The Bonds Between Us

Chapter 7

Hyerin's POV

The morning came and I had to push every problems aside for Daehan's special day. We promised to celebrate his birthday together in our apartment by inviting only our families and closed friends. After doing the chores, I went into his room to wake him up, so that we could go to the mall early.

"Happy birthday, Jeon Daehan." I said as soon as he opened his eyes. His dimple showed up as he smiled while rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"Where is Appa, Omma?" He immediately asked for his father who hasn't returned home yet.

"Appa is still busy. The party is in the evening, he will come on time."

"Jinjja? Appa is busy again?" His sad face made me sigh.

"Han-ah, you know Appa is working. So he is very busy. But don't worry, he will come and give you the best gift, arraseo?" I explained patting his head gently.

"Ne." He nodded hugging his dinosaur close to his chest.

"Now, go and take shower. We'll go to buy the things for the party."

"Yes." My prince saluted and ran into his closet. I let out a sigh and went to prepare breakfast for him.

"Omma, I will get a lot of gifts today, right?" Daehan asked when we were on the way to the mall.

"Of course."

"Yayyy. I wonder what Appa will give me." He said grinning widely.

"It will be the best, I guess." I told him and he nodded happily. I also hoped his father would make it for his son's birthday.

We finally arrived the mall and Daehan cutely skipped ahead.

"Omma, I want to ride the trolley!!! Come on, get me in!!!" He shouted excitedly and I quickly told him to quiet down as the people around turned to look at us.

"Palli, Palli!" He didn't stop easily.

"Arraseo, arraseo. Just keep quiet first." Well, that would be the only choice.

And as I was about to pick him up, there was someone picked him and put in the trolley first. I turned to look and found the annoying guy from last time again. He was smiling widely at me as I gave him a glare.

"Yayy, kaja, Omma, kaja!" Aish, this loud boy. I ignored the guy and pushed the trolley away. It became annoyed even more when he kept following us around while we were buying stuff here and there.

"Anneong, little boy." As I was choosing some fruit, he took the chance to talk to Daehan.

"Annyeonghaseyo, who are you, uncle?" Daehan politely asked back.

"Han-ah, you should not talk to strangers, you know." I warned and he pouted.

"I'm not a stranger. I'm your omma's friend."

"Me, your friend?"

"You shouldn't teach your son to have bad impressions about the other though. Look! I'm just trying to be friend, and you just need to accept my friendship."

"Shh." I stopped myself before I really scared my son who was looking at us back and forth innocently.

"Anyway, is it your birthday today?" He asked smiling at Daehan and I became worried. I was not that fool not to know that he was trying to hit on me though.

"Ne, it is my birthday." And my son was friendly as usual.

"Wah, happy birthday. By the way, what is your name? I'm Woohyun, Ahn Woohyun."

"I'm Jeon Daehan. Nice to meet you, Uncle." They continued to talk as I ignored them and bought the things on the list.

All the stuff were bought and we were ready to leave. Just before we left, that Woohyun guy ran to us with a box.

"This is your birthday gift, Happy birthday Daehan-ah." He said handing the box to him. Daehan blinked looking up at me. He was asking permission if he could accept it.

"You don't have to, Mr. Ahn." I said slowly.

"Ani, it's a small thing. Daehan is a good boy, I love him, not because I try to use it as a bait. Don't worry." He directly stated what I was thinking with a smile.

"Then...thank you. I hope you won't do it again because I don't wish to meet you again either. Han-ah, say thanks to Uncle." I said and Daehan accepted the gift and bowed for a thank you. He grinned ruffling Daehan's hair.

**********

Everything was done early by the helps of my friends, Haena Unnie and Jungkook's friends.

Everyone was there with us, except the most important person. Jungkook was still out and I was so lazy to call him.

"Where is Jungkook, Hyerin-ah? He should be here though." Junghoon oppa asked walking into the kitchen as I was preparing some fruits.

"I guess, he's still working." I said sadly.

"But it's Sunday, Rin-ah." My friends, Eunnie and Wonhee added.

"We may start without him then." I claimed and sighed.

"Shh, he's just..." Junghoon oppa gritted his teeth.

"Oppa, please." I calmed him down and he shook his head.

"Jungkookie is still out?" Namjoon and Taehyung oppa came in. And I shook my head.

