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I watched Yeonji twirl around in her new outfit, looking absolutely precious in her pink sweater and floral skirt.
She held a small flower in her hand, one she'd picked out of pure determination to bring as a "gift" for Rumi's son.
Her excitement was contagious, and I couldn't help but smile, even as my own nerves twisted up inside. Today was a big step.
Taking a deep breath, I finished adjusting her hair bow, then turned to look at myself in the mirror. I decided on a fitted red top with a black mini skirt and my favorite leather jacket.
Glancing down at my boots, I adjusted them one last time, hoping they'd give me that extra boost of courage I needed today.
Jungwon was already waiting by the door, looking at us with an amused smile as he jingled the car keys in his hand. "You two ready?" he asked, his eyes softening when they landed on Yeonji."Yeonji you look so pretty sweetie "she laughed shyly as we smiled at her cute reaction.
I nodded, taking Yeonji's tiny hand in mine as we followed him out to the car.
The ride to Rumi's house was filled with Yeonji's cheerful chatter, her excitement bubbling over in every word. She talked about the cake she imagined, the games she might play, and kept asking, "Will I see Uncle Jake there?"
Arriving at Rumi's house, my heart beat a little faster. As we approached the front door, it swung open, and there was Jake, looking as surprised as he was thrilled. The moment Yeonji spotted him, her little face lit up, and she dashed towards him, practically launching herself at his legs. "Uncle Jake!" she squealed, hugging him tightly.
Jake laughed, bending down to ruffle her hair. "Well, there's my favorite little troublemaker! How'd you get even cuter since last time, huh?"
Seeing them together eased some of the tension in my chest. Just then, Rumi stepped forward, pulling me into a warm hug. "Thank you so much for coming" she whispered, a smile spreading across her face when she saw Yeonji in Jake's arms. "And thank you for bringing Yeonji."
I hugged her back, feeling a sense of gratitude I hadn't expected. "Of course. She's been looking forward to it all week."
As we stepped inside, Yeonji's eyes sparkled with wonder at the decorations, the balloons, and the kids running around. The party was really big. Yeonji turned to me, her face glowing. "Mommy, can I go play with them?"
I knelt down to her level and nodded, smiling. "Go ahead, sweetheart. Just be careful, okay?" She nodded eagerly, then ran off to join the other children.
Jungwon placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "She's doing fine. You're doing fine," he whispered, as if he could read the thoughts racing through my mind.
I smiled up at him, grateful for his support. Just then, Rumi came over, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "She's adorable"
As I stood by the side, taking in the warmth and liveliness of the party, I noticed Jay coming towards us, cradling his little son in his arms. A big smile spread across my face as I watched him approach, and a familiar, almost forgotten sense of joy bubbled up inside me. I hadn't seen Jay in what felt like forever, and now here he was, not just as my old friend but as a father.
