There was once a lonely ten year old boy named Minwoo. He had an older brother whom his appa loved very much. Even though his brother: Nichkhun, left them to start his own life, his appa still loved him very much, but his appa whose name is Donghyun was also very sad. So to fill the void that big brother Nichkhun left, Donghyun swamped himself with work. Almost everyday he comes home late. He was barely home, leaving Minwoo all alone with his stuff teddy bear whom he grew to love.

One day Minwoo asked if Donghyun would spend some time with him. Donghyun said "I can't I have work." Minwoo felt rejected and hurt that his appa would choose work over him, but it's for his good and he understands that appa needs to work to keep them alive. Still Minwoo being the little boy he was couldn't help but let a tear drop escape he tried to cover it up with his beloved toy. But it didn't really matter because Donghyun didn't even spare the boy a glance. Minwoo reminded Donghyun too much of his brother Nichkhun. They looked so alike that it hurts. Donghyun grabbed his stuff and shut the door once again leaving the poor little boy alone with his beloved teddy bear.

The next day Minwoo asked his appa how much he earns in a day. Donghyun told the little boy he earned $2000 dollars a day and again took off for work, leaving Minwoo  alone with his beloved teddy once more.

Days turned to weeks and weeks turned to months. The same thing always happens, Donghyun would go to work until late and come home to the quiet house with food waiting for him on the kitchen table. Then one day before he left for work he couldn't help but feel like he had forgotten something. He shrugged it off made his way to the door but his hands were held back by tiny warm ones and he turned around to see Minwoo with a hopeful look on his face. It's been so long since he had looked at Minwoo that he almost forgot how beautiful his youngest son's eyes were. They were as dark as the night sky but it still held some light to it like how stars would brighten the dark and lonely sky. Though he wasn't sure if Minwoo normally had the slight red tint to his face.

Tiny warm hands held large cold ones not wanting to let got just yet. Minwoo, with a hopeful smile asked his appa. "Can I have four hundred dollars?"

Donghyun was shocked at this and yelled at Minwoo. "Why the bloody hell would you need that kind of money!" he pulled his hand away from Minwoo and slammed the door. He was so angry he did not see the fountain tears the flowed freely down his young son's face as Minwoo's hold on his beloved bear tightened. All he was thinking was how selfish he was nowadays.

Throughout the day Donghyun couldn't help but think that he had forgotten something. He looked at the calendar and saw what day it was, it was July 30th. He searched through his head trying to remember what he had forgotten. He knows it was Nichkhun's birthday on June the 24th, it was something he wished he could forget but he couldn't. He just shrugged it off again, and then he thought about how his youngest son Minwoo had asked him for money. Maybe the boy really needed it for something. It's not like the boy had asked for anything else. When he looks at Minwoo (which was rarely),it was only to check if he was ok. He seemed very satisfied with his books and with the old teddy bear he had given him when he was 7. Now that he thought about it the boy really did love that bear so much he took it everywhere he went!

Then it hit Donghyun like a bag of bricks, a really heavy bag of bricks. He hadn't gotten the boy anything much less talk to the boy since his eldest son left. He decided that he would get back home early today and give Minwoo the money. But when he got home no one was there. It was 5:00 pm. Minwoo should've been home by now. He sat in the living room couch and waited, thinking he had been gone for so long that he forgot to discipline Minwoo about coming home late. The boy was gonna get an earful when he gets home. He was starting to be like his older brother, always staying out late and worrying Donghyun.

When Minwoo got home he was surprised to see the lights on in his house. It must've been his appa. He was overjoyed that appa was finally home early! When he went in the house he excitedly searched for him. When he found his appa sitting in the living room he ran to him for a hug. 'Maybe he remembered what day tomorrow was!' Minwoo thought happily. But all those thoughts vanished as looked at his appa's angry face.

"Where have you been young man!" he asked in a barely controlled angry voice.

"I was-" Minwoo was cut off as Donghyun continued about how irresponsible Minwoo was and about how he was starting to become like his brother. Minwoo was starting to thinking that maybe if he was more like his brother Donghyun would spend more time with him. He erased the thought; he had his own way to get Donghyun to spend time with him. He had worked so hard and gave up too much to back down now!

Donghyun looked at his son's face. Tears were following down from being scolded but his eyes held a desperate yet determined look on them. Minwoo told Donghyun to wait there in the living room as he ran to his room.

Donghyun sat on the sofa thinking how weird his son was. He was surprised when Minwoo burst into the room with a pile of cash while trying to get more money out of his pocket. The elder man was about to question Minwoo on how he got that much money but the young boy spoke before he could.

"Now I have $2000 dollars would appa be mine for a whole day tomorrow?" he asked with that same hopefulness on his face when he had asked Arthur for some money in the morning.

