February 09, 12:28 P.M.

"No! Your honor, you cannot do this!"

"—full custody goes to the father." The gavel is struck on the wooden base, and the judge delivers her final verdict.

"—This is not fair! I'm al- let me go!" The woman struggles against the grip of two men holding her back, her studded bracelets grazing their skin, faded pink hair falling over her face.

"The court is adjourned." The judge exits the place, leaving no room for any argument, not heeding the raging lady's cries. The murmurs in the courtroom cease as the audience filters out through the wooden doors behind them.

"This is not over!" The woman turns to the man sitting in the spectator area, pinning him with her furious eyes blazing with hatred in them. "You'll regret doing this to me!" She explodes, pushing the guards away and grabbing the man by his collar. "What father separates a mother from her child!"

The chocolate brown-haired male presses his lips into a thin line and takes in a deep breath, closing his eyes to avoid causing a scene in the court. He stands up and pulls his lapels from her grip, adjusting his black blazer, and walks out of the place, without a word, ignoring the profanities being thrown at him.

"Mark my words, you'll pay for this, Kim Haneul!" The last words he hears before the door closes behind him.

Haneul stands outside the court, his head tilting upwards with a thankful gesture, his lips pulled into a small smile. The breezy air of early February strikes his cheeks and nose with a light hue of pink complementing his well-defined features. A man blessed with superior genes. A face with a perfectly symmetrical bone structure and tiger-like sharp eyes enough to intimidate strangers with rosy heart-shaped lips with an identical thickness of lower and upper lips, and a straight nose.

The curve on Haneul's mouth dies out as he recalls all that he has been through in the past years. The last few months have been especially draining as fighting for full custody of his child was not easy. He always wanted a perfect family, but now he is divorced and is a single father. Occurrences like these don't surprise him anymore, by now he is familiar with the ache of losing people.

Shin Naeun, his ex-wife, had been a cornerstone for him in the time they dated and in the early years of their marriage until everything fell apart in leaps and bounds, their home came crashing down with brewing pressure and problems between them. They weren't happy anymore. Trying was useless as they wanted different things and separating was their only option, even if it meant ridding their child of one of the parents.

Before unending thoughts could take over, the doctor slaps his palms against his cheeks with a huff, willing the negativity away and focusing on newfound happiness seeping its way into his mind, knowing it's the last day his presence at the court is required. He puts on a pair of Gucci shades, runs a hand through his fluffy locks, and walks off to his car, ready to start a new chapter in life once again.

He slips into his Mercedes Benz S-class and rolls down the window, basking in the fresh air that gushes as he drives off to his next destination. He feels light, as though a heavy weight has been lifted off of him. The thought of having his daughter's complete custody is bliss even though he'd have to let her spend a day with her mother twice every month. Haneul shakes his head, refraining from the past to tempt him, and turns on the car radio.

'...lost myself trying to save you,
Where's my savior, if it's not you?
This is goodbye, my only.'

"Ladies and gentlemen! That was 'No Saving' from Oliver Queen's latest album 'For All Eternity." The host clears his throat, clapping his hands next. "As for today's last segment, we have a mash-up of an artist. The first three listeners to mention @RJlateafternoon with #guessforseat on Twitter will win a free pass to attend next week's live show!"

Haneul is a regular listener of the radio show, usually good for discovering new artists and songs, a way to pass his time whenever he is bored.

"Are you ready?" The host excitedly exclaims, the listeners hearing the sound of clicking a button after a second of mysterious pause.

The song starts, the keys of the piano tuning their way in. Haneul's grip on the steering wheel tightens, he knows the song, too well. He's listened to it many times on repeat, remembering the lyrics by heart. A whiff of nostalgia and uncertainty breaks through him, the doctor's fingers coming up and hovering over the next button of the radio.

'Holding on to the past like a chained criminal,
Your hate is subliminal, leaking through the cracks of your smile, sweetly sickening.'

The deep but soothing voice echoes through the speakers, spreading melancholy, and Haneul doesn't have to heart to change the channel, his fingers curling back on the wheel.

'I'm sorry I'm not all that much.
Marred with flaws is all I ever will be,
I'm sorry I ain't thee.

