<Jiah's Mansion>

"This is our home, Cheol." Jiah excitedly jumped in the hall while Jeonghan and Seungcheol walked behind her.

"Don't jump right now, you've to take rest." Jeonghan seated her on the couch.

The other two took their seats as well, at the two far ends.

"How's your home, Cheol?" Jiah asked.

"I don't have any home." Seungcheol chuckled bitterly, "I just have an apartment."

"Means?" Jiah questioned but her father clearly understood the implication.

"Baby, you live with your loved ones, right? That's called a home." Seungcheol explained, "I live alone, so it's just an apartment."

"Oh I get it." Jiah nodded as she turned to Jeonghan, "That's why dad calls me his only home?"

Jeonghan chuckled slightly, "Yes, princess."

Only? Seungcheol scrunched his brows. He was looking around the mansion but heck, there was no trace of Jiah's mom, let alone her being there herself.

Seungcheol looked up at Jeonghan, "Where's her mother?"

"Mom doesn't-"

"Baby, are you hungry?" Jeonghan quickly held her cheeks, "Do you want to eat something?"

Seungcheol noticed how swiftly Jeonghan had dodged his question and had silenced Jiah as well.

Something was wrong, very wrong.

"Yes." Jiah nodded, "Let's eat food."

"Hmm let's see what the cooks have prepared for my little princess." Jeonghan stood up, "Seungcheol, please come." He formally asked.

"I'll eat from Cheol's hands today, yay!" Jiah smiled ear to ear.

"Baby but-"

"Sure." Seungcheol intervened the younger, "Only princess treatment for you."

Jeonghan stared as the other two walked towards the dining table.

Jeonghan went into the attached kitchen to bring the already prepared food.

Seungcheol cleared his throat while sitting with Jiah, "Shall I help?"

"No, thanks." Jeonghan smiled, "I shouldn't make our guest work, right Jiah?"

"Yes!" Jiah nodded, "I'll help you dad."

"No baby, you play with your best friend." Jeonghan retorted as he began to transfer the food to the table.

Seungcheol felt some stirring in his chest at the behaviour of the younger.

As cold and distant as ever.

Time changes people, but did Jeonghan change? Why was he still so defiant and dismissive?

Instead of feeling at least a little string of guilt, he was still avoiding Seungcheol as if he was some leach.

As the dinner was over, Jiah kept talking to Seungcheol while Jeonghan brought medicines to her.

"Alright baby, time to sleep." Jeonghan stated.

"No!" Jiah whined.

"You should sleep, little one!" Seungcheol pinched her nose playfully, "You need rest."

"Yeah, at least listen to him?" Jeonghan looked at his daughter.

"Okay." Jiah quitely agreed.

"Come." Jeonghan spread his hands out for Jiah to climb into his embrace.

"Cheol, I'll show you my room, come!" Jiah asked.

Seungcheol nodded as he followed them to Jiah's room.

"It's ao pretty, just like you!" Seungcheol admired.

But he noticed the same thing yet again. There were pictures of Jiah, Jeonghan and even some young children who were probably Jiah's friends.

But there was no picture of Jiah's mother, not a single trace.

As they talked and played for a while, Jiah spoke up, "Cheol, don't run away okay? I'll eat breakfast with you tomorrow morning."

"You're demanding too much baby." Jeonghan patted her head.

"He's my bestie!" Jiah protested.

"Yes, you can order me all you want." Seungcheol pinched her cheeks.

"Now dad will put you to sleep." Jeonghan settled the bed.

"I'll go outside, good night princess." Seungcheol patted her head twice after which he stood up to leave.

"Dad, bad manners." Jiah scrunched her brows, "Greet him."

Jeonghan nodded as he cleared his throat, "Good night, Seungcheol."

"Good night." Seungcheol mumbled as he left.

"C'mon now be a good girl, Jiah or no chocolates for this week." Jeonghan playfully rebuked.

Jiah immediately laid down on the bed, "Aha I'm so sleepy."

"Dramatic." Jeonghan chuckled as he began to pat her head to make her sleep.

Slowly, Jiah yawned multiple times as the medications took over and she fell into deep slumber.

Jeonghan stared at her serene face. He kissed her forehead gently and got up from the bed.

Jeonghan cautiously walked out of the room only to witness Seungcheol standing against the railings.

"Where's Jiah's mom, Jeonghan?" Seungcheol straight up asked.

"You don't need to know about her whereabouts. Don't ask these things, especially to Jiah." Jeonghan answered, "Good night."

"Can you stop being so self centered for once?" Seungcheol tried to calm himself.

Jeonghan tried to avoid him but Seungcheol held his arms tightly, "I'm not letting you go again without answering me."

"And who said I owe you any of them?" Jeonghan retorted.

Seungcheol's grip on Jeonghan's arm was firm, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and determination. "You owe me an explanation." he stated, his voice low and intense.

He had waited long enough, and he wasn't going to be brushed off yet another time. He needed answers, he needed closure.