"I-I wha- how-" Donghyun was speechless. Was this why Minwoo was asking him for money this morning? The smile on Minwoo's face started to fade and looked down to his feet. Maybe this was a bad idea, he thought, maybe I'll be scolded again as his appa wouldn't respond.

His head snapped up as he his appa's foot steps get closer to him. Donghyun crouched down.

"Now Minwoo I want you to be honest with me ok, how did you get $2000?" asked Donghyun shakily with tears starting to fall off his face, thinking that maybe his son had stolen the money just to be with him. He didn't want to show his face to his son. He felt so ashamed he couldn't look him to the face.

Minwoo looked at Donghyun confused as to why his appa would ask such a question when he already knew the answer, but he answered anyways. He was also starting to feel a little light headed and why was it so cold all of the sudden....?

"I did what you do silly; I worked! I did yard work for the neighbours for the past months but I was still short but I got the money anyways"

"Tell me son how did you get the rest of the money?" he was still afraid that Minwoo might have done something he shouldn't have.

"I-I went around all day selling my books but it still wasn't enough but our neighbour Mr. Lee guy said he would buy my bear and it was just what I needed s-so I- sold Haru-" he was suddenly pulled into a tight hug; something he had longed for, for a long time. But the moment was short lived as he heard he appa start to cry. Thinking that he had done something wrong, he started to cry and chant the words I'm sorry.

Donghyun pulled away from him but held onto his shoulders.

"Why are you saying sorry son? I'm the one that's suppose to do that!" he looked at his son's crying face. How could he say that he looked like his elder brother when he looked so different. He hugged his son again thinking that he was such a horrible father for leaving his precious son all alone, making him feel like he had to buy his attention and making him sell his beloved toy.

"I'm sorry son. I'm sorry" Donghyun continued to sob until Minwoo grabbed his cheek with his little warm hands and said.

"Appa please don't cry. I love you so please don't cry."

"I-I…" Minwoo covered Donghyun's mouth with his tiny hands.

"Appa it's ok! Please just tell me you'll spend the day with me tomorrow!" the boy said happily.

"O-ok son" he said as wiped the tears off his face and patted Minwoo on the head. It was warm…

He touched Minwoo's face but pulled away quickly.

"Minwoo you're burning hot!"

"Hmmm?" Minwoo tilted his head. He didn't feel hot at all! In fact he was really cold and sleepy.

"That's nice appa but can i go sleep now? I'm feeling really sleepy....and...." Everything turned black.

_________________________________

Minwoo slowly and dazedly opened his eyes to see the worried gaze of his appa. Sad brown eyes that threatened to spill tears at any moment. He was lying down on his own bed with Donghyun sitting by his side.

"Appa?" asked the small boy. "Why are you crying?" the boy tried to sit up to comfort his appa but he was gently pushed back down by the loving hands he had longed for.

"Well…*sniff* Minwoo, appa has been a bad parent." Said Donghyun with barely contained tears.

"NO! Appa isn't a bad parent! He works real hard to keep us alive!" the boy said defending his father.

"Oh Minwoo you're such a sweet child." Then Donghyun lifted the boy from the bed to give him a loving hug that he certainly deserved.

"Appa is so warm...." Said the boy drowsily, snuggling deeper into his father's hug. Donghyun held him tighter as if he'll lose him.

"Can appa sleep beside you tonight?" Donghyun asked his son. The boy suddenly brightened up, furiously nodding his head, not wanting to miss a chance to spend with his appa. Minwoo was placed back onto his bed as a sick child and shifted to make room for his appa. He patted the space and smiled up at Donghyun.

Donghyun walked over to his son with a smile on his face. When he had laid on the bed he pulled Minwoo into a hug. The boy let out a content sigh and closed his eyes. Donghyun treaded his fingers through Minwoo's hair. Now that he thought about it Minwoo's hair was not like Nichkhun's hair. In fact it reminded him of him. Donghyun pushed the thought away. That was a long time ago he didn't want to dwell in the past anymore. Dwelling in it means he'd hurt the one precious person in his life and he didn't want to hurt him anymore. So he decided that he would try to forget Nichkhun just like that cheating that broke his heart long ago.

He was happy though, if he hadn't broken up with that freak woman he would have still been forced to work just to please her. She was never there for Donghyun when he needed it the most, she made him unhappy and even when she was gone he could still feel it. Even though Nichkhun was gone, Donghyun was sure he was happy and what else can a parent ask for but for their childrens' happiness. He would try his best; he would try his best to make Minwoo happy. He knows what it feels like to be left behind all alone, by yourself wondering what you've done to be left behind. He knows how much it hurts, and he'd be damn if he let his son suffer any longer. He knows it's his fault but there's no changing the past so he would thrive for a better future for both him and Minwoo.

Donghyun looked at his son sleeping happily with a content smile on his face. Yes he would change for the sake of the one person that still loves him and for his own sake as well.

