Gu Junpyo and Geum Jandi: Gu Seong Min (age3 )

Yoon Jihoo and Oh Hani: Yoon Eun Hee ( age3 )

So Yi Jeong and Chu Ga Eul: So Dae Jeong ( age3 )

Song Woo Bin and Ha Jaegyeong: Song Hae Ryung ( age 3)

Chapter four : omma's precious. ( not in Song Hae Ryung's perspective)

Four years ago...

The studio wasn't completely illuminated. It was only the lights above the potter's wheel that was on. So Yi Jeong sat at the wheel. A basic shape of a vase had been carved by his hands. It was only the finishing touches that was left. He took that little levelling piece with a sigh and posed it over the spinning edge of the vase. His eyes were fixed on the shaping perimeter while his talented hands made the slightest adjustments of the angle, as the levelling piece smoothed its trail. The studio was silent, if not for his occasional exhales. It had been long hours of work for him, and as for an accident happened a long time ago, his right hand didn't much embraced the hours of stiffened position. It ached and Yi Jeong had to retreat it from his work. He squeezed it from his other hand, massaging it to relieve, and positioned it back on the top of the perimeter. After a bare second, a sharp pain hit him causing a flinch on his hand destroying the delicate edge of the vase. He closed his eyes, tightly, as to tolerate the pain, and let out another sigh when he opened them back to see his work wasted. He again closed his eyes and tried to calm down himself.

It was then he felt small fingers stroking on his aching hands. He opened his eyes to see his three year old son rubbing his little hand on his. The little boy wasn't looking up at his appa, but was staring at the muddy hand as if his sight was enough to heal it. As for appa, he was only looking at his son. A grin formed on his face when he saw his son's tenderness ; one of the few things he had inherited from his mother.. Ga Eul. Yi Jeong placed a soft kiss on Dae Jeong 's silky hair, which made him look up to meet his appa's eyes. And the father and the son exchanged a smile. Yi Jeong retreated back to his work and Dae Jeong went back to his usual seat ; the bench facing the potter's wheel. He stared at the vase spinning on the wheel, forming its shape, guided by his appa's hands. A few minutes, or maybe hours passed like that when both the father and the son was consumed in their work; Yi Jeong moulding the clay and Dae Jeong staring at his work. At the end, that comfortable silence was interrupted by a call.

Yi Jeong let out another sigh when looking at the caller, it was probably from his mother, asking him to do the most disliking. He spared a glance at his son before standing up to head to a more internal part of the studio to answer the call.

Dae Jeong 's eyes followed his appa as he disappeared around a corner of the studio. Then his sight shifted to the vase. The wheel with the vase on it, was still spinning as for the momentum though being switched off. And the little eyes kept staring at it before sliding on the bench to make his feet touch the ground. He then walked to the wheel and looked at the switch and the levelling piece. He took the piece in his little hand and switched on the wheel. Standing from his toes the three year old Dae Jeong imitated his appa. He held it over the edge and saw how it smoothed along its trail, and just like he had seeing his appa doing a lot of times, he angled the piece to curve the perimeter. Even when standing on his toes, the edge of the vase was barely at his eye level, but for Dae Jeong, it made him easier to identify the uneven areas. He kept levelling from the piece and sometimes from his little index finger. And when he heard his appa's voice and his footsteps approaching, he immediately stopped his work, placed the piece where it was kept and switched off the wheel. He didn't have much time to clean his hands as by the time Yi Jeong reached back to the wheel he had to be back on his seat as if nothing had happened.

Yi Jeong returned to his bench, and tossed the phone aside as if from anger and then buried his face in his palms as if for again calm himself down. Then again with a sigh he switched on the wheel and wetted his hands before picking up his work from where he left. Just about millimetres above the perimeter, his hands froze. He stared at the now almost perfectly levelled perimeter with amazement. His work had moved forward, without his presence. He was lost in thought for a moment. This particular thing had happened to him often, since recently ; leaving his work and finding it again to be completed or almost completed. He first thought that his memory was failing and as the time passed, that became more frequent. It was as if some little elf had completed his work for him. He raised his head to look up at his son, who was staring back at him in silence. It was when he was about to start levelling again that he saw the little muddy hands. He let out a little gasp. At last it seemed that he found the little elf. It was hard for Yi Jeong to believe though, that it was his three year old son, all this time, who was easing the work for him. Yi Jeong smiled at the little boy and stretched out his hand,

" Come here.." the boy again slid from the bench and came near his appa. Yi Jeong looked straight into his eyes before asking,

" Was it you ..who did this?" and pointed at the perimeter. The boy with hesitancy though nodded. Yi Jeong stared at his son for a few minutes in pure amazement, but at the end he grinned widely.

