Once More, Love (MiChaeng 2Yeon)

12. Damaged

"Mommy!" Chaemi shouts and runs from the entrance of the coffee shop after seeing Mina inside the place. Chaeyoung is seen smiling and trailing behind him. "Mommy, mommy, mommy!"

The dance instructor chuckles as she stands up from her seat to squat and open her arms wide to welcome her kid. "Hello, baby. How are you?"

"Mommy!" Chaemi giggles and jumps to his mother's arm, hugging her tightly. "Bogosipeo!"

"I missed you too, baby." Mina picks the little boy up and moves to sit back on the chair she was previously on.

Nayeon, Jeongyeon, and Mina were all around a small table. It is already around five in the afternoon and there are still a couple of other customers hanging around the place, having their coffee and nice chats.

The coffee shop owner pouts and reaches to ruffle Chaemi's hair. "How about me, baby? Haven't you missed Nayeonie?"

"Umm..." The kid pauses and puts his finger under his chin. "A bit?"

Nayeon quickly protests. "Just a bit?!"

"Kiyeowo!" Jeongyeon loudly laughs. "Mina, your son is so cute!"

"That kid is the epitome of all the cuteness in the world." Chaeyoung nonchalantly comments as he stands beside the table of the three other people. "I tell you. He will hog all the pretty girls in the country before you realize it!"

The chef reaches out to lightly pinch Chaemi's cheeks. "Don't hang out too much with Son Chaeyoung, okay? It will be a tragedy if you happen to look like him when you grow up!"

The little boy tilts his head a little in curiosity. "But I don't mind looking like Teacher Chaeyoung. In fact, I have the same dimple as him!"

"That's right!" The painter proudly comments. "Chaemi is going to be sooo good looking if he grows up like me!"

Mina just rolls her eyes in reaction while Nayeon and Jeongyeon both wear disgusted looks.

"Ah— By the way." Chaeyoung then faintly clears his throat. "Umm... Mina?"

"Hmm?" The dance instructor turns to him as everyone else in the table is silently listening.

"Umm..." The painter shyly looks down. "Can I— Umm... Can I talk to you for a sec?"

"Sure." Mina nonchalantly answers. "What is it?"

Chaeyoung awkwardly smiles. "Maybe... not here? Can we—" He glances at the two other people at the table. "Can we talk somewhere— where it could be just the two of us?"

This time, it is the dance instructor's turn to glance at their two other friends at the table. Before she could react further and say something, Nayeon beat her to it.

"Chaemi!" The shop owner widely grins and opens her arms to the kid's direction. "Come here. Let me carry you for a moment. Mommy and Teacher Chaeyoung will have things to talk about regarding your schooling."

"But—" Mina was about to protest but Jeongyeon also joined in.

"It's alright, Mina." The chef smiles at the dance instructor. "We will take care of this adorable kid while you two talk about... school stuff."

Mina then lets out a sigh as she lets his son transfer over to Nayeon's arms. She slowly stands up and gives the painter a blank stare. "Fine. Lead the way."

The two of them walked outside the place. They stopped at a secluded side of the shop that is away from the sidewalk.

Chaeyoung immediately speaks. "Mina—"

"Chaeyoung, please." However, the dance instructor quickly cut the painter in an already annoyed tone. "What do you want to talk about? What is there to talk about?"