* * *
Feeling overwhelmed with joy, Do Hajun smiled and patted Aileen Spencer’s head.
“Huh?”
Seeing her confused expression, wondering why he was patting her head, Do Hajun replied.
“Just because. I like it.”
When her cheeks turned pink from embarrassment, he found her even more adorable and patted her head some more. At that moment, the door burst open with a loud clatter.
It was Lee Cheongmyeong, returning from her ballet class.
She had been walking briskly, but when she saw Do Hajun, she stopped in her tracks.
Do Hajun stretched out a hand towards her as she hesitated.
“Cheongmyeong, come here.”
Only then did Lee Cheongmyeong run over and throw herself into his arms, her status unchanged.
‘Why does she behave like this?’
“Did you enjoy your ballet class, Cheongmyeong?”
“Yes, it was fun.”
“Hajun.”
At the call from Aileen Spencer, Do Hajun turned his head.
“This.”
Her hair tie had loosened, perhaps from his patting.
“Oh, it came loose. Let me tie it again. Cheongmyeong, hold on a second.”
He let go of Lee Cheongmyeong and retied Aileen Spencer’s hair.
Then, looking at Lee Cheongmyeong, he asked.
“Cheongmyeong, are you hungry?”
“A little?”
“Aunt brought sandwiches-”
“Hajun.”
“Huh?”
Do Hajun’s attention returned to Aileen Spencer.
“Another book.”
“You want a different book?”
“Yes.”
Aileen Spencer handed him a book.
“You read it fast.”
Do Hajun patted her head again and gave her a new book.
“Read this now.”
“Okay.”
“Hey, Lee Cheongmyeong. You can’t just run off without me!”
Lee Moojin burst into the office, shouting.
“Traitor! Come here!”
“Ahhh!”
Lee Moojin grabbed Lee Cheongmyeong, who was standing in front of Do Hajun, and tossed him into the air before catching him again.
Aileen Spencer, who had been watching this while reading her book, let out a burst of laughter.
“Stop it and give them snacks.”
“Okay.”
“Today’s snack is the sandwiches Aunt Eunseon brought.”
At the word ‘snack,’ Ahn Eunseon stood up and took out a lunchbox from the desk drawer with pride.
“Oh! Sandwiches.”
“There’s none for the deputy team leader.”
“Then you won’t have your life either.”
“Tsk.”
The lunchbox was filled with beautifully decorated sandwiches.
“Aileen, do you want to eat too?”
Mistaking Aileen Spencer’s gaze at the sandwiches as a sign of wanting them, Do Hajun asked.
Aileen Spencer nodded.
“Eat.”
“Then let’s go eat.”
To check if Aileen Spencer’s anxiety had really dissipated and wouldn’t return, Do Hajun set her down so she could walk on her own.
“Shall we walk today?”
“Yes.”
Unlike Lee Cheongmyeong’s brisk steps, Aileen Spencer cautiously walked, holding onto her pants.
“Oh, you’re walking now.”
“Is she alright now?”
“Yes.”
Feeling proud, Do Hajun walked with Aileen to the table and sat her next to him instead of holding her.
He placed a sandwich in her hand.
“Eat. It’ll be delicious.”
Nodding, Aileen Spencer started eating the sandwich, and Lee Moojin grinned at Lee Cheongmyeong.
“Right?”
“Yes. Hehe.”
“What’s right?”
“Hmm. It’s a secret only men understand.”
Men’s secrets, huh. If I’m not a man, then what am I?
Shaking his head, Do Hajun patted Lee Cheongmyeong’s head as she ate her sandwich with enthusiasm.
“Eat a lot.”
“Okay. Jun too!”
At that moment, Aileen Spencer tugged on Do Hajun’s sleeve.
“Hajun.”
“Huh? Why? Do you need something?”
As Do Hajun turned his head, Lee Cheongmyeong’s previously smiling face stiffened.
He stared intently at Aileen Spencer.
“Thirsty.”
“Do you want some milk?”
Aileen Spencer nodded.
“I’ll get it.”
Ahn Eunseon jumped up and fetched two small milk cartons from the fridge.
“Here are the straws.”
Do Hajun inserted a straw into one of the milk cartons.
“Here. Drink this if you’re thirsty.”
“Okay.”
After giving Aileen Spencer the milk first, Do Hajun turned around.
Lee Cheongmyeong’s rigid expression softened into a smile again.
“Cheongmyeong, you drink some milk too.”
“Yes.”
Patting the obedient Lee Cheongmyeong’s head, Do Hajun glanced at the clock and clicked his tongue.
“Keep eating. I have some urgent documents to handle. Aileen, I’ll be over there.”
“Okay.”
Aileen Spencer answered with a bright smile,
“Yes!”
And Lee Cheongmyeong raised her hand.
Now that the anxiety was resolved, separation was possible too.
Smiling broadly, Do Hajun returned to his desk, leaving only the sounds of chewing at the table.
“Is it just me who finds this atmosphere weird?”
Ahn Eunseon whispered to Lee Moojin.
“Right? The atmosphere suddenly feels strange.”
As soon as Do Hajun disappeared, the laughter of the two children vanished as if it had never been there.
The two children focused on each other, chewing their sandwiches silently.
* * *
In the stillness of the night, with the goddess of quiet descending.
Perhaps because Aileen Spencer’s anxiety was resolved, Do Hajun slept soundly with Aileen Spencer and Lee Cheongmyeong on either side of him.
“Hey, are you not sleeping?”
A voice like rolling marbles echoed through the room.
“Sleeping.”
With a rustling sound, Aileen Spencer got up, and moments later, Lee Cheongmyeong also rose.