"Are you finished with it?" the boy shook his head. " then ..." Yi Jeong smiled , easing the little boy's nervousness.

"Can you show appa , how you did it?" and handed him over the levelling piece. Dae Jeong took it from both of his hands and Yi Jeong switched on the wheel for him. He stared at how the little hands elegantly curved the edge as if it was something they had done for thirty years. Yi Jeong with care made few adjustments on his wrist though he mostly let him do it his way. Once he was finished Yi Jeong examined the edge and straightened up to grin at the nervous boy.

" good work!" he praised him, and the boy revealed his grin, which was identical to his appa's with the signature dimples.

After the designs were engraved on its body, the vase then should be baked in the kiln. So the pair went to the kiln to light it up.

A servant could have always been asked to light up the kiln , but Yi Jeong preferred to do it himself since he was young. First it was with his hurabeujji that he did, then with his hyung and sometimes with Eun Jae. There were really few times that Woo Bin had helped him and even fewer times Junpyo did. Though the flame were the robes of the kiln God, for Jihoo it reminded him of the same flames that took his parents, which made him never come near them, and Yi Jeong never forced him to do so. There were numerous times though, which Ga Eul had helped, speaking of the truth it was only a few times that she did not. After all, it was in front of the kiln God that he first opened up himself and the studio itself held a lot of firsts for them. Since she became a part of his life, as a lover or a wife , it was rare for her, not to participate in the ritual of lighting up the kiln. They might have done it thousands of times by then and must have spent uncountable hours in front of the kiln watching the flames and sharing a smile with each other. Or perhaps a kiss. And now, for them, it was rare that they came alone. Now there's always another little pair of googly eyes staring at the blazing flames as the three of them sat in there for many hours enjoying the presence of one another. So, for Yi Jeong, if he would ever be asked , if there's one thing that had stood in his life, as a landmark witnessing his every tear and smile,... it would undoubtedly be the kiln.

The pair sat on the short wall facing the kiln; son on appa's lap in a gentle hug. It was as if they missed her; one's wife and the other's mother. But she was away from Seoul for three days leaving the two boys together alone, and they had survived two days, yet there was one to go. While resting his chin on the little head and embracing Dae Jeong from one of his arms, Yi Jeong took out his phone to make a call for Ga Eul. It was then he saw the time. Though there was darkness, he never thought it was this late. It was half past eight, late, indeed. He should have known that when he saw him yawning before. He looked at Dae Jeong and saw how much effort he was giving to keep his eyelids open. It drew a smile on his face before lifting him up alongside with himself,

" Let's go home?" he asked and smiled for the little sleepy nod he had in return.

The kiln was still burning, even when they were leaving, and between the heavy eyelids Dae Jeong saw the flames roaring inside. Dae Jeong 's eyes twinkled as if he had seen something, and his sleepiness drifted away.

The ride back home was silent as Yi Jeong fixed his sight mostly on the passers-by pedestrians while Dae Jeong stayed still in his embrace.

When they got back home they had to follow the ' routine ' which was given by Ga Eul and they were ordered to strictly follow its each step. Well, indeed it was just a sticky note that was stuck in the fridge door, the bedroom door, the bathroom door, on the living room sofa and on the pantry which gave all the instructions Yi Jeong had to follow with 'Ga Eul's baby' . As for Yi Jeong, the 'instructions ' always made him grin as they were frequently discarded.

Yi Jeong grinned as he saw the pink sticky note on Dae Jeong 's bathroom door.

"Bath him before six, if not, DON'T.

And don't even think about the bubble bath!"

Yi Jeong rolled his sleeves before turning the tap to fill the bath tub, and he reached for the bottle on the rack which contained the foaming agent. He smiled and bended down to level his eyes with the staring Dae Jeong.

" With or without this?" he asked and a little finger touched the bottle.

" Arasso" Yi Jeong smirked.