I wanna let you in,
Show you I'm more than just black and grey.
Tell you about the stories on my skin,
Be it the scars of my yore or the tattooed ink.'

Haneul had been there during the process, late-night visits to the studio with bags of takeout to provide moral support. They were good times, laughing and relaxing as the artist struggled to not drop dead due to sleep deprivation to meet his deadlines. But now the memory just brings a wry smile and yearning in search of something that's long gone.

'A boy swept by the ocean water,
Lost and insecure,
Wandering the land like a squatter.

Muddled with no memories of his own,
Lost and insecure,
He fought his demons alone.

All hope vanquished in a dark cold room,
Lost and insecure,
There at the door, stood his doom.

Save me, I don't wanna fall,
I'm drowning in the pits of nowhere.
I pray you hear my call.
Save me, save me...'

Haneul focuses on the road in front of him, letting the songs be background noise and nothing else. He sighs as the orotund voice of the host once again presents itself.

"And that was a mash-up of artist Park Dae Ho's first album 'Freedom'! The lucky winners will get a—"

Haneul finally switches the radio off and parks his car, arriving at his desired store. He pushes away the thoughts of Park Dae Ho that gnaw at the back of his mind.

The golden bell attached to the door chimes when Haneul enters Meosjin Florist, the smell of fresh flowers hitting his nose. The shop is small but spacious enough to walk around. The doctor takes in an audible breath, the scent of flowers calming him down. He feels his senses relax, limbs following right after. "Do you have jasmine seeds?" He asks the man behind the counter, who is tying a ribbon around the rose bouquet in his hands.

The florist lifts his head, his raven hair bouncing a bit with the movement. He is taller than Haneul, shoulders broad, but the apron wrapped around him accentuates his small waist. A smile graces his somewhat thick lips. "Welcome back!" He moves out of the counter to face Haneul. "How did the trial go?" His eyes are littered with curiosity, eagerly waiting for the other to answer.

"I got the full custody," Haneul breathes out, a hand slipping into his pocket. Saying it out loud confirms the court verdict and feels real even though Haneul already knows it.

"Congratulations! We should celebrate!"

"You just need an excuse to drink," the doctor chuckles waving his hand in the air. "But Yoon, I'm not in the mood, sorry."

"You're never in the mood, since we've met I haven't seen you drink even once, why?"

Haneul gives him a tight smile and shakes his head. "Just give me the seeds, eomma wants to plant them in her garden." He diverts the florist's question, there isn't any need for him to know the reason behind his actions.

"Alright."

Choi Yoon starts searching the cabinets for the seeds and Haneul's thoughts reel back to the day he met the enthusiastic man. They fit rather well, like two peas in a pod. Two years ago, when Chulsoo, one of his friends, died in a car accident, Haneul was distraught. He had no one to share his grief with, his family being abroad that day. When sadness turned into anger, he started punching the coarse wall of a building just across from his apartment. His knuckles bled, and tears were flowing incessantly but he couldn't care less. He didn't stop until a cold soda can was pressed against his cheek.

"What did the poor wall ever do to you?" The voice said, "I'm Choi Yoon, the owner of the wall you're punching." The man had grinned, his hand casted forward for a shake.

Haneul snaps back to the present when he hears Yoon speak, "I'm adding other seeds I'm sure your mother will love."

"Oh, alright. Thanks. She would appreciate the gesture."

Haneul pays for his seeds and is about to leave when Yoon calls him back again. "Since we're not going to celebrate, I'll give you a bouquet instead." He saunters towards a pot on his right and plucks out some tulips.

"Do you know what tulips symbolize?" The florist asks, clipping the stems with a pair of shears. He glances at the doctor before he continues. "Freedom. They symbolize freedom." Choi Yoon grins, taking a purple wrapper and placing it on the counter." After World War II, Holland sent Canada thousands of tulips, appreciating their help in their freedom struggle against the Germans. Since then it has been representing freedom."

Haneul nods, not understanding what his friend is trying to convey.

As if on cue, Yoon begins again, "You're free from your broken marriage and now I hope you don't let people hold you back and live life to your fullest. I don't want you to run away from love when it comes to you a second time. I mean, you're still in your prime years so this isn't the end for you. I just know it."

