•Jiah Mansion•

"Yes, Dr. Kim?" A young man talked over the call.

"Dr. Yoon, it's a huge party. I want your presence to grace the gathering."

"I'm sorry Dr. Kim but I'm really busy today."

"But you aren't at the hospital today."

"Oh no I'm not busy with work. I've to attend my daughter's parents' teacher meeting and then I've promised to take her to her favourite play restaurant."

"You can bring your daughter here Dr. Yoon, she can make new friends here. And about the meeting, it happens every month, you can skip one."

"I'm sorry Dr. Kim but I don't make decisions at my house, my daughter does. Plus the meeting is crucial for me to know about her progress. She has been insisting that I should take her to the restaurant for a week but I was busy at the hospital so I can't say no to her today."

"Alright, I lowkey knew it's impossible to convince Dr. Yoon Jeonghan over his sweet little princess."

"Thanks for the understanding Dr. Kim."

"It's fine, don't worry."

As soon as Jeonghan hung up, he turned around to witness his little world staring at him with a hint of guilt in her eyes.

"What happened baby?" Jeonghan picked the six year old girl into his arms.

"You couldn't go to your friend's party because of me." Jiah muttered.

"No! Who said that?" Jeonghan pinched her nose, "I didn't go because I want to spend time with you. Today's dad and daughter's day, no one is allowed to disturb us. Or else?"

"We will shoo them away!" Jiah punched in the air.

"That's my girl." Jeonghan giggled with her.

The overwhelming love and understanding between them was adorable. No one knew and no one would believe that Jiah wasn't Jeonghan's own daughter.

And even Jeonghan himself won't. You say this fact in front of him and you'll invite your death.

"My dad is the best!" Jiah rejoyed.

"And my princess is the best too!" Jeonghan chuckled.

"I-" Jiah was cut off by an unexpected darkness that enveloped them.

"Sorry sir, there's a fault, we'll fix it." A staff member stated.

"Yeah." Jeonghan muttered out, "Be quick.".

"Haha don't you like how dark it is in here? Tell us darling, how's it?"

Jeonghan gulped as his grip on his daughter tightened just slightly.

Jiah wrapped her little arms around her father's shoulders, "Dad! I know you don't like dark, but your brave daughter is here!"

"Yes baby." Jeonghan chuckled forcefully.

Only if she knew what darkness meant to her dad.

"You're my sunshine." Jeonghan muttered, "No darkness bothers me when you're with me."

"Yay!" Jiah cheered up as the lights were back.

"Let's go, shall we?" Jeonghan asked, his heartbeat calming down finally.

"Minghao uncle won't come?" Jiah questioned.

"No." Jeonghan walked out of the mansion with the girl in his hold, "He's busy with some work."

"Okay." Jiah nodded as she was getting tucked into the passenger's seat.

Jeonghan got into the driver's seat after which he patted Jiah's head.

"Ready, set, go!" Jiah exclaimed as the engine was turned on.

As decided, they first visited Jiah's school for the parent teacher meeting after which they got into the car again.

"Your teacher admired your drawings a lot." Jeonghan smiled.

"Yes." Jiah flicked her hairs, "All thanks to my best friend at the academy."

"Not again." Jeonghan rolled his eyes playfully, "You need to tell me his name, at least. You talk so much about this friend of yours but never tell me anything about him."

"It's our promise." Jiah whined.

"Remember Jiah, you won't get a friend better than me." Jeonghan explained gently, "I need to know him for your own security, right?"

"I know dad but he's a cool uncle." Jiah grinned.

"Who's this cool uncle who's also your friend and a mentor?" Jeonghan's questioned, "I need to know everyone who's associated with my princess."

"Dad, it's our secret promise." Jiah pouted, "Please don't force me to break it. You can meet him when you'll come to pick me up from the academy tomorrow."

"Indeed, I will." Jeonghan started the car again, "Now, let's go to have some fun together!"

"Dad, wait!!" Jiah got exited, "My friend, Ara!"

"Oh." Jeonghan nodded, turning off the vehicle, "Let's go to meet her."

"Her uncle is not here, I guess." Jiah muttered as Jeonghan opened the car's door for her, "She's with her mom."

"Yeah." Jeonghan stated as he held Jiah's hand to take her towards her friend Ara who was standing with her mom just beside the school's park.

"Oh hello, Dr. Yoon." Ara's mom greeted him as both the kids began to talk.

"Hello, Mrs. Wen." Jeonghan retorted, "I don't see Jun though."

"Oh my brother in law?" She asked, "He was busy with his office work."

"I see." Jeonghan nodded, focusing his attention on the two kids, especially on his own daughter who was happily playing around with her friend.

"Umm, Dr. Yoon, if you don't mind, can I ask something?" Mrs. Wen asked.

"Yeah?" Jeonghan turned towards her.

