After the event ended, I ran to where Iseul and Insoo were. It was hard to spot them and took me a couple of seconds to do so.

There...

I spotted them. Insoo was holding Iseul's hands and they were looking for someone.

The person who they were looking for, was me, I suppose.

I ran towards them

Iseul was the first one to spot me as she shouted, "Momma!" which made Insoo look at me too.

As soon as I reached them, Iseul ran into my arms saying, "Momma... We won the second prize, see..." and showed me her teddy bear.

"Aw... Congratulations princess..." I hugged her.

"It's okay Iseul, I'll win you the first prize next time..." Insoo consoled Iseul. His voice still filled with regret of not winning the first prize, not being The best.

At that I stood straight and looked at him, "It seems like you're one who needs to hear that." I laughed. "You look too sad for someone who won a second prize."

I expected him to feel sad for not winning the game but I didn't expect him to be this sad and sulky.

"Yes Momma. I too said that to Dada. But Dada says that he wants the big one. But... Look at this small bear, he looks cute too, he would be the baby bear for the momma bear that dada bought me today, right momma?" She asked me playing with the teddy bear.

"Yes Iseul. You're right..." I said rubbing her hair.

*Insoo sulks*

"Oww... C'mon. You did really well and you worked so hard too. Why would you be dejected over a game despite winning the second prize?"

"But still it was second. I can't be second. MoonTalks is top at the markets too. But I lost a simple game, it's annoying."

In all honesty, it made me laugh hard. "It's a simple game and that's why you shouldn't find losing it, annoying. And it's not because you didn't do well. It's just the last game was hard and you were tired, weren't you? But you were the one who won the hardest game, so you should be happy." I said in an attempt to ease him disappointment.

"Do you think that way?" He asked me in a low voice.

"Yes... Of course. You were so awesome. If that game held the most points, you'd have definitely won the match. Winning that third round seemed really tough but you managed to do it effortlessly. When you won, I was really impressed. I even became your fan. That was amazing." I appreciated his efforts.

On hearing my tons of compliments, he grew shy. I could notice his face turning redder with each one. "Stop it. Why would you say that so openly?" was all that he said as he turned the other side. But I kept on adding how well he played and how fierce he looked climbing those tall walls. "No, please. Stop it. I don't like compliments stop it or I'll fire you!" He said covering his face with one of his hands.

*Dayun laughs*

At least he wasn't sad anymore. That's a good thing.

But who knew that the almighty CEO of MoonTalks, 'The Moon Insoo' could sulk over losing a simple game and get all shy over a compliment..?

After the event ended, we had to talk with other parents. Many of them came forward to congratulate Insoo and Iseul on winning the second prize. Hearing their words was oddly satisfying for me, I felt proud.

In the middle of all the talking, I forgot to keep an eye on Iseul and she was nowhere to be found. Before panic could wash over me, it was Insoo that pointed out to me where Iseul was, "She's there playing, don't worry." He whispered to me noticing my disturbed face. And thankfully she was just there.

"Hmm... Iseul's father looks handsome and seems responsible too. You're lucky!" I heard Ahn Soo-ah, grand-mother of one of Iseul's classmates say to which I grew a little nervous but managed by smiling.

"Where do you work young man?" She directed her question towards Insoo.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"Me? I'm the CEO of- Ouch..."

*Accidental hit on elbow and rubs*

"Ha... He too works at Moontalks with me! But he has to travel a lot as he manages all the branches."

"Oh. That's why we don't see him around? I get it now!" She exclaimed.

"Exactly! Haha... That's why."

"My. It must be hard then. To work under a very strict unempathetic boss?" She asked with concern.

Uh oh-

"What?! She said that?" Insoo's eyes grew surprised as he glared at me.

I'm screwed.

"Yes. She said that. She even said that he was too perfectionist of a person and punishes even for small mistakes, and-"

"Hahahahaha... Why must we talk about him? Let's talk about something else, shall we?" I said with my laugh getting bigger with each time I try to cover things.

"Don't believe her words ma'am. Our boss is such a nice guy." Was what Insoo told her before she casually left after pushing me into a firepit leaving me to burn.

...

...

...

"You go around telling people that?"

"I'm sorry. I really am. Please forgive me. I will never speak against you again ever! Forgive my sin! Have mercy" I surrendered before he could speak anything else. "And I didn't tell her all that. She's making things seem bigger." I added to justify myself.

"If you're really sorry, then, come with us to watch a movie." He said casually.

"What-"

"Yeah, the new spider-man movie by marvel, I and Iseul want to watch that, come with us."

What-

That's all

It isn't even a punishment-

~

~

And That's how our day got longer and longer. I saw Iseul and Insoo talk about the film they were going to watch. And I knew nothing about it. I was left out. While I tried to get included in their conversation, Iseul chided me saying that don't watch any superhero films.

"What? I watch superhero films too! I've watched The avengers." I spoke in my defence.

