Second Chance [ON-going]

[13] my son

[YURI'S POV]

"Me," said a familiar voice. We all turned toward the person speaking.

"Donghae-ah!" Dara exclaimed, standing up and wrapping her arms around her beloved boyfriend.

"I was walking to the fast-food place when I saw Jino looking for someone. I knew he must have gotten lost again," Donghae said, glancing at Jino, who was happily enjoying his ice cream.

"I just ordered our food. When I came back, he was gone," Dara explained, a note of worry still lingering in her voice.

"Aist... Jino-yah!" Donghae called, and Jino looked up at him, immediately pausing mid-bite.

"What did Daddy tell you when you go to the mall or any crowded place?" Donghae asked.

"That I should stay beside Mommy when Daddy isn't with us, and listen to Mommy," Jino replied, his ice cream forgotten.

"Yes... But you didn't do what I said," Donghae said gently. Jino lowered his head, looking genuinely sorry.

"Sorry, Daddy," he whispered. Donghae ruffled his hair.

"I'll forgive you. But next time, promise you'll do what Daddy tells you, alright? Don't make Mommy worry again, arasso?"

"Yes, Daddy! I promise I won't do it again," Jino said, a small smile returning to his face. Donghae held his hand and nodded approvingly.

"Let's go eat. You're probably hungry," he said, glancing at us.

"Aist... my hunger has doubled after what just happened," I said, walking toward the fast-food counter.

"Aigoo... pretty Noona is hungry, Jino-ah," Dara giggled.

"Mommy, does Pretty Noona turn into a monster when she's angry? I hope she doesn't eat me," Jino said, looking at me with wide eyes.

I crouched down to his level. "Jino-ah, can you repeat that?" I asked.

"Uhm... sorry, Pretty Noona. Are you angry with me? Please don't eat me," he said, looking genuinely afraid.

"No, baby... Pretty Noona isn't angry with you. Can you tell me where you heard that?"

"Uhm... Uncle said that Pretty Noona transforms into a monster when she's angry and will eat me, so I'd better not make Pretty Noona angry," he explained.

Aist... I knew it! That old, stupid man! He always makes my blood boil.

"Yuri-ah! Let's go!" Dara said, tugging at me.

"Dara... remember that Oppa of yours is going to pay for this today!" I shouted.

"Yah! Don't shout! There are so many people here; they're already looking at us," she scolded, dragging me toward the fast-food area.

"I promise I will kill that guy!" I yelled.

"Yeah, yeah... do that after we eat, arasso? For now, let's eat. I'm famished—save your energy for later," she said with a laugh.

"Mommy!!" We turned to see Jino running toward us, holding Donghae's hand.

"Mommy, hold my hand just like Daddy does!" he exclaimed. Dara smiled and held his left hand while Donghae held his right. Together, they formed a picture of a perfect little family.

I watched them... Dara was radiant, happy with Donghae and Jino by her side. She finally had the happiness she truly deserved.

"Yuri-ah! Let's go!" Dara called again. I smiled at them.

"Okay!! Go on, I'll follow you," I said, running to catch up.

On the other side...

A man watched bitterly from a distance, a tight frown on his face. A picture of a happy family—Dara, the woman he loved and who should have been his wife, laughing with a man who wasn't him. The joy in their faces twisted in his chest like a knife.

He felt nothing but envy and anger—not at them, but at himself. For the mistakes of his past, for the choices that led him here. If only... if only none of that had happened, he thought, he could have been happy too, with his wife by his side and children to call his own.

He looked down at the child they were holding. A handsome boy, full of laughter and joy, with features softening his heart even as it pained him. He really looked like his mother.

"My son..." he whispered under his breath, a bittersweet smile tugging at his lips.

============================================================================

Anneyong...I'm really in the mood to make another story and to update this..

I hope you'll like it, even if it is this short one.

Thank you for supporting this one. I hope you can support my other fics.

#latersbaby