*14 years later*

Daniel knocked on the door and went inside the office he was way too familiar now. He slightly bowed his head in respect acknowledging the old woman in front before looking at his daughter who had her arms crossed against her chest till his eyes went to a bruised boy next to her. It wasn't a foreign scene to him. He sighed before taking his seat next to the parents of the beaten up boy probably.

"Good afternoon Mr Kang."

"Good afternoon Mr Kim."

Daniel knew how this will go. He was prepared for the outburst of the parents sitting next to him. It didn't take them a second to lash out on him.

"Is this how you raise your daughter?! She is a freaking animal! Look what she did to my poor son!" The woman stood up and went to her precious to show his state to Daniel, "my baby bled so bad! Oh my poor heart." She pretended to faint.

Your son probably deserved it. My daughter would never beat up someone without a valid reason. He must have done something real bad to be beaten up like that. Daniel knew that he couldn't say those words. It would end up negatively in his daughter's records.

"I'm sorry for what happened but I would appreciate if you not call my daughter an animal."

The woman scoffed in disbelief, "then what am I supposed to call someone like her? Look what she-" she stopped talking when Daniel stood up instantly. He is ready to apologise to her son but she better control that tongue.

The principal decided to take matters in his own hands. He stood up to calm the parents and then turned to the students.

"Kang Mirinae would you like to say something in your defence?"

The girl first glared at the bruised up boy before looking away, gritting her teeth. Daniel looked at her, hoping that she would say something but she didn't. Her long hair were in a messy bun, just like Meera's. That one feature is the only thing she got from her mother. Other than that she was like Daniel's female version. Tall, short tempered, uses fists instead of brains, has no fear, wouldn't hesitate to speak up and most importantly, stupid when it comes to studies.

"No."

"Anything? You don't have to hold back," the principal tried his best to make sure that she defends herself because he knew Mirinae isn't the one to start fights without a reason and without her defence he couldn't help her.

"See! She has nothing to say because there isn't anything! She is downright psycho!"

"Enough!" Daniel stood up and walked towards his daughter to hold her hand harshly, "do what you want. I don't care anymore." He went out dragging his daughter. Mirinae managed to take her bag and they both walked to their home with her following Daniel, not wanting to start a conversation.

There was no point in talking to her because she wouldn't say anything if she doesn't want to. How could she? She can't possibly tell the principal that he was blackmailing another girl with her fake nudes without a solid proof because she deleted the pictures after beating him up. Also the girl asked her to not tell anyone about it. She was scared and middle school isn't easy.

They reached their little restaurant, moonstar noodles. Daniel continued with his work which he left while Mirinae went to the first floor, their home. She changed her clothes and went downstairs to help her father.

Mirinae was waiting tables when her eyes went to a small photograph near the billing counter. Her blood boiled seeing that picture. She hated that woman to the core. Mirinae loved her father to death. So to see him alone without a companion by his side made him look lonely even though he wasn't. If he had married someone else, she wouldn't have hated Meera. The only thing she had been wishing for is for her father to find someone for him so that he isn't lonely.

Why does her father has to put up that picture?!

She hated her mother for leaving her father alone with her.

Flashback

Daniel rushed out of the hospital after Jungkook came in.

Jungkook confessed about killing Seungchul and took all the blame. He screamed and shouted at the police station to let him go because his girlfriend was in the hospital. He yelled and confessed and asked to be in the prison instead of Daniel because in the end he knew that Namjoon would save him. The police who supposed to be handling the case let it go. He had a family too. He understood the situation so let Daniel go on the condition that he would come back in a day and Jungkook would be in the prison till then. Since it was his case he had the authority.

Jungkook's eyes were desperate just like Meera. But when he looked at Daniel his eyes had that fire to tell him that he hated him for everything he had which he never deserved.

Daniel didn't want to create a scene or add fuel to the fire. All he wanted was to rush to the hospital and be next to Meera. He was about to run out but Jungkook stopped him and threw the car keys at him. They both exchanged a glance and a nod before going on their own way.

Jungkook was thrown inside the prison. He sat on the cold floor and chuckled to himself. 'How crazy can I be for someone to be actually here'. He prayed in his heart. For the first time in his life he prayed to the supreme power which looked after everyone. 'Please let them be healthy'

Daniel ran inside the hospital like a madman. Woojin found him immediately and lead him to the room.

"Are you the father?" A nurse asked. Daniel nodded. He was quickly sanitized and wore a hospital gown over his clothes before he was actually allowed to go inside the operating room where Meera was screaming in pain. He dashed to her and went on his knees.

"Meera. I'm here."

He frantically held her hand which was earlier held by a nurse to keep her awake.

"Daniel.." she said weekly. She did her best to open her eyes to look at the person she was longing to see. A cry escaped her lips when she felt his touch on her cheek. "I'm here okay. Everything will be fine. Just push." His words were soft and gently, completely opposite to what he was feeling at the moment. His own legs were trembling in nervousness and excitement.

Meera screamed again but stopped all of a sudden. The grip on Daniel's hand loosened which made him lose his marbles.

"Doctor! What is happening!" Daniel yelled worried. Before he could get a reply, a nurse came to his side and slapped Meera multiple to keep her awake.

"Meera baby please. Please look at me. Open your eyes and look at me."

