Chapter Text
The sun hung high in the sky, casting dappled patterns of light across the park. The air buzzed with the sounds of laughter, shouts, and the rhythmic thud of soccer balls. Wheein and Hyejin ran back and forth on the grassy field, their giggles echoing as they played a friendly match against another pair of kids. The sight brought a sense of warmth to Yongsun’s heart as she watched her daughter smile so brightly.
Standing next to her, Moonbyul was also fixated on the girls, her eyes alight with pride. “Look at them go,” she said, her tone carrying a warmth Yongsun was starting to associate with her presence.
“They seem to be getting along really well,” Yongsun replied, her voice light. She loved seeing Wheein so open and carefree. It wasn’t every day that her daughter found a friend she connected with so quickly. After Yongsun and her ex-husband divorce, Wheein became more hesitant and more reserved with other people, not letting others see her defenses down. This was something Yongsun immediately caught upon and both of them took sessions with a counselor to have Wheein reduce the stress, possible disorders or anything that might come from the separation, but there’s always the worry from a mother.
Next to her, Moonbyul chuckled, leaning against the fence. “Yeah, they make a great team. Hyejin got that energy, and Wheein keeps her grounded, thankfully.” She grinned. “It’s almost like they’ve known each other forever.” Yongsun smiled at that, feeling the truth of it.
“It’s nice. Wheein doesn’t always warm up to people right away, so I’m glad she’s comfortable around Hyejin.”
There was a pause as they watched the girls pass the ball back and forth. Yongsun felt the breeze tug at her hair, and she glanced sideways at Moonbyul, wondering if she should ask more about her. They’d shared a lot about their kids, but there was still so much she didn’t know about Moonbyul herself. The thought made her curious—more curious than she’d been about anyone in a long time.
“So,” Yongsun started, trying to sound casual, “we know now that you’re the coach, well, no, you’re THE coach Moonbyul. Do you do anything else or is soccer enough?”
Moonbyul tilted her head, a small smile playing on her lips. “I do. I also help out with some youth soccer leagues or the university team and sometimes I take on personal training clients.” She shrugged. “It’s a mix, but it keeps me busy.”
Yongsun nodded, her curiosity growing. “It sounds like a lot to juggle. Do you ever get any time for yourself?” Moonbyul’s eyes softened, and she let out a light laugh.
“Time for myself? What’s that?” She shook her head, her gaze still on the field. “Not really. Between work and Hyejin, it’s rare. And even when I do have a moment, I’m usually thinking about what I need to get done for her or the teams.”
Yongsun felt a pang of understanding. “I know exactly what you mean. It’s like your mind never stops. There’s always something you should be doing.”
“Exactly.” Moonbyul sighed, her expression turning thoughtful. “But, I don’t mind too much. Hyejin’s my world, and I want to make sure she has everything she needs.” Yongsun felt her heart squeeze at Moonbyul’s sincerity. She admired the way Moonbyul spoke about Hyejin with such affection and dedication. It was clear how much she loved her daughter, and that made Yongsun want to know even more about the woman behind the warmth.
As they continued watching the girls, another family approached the field. Yongsun recognized the parents from one of Wheein’s art classes, and she waved as they walked over with their son. “Hey, Yongsun!” the mother greeted. “It’s good to see you here.”
Yongsun smiled. “Good to see you too, Jiyeon. This is Moonbyul, Hyejin’s mom. Our daughters are playing together today.”
Moonbyul offered a friendly wave. “Hi, nice to meet you.”
Jiyeon’s eyes lit up as she recognized Moonbyul. “Oh! You’re the coach for the local team, right? My son’s been in one of your classes. He loves it. It’s usually his dad who takes him to the practices and they both come back home so hyped about each lesson.”
Moonbyul’s face brightened with recognition. “Ah, that’s right! It’s great to see you. Your son’s got a lot of talent; he’s a natural.” Jiyeon beamed, and they continued chatting for a few moments. As their conversation wrapped up, Jiyeon excused herself to join her husband, leaving Yongsun and Moonbyul alone again.
“Seems like everyone knows you around here,” Yongsun remarked with a smile.
Moonbyul shrugged, but there was a hint of pride in her eyes. “I’ve been coaching here for a while. You get to know the families, and it’s nice seeing the kids grow.” The faint screams of happiness from Hyejin and Wheein echoed and were followed by giggles, both mothers were calm to know that they had everything under control.
Yongsun felt a new wave of admiration for Moonbyul. “It must be fulfilling, seeing the impact you have.” Moonbyul’s smile softened.