"Yeah. A film that came a decade ago. And you'd have watched it just once which you probably wouldn't even remember or wouldn't even have understood in the first place."

He's perfectly right. I understood nothing. Not even a scene. This is crime. How did he know that?

And after that I was left out of dialogues. I just closed my mouth and stayed quiet.

Even though I understood nothing from their conversation, I enjoyed seeing them talk. It made me feel happy.

In an odd twisted way, it made me feel like we were... a family.

~

~

After we finished the film, the day got even longer as we went to a park which was near the cinema theatre. It was around 7 by now and there were only a few people there. Iseul wanted to go there, so, we went there. I told her that we could come here some other time during the day, but did she listen?

As soon as we went to the park, Iseul started to play there. And I and Insoo settled on the nearby bench watching Iseul play and admiring the night sky and stars that burned for eternity.

The park was quiet and peaceful. It felt nice.

"Thank you for everything you've done for us today." I told him.

"No, I had a lot of fun too. It's a win-win."

He said making me smile at that.

"It has been a long time since I've done something fun like this. It was refreshing." He added.

"For me too." I quietly remarked not daring to disturb the peace of the dark.

...

...

Suddenly I noticed that I didn't have my phone. I checked my bag and couldn't find it.

"Is something wrong?" Insoo asked.

"I couldn't find my phone", I said.

"Could it be, you left it in the car?" He suggested.

"Maybe... I'll just go check it. What if I left it somewhere else..."

I was ashamed of how irresponsible I was. I couldn't even remember where I could've kept it...

He nodded.

"Please look after Iseul for me... I'll be right back." With that I left to check the car which was parked outside the park.

~

Insoo's POV,

I watched Dayun leave. Then, I looked at Iseul who was playing sliding.

Then, she approached me asking, "Dada... I need water."

I gave her the water bottle I was holding, saying, "Hmm... Here." But then realised, it was empty. We had already finished it.

"It seems like we've finished the bottle, little one. Come, I'll buy you another one." I suggested.

"No, I don't want to come. Buy it for me, dada. I'll stay here.", she said.

"But..." I searched for any nearby stores and found one not so far away. "Quick dada..." Iseul urged me.

"Okay wait here... Don't go anywhere. The store is just over there, I'll come quick with a bottle, hmm?"

She nodded with enthusiasm.

Then, I walked to a small store which was inside the park just a few meters away, keeping an eye on her all the way.

I went there and asked the shopkeeper for a bottle. He went to bring it. I turned to see if Iseul was there and yes, she was still there playing.

Then, I heard the shopkeeper say, "Here it is..." and I turned to look at him.

I paid him the cash and turned to look around but had the shock of my life.

...

Iseul was not there!

...

Holding the water bottle, I ran to the place hoping that she was just behind the tree or something. But no, she wasn't there.

Where could she have gone? I just turned my head for like 10 seconds. How could she go missing in 10 seconds?

I grew worried. Then, I heard a voice, Dayun's voice, asking, "Where is Iseul?"

I couldn't answer her, I was thinking of where could've Iseul gone, "I- I don't know... She was here just a few seconds ago. I went to buy water from there and was watching her all the time... But she-" I couldn't say anything further.

"What?!" She went into panic-mode.

"She would not have gone far. She must be somewhere here." I told searching behind the trees and even the bushes.

...

While we were searching the place all anxious and worried, we suddenly heard a scream. "Ahh..."

"Iseul!" we shouted at the same time and ran towards the direction her scream came from.

When we went to look there, I almost had a heart attack. Someone was holding Iseul, dragging her by force. Panic washed over me as I quickly rushed towards her.

But...

...

"MOVE AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER, YOU BASTARD!"

I heard Dayun shout from behind me.

She ran super quickly to reach the man and fly kicked him right on his stomach while he had just turned around to look at the person who shouted at him like that. And before he could realise what was happening, she kicked him again on his back. Then on his behind his legs which made him kneel down in pain.

She continuously punched and kicked him until he was completely unconscious. It didn't take her more than 20 seconds to do.

She knocked out a man who was taller and bit larger than her, in 20 seconds.

My mouth dropped in awe... I couldn't believe what I had seen just now.

"It's not them. It's not them!" She screamed relieved.

Them? What did that mean?

It was the Iseul's voice that made me come to my senses and I rushed to reach her.

I held her in my arms, "Are you fine, little one? Are you hurt anywhere?" I asked her and begged her to forgive me, "I'm sorry Isuel... Dada is very sorry......... It's okay. You're safe now." I told her repeatedly.

She didn't reply me and just said, "Dada..." repeatedly. I felt very guilty and relieved at the same time. Guilty for leaving her like that and relieved that she was fine. Everything happened very quickly and I was still shocked. I couldn't believe that Iseul was about to be kidnapped. That mere thought is very horrifying.

While I was hugging Iseul to calm her down, I felt someone shove my hands away from her. I turned to look who it was.

And...

It was Dayun.

...

"IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!"

To be continued...