first day

"Shhhh hey, Soo-Ri. Please don't cry. Appa is here when you come back and then we will go and eat a lot of ice cream“ I heard Jin say as he kneeled down to the crying girl. 

A little bribe is the only chance to stop the little girl from crying out loud again. The excitement she had when she woke up and got a Doraemon backpack and a Lunchbox was gone an hour ago, because she realized she won't be home for some hours. The time went by to fast this morning and the bus which would drive to the school would arrive shortly. 
I smiled at father and daughter and let them have their little moment. They already have too few of this moments together.

Little tears streamed down Soo-Ris cheeks and Jin wiped them away gently. Then he took her hand into his. On his wrist, the bracelet with the oversized pebbles that Soo-Ri made  rattled. As cheesy as it could be, Jin refused to take it off, even at his performances and other meetings.

It was too funny, as they both sat on the bathroom floor.
„Ice Cream?“ Soo-Ri asked quietly. Jin grinned at her. „Yes Ice cream. Which flavor do you want?“
„Strawberry“ came excitedly from Soo-Ri and she looked a little happier now.
„Okay little monster. Which hair band do you want? Pink or blue?“ I finally asked her, then I crouched down to her and held out the two hairbands. She looked between the hairbands, Jin and myself back and forth. „Both“ she finally said and I had to laugh. „Okay, Both it will be“ I said and began braiding Soo-Ris hair. „Good decision. Why settle for one when you can have both?“ Jin laughed and pinched in her cheek.

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You really have to give credit to Soo-Ri. After the fiasco in the bathroom, no more tears where shed. On the way to the bus, Jin and Soo-Ri were deeply engrossed in talking about different ice cream flavors and i ran behind them quietly. 
It was really nice to watch them. It was just to rare that we could spend time with Jin. But I knew this from the start. I knew what I was going to do as Jin and me started our relationship.
It was not long before we were at the bus stop, where several parents with their children waited. And just a little later, the bus arrived. Jin lifted Soo-Ri up, gave her a kiss on the cheek and squeezed her. I went to the two of them and cuddled the little girl to, who was near the tears again.
„Please don't cry Soo-Ri. You are already a big girl.“ I said softly, stroking her head. „In a few hours, we'll meet again and Appa and you can fill your belly with strawberry ice cream.“ Jin nodded eagerly. „I also heard that the playground there at the school is much better than the one in the park here. I'm sure you will have so much fun and find a lot of friends.“ he added.
Soo-Ri sniffed softly. She nodded and finally she smiled at us. The bus driver greeted us friendly and all the kids now went into the bus. We cuddled Soo-Ri one last time and then she disappeared behind the big bus door. 
However, at the next window, she pressed her face against it so she could see us. Jin and I waved to her and the bus started. Wistfully we all watched the bus leave and I realized how tears were forming in my eyes. Jin put an arm around me and smiled. „Don't worry. She will be alright.“ he said, but not really addressed to me, but to himself.
„Jin-ah.. How are we going to survive this. Every day, five days a week?“

Jin looked at me and wiped a tear from my cheek. „I … I could teach her at home“ I said and now Jin had to laugh. „I don't think neither you and I are suitable for teaching her. I'm sure she will be fine.“ I nodded slightly and he took my hand in his.

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„And what are we going to do now?“ Jin asked me as he closed the door to our apartment. Jin actually got a full week off, to be here for Soo-Ris first debriefings. I was really happy that it was possible for him.
„What do you want to do on your days off?“ I asked him, grinning sexily at him. He pulled me into his arms and hugged me tight. How long was it that we both had time for us? I couldn't even remember. I looked up at him and he breathed a kiss on my forehead.
„So... I'm for Mario Cart“ he finally said and i had to laugh. This was so typical. „Okay, Mario Cart it is“ and we both went into the living room, hand in hand, and started the first game.