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Raking his salon styled dark hair, Kyungsoo swiftly ran through the soft carpeted ground of his apartment floor. The small, pigtail clad girl waddled past childishly as giggles left her small mouth. Kyungri heard her father, that's for sure. But did she care?

"Come back here! I really need to go to work, and you're not even changed!" Kyungsoo screamed after her.

"No!" She laughed carelessly as her hair fell behind her in raven sweeps. As Kyungsoo darted behind her, his arms scooped the three year old and picked her up. Kyungri shouted in protest, but the only thing he cared about was that he caught her.

"There we go," Kyungsoo deadpanned before setting the child on the floor and grabbing her hands tightly. "Now. You know Min is waiting for you, right?"

Kyungri struggled to get out of her father's grip, so she complied. "Yes."

"So we need to go."

Dragging her through the floor whilst ignoring her desperate cries, Kyungsoo's phone buzzed in his pocket. The caller was Min. Before he was able to even place the phone on his ear, Min's rambled words were heard.

"Kyungsoo, I know this is extremely late and you have every right to hate me, but I can't babysit Kyungri today!"

Kyungsoo's eyes furrowed in confusion at the late notice. "What? Why?"

"My grandma's seriously ill and I need to take her to hospital," she continued, her voice evidently distressed. "I'm really really sorry!"

An empathetic pang of remorse overturned the feeling of annoyance to Min as Kyungsoo heard those words. He let out a defeated sigh. "It's fine, Min. Take the time you need, and I hope your grandma makes a speedy recovery."

"Thank you," was what Min uttered next before the line went dead. In his hand still held a young child that no longer had a babysitter to look after her. As if her father wasn't panicking, Kyungri chewed softly onto the ends of her silky black hair — her (inherited from her father) wide eyes were darting side to side.

"What the hell?" Kyungsoo continuously muttered whilst scrolling down his contacts list in hope that he'd find an unemployed, money needing friend that also is child–friendly. He contemplated his currently unemployed friend, the practically infantile Park Chanyeol who lived in the outskirts of Seoul with his parents. However, Kyungri was quite scared of him due to his lanky stature and creepy smiles.

Byun Baekhyun? Baekhyun was a work–at–home guy, living with his girlfriend of five years, Taeyeon, who was still waiting for a ring on her finger. However, Baekhyun's short temper was something that wouldn't work well with Kyungri; someone would be dead by the time Kyungsoo arrived to pick her up.

The rest of his friends were either working, or Kyungsoo didn't really feel comfortable asking them. Lastly, his ex–wife's contact stopped at his finger. Im Juhyun. The picture of her smiling excitedly at the camera — a photo taken by him several years back when they were newly weds, and she was pregnant with their first child. Several years felt like centuries to him. The blissful days where Kyungsoo was actually happy. Until the fights...the crying...the screaming. And the divorce.

It wasn't until two months ago when the divorce was finalized. However, it was a year ago when Kyungsoo's ex–wife, Juhyun, moved on and began dating his old high school friend, Junmyeon. Of course Kyungsoo was pissed. He used to consider Junmyeon as one of his brothers. They were like two peas in a pod, the pair. When he confronted his friend about it, all Junmyeon did was shrug his shoulders and pull an uncaring face at him.

"Love is love," Kyungsoo recalled Junmyeon telling him without a care in the world. "Let's face it. You and Juhyun were never meant to be. It's better like this."

Kyungsoo even remembered his clenched fists as his now most hated person in the world spewed such apathetic nonsense to his face. But what he did was turn his heel and walk straight out of Junmyeon's villa, where he spotted Juhyun about to enter. Have a happy life, he remembered thinking as his eyes narrowed at the sole person he once loved the most in this world. Not anymore.

Now Junmyeon and Juhyun were to marry after a year of perfect dating, termed by the pair. Everyone, even the stormy ex–husband were invited. They were all going, but Kyungsoo was inclined to decline the invitation and stay in his home, drinking to his hearts content until he didn't remember anything. Maybe not that much drinking, due to the existence of Do Kyungri, but some alcohol was needed.

He exhaled painfully as the memories seeped back into his mind; deciding not to ever keep in contact with his ex, he locked his phone and placed into his trouser pocket. Kyungri was still in a little trance, unaware of anything.

A door open and closed loudly, a clumsy girl slipping out and tripping over her laces onto the floor. Kyungsoo just watched in pure second hand embarrassment, and a little bit of amusement. She automatically flushed upon seeing the pair, her eyes widening. She stood up again before wiping down at her trousers and giving an awkward grin. Ara. His next door neighbour.

She was a short and slight girl, smaller than Kyungsoo which was quite rare due to his size. Her hair was an artificial chesnut brown and she usually adorned light colored clothing to compliment her pearly white skin. Age wise, Ara was younger than Kyungsoo by a few years — she turned twenty–one a couple months back and almost finished college, whereas Kyungsoo was twenty–six.

