Annyeongz One-shots

37. Daddy's here

Here comes part 3 of single parents.

The villa was quiet, bathed in the soft glow of the early morning sun peeking through the tall curtains. The grand luxury home, usually filled with laughter and chatter from the children, now held only the faint hum of the air conditioner and the occasional rustle of leaves from the garden.

Yujin’s car rolled up the driveway, its engine silencing as he parked. He stayed a moment in the driver’s seat, taking a deep breath. After weeks in Italy, juggling work, meetings, and endless responsibilities, this was the moment he had been waiting for—the moment he would finally see Wonyoung again and be near his family, even if the children were still asleep.

He stepped out of the car, letting the crisp morning air brush against his face. His gaze immediately swept across the villa—immaculately maintained, calm, peaceful. It was the kind of quiet that made him ache with longing, knowing that the tiny inhabitants of this house—his children—were somewhere inside, fast asleep, dreaming of him even if they didn’t know he was here yet.

He carried only a small bag, but the weight of anticipation pressed on him like a thousand bricks. Each step toward the villa’s entrance felt heavier than the last, his heart beating faster with every stride.

Inside, the house was still. The soft creak of floorboards beneath his polished shoes reminded him of the countless mornings he had missed, mornings when he had longed to see Wonjin and Leeseo’s sleepy faces first thing in the day.

Yujin paused just outside the children’s rooms. The faint, rhythmic sound of their breathing reached him, steady and untroubled in sleep. Wonjin lay curled under his blanket, one hand draped over a favorite stuffed animal, his chest rising and falling gently. Leeseo, ever so tiny, slept in a sea of pillows, her small hands clinging to a blanket, her face relaxed in innocence.

He knelt beside Wonjin’s bed first, careful not to make a sound. His hand hovered over his son’s hair before brushing it back softly. Wonjin stirred slightly, murmuring in his sleep, but did not wake. A faint smile tugged at Yujin’s lips.

“So, my big boy,” he whispered, his voice low and gentle, “still dreaming of me?”

Wonjin twitched his fingers but remained asleep. Yujin chuckled quietly, a sound filled with both relief and longing. He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to the top of Wonjin’s head, careful not to startle him. The warmth of his son’s skin against his lips made Yujin’s chest tighten with emotion.

Then he moved toward Leeseo’s room. The small girl had shifted in her sleep, one leg draped over the edge of her blanket. Her tiny chest rose and fell as she slept, her soft breaths like music to his ears. Gently, he sat on the edge of her bed, careful not to wake her, and brushed a stray lock of hair from her face.

“Missed you, my little princess,” he murmured softly. Leeseo’s lips twitched in a tiny smile as if she could hear him, and Yujin’s heart swelled so much it ached.

He took a quiet, deep breath, taking in the sight of his sleeping family. The house felt so still, so sacred in this moment, and yet his chest felt like it could burst with love and longing. Every sacrifice, every long day in Italy, every missed meal or missed laugh—it was all worth this. This moment. This silent reunion.

After a long moment, he rose and walked toward Wonyoung’s room. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, hair loose around her shoulders, a soft blanket draped over her legs. She looked up at him, eyes already shimmering with unshed tears.

“You’re here,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

“Of course I am,” Yujin replied softly, closing the distance between them. He cupped her face gently, brushing his thumb across her cheek. “I promised I’d come back to you. To all of you. And I always keep my promises.”