"Most of the time Jun brings Ara here but whenever I've visited- uh-" She paused, "I have never met Jiah's mother. Even Ara talks a lot about you but never your wife."

Jeonghan's smile dropped, "I'm a single father."

"Oh, I'm so sorry for your loss-"

"No, no, she's alive." Jeonghan muttered.

"Divorced?" She asked.

"Uh-" Jeonghan paused, "No."

"Okay-" She acknowledged, "So Jiah's mother doesn't meet her at all even though-"

Jeonghan's turned his entire focus on the lady, "She doesn't and she won't. Mrs. Wen, I'll answer all of your questions but please refrain talking all this to Jiah or Ara, it's a humble request."

"Of course, I won't, Dr. Yoon." She nodded, "You must understand me, I'm Ara's mother and I can't stand not knowing her best friend's family."

"I see." Jeonghan chuckled lightly, "Just because I'm a single father doesn't mean she's in a wrong direction. I've raised her with all of my love and ethics. I've always made sure that anything toxic won't even touch her."

"I'm sorry if it came out in the wrong way, Dr. Yoon." Ara's mom retorted, "I've talked to Jiah and you as well. I know that you both are great people."

"I'm glad." Jeonghan grinned as soon enough both the girls arrived back to their parents.

"Mhmmm!!" Jiah whined while spreading her arms.

Jeonghan smiled as he picked her up into his arms, "My princess. Tired hmm?"

"Yes." Jiah nodded.

"Alright, let's get back." Jeonghan looked at the other side, "Bye bye Ara!"

"Bye bye uncle!" Ara waved.

"Good day, Dr. Yoon." Ara's mom greeted.

"Same to you." Jeonghan retorted as he walked back to the car.

<Heaven's Cloud Label>

Seungcheol stepped out of his sleek black luxury vehicle, flanked by his imposing bodyguards. The sound of traffic behind him began to fade away as he walked into the building with a calm and composed aura with his hands resting in his pockets.

He took the elevator to reach the desired floor as he walked through the hallways and finally pushed open the door of the room which had a tag - Serenity Recording Room.

"Morning, Woozi." Seungcheol stepped into the room, "Am I the earliest?"

"You've to record your verse first." Woozi nodded, "That's why you are early."

"I get it." Seungcheol took a few moments to prepare himself after which he was in the recording booth with Woozi directiong him from outside.

"Ready?" Woozi asked through the mic attached.

Seungcheol showed a thumbs up through the glass. He inhaled a deep breath, eyeing the lyrics once again.

He had read them earlier and no matter how much he tried; those words reminded him of only one person.

A person who had the audacity to call their love, a mere attraction.

Seungcheol cleared his throat after which the track began. He started to sing his verse of the song, I wish.

"Sometimes I think of you
I cry and I laugh
I'm trying to erase you

With a broken heart
I've never taken it out
Did you understand me in time?"

Woozi gestured him to stop, "Hyung, are you sick or tired today?"

"What happened?" Seungcheol asked.

"Honestly speaking, your voice is slacking a bit." Woozi stated, "If you need some time to get better, you can do so."

It has been more than 7 years, how much more time is required?

Seungcheol felt extremely guilty for being so unprofessional, but it was true, he needed a few moments of relaxation.

"What's up guys?!" Mingyu cheered up as he stepped into the room.

"Great that you're here." Woozi nodded, "Seungcheol hyung, you can go after Mingyu."

"Alright." Seungcheol walked out of the recording booth as he shared a brief hug with Mingyu and then took a seat on the couch placed at the side.

Mingyu and Woozi got indulged in their task while Seungcheol sat idle on the couch.

"It was nothing but a mere attraction, a wrong one over that."

Seungcheol shut his eyes. Years had passed and he had probably moved on as well, but a few words still stung him as if they were fresh.

It was his first love, and he had poured his heart and soul into it. Everything was going well until everything changed drastically.

Yeah, it was meant to end but not on such a dismissive note.

Why did he say those things? - Seungcheol never received an answer to this question.

He could have ended it in a better way. Why did he have to question my love?

A few things could never stop hurting Seungcheol. He just couldn't understand anything that had happened even after years had passed. He simply needed an answer, just an answer to console himself.

To know that his love wasn't a sin.

Of course, he had never planned to force his feeling on someone else. If Jeonghan wanted to go, he was free to do so but the things he said?

Immature feelings? Recklessness? A mistake? And what not.

Each word stung like poison, belittling the purity of their love. Seungcheol's mind raced with questions. Was he the only one who believed in the selflessness and beauty of their relationship?

Seungcheol just hoped that there was a different side to the story and that, he would get to know it someday.

However, years had passed. The possibility of a reason existing somewhere beneath the haze of Jeonghan's cold attitude was simply a forgotten dream.

Seungcheol flinched subtly as he turned his mind to reality. What was he even doing? Weeping his heart over a person who didn't care about him when he was actually supposed to work?

