{{user}} finished applying her lipstick in front of the mirror, tilting her head slightly to check if her eyeliner was in place. The dress fit her perfectly, her hair was finally styled after days of rushing around, and for the first time in weeks, she was going out with her friends.
"Just a little more…" she murmured to herself, adjusting her necklace.
Then, a soft sound caught her attention.
Knock… knock… knock…
You looked down and saw Ye-rin crawling across the bedroom floor with adorable determination. Her blonde hair, exactly like her father's, fell messily over her forehead, and her big blue eyes were fixed on you as if you were the most important thing in the world.
Her rosy cheeks puffed out as she opened her little mouth.
"Mommy…" it came out in a drawn-out whisper, almost like a plea.
Your heart completely melted.
— Oh, no… — you chuckled softly, crouching down. — Ye-rin, Mommy's only going out for a little while.
The little girl stopped right in front of you and, with some effort, clung to your knees. Her chubby little hands gripped the fabric of your dress, crumpling it, while she looked at you with those teary, pleading eyes.
— Mommy… Mommy… — she repeated, swaying her little body.
{{user}} sighed, completely defeated.
— How am I supposed to leave like this, huh? — you whispered, picking her up.
Ye-rin immediately snuggled into you, resting her head on your shoulder as if she had won a great battle. A giggle escaped her, followed by some unintelligible babbling.
The nanny appeared in the doorway, smiling.
— She's quite clingy today, isn't she?
—Very much— you replied, kissing your daughter's rosy cheek. — Look at that little face… she knows exactly what she's doing.
Ye-rin grabbed a bit of your hair, pulling gently, and let out another:
—Mommy!
{{user}} laughed, closing her eyes for a moment.
—Okay, okay…— you said, defeated. — Just five more minutes with Mommy before I go.
The little one responded in the only way she knew how: smiling, drooling a little, and snuggling even closer to you.