𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒆 .

      when his name slipped past her lips, it caused the heart hiding within his chest to start up a rhythm, a pounding in his ears creating a song that seemed to block out all the noise around them. the only thing jae was able to make out was the constant beat and the sound of annie’s voice. sadly, even if bambi were to call out for him right now, there was such a high chance that he’d barely even hear it. the boy hummed a soft “hm” at her words, still at a loss when it came to finding his own. there was nothing he could think of to say to her. what could he possibly say? maybe an apology was due, but was it right if he had just come out with it out of he blue? the two weren’t even expecting this to happen and the last thing jae wanted to do was scare her off by bringing up the past and trying to spit out a unrehearsed apology that would probably be full of gibberish and stuttering. he cleared his throat again - this time not to speak, just because the boy was unsure of what to even do. he just watched her, eyes glued to the beautiful features that have matured in the most beautiful way over the past few years. a soft smile tugged on his features as he watched her hair in her hands, eyes finally dropping to the ground as he did his best not to smile wider or point the habit of hers out. “yeah. uh,” he started in response to her words, head giving a few gentle nods before he could glance quickly to bambi - still standing next to him and holding onto his hands. “no, no. not that nanny. she’s mine.” he explained, words gentle as he ran his free hand through the girl’s hair - removing the tie from around the bun that sat on top of her head and allowing the dark strands to fall around the small girl’s face. “is that better?” he questioned to her, shuffling the hair before turning back to annie.

      it seemed as if every time jae’s eyes settled back to the taller girl, he found it hard to pull them away again. he had forgotten how amazing she always looked and maybe that’s what kept him staring. or maybe he was scared that if he looked away, it’d be years before he saw her. again. “i, uh…” more words, desperately trying to find an escape still struggling to actually form. “usually have her picked up because i’m usually at work but. i took time off for her and i, uh…” blinking a few times, jae was able to pull his eyes from the brunette, thankfully, the act was able to help him process words better and make actual sentences. “i’m suppose to be picking her up all week, but i can, uh… maybe have someone get her if this is, uh… a little too weird for you?” he offered, glancing back to the gorgeous girl as a soft smile forced it’s way over his lips. “or if it’s okay, then, uh…” his gaze wandered down to bambi, causing the girl to look up to him with her big, brown, doe eyes that somehow matched annie’s. she wore a smile as she glanced back between annie and jae, eventually letting go of his hand to sit on the floor patiently. “oh, okay.” he mumbled softly as he watched her, a soft chuckle leaving his lips. “uh, i was gonna take her to the park for a bit.” even though it wasn’t the initial plan. “maybe you’d like to come along with us. she always says how her ballet teacher is her favorite teacher. she really enjoys being here with you.” he explained, those words being true. if only he knew she was speaking of annie this whole time. “i mean you defintely don’t have to, but i fig-” 

      before he could continue with words that would most likely make him appear rather dumb, his little girl flew up from her position on the floor, darting over to be next to annie and take her hand into her smaller ones. jae watched her as pleading words - that he was almost able to make out completely - left her small body as she stared up at annie, begging for her to tag long with them. jae chuckled, head falling before he lifted it up, waving his hand lightly to grab bambi’s attention. “manners, please.” he chuckle out to her, looking up to annie before quickly shuffling his sight away - ears still perked to hear the small girl give a soft please to the older woman. looking back to her, jae gave a soft shrug of his shoulders, smile still trying to push it’s way to the front as he did his best to fight it. “you’re more than welcome to tag along if you’d like to.”

