05 | Popularity

 

 

[Amusement Park]

 

 

"Look at me - look at me... I'm a butterfly~" Yoona sighed, didn't continued her song. A rhyme song she used to sing when she was still this little. And apparently,she's finally on her comfortable clothes and she was wearing her light make-up. She was outside the men comfort room, waiting for any moment the young boy will go out wearing on his new pants already. Thankfully and there was a nearby shop selling kids' apparel, she has no stress at all. Only the naughtiness of the kid. 

 

As much as she wanted to go inside and help Daniel put on his pants, that little evil won't let her, because the latter said he's a big boy already.

 

Taking a glance to her wrist watch, She continued the rhyme song. "I fly, I fly, Like a butterfly. Look at me... look at me, I'm a little fish. I swim I swim, Like a jelly fish... " She once again paused and looked back to the entrance door, but only to turn away right away when a guy exited and saw her staring. She sighed in relief when he only ignores. "Look at me, look at me... I'm a little monkey. I climb I climb, like a little monkey." She giggles out of her silliness. She was about to continue when a sudden touch on her legs made her jumped in surprise. "For Pete's sake -What did you do again?" She exclaimed, holding her chest. 

 

Daniel chuckles. "Ahjussi so scared."

 

"Why wouldn't I?" Yoona hissed and breathed out. "Don't ya dare do it again!"

 

Instead of minding the doe-eyed girl's statement, Daniel showed the wet pants. "What are we going to do with this?" 

 

Yoona's attention averted to the pants Daniel is holding in two fingers only. She smiled at the cute sight. "Let's just keep this." She took it and put it inside the paper bag she was holding. 

 

"I'm still hungry Ahjussi. Are you still going to treat me?" Daniel ask again, pouting. He embraces the airplane on his chest. 

 

"I told you I'm your Daddy now. I'm going to treat you." Yoona friendly smiled, offering her hand. But the latter refuses to hold her. "I'm not harm Danny, Take my hand." Or in other words, she wants to assure Daniel will not runaway anymore.

 

"I won't runaway now. Don't worry." Daniel smiled, reassuringly.

 

Yoona scoffed, as if the little boy reads her mind. "You are really something. I'm going then. Follow me okay? Otherwise, I'm going home on my own." She started to lead him.

 

"Let's find Aunt Sunny later then. So I can go home too." Daniel had a quick reply, walking next to the doe-eyed. "My teddy bear. You should give that back before anything else." He added, realizing that the use to be clown in his eyes is carrying his big bear.

 

"That's not a problem Danny." Yoona can only say, busy looking around. It's already around four in the afternoon, She can still see a lot of people around.

 

Daniel didn't say anything at all. His eyes is focusing on his teddy bear, afraid that he will lose it from her. 

 

Not long ago, they arrived. Daniel quickly skipped to the nearest empty table which was next to the glass wall. Yoona just casually took her seat across him, staring deeply into her eyes. He smiled and pointed to his stomach, mouthing 'Hungry' towards her.

 

"Let's have pre-dinner instead. I'm really damn hungry after all the the runs and jumps I did to find you." Yoona said, not minding any response. She took the menu of the restaurant and began browsing. Daniel also reached for the 2nd menu and can only read few of the words on it. "I know you can't read - just don't pretend." She said softly, didn't mind of having a glance.

 

Daniel put the menu down and put his chin on top of his palms. He wasn't exactly sitting comfortably. He was kneeling on his seat, so he can have a good view of the ahjussi. 

 

"Do you want some tacos too?"

 

"Tacos?" His eyebrows raised innocently. "We can eat that?"

 

"Yep. Okay, we'll order some tacos." Yoona said. "And some pasta. Two orders of pasta..."

 

"How about sandwich, Ahjussi?" Daniel smiled, excited to taste a different taste of sandwich. "Ice cream, I want to eat ice cream as well." his eyes sparkled in interest.

 

Yoona averted her eyes to the kid finally. "What kind of sandwiches? They have a lot of it here. And for Ice cream, I'll love to eat it after the dinner."

 

"As long as its tasty, I wouldn't mind."

 

"Chincha? You trust me on this?"

 

"You will eat too - I will allow you to taste it before I will do." Daniel stuck his tongue out, mimicking the doe-eyed. 

 

"You're seriously something." Yoona chuckles softly.

