you sat cross-legged on the living room floor, your phone propped against a pillow. heejin, your three-year-old daughter, lay on her stomach beside you, her tiny legs kicking in the air. her face lit up as the screen connected, revealing heeseung’s familiar smile, albeit a bit tired.

"hi, princess," he said, his voice warm and soft, directed at both of you. heejin squealed, her chubby hands reaching for the screen.

"daddy!" she shouted, giggling uncontrollably.

heeseung laughed, his eyes crinkling. "how’s my little jellybean? did you listen to mommy today?"

heejin nodded eagerly, her pigtails bouncing. "i helped mommy make cookies!"

"you did?" he feigned surprise. "mommy’s lucky to have such a good helper."

you chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. "don’t let her fool you. she mostly ate the chocolate chips."

"just like her dad," he teased, his grin widening.

the three of you talked like this for a while, heeseung catching up on the small details he missed while on tour. he listened intently as you told him about heejin’s latest antics—how she started calling the vacuum cleaner “mr. loud” and insisted on putting stickers on it.

as the conversation wound down, you noticed the way he kept glancing off-screen, likely checking the time.

"you have to go soon, don’t you?" you asked softly.

he nodded, his expression apologetic. "yeah, soundcheck’s in fifteen."

heejin pouted, her lower lip trembling. "don’t go, daddy."

heeseung’s face softened, his hand reaching toward the camera as if he could touch her. "i’ll be home soon, jellybean. be good for mommy, okay?"

he looked at you then, his gaze lingering. "i miss you," he said quietly, his voice carrying the weight of the distance.

"we miss you more," you replied, your heart tightening.

he blew a kiss to the screen, and heejin mimicked him. "love you both," he said, before reluctantly ending the call.

you sighed, hugging heejin close as she yawned against your shoulder. another day down, one closer to having him home.