He looked around Minwoo's room. He saw an empty book shelf that once was filled with books about adventures and happy endings. He should know; he used to read to Minwoo. Then he saw a calendar right beside it. It had some scribbles on it. He got off the bed to see what was written but he stop when he felt something had caught his shirt.

He looked back to his sleeping son hanging onto his shirt with a sad look on his face. He places a gentle kiss on Minwoo's forehead and gently pried off his hand from his shirt. He smiled as Minwoo searched for the source of warmth that vanished but settled down after a little while with a whimper. Donghyun smiled sadly at this but he would get back right after he had checked the calendar.

Most of the scribbles on the calendar were dates on which Minwoo would do yard work. Donghyun winced as he saw just how many days there were. Then he looked at the date today. It had a giant circle on it. July 30th. Starting of the autumn season. That was great. Then he would be able to spend a lot of time with Minwoo. He would take time off work; after all he had worked his off for the past several months.

He was about to tear off the July page when he remembered there was another day and look at the box next to the 30th. What he saw next broke his heart.

July 31st: MY BIRTHDAY!

Donghyun felt his heart clench. He was a horrible parent; he won't deny it until now he had no idea it was Minwoo's birthday, TOMORROW! After wallowing in self pity he racked trough his brain for ideas on what he will do tomorrow. He grabbed the red marker on Minwoo's table and started to write. Tonight he would do something he had never done before. He looked at the clock. It was twelve am. He sighed. He had a lot of work to do.

Minwoo woke to the bright sun shinning on his face. He looked at the empty space beside him and felt his heart plummet. 'I-I guess appa really had to go to work...' the boy thought. He felt the tears that were treating to fall. He wiped them away and decided that he would just go back to sleep. He was about to hide beneath the covers when he heard a knock and his door.

"Minwoo are you awake?" the familiar voice behind the door asked. He rushed to the door and opened it to see Donghyun smiling at him but the smile soon faded as he saw tears flowing down his son's face. He was about to ask why the boy was crying but he was suddenly tackled to the ground by the sobbing boy.

"Y-you *sob* you're here! I-I thought you left me again! You can't go no! Your mine for today you can't go! *sob*" The boy said rapidly while crying desperately clinging on to his father. Donghyun patted the boy's head and waited for the boy to clam down. The elder almost started crying too as to how desperate Minwoo's demand sounded. Once Minwoo had calmed down and only hiccups could be heard, Donghyun sat up and pulled Minwoo to a hug. He ignored the pain at the back of his head.

"Of course I'm here! Why wouldn't I be!" he said with a happy tone trying to cheer up his son. Minwoo looked up at him with puffy eyes still hiccupping. Donghyun lightly tapped Minwoo's nose and smile at him.

"It's your birthday isn't?" Minwoo's eyes widened. He remembered!

"Appa has to admit though, I forgot. I'm sorry son." Donghyun said sheepishly trying and failing horribly at holding back his tears. Minwoo wiped the tears off his face.

"Appa please don't cry! It's suppose to be happy birthday not sorry!" Minwoo exclaimed. Donghyun chuckled and held Minwoo's hands that were holding his face.

"Yeah you right. Happy birthday son!" Donghyun stood up carrying Minwoo with him.

"Now appa has something to show you, so cover your eyes." Minwoo did so but covered his eyes with wide open fingers.

"Now son don't be silly." Minwoo pouted but covered his eyes properly. Donghyun chuckled happily. He carried Minwoo in front of his calendar and told him he could look now. What Minwoo saw made his heart leapt in joy. Several days were marked, saying 'Time with Appa'  He was about to say something but then his head sagged down. Donghyun looked at his son. Why was he sad? Minwoo looked at him with a once again crying face.

"I don't enough money to give appa for all those days!" he wailed. Donghyun looked at his son, shocked. He put down his son on the floor, but Minwoo took this as an indication that Donghyun was going to leave. His head shot up and he was about to yell don't go when he saw a sad smile on his appa's' face. Donghyun crouched down to face his son.

"Minwoo, you don't have to buy my attention. I'm sorry appa hasn't been spending as much time as I should with you. All those days are free."

Minwoo looked up at Donghyun with surprised but happy face and leapt up into his arms, hugging him tightly, thanking him over and over.

"Now, there's one more thing I want to show you."

Donghyun carried Minwoo to the living room, and there placed on the table, was a cake beautifully iced and decorated, with the words "Happy Birthday Minwoo" neatly written on top. Minwoo's eyes widened when he saw the white fluffy figure beside the cake.

"Haru!" He exclaimed, picking up the stuffed teddy and holding it ever so closely, tears almost spilling from happiness. Donghyun watched his son with a smile on his face. He had called Mr. Lee and paid double the price Minwoo has sold it for just to get it back.

"Thank you Appa!" Minwoo threw his arms around Donghyun and hugged him tightly, not wanting to let go. The elder returned the hug, finally feeling happy and blessed with his only family.

" I love you Appa!"

"I love you Minwoo ah..."