PROMPTS

In Pursuit of Happiness - 4

Jang Joo Hee smiled sweetly. "Uh.. hmmm. I think I need to pee."

"Me too!" Hoon piped up.

Joo Hee motioned to Hoon. "Let's go quickly." As they retreated, Cha Mi-jo could hear Joo Hee telling Hoon, "I said it was a secret! Why did you tell your mom?!"

"Because she asked me! It's bad to lie, Auntie," Hoon informed her.

When the two were finally out of sight, Cha Mi-jo turned to Dae-sik. "Sorry. Those two are trouble, I swear."

"Very adorable," Dae-sik corrected.

"Yes. But loads of trouble," Mi-jo added.

"But you love them."

Mi-jo sighed. "I do," she said, smiling. "Hoon has the been the best thing in my life."

Park-sik smiled. "He's a ball of sunshine. I've known him for only a two days and he already has my heart."

"It's the same thing with me when we first met in the orph--" Cha Mi-jo stopped herself abruptly. Though she was unashamed about how she and Hoon were connected, she was careful about disclosing facts to strangers because she did not want the information to be used negatively against her son.

"Hoon told me," Dae-sik gently stated. "He's very proud that you met him at the orphanage and chose to adopt him. He tells me he prayed every night and that the angels whispered in your ear and you are now family."

Mi-jo teared up. "He told you that on the first day you met?"

Dae-sik smiled. "Hoon loves you very much and I am fortunate that he seems to trust me. The two of you are very lucky," he added. He hesitated but asked anyway, "Is... is there a father figure in his life?"

Cha Mi-jo's features suddenly hardened and she rolled her eyes. "If this is your roundabout way of asking if I have someone, no."

"But weren't you married?"

"WHAT?! I was never married. How did you... are you stalking me?!" Cha Mi-jo accused.

"No! I just so happened to be at the police station that one time you were booked and I saw you with a man and you had matching rings," Dae-sik confessed. "And no, I wasn't going around town looking for you even if I haven't stopped thinking about you."

"What?!" Mi-jo asked, stunned.

"I mean... Anyway! I was there on business and was surprised to see a familiar gorgeous face being rounded up by the cops, and from what I hear, that wasn't the first time! What are you doing hanging out in police stations, huh?"

"Are you two fighting?" Hoon's voice interrupted the tension between the adults. When Dae-sik and Mi-jo faced him, they also saw Joo Hee shaking her head in displeasure. "Eomma, it's not nice to fight, remember?"

"I know, Hoon," Cha Mi-jo said. "Agent Dae-sik and I were just sorting out some things."

"Agent Dae-sik, remember you told me to be a gentleman? You have to be nice to my Eomma," Hoon continued.

"You're right, buddy. Sorry."

Hoon nodded. Then, he said, "Okay. Now, say sorry to each other and hug."

Joo Hee stifled a giggle as Cha Mi-jo protested. "Hoonie!"

"Eomma, when we argue, we say sorry and then hug. Remember?" Hoon reminded her.

Dae-sik smiled. Deciding to help out Mi-jo because he did not plan to take liberties without consent, he said, "Yes, but you and your Eomma are family. I am not. We'll just shake hands, okay?"