Work Text:
“Chae, you promised that you’ll behave right? This is a big place, my dear, hawak ka lang lagi kay Daddu, okay?” Cheol patted his daughter’s head while giving reminders before entering the park.
“Hala, daddu, why are they running so fast? Parang pinanood namin ni Tito Gyu? Mga zombies po!” curiosity filled the six year old’s as she watched the people around them running fast to enter the park.
“They are excited po.” he said as they walked towards the gazebo where Minnie and Mickey are.
“Eh? I’m excited din, daddu, pero I’m not running?”
“Very good, Chae. Hindi naman po need tumakbo but it’s normal to show your excitement.” he explained to his daughter and it seems that Chae’s attention was diverted when she glimpsed Minnie and Mickey. Her eyes filled with excitement as it was their turn to take pictures.
After taking pictures and getting compliments by the two famous mice, the father and daughter went to buy an ice cream but while Cheol was getting her Minnie Mouse shaped ice cream, Chae ran from his hold.
“Chae!”
Cheol began to follow his daughter. The park is too big and he cannot afford to lose his darling, although Chae can’t easily exit the park, it is still an enormous area for a 6 year old on the loose.
Chae stopped running and stood in front of a long haired blonde who seemed shocked when a child appeared before his eyes. Cheol stepped back a little and observed his child, cautiously watching Chae.
“Hi! My daddu said that this park have princess and lots of characters but I don’t recall po that there’s an angel in those Disney films?” Chae tilted her head and pouted.
“Oh no, darling, I’m not a character.” Han offered the little girl a smile.
“But you are so beautiful!” Chae exclaimed that made Han chuckled a little.
“Thank you, my darling. You look like a princess! What’s your name?”
“My name is Chae po.”
“What a beautiful name. My name is Han. Chae, where are your parents?”
“Oh! Si Daddu! Wait here po!” Chae even looked around for his Daddu and smiled when she saw Cheol standing and watching them.
“Be careful!” Chae began to run and Han could only mumble.
—
“Daddu! I found an angel!”
“Careful, dear.” Cheol brushed the stray pieces of Chae’s hair while his daughter excitedly smiled and pointed at the angel sitting on the fountain. Han smiled at them awkwardly and waved his hand.
“Daddu, liar ka! You said walang angel sa Disney! Eh ano siya?” Chae kept on mumbling while she grabbed her father towards Han. Cheol has no other choice but to give in to his princess.
“Chae…” Cheol awkwardly smiled at Han and bowed a little. “Hi, I’m sorry, she’s just so excited.”
Han chuckled, swaying his hand as he didn't mind at all. “It’s okay, she’s cute and charming.”
Cheol nodded and offered his hand, Han looked at it for a second and raised his eyebrow. “My name’s Cheol, I’m Chae’s father. Sorry at makulit ang anak ko.”
Han smiled at Chae then at Cheol before accepting his hand. “I’m Han. The angel, I guess?”
“Oh, ‘di ba, daddu! Sabi sa’yo angel siya e.” Chae crosses her arms at his daddu.
“Anak…” Cheol smiled and ruffled her hair.
“Angel, are you alone po?” Cheol helped his daughter sit beside Han and she’s now dangling her feet while looking at the blonde.
Han shaked his head. “I’m with my brother and our friend. Best believe they’re at Toy Story Land again.”
Chae nodded, and offered her ice cream to Han. “I’m fine, dear. Thank you.”
“Why are you not with them po?”
“I don’t like the ride na pupuntahan po nila.” Han smiled at her. “Ikaw? Why are you not riding those rides?”
Chae pouted na ikinatawa ni Cheol. “Nagpupumilit kasi sa Big Grizzly Mountain, masyado pang maliit at pang adult ‘yon.”
Han smiled as he nodded. “Kapag big girl ka na, you can ride that naman.”
Cheol gave his daughter a look that said ‘I told you so’, Chae pouted more and looked down. “That's what I said. Kulit e.”
“Daddu!” Chae exclaimed.
The two adults giggled at Chae’s reaction. Chae and Han continued to discuss things while Cheol observed the two. Chae looked so happy sharing her stories and Han responds with the same energy Chae is giving. Cheol, on the other hand, looks happy while observing the two.
Cheol can’t agree more with his daughter, Han really looks like an angel. The way his eyes disappear when he smiles. The way his hair dances along the wind. And the way his gleaming eyes divert from his daughter to his and then the smile he shows that beaming smile.
I’m too old to have a crush , Cheol thought to himself or as he convinced himself.
Han and Chae went on and on as if they have the same interest in everything, sometimes Cheol inputs in their conversation but it is Chae who mumbled the most.
“Hannie!” Han and Chae’s attention diverted to the voice who called Han. There's a two grown man, probably around Han’s age who's holding a tote bag from World of Frozen and the other has an Elsa inspired headband.
“Shua, tapos na kayo?” Han asked the man with the tote bag.
Shua nodded. “May new friend, e?”
Han smiled at Chae. “Chae, that's Kuya Shua with the tote bag na Frozen and Kuya Won with the headband. This is Chae who found me here and her dad Cheol.”
Chae smiled at the two and Cheol offered his hand. They sat down beside them and Chae worked her charm on Kuya Shua and Kuya Won.
“Chae, nag-ride na kayo sa Winnie the Pooh?” Kuya Won asked. Shua side-eyed Won and looked at Han.
“Not yet po, the line is mahaba po kasi so Daddu said na ibang ride na lang po.” Chae replied to her Kuya Won and smiled. Won nodded and turned to Cheol, Han already knows what his brother is up to. Well, Won is careful when it comes to kids but best believe Chae would not let go of Won once she bonded with him.
