***
(Kang Hyuna)
As the romance movie continued playing on the television, Hyuna barely paid attention to it anymore.
Her eyes stayed on the screen, but her thoughts had already drifted somewhere else.
To Doyeon.
She let out a small sigh and leaned deeper into the couch, hugging a pillow to her chest.
"Sigh… my sweety has really grown up…" she murmured softly.
Her lips slowly curved into a nostalgic smile.
"I still remember when he was just seven years old and he said something like…"
She cleared her throat dramatically, preparing to imitate him.
***
(17 years ago — Playground)
Little Doyeon ran across the playground as fast as his short legs could carry him, his shoes kicking up small puffs of sand behind him.
In his hands was an upside-down ice cream cone.
Except instead of ice cream… It was filled with sand.
"Mommy! Mommy!" he shouted excitedly while running toward her.
Little Doyeon rushed straight into Hyuna and wrapped his small arms tightly around her waist, hugging her with all the strength his tiny body could manage. His face pressed against her stomach as if he had been waiting forever just to reach her.
Then he pulled back slightly, still holding onto her clothes.
"I want that ice cream!" he said eagerly, pointing toward the small ice cream stand across the playground.
After a second, he lifted one finger and tapped his lips thoughtfully, like he was trying to come up with something very serious.
"And Mommy—"
His eyes sparkled with determination.
"I promise I'll do anything to make you happy!"
His tiny face beamed with a huge, innocent smile.
Hyuna couldn't help it.
She immediately scooped him up into her arms and began peppering his cheeks with endless kisses.
"My baby is too cute! MWUA, MWUA, MWUA!!!!"
***
(BACK TO PRESENT~)
"Ahhh!!"
Hyuna suddenly squealed happily on the couch, waving her hands in the air like an excited teenager who had just heard the best news of her life.
"My baby, sweetheart Doyeon is back!"
Her face lit up with pure joy, and she hugged the pillow in front of her chest, kicking her feet lightly against the couch like she couldn't contain the excitement bubbling inside her.
Then—
A thought struck her like lightning.
She froze.
"Wait."
Her eyes slowly widened.
(His room…)
(I already cleaned it…)
(But what if there's still dust somewhere?!)
"(>0<)"
Without hesitation, Hyuna grabbed the remote from the glass table and paused the movie immediately. The dramatic background music from the romance film cut off mid-scene.
She jumped to her feet.
"I need to check it!"
And then—
"Awagh! (ᗒᗩᗕ)"
Her body suddenly wobbled.
Hyuna grabbed the back of the couch for balance as the room spun slightly around her vision. Her legs gave out halfway and she dropped back down onto the couch with a soft plop.
"Owgh~!"
She leaned forward slightly, one hand moving to hold her lower back while the other pressed against her forehead.
"Ow… ow… my back…" she groaned softly.
For a moment she stayed there, slumped against the couch cushions.
Then she let out a long sigh.
"I'm getting older."
She paused.
Then a small smug smile appeared on her lips.
"Well… still pretty though."
"Tehe. >⩊<"
She giggled quietly to herself before stretching her arms up for a moment like she was warming up before a workout.
After resting for about a minute, Hyuna slowly pushed herself back onto her feet— this time much more carefully.
She steadied herself by holding the armrest of the couch, taking a few small steps forward while testing her balance.
"Okay… okay… slowly…" she muttered.
Once the dizziness faded, she straightened her posture and brushed her hair behind her ear, regaining a bit of her usual composure.
Her gaze drifted toward the staircase.
(Just a quick check…)
(What if there's a little dust somewhere…)
(My sweety deserves a perfect room.)
With that thought, Hyuna quietly began walking toward the stairs.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Her pace was slow but determined as she climbed up to the second floor.
And soon—
She reached the hallway.
Right in front of Doyeon's room.
The door stood quietly in front of her.
Hyuna slowly reached for the handle, and she slowly pushed the door open.
The room was quiet.