"Aish, that brat!"

"Let's start without him now." I finally decided.

"But Daehan will feel sad." Taehyung oppa stated and everyone sighed. My eyes got teary thinking about him. Daehan fully hoped to see his father at least on his birthday which every years only a gift was sent to him.

My parent and Jungkook's mother asked again and again about him. They even asked to delay some times to wait and told me to call him but it didn't work since Jungkook didn't pick up his phone. So I could only text him that we celebrated it without him again.

And as expected, Daehan blown the candles with his teary eyes. He even refused to open the gifts from everyone and sat quietly in Haena unnie's arms.

Because the party was a failure, everyone left sadly. My parent could only say something praise to his grandson as Jungkook's mother did the same. Junghoon oppa kept say that he will teach his brother a lesson and Jungkook's friends threatened to do the same before they left.

"Isn't it too much, Rin-ah?" Wonhee asked crossing her arms on her chest while Eunnie played with Daehan, tried to pacify him from sadness.

"It's always like this every years, Wonhee-ah." I said washing the dishes.

"But it's different. Those years, he worked far away from home but now he's here. I really want to ask him that, is work really more important than his own family?" She kept rambling while taking the dish from me to dry. I was really speechless.

"I want to ask him too. And I want to persuade you to divorce him. There are a lot of good guys waiting for you out there. Look, you're still young and beautiful." Eunnie supported coming in.

"How is Han?" I asked ignoring what she said.

"He's asleep now after shower. He looks so tired and sad because of his careless father." She said with a sigh sitting on the chair.

"Sorry for bothering you, Chingu-ah." I said smiling giving the last dish to Wonhee.

"What will you do then, Rin? You can't keep living like this. Your life is still long and there's long way to go." Eunnie stated the fact and I nodded sighing.

"Sometimes, I really wanna give up and ask to divorce."

"Then do it."

"But he has never done anything that bad that can't be forgiven. He's just into his work too much and that is a good thing."

"Rin-ah, ask him if he really loves you, ne? Be honest, he really doesn't have anyone else behind your back?" Wonhee asked lowly. Her concern hit me.

"I don't know."

"Do you want me to stalk him?"

"Is it ok? I meant if he knows that I don't trust him he will get hurt. By the way, he's a police. His sense is quite sharp." I worriedly said. I once got scared by his sharp sense which he could remember and recognize thing easily.

"Then you want to live like this forever? What if he's really cheating on you?"

"Mollayo."

"Count on us. We will prove it."

"Wonhee-ah, I don't think it's a good idea."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure it's clean." She guaranteed and I sighed. It was not a good idea but maybe I should try. He just came back and claimed to make up every mistakes he made but he still left us like before. So perhaps, it's a good solution. If it's true that he's cheating, maybe I should give up and divorce. But if it's not true, it could prove that he really wanted to make up.

Finally the home became death silent before 9. I sighed walking toward Daehan who sleeping soundly on the beanbag at the corner. His small face looked sad and tired. He must be disappointed badly.

"I'm sorry, Han-ah." I mumbled lowly and leaned down to peck his forehead.

Then I went to take shower and under the shower I cried.

***********

Meanwhile, Jungkook was busy following the trace of a group of men who were suspected to be selling drugs.

"How come you know it clearly, sir? They're really here." Woohyuk whispered and Jungkook gave him a sign to be quiet. His sharp eyes pierced through the darkness to a group of men standing in circle.

Jungkook and Woohyuk were hiding behind the boxes while the other polices did the same, waiting for the sign to attack from their boss.

"Sir..."

"Shh..."

"I meant your arm is bleeding..." Woohyuk mumbled to himself as his boss didn't even care to listen. Slowly, Jungkook raised up his arm and in a blink he shook it as a yes to his staffs and the polices started to attack the criminals as they started to fight back in surprise.

Since there weren't many criminals, the police easily grabbed them and sent them to the stations.

As soon as everything settled down, Jungkook rushed out but Woohyuk grabbed his arm.

"What?" He asked raising his eyebrow at his assistant.

"Your wound is getting bad, sir. Let me treat it first." Woohyuk said and Jungkook looked down to his forearm.

"A minute." He said and Woohyuk nodded, although it won't take that short time to finish.

While Woohyuk was treating his injury, Jungkook looked at his phone.

