#dadchan

At work, your boss realized how distracted you were. “Y/N, are you okay?” she asked, snapping you back to reality. “Huh? Oh… yeah I’m doing okay, just a bit deep in thought.” She stared at you with worried eyes. “It doesn’t seem like it. Look, why don’t you go home and get some rest for a few days while I work on the rest of the project, okay?” “What? No, it’s okay-I’m completely capable of completing the project, don’t worry, I-” “Y/N… you’re my hardest working employee. I’m sure it’ll be fine if you take some time off, okay? Why don’t you go home and stay with your kids for a bit and see how it goes. Maybe spend some time with them while they’re still small, hmm?”

She was right. You’d been so caught up in this project, you barely slept, ate, nor spent much time with children anymore. You thought the project was only going to last for a bit, but that was never the case with any project at work. “Are you sure?” you guiltily asked. “Yes, I’m sure! Now go! Enjoy the rest of your day off, hun!” As she shooed you out of the office, you walked out into the street and realized that you didn’t even remember how to have fun. You planned a small date for you and your kids. They for sure were going to have fun with you today. You were going to make memories they’d never forget.

After picking up the kids from Changbin’s house, you surprised them by going to the park near the house. It had been so long since you’d brought them here. It felt like a million years had gone by already. The three of you ate ice cream, played lava monster on the playground, and ate dinner together. The day was set as a memory you’d never forget. When the three of you got home later that evening, you saw that Chan’s car was in the driveway. It was weird that he was home so early. You weren’t displeased, but from the last conversation you both had, you weren’t so happy either. Either way, you inhaled deeply and went into the house.

Chan was sitting on the couch when the three of you trudged your way in. Aris and Eli both dropped their backpacks on the ground and ran over to Chan. “Daddy!!!” they screamed as they attempted to climb onto Chan’s lap. “Hi kiddos,” he said while grabbing them both and placing them on his lap. “Daddy, guess what mommy and us did today??” Aris asked Chan. “What is it? What did you and mommy do, hmm?” Eli cut his sister short as he started exaggerating every detail of the day. They were both so busy entertaining Chan that they forgot you were still standing by the door just watching them explain things to their dad.

Before the story could get any crazier, you decided to let them both know that it was time for bed, and that they needed to sleep so that they could wake up and go to uncle Binnie’s house tomorrow. “Awwww but I wanna stay up with you and daddy!!!” Aris complained while pouting. “Yeah!! You said we could do anything we want today!!” Eli chimed in tune with his sister. “Now, you both know how mommy is when she gets mad, you two. Why don’t you go shower tonight, and we can all ready a book together tonight, hmm?” Chan explained calmly to them. With a loud gasp, Aris said, “Can we read about the warriors who slay the dragon??!!!” “Noooo!!! I want to read about Cinderella,” Eli retorted. It was literally as if Aris was the brother and Eli was the sister from the way they both acted. It was too adorable. Chuckling, Chan obliged to read both stories to them. Running away happily, they took their bags from your hands and got ready to shower and end the day.

When the kids had finished showering, Chan laid in bed with them-both books in his hands. He really was going to read both books, wasn’t he? You just stood at the door watching your children smile while they laid across Chan’s lap. “Mommy?” Eli said interrupting your thoughts. “What is it, baby?” “Can you come lay with us?” Surprised, you stood awkwardly at the foot of the bed, looking at where to join the children and Chan on the bed without actually being near Chan. “Come on, mommyyyy, I want to get the story started!” Eli complained while you stood there-still looking like an idiot. “Mommy, just sleep by daddy!” Aris demanded while making some room by Chan on the bed.

Not wanting to waste any more time, you walked over to the side of the bed and joined Chan under the covers while the kids shifted their way around the two of you. It was awkward, to say the least. You were still struggling on how to sit next to Chan but could only lean back towards the wall behind you. It was the most uncomfortable feeling ever. The four of you sitting in your daughter’s small bed trying to find space just to read a simple bedtime story. “Mommyyy! Can you move, please? I don’t have any space,” Aris complained beside you. “Well mommy doesn’t have any space either, baby. Why don’t you sit on my lap, hmm?” “No, I don’t want to mommy. Why don’t you just lay on daddy’s shoulder like you always do?” The most awkward tension had been brought back by your sassy five-year-old daughter.

So it was true-toddlers were probably worse than teenagers because of their unruly filter. All that time, Chan just sat there laughing and giggling to himself under his breath with Eli. He truly did know how to get under your skin. Especially since you were both still not speaking to each other than about the kids. You shot a glare at Chan while adjusting yourself to compromise with your daughter.

