Chapter Text
To say Riku was stressed was an understatement. He had a spoon full of (frankly overpriced) blueberry apple sauce in one hand and a napkin in the other. The dish was accented with an edible sakura blossom, and was “freshly squeezed” according to their snobby waitress.
“Eunji please, just a bit more. hm?” He pleaded with his youngest daughter, moving the spoon closer to her mouth. She shook her head, green bows shaking in her tiny pigtails at the movement. Riku sighed, placing the spoon down in defeat. Sion had gotten them up this morning before his shift, and had fallen victim to the girls puppy eyes. He let Eunji fill up on ice cream for breakfast, and when their oldest daughter Aera had come down, he let her do the same.
So now he was sitting here trying to get his daughter to have something of sustenance. But she just wasn’t having it. His mother’s words rang in his ears then. “pick your battles, Riku-kun,” she’d said once. Eunji was running around, lotion all over her body after she’d gotten into his expensive body care stash. Jaehee had just silently handed his card over so he could buy himself a new jar.
He smiled at the memory, looking over at her with fondness in his expression. His gaze then shifted to Aera, who was happily eating her fluffy pancakes. She was the tamer one between the two, following Riku’s every whim, even when her other dads would call it dramatic. The girl looked up, tilting her head at Riku. “Papa? do you want some?” She asked, holding up her fork with a piece of pancake on it. Riku grinned, leaning forward to take the food happily.
“Aigoo… thank you for sharing.” He reached over to pinch her cheeks, cartier love bracelet glinting off his wrist. Aera giggled, swatting at his hand as she placed her fork down. Riku couldn’t help the laugh he let out as well, fighting against her defense.
“Riku-ssi? Is that you?” It was as if the gods were torturing him. His day could not get any worse (this was dramatic. But, Riku was a dramatic person). the familiar grating voice already had his lip sneering. But he turned around anyway, fake smile he used for all the ballet moms (except for Minjeong, he liked her) plastered on his face.
“Hana-ssi. Nice day for brunch, isn’t it?” He took in her appearance discreetly, down to the champagne flute held by her perfectly manicured blue fingers. He tried to hide his judgment. That blue did not compliment her skin. Hana was a mom Riku knew from ballet, enrolling her own daughters shortly after riku had enrolled Aera. They’d been learning the ropes together: auditions, ballet buns, stage makeup and more. Until Riku found out her husband had worked at the same practice as Jaehee. Then Jaehee had beat said husband for a promotion spot. She’d been a spoiled sport ever since.
“Yes, very nice. I was invited out by Bora-nim. You know, Iseul’s mom.” She told him, as if it was some type of accomplishment he was supposed to be envious of. When she realized riku showed no signs of jealousy, or biting at the bait, the confidence seemed to melt from her body. A smug expression then came over his own face.
“Yes, I know little Iseul. She came over for a sleepover with Aera last weekend. Bora-ssi and I enjoyed some cocktails out in the garden.” He watched as her eyes widened, just as he’d anticipated. He also noticed her shock at the informal speech. Jaehee often warned him not to play into their games, but it was quite satisfying. Especially when he knew how to play the game better than the game masters themselves. At the mention of her name, Aera looked up, greeting the older woman with a polite bow of her head.
“It was fun! Yoon-nim brought me a new leotard as a gift!” She said this with all the innocence of a kid. But knowing said kid, Riku knew it was as calculated as his own comments. He could cry. He’s taught his daughter well. Sion and Jaehee would disagree, but he didn’t care. He’d seen them hiding their laughs at Aera’s sassy comments in the past.
“Oh- how nice! well, i have to pick up Yuri from the hairdressers. i’ll see you in class on Thursday.” She excused herself quickly, but not before finishing her champagne and placing the flute back on her own empty table. She then rushed out the restaurant, almost like she had a tail between her legs. Riku sighed in content, sitting back in his chair. he then looked to Aera, who was already looking at him. An unspoken question was in her eyes. He nodded, smile growing on his face, as one was now present on her’s as well.
It was then that Eunji decided she wanted apple sauce, when Riku had his guard down. She pressed her hand directly into the bowl. The food splattered onto his freshly pressed shirt. He pinched the bridge of his nose, breathing in heavily. But then with one look at her, he couldn’t stay mad. She then took the flower, throwing it at his face. Yeah. The day was pretty bad.