𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐲 | 𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐨

19

"Mirae, go to the park. Stay there for a while okay. I'll come and fetch you after." Suhyun told her six-year old daughter. She didn't want her only daughter to see her parents fighting. She got into an argument with his husband again and she knows he wouldn't let it pass. Even if it was his fault, he will find every reason to turn the tables around and make it seem like it was her fault all along.

"Why Mommy? Are you going to fight with Daddy again?" The little girl asked. Her mother was shocked to hear it from her. She didn't know that her daughter knew about it. But then, she's just a kid. She doesn't know how deep this is. She can only see the surface and Suhyun is thankful for that. She didn't want her daughter to know that her family is breaking.

"No, sweetheart." She cooed, picking up her daughter. "Your Daddy and I never fights."

"But I heard you shouting at each other a couple of times already." She looked at her mom with her big beautiful eyes. "Isn't that what you call fighting Mommy? When other kids fight, they yell at each other and then hit each other. I saw Daddy hit you too. Were you hurt Mommy?"

Suhyun tried her best to stop her tears from falling. She couldn't afford to break down in front of her daughter. She wouldn't want her to know that she's right.

"No, baby. Your Daddy and I are not fighting. We just can't hear each other that's why we were a shouting. And he didn't hit me, sweetheart." She fed her daughter with lies.

"Okay Mommy, I'll believe you for now." Little Mirae said. The girl is intelligent despite her young age. She understands things. She knows something is not right with her parents.

"Be careful at the park, okay? Do not go anywhere without your nanny. Do not talk to---"

"Strangers. I know that Mommy." The little girl smiled sweetly making Suhyun smile as well. "I love you, Mommy."

"I love you too, darling."

---

Mirae and her nanny arrived at the park. Mirae immediately ran to the swing and started playing with it. Her nanny watches her, making sure she wouldn't get hurt. Mirae holds a special part on her nanny's heart. She feels bad for the little girl. The marriage of Mirae's parents is failing, almost everyone in the household knows that. Little did they know, the six-year old girl knows it too.

"Miss Kim, can you buy me water please?" Mirae asked her nanny.

"Sure, sweetheart. Just stay here for awhile okay? Don't leave this place and never talk to strangers." The little girl nodded in response. Miss Kim quickly went to buy water so she can immediately come back to Mirae.

Mirae was left playing on her own in the playground. She was enjoying her playtime. She loves this kind of time the most.

"Can I play with you?" She was startled when someone spoke behind her. She turned around and immediately raised her fist up ready to fight. She came face-to-face with a little boy, slightly taller than her. His hair cut short, his eyes turning into a line as he smiles.

Mirae let her guard down. He looked harmless. He looked like he just wanted to play with her.

"But Mommy said never talk to strangers." Mirae said, conflicted. She wanted to play with the boy because it has been a long time since she last played with someone beside her nanny.

"Oh," The boy frowned but then he smiled once again. "I'm Ben. There you know my name already. I'm 6 years old. I live here in this area too."

The little girl smiled. "I'm Mirae, I'm six years old too."

"See, we're not strangers anymore. We both know each other's names." The boy smiled widely. "So, can we play now?"

Mirae nodded enthusiastically. She was excited to play with him. She never had friends before because she rarely goes out of their house. They started playing with each other, taking turns pushing each other on the swing. They also played on the seesaw. They kept running around the park. When they grew tired, they laid side by side on the platform in the middle of the park.

Miss Kim came back with the bottle of water on her hand. She saw Mirae laughing with a little boy. She looks so happy and interested with whatever the boy was telling her. She knows that she shouldn't allow the little girl to talk to anyone but it's been awhile since Mirae laughed like this. She just stayed at the side watching them.

Time passed and it was time for the boy to go. Mirae frowned when he said goodbye.

"Don't worry. I'll come back tomorrow and we'll play again." Ben assured her. He waved her goodbye before he ran to their house which is just across the park.

True to his word, he came back the next day. Mirae felt so happy to find a friend. The set-up continued for days then months. Suhyun was confused as to why her daughter would always ask her if she could play outside but she decided to let her go. As long as she's happy, Suhyun thought. Anyway, Miss Kim is always there accompany her.

The two kids started to build a close friendship with each other. They would exchange toys with each other and bring food that they can share. Miss Kim also became their friend which delighted the woman. Mirae became so happy after she met Ben.

But one day, Ben came looking all sulky.

"What's wrong, Ben?" Mirae asked.

"My Mommy told me that we will leave this place." He said sadly. Mirae instantly cried hearing that her only friend will leave.

"Why? Where are you going?" She asked in between sobs.

"She said we're going to a place full of koalas and kangaroos." Ben replied. He felt sad seeing his friend cry so he hugged her tight. "Don't worry, I'll never forget you."

"I won't have a friend anymore." Mirae cried. Ben patted her back.

"I will always be your friend, don't worry. We will see each other again, I promise you."

"I promise that I won't forget you too." Mirae said. "We'll see each other again in the future."

The two little kids cried in each other arms that day. Neither of them wanted to let go because they fear the unknown. What if they never see each other again? Is this the end of their friendship? Even though they're both young, they know what friendship is and they both treasure it. Personally, they both knew that they have found refuge in each other.

Miss Kim could only watch the both of them crying. She didn't know what to do to comfort them. So, she just stood there with tears falling out of her eyes.