It was hard getting intimate with Chan-even just putting your head on his shoulder. It had been so long since you’d both been intimate-whether it be holding hands or even making love. It just wasn’t there anymore. You missed it, to be honest. It was the hardest thing to admit. You wanted to be independent, show that you were tough, but all you wanted in all honesty was for Chan to hold you. You missed the way he would caress your body, the way he would kiss every inch of your body, make you feel his love through his actions, whisper sweet nothings in your ears, tell you how beautiful you were regardless of anything you thought of yourself. You missed those days. The days when you were both able to enjoy small moments together. “Are you comfortable, babe?” Chan asked, bringing you back to reality. Shocked by his sudden words, you whispered a simple yes without looking at him and you laid your head on his shoulder. “Okay, let’s begin, shall we?” Chan asked the kids as he opened your daughter’s favorite book. “Once upon a time, there were three kingdoms…” that was the last you’d heard while you could keep your eyes open.

The next thing you knew, you were waking up in your bed with Chan’s arms around your waist. He must’ve brought you to the bedroom after he read the books to the kids. Pulling his arms off you, you walked toward the bathroom to get ready for work. It was hard holding a grudge against Chan at times. Times where moments were so sweet and loving like last night. But one moment wouldn’t fix that. One moment can’t fix the lonely nights you cried in bed alone and cold. One moment can’t fix the many times you’d had to tell friends and family that Chan was busy at work while you were at family functions he promised he’d show up to. It had been going on for long enough. You did want to forgive him, but forgiveness had to come with change; that was the only compromise you’d ever needed from Chan. Regardless, you were going to try and make this work once you finished your unfinished project at work. There was too much at stake to lose the deal you were close to closing.

Dropping off the kids at Changbin’s house went smoothly and arriving at work seemed less stressful than previous weeks. Maybe your boss was right taking a day off definitely helped. “What are you doing here, Y/N?” you heard your boss’s voice behind you. “What do you mean what am I doing here? I’m here to work,” you said nonchalantly to your boss as she followed you into your office. “Y/N… when I said take some time off, I didn’t mean only half a day.” “…What do you mean?” you asked. “I meant take a few days off, Y/N. I can’t make my most hardworking employee burn out!” “But the project-I can’t just-” Taking the paperwork out of your hands, your boss quietly said to you, “it’s about time you and your hubby go on vacation, yeah?”

Vacation. That word was so foreign to you. It was so long ago since you’ve been on vacation. “I don’t think vacation’s a great idea since we’re trying to land this deal…” you said while trying to snatch the paperwork back. “Noooo… you do realize that they agreed to the deal, right?” “They did?!” “Yeah, they did. I don’t know how they came to a conclusion to work with us, but here we are.” “Wow… that makes me feel so much easier now,” you said while sitting down. “Good. So that means that I have to kick you out of this building just so you’ll take time off, right?” she asked as she grabbed your purse. “What? No, I need to-” “Ah! No. If you don’t listen to what I have to say, that means I’ll have to fire you just so you’ll stop living here, right?” “I mean…” “No-that’s what I thought. Please, Y/N, you need to leave this place for just a few days, okay?” “Please go home and rest while you can before we have to close another deal, okay?” She rushed you out of the office and blew a kiss before choosing the lobby floor for you in the elevator.

You couldn’t even catch sight of what was happening-just that your boss had given you the next few days off. Sounded good, though, since you needed it and wanted to catch up on a few projects back at home. You texted Changbin’s wife asking if they could keep the kids until the same time so that you could run some errands. With a sweet reply, she said yes.

Pulling into the garage, you saw that Chan’s car was still parked in the garage. Did he not go to work? Either way, you still didn’t want to talk about the situation with Chan. It was like you were both walking on eggshells- not just around the kids, but it you were both struggling to find a middle ground. It’s not like you were trying to make a point by not apologizing… okay maybe it was a bit of pride, but you also felt that Chan should’ve been more helpful as a husband and father.

Opening the door to your house, you saw that there were packed suitcases in the living room. Why were there suitcases? Was Chan leaving you? Was it the nightmare you wished would never happen? It made your stomach drop. No matter how independent you were, in this marriage, it only worked as a codependent relationship. Not only that, but as parents, it would be easier to work together in one home than in two-in most cases. Was Chan falling out of love with you? Was Chan going to leave you alone? Were you really going to be the single mother you’d always felt you’d been for the past few months?

As those thoughts were running through your mind, Chan walked into the room. “Hey, babe… let’s go.” “Go where?” you asked. “We’re gonna miss our flight.” “Our flight? What do you mean? I still have work, and the kids-” “I’ll explain on the way to the airport-” Chan said as he pulled you back into the garage and into his car along with the suitcases. On the car ride to the airport, you couldn’t help but ask so many questions. Where were the kids? Where were you guys going? What happened? Chan answered the questions with simple yet vague answers. It wasn’t helping your frantic mind at all.

Boarding the private jet, you weren’t ready to go anywhere-you were just worried about your babies. You knew you left them with Changbin and his wife, but you didn’t get to say goodbye before leaving to whatever destination Chan had been rushing you to go to. Taking a seat on the jet, you opened your mouth to ask Chan another question, but were hushed with his stern voice saying for you not to worry, and that you needed to get some rest before arriving at the destination. Furious at the vagueness of his answers, you turned toward the window and stared at the sky as the jet took off.

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Author’s note: Here’s part two :) I’m just glad I’ve been having a bit more time to work on this with the few days I get off of work.