I was confused.

Yoongi's little kid just smacked me in the head as if it was the most natural thing to do.

Su and the Princess had not noticed it.

His little eyes narrowed down at me and I asked him why silently.

"Fool, you ask her now!" He whisper shouted. I was almost reminded of Yoongi. It was a deja vu kind of moment. "Bring Su with us!"

"Oh...", I made an O with my mouth as I was shocked to find him so smooth. Where had he even..?

Bring him up with me in my arms, I looked at the Princess, who had a sadness in her eyes. She was a single mom, taking care of her daughter and working for her. How hard it must have been to tell her she could not take care of her because of work...

"Princess," I saw her look at me. "I'll take her. You work. I can give you my address and you can come pick her up later. I promised this little one a sleepover, so it's no problem.

"But Jin..."

"Su, do you want to come with us?" I asked her with a princely smile that I could muster. She was a shy girl, and I didn't want to pressure her.

"Yeah! Su come with us!" It was when he clapped happily and was giddy that I realized that he was a little child. Where had the smooth player go?

"Jin..."

"Princess go, they are calling you." I nodded to her as I gave her my business card. "I'll take care of her."

"Su...baby," Su nodded and came to me and Princess was unsure of what to do. She had to go back to work, but her precious little girl. She was torn. "But you don't know when I'll end. I—!"

"Call me when you do. It'll be fine. Let me do this for you, Princess."

👑

The day was fine. After parting with Princess my heart felt empty, but it wasn't too empty and it did not hurt.

Not when little Princess was with me. She was a delight. She and Hyukji filled the seconds with laughter and warmth.

We had dinner, at a local kids restaurant where they could play games, win tickets and get prizes. We had ice cream for dessert with cookies on the side. Then we came home.

It was after 7, but she was not yet done. I was starting to worry and the kids knew.

I forget how kids are so sensitive and intuitive.

"It's okay...Mama is at another job..."

"Another..."

"Yes. She works thwee jobs." She frowned, "all for me..."

"Oh, do you want me to call her?" I asked Su, as I thought about Princess. Three jobs, that wasn't easy. One was hard enough, but she had always been hard working.

"No! I'm fine." And she ran away, back to play with the little cub.

👑

Time passed. She was at work, having to cover a shift for another person. There was no choice, she had to.

Little Princess and Hyukji fell asleep during that time, and I went to office to do a little work, something urgent had arrived.

Then I felt someone tug my sleeves and I was surprised to find the little girl awake.

"Su...you should be asleep. Why are you awake?" It was past 9, when I check the clock.

"Is it twue?" She sniffled. Her words were sad. Her eyes filled with sadness, she looked at me with large eyes. "True..?"

"What is, sweetheart?" My heart ached for the little girl. What could be making her crying?

I pulled her up in my arms holding her. I got up from the chair and out of the office. I moved to the den, where it would be warmer. I sat on the sofa, gently wiping her tears away.

"Don't cry little Princess," I gently said. I knew Hyukji was probably sleeping.

"Are you going to protect us?"

"Little Princess? What's wrong?"

"Then your going to protect us from the rain-man?" Su whispered and all I could wonder was what she was raking about.

One thing was for sure. The rain-man was bad.

"Can I? Who's the rain man?"

"He's took papa. That's why he's in heaven."

"What?" Little Princess hugged me by the neck. It was a first for the Little Princess. I was shocked and it touched my heart.

"So will you protect her?"

"What?"

She grabbed my cheeks and squished it together with her small hands, "so, are you going to be mama's Prince?"

"Yes."

"Good, then you have to love only mama." She snuggled closer and I sighed. "Promise?"

"Yes..."

Such a deep sweet child, so much burden in her little heart. It broke my heart.

So then and there I promised myself, I swore to keep my promise.

I will protect my Princess and the Little Princess. With my last breath, I will.

And loving her...? Well, that was easy, I've loved her since the beginning.