Of all times for his wife to disappear, it had to be now, at the most critical moment. Daehyun was stuck in the middle of a busy restaurant, holding his baby daughter in his arms and swerving this way and that to avoid the waiters and their carts from bumping into them. Jaylie had begun to whimper. The tiny noises, audible only to Daehyun at first, soon became loud gasping sobs. Customers began to turn their heads.

            He thought quickly. His wife had gone downstairs to fetch the guests who were late to his daughter’s first birthday, he thought savagely, and left him alone. He transferred the baby to his shoulder and patted her back, trying to soothe her. It was in vain. He sung to her, hoping she could hear his lullaby through the din. She couldn’t, or chose to ignore it.

            It was when he pulled her away that he smelled the very typical dirty diaper smell and his heart dropped. “Hold on, baby. Mommy should be back in a few minutes.” Just as he said this, his phone beeped with a text. Sweetheart, your mother is lost. I’m going to hop into a cab and get her. Take care of Jaylie.

            “Just kidding.” Daehyun swallowed and put on his best shameless face. No. That made him look too cavalier, too mean. They would kick him out in a millisecond. He tried to go for contrite. Too meek. They would sense blood and gang up on him. So when Daehyun finally reached the door of the women’s bathroom, he settled upon apologetic, and just plain awkward, and desperate.

            There were at least three women waiting on line and they looked up in alarm to see a man walk in. Daehyun kept his head down and mumbled apologies as he made his way to the baby changing station. He kept one hand on Jaylie’s back, holding her close to his chest. From the corner of his eye, he could see them still staring at him curiously.

            “Can you do it?” An older woman stepped forward and watched as he fumbled with the clasps on the baby bag. He had placed Jaylie down already and she was squirming in discomfort.

            “Ah, yes,” he replied. “I do this all the time at home.”

            “Aigoo,” another lady came out and slapped his arm. “Young men these days. What I had to do to get my husband to help me back in the day.”

            All the scrutiny was making Daehyun nervous. His hands trembled. He could feel the bead of sweat trickling down his neck. All this attention was making him feel exposed. He hovered protectively over Jaylie as he grabbed the baby wipes to clean her. Breathe, Daehyun. You’ve done this a million times. You can do this.

            He ignored the stares and finished changing her. After he cleaned up the mess and was washing his hands by the sink, the same older lady came up to him and beamed. She had stayed the entire time and Daehyun felt strangely uncomfortable.

            “How old are you, darling?”

            “T-twenty-six,” he stammered.

            “Happily married?” He reached for the ring that he had taken off when he was washing.

            “Yes.”

            She continued to gaze at him with a slightly star-struck glaze. “She’s very lucky.”

            Daehyun bowed and replaced his baby on his chest. “I’m lucky to have her. Have a good day.” He bowed again and could not walk faster to the door.

            When he stepped out, he saw his mother and wife staring at him in slight shock and horror. “Dae! That’s where you’ve been.”

            He let slip a tiny pout. “You left me all alone for so long.”

            His wife ignored his complaint and reached out her arm for the baby. “Come, let’s get the birthday girl to her rightful spot. The choosing ceremony is about to start.”

            He followed his wife and mother to the large table where the guests were now seated. At the end of the long table was a row of items. He took his place at the head of the table and watched as Jaylie’s grandfather lift her onto the wooden surface. The baby girl looked at the people surrounding her and frowned.

            “It’s okay baby, just come towards mama, and then look at the toys and choose one,” his wife coaxed the baby forward.

            Jaylie placed one hand in front of the other as she inched her way to the front. Even though she had already taken her first steps, her favorite modes of transportation at the moment were still Daddy and on four limbs. The baby reached the item and stared at it. In front of her were a book, an envelope filled with money, an artist’s brush, a mirror, a microphone (Daehyun insisted), thread, and a strawberry.

            Everyone held their breath as they watched her hand reach out towards the microphone. “Yes, yes,” Daehyun breathed. They should at least get one idol in the family. But then her hand wavered and she reached the other hand towards the money. The elders laughed. Once again, she put her hand down and looked up. Her large bright eyes scanned the crowd surrounding her, taking in their gestures as each person tried to entice her to choose an item of their choosing.

            Jaylie sat on her and cocked her head to the side. There was a serious expression on her face, as if she were really contemplating what to choose. Daehyun laughed. “She’s making fun of us. We’re taking this too seriously.”

            His wife shushed him and continued to clap her hands. “Come on, baby.”

            This seemed to work because Jaylie leaned forward and set off in motion again. This time, she marched right past the items until she found herself right in front of a certain someone. When Daehyun stared at her in slight confusion, she flung both her arms out and let out a tiny cry, demanding to be held.

            There was chuckling all around as his mother leaned in and patted his arm, “Seems like your daughter knows exactly what she wants.”

            Daehyun stared at the precious bundle in his arms. Jaylie had her eyes closed now. opened, letting out a small yawn, before she turned and snuggled her cheek deeper against the crook of his arm and chest. His heart clenched and he kissed her exposed cheek softly. His wife stood next to him, with her arms around his waist as she too beheld the beautiful moment.

            He coughed to clear the tears that were threatening to gather in his throat and eyes. “She doesn’t need anything else when I am here. I promise.”

This is for zeldae and myung7ho7namu

I know it's been forever but I also just got massive feels right now 

Also I always find myself writing more when I have finals and essays to write instead haha