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⇒ Haven Hospital
8:45pn

"She threw up this afternoon," Bang Chan hugged one arm with the other, leaning against the doorframe to the nurse's office, "and that worried me the most. I think it's just a cold, but I wanted to make sure," he sighed, "to make sure that she's okay, really..."

"Well, based on her symptoms, it is just a cold," the woman paged through a booklet in her hand, glancing at the sleeping six-year-old on one of the beds; hugging one plushie ever so securely, face snuggled at its furry neck, "she's healthy otherwise. So I'd prescribe something that you could get on your way home? She doesn't have to spend the night."

"O-oh," Chan gulped, nervous, more than usual, all of a sudden, "would you- would you give her some before she leaves? And would she be okay? Even if she doesn't get them tonight?"

"Yes, we already gave her some, but she'd need another dose in the morning. And yes, she can heal without them, but it'd just take longer, and maybe be more tiring for her," she frowned, walking over to Bella, the child, and feeling her forehead, sighing at the heat reddening her tender skin, "Is there a problem?"

"No, not at all," Chan shook his head repeatedly, straining to appear settled; at ease, despite the given situation. "So... I suppose this is it? You will give me the prescription and then we go? It's already dark out, and I'd hate to expose her to the dew too late..."

"Sure," the nurse walked toward Chan with a notepad in one hand, and a black-ink pen in the opposite. And then she brought them forward, furrowing both brows at his hesitance to receive, "Is something wrong? You need to sign the marked sections before you leave. You're her father, right?"

"Yes- yes I am," Chan looked down at the white page, intimidatingly decorated with black boxes, sentences, and punctuations that he could not yet make complete sense of. Swallowing, just as heavily as before, Chan identified the first area where he had to write something, toying with the back of the pen as he thought, "My phone number...?"

"Yup," the nurse scratched her wrapped hair, awkward, "I'll go check on something while you finish this up. I'll be back in a few minutes, don't worry--"

"I'm sorry, miss... but can I leave this area blank? I don't- I don't own a cellphone for the moment," Chan pursed his lips, feeling for his future self, in a sense. The version that he was so apprehensive toward as to assume in a humbled state with tears down his face, feeling belittled, "There was-- something happened, and I don't have a phone for the moment... or a computer, so no email..."

"Well, what about her mom? Do you have their contact information?"

"My wife has passed, ma'am..."

"Oh," she looked down with empathy, "Well- I'm sorry. Sorry- it's okay... Just, don't bother with that right now and follow me," she guided Chan to her desk, pulling out an ink pad from her drawer, and instructing with a point at it, before her words, "Dip your thumb into it, and then press it everywhere your signature is supposed to go. Also, write down your address? Only that... and that'd be all."

Following the instructions, Chan felt relieved a bit. He relaxed his shoulders, letting go of a weighty breath that he didn't know was being held in when the nurse left the room for a while, indicating that he could leave with Bella after completing his task; the written prescription placed on the table.

"Belle Bella," he whispered near the child's ear, cooing when she stirred awake; eyes a light shade of red, lips cracked, and cheeks framing her dried tears into saddening streaks. "We're going ho- we're leaving now, baby. And daddy is gonna cuddle you to sleep, okay? You'd feel better by tomorrow morning..."

"Daddy," Bella whined, resting her head comfortably on her parent's shoulder, the plushie still held firmly in her hand; a grey one, with parodied wolf features, and always reminded her of her father, for whatever reason.

"Yes, princess?" Chan answered, strolling cautiously out of the palatial building, through the parking lot, and onto the sidewalk, finding the cold and dark night to be much more depressing than usual.

Witnessing his daughter's shudder before he could tread much further, though, Chan paused his steps. He then set Bella to her feet, briefly, and took the insulated vest that he was wearing to her smaller frame in such a way to support her thinner sweater conveniently.

"Come up again," he picked her up, shivering himself, as the T-shirt left before his stomach could only do so much.

But Bella mattered. Her health, and her comfort.

Not his desired warmth on a chilly walk home.

"Daddy, I'm hungry... are you going to get food tonight?"

Shit.

Shit shit shit, Chan chorused, mentally, of course, and he bit his lip punitively at the innocent question.

Because they were probably done already, weren't they? Finished with the meal distribution, and were most likely cleaning up with the doors locked and all...

"I- I'll go get it when I drop you with Ben, okay," Chan kissed her head, trying to reassure himself, more than Bella at that moment, "You know your prince wouldn't leave you hungry, hm?"

Bella giggled.

And Chan smiled, at that.

Smiled at the sound of one of the only manners of feedback that could allow him to feel content with himself in the slightest; a happy Bella. Bella satisfied.

