasn’t lying… Jong kook let out the breath he was holding, surprised to find out that his heart was beating fast. Get a grip Jong kook

 

_________________________

 

 

The next day Hyo Jong woke him up by jumping up and down his bed. “Appa! Appa! Wake up!” she tumbled on his bed laughing. Jong kook opened his eyes, grabbed her and pinned her down before giving her a tickling session, “Appa! Keke!” Hyo Jong’s cheerful voice or rather shrieks filled the house, a first since she was born. “Hyo Jong-ah, where are you? Come here now and take a bath.”

“Omma, keke, come and pick me up! Appa is tickling me!” Ji hyo reluctantly entered the room. It had obviously been a long time since she had been in here. Jong kook even wondered if there was a time the two of them shared a room after marriage. It was like we only shared a bed when Hyo Jong was made… , what are you thinking of so early in the morning Jong kook.

 

“Come here now Hyo Jong-ah… or we’ll be late.” Hyo Jong, still imprisoned in Jong kook’s embrace raised her arms, motioning Ji hyo to pick her up. Jong kook released Hyo Jong from his grip, rolled to the side of the bed and avoided making eye contact with his wife. Ji hyo reached for Hyo Jong but the little girl pulled her to the bed. Ji hyo, not expecting it, fell on top of Jong kook and Hyo Jong. He caught Ji hyo instinctively, his arms surrounding her. The little girl giggled and wriggled out of the tangled bodies. “Appa and omma are hugging! Weeeee! Appa and omma are hugging!” she ran out of the room and the two adults got embarrassed, and quickly they fixed their position. “Hey Ji hyo sor-…”

“I’ll give Hyo Jong her bath now.” Jong kook watched her go, she felt warm… she is real so of course she is warm you idiot…

 

_________________________

 

When the family arrived in Hyo Jong’s playschool, there were already many people. Since the couple wasn’t active in showbiz anymore, they freely mingled with the crowd. Hyo Jong looked so happy while she cutely bounced in her fairy costume. “Appa, omma, I’ll be going to my friends, neh? Watch me!”

“Neh! Hwaiting Hyo Jong-ah!” Jong kook raised his hand for a high five but the two females only stared at him. “Pfft… Hyo Jong-ah I think your appa wants a high five. It’s like this…” she clapped her hand to Jong kook’s and explained that it was a high five. Jong kook only felt confused, he didn’t know that it was not the trend in that time anymore. “Old-fashioned…” muttered Ji hyo under her breath, but he heard it and he felt embarrassed. Hyo Jong gladly did the high five with him, saving his face before running off and leaving the two alone.

 

Jong kook fondly watched his girl rehearse with her classmates when he heard a chuckle from Ji hyo. He raised his brows in confusion, wondering how he made her smile. He let her be, while he listened to her rare laughter. It sounded cute… like an adult version of Hyo Jong’s girly giggles. “Hey, Ji hyo… what’s funny?” she stifled her laughter, cleared and looked away. “Nothing… you are just… err too old fashioned. I mean who else does high fives these days?” she smiled and bit her lip to stifle the next wave of chuckles. Ji hyo didn’t know why but she just felt that it was so funny. Jong kook carefully watched her every move. Without realizing it they both laughed, the festive mood finally got to them and they joined the other parents in the auditorium. 

The proud stage parents of Hyo Jong clapped and cheered louder than all the parents combined together in that place. There were only twenty kids but Hyo Jong was the main lead. She had Ji hyo’s acting chops and Jong kook’s voi… she didn’t have the mosquito voice that Jong kook was known for, but her singing voice was at least better than Ji hyo’s off tune ones.

 

When the Loveable song played and Hyo Jong took the stage, the proud father stood up and almost rushed to the stage. “Go Hyo Jong! That’s my daughter!” shouted Jong kook. He felt so proud of her, it was as if they have been together for a long time, when in reality Jong kook had known her for only three days.

 

When the performance ended, Hyo Jong was still hyper and her parents couldn’t stop praising her. “Hyo Jong-ah… you are just like appa… you dance great and sing great too.”

“No hyo Jong-ah, you are talented like omma, neh?”

“Appa, omma, you two are my parents… so I am a great singer-dancer like appa is and I’m also a great actress like omma is. So no more fights, I’m better than the two of you.” Jong kook and Ji hyo only laughed at their adorable daughter. They both held her little hands and went to where the booths and stalls are.

 

First Hyo Jong dragged them to a snack stand and they all had burgers. It was hard to feed Jong kook because of the grease, but one pout from Hyo Jong made him eat as if burgers are his favorite food. Ji hyo chuckled at the scrunched face of Jong kook, his teary eyes and greasy lips, and his full effort to force a convincing smile for Hyo Jong. Jong kook was glad to make them happy, but the grease is killing him so he mentally took note to go to a gym as soon as possible and work out like a lunatic.

 

“Appa! I want that fluffy bear!” Hyo Jong pointed to a booth wherein you have to play darts and pop the balloons to claim a price. Jong kook doesn’t like those kinds of games but Hyo Jong is pouting again. “Okay, let’s go there, but I’m warning you… appa is bad at these things.” She excitedly pointed to the largest bear there is and Jong kook groaned. He needs to perform extra well.

 

Ji hyo smiled at the father daughter bonding. She almost didn’t realize the lone tear that had escaped her eye despite the wide smile in her face. She had waited for this moment for a long time, and now that she is seeing it, it was still hard to believe. It was like magic, as if another person who looked like her husband came home to them. He was like the Jong kook oppa she trusted so much and loved during their three years on Running Man.

 

“Hyo Jong-ah… can’t I just buy you a teddy? I had been playing for almost an hour now but I still can’t reach the number of balloons needed for that prize.”

