secret - lee juyeon

13

"mommy can i talk to you?" a quiet eunae whispered, making jieun lift her up her head so her eyes met hers.

"of course you can, sweetie," jieun said, clearing a space next to her on the sofa by moving sheets of paper piled onto the cushion. closing her laptop and looking to her.

"what is it, eunae?" she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her daughter's ear.

"why doesn't daddy move in?" she said, looking to her mother with her big curious eyes that couldn't only understand what she had been told by her mom and dad.

jieun sighed, looking down a little. she knew this day would come eventually and she would have to tell eunae that it's not safe for them to be together all the time. it's not safe for either of them to be with him.

"mommy, are you okay?" eunae said, noticing her mom looking down. she only did this when she was upset.

"yes, darling. i'm ok." jieun said, trying to hold back the tears and be strong in front of her daughter. she always took care of her even though she was the daughter. she always hugged her when she was crying, and she always knew when she was sad. "i want you to know that it's not your fault that daddy doesn't live with us. he loves you so much,"

eunae nodded. "it's ok if you don't want to talk about it mommy. i know it makes you sad," she said, snuggling into her side.

"but you deserve the truth, eunae," she said, whispering softly. "your dad's job...it's not one where he can do everything he wants. he has to be careful. but that doesn't mean he loves us any less, okay?"

eunae nodded, pulling out of the hug. "i understand, mommy,"

...

"i thought you went home," juyeon said, entering the recording room.

"nope. i have a lot of things to do. plus, eunae is stuck to eric and hyunjae like glue now after meeting them today," jieun said.

"yeah, they love her," he said, chuckling slightly.

"by the way. i talked to her this morning...she asked me why we don't all live together, and i didn't know how to explain it to her. i just told her that you love her and we could be in danger if we're not careful," jieun said, turning around to juyeon.

juyeon's heart sank hearing this. "but...why don't we live together?"

"wait...are you suggesting we all move in together?" jieun said, surprised that juyeon was suggesting such a thing.

"it's not like we have to buy a new house or anything. i'll just stay with you, right?"

"isn't that dangerous, juyeon? if people were to find out about eunae, they'd know where she lives, and-"

"jieun, calm down. no one is going to do anything to her. or you. i'll make sure of it. but baby...being with me is dangerous, you have to understand that," juyeon said, walking closer to jieun, towering over her instantly.

"are you serious right now? you think i don't know? you think i don't understand the fact that i was a single mother for 7 years, gave birth on my own, became estranged from my parents and got my heart broken by the person who i thought loved me? all because of a dream you had? i love you juyeon, i really do. and i hate the fact that i do. maybe it would be easier if i didn't still love you," jieun said, tears welling in her eyes.

"jagiya, i just care about her so much, that's all i was saying...and that i'll protect her," juyeon said, reaching out and pulling her into a hug as she tried to wriggle out as she cried. eventually she gave up, and fell into juyeon's embrace.

"i will stop at nothing to protect my girls, i promise. for real this time,"