His reason for trying so hard with a grin on her face, as opposed to troubling frowns that'd be drawn whenever the reality of their situation was manifested too much in the prejudiced world in which they lived.

"Thank you, prince daddy."

"Absolutely anything for my princess Bella."

-

⇒ Hero's Soup Kitchen
8:50pm

"Fuck-"

"Hey hey hey," Minho's palm met Felix's back, aiming to soothe the young blond with a seemingly needed massage on the surface. He looked down at the broken glass in the skink, among the other soapy dishes, and then at Felix's distressed face; his hands shaking a little, "what's wrong? Don't stress about this, Lix. We all make mistakes, and I'd help you cover it up--"

"It's not even that," Felix looked over at the closed door to their building, frowning, "I'm just worried, really. And whenever I stress too much, I fuck things up," he sighed, pulling off the pink cleaning gloves from either of his hands and rubbing his eyes, visibly frustrated."

"Why are you worried?" Minho asked whilst carefully taking the pieces of glass from the sink and into the nearby bin, leaning against the counter beside the shorter soon after, "And don't worry about the remaining dishes... I'd finish it up..."

"Thanks, but it's okay... I'm just-- Have you registered the faces of any of these people since starting? I know it's been two weeks already, and we see new faces often, but there are regulars so-- do you know any of them? Or could you recognize them?"

"Well... yeah I think so? I could recognize them if I see them somewhere, yes," Minho shrugged, curious as to where Felix was going with that introduction.

"Me too... and it's been two nights now since this particular one hasn't shown up..."

"Oh..."

"Yeah, I don't know his name... I'm just worried that something happened to him? He's the one who never stays to eat; always carries his own bowl. I think it's odd, but I don't know his story...."

"I'm sure everything is fine, Lix," Minho rubbed Felix's shoulder with his dry hand, smiling softly, "don't worry too much, yeah? Could be that things started looking up for him and he just didn't see fit to visit and say thank you," he shrugged, "not everyone is so grateful, you know."

"Hm..."

-

"Please, ma'am? I- I hate having to do this, and I'm sorry for having to be a bother to you like this, but please? The smallest change is okay. Or even just one- just one biscuit," he swallowed.

"I really can't help," the unnamed woman avoided eye contact with the man whom she adjudged to be a vagrant, her black bangs rudely keeping the bulk of her face away from the taller's sight, "I'm sorry, but you'd have to look to someone else."

"Fuck me," the man muttered to himself upon walking away, hopeless, really. The dips of his palms met his eyes, rubbing down, aiming to reduce the deathly headache plaguing their backs even to the mildest difference possibly but, to no avail.

"Bang Christopher Chan, how worthless you fucking are," Chan kicked an empty can out of the way with another step forward, and then the harmless air with another, followed by a pattern of about four or five more, looking like an absolute madman on one of the empty streets of Seoul.

Chan cried, coughed, opening his arms in the air and looking up, sobbing and pleading to the above for even the most parabled reasoning to justify why the hell his life was like that-- why a blameless man like himself have to suffer so much.

And most importantly, why, among all of the undeserving and indisciplined youth on planet earth, his princess Bella had to be subjected to such an unfortunate lifestyle.

"Why-" he was about to cry again, eyes red, face bathed in mucus and salty water, and steps slurred due to the fatigue state of his feet. But a hand tugged at the hem of Chan's shirt, prompting quicker beats behind his chest, and allowing humiliation to already stimulate rounder goosebumps along his pale skin.

Chan gulped before turning back. He lifted the front of his top to his face, wiping away the majority of the liquids moistening the visible skin, and sighing, in an attempt to converse with the least quiver possible.

"W- what? Who touched me and why?"

"Uhm," a voice hummed in reply, deep, and kinda familiar, but Chan found it irrational to try matching a face to that tone at that hour, and in his state of distress. The male before him stood quite timidly, slender arms holding up about three plastic bags to his chest, and eyes bouncing with attention to every direction but Chan's, "I brought this for you... sorry for in- interrupting."

"Who are you?"

"Uhm-"

"And what is this?" Chan looked at the bag, praying that it was an angel that the gods commanded to his will, considering the curses and tears and persistent begging that he had practiced barely minutes before, "Were you following me?"

"It's takeout," the boy spoke louder that time, outstretching a hand with the food, and smiling when a hesitant yet excited hand reached to accept it, "I heard what that lady said to you, and it broke my heart how people can be so selfish. She owns a shop, you know," he sighed, "but she's all for herself. But it's okay-- I got you something. Make sure to eat it all... you deserve it."

"Well, thank you." Another round of tears brewed in Chan's eyes, more from appreciation and disbelief than embarrassment, in all honesty. "Thank you- so much," he opened one of the bags, almost drooling at the savory-smelling content.