“Kuya Cheol, can I bring Chae? Pang bata naman ‘yong ride and I’m capable of handling kids.”
Cheol turned to Han as if he's seeking assurance of what Won had said. Han nodded and Chae was now pleading with her eyes that Cheol can't resist. “Uh, sure. Just hold her, baka tumakbo kapag may nakaagaw ng atensyon niya.”
Chae exclaimed with delight and did a high five with his Kuya Won. Shua went with the two and left Han a meaningful look. Han rolled his eyes on his dear best friend.
As Chae and his two Kuyas went for a ride, awkwardness slowly surrounded them. Han tried to make small talk about Chae and Cheol politely answered them.
“So, what kind of work do you do, Han?”
“I’m a preschool teacher.” Han replied.
“Wow. It actually suits you. Ang lapit mo sa bata.” Cheol smiled. Han chuckled lightly and shook his head.
“Normal na siguro ‘yon, magnet na yata ako sa mga bata. Kaya rin siguro nilapitan ni Chae.”
Cheol chuckled and nodded. “Mahilig talaga si Chae sa mga angel.”
Han actually didn't mind people calling him that. He gets it a lot, must be his aura or just simply his face but when it comes to how Cheol said it, there's an unfamiliar feeling growing on his stomach.
“Ikaw? What do you do for a living?”
“I’m an artist. The ones who draw and layout for cartoons.”
“That's amazing. I guess, influence mo kaya mahilig si Chae sa cartoons? Given that you're here.”
“You can say that. Kapag busy rin kasi ako, d’yan lang nakatuon pansin niya.”
Han didn't actually want to pry but it did make him curious whether Cheol's raising Chae alone and where's his wife. Cheol must have noticed it. “Yes, I raise Chae alone.”
“Ah… Sorry for prying pero, where's her mother?”
“I got full custody of Chae. She never wanted to be a mother. I was young and dumb but at least I got myself a lovely daughter.”
“Oh, well, it must have been tough but I believe you're doing a great job raising her. She's what I would ask for a daughter.”
Cheol chuckled. “She's what I would ask for too. Ikaw ba? You have a little one too?”
“Yeah, actually, twenty of them but thank goodness they get picked up after two in the afternoon.” Han laughed.
“You enjoy being a teacher, Han?”
“I do, Cheol. There’s something comforting when I am surrounded by kids.” Han replied, memories of his student’s smiles flashed in his mind that made him smile unconsciously.
Silence enveloped them but neither of them mind. The silence was comforting that when their gaze met each other, they could only smile. Later on Chae with Won and Shua appeared, Chase excitedly told them how the ride went and how cool her Kuya Won was because he knows a lot of stuff about Winnie the Pooh that made Shua roll his eyes. Han and Cheol attentively listened to Chae and the smile that was plastered on their faces won’t disappear.
The time for the Momentous arrived and they decided to watch it all together. Chae looked so excited and kept on talking with her Kuya Won. Han and Cheol talked a lot while waiting and Shua was talking to a man who looked like a ray of sunshine.
It was bliss, the whole show was surreal. Han was mesmerised with how the fireworks light up along with the dancing fountains and the clips of Disney films that reminisce your childhood.
“Wow, how beautiful.” still looking up, Han could only mumble and not pay attention as he is so focused with what’s in front of him.
“I know.” Cheol nodded while staring at the angel who was so immersed with the glimmering lights in front of him.
—
“Angel, when can I see you po again?” said the teary-eyed Chae. The show ended and it’s time for them to go home.
“Tomorrow is our flight na po pabalik sa Philippines.” Han replied.
“How sad, malayo pa po.”
“It’s okay. Don’t mind Chae, Han. Uuwi na rin naman din kami sa makalawa.” Cheol chuckled and ruffled Chae’s hair. He turned into his daughter and nudged her. “Baby, say goodbye na to Tito Han, Kuya Shua, and Kuya Won.”
Chae pouted but nodded. “Bye-bye po, Angel, Kuya Shua, and Kuya Won. I’ll beg Daddu to see you all po again when we come home po.”
The adults chuckled at Chae’s and Won ruffled her hair. “Don’t worry, Chae. Pupunta pa tayo sa Enchanted Kingdom.”
“Oo, Chae! Kahit sa Star City pa!” Shua added.
—
“Daddu, ang tagal mo po. Umuwi na lahat ng classmates ko, ‘di ba po, teacher?” Chae scoffed at her father that made Teacher Doki and her Daddu chuckled.
“I’m sorry po for making you wait. May dinaanan pa po kasi si Daddu.” Cheol assured his daughter and turned to Teacher Doki. “Teacher, sorry po for the long wait.”
“It’s okay, hindi naman ganoon katagal, Mr. Choi.” Teacher Doki smiled.
Cheol nodded and picked up Chae. “Thank you, Teacher. Una na po kami. Say bye and thank Teacher Doki for staying with you.”
Chae smiled and waved to Teacher Doki. “Bye and thank you, Teacher Doki!”
After saying goodbyes and thank you to Teacher Doki, the father and daughter walk their way to Cheol’s car. Cheol lets Chae take ahead to see her reaction to his surprise. As Chae went closer, the car’s window rolled down and revealed a smiling angel.
“Angel!” Chae exclaimed.
“Hello, Chae.” Han smiled and went down the car to hug Chae.
Chae and Han took a while in hugging and declaring how happy they are seeing each other again. Chae didn’t let go of Han and the blonde is more happy to hold her. Han looked up to the smiling man in front of them. Cheol couldn’t help but be mesmerised by this sight and mouthed ‘thank you’ to Han.