PAPA LOVES YOU

"mama, would papa come home today?"

eyes shifting on her beautiful young boy, jiho's throat suddenly became dry at the loss of words to say to her six years old son.

"i—baby, you see papa is—"

leaving jiho confused, jinyeon cut her off as he suddenly sat up on his bed before pacing on where his bag was placed. ruffling through his things, the boy took out a brown envelope, hurrying with a bright smile on his adorable face, he sat himself on his mama's lap as she was seated on the edge of his bed.

"mama, open this"

confused yet intrigued, jiho obliged to her son when he handed the envelope to her.

eyes widening, she couldn't help but look at her son. "baby, mama is–"

"i really wanted to show it to both of you" the boy looked down, cheeks pink while playing with his fingers. "—with papa but, i haven't seen him for two nights and i really can't wait to hold the news longer mama"

heart melting, jiho engulfed her son into a warm embrace "oh baby" a bright smile breaking out on her lips, jinyeon found himself being overjoyed as he cooed on his mother, hugging jiho back.

"i'm so proud of you, baby"

"thank you, mama but—"

the little boy pulled away a little before holding his mama's hand.

"yes, honey?"

"i'm only a candidate for now and there are three other kids who are candidates for the title"

"oh? then hon—"

"in fourteen days, we would be able to know who would have the title"

"then—honey—"

"but, my teacher said that if i maintained my good grades in this upcoming test, then i'd graduate as the highest pointer. she said that i'm always the highest one so, if i kept being that way i should be able to get what i want and mama, i really want this also—"

feeling warmth seeping inside of her heart, jiho couldn't help but feel giddy with the way her son looked so excited.

"ara, my yeoniee is so adorable." she'd beamed once more before hugging her son. "i'm so proud of my baby"

"the exam is a week from now and i hope dad could come home as soon as possible so i could tell him, too" at the mention of jinyeon's father, jiho instantly froze.

"i miss papa, mama. i hope we could all go to the amusement park when i finally had that award since that'll also be the day of your 10th year anniversary of being together."

anniversary.

jiho's lips quivered, all the happiness she had felt evaporated into thin air.

our anniversary?

"if i got that award, it'll be the greatest gift i could give mama and papa"

is it even worth celebrating?

will we ever be able to celebrate that?

"baby, you know—" jiho's eyes glossed, badly wanting to tell her son that what he wished would be impossible.

"mama, i wish papa's here. i love you and papa so much and i know he loves us too. mama is the best, prettiest and good-est mama in the whole world!"

at the mention of those words, she found herself swallowing her feelings before pulling out the best smile she could ever make, trying her best to pull out the words.

"i know baby, i know . . . we love papa as much us he loves . . ."

jiho's voice trailed, eyes shifting on her sleeping angel as he laid harmless beside her in the bed.

"you"

papa only loves you baby, not mama.

not anymore and maybe,

never at all.