Sunbeam

5.

"Ari?" she turned and hurried back to the bed. "Hey, sweetie, how are you, honey?" Ari asked, snuggling up next to Izeul.

"I fell asleep" Izeul cried and curled up against her chest. "Sleep, sweetie, I'll be here" she kissed her forehead and Izeul sighed, clenching her fists on Ari's stomach.

Ari relaxed as well. She had hardly slept for the past two days. But as she watched Izeul sleep, thoughts of Hwan were running through her mind.

He had called her several times, but she didn't answer any of the calls. She had nothing to say to him, and she knew what he wanted to say to her.

She smoothed Izeul's hair, resting her cheek on her head. She should have left him when she discovered his first infidelity, but being the real fool that she is, she forgave him.

Then he started hitting on her and she continued to forgive him, covering up the beatings. She really was a soft-spoken fool.

Drifting off, she continued to berate herself for her weaknesses, realizing only now that she had forgotten that her suitcase was somewhere in the kitchen.

"Ari" she slowly opened her eyes and sat up rubbing them. "Hey, sweetie, how are you?" Ari asked sleepily and the bed began to shake.

"I'm hungry!" Izeul stated cheerfully and Ari smiled trying to smooth her hair as the little one bounced on the bed humming to herself.

"Let me see" Ari sat up and Izeul fell into her lap allowing her to unbutton her pajamas. "Aww, look at that!" Ari exclaimed in satisfaction and Izeul looked at her chest.

"What is this" asked the little one, looking at the countless pimples on her chest. "That, sweetie, means we can change and go down to the kitchen and make some strawberry chocolate pancakes and have a cup of tea!" Ari grinned and Izeul immediately jumped off the bed.

"Don't be in such a hurry, change your clothes first" Ari laughed. "And wait for me!" she added walking into the bathroom as the little one was already heading to her closet.

Once outside her room, Izeul was irrepressible. She ran around as if untied, laughing and enjoying her freedom.

Ari watched her with a smile as she made the pancakes. "What do I see!" Izeul squealed happily and threw herself into Jimin's arms, who looked at Ari for permission and when she nodded, he held the little girl to his chest, spinning her in the air.

The intercom growled and Jimin answered, still with Izeul in his arms. "Ari …" she looked at him smiling. "I think they're looking for you" he said with a frown, leaving Izeul on the ground.

"Me?" she wiped her hands on her apron and approached, glancing at the intercom. “He's been coming a few times already, but we didn't let him go because of Izeul” Jimin said quietly.

"I suggest you make up with your boyfriend before Namjoon finds him at the portal" she nodded, removing her apron and walking towards the door. "Ari, if you need help…" she looked at him and shook her head, smiling.

Hwan grinned when he saw her. "Honey, here you are, come on, let's go" he reached for her as she stepped out of the portal, but Ari jerked her hand away.

She looked at the two men standing in the booth, pretending not to be watching them. "No" Ari replied shortly and Hwan gaped at her in surprise.

"How come not?" he asked and she looked at him boldly. "I'm not coming back, it's over between us." Ari said calmly and turned to go back to the mansion.

Hwan took her hand and turned her towards him again. "Nothing's over until I say so!" he growled. His demeanor completely changed.

His mouth twisted into a wicked grin and his eyes darkened with anger. "I said you were coming with me and end of conversation!" Hwan hissed and pulled her hard.