Over a week had passed since Hajun first started at Little Mozart International Kindergarten.
The daily routine of morning drop-offs and evening pickups had turned Jin-woo and Eun-soo into familiar acquaintances.
Because of his demanding role as a CEO, Jin-woo was almost always the last parent to arrive at the school gates.
It was Friday evening, and as Jin-woo checked his watch, he realized he was running late once again.
"Haa, I am late again," he sighed to himself, feeling a sting of guilt for making Teacher Eun-soo wait.
He wanted to offer a sincere apology, and he remembered Hajun mentioning that his teacher had a sweet tooth.
On his way to the school, he stopped at a high-end bakery known for its delicate, creamy cheesecakes.
Knowing that Hajun loved cheesecake too, he decided to buy two—one for the teacher and one for his nephew.
When he finally reached the kindergarten, the halls were quiet and most of the lights were already dimmed.
He walked toward the outdoor garden and stopped when he heard the sound of soft, bright laughter.
Eun-soo was there with Hajun, gently pushing him on the swing under the glow of the evening lights.
Hajun looked truly happy, his small face lit up with a rare, genuine smile as he felt the wind in his hair.
"Do you like to swing, Hajun?" Eun-soo asked, her voice full of warmth and playfulness.
Hajun nodded his head vigorously, his eyes sparkling in a way Jin-woo hadn't seen in months.
"If you like it this much, you should try playing more with the other kids too," she encouraged him gently.
"Yes, I will," Hajun replied, his voice small but certain.
Jin-woo watched them for a quiet moment before stepping forward into the light of the garden.
Seeing him, Eun-soo's laughter softened into a polite smile as she stood up straight.
"Hello, Mr. Jin-woo," she said. "You are quite late again today."
"I am very sorry," Jin-woo replied, stepping closer and holding out a beautifully wrapped box.
Eun-soo looked at the gift with a confused expression. "What is this?"
"It's a cheesecake," he explained simply. "Hajun mentioned you like sweets, and I wanted to apologize for making you stay late every day."
Eun-soo tried to wave it away. "Oh, there is really no need for that, I enjoy the time with Hajun."
"Please, I insist," Jin-woo said firmly but kindly, and eventually, Eun-soo reached out and took the cake.
"Thank you," she said softly. "And don't forget, the kindergarten is closed for the weekend, so I won't see you until Monday."
Jin-woo nodded, thanking her one last time before taking Hajun's hand to lead him back to the car.
As they drove toward Gleam Tower, he felt a sense of peace knowing Hajun was finally starting to feel at home.