[L]ee Ju-hee expertly wiped away the remaining cream from a table, her movements relaxed yet practiced.
The rhythmic sound of raindrops on the windows created a comforting atmosphere that always resonated with her soul; rainy days were her source of solace.
Letting out a soft sigh, she considered the notion of treating both Tae-sung and herself to freshly brewed lattes.
Just as she turned towards the counter, a quick glimpse outside grabbed her attention – a familiar tuft of silky hair stood guard near the school gate, right in front of her café.
'It… can't be!' Lee Ju-hee thought, her eyes narrowing of their own accords.
An hour had slipped by since the school's dismissal, and there stood a small figure, sheltered beneath an inadequate umbrella, raindrops dancing around her. A four-year-old child, stranded and all alone.
Lee Ju-hee's eyebrows creased, her gaze fixed on the child whose eyes darted anxiously around, seeking comfort that seemed nowhere in sight. What struck her most wasn't just the child's vulnerability, but the apparent lack of concern from the school staff who had ushered her out into the rain.
Rapid footsteps carried her to the back of the kitchen, where she hastily retrieved an umbrella. Just as she was about to leave, a voice stopped her dead in her track.
"Noona? Where are you going in such a weather?" Tae-sung inquired, a deep scowl etched across his forehead.
Lee Ju-hee casted him a fleeting glance while brushing past. "I'll be right back!"
With the umbrella held firmly, she ventured into the rain-soaked streets and cautiously crossed the road.
"Are you here all by yourself? Where's your dad?" Lee Ju-hee gently inquired, nearing the gate, the umbrella gracefully unfurling with a gentle whoosh above her.
The child's watery eyes widened slightly, before whispering in a hesitant voice. "I… I…"
Emerging as though summoned by the unfolding scene, a male teacher hurried over, suspicion etched across his features. "What's going on here? And who might you be?"
With a composed demeanor, Lee Ju-hee held his gaze steadily. "I'm a friend of this child's parent."
The teacher's skepticism hung heavily in the air, his authoritative tone slicing through. "Ma'am, I'll have to ask you to leave. Without written permission from her guardian, you can't just pick her up."
Lee Ju-hee arched a brow at that. She had witnessed enough neglect for one lifetime. "so you think leaving this child out here, alone in the rain, is morally acceptable? I've already recorded a video of this mistreatment. If that's the way you treat kids here, perhaps the media should know."
The teacher's conviction faltered, an involuntary step backward betraying his uncertainty. "I... You can't...!"
A small hand reached out and clung to his sleeve. A tiny voice resounded, "I want to go with aunty here!"
"A-ah! Are you certain?"
"Um!" The child produced an eager nod.
Leaning down a bit and offering her umbrella to the little one, Lee Ju-hee motioned toward the cafeteria. "How 'bout we fold up that umbrella and head to the cafeteria over there? I'll give you a ride!"
Following the instructions, the child closed her umbrella and with a swift move, Lee Ju-hee scooped her up effortlessly, cradling her in one arm. The kid seemed unusually thin and delicate, like she hadn't been eating well. Was she even getting proper meals?
Before leaving, Lee Ju-hee shot a deadly glare at the male teacher from over her shoulder and averred coldly, "Taking her to my café. If you're so concerned, feel free to drop by and check on her!"
With those words, she strolled away, making sure to safely cross the street.
Inside the café, Tae-sung who'd witnessed the whole scene, arrived with a tray of steaming hot chocolate and Lee Ju-hee's famous cream puffs. Gently settling the child into a comfy seat, Lee Ju-hee muttered a: "great job, thanks!"
When the little girl spotted Tae-sung's bruised face, a flicker of fear crossed her eyes, and she held onto Lee Ju-hee's apron tightly.
"No worries! He just bumped into something," Lee Ju-hee reassured her, picking up on her concern.
"Does it hurt?" The girl inquired, her voice tinged with shyness.
"Yeah, just a bit," Tae-sung admitted frankly. Setting the tray down, he added, "Feel free to dig in! These are my absolute favorites."
With a cautious smile, the young girl took a sip of the hot chocolate. "Mmm, 'dis ishhh good!"
The faint semblance of a smile formed at the corner of Lee Ju-hee's lips. "Glad that you like it! By the way, what's your name?"
"Um, didn't dad tell you?"
Lee Ju-hee let out a small sigh at her own fib and shook her head. "No!"
"I aumm Kim Nari!" She introduced herself with a polite smile.
Lee Ju-hee's eyes widened slightly at the name. Kim Nari? Not a Yoo, but a Kim? That was… unexpected.
