Headstrong

Can you be my mom?

"I will never understand why you left. But I will try to understand why you returned."

Seri looked at Jeong Hyeok wide-eyed. "Does that mean you'll let me see her?" Jeong Hyeok nodded at her.

"Although we can't tell her yet. She's still quite shocked because of my mom." Jeong Hyeok said carresing Yejin's hair. "Don't worry I'll pay you back for the surgery."

"No. You don't have to pay it back. You really dont." Seri smiled at Jeong Hyeok. "You can pay me back in other ways, like...maybe let me borrow my daughter?

"That's an expensive way to borrow your own daughter. Don't worry I'll let you borrow her even for free." Jeong Hyeok said.

"She's a deep sleeper like me." Seri noticed their daughter still sleeping soundly on Jeong Hyeok's lap.

"Yeah, she's like you alot. Look at her. She's a mini you." Jeong Hyeok pouted. Seri just laughed at Jeong Hyeok's childish behavior. For a moment they forgot that they weren't together anymore. For a moment they were just Jeong Hyeok and Seri who's deeply in love with each other.

***

It has been a week since Yoon-hee's surgery and it went very well. And today will be the first time Seri will babysit her daughter. Seri planned alot of things to do. She was excited. Even if her daughter wouldn't know her as her mother she was happy that she could spend some time with her.

Seri stood in front of Jeong Hyeok's apartment. She was excited but nervous as well.

What if she doesn't like me? What if she doesn't want to see me again? Oh my gosh I'm so nervous. I wasn't even this nervous when I first gave a speech as a CEO. Those anxiety pills aren't working! I already has two!! Why am I still this anxious??

Gathering all her courage she knocked at the door.
It doesn't take long when the door opened. She was expecting Jeong Hyeok to open the door but it was Yejin who greeted her. Yejin was already dressed, wearing a cute light blue floral dressed paired with a dark blue thin cardigan. She was so cute. "Jeong Hyeok has good style in styling her." Seri thought.
Seri was caught by suprise when Yejin greeted her with a hug.

"Pretty auntie!!" Yejin exclaimed while hugging Seri.

"Hi Yejin." Seri smiled brightly at her daugher. Her daughter welcomed her in and gave her a little tour of their apartment. The other reason of Seri's nervousness is Jeong Hyeok's mother. She left him and their daughter so she expects a slap from her or at least harsh words. Seri spots Jeong Hyeok packing Yejin's bag.

"Where's your mother?" Seri asks him while looking around anxiously.

"She's in her room. She's actually waiting for you." Jeong Hyeok points to a nearby room.

She's wants me to go to her room?? Will she kill me inside??

"She's just going to talk to you. Calm down." Jeong Hyeok chuckles.

"I don't think she's just going to talk to me. Wish me luck." Seri joked.

Seri knocked on Yoon-hee's door and heard her softly say "Come in".

"Eomma.. I mean Mrs. Ri... uhhh goodmorning? How are you feeling?" Seri mumbled.

"Call me eomma, dear. Just like you always did." Yoon-hee smiled at Seri. Seri was shocked. She wasn't expecting Yoon-hee to act this way.

"You know.. when you left 5 years ago, Jeong Hyeok was devastated. Although Yejin made him really happy, it can't compare to the happiness you gave him. Whenever he thinks no one is around he breaks down crying hugging your picture. It breaks my heart to see him in that state so..Seri if you're not going to stay again.. please leave now... please don't break him again." Yoon-hee pleaded.

Every word she said were like daggers to Seri's heart.

"Don't worry eomma, I won't. I won't leave again."

***

Seri brought Yejin to the mall so they can go shopping for toys and clothes. Seri was happy that Yejin didn't ask alot of questions when her father told her that Seri will babysit her today. Yejin was happily telling Seri stories of her when she still lived in Canada. Seri was listening to her very intently
trying to remember all the stories she's telling.

"So Yejin where do you want to go first?" Seri asked her daughter.

"Oh! I want to see the dollhouse again from American Girl!" Yejin excitedly says.

"We can buy it if you want." Seri casually said.

Yejin gasped out loud and said "But daddy said it's so expensive! You must be really rich auntie! First you paid for granny's surgery and now you want to buy me the dollhouse! You're not just rich but you're really kind too!"

"Well it's not really that expensive... come on let's go in."

Seri and Yejin entered the American Girl and Yejin ran to the dollhouse. Yejin looked at the dollhouse and was thinking about something.

"Auntie, I don't think this is going to fit in my room or anywhere in our apartment." Yejin sadly says.

Seri looked at her daughter and she had a really great idea. She would design Yejin a room at her own apartment.

"Okay, let's just buy some dolls okay?" Seri said while grabbing a cart.

And that's how Yoon Seri CEO of Queen's Group found her self almost buying the whole store for her daughter.

"Wow auntie, you said we'll just get a few?" Yejin looked at the full cart in front of her.

"This is a few sweetie." Seri said while grabbing another doll and accessories.

"Auntie do you have a child?" Yejin asked making Seri stop in her tracks.

"Wha- what?" Seri asked her.

"I'm asking you auntie if you have a child. Do you auntie? Yejin looked up to Seri with curious eyes.

"I do. I have an really adorable daughter. Although she doesn't really know who I am." Seri said.

"Really? She must be really lucky to have you as a mother auntie. You're kind and pretty. I mean you're buying all these stuff for me. I cannot imagine what you're going to buy for her." Yejin exclaimed. "But where is she? Can I meet her?" Yejin added.

"Do you really think my daughter is lucky because she has me as her mother?" Seri said with tears forming in her eyes.

"Yeepp!" Yejin smiled. "I want to ask your daughter something but she might get mad at me." Yejin said shyly.

"What do you want to ask her?" Seri asked blinking back her tears.

"I want to ask her if she'd want me as a sister. I want to ask her if you can be my mom as well. I mean at the first day of school both parents are required to be there. I don't have a mom. So can you be my mom auntie? Even for just a day? Pretty please?" Yejin asked with her puppy eyes. Seri's tears were now rolling down her cheeks.

"Oh no. Do you not want to be my mom auntie? I'm sorry auntie. Please don't cry." Yejin sadly says.

"No, no. I want to be your mom Yejin. I'm just really happy." Seri said hugging her daughter.

Seri and Yejin were so caught up in the moment that they didn't hear the camera click.