Chan's stomach even grumbled from the aroma, cheeks red at the sound, hoping that the stranger hadn't heard, "This means so much, you have no idea. The meal center was closed by the time I got there and I-- You're a lifesaver."

"I'm always happy to help," the shorter nodded, still nervous, "I work at the meal center, actually... and I remember you... I missed you last night and tonight... so I was really worried," he sighed, "so I'm really happy to have seen you on my way home..."

Narrowing his eyes, Chan cocked his head to the side, surprised upon finally matching the unique base of the boy's tone to his freckled face; Felix.

How could he have forgotten? Mayhap the delay in accepting the familiarity could be blamed on Chan's blurred eyes and crowded mind, so he smiled when he could see clearly again, or at least close.

"Felix," he nodded, chuckling some, "You had to find me, didn't you?"

"I'm glad I did," Felix looked down, flustered; odd. Chan was too damn handsome to keep eye contact with for a prolonged period of time. His brunette hair, all curly and adorably disheveled, admirable dimples on either side of his full lips, and that voice--

Felix shook his head.

Didn't see fit to allow himself to think and feel that way about another man whilst in a relationship. Talking to Lee Minho in a way that leveled up uncertain hope for something new was enough-- too much, as was. Let alone giving in to the unintended charms of a homeless man.

"Which direction are you headed now?"

"Oh, don't worry about it," Chan tried to brush the question aside, hoping that Felix would give it up already; unwilling to share his daughter's existence for the time being. "Thank you again for this, Felix. Whoever is up there will bless you, endlessly. Thank you so damn much for this. I'll never forget..."

"Mmh, thank you... But can I have your name now?" Felix chuckled when Chan scoffed jokingly, resisting the urge to nudge the taller's shoulder as a friendly gesture, "Come on. I deserve it now, don't I?"

"I'm Bang Chan," Chan rang in an Australian accent, befuddled when Felix's eyes widened at how thick it was, "What's wrong? You're looking at me like I'm an alien or something..."

"You're Aussie?" Felix rang in English, almost squealing, "I'm Australian too! I'm so happy! I haven't met another Aussie here in years... I'd love to be friends with you!"

"I'm still a stranger, Felix," Chan chuckled, serious, "People like me don't go with people like you. But thank you for your kindness, however. I appreciate everything, and your efforts at the center especially."

"Well," Felix looked to the side, less enthusiastic than a few seconds before, disappointed in Chan's pessimism, even though he was reasonable, "Okay then... I do hope we meet again though, personally... Continue to take care, yeah?"

"Yes, thank you."

-

⇒ Lonely St., Seoul, South Korea
9:30pm

"Hyunjin," Chan called, loud enough, paying attention to the shadow lurking outside of their tent as Bella munched on her meal, sitting on his lap. Smiling, he bumped fists with the black-haired, rusty-looking man, taking the empty plastic bowl by his side to dish out some of what he had leftover with the aim to keep it for a sufficient serving in the morning.

Chan didn't mind sharing it instead, especially with Hwang Hyunjin. He'd easily run around to nearby vendors and shops in the morning; the more considerate ones, especially not having anything much to lose.

"Sit and eat with us," Chan invited, giggling at the man's eagerness to get comfortable at the entrance of his small tent, just beside Ben who was devouring his own seasoned bone with his teeth. "A good samaritan helped me tonight, so have some," he gave Hyunjin the container with plastic chopsticks, watching as his eyes rolled backward at the taste.

"Damn," Hyunjin grinned, cheeks full, "God bless whoever they are. And thank you for sharing, Chan. You have a nice daddy, Bella. Do you know that?"

"The best," Bella's smile stretched from ear to ear, her eyes submerged behind the soft skin surrounding them, mouth working a portion of the food from her plate, "And you're the best uncle Jin too."

"I know I am, I know I am-"

"Don't get cocky, Hwang."

Laughter, chatter, and childish yet impactful compliments from Bella echoed the lonely alleyway. Their wholesome sounds were willing to warm the ears of any passerby.

Excited to mollify the eardrums of Lee Felix, who had covertly followed the homeless man to his resting place.

Holding his chest, crying into one hand.

Unable to yet fathom the acquired fact that Bang Chan had a daughter, and use that to develop a more cogent justification for his defensive attitudes.

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Questions [Optional]
1. How do you think Chan feels about asking people for food and money?

2. Thoughts on Felix's decision to help Chan with the food?

3. Do you think that Chan is too defensive about his private life?

4. What do you think that Felix will do now that he knows Chan has a kid?

5. Thoughts on the story so far? Constructive criticism?