"I see… Well, Nari, I'm Lee Ju-hee. You can call me 'Unnie,' and this oppa here is Oh Tae-sung!" Lee Ju-hee introduced herself and her companion.
"Um!" Nari nodded, her lips adorned with a foam mustache from the hot chocolate. Leaning in, Lee Ju-hee snagged a tissue napkin from the table and gently wiped Nari's lips.
"Let's hang out here until your dad arrives, okay?"
"Um" she cutely bobbed her little head back and forth in agreement, earning herself a gentle head-pat from the white-haired woman.
***
Yoo Jin-ho had barely managed a short nap after breakfast when his peaceful sleep was abruptly disturbed by the persistent ringing of his phone.
Groggily tapping around the coffee table, he finally located his phone and answered with a hint of irritation, "What's up?"
"Hey, Jin-ho? It's Han-sol. Could you go grab Nari from school?" The urgency in Han-sol's voice snapped Yoo Jin-ho fully awake. Glancing at the wall clock, he read 4:00 PM.
"Seriously? You couldn't have given me a heads-up earlier? The little munchkin is probably still waiting!" Yoo Jin-ho scolded, promptly leaping out of his cozy sanctuary, hurriedly slipping into a shirt.
"S-something unexpected came up!" Han-sol's tone held a sincere note of apology, softening Yoo Jin-ho's irritation. "Pass on my apologies to her, okay?"
"Yeah, fine! But let's not make this a habit!" Yoo Jin-ho hung up, darting for the door and hastily putting on his shoes.
It wasn't until he was out on the street that he realized rain was falling. No time to turn back for an umbrella. He sprinted off toward Kim Nari's school.
Arriving there, a furrow etched itself onto his brow as he scanned the area.
She wasn't where she was supposed to be. An uneasy knot tightened in his stomach as his mind raced through a myriad of unsettling possibilities.
Could it be Han Si-hyun?
But then, he spotted a familiar face with flowing white hair, sporting black jeans, a white shirt, and a nude apron. Her piercing glare caught his attention, and goodness gracious, she had no clue how stunning she appeared.
Noticing her signal, Jin-ho followed her gaze to a cafeteria window. Inside sat a young girl, happily sipping a drink and indulging in some treats.
Without hesitation, he dashed across the road, inquiring, "What's happening? Where's Nari?"
"She's right inside, safe and sound," Lee Ju-hee confirmed, her eyes ablaze. "Gotta say, you're not winning any awards for responsible parenting, mister!"
"Parenting?" Jin-ho echoed, grasping her implication. "Hold on, I'm just here to pick her up. I'm not her dad," he clarified.
Stepping into the café, the rain outside intensified. Kim Nari's face brightened with relief at the sight of him, and she called out, "Uncle, ober 'ere!"
Jin-ho hurried to her side, his gaze carefully assessing her small frame. "You're okay, right, little one?"
"Um!" A happy nod from Nari confirmed, "Unnie took care of me!"
Jin-ho's gaze softened as it shifted to Lee Ju-hee. "Is that true?"
"Um!" Nari nodded once more.
"Han-sol said he was sorry. He had something urgent to deal with. Sorry for being late," Jin-ho comforted, patting her head.
It was then that he noticed her eyes growing watery, a hint of vulnerability showing through as she bit down on her lower lips.
Realizing how overwhelming it must have been for a young girl to be left alone, Jin-ho pulled her into a gentle hug, his heart aching with uncertainty. Comforting a crying child wasn't his forte.
"Uh, it's okay, Nari. Really, it's alright. I'm... well, I'm here now."
Lee Ju-hee's icy voice suddenly cut through the moment, her tone carrying an unexpected bitterness. "Not used to kids, are you?"
Yoo Jin-ho's response faltered momentarily before he managed, "Actually, I'm staying with a friend and I'm just lending a hand with babysitting. But thanks for looking after the little fluff!"
So, he was just lending a hand with childcare? This little girl wasn't his daughter?
"Tsk! It's not a big deal," she replied brusquely. Hard not to feel a little sour after last night's defeat dealing with a guy like him.
"O-oh, right! And, I'll cover the... um... bill!"
"No need," Lee Ju-hee sighed, "It's still pouring outside and you don't have an umbrella. Children can get pretty vulnerable in this kind of weather. Why not wait here until the rain lets up?"
Unbeknownst to her, the colder she seemed, the hotter she was. And that new hairstyle and hair color? It made her look like she was some kind of idol.
Momentarily feasting his eyes on her features, he murmured, "th-thanks?!"