🌷⌇new beginnings finding our way back part 10; a choi jongho mini-series
ex-boyfriend! idol! jongho x ex-girlfriend! single-mom! reader
│synopsis: five years have passed since jongho last saw you. your lives have taken drastically different paths, with jongho achieving fame and you focusing on raising your daughter, nari, in quiet anonymity. when jongho discovers he has a daughter, he's determined to be a part of her life.
│genre: a slice of life, romance, fluff, some angst
│reminder: what you’re about to read is purely fiction, so let’s keep it separate from reality.
— hi, my lovely people! the moment we've all been waiting for is finally here—the most important part of this story is going live. from the very beginning of fowb, i knew this would be the most nerve-wracking chapter to share, and i can only hope it lives up to your expectations. as we approach the end of this story let me once again thank you for sticking with me on this journey—it truly means the world. i’d love to hear your thoughts, so don’t be shy to share!
│ if you wish to be tagged let me know here! ♡
The CEO's jaw tightened as you interrupted his carefully prepared speech, your voice ringing with maternal authority through the pristine office space. "No, it's you who should be listening to me! Nari is my daughter, and as her only legal guardian, every decision about her future goes through me first - these are my terms and my conditions!" Your words carried the unmistakable weight of years spent as a protective mother, each syllable resonating with fierce determination. The CEO leaned back in his expensive leather chair, clearly taken aback by the intensity of your declaration. His expression underwent a calculated transformation, shifting from initial surprise to careful consideration as he processed your words. You could see the subtle changes in his demeanor as he mentally recalibrated his approach, likely searching for a new angle to maintain his grip on the situation. But you remained steadfast, arms crossed firmly across your chest, and your entire posture made it crystal clear that this wasn't a matter up for negotiation. "So, are you listening well now?" you asked, your eyes boring into his with an intensity that could have melted steel, your voice carrying an edge sharp enough to cut through any corporate pretense.
The CEO shifted uncomfortably in his chair, his usual air of authority diminished in the face of your unwavering stance. His manicured fingers drummed an irregular rhythm against the polished mahogany desk surface before he finally found his voice, choosing his words with careful precision. "I understand your position completely, but you must also consider-"
"No," you cut him off again, leaning forward with renewed intensity, your hands now planted firmly on his desk. "There's absolutely nothing to consider here. So I'll ask you one more time - are you going to listen to what I have to say, or are we going to have a problem?"
The CEO's fingers curled into tight fists against the surface of his desk. After what felt like an eternity of tense silence, he released a long, controlled breath and offered a curt nod of acquiescence. "Very well. Please state your terms."
Drawing yourself up to your full height, you spoke with the kind of unwavering determination that only a protective parent could muster. "First and foremost, there will be absolutely no pressure placed on Jongho to make any public statements or appearances beyond this one carefully controlled interview. His relationship with Nari is entirely private, and it will remain that way until he personally decides he's ready to share more with the world, in whatever manner he chooses."
The CEO's expression remained carefully neutral, but you didn't miss the subtle twitch that betrayed his displeasure. You pressed on, your voice maintaining its steady, authoritative tone. "Second, any and all decisions regarding Nari's involvement in public events or media coverage will go through me first, without exception. I have the final say on everything concerning my daughter, from the smallest photo opportunity to the largest public appearance."
"And third," you leaned forward slightly, your eyes locked with his in an unwavering gaze, "any attempts to use this situation for publicity or profit without my written consent will result in immediate and aggressive legal action."
The silence that followed was thick enough to cut with a knife. The CEO's fingers had ceased their nervous drumming, and his expression had grown increasingly grave as you listed each of your non-negotiable conditions. Finally, he spoke, his voice carefully modulated to hide his obvious displeasure. "These are... rather significant demands you're making."
"They're completely non-negotiable," you repeated without a moment's hesitation, your voice carrying the weight of absolute certainty. "My daughter's well-being comes first. Always. That's not up for discussion."
After what seemed like an endless stretch of contemplation, the CEO nodded slowly, resignation evident in his gesture. "Very well. I'll have our legal team draw up the appropriate paperwork reflecting all of these terms."
"Excellent," you said, straightening your posture with quiet confidence. "I'll have my lawyer review every word before I even consider signing anything."
The CEO cleared his throat uncomfortably, his expression shifting to something that almost resembled hesitation. "There is... one additional matter we need to discuss." He paused meaningfully, making a show of straightening the already perfectly aligned papers on his desk. "The public will naturally expect a certain... narrative to unfold. A happy ending, if you will. They'll want to know about your and Jongho's plans for the future together."