“Let’s go.”
Aileen Spencer gestured and walked out of the room with tiny steps, followed by Lee Cheongmyeong.
Standing in the middle of the warm living room, Aileen Spencer put her small fists on her hips and spoke.
She tried to look threatening, but it wasn’t the least bit intimidating.
“Why do you keep clinging to Hajun?”
“Jun is mine.”
“Hah! No, he’s mine. We’ve been together all this time. Don’t you get it?”
Aileen Spencer frowned as she spoke.
Lee Cheongmyeong snorted in response.
“That’s because you’re a baby, so I let you.”
“Let me? Do I look like a baby?!”
“If you’re not a baby, why do you always cling to him?”
“Th-that’s…”
Aileen Spencer kept her mouth shut tight.
She was anxious.
From the moment she first opened her eyes, Aileen Spencer felt uneasy.
She looked for her mom and dad because of an unknown sense of anxiety that filled her from head to toe, but strangers appeared instead.
They claimed to be her parents, but their faces were different.
Aileen felt they were trying to deceive her by bringing people who resembled her mom and dad.
These supposed parents said they would bring a nanny while crying, but even the nanny was someone she didn’t know.
The nanny Aileen knew was a warm, motherly woman, but the person who came was a stern-looking old lady.
The world felt scary, and she felt utterly alone.
On top of that, strange men in odd clothes took Aileen Spencer to a dark place.
Seeing bizarre creatures with eerie movements and hearing grotesque noises terrified her. When she trembled in fear, the men got angry at Aileen Spencer.
They yelled at her to stop crying and to kill those creatures quickly.
In an instant, her world felt turned upside down.
Just when her fear peaked, feeling as if her protective shield had shattered, a burly man struck Aileen Spencer’s cheek.
Tears streamed down as something burst out of her body.
At that moment, a hot energy surged within her.
Unable to control her skill, she accidentally set a fire.
Many people came to extinguish the fire, but among them, Aileen Spencer didn’t recognize anyone.
Exhausted from crying, rough-looking people put a necklace around Aileen Spencer.
When she regained consciousness, an ugly man was giving her an injection and said,
“You’re going to Korea. You’ll live in Korea.”
She wanted to ask for her mom and dad, but she was too weak.
Gradually, she fell asleep.
In her dream, she saw dazzling rides spinning around.
The place, filled with sparkling lights and beautiful music, was the amusement park she visited for the first time.
However, even there, Aileen Spencer was alone.
Feeling a chill as she looked around, Aileen Spencer curled up.
“Mom! Dad!”
She missed her parents, who were always busy but never failed to tell her they loved her.
Biting her lip, Aileen Spencer curled up even more.
At that moment, she felt a warm sensation spread through her body, as if someone was hugging her dearly.
Who is it? Who’s hugging me?
Aileen Spencer tried to open her eyes, but they wouldn’t open easily.
I want to see. I want to see who’s holding me like this!
As Aileen Spencer struggled, the warm embrace disappeared.
Just when she was about to despair, feeling alone again, a warm touch was felt.
Now, she no longer thought of seeing the person. She didn’t want to lose this warmth.
Don’t go! Stay with me! I’ll get up! Just a moment!
Using all her strength, Aileen Spencer opened her eyes and saw a pair of light brown eyes.
It was Do Hajun.
His sharp jawline, straight nose, and seemingly fierce single-lidded eyes softened, easing her anxiety a bit.
And just like when he first held her, Do Hajun was warm.
He soothed her, fed her, and put her to sleep.
Each time, the anxiety that was consuming her slowly disappeared, and at some point, everything felt okay.
Except for one thing.
Aileen Spencer looked at Lee Cheongmyeong, who was glaring at her.
‘I won’t lose.’
With fiery eyes, Aileen Spencer said,
“Y-yeah! I’m a baby! So, Hajun is mine, right?!”
“No! You’re not a baby!! Babies can’t talk many languages! You’re not a baby, so Hajun is mine!”
“Hmph. Ugly!”
“You’re the ugly one!”
“You!”
“You!”
The children, unable to control their anger, glared at each other.
In the chilly silence, Aileen Spencer reached out first.
At that moment,
“Cheongmyeong, Aileen.”
The door opened, and Do Hajun appeared.
Aileen Spencer quickly withdrew her hand and ran to Do Hajun.
“Hajun!”
Lee Cheongmyeong, realizing his mistake, also ran to Do Hajun.
“Jun!”
Waking up to find the children gone, Do Hajun, with a puzzled expression, hugged the approaching kids.
“What are you two doing here?”
“Well—”
“Aileen said she needed to go to the bathroom, so I brought her.”
Aileen Spencer’s eyes sharpened.
‘Who are you calling a bed-wetter!’
“Oh. I see. Cheongmyeong, you’re such a good kid.”
Before Aileen could explain, Do Hajun smiled warmly and patted Lee Cheongmyeong’s head.
Like a concubine losing her lord, Aileen Spencer bit her lip and glared at Lee Cheongmyeong.
“Aileen is just a baby.”
“Haha. Aileen, are you a baby?”
“Yeah.”
On top of calling her a bed-wetter, Lee Cheongmyeong made her out to be a baby. He stuck out his tongue at Aileen Spencer behind Do Hajun’s back.
“Aileen and Cheongmyeong are getting along now. That’s good.”
Do Hajun hugged Lee Cheongmyeong tightly as he spoke.
“Yes, yes!”
While Lee Cheongmyeong laughed brightly in Do Hajun’s embrace, Aileen Spencer vowed revenge.
‘I won’t let this slide.’
The first battle for Do Hajun was won by Lee Cheongmyeong.
* * *
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