"H--hey," Ara stumbled.

Kyungsoo's eyebrow quirked up, looking down to see the black bin bag clutched tightly in Ara's hand. "Need any help there?"

"No! I'm good, thanks," she replied quickly. She then advanced to Kyungri, still very much in a trance, and gave her a childish grin. "Hey, Kyungri!"

The small child simply waved. She knew Ara because they lived on the same floor, but Kyungri was an awfully shy girl that squirmed when human contact was inevitable. The only people she felt truly safe with was Kyungsoo and her mother. However, it was becoming apparent that Junmyeon was edging his way into her life.

"Where are you guys off to?" Ara questioned Kyungri in an exaggerated high–pitched voice. The latter looked up to Kyungsoo desperately.

"I've got work, and Kyungri here is stuck with me," he answered, teeth biting into his bottom lip in worry and stress. Taking your child to work wasn't convenient in any way.

Ara stopped talking for a second before shrugging her shoulders and pointing to her door. "If you want I can keep an eye on her while you're gone. All I have to do is a couple assignments, but I can watch over her."

It was almost as if God felt sorry for Do Kyungsoo that day. All of the worries piling up in his mind were thrown out into the air surrounding him. He was so glad he almost pulled Ara into a hug, but refrained. Instead, he bowed.

"If that's alright with you."

And with that, Kyungsoo released his hand from Kyungri's small yet tight grip and made his way downstairs, realizing he was late.

—

"Look, you have to go to the wedding."

Kyungsoo's workmate and good friend, Kim Jongdae, took a seat in front of him at the café they'd visited after work to get a coffee. Jongdae was a bubbly guy; he represented everything Kyungsoo wasn't — fun, carelessness and freedom. Yet, he was very wise.

"Why should I?" Kyungsoo retorted once he took a sip of the steaming hot coffee. "It's my ex–wife! And my ex friend! Would you go to Yuna's wedding if she got married?"

Yuna was Jongdae's notorious ex. They'd dated on and off for four years, and everytime she got an ounce of freedom because of his multiple business trips at the start of his career, she would cheat. Jongdae was heartbroken – obviously – still, he loved her. So it took several breakups until they finally broke it off for good. Jongdae still had immense love for her, but he knew it wouldn't last.

He was silent at Kyungsoo's question. Then he shook his head and gave him a stern look. "It's not about me, okay! Yuna and I's relationship was much different to yours. We weren't even serious."

"Four years isn't serious to you?"

"Well she wasn't serious," Jongdae shook it off sourly whilst drinking his iced tea with a straw. "Anyways, you and Juhyun have always been friends even before you two started dating. At the end of the day she's still Kyungri's mother and you owe it to your daughter and yourself to be there for her."

Kyungsoo sighed. Why did Jongdae have to be so wise? "I guess you're right. But I'm not congratulating Junmyeon. He's an asshole."

"I know," he chuckled. "Nobody's expecting you to. Junmyeon's a weird one."

"Weird is an understatment. He's a wife stealing, spoilt dick—"

"—okay, okay! We get it. You don't like him! Refrain on the language though, Kyungsoo. You're a father."

Ever since Kyungsoo became the first one to have a child, all of his friends used it as a sort of guilt trap to keep him in line. He wasn't allowed to drink with them anymore, he was practically banned from watching soccer games because of his competitive nature, and they teased the fact that he became a lot more alert since being a father, and called him the dad of the group. Condescending, yes. But it was fitting.

The pair left the café and entered Jongdae's cedar wood smelling car. The car started up and they found themselves zooming through the highway.

"So," Jongdae began. "The guys are meeting up now, wanna come?"

Kyungsoo faced him, thinking carefully in his head who the guys were. "The guys meaning...?"

"Baekhyun, Chanyeol, Minseok, Sehun—" he stopped abruptly. Then chuckled a little. "Oh yeah, Junmyeon's gonna be there."

"Sorry, I have a daughter to take care of," Kyungsoo answered sharply. No way in hell will he ever hang out with the wife stealer. "Maybe next time. When I'm not tied down to Kyungri. And certain Junmyeons aren't there."

Jongdae let out a sharp exhale. "You're so petty, Kyungsoo, has anyone told you?"

"Petty to you...perfectly reasonable to me."

Once his neighbourhood was in clear view, Jongdae parked his car to let Kyungsoo out. He simply waved his friend away and walked into the lobby of his apartment. He hoped Kyungri didn't cause any issues with Ara which would be extremely awkward and inconvenient to him.

Kyungsoo reached his floor and strolled towards Ara's door. Knocking it, he heard footsteps and a grinning Ara opened it for him. Hanging on her back was Kyungri. Wow, he thought, they made friends quick.

"Thank you for looking after Kyungri," he gratefully smiled. Ara just waved him off.

"No, it was great. If you ever need a babysitter..."