She leaned forward slightly, peeking her head inside first as if she expected someone to suddenly jump out at her. Her eyes moved left… then right… scanning the corners of the room suspiciously
But inside…
There was no one.
"Obviously," she muttered to herself with a small, embarrassed cough.
She stepped inside anyway, her slippers making soft tap tap sounds against the floor as she walked further into the room.
Her gaze slowly wandered around.
The desk was perfectly clean.
The floor was spotless.
No dust.
No trash.
Not even a single stray hair or piece of paper anywhere.
Hyuna nodded slowly, placing one hand on her hip like a proud inspector.
"Of course it's clean," she murmured to herself with quiet satisfaction. "I cleaned it yesterday… and the day before that… and the day before that…"
But then—
Her eyes drifted toward the bed.
The moment she saw it, her expression changed.
A soft, slightly mischievous smile crept onto her lips.
Her shoulders lifted a little as if she was trying to hold something in.
Then suddenly—
She jumped forward.
"Wahhh~~!"
Hyuna flopped dramatically onto the bed, landing face first into the pillow before hugging it tightly in her arms like it was the most precious thing in the world.
"My baby, sweetheart Doyeon's bed!" she giggled happily, kicking her legs lightly behind her like an excited girl.
"He's going to live here again now~!"
She rolled slightly onto her side, still hugging the pillow, her cheek pressing into the soft fabric.
"Mmm~ (ㆁωㆁ)"
Her nose twitched slightly.
She then stared at the pillow beneath her, like she looking at a treasure worth more than the world, and… after a second, she sniffed the pillow.
"Hehe… my baby's smell…"
Her smile grew wider as she rubbed her cheek against it like a cat enjoying a warm spot.
For a moment she looked completely content.
Then—
She froze.
Her body went stiff.
Her eyes slowly widened.
"W-wait…"
She lifted her head from the pillow very slowly.
"What am I doing…? (ᗒᗩᗕ)???"
Color rushed to her cheeks almost instantly.
Hyuna shot upright on the bed so fast the mattress bounced beneath her.
Her face was bright red.
"W-what was that just now?!" she squeaked.
She quickly grabbed the blanket and started waving it around wildly, fanning herself as if she was trying to blow away the embarrassment surrounding her.
"Doyeon's mommy sounds so naughty!!!" she cried dramatically. "Wait… naughty~? Why did I say it like that! I sound like a horndog?!"
She covered her burning face with both hands, shaking her head quickly.
"No no no no no!"
After a moment she peeked through her fingers, her cheeks still flushed pink.
"I just miss my sweetheart…"
She pouted slightly and hugged the pillow again— this time much more carefully.
"That's all."
Her eyes darted around the room as if making sure no one had witnessed her little moment of embarrassment.
"Good thing no one saw that, (*´ω｀*)"
She cleared her throat and sat up straighter, trying to regain some dignity.
But even then, a faint blush still lingered on her cheeks.
"Honestly…" she mumbled softly while smoothing the blanket.
"My baby coming home makes me act weird…"
She huffed lightly and brushed her hair behind her ear, though a small, shy smile still remained on her face.
Her embarrassment slowly faded as she glanced around the room again.
Then something on the bed caught her attention.
Doyeon's shirt and pants.
She stared at them.
And stared.
And stared.
For nearly a full minute she didn't move at all.
"My baby changed clothes already," she murmured softly.
Finally, she reached forward and picked them up carefully.
Instead of leaving them there, she folded the clothes neatly with practiced movements and placed them gently on the desk beside the bed.
After that, Hyuna began tidying the room again out of habit— straightening the blanket, adjusting the pillow, brushing invisible dust from the desk, and making sure everything looked perfectly in place.
Only when she was satisfied did she step back and admire the room.
"Perfect," she whispered proudly.
***
(Back to Doyeon)
Meanwhile, several streets away— Doyeon suddenly slowed his bike.
"Huh?"
He scratched his head.
"Why is my left ear itchy…?"
He rubbed it a few times while looking around in confusion.
"Weird."
Then he continued pedaling down the road.