she’s mine,   she’s mine,   she’s mine.   her chest goes tighter as she repeated his words in her brain,   the calm simper on her face being a huge contrast against the things she was feeling in her entire body.   finally,   annie looked away from him to look down to bambi,   her favorite cherub she considered not only a younger sister but a daughter at that.    she feels rather dense,   dumb,   stupid when she just started to notice the similarities between the small girl and hanjae,   both of them standing next to each other looking the exact same if she only ignored bambi’s hair,   smaller body,   and her baby face compared to his chiseled features.   but at the same time,   bambi always brought some kind of nostalgia to the young woman when doing something as mundane as looking at her,   sometimes having to ignore the way her chest tightened when her smile pierced the cutest dimples on the soft of her cheeks.   and anastasia only knew one person whose dimples had that kind of power over her,   a little feature that always drove an eighteen year old annie,   with her baby face and an animated mouth,   to both tap them and kiss them every time they made an appearance on him---   the very same boy who was standing right in front of her looking just as perfect as she imagined he was going to grow into.   cheeks turn just a bit tad rosy as a tiny   “   oh.   ”   leaves past her lips,   scolding herself for allowing her eyes to float down to his hands to see if he was wearing the god damn wedding ring that she knew it was going to get her if he was indeed wearing one.   even when she had no reason to.    her brain is busy with thoughts as she listens to him,   doe eyes floating back up to him to actually eye him once she had noticed that no,   he wasn’t wearing anything.   annie always found the boy in front of her beautiful.   ever since the first time they met at that one cafe in downtown manhattan,   she swore she heard the most seraphical song playing in the back when he walked into said place,   his handsomeness only growing when she realized how bad she had it for him.   but this time he was nothing but plain gorgeous,   almost leaving her breathless that she even has problems to speak up,   pinkish lips parted as she finally got up from the bench while shaking her head to the sides.   her knees trembled as she took a step closer to the duo,   but she’s a collected visage as she clasps her hands together.   “   oh no,   of course not!   i don’t have a problem with you picking her up,   unless you find this weird,   of course.   i mean,   like,   i can’t make you keep coming if you think it’s weird.  ”    she pressed her lips together,   going back and forth on her words because what in the world could she even tell him?   her chest is racing because she was being nothing but stupid in front of him,   something that was obvious by the rosy dust on the porcelain of her cheeks.   annie watched bambi sitting down and she could only wish she could do the same,   her knees going weaker the more she listened to him talk.   fuck,   she had missed him so much...   even after the things he did that broke her for some time. “   that sounds fun.   ”   she said softly,   blinking slowly until his last question makes her blink just a bit faster.   one part of her brain tells her to decline the offer,   that she still had enough pride to stick out her nose and say no to the one person who left her with a broken heart,   but the other part that also included her enormous heart that,   sadly,   longed for him every now and then?   they begged her to say yes,   anything for her to clung onto the hope that they met again for a reason.   she’s about to say yes,   but nothing comes out when her little student bolted to her spot to beg her to go to the park with them.   her little pleads and big brown eyes tugged on her heartstrings,   bottom lip sticking out as she couldn’t help but stick a strand of hair behind the girl’s ear.   the brunette doesn’t speak until she’s looking up to jae once again,   her simper turning into a precious smile as she gave bambi’s cheek a little tap.   “   sure,   i would like to go.   only if i’m not being a burden to any of you,   of course.   ”   she giggled softly as she gave the girl’s hands a quick kiss on top of her hands,    pulling away as she pushed the bench closer to the instrument before them.   the sight of the piano was also a punch in the gut too,   remembering the days and nights jae would play for her ears only.   “   i just...   need to get my stuff.   ”   she said,   tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear as she walked to the corner of the room,   eyes glued to the smaller girl and him.   “   so,   excuse me.   i will be right back.   ”   and with that she was out of the classroom,   calm features going red and shocked as she not only rushed to get her belongings,   but to beg her co worker to close the building for her because she needed to go to the park.   

minutes passed and the brunette walked back into the classroom,   nervously tugging on the zipper of her hoodie that kept the upper half of her ballet attire hidden under the warmth of the fabric.   when her eyes floated back to hanjae,   she wasn’t even surprised her heart was ringing louder than the way her heeled flats clicked on the marble of the floor.   “   okay,   ‘m ready.   shall we?   ”   she smiled sweetly,   motioning to the exit of the building with a little nod of her head.   what she didn’t expect was bambi suddenly bolting to her side,   taking hold of her hand with her little hand that makes annie to pout and hold her heart with her free hand,   giggling just the slightest as she allowed the tiny girl to pull her out of the building to take them to the park,   but not before allowing herself to look over at jae to give him one of the shyest smiles ever,   her free hand twitching to extend it to his direction to hold his hand.   something she had missed...   a lot.    instead,   she opted to take a tight grip on the strap of her backpack,   looking away from him to carry on with small talk.   “   you said you’re working.   let me guess.   cuisine?  ”

      his eyes scanned the hands on his clock swiftly, smiling politely as he pushed past people on the sidewalk that made their way against hanjae’s. his feet lead him towards the building he knew would be full of parents, picking up their small ones from the same class he was rushing to pick bambi up from. he was late, of course, beating himself up for losing track of time as he sat at home - thinking of work while he was on vacation. whenever his little girl was around, he was able to enjoy the time off - always finding himself busy and running around crazy with the little one that kept him on his feet all day. but when she wasn’t around? he grew bored. she wasn’t there to keep him going and to occupy his mind with the little things she did that jae adored. all he could do is sit and reply the memories in his head and smile to himself. bambi being gone also left way too much room for his mind to wander back to menus and ingredients and stock lists that he shouldn’t have been worrying about right now. and because of this, he’s late. 