You felt heat rise to your face as you immediately understood his implication, but your voice remained steady and firm. "Our personal relationship is absolutely not up for discussion or public consumption. Whatever happens between Jongho and me will develop naturally, on our own terms and our own timeline."
"A wedding would generate exceptional publicity," the CEO pressed, leaning forward with renewed enthusiasm. "The public absolutely adores a good love story, especially one with such compelling history-"
"Absolutely not," you cut him off sharply, your voice hardening to steel. "Our relationship, our choices, our timeline. The only story being shared right now is about Jongho meeting his daughter. Nothing more, nothing less."
The CEO sat back in his chair, clearly disappointed but seemingly wise enough not to push the issue further. "Very well," he conceded with a slight nod of resignation. "But you should keep in mind that the public will inevitably draw their own conclusions regardless of our official stance."
"Let them speculate all they want," you replied with ice in your voice. "But they'll do it without any official statement or guidance from your company. Are we absolutely clear on that point?"
The CEO leaned forward again, his expression hardening with renewed determination. "We are not positioned as your adversaries in this situation. The public - particularly those fans who might refuse to accept this story, who will dig relentlessly and create endless speculation - represent the real threat here. You need to carefully consider Jongho's position in all of this."
"Don't you dare attempt to use Jongho to manipulate this situation. I've spent years protecting my daughter from exactly this kind of pressure and endless speculation. I won't stop now, regardless of the circumstances."
"This situation extends beyond just your daughter now," the CEO countered, his voice rising slightly with frustration. "Jongho's career, his carefully built reputation-"
"Are precisely why we're having this detailed conversation," you cut in firmly, "I'm actively protecting both of them. The more you attempt to control and manipulate this situation, the more suspicious and intrusive the public will become. A clean, simple truth is our absolute best defense against speculation."
The CEO sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose in evident frustration. "And what happens when that approach proves insufficient? When they start camping outside your home? Following Nari to her school?"
"Then we will handle those challenges together, me and Jongho, as a family," you stated, your voice carrying absolute conviction. "But it will be handled entirely on our terms, not yours."
The silence stretched between you for a long moment as you let your words sink in. Finally, the CEO's shoulders slumped almost imperceptibly, a sign of grudging acceptance. "Alright," he conceded, reaching for his phone. "I'll have the legal team begin drafting the paperwork immediately. But remember, once this story breaks, there's no going back."
You met his gaze with unwavering determination, "I'm well aware. But I'd rather face whatever comes our way honestly and on our own terms than try to manipulate public perception with carefully crafted narratives." Rising from your chair, you gathered your belongings with deliberate calm. "Have your legal team send over the paperwork when it's ready. Until then, we're done here."
As you walked out of the CEO's office, your steps were steady but your mind was racing. The weight of what lay ahead - the public revelation, the media storm that would follow, the challenges your little family would face - pressed heavily on your shoulders. But there was also a fierce pride in knowing you had stood your ground, protecting both your daughter and Jongho with every ounce of strength you possessed.
As you made your way down the hallway, a familiar voice called out behind you. "Y/N! Wait up!" You turned to see Hongjoong jogging to catch up, his expression a mix of concern and determination.
"I heard what happened in there," he said, falling into step beside you. "Are you okay? That couldn't have been easy, standing up to the CEO like that."
You let out a long breath, some of the tension finally leaving your shoulders. "I had to do it. Not only for Nari, but for Jongho as well. I won't let them turn this into some kind of media circus."
Hongjoong nodded sympathetically, his eyes reflecting understanding. "You know we've got your back, right? All of us - we'll help protect both of them, whatever it takes."
"Hongjoong, I just wanted to than—"
"Don't thank me," he interrupted, his voice gentle but firm. "That's what family does. And like it or not, you're stuck with all of us now." A playful smile tugged at his lips. "Even Wooyoung, though I know he can be a handful."
A small laugh escaped you, some of the tension finally melting from your shoulders. "I suppose I should be grateful for that. Having all of you in our corner means more than you know." You paused at the elevator, turning to face Hongjoong with sincere gratitude in your eyes. "Thank you, really. For everything."
Hongjoong's smile softened as he pressed the elevator button. "Hey, how about we make this a regular thing? Coffee, I mean. Not the intense CEO confrontations." He chuckled warmly. "It would be nice to catch up properly, without all the drama."