"Of what?" Jeonghan asked, "Of having a daughter? Of being a doctor? Or for simply existing?"

"All of the above." Seungcheol's voice trembled slightly. The sight of Jeonghan standing in front of him after all these years stirred up a maelstrom of emotions within him.

"You vanished without a word. Disappeared without a trace. I searched for you, Jeonghan. For months, I searched. And now you're just casually standing in front of me, as if nothing happened."

"Did I ask you to search for me? I didn't, right?" Jeonghan paused, "I had made it clear that there was nothing between us. What else did you need me to say?"

Seungcheol's annoyance and frustration were building. Jeonghan's cold and nonchalant attitude was fueling his anger.

"You didn't ask me to search for you." he retorted, his voice strained. "But that didn't stop me. I cared about you, Jeonghan. I cared a lot."

"That- that was your problem, not mine." Jeonghan looked away, "And now you hate me right? So why do you need some stupid answers?"

Seungcheol chuckled bitterly, "If there's something worse than hate, then that's what I feel for you, Yoon Jeonghan.

But do remember one thing, I will find out all the answers and I don't care if it bothers you."

"You are not supposed to do that." Jeonghan retorted.

Seungcheol's anger flared at Jeonghan's cold response. He felt a mix of emotions, a tumultuous concoction of anger, hurt, and even a perverse sense of determination.

"Who are you to tell me what I'm supposed to do?" He shot back, his voice tight with irritation. "You think you can just waltz back into my life after all these years and dictate my actions?"

"I didn't barge into your life, I never wanted to!" Jeonghan protested, "It all happened because of Jiah, that's it. Don't make it look like I was desperate for your attention."

"I don't give a damn to all of your excuses." Seungcheol stated, "I just need one proper explanation for you behaving like that. How dare you Jeonghan?

How dare you call my love, a mere attraction huh? Just because you weren't sincere doesn't mean I wasn't either."

"Done?" Jeonghan muttered slowly, "You can go take that room which has been arranged for you-"

Seungcheol let out a bitter scoff. "So that's it?" he retorted, "You think a room for stay is enough to make up for everything you've done?"

He clenched his fists, his anger growing with each passing moment. "You have no idea how much you've hurt me, Jeonghan. You tore my heart out and stepped all over it, and now you expect me to just accept your pitiful excuse and go on like nothing happened?"

Jeonghan inhaled a deep breath as he looked down, "Go."

Seungcheol's heart was a tangle of emotions. He wanted to yell, to scream, to make Jeonghan understand the pain he had caused. But he also knew that arguing with Jeonghan was like banging his head against a wall.

"Fine," he muttered through clenched teeth, "But don't think this is the end. I won't rest until I get the answers I need."

With that, Seungcheol turned and walked away, his heart heavy with a mixture of anger and a strange determination to uncover the truth.

Meanwhile, Jeonghan went back to Jiah's room. She was sleeping peacefully and due to the medication, she was even deep in her sleep.

He laid down beside her while holding her hand as a tear escaped his eyes. He stared at her, his life, his escape, his only source of happiness.

He kissed her forehead, "Thankyou for loving me. Thankyou for understanding me even though you know nothing.

Thankyou for helping me with my fear of darkness. Thankyou for knowing that I'm weak and not wrong.

Everyone thinks it's easy for me to just talk about what happened but only you understand me. Only you know how to cheer me up.

My baby, my princess, my world. Thankyou for never hating me, thankyou so much."

"Bye bye Cheol~~" Jiah smiled as Seungcheol bid her a goodbye and left.

"Dad, Ara would be reaching soon." Jiah turned to Jeonghan, "To the play cafe."

"Hmm Minghao uncle would be arriving soon. He'll take you." Jeonghan crouched down in front of her, "Dad has some important work, so sorry?"

"It's okay, dad. I know." Jiah patted his head with her little palms, "Minghao uncle is a fun company."

"Alright, my baby is so understanding." Jeonghan rubbed his nose against hers, gently.

It was when the most awaited person arrived, Xu Minghao.

"Hao uncle!" Jiah ran to his arms.

"Ah my pretty girl." Minghao lifted her up, "We've to go to the play cafe, right?"

"Yes." Jiah nodded vigorous.

"Stop, you'll break your bones." Minghao teased.

"My dad is a doctor." Jiah rolled her eyes.

"But he's a cardiologist." Minghao retorted.

"No he's a doctor." Jiah protested, "Dr. Yoon Jeonghan."

Jeonghan and Minghao laughed at her innocence.

"Baby, cardiologists are the doctors who specialise in the care of heart." Jeonghan explained, "Bones are treated by orthopaedic doctors. Too much for you, isn't it?"

"Yes." Jiah muttered.

"Don't worry, you'll learn when you'll grow up." Jeonghan ruffled her hair.

"Yes!" Jiah beamed, "Hao uncle, let's go. We're getting late!"

"Yeah, let's go." Minghao nodded, "Hyung, take care."