"Enough." Seungcheol grumbled as he focused on the other two men in the room. Mingyu's verse was almost over as Seungcheol braced himself to keep his focus on the right place.

Wonwoo and Vernon had also arrived at the recording room. All of the ones present in the room at that moment along with Hoshi, Dino, Seokmin and Joshua, knew about him and Jeonghan as they used to be good friends.

But after that one incident, Jeonghan avoided to talk to anyone of them and gradually, the conversations over him declined overtime. They didn't know a single trace of Jeonghan, and they never tried to find one either.

Afterall, he had made it clear - he didn't want to associate with them at all.

The recording proceeded as they were all finally done with their verses. All of them settled down in the room to talk about the comeback, Serenity was going to have.

"Ayo what's up y'all?!" Hoshi barged into the room followed by Dino and Seokmin.

"If you're here as choreographers and vocal coach, then respectfully get out." Mingyu scoffed.

"Yeah, we're already exhausted as hell." Vernon sighed.

"You all are so dramatic." Dino rolled his eyes.

"Anyways, we were here to make a plan of eating something together." Seokmin stated, "Let's order something."

"No, no, not order." Dino intervened, "Me and Hoshi hyung will go to buy those packages of instant noodles from the nearby convenience store. Remember the ones we accidentally bought last week but they tasted so good and unique?"

"I remember!" Wonwoo exclaimed, "That's a great plan."

"Alright, I'll call Shua hyung here itself to join us." Seokmin nodded.

"Sure thing." Woozi remarked.

"Sounds like a great plan." Seungcheol agreed.

Mingyu looked at his watch, "Won't you go for your hobby, hyung?"

"Today it's closed." Seungcheol nodded, "I'll continue going to the painting academy from tomorrow."

"How about the girl you talked about? C'mon you can tell us about that new friend of yours, all of us adore kids." Hoshi chuckled.

"Well, that's a promise between us to keep each other's identities hidden." Seungcheol shrugged.

"Wow." Woozi exclaimed, "She's a kid, don't you think she would have blurted your identity to her parents?"

"Whatever but a promise is still a promise." Seungcheol explained, "Kids are innocent, I shouldn't break her trust, right?"

"True." Dino nodded, "So we're going, okay?"

"Okay!"

Hoshi and Dino left the room. They made their way to the parking lot and in a short amount of time, they reached the desired convenience store as it was just nearby.

"It was there." Dino pointed at a section as both of them walked to a certain section.

"We'll buy some other snacks and drinks too." Hoshi suggested.

"Of course." Dino agreed as both of them got indulged in their shopping.

"Woah." Hoshi looked at a little girl who was sitting by the edge of an empty shelf, probably trying to hide herself but obviously failing to do so.

"Shh." The girl rebuked in an adorable tone.

Hoshi and Dino chuckled while exchanging glances, "Hmm mischievous little girl." Dino crouched to her level, "You know this is not allowed, right?"

"C'mon, get up from here to earn a chocolate." Hoshi gently reached his hand out to help her stand, "Why were you trying to hide there?"

"To tease my dad." The girl giggled.

"Oh no baby, he must get worried." Dino patted her head, "Where's your-"

"Jiah! What are you doing there?!" Another voice echoed behind Hoshi and Dino's back.

"You both got me caught." The girl whined.

"Who are-" The other male halted in his tracks as Hoshi and Dino stood up to turn around. Both of them gasped as they muttered in unison, "Jeonghan hyung?!"

Jeonghan stood frozen. He wanted to feel happy; to physically see his long-lost friends after such a long time but he couldn't ignore the way his heart was clenching in his chest.

"Hyung, if there's something that's bothering you, please say it."

"You know we're here to help you, we trust you, we know you're not like this."

"Just go away both of you, I don't want to talk to anyone. If you really want to help me then you're most welcome in my wedding."

"Dad!" Jiah ran towards her father, "Both of them are sweet uncles."

Jeonghan managed to smile while looking at his daughter, "Really? You like them?"

"You didn't scold me for talking to strangers?!" Jiah gasped, "Do you know them already?"

"Uh- no baby." Jeonghan muttered out with a heavy heart.

Dino bit his lips tightly, trying to hold back his tears. No? Really? Did he really say that?

But over everything, a daughter? Jeonghan had a daughter, of course, a family.

Hoshi held Dino's hand as he mumbled to him, "Don't be so surprised."

Jeonghan looked up at the other two, "Uh- thanks for talking to my daughter nicely."

"No worries. Your daughter is adorable." Hoshi blurted out. Both of them exchanged smiles and goodbyes with Jiah after which they left.

Jeonghan stared at their disappearing figure. He looked down recalling how many holes his fate had. How much he had lost and how he would never get back a single ounce of what was snatched away from him.

The family-like friends.

The laughters.

The sour and sweet moments.

And... true love.

A/n : Trauma check-

Anyways take care everyone!
-Jeonghanneyonghaseyo