PROMPTS

In Pursuit of Happiness - 6

(Reposted)
A/N: Slightly mature content.

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"Do you know how to go camping, Agent?"

Cha Hoon was so excited to be with Park Dae-sik again that he was kneeling on his chair, watching the agent's every move. When Dae-sik cut a piece of the cake they bought and fed it to him, Hoon beamed up at the man.

"I do," Dae-sik replied. "Why do you ask, Hoon-ah?"

Hoon told him about his classmate, Uju, and the camping trip with the boy's father. "I've never been camping. It seems fun. Uju says his Appa plays with him and listens to his stories."

"Do you want me to take you camping?" Dae-sik asked kindly.

Hoon hesitated. He was young but he knew that taking on an Appa's duties was not something easy for people. Isn't that why some parents return adopted children to the orphanage? However, his young innocent heart still prevailed and he slowly nodded in response to the agent's question. He knew from his earlier conversation with Auntie Joo-hee that he needed to be cautious, but he liked the agent so much! Surely camping won't hurt? "Will you? Even if you're not my Appa?" Hoon asked.

Dae-sik ruffled Hoon's hair and nodded. "Sure but only if your mother will agree."

Hoon pouted. "But you and Eomma always fight. She won't allow me to go with you." Looking at the agent's face, Hoon asked, "Why don't you and Eomma get along? She told me you disappeared. You hurt her. Why did you disappear, Agent Dae-sik? It's not nice to hurt my Eomma."

Lamenting the situation but understanding the boy's protective streak, Dae-sik sighed. "I know. I was really mad at myself when I disappeared on your Mommy. Please believe me when I say I didn't want to hurt Dr. Cha. My work sometimes has to take me away suddenly so I wasn't able to tell your Mom properly."

Hoon nodded. "Agents have top secret missions all the time, right?" Dae-sik smiled but didn't say anything. "I'll keep your secret a secret!"

Dae-sik chuckled. "You spill your secrets with Auntie Joo Hee all the time!"

Hoon flinched. "Well, Eomma is good at asking questions. When she asks, I cannot lie!"

Dae-sik ruffled the boy's hair. "That's right. Never lie to Eomma." Staring at the boy's innocent face, Dae-sik asked, "Do you think your Eomma would ever forgive me?"

Hoon frowned. "Hmmm... I think so because Eomma is very kind. One time, I spilled purple paint on her white Valentine bag and she didn't get mad. She just told me to be careful. And Valentine bags are expensive."

"Valentine bags?" Dae-sik repeated, unfamiliar with expensive purses.

"Yes. Those with a V," Hoon shared, making a "V" with his fingers to show Dae-sik. "They're important so the world even made a special day for it. Valentine's day!"

Dae-sik joined Hoon's enthusiasm, not wanting to embarrass the child. He didn't know a lot about purses, but he knew that Valentine's day was not about that purse. However, this was one fact he could let slide and held his tongue in correcting Hoon that it was a Valentino bag and not the February 14 event.

"You just need to tell Eomma the truth," Hoon continued with his earlier thought. "Maybe you should ask Auntie Joo-hee. She is Eomma's best friend so she can tell you how to be friends with Eomma."

"Alright. I'll see if Auntie Joo-hee will help me out," Dae-sik promised. "I'll to talk to your Eomma and try to be friends."

"But Agent Dae-sik, you're not doing a very good job," Hoon pointed out.