“It is. I love it. But… sometimes, I wonder if it’s enough. You know, for me.” The confession caught Yongsun’s attention. She glanced at Moonbyul, seeing a flicker of something deeper in her eyes, a vulnerability she hadn’t shown before.
“What do you mean?” she asked gently.
Moonbyul hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “I guess… it’s just that sometimes, it feels like everything I do is for Hyejin or work. And don’t get me wrong, I love both and I’m happy I get to dedicate my life to something i’m very passionate about. But I’ve been thinking lately… What about me? Where do I fit into all this?”
Yongsun’s heart ached at the honesty in Moonbyul’s voice. She understood that feeling all too well. “I think a lot of single moms feel that way,” she said softly. “We put everything into our kids, and sometimes, it’s easy to forget about ourselves.” Moonbyul nodded.
“Yeah. And it’s hard to even think about dating again. It feels like… who would want to take on all of this?” She gestured to the field, where the girls were still playing with boundless energy and then to herself, as if the coach was also a lot to handle. Yongsun felt a pang of empathy.
“I know what you mean. After my- uhm,...” Would it be okay for Yongsun to share this? What would Moonbyul think? They’re already opening up about their lifes so there’s no going back. “My ex-husband and I divorced and even during the marriage, we used to fight a lot after Wheein was born and when I started asking for help which, apparently, well, I was asking for too much or at least that’s how I’ve always felt during that time…” trying to ease of the tension at the worried face Moonbyul’s was making, Yongsun added: “It obviously didn’t work and I’m glad it did, I get to spend my everyday with my daughter without another stress.” and with a soft smile, she shrugged with her shoulders, smiling once again at the happy girls at the field.
Moonbyul’s gaze softened as she looked at her. “I’m sorry you went through that.”
“It’s okay,” Yongsun replied, offering a small smile. “It was a while ago. But it still makes it hard to try again, you know?” Moonbyul nodded, her eyes thoughtful.
“It’s scary, putting yourself out there. Especially when you’ve got a little one depending on you.” Yongsun found herself studying Moonbyul’s profile, noticing the quiet strength in her expression. She seemed so calm and collected, yet there was a depth in her eyes, something that hinted at her own struggles and hopes. Yongsun felt a pull toward her, a desire to understand her better, to see beyond the surface. But before she could think of how to ask more, the kids ran up to them, their faces flushed and smiling.
“Mom, we won!” Hyejin declared, holding up the soccer ball triumphantly. Wheein instantly arrived behind her, cheeks red from all the running and intense laughing that they had going on while playing, but still Wheein nodded eagerly, her eyes bright.
“Yeah, we’re the best team!”
Moonbyul laughed, reaching down to ruffle Hyejin’s hair. “You two are unstoppable.” Yongsun knelt to hug Wheein.
“You did amazing, sweetheart.”
As she held her daughter, she glanced up at Moonbyul, who was grinning proudly at the kids. Yongsun felt a warmth spread through her chest, a sense of connection she hadn’t felt in a long time.
And after another hour of playing, they decided to take a break. The four of them settled on a blanket under a shady tree, the girls busy with snacks while the moms watched them with fond eyes. Yongsun turned to Moonbyul. “I never got to ask, how did you end up coaching soccer?”
Moonbyul’s eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief. “It’s a long story but I’ll make it short for you: I used to play when I was younger, I was a defense at the uni team, and when I had Hyejin, I thought it’d be a great way to stay active and do something I love. It just… stuck.”
Yongsun’s curiosity deepened. “Do you ever miss playing?”
Moonbyul’s gaze turned wistful. “Sometimes. But coaching has its own rewards. And I get to be there for Hyejin, which is more important to me.” Yongsun admired how selfless Moonbyul seemed, but she couldn’t help but wonder if there were things Moonbyul was holding back. She felt a desire to ask more, to know the person beyond the coach and the mom. But before she could, the girls finished their snacks and tugged at their hands, eager to play some more.
“Wheein, you know I can’t play!” Pushed by her daughter, it was Hyejin who was holding Yongsun’s hand and smiled.
“It’s okay my mom can teach you! She’s a coach for everyone!”
Oh god.
“Yeah mom! Let Coach Moon teach you!” Wheein was also plotting against her and she didn’t know how to say no.
“Okay okay” thankfully Moonbyul was going to intervene for both of the wellness of the moms. “First of all, Wheein you can call me Moonbyul or Byulyi as long as we’re not on the field, I’m not the coach right now. Second of all, I haven’t even asked miss Yongsun if she wants to learn…” while doing that, Moonbyul and Yongsun exchanged looks and there was a visible sparkle of mischief in her gaze.