"I'd like that," you replied, a genuine smile spreading across your face. The elevator doors opened with a soft ding, and you both stepped inside.
"Perfect," Hongjoong said, his eyes crinkling with warmth. "I know this great little café just around the corner from my building. They make the best americano in Seoul."
You smiled, the warmth of friendship helping to ease some of the lingering tension from the confrontation. "That sounds perfect."
"Here," Hongjoong said, pulling out his phone. "Let me get your number. That way we can set up our coffee dates properly."
You nodded, reciting your number as he typed it into his phone. A moment later, your own phone buzzed with a message.
"Now you have mine too," he said with a warm smile. "And don't be surprised if the others start messaging you as well. Once San finds out I have your number, he won't rest until he gets it too."
You couldn't help but laugh, already imagining the chaos that would ensue. "I suppose I better prepare myself for that then."
The elevator doors opened to the ground floor, and as you stepped out into the lobby, you couldn't help but feel a strange mix of exhaustion and determination. The battle with the CEO had drained you, but knowing you had allies like Hongjoong and the others gave you strength.
"Hey," Hongjoong said, glancing at his watch. "Have you eaten yet? There's this great little place nearby that serves amazing chicken. The others might join us too, if you're up for some company?"
"I'd love to," you replied, feeling drained but grateful for the company. "I could definitely use the distraction right now. Plus, it would be nice to meet everyone properly."
Hongjoong's face lit up with a warm smile. "Perfect! I'll message the group chat. Knowing them, they're probably already hovering nearby, waiting to hear how everything went." He pulled out his phone and started typing rapidly. "Seonghwa's been especially worried about you. He keeps saying we need to make sure you're not dealing with all this alone."
"He's sweet," you said softly, touched by their concern. "They all are. I never expected to have so much support through all of this."
"That's what family's for," Hongjoong replied simply, pocketing his phone. "Come on, the boys will meet us at the restaurant in a few."
Your phone buzzed in your pocket, interrupting your thoughts. Pulling it out, you saw a message from Hyunwoo:
Hyunwoo: Y/N I’m so sorry. Can we please talk?
You felt your stomach drop but forced yourself to take a steadying breath. This could wait. Slipping your phone back into your pocket, you turned your attention back to Hongjoong, determined not to let Hyunwoo's message ruin this moment. Right now, you needed the comfort and support of your newfound family more than anything. As you walked with Hongjoong toward the restaurant, the weight of Hyunwoo's message sat heavily in your pocket, but the warmth of this new friendship and support surrounding you helped ease the burden.
Hongjoong, catching your change in expression, paused mid-step. "Hey, what's wrong? Did something happen?"
You hesitated for a moment. "It's just Hyunwoo, he's... a friend of mine. He texted me that he wants to talk."
Hongjoong's expression hardened slightly at the name Jongho had mentioned a few days earlier. "Do you want to talk to him?"
You shook your head. "No," you replied firmly, "Whatever he has to say can wait. I need time to process what happened."
Hongjoong glanced at you with concern. "Did he upset you? The boys can wait if you need to talk."
"There's just so too much to unpack when it comes to Hyunwoo," you chuckled nervously, running a hand through your hair.
"Well," Hongjoong's eyes sparkled with warmth, "that's exactly what our coffee dates are for. We'll have plenty of time to sort everything out over americanos."
You smiled warmly at his words, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for how quickly Hongjoong had become such a steadfast ally. The promise of future coffee dates and honest conversations felt like a lifeline during all this chaos. As you both continued walking, the weight of Hyunwoo's message seemed to fade just a little, replaced by the comforting knowledge that you weren't facing any of this alone. Not anymore.
The ice cream shop was bustling with afternoon customers when Jongho and Nari walked in, the little bell above the door announcing their arrival. The sweet, sugary aroma of freshly baked waffle cones wafted through the air as they made their way inside. Nari's eyes grew wide at the array of colorful ice cream flavors, she pressed her small hands eagerly against the display case, bouncing on her tiptoes.
"Uncle! Look at all the colors!" she exclaimed, her eyes darting from one flavor to another. Her voice rose with growing enthusiasm as she pointed out each enticing option. "Can I try that pink one? And the blue one? Oh, and that sparkly purple one!"
Jongho's hands trembled slightly as he watched her infectious enthusiasm, his heart racing with the weight of what he was about to do. Despite the nervous energy coursing through him, he couldn't help but smile tenderly at her. "We can order whatever you want, princess. In fact, why don't you pick something special for me too?"
