( Bang Chan + Hwang Hyunjin )
❝I cannot risk losing her.❞
┈┈ mistopher | 2022 ++
Pride is something that Bang Chan was forced to put aside in order to satisfy his basic needs. And he'd grown used to it for the year and a half that he'd been living o...
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┈ ┈ ┈ ⋞ 〈 🏠 〉 ⋟ ┈ ┈ ┈
⇒Spread My Wings - Cemetery 4:30pm
A "mother" didn't always have to be a woman, right? Perhaps the label could be fit for a character? For an appropriate trend of interaction? Or mere resemblance, in peculiar cases? Bella preferred to live with that belief, for her own comfort. For her own coping mechanism, to get through the week without her dear uncle, after so many.
So many weeks of sharing her puzzled thoughts with him. Laughing with him. Appreciating his undeniably inexhaustible love for her. And simply seeing and clinging onto the countless aspects of his very mannerisms, that reminded her of her own mother.
Bella sighed as she leaned on her father's shoulder, gazing blankly forward at the gravestone before them, her wrists hung over her folded legs; fingers tickled by her white, unstained socks.
"My day was meh," she shrugged, taking a deep breath in, "Ms. Kim gave homework today-- a project. Says it's due-- uhm... It's due... I don't remember. I'll watch my book when we go home."
"Alright," Chan said, fiddling with the tips of his fingers, somber, "You know daddy will help you with it, hm? You don't need to worry." He paused and looked down at the child for a few seconds before wrapping one hand around her smaller frame, pressing a light kiss on top of her head in preparation for what he was about to introduce. "Have you thought about this Christmas holiday? We're-- we're better off now, so is there anything you want? In particular?"
"Mh-mh," Bella shook her head, so used to having her materialistic requests declined. So used to prioritizing her dad's empty pockets, and looking away from the lavish shelves of stores and supermarkets, if they could ever get near them in the first place. "I'm okay," she smiled, soft, kind of timid, "the plushie uncle Jinnie bought me is enough, daddy. But thank you."
"Come on, Belle," Chan nudged her shoulder, guilty, to some extent. Because he could sense it; could sense how fearful she was, to ask for a small present. Could feel the innocent apprehension lifting from her quickened heart. Yes, Bella had requested some candy that one time, but that night, she more so knew what was going on; was certain of the loose change in her father's pocket.
But it wasn't a habit. Wasn't a norm for Bella to ask for things.
"Don't be scared to ask for anything, sweetheart," Chan tried to assure, turning her head by the chin so that they could lock eyes, a small smile on his face, comforting her with his dimples. "Look," he breathed in, eyes closed for a second, "I know that I couldn't afford as much back then, even though you deserved everything you asked for... I- I know I had to sell most of your toys too, and you were very understanding about that... But things have changed, okay? Ask for anything, Belle... and once I can, you will get it."