“No I want that, omma said you are the commander so you could do everything.”

“I’m not that great Hyo Jong-ah… your appa can’t even do the hula hoops.” Ji hyo shook her head. She was getting impatient with the amount of time it was taking for a simple teddy. She took the pins from Jong kook and in no time, Hyo Jong is already hugging the teddy she wants. All the people, including Jong kook and the vendor were dumbfounded, some even clapped. “Appa, you are the commander, but my omma is the ace…”

 

They roamed around some more. They did target shooting, face painting and Ji hyo shopped nonstop, making Jong kook, ever the gentleman, carry everything. He almost suspected Ji hyo of doing it to punish him. They stopped at a booth and Hyo Jong was furiously pointing at something. Kissing booth… Uh oh Jong kook…

 

“We have to go home now Hyo Jong-ah… your appa is tired carrying all those stuff. Look at him, I almost can't see him underneath those packages.”

“But we can just go home after you guys do it. My best friend's parents just did it.” Hyo Jong pouted and was about to cry. Ji hyo looked helplessly at Jong kook as if commanding him to do something about it. Jong kook felt dizzy, it’s a simple kiss… you can go after you kiss her, the cheek will be fine. She is your wife here, it’s fine. I’m sorry Eun hye-yah but I want to go home.

 

Jong kook carefully put down the mountain of bags he was carrying and they went to the booth. Hyo Jong was excitedly watching them, her eyes getting wider each second that Jong kook felt worried that her eyes will pop out soon. The booth owner readied the camera and Jong kook walked closer to Ji hyo.

 

“Mister go closer, you look like a kid getting his first kiss. If you two fought this morning, make up and kiss!” chided the booth owner. Jong kook followed him nonetheless, he aimed for the cheek, his heart beating like crazy, while his mind spewed of protest, he leaned in… he can smell her… closer… it’s just the cheek Jong kook!

 

Ji hyo was feeling embarrassed, she can’t even remember their last kiss. Her heart raced, and threatened to burst out from her chest, got dry, it wasn’t her first kiss with her husband but it felt like it is. She began to feel embarrased standing there, why is this guy so slow?

 

Another soul was impatient and pushed Ji hyo towards Jong kook. He missed his aim, which was her cheeks and landed straight to her lips. He felt electricity surging throughout his body, his arms went around her, steadying her from Hyo Jong’s push. The little matchmaker giggled and so did the booth owner and Jade magically appeared to witness the moment. They abruptly ended the kiss, both were flustered, and neither could look at each other’s red faces. Hyo Jong happily got the Polaroid of their first kiss and even Jade tried to peek. The good thing is, no one can see him.

 

On their way home, Hyo Jong fell asleep. Ji hyo and Jong kook were absorbed in their own thoughts, thinking about the little incident.

Is he really my husband? Why is it so strange… I should be angry, or disgusted at him… but why…

 

I k-kissed her… I-I… But she is your wife! It’s not wrong… but still…

 

_________________________

 

 

Jong kook looked outside, it was raining hard and suddenly there was a persistent thunderstorm. Good thing they reached home before it poured like mad. “Appa!” Hyo Jong shrieked in fear as she ran to Jong kook. "I am scared", there was a loud one and Jong kook noticed Ji hyo flinching. She caught him looking at her and she pretended not to be scared.

 

“Hyo Jong let’s go to bed now”, said Ji hyo as she put down the book she was reading. There was another loud one and the house itself shook from the force. Ji hyo let out a small yelp and Hyo Jong laughed. “Appa, me and omma really, really hate thunderstorms. Can we all sleep together? Before I slept in omma’s room but she is even more scared than I am.”

“Hyo Jong what nonsense are you saying? Jong kook just put her in bed now.”

“I don’t mind… it’s family day today so let’s all go to sleep. I can’t let my poor baby get scared of thunder.” Crap what did I just say? But it was too late to take it back now, he just asked Ji hyo to sleep with them. He berated himself silently, idiot, Hyo Jong is there… it’s not as if you two will really sleep together. “Omma, please, please? Let’s just sleep at appa’s room” there was another boom and Hyo Jong clutched her father’s neck.

“Ji hyo, let’s go to sleep before this angel strangles me to death.”

 

Therefore, they all end up in one bed, with Hyo Jong in the middle of course. Jong kook held her, patted her back and soon she was sound asleep. Jong kook can see Ji hyo’s outline and he knows she was quite scared, judging from how tight she is clutching her blanket. She turned around and Jong kook closed his eyes pretending to be asleep.

 

“Yah, Jong kook I know you are still awake…” Jong kook opened his eyes, and looked at her. The lightning illuminated her face and they stared at each other for a long time. “Thank you for making our daughter happy… actually I was happy too. I felt, you and Hyo Jong, both of you laughing like that, it was really precious to me, but I am scared. I can’t push away these thoughts that it was just a show, that one day I’ll end up regretting again.”

“I’m sorry… if it’s too hard to trust me. Why don't we try being friends…” That’s right, it’s the only thing we can do. Let’s be friends, it’ll make everything less complicated and easier… than pretend to be lovers without love…

“If I trust you again you won’t betray me? I can’t take it anymore if you hurt me again…” Jong kook lifted up one arm from Hyo Jong and touched Ji hyo’s hand in darkness, he gave it a slight squeeze and nodded. “Neh, trust me… J-Ji hyo-yah…”

“Ji hyo-yah… it’s been a long time since you called me that…”

 

_________________________

 

 

It was morning already and the storm had abated. Jong kook can feel Hyo Jong still snuggling at his chest. He didn’t immediately open his eyes and he buried his face to his daughter’s hair, smelling her sweet scent. Then someone came in the room and tapped his shoulder.

 

 

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after all the angst I did I hope my fluff wasn't a failure... ^^