"You too. And thankyou so much." Jeonghan smiled.

"No don't thank me for this." Minghao assured as he left with Jiah.

They got into the car and in some time, they reached their destination.

After walking out, Minghao opened the door for Jiah but it was when a loud bump was heard as Minghao gasped. His car had been slightly thrashed by another car.

"You sit here." Minghao let Jiah stay in and closed the door while moving towards the accident.

Minghao looked back at the other car as he tapped the bonnet, "Come out!"

The door opened as another man walked out.

"Hello Mr. Whosoever?" Minghao looked at the other male, "Are you blind or something? How can you thrash a car in rest?"

"First of all, I'm Wen Junhui. Second, you look at your parking style, first." The other man stated, "Right beside the turn where one can't even see it while turning his vehicle."

"Wow now instead of apologising and accepting your mistake, you are pointing out the mistake of a car which was at rest already?" Minghao mocked.

"Your car is not even parked at the designated parking stop. Can you not see that damn white line?" Jun forwned, "Why would I apologise and what's with that attitude huh?"

"You WILL apologise because it's your fault." Minhao retorted, "A car is not at the parking lot for some reasons means you'll thrash it?"

"Oh, and what reasons are those?" Jun leaned back in his car, "Are you dumb or something? Do you not know how to park? Your car is literally blocking the road, what the hell do you want me to do?"

"The audacity of this freaking man?!" Minghao gasped loudly, "You are calling me dumb after running your car over mine which was CLEARLY visible for someone who has two eyes to see?"

"Clearly visible?" Jun chuckled mockingly, "I think you're the one who needs a new pair of eyes."

Minghao quickly snatched the car keys that were hanging from Jun's pocket, "You either apologise or let your car stay here like this while I'll leave."

"You-" Jun stepped forward, "Give that to me."

"No." Minghao crossed his arms across his chest, "I won't."

Jun towered over the other man, "Give. It. Back."

"No means no." Minghao glared.

Jun slowly slammed his hand on the car beside them as he leaned closer, "Don't think I'm going to tolerate you like this."

"I don't give a damn about that." Minghao retorted.

"Hao uncle?" A voice was heard behind Jun who turned around, "You know him?"

"Ara?" Minghao raised a brow.

"Yeah, he's Jiah's uncle." Ara rushed towards them, hugging Minghao.

"But- you aren't her father, I've met him." Minghao scrunched his brows while patting Ara's back.

"He's my uncle. My father's younger brother." Ara giggled, "Where's Jiah?"

"In- in the car." Minghao pointed out.

"Aha call her out!!" Ara whined.

"Yes baby, just a second." Minghao went on to bring Jiah out of the car as the two girls met excitedly.

"I can't believe this." Minghao grunted to Jun, clenching his jaw while looking at the scratches on his car.

Jun smiled as he watched the two young girls meet and catch up, before turning his attention back to Minghao, "Oh don't give me that look, you were the one who provoked me in the first place."

"Only if you weren't Ara's uncle-" Minghao slammed the keys on Jun's hands and walked away with the little girls.

"Hey! Get back here!"

Jun called out but Minghao ignored him, continuing to walk away with Ara and Jiah. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, a habit he did whenever he was feeling frustrated or irritated.

Looking back at his car, he grimaced at the scratches on the body, cursing under his breath. He needed to get it checked and fix the scratches as soon as possible.

"Ugh, this is your fault." Jun muttered under his breath as he shoved the keys into his pocket.

Jun walked behind them, into the play cafe. Jiah and Ara had already occupied the game of dancing cars while Minghao was clicking their pictures from outside the ring.

Jun observed the male in silence, a small smile still on his face as his eyes roamed over Minghao's features.

The way his eyes were focused on the screen of his phone, how his index finger tapped on the screen every few seconds, how his dark brown hair hung over his eyes, how his plush lips were parted slightly as he captured the moment.

After a few seconds of gazing, Jun realised what he was doing and coughed suddenly, averting his gaze as a small flush of pink painted his cheeks.

"He's such a menace." Jun mumbled to himself.

"What are you saying?" Minghao asked.

"YOU are a menace." Jun stated.

"You aren't any better." Minghao rolled his eyes.

"Please, I'm a thousand times better than you." Jun retorted, his chin high as he looked at Minghao defiantly.

"Superiority complex is not something to be proud of." Minghao sighed, "Hope you know that."

Jun rolled his eyes once again and scoffed, crossing his arms across his chest and pursing his lips.

"I do know that, thank you very much."

He looked away, suddenly finding it impossible to look at Minghao in the eye. Jun wasn't expecting the male to say something like that and it had definitely caught him off guard.

"Annoying." Minghao muttered beneath his breath.

"Same to you." Jun mumbled back.

A/n : Not very much in the right mind because of the things happening in the past few days in my country. I don't understand what's going on with humanity these days...

Please please please take good care of yourselves and keep yourself secure!! I hope and wish that all of you are doing fine!!

Take care everyone!
-Jeonghanneyonghaseyo