"Really?" Nari's entire face lit up with the responsibility of this important mission, her eyes sparkling. She studied the flavors with intense concentration, her small finger tapping thoughtfully against her chin. After several moments of deep contemplation, she announced her verdict with pride: "You should try the cookie dough! And maybe salted caramel too with pink sprinkles! They'll taste amazing together!”
Jongho chuckled at her enthusiastic suggestion, "That sounds perfect, sweetheart. You have excellent taste."
After what felt like an eternity of deliberation (and several sample tastes), they emerged into the garden area with their creations: Nari's towering cone of strawberry, blueberry cheesecake, and cotton candy ice cream, decorated with an alarming amount of sprinkles, strawberry sauce, and gummy bears, and Jongho's more modest but equally special combination of cookie dough and caramel, picked with such care by his little ice cream consultant. Jongho guided them to the furthest table, tucked away in a quiet corner under a striped umbrella. The afternoon sun was warm but gentle, with occasional fluffy white clouds drifting lazily across the blue sky. He watched as Nari attacked her ice cream with enthusiasm, his own stomach too knotted with nerves to even think about eating.
"Is it good?" he asked softly, dabbing at a spot of ice cream on her cheek with a napkin, the gentle gesture making his heart ache with all the years of moments like this he'd missed.
"It's the best!" she beamed, her smile so bright it made his hands shake even more. "Mommy never lets me get this many toppings! Why aren’t you eating Uncle? Do you not like yours?"
Jongho took a deep breath, his fingers fidgeting with the napkin on the table. "Actually, Nari... there's something really important I wanted to talk to you about." He paused, watching as she tilted her head curiously, ice cream momentarily forgotten.
"Yes?" she nodded, focused on catching a drip of ice cream before it reached her hand.
Jongho felt his courage slipping away. He adjusted his fringe nervously and let out a shaky breath. "Um... what's your favorite thing about mommy?" he asked, inwardly chiding himself for his hesitation.
Nari's face lit up instantly at the mention of you, her ice cream temporarily forgotten. "Oh! I love everything about mommy! She gives the best hugs, and she makes funny voices when she reads me stories, and she always knows how to make me feel better when I'm sad!" She paused to take another lick of her ice cream before continuing, "What do you like about Mommy, Uncle?"
Jongho's expression softened, a gentle smile tugging at his lips as he thought about you. "Everything," he said softly, his voice full of warmth. "I love how kind and caring she is, how she can make me laugh, and..." He trailed off, gathering his courage before continuing, "That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about, Nari."
Nari's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she carefully set down her ice cream cone. "You wanted to talk about Mommy? Is this because you love her? Uncle San says you do, and Uncle Wooyoung says you have loved Mommy for a while now" she declared matter-of-factly, swinging her legs beneath the table.
Jongho laughed softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, you shouldn't believe everything your uncles say, especially Uncle Wooyoung. He likes to joke a lot, you know?"
Nari's eyes widened with concern, "So... you don't love Mommy?" she asked, her lower lip starting to tremble slightly.
"No, no, that's not it at all," Jongho quickly reassured her, reaching across the table to gently take her small hand in his. "I..." Jongho hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest. "Actually, sweetheart, that's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. I care about your mommy very much, and... I care about you too."
"Mommy's always by herself," Nari unexpectedly said with a big frowny face. "It's just me and Mommy all the time! Mommy says Daddy has a lot of work." She looks at Jongho with her biggest puppy eyes. "In my princess movies, the princess gets a super nice prince who gives her big hugs! And they live happily ever after!" She stops to eat a bite of her melty ice cream, pink and blue all mixed up as she thinks really hard, her tiny tongue sticking out as she tries not to spill any. "I want mommy to have a prince who can sing pretty songs for her and play with us lots!" she says in her small voice, her bottom lip doing a wobble as she adds, "and maybe not be too busy to play with us."
Jongho's heart clenched at her words, he set down his barely-touched ice cream, gathering his courage before asking softly, "Nari... has your mommy ever told you about your daddy?"
Nari nodded, her voice becoming quieter. "Mommy says he loves me very much, but he had to go away for a while." Her bottom lip quivered again. "I really want to meet him. Mommy gets sad sometimes when she thinks I'm sleeping. I hear her crying. I think she misses Daddy too. Do you think he'll like me, Uncle Jongho?"
