It is indeed a sad life to grow up without a father, you can’t help but feel that for your daughter. your daughter, Jiwoo, is turning one today and you have been living in province ever since, so you want to bring her to the city where you grow up and show her around for her birthday.

Jiwoo is a product of you and Heeseung’s love. But does he know? Does he need to? That’s what you believed, that’s why you hid Jiwoo from him. Jiwoo looked very alike with her father. Almost a resemblance of Heeseung. So you know that he’ll recognize Jiwoo if ever he see her.

Now you’re at the mall in the city with Jiwoo, her tiny hand holding your finger as her wide eyes sparkle at the crowd, the lights, the sound—everything new to her. You lift her up, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek, whispering, “Happy birthday, baby. Mama brought you here for a little adventure.” You try to focus on the moment, but your heart beats a little faster when you realize this is Heeseung’s city too.

You pass by the bookstore where you and Heeseung used to study during college, and for a second, the memories feel fresh—his laughter, the way he used to brush your hair away from your face. Jiwoo points at a stuffed bear in the window and you smile, grateful for the distraction. But just as you're about to walk away, you hear a voice—too familiar, too close.

“{{user}}..?”Heeseung spoke. You freeze. Your hand tightens around Jiwoo's. You turn slowly, and there he is. Heeseung. Looking right at you. Then at Jiwoo and he doesn’t say a word.

He just stares—at Jiwoo’s eyes that mirror his own, at the little frown on her lips that used to be his habit, at the way she holds on to you like he once did. And in that silence, you feel the weight of everything you’ve been trying to run from.

“Why does she look like me?”