"Thank you," the doctor smiles, the apple of his cheeks rising up. The words are reassuring, something he needs to hear to encourage himself. He's found a friend in the florist he never thought he would. With that, Haneul leaves the shop, drops the bouquet on the shotgun seat, and heads to his parent's place.

"Appa! You're back!" A girl beams, running towards Haneul when he steps into the mansion. He crouches down to pick his daughter up and lands a kiss on her cheek when she wraps her arms around his neck.

"Did you get awything for me?"

The father chuckles at how Soomin never fails to ask for something every time he goes out. "I got these flowers for my lil' baby." He shows her the tulip bouquet, but the girl just juts out her lips.

"But I want ice cweam," she says, "you should give the flowers to eomma, sh- did eomma not come back again?"

Haneul frowns at the mention of his ex-wife. He doesn't blame his daughter for missing her but it always makes him uneasy. It has been about seven months since they divorced and have been battling for their daughter's custody.

"How about we go to the park and get you some ice cream," he replies instead. He pulls out the seed packet from his pocket and hands it to Soomin. "Go give this to haelmoni and I'll freshen up in the meantime."

It's been a long day but Haneul doesn't want to see his daughter sad so he goes along with what she desires. He would rather be sleeping in but her happy face would be worth the labor of taking the girl out. He changes into a casual outfit, a white Celine t-shirt, and brown slacks. "Minnie, let's go!" He calls and picks up his car keys on his way out with Soomin trailing behind him.

He tucks her in the child car seat and flicks her chin playfully before he closes the door and they drive off to the park.

Soomin twirls around, her frock swiveling and bob hair flying in all directions. "Appa, I want to sit on that." She points to an empty swing, already running towards it with vanilla ice cream in her hand that Haneul bought for her a few minutes ago.

"Minnie, be careful." Haneul jogs behind her, monitoring her actions. "Let's go and get coffee for me first," he says but Soomin shakes her head.

"Someone will twake this if I leave." She stubbornly sits on the swing, licking her ice cream.

The father groans, his parents spoil Soomin too much as she's his first child, and he already feels how hard it is going to be to deal with her in the future. "Then you stay here, appa will go."

Soomin gives him a thumbs-up as Haneul walks away. He walks to the coffee stall booth and greets the man. "I'd like to have a caramel latte."

"One latte coming right up, sir."

After Haneul gets his coffee, he goes back but finds no Soomin on the swing. "Soomin!" He yells but receives no answer. He searches for her until he sees her with a man wearing a grey sweatshirt and bucket hat bent to her level. His steps become faster, trying to draw their attention towards him. "Soomin!"

The man puts something in his child's hands and skirts away from her when he hears Haneul. "Who was that?" He asks as soon as he approaches Soomin.

She bounces on her toes, eyes sparkling with joy. "Appa, I just saw Uncle Jiswoo!"

Haneul chuckles at her behavior, his hands coming up to her shoulder to prevent her from falling. "Soomin, Uncle Jisoo is in Las Vegas, he just came here for vacation last month."

After he completed his bachelor's in Seoul, Han Jisoo left for the U.S. to pursue his studies further and recently started working as a counseling psychiatrist in one of the centers there. When he had a two-week break, he visited and stayed over at Haneul's place, where the two got acquainted and Soomin loved his company. It hasn't been long since Jisoo left so Soomin must miss him.

"Let's go home, you must be tired," the father declares, patting her arms.

"No, appa I'm not lywing," Soomin retorts, her brows knitting together. "Look Uncle Jiswoo gave me thwis." She opens her palm, revealing an energy bar in her hand, a brand and flavor Haneul knows too well.

He sucks in a breath, his mind going awry and hands fall off Soomin's shoulders, eyes boring holes into the bar. 'No way!' Haneul picks up Soomin, frantically searching the park for the grey sweatshirt he saw before. But to his disappointment, he finds the man nowhere. His shoulders slump, grip tightening around his daughter.

A glimmer of hope bubbles up his chest, but Haneul shoots it down as soon as it comes. He'll not believe anything until he has concrete evidence, too tired of having his expectations blown over. Although, it doesn't stop him from questioning himself, something he's been asking for years.

'Are you really alive, Park Dae Ho?'