Jongho felt tears welling up in his eyes as he squeezed Nari's tiny hand. "Sweetheart," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion, "your daddy already loves you more than anything in the world." Jongho took a deep, steadying breath, his heart pounding so hard he could feel it in his throat. This was it - the moment that would change everything. His hands trembled slightly as he gathered his courage, knowing there was no turning back now. "Nari," he started gently, "do you remember the last time you and Mommy talked about your daddy?"
Nari's face scrunched up in concentration, and then suddenly, her eyes lit up and she practically jumped in her seat. "Oh! Oh! I remember!" she exclaimed, "Mommy and I had ice cream just like today! She promised that Daddy would take me next time!" She beamed at the memory before tilting her head curiously. "Uncle Jongho, why are you crying?" Jongho quickly wiped at his eyes, but the tears kept falling, leaving glistening trails down his cheeks. His hands trembled as he reached across the table, gently taking Nari's sticky little hand in his. "Nari, sweetheart," he began, his voice wavering with emotion, "what if... what if I told you that your daddy is here right now?" His heart thundered in his chest as he watched her eyes grow wide with wonder.
"Really?" she whispered, looking around excitedly. "Where? Where is he?"
Jongho swallowed hard, his heart racing, "It's me, princess," he whispered, "I'm your daddy." The words hung in the air between them as Nari's eyes widened. Time seemed to stand still as father and daughter looked at each other, truly seeing each other for the first time. Tears streamed freely down his face now as he watched understanding slowly dawn in her innocent eyes. For a long moment, Nari just stared at him, her mouth forming a perfect little 'o'. Then, with trembling lips and eyes filling with tears, she whispered, "Really? You're my daddy?"
Jongho nodded, unable to speak past the lump in his throat. His heart felt like it might burst from his chest as he watched a thousand emotions flicker across his daughter's face.
"But... but why didn't you tell me before? When we were dancing and singing and... and..." Her voice broke as tears spilled down her cheeks.
In an instant, Jongho was around the table, kneeling beside her chair. "I wanted to tell you every single day," he said softly, gently wiping her tears away. "Every time I saw you smile, every time you danced, every time you sang... my heart was screaming to tell you. I was just... Daddy was so scared." Without warning, Nari threw herself into his arms, her small body shaking with sobs.
"Daddy," she hiccupped against his neck, "My daddy..." Jongho held her tightly, his own tears falling freely into her hair as he rocked her gently.
"I'm here now, love," he whispered. "I'm here, and I'm never going away again. I promise." They stayed like that for a long while, Nari clung to her dad and he held her close. All the years of separation seemed to melt away, replaced by the pure, overwhelming joy of a father and daughter finally united.
After a few moments, Nari pulled back slightly, her face still wet with tears but now beaming with a smile that could light up the darkest night. "Can we have ice cream together every weekend now, Daddy?" she asked hopefully, her eyes sparkling with newfound joy. Jongho laughed softly, his heart swelling with love as he gently wiped away the remaining tears from her cheeks.
"Of course we can, princess," he promised, kissing the top of her head. "We can have ice cream, go dancing, sing songs - anything you want."
Nari's eyes lit up even brighter if that was possible. "Yes! Yes! Can Mommy come too? Please, daddy? We can all have ice cream together and maybe you can sing for her like you do in your shows!"
Jongho's heart melted at her enthusiasm. "I would love that more than anything in the world, princess. We can all be together - you, me, and Mommy. How does that sound?"
"Like a happy ever after!" Nari exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck once more. "Can we..." Nari pulled back slightly, her eyes red but shining with hope, "can we go tell Mommy? I want to tell her I found my daddy!"
Jongho laughed softly, his heart so full it felt like it might overflow. "Of course we can, princess. Let's go tell mommy together."
"Come here, my precious princess," Jongho said gently, his eyes softening as he noticed the colorful swirls of melted ice cream decorating her tiny hands and the sweet sticky residue around her bright smile. "Let's get you all cleaned up first, shall we?"
He guided her to the ice cream shop's bathroom with careful steps, his strong hands secure around her waist as he lifted her up to reach the sink properly. With the tender care that came so naturally now, he helped her wash her hands, creating a gentle lather of soap that transformed into a mountain of playful bubbles. Nari giggled delightedly as he made sure to clean between each tiny finger, taking extra care with the spaces where the sticky ice cream had made its home. "Just look at my little ice cream explorer," he teased softly, his voice warm as he dampened a paper towel with warm water. With the infinite gentleness that only a father's heart could summon, he carefully began to clean away the sweet evidence of their afternoon treat, dabbing softly at the sticky patches that decorated her rosy cheeks and around her mouth.
