(Five years later – Incheon International Airport)
A beautiful lady wrapped in maxi dress stepped out of terminal 1 with a trolley in her clutch. Sitting atop the pile of suitcases was a five-years old boy who was currently engrossed with his game. His little fingers kept on tapping the phone screen while his legs swung in a playful manner.
Suddenly, the little boy shouted, "No!!"
His sudden cry made the lady flinched as she removed her shades and asked worriedly, "What happened, baby?"
"Mom, I lost the game," said the boy with a pout on his face. Tears had already welled up in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Choi Shu-hwa sighed in relief before a chuckle escaped from her lips. She pinched her son's chubby cheek. "You scared me."
Shu Hwa's remark successfully got the man beside her laughing. "You got scared too easily," he said as he ruffled her hair.
"Okay, stop!" Shu Hwa slapped his hand away. "You're gonna mess up my hair."
The man, Kim Ji-woon only shook his head to that. He then shifted his attention at the sulking boy. "Hey Min-jun, stop pouting! This hyung will teach you how to win that round later."
The little boy's eyes shone on hearing this as he happily called out, "Hyung!"
His voice was as if he was praising a God. Min-jun even jumped to Ji-woon's arms immediately. He squeezed him tight his short arms. "Hyung, you're the best! I love you!"
Ji-woon chuckled in response as he rubbed the little boy's head dotingly. Shu Hwa shook her head at this scene. She commented then, "Ji Woon-ssi, you're indulging him too much."
"And you worry too much! Loosen up a little and let the kid enjoy," he retorted.
After Ji-woon put Min Jun down, he asked them to wait while he went to arrange a cab. However, when he was about to walk away, Shu Hwa held his hand.
"No need for that. I had already informed my dad about our arrival beforehand and he insisted on picking us up from the airport."
But, when they were about to look for Choi Byung-joon, Min Jun told them, "I need to pee."
Ji-woon chuckled, "Sure, let's go little guy!"
"No, Hyung. I'm already five years old!" Min Jun puffed up her cheeks as he shook his head in disagreement. "I'm capable of going alone."
Both adults looked at each other before shifting their eyes back to the little boy. They tried very hard to refrain themselves from pinching his cheeks. In the end, they managed to free him with only a nod and off he went to the washroom.
Ji-woon turned to Shu Hwa afterwards and asked, "So, where's the other one? Why hasn't he come back from the toilet yet?"
"Ah!" Shu Hwa slapped her forehead. "I forgot to tell you. Min Hyuk told us to just go ahead and find father. He will meet us then."
She sighed. "Why are these kids acting like they're adults?"
Ji-woon pinched her cheek as he replied, "Because they want to protect you."
Shu Hwa smiled at him warmly at that thought. "Well, let's find father. I can't wait to see him again."
Ji-woon nodded as he took the trolley from her and pushed it towards the waiting area.
********
Min Jun had just gone out from the washroom when he knocked into a boy and fell down.
"Ah!" Min Jun grimaced in pain as he rubbed on his little but that had landed harshly on the ground due to the collision.
Meanwhile, the other boy started bawling his eyes out, attracting the attention of the adults near them. Min Jun immediately got up and held out his hand to the boy, "I'm sorry. It's my fault. Are you hurt?"
The adults who witnessed the scene couldn't help but comment on how polite the young boy was. Deep down they praised his parents for teaching him right.
The boy stopped crying as he looked at the hand in front of him. He frowned and in the next moment, he slapped Min Jun's hand away and angrily barked at Min Jun, "Don't touch me, you commoner!"
Min Jun's face had contorted due to the pain caused from the slapping. He looked at his creamy white hand that was now decorated with a red mark. He pursed his lips as he tried to control his tears. Min Jun stroked his hand while his eyes stared at the boy with hatred.
"Why did you hit my hand?"
"What else should I've done when your filthy hands were about to touch me." The little boy arrogantly harrumphed. His attitude sent the adults frowning. They all looked at him in displeasure.
"Whose kid is this? Such bad manner! Didn't his parents teach him?"
"Exactly! Now, other kids have to deal with his disgraceful attitude."
"Both of them are so young but totally different characters."
Upon hearing the whisperings of the onlookers, the boy began to wail. Then suddenly, there was a rush of footsteps coming towards them. A man dressed in a butler outfit pushed the crowd away and ran up to the boy. He asked worriedly, "Young master, are you alright?"
"Why are you guys so late? Because of you, I have to hear all of their rude comments!"
Hearing this, the butler glared at the people surrounding them and they all backed away in fear. Everyone knew that they couldn't afford to offend them as a butler was a symbol of an upper-class family.
"I'm sorry, young master. I've failed to protect you."
The boy huffed and set out his orders, "Deal with this guy. He tried to touch me so cut his hands!"
The butler turned to look at Min Jun, who was now staring at him in horror. The butler sighed internally as he passed his order to the guards.
Min Jun watched as the guards approached him and he couldn't help but run in reflex. However, he only managed to run for a bit before one of the guards caught him. He pulled Min Jae by his collar and the tightness of his cloth as it was pushed against his neck drove Min Jun to kick at the guard. But to his dismay, his measly energy did not even send the guard flinching.
Hence, Min Jun gave up and closed his eyes letting the guard grabbed his arm. He waited for the pain to come but what came was a dangerous roar instead.
"Stop!! What do you think you are doing?!"