 

Daniel cups his cheeks. "Daniel is cute?" and let his eyes formed like a crescent moon, earning a loud sigh from the other. He got tired of kneeling, and so he comfortably took his seat, reaching for his airplane to play for the wheels. "Ahjussi, healthy sandwich."

 

"I know. Let's order some fries too."

 

"Potato fries?"

 

"Definitely."

 

"I love it too. Omma cooks for that at home." Daniel once again got proudly sharing about her mother. "She always cooks that at home because it's more than healthy for her."

 

Yoona put the menu down, amused at the mention of mom again. "Omma -- you really love your Omma, No?"

 

"You don't have to ask. Omma is my life." Daniel flashes a gentle smile.

 

"Wow. Later, you tell me about her while telling yourself as well. Is that Okay?"

 

"As long as there's food and Daniel will be full, why not, ahjussi?" Daniel giggles, earning Yoona's smile as well. 

 

"Alright, alright... let's order now." Yoona raised her hand to capture the waiter's attention. There wasn't a minute after and she had send the waiter away - holding their orders. All of it are two orders. "You like airplanes?" while waiting, she strikes a conversation to keep her and him company.

 

Daniel looked up to meet Yoona's curious eyes. "This?"

 

"Obviously~"

 

"Yes. I like airplanes!"

 

"I know a movie called planes." Yoona was reminded by the last animated film she watched with a friend.

 

"That's why I like this. I've watched that movie, Ahjussi."

 

Yoona's lips formed 'o', didn't expect him to answer that way. However, she find it cute. "That's good. Did you watch it with your Omma?" she reached for the glass of water on the side and have some few gulps of it.

 

"Of course... we watch it." Daniel looked back to his plane and continue to play with the two wheels behind of it. "We watch it with Aunt Sunny and her girlfriend, and Soyou Noona."

 

"Aunt Sunny? you mentioned her earlier. Is she here as well?"

 

By the mention of his Aunt, Daniel turned outside. "Yes, earlier. I don't know where she is now... but that Noona who keeps on helping me to ride the rides said, Aunt Sunny is just around - watching me. She'll be going back later. I wonder where did she go? I want to go home with her. I miss being home already." He realized after all the fun, being at home was more than comfortable to stay. 

 

For a moment there, Yoona was speechless. She didn't expect to see him like that. Feels like she was with a mature kid, she was definitely impressed. He was naughty, yet, has the soft side as well. Yoona thought of not giving up anyhow. A kid will always be a kid, but at the end of the day, they're a home lover. Or is it just him? Yoona couldn't tell. But she realized something about this kid.

 

"Ahjussi, can we ride that after this? I want to ride that before leaving." Daniel suddenly become excited, pointing to a particular ride they can see outside.

 

Yoona followed his hand, only to frown. "Drop ride? Yah! Kids are not allowed for that ride!" which causes her to scold him.

 

"But I want to ride." Daniel whined.

 

"That's dangerous for you, you should know that."

 

"That's the only ride I haven't ride, Ahjussi."

 

"Let's ride that, instead." Yoona pointed another one on the other side.

 

Daniel pouted. "Ferris wheel is boring."

 

"What? Boring?" Yoona's turn to exclaim, couldn't believe how brave is this kid.

 

"That's not challenging at all, Ahjussi."

 

Yoona scoffed. "WoW! Seriously?"

 

"Fine. Ferris wheel." Daniel snobs, doesn't mind of adding more words. He should have ride Drop if his Omma is around. Too bad, she's not.

 

Yoona's nerves needs to calm down again. She took the kid's silence to breath in and out, while she also remind herself she's still a kid who doesn't know what he's talking a bout. After a while, she finally had calm her nerves, and was able to smile back to the latter. But to her dismay, she can only rolled her eyes out of annoyance.

 

"Ahju-"

 

"The dinner is here." Yoona intentionally interrupted, before her nerves will go out of hand again. She helped the waiter to put the plates down before going back to her seat again. She smiled so big when she saw how Daniel's eyes sparkled in amazement. "You like to eat already?"

 

"Yes, Yes." Daniel nodded his head vigorously, his lips momentarily.

 

"Wait, come here. I'll put some... " Yoona took this cue and put the napkin under the kid's chin. The latter took the chopsticks and cheekily shows it to her, as if asking her permission. "Go ahead. Help yourself." said her, in confirmation. Then, she does for herself. Like an instant, were so big as she first tasted the pasta.

 

Daniel was almost as the same.