"I'll definitely notify you," Kyungsoo finished before eyeing his daughter. That was if Min wasn't around. "Kyungri, say goodbye to Ara."

The small child, however, shook her head in protest. Embarrassment washed over his face upon seeing this, so he tried again. To no avail.

"C'mon," he began to beg. "You need to eat. Sleep."

Ara pulled Kyungri off her back and put her on the floor. Yet, she refused to leave the home; instead holding the girl by her leg.

"I gave her food," Ara admitted. "Just some dinner because she was hungry."

Suddenly he panicked. "T--there wasn't any nuts in the food, right?"

Kyungri was sadly one of the many that aquired a verocious nut allergy that, if it wasn't treated quickly, would land her in the emergency room with aphyxiation...or worse, in a coffin. Luckily Kyungsoo was a very attentive father and made sure any sort of nut would stay well away from her. He's managed well throughout these three years.

"No, just some rice," Ara replied to Kyungsoo's great relief. "Why? She's got a nut allergy?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks for the information. Just in case."

The atmosphere soon turned quiet — awkwardness filling the air. Kyungri was still holding onto Ara's leg like a monkey to a branch. The latter bent down and began whispering to the child. She was nodding profusely at Ara's words and then suddenly grabbed onto Kyungsoo's hand finally.

"Thank you," he said; Ara just tilted her head casually. "By the way, do you take cash or card? I need to repay you for what you did—"

"—no, no! It's absolutely fine," Ara quickly retorted with a waft of her hand. "Honestly, we're neighbours."

"B--but..."

"But nothing," she assured him. "I'm not a shop, Kyungsoo. I won't take your money."

That shut Kyungsoo up for good. He took a liking to Ara; she was sweet and caring to Kyungri. The fact that his daughter even managed to warm up to her meant something. He hastily thanked her yet again and allowed Kyungri to tearfully wave at her new friend.

Ara just grinned. "See you. And bye, Kyungri!"

It seemed like Kyungri really was under her spell, because when they'd entered the apartment, she was chanting Ara's name like a mantra. Kyungsoo had some serious competition. The door knocked, startling the pair.

"Go to your room, okay?" Kyungsoo ordered his daughter, her just slouching off without another word. He started towards the door and unlocked it to reveal Juhyun.

She looked flustered — her perfectly curled raven locks sitting over her shoulders, her expensive outfit looking like it could cost his whole apartment, and her symmetrical face with goddess–like features that reminded Kyungsoo of all the times men used to hit on her even when he was clutching tightly onto her hand, yet because of his height he wasn't seen as intimidating. That was soon changed after a few altercations. Juhyun was always carefree, and would flick her hair flirtatiously that never failed to anger her husband.

She didn't look very carefree in front of him, though. Her usually smiling face was replaced with an anxious frown. Her manicured hands were fumbling with each other.

"Hi," she whispered, fear laced in her voice. Kyungsoo found himself pitying her and opened the door wider to let her in. Juhyun stalked in with her high heels and took a careful seat on the edge of the sofa.

"What's wrong?"

She exhaled and then let out a fake laugh. "What's not wrong? My wedding's in a month and today the entertainment cancelled on me! Do you know how long it took me to find entertainment? It took me more than a month, I'll tell you that."

"Oh," was all he could say.

"Oh?" Juhyun spat rudely. "Oh? I'm sitting here emotionally distressed and scared and all you can say is oh?"

"What else can I say?"

Subsequently, she stood up to slightly tower him because of her heels. "I don't know, be a lot more helpful! For all the years I've loved you I can't believe you're not even being supportive."

"Supportive? I don't know if you seem to forget, Juhyun, but we're divorced!" Kyungsoo found himself screaming, not even considering the fact that Kyungri could possibly hear. "I no longer have to deal with your problems. You have Junmyeon for that."

It seemed those words stuck Juhyun hard, because she sat back down and began to contemplate. A brisk sigh followed. "You're right. I'm sorry. I'm just so stressed everything's ticking me off, and I was wrong to scold you when you didn't even do anything."

It's been such a long time since the two actually sat down and spoke for more than five minutes since the divorce, so it soon became really weird and unnatural for them voluntarily being with each other.

"Before I leave, I actually came to request if you could sing at our wedding?" Juhyun blurted out cautiously to Kyungsoo's dismay.

"What?"

"We'll pay and everything! It's just that there's no chance in getting entertainment in such short notice and you're an amazing singer, even Junmyeon agrees! Please, Kyungsoo. I've never requested anything from you since we seperated and I'm sure as heck that I won't afterwards...but just this?"

The look Juhyun was giving to Kyungsoo affected him a lot because it reminded him of the days when she'd requested things from him, and he would always say yes.

Which was the word he uttered next. When Juhyun left after ages — she even hugged Kyungsoo which made him tingle slightly — he flopped down onto the couch.

Singing at his ex–wife's wedding? Great.

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