“No, I am by no means an sports person…” that wasn’t enough for any of the girls surrounding her, and this time Moonbyul felt brave enough to put her hands on Yongsun’s shoulders, also pushing her towards the field. Both Hyejin and Wheein were pulling her hands with their tiny bodies. Yongsun laughed, shaking her head. “I’m terrible at sports, for real.” She said as she gave up and let herself be put into the middle of the field.
Feeling the warmth of Moonbyul’s hands on her shoulders, the coach lightly chuckled and let go, leaving a burning sensation in Yongsun body. “You’ll be okay, you only need to kick the ball towards me and I’ll do the rest for you. When I tell you to kick strong, you kick strong.”
There was a lightness to Moonbyul’s tone, but Yongsun could feel the underlying warmth, the hint of something more in her words. “Are you sure I can do this?” Yongsun turned to see Hyejin and Wheein already long gone and in different positions, smiling and waving at their mothers.
Moonbyul grinned. “With that pretty pair of legs you have, I’m sure you’ll do amazing.” Where did the flirting came from? Yongsun was so thankful that the girls were far from them and couldn’t hear the flirting. Blushing, she slightly pushed the soccer coach and laughing, Moonbyul winked at her, more comfortable in the field than on the sides as they were before.
After a brief explanation, the proper way to kick the ball and Moonbyul carefully grabbing her foot to show her and angle it the proper way, after a few tries, even Yongsun was excited to send it correctly, in a straight line towards the coach. Wheein and Hyejin cheering at far.
And when the two of them joined the kids, kicking the ball around and laughing as they attempted to dribble. Yongsun stumbled a few times, and Moonbyul caught her as much as possible, steadying her with a gentle hand. Each touch was brief, but it sent a thrill through Yongsun, one she tried to ignore. Yongsun’s laughter mingled with Moonbyul’s, and for a moment, it felt like everything was right. The world seemed smaller, the worries of single parenthood fading into the background.
As the afternoon went on, the four of them played together, the laughter and shouts of joy filling the park. Yongsun hadn’t felt this carefree in a long time. It was easy to be with Moonbyul, easier than she’d expected. After a while, they settled down on the grass, the kids still playing as the moms watched from a distance. Yongsun felt the comfortable silence stretch between them, and she glanced over at Moonbyul, who was leaning back on her hands, eyes focused on Hyejin. “So, you said you don’t play sports, what is that you do?”
There was genuine curiosity in her voice, she stopped looking at her kid and now she was looking at Yongsun, the mother did the same, with a smile. “I’m an art curator, I get to restore many art pieces, take commissions from private collectors, work for museums from everywhere and sometimes I make collections that I sell in private auctions, from time to time.” It seemed that it took Moonbyul by surprise, she was looking at Yongsun in awe. “You do that? Damn, you’re so talented! Wheein is so lucky to have you.” Yongsun, surprised at the outburst of joy and surprise from the coach, she blushed and slightly shrugged, as if it was nothing.
“It pays the bills and art makes me happy, so I’m just glad I get to do it.” She brushed it off like it was nothing and Moonbyul turned to look at the kids once again, who were coming back on their own, finally exhausted from all the playing.
And by the time they were ready to head home, the sun had dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the park. As they packed up, Yongsun felt a sense of reluctance. She wasn’t ready for the day to end, and she found herself glancing at Moonbyul, who was helping Hyejin gather her things.
Moonbyul glanced at her the same way.
“Maybe… we could do this again sometime?” Yongsun suggested, trying to sound casual.
A smile spread across her face. “I’d like that.”
“We’d like that too!” The two girls cheered, hugging each other side by side.
With a chuckle from both mothers, they nodded, a sign between the two of them that they will arrange their meeting privately, through messages. It was a mutual understanding.
As they walked to their cars, Hyejin quickly hugged Wheein and then turned to hug Yongsun, who hugged the girl back with a tender smile, all while Wheein did the same with coach Moon, who ruffled her hair in mischief, both making a promise to see each other tomorrow at soccer practice.
Yongsun saw that interaction with a smile while she arranged Hyejin’s rebellious hairs behind her ears, the little girl was smiling. “I hope we can see you more often, Wheein’s mom. My mom had a lot of fun today but I bet she won’t be admitting it, it’s been a long time since I saw her have this much fun with anyone else that is not me.” Yongsun warmly smiled at Hyejin and nodded, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was the start of something new, a chance for both of them to find the companionship they’d been missing for a long time.