 

And since both were so hungry, the table fell into a complete silence. Thus, Yoona hasn't notice how Daniel eats - everything is so messy in his table.

 

 

 

 

[Jeju Island]

 

 

It wasn't that a long flight, but Yul felt a bit off. The moment he arrived in the hotel, he ignored Suzy's calls and went directly to his booked room. He flopped in the bed with a bounce, and flipped over to stare in daze to the ceiling. A sigh was heard from him - he fished out his phone and browse his contacts. He stopped at Yoona's number, he almost want to call her if he didn't change his mind. Rather, calling for a dinner in bed. Then he went out to the balcony, having his glass of wine, while staring into the black ocean ahead his balcony.

 

He didn't mind the knocks from Suzy at all, as he continue to drink the wine without stopping. Until his last drop of it, he finally went back to the room, in time his dinner arrived. And before he could complain, Suzy entered the room, staring at him with fire on his eyes. He loved it when he get her mad. 

 

"Wanna join me?" So he didn't mind at all and offer her for a dinner. "Or you want to join your family outside? I wouldn't mind." He chuckled, taking the edge of his bed, still smiling. To annoy the girl.

 

"Just go out after that." Suzy left without waiting for any response.

 

Yul bit his bottom lip and stared down to his meal. "Right. I need to have more energy later. It's going to be a busy night." as he reminds himself about a business deal he needed to step into. 

 

Reaching for his fork, he began digging into his pasta... alone - yet he loved it. Something that he had use to ever since he choose his life like this. But on the other side of his brain, once the business deal is settled, he knows what will be his 2nd deal - Yoona and her career. And absolutely, to hang out more with her. That would be his 2nd priority despite being a business man at such a young age.

 

After a while, he went out his room dressed in his black suit ready for the night to be filled with talks here and there. As he entered the elevator, he was about to press the first floor when a sudden call from outside made him change his mind.

 

"Hold on!" 

 

But to his smiling face, the said person is a little boy running all the way to the elevator. 

 

"Anyeong, Hyung. Can I ask you to press the 9 number?" Ask the little boy, who was in his pajama already, clutching into his car toy.

 

"Oh, are you going to that floor?" Yul ask so friendly. Suddenly liking the fact that a little one is joining him in the elevator. He didn't mind and pressed 9 before he presses his own floor. "Are you with your parents?"

 

"I'm with my Appa Only." The boy answered.

 

Yul smiled. "That's good. How old are you?" he felt a little curious somehow.

 

"I'm five, Hyung."

 

"I see." Yul has a nodding of head, as he suddenly reminded by his child and Seohyun. My son or daughter was probably around his age or not?

 

"How 'bout you, Hyung? Are you alone or you're with your Appa, too?" The innocent boy asked back.

 

The question made Yul rub his knuckles. "Appa is not around. I mean, he's in Seoul. I'm here for some business."

 

"I see... " The boy flashed him a smile, before shutting his mouth.

 

Yul can't help it and glances to the quiet little boy from time to time. Reminding himself again that he refuse to stand on Seohyun's side. That nightmare just keeps on going back no matter how much he doesn't want to think about it. And for instance, missing Seohyun is always been giving him a pain in his heart. "We're here." He said, almost like a in a whisper.

 

The little boy bowed and said his thanks before running away. Yul was watching -- feeling his heart watching his own son. Then, a sudden image of Seohyun crying emerge, he quickly shook his head and closes the door again before he could think of cursing his self.

 

A few moments later, he finally meet with Suzy and his family. In which, he talk so professionally towards them.

 

 

 

 

[Amusement Park - Restaurant]

 

 

"Oh God. I almost forgot this part." Yoona mentally slapped his face for forgetting that kids are messy when they eat. Apparently, Daniel was enjoying her pasta, but with all the sauce and cream... on his face and hands. The napkin she put under him didn't help at all, watching him enjoying every bit of his food.  Not to mention, his shirt was already dirty with all of these.