      watching the room clear of parents, jae ran a hand through his hair - almost embarrassed at how late he was. he supposed it was due to his absence when it came to picking her up at this hour. usually, the nanny that helped him day to day was the one to greet the small girl at the end of class. but why would he allow her to do so on his week off when he’d be home to do it? his timing was off, sure, but he was there - eyes scanning the small faces left in the room for the one that mirrored his slightly - dimples in her cheeks and the same shaped eyes as his. the charming little girl was quite hard to miss, the very reason jae knew she was the one sitting at the piano with, who he assumed, was her teacher. he took slow steps to the pair, listening to the pretty music that filled the room - a little spotty as bambi tried to hit keys accordingly, but sometimes falling short. his lips turned upward into a smile as her giggle filled the open air around them, his hands digging deep into his pockets as he cleared his throat - eyes glued to his little girl. “i’m so sorry i’m late, sweetie. i lost track of time. how was class?” he questione,d bright smile across his features as he leaned down to place a soft kiss on her forehead. 

      his hand gave the girl’s side a gentle tickle, loving the giggle that rang through the room again. only until his words were now aimed at her teacher, eyes still on bambi as he gathered a few of her things into her backpack and threw the colorful bag over his shoulder. “i am really sorry for being late. i wasn’t paying attention to the time. I hope she wasn’t trouble.” his eyes locked onto bambi’s once again before he questioned a soft, “are you ready?” to her, hand reaching out for her to grab. “thank you aga-” before he could finish his sentence, it was happening all so quickly. eyes locking onto the older girl’s familiar ones and the feeling of his heart stopping. his mouth still slightly gaped open as he looked to the brunette with disbelief. suddenly, jae was standing in front of annie and feeling like he was nineteen all over again. instead of his life flashing before his eyes, it was every memory he could remember with her that started to flood his head. “annie…” the boy whispered softly, still holding on to bambi’s hand as the little girl’s eyes darted back and forth between her two elders, curious as to what was happening in front of her. “i… i didn’t know you were bambi’s teacher.” was all he could manage to say, still speaking as soft as possible.

her fingertips had barely lingered on the keys of the piano because,   suddenly,   the instrument was no one’s but bambi’s----   and she was fine by it.   the brunette adored playing the piano,   but she loved when the younger one kept herself entertained with an option she offered.   annie sat next to the small one while enjoying and listening to the pretty music she was playing,   sometimes both fixing the younger girl’s fingers on the keys she tried to hit and reminding her the tone of the song she was trying to play with a hum of her own.   the sound of the girl’s giggles have always felt like a lullaby to annie’s ears,   continuing to eye the way her little hands moved across the piano while also barely paying attention to the already empty classroom and the footsteps that were walking towards them.   and even when whoever had just walked up to them,   someone that wasn’t the friendly nanny who always greeted the girl next to her at the end of her class,   and talked to the younger one,   anastasia didn’t even bother to look up.   not because she didn’t want to or anything,   but the feeling of the world and her heart stopping at the same time was overwhelming when she heard his voice.   his voice.   memories that she had forced to be kept in the back of her brain for the sake to heal her broken heart----   every single memory that that she had spent with someone she will always consider her first love,   starts flooding her head as she continues to listen to the way he is speaking to the little girl,   chest aching to the point of it hurting because not only hanjae was in the same room as her after so many years of them not knowing anything about each other,   but because it was rather obvious that he was related,   close to bambi.   and annie knew he had sisters,   but she also knew they weren’t as young as the girl besides her,   leaving her to connect the dots by considering the familiar features she had noticed over the months that,   maybe,   bambi was the boy’s daughter. truth be told,   annie was panicking.   she didn’t know if her quick theory was correct,   but her body was still as she watched him pick up the younger girl’s backpack by the corner of her eye,   dainty hands frozen on top of the board she wanted to put down to hide the keys of the piano.   it was when he started to speak to her when annie finally looked up,   features rather stoic compared to everything she was feeling in the pits of her stomach:   from happiness,   to sadness,   to anger,   to basically everything.   and when their eyes locked for the first time after so many years,   years that she had spent longing for him with nothing but a heavy heart as she clung onto the little,   barely non-existent hope that he was going to come back to her one day   (   something that never happened,   she bitterly thought   ),   annie wanted to cry when her heart made the biggest leap in her chest.   her lips twitch into a simper when he dared to say her name with that voice of his.   it was saddening how after so many years,   he was the only one who could say it and make her believe that her name was the prettiest name ever.   “   jae.   ”   her timbre mirrors the softness of his voice,   a shiver going down her spine as she allowed herself to lower the board over the keys of the piano gently.   “   yeah,   i’m her teacher...   ”   she said,   eyes still locked with his as she moved one of her shaken hands to the back of her neck,   refusing to stand up because she knew she was going to end up on the floor due to everything she was feeling.   “  you...   ”   she couldn’t help but gulp,   rotating her body just the slightest on the bench.   “   are you...   bambi’s father?   ...the new nanny,   perhaps?   ”   she asked,   tugging at a dark lock of her long pony tail that was held tight with a baby pink ribbon,   one of her many nervous tells,   one that she knew jae would,  with no doubt,   be able to recognize.