Nari scrunched up her nose adorably as he cleaned her face, but remained perfectly still, her curious eyes fixed on his reflection in the mirror.
"Look, Daddy!" she exclaimed excitedly, pointing at their reflections in the mirror. "We have the same nose!" Her eyes sparkled with delight as she glanced back and forth between their reflections, studying their features with childlike wonder. Jongho felt his own eyes well up with tears as he watched her make silly faces in the mirror, comparing their features with such innocent joy. He could see it too - the same nose, the same curve of the smile, even the same cheeks. The moment was so precious, so perfect, that he wished he could freeze time and live in it forever. The trust in her gaze made his heart swell as she asked with innocent wonder, "Is this how daddies do it?"
"Yes, sweetheart," he replied, "This is exactly what daddies do - we take care of our precious little ones." He gave her nose a playful little tap with the paper towel, delighting in the sound of her giggles echoing off the bathroom walls. "There we go," he said finally, carefully helping her down from her perch by the sink. "All clean and beautiful, sparkling just like the princess you are. Ready to go see Mommy?"
Nari nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling with renewed excitement as she grabbed Jongho's hand. "Yes, daddy! I can't wait to tell Mommy!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing on her tiptoes.
Hand in hand, father and daughter made their way back to the car. Nari skipped along beside Jongho, occasionally looking up at him with wonder in her eyes as if making sure he was still really there. "Daddy?" she asked, swinging their joined hands. "Can you teach me more songs? I want to sing as pretty as you do!"
Jongho's heart swelled at the word 'daddy' - he didn't think he'd ever get tired of hearing it. "I'd love to teach you, princess. We can practice together every day if you want."
"Really?" Nari bounced excitedly. "And can we surprise Mommy with a special song?"
Jongho chuckled, helping her into her car seat. "That's a wonderful idea. What kind of song should we sing for her?"
"A love song!" Nari declared confidently, beaming up at him. "Because you love Mommy, right Daddy?"
Jongho felt his cheeks flush as he buckled her in. "Yes, princess. I love your Mommy very much."
"I knew it!" Nari clapped her hands triumphantly. "Uncle Wooyoung was right! He's going to be so happy when I tell him!"
Jongho let out a soft chuckle, reaching back to ruffle her hair. "Actually, princess, I have a special mission for you. Think you can help me with something very important?"
"Yes! Yes!" Nari bounced in her car seat, eyes sparkling with excitement. "I'm really good at special missions!"
"Well," Jongho said, "I want to tell Mommy how much I love her in a really special way. But it needs to be a surprise. Can you keep our little ice cream talk a secret for now? Just until Daddy plans something really magical?"
Nari's eyes widened, and she pressed her tiny fingers to her lips. "Like a surprise party? With balloons and cake and everything?"
"Even better than that," Jongho promised, his heart warming at her enthusiasm. "But we have to be super secretive about it. Can you be Daddy's special secret keeper?"
Nari nodded solemnly, making an exaggerated zipping motion across her lips. "I won't tell anyone! Not even Uncle Wooyoung! I'm the best at keeping secrets!" Nari suddenly reached up, tugging at Jongho's sleeve as he finished buckling her seatbelt. "Daddy?" she whispered, her eyes shining with pure joy, "I'm really happy you're my Daddy." She pushed herself up in her car seat, planting a soft kiss on his forehead that made his heart melt completely.
Jongho felt his own tears welling up again as he gently kissed the top of her head. "I'm the happiest in the whole world," he whispered.
As he started the car, he caught her reflection in the rearview mirror - her tiny face beaming with pure happiness - and he knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, this moment made everything worth it.
"Can I tell you something, princess?" Jongho asked softly as they drove.
"What is it, daddy?" Nari replied, swinging her legs happily in her car seat.
"I used to dream about this moment," he confessed, his voice gentle. "About finally telling you the truth. About holding you in my arms and hearing you call me 'daddy.' And now that it's real... it's even better than my dreams."
"Really?" Nari's eyes sparkled. "I used to dream about my daddy too! I would imagine what you looked like and what your voice sounded like. And you're even better than my dreams too!"
Jongho had to blink back tears. "You know what else?" he asked, his voice slightly shaky.
"What?" Nari leaned forward in her seat, eager to hear more.
"From now on, we don't have to dream anymore. Because we have each other for real."
"Forever and ever?" Nari asked hopefully.
"Forever and ever," Jongho promised. "That's what daddies are for."
♡│if you enjoy my writing please consider supporting me by tagging and reblogging│