The bath tub was filled, till an appropriate level for a three year old and the foam played as snow covering its upper surface. Dae Jeong was far more than 'happy' about the bubble bath and hit the water surface with his little palms. That made water and foam splash every where and Yi Jeong was mostly covering his eyes from his arm. He was giggling and playing and they were imitating the rain with the splashing water. The bath was something they enjoyed, if Ga Eul was there she would have accompanied them as well. But of course she would have bathed him earlier and without the foam.

After the bath it was the dinner and Yi Jeong made sure that Dae Jeong had his whole cereal. Then after he put him to the bed. On the bedroom door, there wasn't a sticky note as Ga Eul knew that there wasn't any one else in this world who could put him to sleep, more successfully than Yi Jeong. It was understood, since the earlier times; when they returned from the hospital after his birth.

Dae Jeong fell fast asleep in no time. A soft kiss on his forehead might have been his last memory for that day. Yi Jeong slowly closed the door behind him and moved away from his room as he took a call to Ga Eul.

" Yobusaeyo" the call was answered immediately after the first ring.

" Jagiya, it seems you are in a good mood.." Yi Jeong chuckled.

" Anniyo.. I was just worried.. why didn't Sunbae called me earlier?"

" Boh?... didn't I?... I thought I had called after the lunch...was it not my jagiya?.. ah! Then it was probably with a Ga Eulyang that I had talked..." he chuckled again with a teasing tone. Ga Eul was blushing on the other side of the phone. After a little silence Yi Jeong 's grin stiffened to a smile.

" Did you miss us?" he heard a sigh and waited for the answer.

" ye... how about Sunbae?"

" Hmmm..." and Yi Jeong tossed himself to the sofa as another little silence followed before she again awoke her voice.

" How's adal?"

" He's already asleep..."

" No nightmares today?"

" Ani.. not yet.."

" Was it just now that you put him to sleep?" Ga Eul asked in a suspicious tone and the silence confirmed her doubts.

" Sunbae.. did you bathed him after six? ... Let me guess was it a bubble bath?..." Ga Eul let out a sigh,.." sunbae... what if he would catch a cold ? And what if soap would go in to his eyes? What if_"

"_ tsk.. your superstitions..."

"boh?... Sunbae... you really don't listen to me...do you?"

" How is everything going on there?"

" Don't try to change the subject.." Ga Eul added boldly which made Yi Jeong chuckle again while a little silence followed.

" Huramoni, is fine now... and I'll be able to come home ... tomorrow "she told after calming down herself.

"When?"

"Maybe evening ? "

" Then ..." Yi Jeong sighed, " I'll have to take adal to the museum tomorrow.."

" Wae? Does Sunbae have a meeting?"

" Hmm" he nodded though he knew that she couldn't see him through the voice call.

" Arasso.. then..." Ga Eul let out a sigh... " Sunbae would need to go to sleep now..."

"It's better.. if jagiya won't get yourself tired too..."

"Arasso.." Ga Eul smiled. " umm... Sunbae...don't skip dinner okay?"

Yi Jeong chuckled and answered, " Arasso "

" sarenghaeyo "

" Sarenghaeyo"

Yi Jeong hung up the call again with a sigh, and stared at the silent yet vast living before standing up to go and have a wash himself. He changed his clothes and came for the dinner which he silently had alone. Yet the silence remained only for minutes as Dae Jeong came running to him crying loudly. He climbed to his lap and clutched in to his t- shirt as he buried his face in his appa's chest.

" Wae?.. gwen-chana?" Yi Jeong immediately stopped eating and started stroking Dae Jeong 's hair to soothe him.

" is it a nightmare again?" Dae Jeong responded with a nod which made his face rub against his appa's chest. Yi Jeong again lifted himself with Dae Jeong and carried him to their bed. It was usual for Dae Jeong to sleep with his parents and just as before, his appa kept stroking his hair till he fell asleep and after he did, Yi Jeong let out a sigh and simply switched off the bedside lamp and layed himself beside, cuddling his son.

The next day wasn't as gloomy as the day before as the father and the son had to visit the museum. It was a board meeting with the directors and Yi Jeong was offered tea just the moment he arrived. As Dae Jeong stared curiously at it, Yi Jeong made him try a sip from it. Which made him to make a face and Yi Jeong to chuckle. But he left the little tea cup with Dae Jeong, who waited at the waiting room till Yi Jeong was finished with his meeting. The little tea cup played between his fingers, until it slipped and fell. But unlike the usual times when it just rattles and lays on the floor, it began to roll. It rolled and rolled, like a wheel, out from the room. Dae Jeong stared at it for a moment before he found himself following it.

