After some days,
the weekend finally arrived.
Outside,
Snow was falling heavily,
White flakes covering the yard, piling over the road, brushing against the windows.
Everything looked quiet, frozen, and cold.
Taekyun was still at the office.
He hadn't come home since yesterday.
There was an important project meeting early in the morning,
So he stayed the night at his condo near the company.
Haru was home today.
She was sitting in front of the TV, legs folded, a blanket pulled over her lap.
Her eyes were glued to the bright screen.
Haneul sat beside her, but the annoyance on his face was impossible to ignore.
"Haru-ah, it's my turn,"
He said, pouting, arms tightly folded.
"You've been watching for one hour straight. I told you at 11:30 a.m. that it's my time to watch my show."
Haru didn't even glance at him.
She shook her head stubbornly, eyebrows drawn together, gripping the remote in her small hand.
"아니요,(no)"
She said firmly.
Haneul let out a loud, dramatic sigh and slid to the corner of the couch, wrapping the blanket around him even tighter.
His pout only grew deeper.
The table in front of them was covered with snacks,chips, cookies, chocolate, juice boxes like they were having a cozy home movie day.
"Haru,"
He tried again, softer this time.
"You know it's a good show.
You'll love it."
Haru didn't move.
"No,"
She repeated, without hesitation.
Haneul stared at her like she betrayed him.
"Fine,"
He said, voice higher from frustration.
"From now on, I won't watch cartoons with you."
He turned his head away dramatically, facing the wall.
Haru's smile slowly faded.
She watched him for a few quiet seconds.
Then she slid off her seat and crawled toward him on her hands and knees.
"Here,"
She said in Korean, stretching her arm out with the remote.
Haneul whipped his head around instantly.
He was shocked she actually gave in.
He snatched the remote quickly and switched the channel to his anime.
Haru knelt on the couch, watching him silently.
Haneul noticed her staying still and lifted the blanket slightly, nodding toward his lap.
"Come sit here."
Haru climbed onto his lap, curling up against him.
He wrapped the blanket around both of them.
The room felt warmer instantly.
After a while,
Haru turned her head and looked up at him.
"What's wrong?"
He asked, leaning closer.
Haru pointed at his chest, then at herself.
"Umma,"
She said.
Haneul's eyes widened.
"Huh?"
"Umma,"
She said again.
"No, Haru-ah. Mongi."
"Umma."
"Mongi."
"Umma."
She smiled brightly, knowing exactly what she was doing.
She had been calling him
"umma" for days now.
The more he corrected her, the more she said it just to tease him.
But deep inside, even though he acted annoyed,
He didn't actually hate it.
It meant she was learning.
It meant she was attaching to him more.
Suddenly Haru stood up on his lap, wobbling a little.
Haneul held her waist so she wouldn't fall.
She put her tiny hands on his cheeks and squished them together playfully.
"사랑해," (I love you)
She said, leaning down to kiss his cheek.
Haneul blinked, speechless.
He let out a small sigh.
"Okay, okay. So what do we do now?"
He asked.
"It's boring inside.
And it's snowing outside.
Where should we go?"
Haru tapped her finger on her lips, thinking very seriously like an adult.
Haneul couldn't hold his smile.
Then she said,
"Abba."
Haneul blinked.
"Abba?"
She nodded fast.
He let out a small breath and smiled.
"Let's go. But Bora."
He stayed there for a moment, then finally stood up, picking Haru up in his arms.
They walked through the hallway together.
In the kitchen,
Bora was sitting beside the chef, scrolling on her phone while the chef chopped vegetables.
When Haneul walked in, the chef looked up.
"Do you need something?"
She asked.
Bora glanced at him too.
Haneul shook his head.
"No, I don't."
But Bora kept staring with narrowed eyes.
Haneul sighed.
"Bora, I need to tell you something."
She stood up and walked toward him.
"Yes?"
She asked, noticing Haru peeking from behind him with a mischievous smile.
"What have you two done?
Why are you standing like this?"
She said, suspicious.
Haneul cleared his throat.
"We're going to Taekyun's office."
Bora froze.
"What?"
"We're bored,"
He said honestly.
"And Haru is missing her dad.
So I'll take her."
Bora blinked at them.
No one from the house ever went to Taekyun's office.
Haru had gone only a few times, and only when Taekyun personally took her.
So this was strange.
She looked at Haneul closely.
"Why are you looking at me like this?" Haneul asked, confused by her expression.
"But he'll be in a meeting,"
She said carefully.
"And why do you want to go?
Sir will be back soon."
"Please."
Haneul looked at her with wide, pleading eyes.
Bora exhaled slowly.
Everything had changed since Haneul entered their life.
Haru, who barely spoke before, now laughed, talked, and learned new words because of him. She trusted him deeply.
And Taekyun,
The man who lived like a quiet, cold shadow.
He wasn't the same when it came to Haneul.
There was a softness in him, something warmer, something alive.
Maybe he didn't realize it.
But Bora did.
Maybe the rules didn't apply to him anymore.
Maybe Taekyun was slowly opening up to only one person.
Haneul.
So she nodded.
"Okay. I'll tell the driver."
Haneul's eyes brightened instantly.
Haru jumped in excitement.
"Let's go change,"
Haneul said, grabbing Haru's hand.
They ran upstairs giggling.
Bora watched them from behind.
"Let's see,"
She whispered,
"if sir's strict rules apply to Haneul or not."
She gave a small smile.
"If not then it's confirmed.
He is the one Taekyun is opening up to."