Just A Few Numbers Away

Chapter 68

The Summer Visitors

​The transition from the chilly winds of March to the soft, blooming warmth of April brought a new kind of energy to Seoul.

For Aen, the blooming cherry blossoms weren't just a sign of spring; they were the signal that school was out in the Philippines.

After a few months of countdowns over video calls and shaky internet connections, the day had finally arrived.

​Yoongi had been just as restless.

He had spent his final break at his public service office double-checking the "Kid-Friendly Seoul" list he'd been compiling on his phone.

He wanted to be the one to drive them, and he had timed his departure perfectly to meet them at the secluded parking bay at Incheon Airport.

​The arrival gate was a chaotic sea of travelers, but Aen's eyes were locked on a single point.

When a small figure in a denim jacket and a bright pink backpack finally emerged, Aen felt the breath leave her lungs.

​"Momhie!"

​Carly sprinted across the terminal, a tiny whirlwind of energy, and threw herself into Aen's arms.

Aen let out a choked sob of laughter, pulling the seven-year-old so close it felt like she was trying to merge their hearts back together.

She peppered Carly's face with a dozen frantic kisses, inhaling the familiar scent of her daughter's shampoo that had survived the long flight.

​"I missed you so much, my baby," Aen whispered, lifting Carly off the floor.

Despite her own exhaustion, Aen felt a surge of adrenaline, carrying her daughter toward the exit as if she weighed nothing at all.

Right behind her, looking exhausted but wearing a triumphant grin, was Lana, Aen's younger cousin.

She was lugging a massive suitcase and a folder thick with the travel clearances required to bring a seven-year-old across the sea.

​"We made it," Lana breathed, hugging Aen over Carly's head.

"She was a champion, Ate Aen. She didn't cry once, though I think the flight attendants are tired of hearing about her 'Dadhie' in Korea."

​Inside the car, the cool air-conditioning was a relief from the humidity of the flight.

Yoongi sat in the driver's seat, his cap pulled low and a mask covering his face, but his eyes were bright with anticipation.

As they reached the car, the quiet interior was immediately shattered by the reunion.

​Aen quickly pulled open the front passenger door first, knowing exactly what Carly wanted.

Still being held in her mother's arms, the seven-year-old scrambled onto the passenger seat and lunged toward the driver's side the moment Aen set her down.

​"DADHIE! I'M HERE!"

​Yoongi didn't even have time to take off his mask before two small arms were thrown around his neck.

He let out a low, muffled laugh, leaning into the hug as he held her steady.

​"Careful, princess," Yoongi said in English, his voice dropping into that gentle, grounding tone he saved specifically for her.

He pulled his mask down to show her his full gummy smile.

"Welcome to Korea. I missed you so much."