More likely he ran after it as if he was chasing some kind of an animal hoping to catch it. He did not care about the visitors who came to the museum and ran through them. Just once he bumped in to one of them and it was a foreigner; a brown skinned boy who was about seven or eight years older than him. They stared at each other for a moment before Dae Jeong started chasing after the tea cup again.

The tea cup rolled and rolled; it rolled across the halls , under the display cupboard and down the stairs. It rolled and rolled and finally stopped in the cellar of the museum. The cellar of the museum, was a long hall and a part of its large basement. It was where all the artefacts which were yet to be displayed or disposed were kept. Though there was broad daylight shining outside, the cellar was always drowned in pitch black darkness. And as Dae Jeong stopped by its fully opened door, he saw at the far end of the long hall, there was a single tube light on which sprayed little droplets of light into the sea of darkness. As for the tea cup, it went rolling in and stopped right under that tube light and turned upright as if waiting for him.

Yi Jeong 's meeting took about another hour to end and as soon as he came out, he found out that Dae Jeong was missing. He searched for him every where and made the workers and the staff to search him as well. He was quite hysterics when he found his son unconscious in the cellar. Though the workers were fully aware of the whole fuss Yi Jeong made to find his son, they did not know what on earth really lead that three year old to that dark cellar. It was dark as lights were off; even the switch for the tube light at the far end. And even if they would have remembered the tea cup, they did not find it in the cellar of course. Actually there was nothing unusual except for the unconscious boy.

Yi Jeong took him to the nearest hospital, and not long after Ga Eul came running to the hospital room. Maybe it was because that she was hysterics herself that she not noticed a brown skinned boy at about twelve or thirteen in age waiting outside the room. There was the tea cup playing with his fingers and when the boy turned it around, there was the name, signed on it's back . He read it loud ; well, a bit louder than a whisper,

" So Yi Jeong"

Ga Eul surely may not have heard that as for her state. Though she was far more than relieved to see Dae Jeong alright. The family was United after three tiresome days and the trio enjoyed each others company till the doctor came in. The doctor had told that the reason for Dae Jeong 's passing out, was lack of oxygen in his blood.

" it could have happened if he was suffocated..." he added and looked at Yi Jeong. Yi Jeong swallowed as both Ga Eul and the doctor kept staring at him.

"But.. how could that happen?" Yi Jeong was genuinely confused

" Could it be a worker or someone who hates you ? Or your family and thought to take it from your son?" the doctor suggested. Ga Eul was still as stone, her horror was obvious. And Yi Jeong swallowed again.

" I..I'll check the security.." he managed to spell it out.

As the horrified parents stood at the door, they both let out a sigh and Yi forced a smile in order to ease Ga Eul. As he entered the room Ga Eul'a phone rang. And it was her huramoni who answered the call. Ga Eul again felt uncomfortable as the old lady from the other side of the line was sobbing hysterically.

" Huramoni... what happened?... tell me..."

Yi Jeong came out and spared Ga Eul with a questioning look and Ga Eul responded with a gesture telling

" I don't know.."

After a while of wailings and sobs huramoni spoke out,

" Your omma... your omma..."

Shocked... was not enough to describe Ga Eul 's state. If not for Yi Jeong had hold her in time, she should have collapsed to the ground. She stared blankly at the ground till Yi Jeong asked her why.

" sunbae... " it was almost a whisper, " omma... omma... has passed away?" she looked at Yi Jeong as if she was asking him. And Yi Jeong could have only stared back at her with widened eyes.

As they learned that Ga Eul's mother who was too busy that she neglected her medications for asthma and had died from it just a few minutes ago, they were obviously not in a state to notice a little tea cup that sat upright on the cupboard, besides Dae Jeong 's bed.

A/N:

Pardon me, for again leaving with the cliffhanger . Just wanted to say, that it wasn't the first time. And hope you noticed the relationship between the two incidents...

Remember the browns skinned boy:)

And of course you may have noticed it by now, that the F4 juniors are different and among them, So Dae Jeong is extraordinary...

Reviews?