 

When the latter looked at her, she almost want to grab him and knock his head, if he didn't smiled so cutely again to her. "Dang, this is definitely stressful." sighed her, just allowing the kid eat on her own. Later, she will definitely put him to the sink and drown him. "Hehehe... " and that evil thought seemed so good. Yet, snapping back to reality, it  vanished when he saw him suddenly moves his hips left and right, while cutely on his hand and to his spoon. "Gosh, why I can't do some evil things to this kid?!" seriously hating the fact the kid is cute despite being so evil, Yoona can no longer see a reason to kick the kid's . Rather, patience. She needs that now. After the pee then, this? What's next? He'll poo? Everything is surely not in her side. Sigh

 

After so many times of deliberating, she find herself scooping on her own ice cream from to time. And as much as she wanted to complain, it's time for her to see how Danny eats an ice cream. Yes, it's the worst of all worst. Costumers are now looking into their table from to time, which made her covered her face - just letting the latter enjoy again his ice cream. Later, she will fix him -- which she has nothing to do.

 

30 minutes later, Daniel was finished. "I'm sooooo full!!! Thank you, Ahjussi!!!" He exclaimed, happily. Feeling that had gain his energy back. A tap on his shirt, with his dirty hands, he giggles. "Daniel's stomach so big... hehehe... "

 

Yoona took this a chance and ask the young boy to come with her in the comfort room. "Um, Danny... come with me. Let's go wipe your face and your hands."

 

"Hehe, Sorry. Daniel eat like this."

 

"It's Okay. Come." Yoona got up and signal him to follow her, instead of taking her dirty hand. Getting off the seat, Daniel obediently followed until they stopped in front of the lady's room.

 

"W-Wait... Daniel should go to men's room." He stopped her from going any further.

 

"It's Okay, Danny. You're a kid. It's an exemption." Yoona said, finding it cute to hear it from the little boy.

 

"Are you sure?"

 

"Look, he even come with his mother." Yoona pointed to a boy who passes at them. 

 

Daniel was a bit convinced. He complied. Yet, he stopped again. "You cover my eyes okay?"only to innocently ask the latter.

 

"Wow. And why would I?" Yoona chuckled, amusingly.

 

"Omma said Daniel is gentleman." Daniel simply said, reminding his mother's words again. "I shouldn't be peeking into girls - especially in comfort rooms."

 

"You. How many things do you remember that your mother has said?" Yoona can't help it and be amazed. The kid has been bringing his mother's words to her, she was literally getting interested to her mother -- knowing that she was able to put that in his mind.

 

"Millions?" Daniel giggles.

 

"Hmm, not bad smart boy. But no, it will really be okay. Come." Yoona proceeds, but only to be hold by Daniel on her legs. Then when she looked down, she frowned to see his eyes are close. "What are you doing?" however, she also realized her pants was already dirty through his hands.

 

"Are we going or not?" Daniel asked softly, not opening his eyes. He was wrapping his arms around the girl's legs.

 

Yoona was so eager to knock on the kid's head again. Yet, she always find herself defeated. So she shrugs and just continue their way to the comfort room. This time, dragging Daniel in her legs. 

 

She put Daniel to the counter, but not to get him drown to the water from the faucet, but to wipe his face and yes, she lifted his shirt up, taking off from him.

 

"You know what? We need to buy a shirt again because you wipe on this."

 

"You'll buy me again, Ahjussi?" Daniel snickered, once again got excited to choose a shirt in a shop.

 

"No! Aish! Such a kiddo." Yoona sighed, as she then clean the latter's hands through the water flowing in the faucet.

 

When Daniel saw a girl exited a particular cubicle, he quickly closes his eyes tight, while Yoona was busy cleaning his entire arms. He only opened his eyes when he felt like no one is in the aisle. Sighing in relief, he returned his gazes to his hands, under the faucet, and feeling the water flowing all over. He startled when he felt the girl's hand clean his cheeks this time. 

 

"Danny not handsome anymore, noh?" He once again giggles.

 

"Tch, you're not really handsome at all." Yoona answered, as she keep her work in vice versa; water then to Daniel's face.

 

"Liar. Omma always said Daniel is handsome."

 

"No? Then your Omma is the one was lying." 

 

"I don't believe you - I believe in my Omma's words."

 

"I don't believe your Omma's words."

 

"YAH! OMMA IS NOT LYING!"

 

Yoona stopped half-way - taken aback by the sudden shout. And before she knows it, she was receiving his cute glare. "Hehe, of course she doesn't." which she quickly take her words back.

 

"Say it again."

 

Yoona sighed. "Your Omma is not a liar. In fact, she is right for telling you - you are handsome."

 

"You should believe in that as well."

 

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!!"

 

Daniel automatically shared his death glare again, Yoona helplessly take her words back.

 

"Okay, Daddy will believe in Danny's Omma's words too."

 

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