He found he got many missed call from his wife, brother, mother and even friends. And a text message got his attention.

It said 'That just a tiny amount of all. We'll see who is the upper hand, Chief.

It was from a private number. Short message but it's enough to make him sigh.

"What's wrong, sir?" Woohyuk asked worriedly.

"Since when you become worried about me huh? It's getting gross." He playfully teased standing up while Woohyuk made an unbelievable face.

"By the way, do you know where I can get a puppy at this time?" Out of nowhere, the topic changed and Woohyuk raised his eyebrow in thinking before nodding.

"There's one around the corner."

**********

Around 11, Jungkook finally home with two boxes, one was a cake and another one was a gift.

Even if it's hard, he still needed to complete his duty as a father beside his work.

The house was quiet as usual. Gently, he put the boxes down and went into the main room to find Hyerin on the couch, sleeping soundly with uncomfortable position.

"Rin...Wake up." He shook her shoulder and she opened her eyes.

"You're back?" She asked rubbing her eyes and he nodded.

"I'm sorry for not making it on time." He apologized leaning to peck her head.

"I understand. Is the work fine?" Her voice didn't say so.

"Yes, now let's surprise him."

"What is it?"

"I have a surprise for him."

"Ok." Then they went into his room with a cake and his gift.

"Hold it, I'll wake him up." Hyerin said giving the cake to him and he lightened it up.

"Han-ah, wake up. Appa is here." She said picking Daehan up and the little refused to wake up cutely.

"Aish, this boy." Jungkook mumbled chuckling.

"Han-ah, Saengilchukahae." The father said kneeling in front of the boy as he finally opened his eyes which became wider bit by bit sleepily.

"Cake?...Appa?" At last he could see his father and grinned widely, forgot all of his sleepiness.

"Happy birthday, Han-ah." Jungkook said handing the small cake to his son.

"I wish first." The boy happily wish in his heart as Hyerin and Jungkook looked at him lovingly.

"Done." Daehan said before blowing the candles.

"Are you happy now?" Hyerin asked and he nodded smiling widely.

"Wait, you haven't opened all the gift yet?" Jungkook asked looking around as he found the gift still untouched at the corner of his room.

"I wait to open Appa's gift first." He said lowly and Jungkook softened.

"Aigo, good boy. Here is Appa's gift for you." Jungkook picked up the small box and put it on the boy's hands.

"Thank you, Appa. Awww!" But before he could open the box suddenly moved by itself startling him.

"What is it?" Hyerin asked hugging her son as he hugged her by surprise.

Jungkook chuckled giving the boy the box back.

"Why is the gift moving, Appa?" Innocently, he asked with his wide eyes.

"Let see. Don't worry, it's ok." The father took his son's hand leading him to sit on the floor as the mother watched in interest.

Daehan reached his hands to untie the bow and with the help of his father the box finally open.

A small white puppy jumped out of the box to him and Daehan squealed loudly.

"A puppy? A puppy, I like it so much. Thank you, Appa!!!" The boy couldn't control his happiness as he got what he really loved. He hugged the small puppy as it kept l*****g his hand.

"Why a puppy?" Hyerin asked looking at her husband.

"I heard his school will have a pet project soon. This will be the best gift for him." He said proudly and Hyerin smiled at him.

"Chaa, let's name him. This is a boy, Han-ah. What name do you want to call him?" Jungkook asked taking out a marker and a pet collar with a bell.

"A beautiful one." Hyerin added. Daehan thought while patting the small puppy gently. Look like his small hand kept giving comfort to it because the puppy stayed still in his arms.

"My dinosaur's name is Cheongcheong. Then my puppy is Ppalgang. Is it nice, Appa, Omma?" He asked looking at them back and forth.

"Hm, nice. Why you name him that? Ppalgang."

"I like red."

"Oh, right, Ppalgang is red. You're a smart boy, Han-an." Hyerin said smiling.

"Ppalgang-ah, be good, arraseo?"

"Ppalgang, your name is Ppalgang."

"Wah, daebak."

"Thank you, Omma. Thank you, Appa."

The family laughed together as Daehan played with his puppy without getting tired.

Hyerin turned to smile at her husband as he wiggled his eyebrow at her.

"Thanks for making it at the end." She mumbled.

"Any reward?"

"You're late."

"Oops."

*********