Baby Steps | hyunsung

15 | ALL TYPES OF PLUSHIES!

CHAPTER FIFTEEN;

ALL TYPES OF PLUSHIES!;

Jisung remembers how delighted his daughter looked when she was told she got to choose her birthday present. Her eyes sparkled under the rays of the bright sun, them growing wide as she started to think of the many different toys she would be able to get. Her thin red lips stretched into the biggest smile ever, then moving at a fast pace, while she stumbled over the few words that were in her vocabulary. Her small toddler hands were thrown up in the air, fingers twisting and turning in hopes of describing what she couldn't say. And she bounced in her seat that was her father's lap, occasionally almost falling over if it weren't for Jisung's hands being secured around her waist. He found her excitement adorable, not being able to help the smile that grew upon his own face.

"And a plushie daddy!" She twisted her body around, patting his chest to catch his attention. To show his acknowledgement, he hummed. "I want a plushie!"

"Do you want a certain one? Like a unicorn, or maybe a puppy or-" He wasn't able to list any more options, as she was once again squealing loudly. Her baby hands cupped her cheeks, lips then moving up and down. Jisung chuckled at the sight.

"I want a squirrel plushie!" She mocked the way the animal ate, even trying to replicate the sounds. The blonde raised his brows from amusement.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah!" She then pushed at her father's cheeks, squishing them in every direction. "You can get one too, daddy!"

And just as Jisung began to tickle her stomach, claiming that it was a brilliant idea, a car had pulled up on the side of the street. As it slowed near the curb, the cracking of rocks crumbling underneath thick rubber tires sounded. The blonde snapped his head up at the presence of another, attention being perked at the unfamiliar vehicle being placed in front of his house. He stayed placed in his spot on the wooden stairs, grip on Esme becoming a little tighter. His heart began to beat a little quicker when a door opened, the person driving now taking their time as they stepped out. Jisung wasn't able to see anything but a firm back that was covered by a thin white shirt, and a head of wavy black locks. Or that was until the person turned around. The blonde should have known it was just Hyunjin. After all, he was the reason why he waited outside with his daughter.

Removing the black sunglasses from his face, he gently leant up against his car. He flashed Jisung a smile.

"Hey, sorry I'm late. I actually went out to buy a car-seat" Hyunjin scratched at the nape of his neck, eyes darting to the little girl still in Jisung's arms. She was staring back at him, head tilted with slight interest. She's seen him a few times before, but she hasn't decided how she's felt about him yet. Usually their encounters were uncomfortable, with uneasy conversations. Jisung even decided that the best option was to tell her that Hyunjin was her other father; to which Esme gawked openly at before throwing out a million different questions. There was improvement after. Esme was finally able to smile and talk with Hyunjin. But that was all. She still kept a safe distance, and she refused to be left alone in a room with him.

"She already has one though. In Jungkook's car" Jisung replies as he stands. He placed his daughter on his hip, slowly descending down the last two steps before he was on the concrete sidewalk. While he got closer to the clean white vehicle, Hyunjin decided to meet him halfway.

"I know. But as you can see, I don't have his car, I have mine. And I don't think you want Esme riding without one so..." He trailed as he hoped the shorter would understand the reasoning behind his actions.

"You could have just-"

Hyunjin flicked him on the forehead lightly, snickering when the younger scrunched his face up.

"Why can't you just say thank you?" Jisung didn't give a verbal response, but instead glared. Shrugging it off, Hyunjin then grabbed hold of the blonde's hand and guided him towards the vehicle. "Come on, I heard they reopened Build a Bear!"

"I can get a plushie!" Esme smiled, once again squirming at the thought of a gift. Once they approached the white automobile, Hyunjin opened one of the back doors, replicating the thrilled grin the little girl had. Jisung was amazed to see that there was indeed a brand new car-seat.

"Yeah, you can get any plushie you want!" Hyunjin encouraged. That singular sentence had her sold, because now she was struggling to leave the grasp of her father. The second her small feet hit the ground, she was making a mad dash for the car—climbing to get in.

"You can't have it until your birthday, you know?" Jisung had broken the news while strapping her in. Esme was quick to frown.

"What? No" She crossed her arms, trailing her dewy eyes after her father who now stepped back. "I want my plushie now, daddy!" She kicked her feet, and the blonde clicked his tongue.

"Keep acting like this and you won't get one at all."

"Oh, give her a break Jisung" Hyunjin spoke up, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "She's just excited. We can get her one today, and another for her birthday gift. I'll even pay for it all" Esme cheered at the idea. She looked so happy again. It twisted the blonde's chest, forcing him to give in. So he pushed the taller male's arm off of him, sighing for a response.

"I shouldn't have to pull out my wallet for anything Hwang" Jisung watched as Hyunjin threw his arms up in defense, taking steps back while a teasing smile stretched at his face. The shorter cracked his own grin. "Alright, let's go then. I don't want to be doing this all day."

"As you wish, your majesty" Hyunjin mocked a bow, only rising when Jisung walked around him to grab the handle to the passenger side door, getting in. The ravenette gave Esme a wink, before shutting her own door, and then jogging over to the driver's side of the car.