"Wooseok, when I'm not here, please take care of my son,"
"Sister, I... I can't,"
"Please,"
Wooseok shut his mouth.
"This is my last request,"
Wooseok bit his lips. He watched his sister breathing heavily.
"Okay,"
The woman on the bed smiled, stroking Wooseok's hair for the last time. "Thank you,"
***
It's been 3 years since Wooseok's sister has passed away. It's still painful. Wooseok still remembers what happened in the past. His sister and her family was going on a happy family trip, but quickly ended up tragically because a truck hit their car and took his sister's and her husband's lives. With Wooseok's sister's last request, he must take care of Hwanhee, his nephew.
"Dad? Let's go home~ Hwanhee is hungry," Hwanhee whines, pulling Wooseok's sleeve. "Ah yes, yes, I understand, but we should say goodbye to your mo-" Wooseok coughs, "..your aunt and uncle," Hwanhee tilted his head, pouting a bit, but slowly walks closer to Wooseok. "Aunt, uncle, Hwanhee is hungry and sleepy. We want to go home, goodbye! Sleep well," he smiles. Wooseok chuckles, watching his nephew acts so innocent.
"Let's go home," Wooseok says, taking Hwanhee's small hand in his.
They're walking to their car. Wooseok helps Hwanhee to sit on the passenger seat and makes him wear the seat belt. Hwanhee, being a helpful kid, keeps calm and smiling at Wooseok. "Hwanhee is ready!" Hwanhee chirps, making Wooseok smiles and ruffles his hair. He sits on the driver seat and started the car. "We're going home," Wooseok says.
***
Hwanhee runs up to the stair, leaving Wooseok who is tired and throwing himself to the couch. "Hwanhee, be careful I don't want you to-" a loud thud sound can be heard from the stair "-fall." And followed by Hwanhee's crying. Wooseok sighed, walking to carry Hwanhee to his bedroom. "I've told you not to run in the house, Hwanhee." Wooseok's carrying Hwanhee until they reach his bedroom while calming the 5-year-old-boy who is crying. "Hwanhee is sorry," Hwanhee says between his sobs. "I know, I know. Don't do that again, okay?" Wooseok says and getting a nod from the kid.
Wooseok opens the door then tells the boy to sit and wait on the bed. He takes Hwanhee's clothes and towel. "Let's take a bath before you sleep," Wooseok says, walking to the bathroom, then he fills the bath tub.
He helps Hwanhee taking of his clothes and carefully Hwanhee steps into the bath tub. "Here comes the bubbles!" Wooseok pours a lot amount of soaps and making the bath tub fills with bubbles. Wooseok watches Hwanhee playing with the water as he undresses and joining Hwanhee in the bath tub. He helps Hwanhee cleaning his back and Hwanhee keeps giggling. "Dad, where's mom?" Hwanhee asks, his eyes still on the toy duck.
"Hm?" Wooseok hums, actually confused with the kid's question. "My friends have mom, do I have mom?" Hwanhee's still playing the rubber duck. Should he say the truth or should he lie? Wooseok scratches his cheek, thinking the best answer.
"Finished! Let's get out of the tub." Wooseok walks out from the water, taking his towel and drying himself first, putting on underwear and shorts, then helps Hwanhee.
Hwanhee keeps silent, he doesn't look at Wooseok's eyes. He's afraid that his dad is angry again at him. "Hwanhee, I'm not angry. You'll meet your mom later." Wooseok's drying Hwanhee's hair as the kid tries to wear his underwear. "Yeah? When?" Hwanhee asks, his eyes spark up. "Later. You need to be a good boy and then your mom will come back to our house," Wooseok says. Deep down in his heart, he doesn't even know what should he do. For now, he needs to answer the question. After all, Hwanhee will forget the question tomorrow....
...Right?
