After Dark (Prompts)

Be With You - The End

Im Cheol-Ryung carried a bouquet of flowers and walked into the cemetery.

Years ago, on this day, his heart broke in so many pieces that he never thought he would ever be able to put it back together again. Years ago, on this day, he buried his wife.

Years ago, on this day, he also said goodbye to a child he did not even get a chance to say hello to. His heart broke again. It was the first time he found out that, even if you felt like life had taken all the happiness in you, it can still take so much more.

Years ago, on this day, he never thought he would see the light at the end of the long dark tunnel he found himself in. So, he decided to just live each day and hopefully one day, it would be his last day on Earth and he would finally be reunited with his wife and child.

He lay the bouquet on the graves of the people he continued to love.

From a distance, he heard laughter. Turning to the sound, he saw a little girl stumbling to her mother, who was smiling to encourage her on. Beside the pretty little baby was a teacup maltese, watching every tentative step her chubby little legs would make.

"Hi Hwa-ryung," Im Cheol-Ryung whispered. "How's our baby? I'm sorry it took a while for me to do this. Ha Chae Yoon and I were out of town for a few months. When we got back, there were some adjustments needed at home so..."

He stared at the mother and daughter again before turning back to the marble stones marking the graves.

"I'm pretty sure you can see us up there so this might not be necessary, but I still wanted to be able to tell you," he continued. "Ha Chae Yoon and I had a baby born almost a year ago now. We named her Su-jin... our treasure."

Im Cheol-Ryung smiled. "We always tell her she has a sibling in heaven so please don't worry that we've forgotten. That will never happen. You and our child will always be part of our family."

"I never thought I could get to this moment but... I'm very happy, Hwa-ryung. I really truly am. Are you happy for me?"

Just then, a small, grinning face blocked his view of the marble stone. Su-jin plopped in front of her father then wrinkled her nose up at him. Puckering her lips and holding out her arms asking for a hug and a kiss, Im Cheol-Ryung couldn't help but smile back.

"Ooohhhh, she's using her charm on you again," Ha Chae Yoon noted.

Picking up his daughter, he kissed Ha Chae Yoon gently. "Hi."

"Hi," she greeted back. "Do you need more time? We could still run around near Min Hyun Ju's place there."

Im Cheol-Ryung looked at the stone bearing the name of Hwa-ryung and their unnamed baby.

Years ago, he was torn between staying true to his promise to Hwa-ryung while wanting to be with Ha Chae Yoon, He recalls asking for a sign... which he got when he saw a mother and her son running around.

"Go!" they had called out to the kite.

The sign he needed to follow his happiness.

Today, he was here with his child and his wife. The sources of his happiness.

"We have to go. Hug our baby for me, Hwa-ryung," he whispered. "We keep you both in our hearts."

Ha Chae Yoon looked up at her husband. Deciding to add something before they left, she said out loud, "Hi Hwa-ryung! I told you before that I don't understand why you'd marry this guy. But now... I see the charm. He IS kinda cute."

"Yah!" Im Cheol-Ryung called out, frowning at her.

Surprised, the little girl looked at her father then... "YAH!" Su-jin copied, giving her mother a similar scowl.

Ha Chae Yoon looked from Su-jin to Cheol-Ryung and the similar facial expressions they carried and laughed out loud. "Oh no! She does have your surly face!"

At her mother's laugh, Su-jin quickly matched her giggle and asked to be carried by Ha Chae Yoon.

Im Cheol-Ryung continued to frown, now directed at his daughter. "Traitor," he mumbled. They started walking to leave the place and as his daughter grinned at him, he couldn't hold whatever "anger" he felt. "Cute. This kid is too cute."

"Well, she is my daughter," Ha Chae Yoon pointed out, rubbing her nose with Su-jin.

"Yah, she's my daughter, too," Im Cheol-Ryung said.

Turning to him, Ha Chae Yoon's eyes beamed. "I know. I got lucky. Thanks for getting me pregnant."

He laughed out loud. "I married you, too, in case you forgot."

"Oh yeah," she said. "Su-jin-ah, how do you cover your ears? Show Appa what Eomma taught you."

Cheol-Ryung gushed when Su-jin followed but that was quickly replaced by the surprise from what Chae Yoon said next. "Yes, you married me but honeymoon stopped long ago. HMPH."

"We just --"

Anything he was about to say was cut off when they noticed that Su-jin was staring at them. Ha Chae Yoon gave him a challenging look. Im Cheol-Ryung narrowed his eyes at her.

As they sped home, he told his wife. "Let's have the babysitter assist you tomorrow."

"No need," Ha Chae Yoon said. "I'm on leave anyway."

Cheol-Ryung looked at her. "Yes, but after we're done tonight, I doubt you're going to be able to move much."

Ha Chae Yoon's breath hitched.

"New challenge tonight," Im Cheol-Ryung continued.

"What?"

"Su-jin, cover your ears. You, too, Bunny!" Cheol-Ryung ordered. Once he was sure they followed, he whispered to Chae Yoon, "You need to be quiet no matter how many times I make you come."

*

After an intense night of making love, Im Cheol-Ryung woke up and headed to the kitchen to get them a glass of water. Ha Chae Yoon would surely wake up feeling thirsty in a little bit.

But, on his way to the kitchen, he decided to make a detour to the console table by the entrance. Like in his previous residence, they kept photos there.

There sat Hwa-ryung's photo and the ultrasound of his first baby. Beside it was a picture of his wedding day to Chae-Yoon. And then their puppy, Bunny.

And then the ultrasound of Su-jin and her most recent photo when she turned one.

He smiled, still recalling when he felt so alone as he gazed at the photos of his late wife and child he never knew.

Now, as arms wrapped around his waist and kissed his neck, he sighed happily.

He was never alone again and he would not have it any other way.

THE END

—
A/N: Epilogue coming up!