Hope's Child

Chapter 3: Where's Daddy?

After bagging all the shopping, we headed out to his car. It's such a weird feeling of being near your ex-fiancé.

While driving to the cafe, I kept thinking, "Should I tell him that Juyeon is his child?"

In the end, I decided he probably already moved on and is seeing someone new and won't want the burden of having a child all of a sudden.

"So, how's life been treating you?" He kept his eyes on the road but I could sense the awkwardness in the air.

"It's been okay, had a lovely quiet life on the outskirts of the city. Chungjae came looking for me a month back and asked me to move back to Seoul because our mother is ill." I started to think of all that's happened in only a month and how I ended up in Jung Hoseok's car.

"Mommy, I want strawberry cake."

Juyeon had been staring out of the window, fascinated by all the tall buildings and the people scuttling around. It's been quite a while for her as well since she last visited Seoul.

We pulled up outside of a very familiar cafe...

Holy crap, this is where I first met Hoseok when we were in university. It's been so long since I've visited this place. My favourite hangout and place to study. They make the best cakes and the most amazing coffee in Seoul.

I got out and went to help Juyeon out but Hoseok was already ahead of me. The way he looked at her I wonder if he's figured out that she might be his child.

"Juyeon, let's go in. This place makes the most amazing strawberry cakes, I know you'll love them." We headed to the entrance of the cafe together.

This brought back so many memories. This was where I first met Hoseok, the place he asked me out, the place we spent so many evenings sharing our dreams and secrets.

It hadn't changed at all the 6 years I haven't been here. The cute glass door with little flowers decorating it, the shiny polished floor and the sweet coffee aroma as you step in. I immediately relaxed as I was engulfed by its warmth.

We took a booth by the window in the corner.

"Juyeon, what would you like?" Hoseok offered the menu to her and waited patiently for her to look through the whole thing.

"The pink strawberry cake with the flower and strawberry juice please." She pointed at the picture on the menu.

He turns to me and asks "A caramel macchiato and a plain cheesecake, right?"

I nod, surprised he still remembered my favourites. It's been so long I thought he would have forgotten all these little things.

Not too long after, he returned with our orders and slid into his seat across from me.

He turned to Juyeon and started talking to her.

"So Juyeon, how old are you?"

"I'm five years old." She grinned while holding up five fingers in front of her face.

"That's awesome! Do you like school?" His smile was starting to become infectious and next thing I knew I was smiling as well.

I had forgotten how good Hoseok was with kids.

They continued on like that for another few minutes when he asked the question I was least expecting.

"What does your daddy do?"

I immediately froze up and started panicking. I looked at my baby and waited for her to reply.

"Um... I don't have an daddy..." Juyeon looked like she was going to cry. I pulled my baby on to my lap and held her.

I picked up Juyeon and threw ₩25,000 on the table.

I headed to the exit when he grabbed my hand and stopped me.

"What's the problem? Where are you going?" Hoseok looked at me pleadingly.

I couldn't look at him. Not now. Not ever again.

"Eunmi, at least let me give you a ride home." He pleaded and I couldn't help but feel my anger subside from his smooth voice.

I looked at Juyeon and realised she probably wouldn't want to walk home so I agreed and followed Hoseok to his car.
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The entire ride home was silent. Juyeon stared out the window the whole time, not once looking at Hoseok.

I guess she was pretty upset at him.

I've never told her who her father was, where he was or what happened to him. All I ever told her was that, he wasn't there.

Now as I'm looking at her through the mirror, I realised, maybe I should just come out and be honest and tell them both the truth.

The question was, when?