Soon enough Meera let out a heart wrenching scream which twisted Daniel's heart. Her scream were muffled when a baby's cries echoed in the room. He didn't realise that he was crying himself.

"Congratulations. It's a girl."

Daniel's tears knew no boundaries. He kissed Meera's forehead and took the baby in his arms to show her to Meera.

"Look.. she's so beautiful. Just like you." Daniel brought the baby closer to Meera. She held out her hand and touched the small forehead. She had a beaming smile on her face as she looked at her two most precious people in the world.

"Mirinae. Kang Mirinae."

Daniel's heart was beating at a fast pace. Too much happened in that moment. His first child was in his arms while the love of his life fell back on her bed. Suddenly the heart rate monitor made a loud beeping sound. He heard more yelling and shouting while he was made to stand at the corner. Everything seemed to be blurred as they beeping sound continued to echo in his own ears. Daniel lost his balance and took support of the wall behind him. His knees were weak but stood straight because of his daughter in his arms.

He saw Meera slowly turn her face to see him. A tear slipped out of her eyes as she smiled again.

'I love you'

She mouthed before finally closing her eyes. For a few minutes doctors tried their best to keep her alive but who could go against one's destiny. They all lowered their heads sympathetically. One of the nurses took the baby from Daniel's arms and informed him about some details. Since he wasn't in a state to pay attention the other nurse took Daniel out of the room and gave the news to Dongho, Woojin and Mr Han, who reached their an hour ago.

Daniel didn't listen. He couldn't get a thing into his mind. His senses blocked everything.

"Daniel your daughter needs you."

"Get yourself together man."

"Hyung! Please don't be like this! Just wake up!"

"You have a baby who relies on you, depends on you. At least eat for her. You haven't eaten properly."

Days passed by. He sat still in the small apartment. He didn't move or said a word. He seemed dead inside. He just wished for everything to be a nightmare. He wanted to wake up soon in Meera's arms. He wanted her to gently stroke his head and kiss his lips and tell him that it was all a nightmare. But it wasn't. He was all alone.

Kang Mirinae was still in the hospital, waiting for her father to take her room. Instead Jungkook was there. With Seokjin's help they managed to find a mother who could breastfeed her for money.

"You're not her father Jungkook. It's best if Daniel takes her soon." That's what Seokjin said to him which made him snap. Daniel and Jungkook got into more fights but it was more like Jungkook beating up Daniel. The man still didn't say a word nor shed a tear.

But Jungkook's words got him crying like there's no tomorrow.

"You know what Meera is so fucking stupid. She would still go through all that shit and choose to die because she loves you and Mirinae."

Both men hated each other, but Jungkook didn't mind being a shoulder to cry on and Daniel didn't care if it was Jungkook who snapped him back to reality.

It took Daniel months to adjust to being a father. He was still working at Sushi King when Jungkook gave him a deal. He decided to invest in Daniel's own restaurant if he agrees to go to a culinary school and learn properly. In return Daniel would pay back Jungkook with a good interest when that restaurant stars functioning properly. It wasn't to help Daniel but rather for Mirinae. For Jungkook she was already growing up without a mother he didn't want him to grow up with a incompetent father.

He was managing his culinary school, working at Sushi King and raised his daughter. There were times he held her in his arms and studied for the exam. There were times he took her to his school when everyone was busy to babysit her. He lived one more day, another day and another week.

Daniel expected Mirinae to be more like Meera, her mother. It was surprising for him when she turned out to be like him. Her likes, dislikes, everything. She grew up to be tall and strong.

He still remembered the time when she first said 'appa' or when she first started walking, more importantly when she got into her first fight in play school and slapped her classmate.  Daniel still laughs thinking about that time. It wasn't a smooth ride. To take care of his gem and study at the same time. He experienced lots of sleepless nights. But the most difficult time for him was when she had her first few periods. Since his daughter was athletic her cramps weren't bad but she was still new to everything just like him. But he did his best to raise her.

He loved her with all his heart. Kang Mirinae was his universe.

Flashback over

"Appa! I'm going out!"

Mirinae wanted some time alone and rather away from the place to clear her mind so she threw the apron back which hit Yeonjun's face who was a part timer at the restaurant. "Yah! Can't you see me?!" He threw back the apron with a frowny face.

The girl showed him the middle finger before leaving. "Yah! Kang Mirinae!" Daniel shouted for her to listen but she was already out. He shook his head. Teenagers are a headache to deal with.

Mirinae jumped a few steps and ran to reach the coffee shop on time. She smiled seeing her second favourite person.

"Ajussi!" She placed her hands on her knees and took quick breaths to make up for the oxygen.

Jungkook had a fatherly smile on his face. He laughed seeing Mirinae like that. He motioned her to come and sit as he ordered her favourite drinks.

"How is my godfather doing?" She asked playfully which made Jungkook roll his eyes, "you know if Jaehwan heard that he would be furious and sulky."

Mirinae shrugged her shoulders, "Jaehwan ajussi is my official godfather. You are the unofficial one."

Jungkook leaned and messed up her hair. The man never married. There was a fear in his heart. He already lost his first love, he didn't know if he had the courage to love again. Instead he adopted a little boy ten years back, who was around Mirinae's age. Both of them grew up to be good friends, more like best friends, just like how Meera and Jaehwan used to be.

"Ajussi.. Yeonjun's birthday is coming up. What should I buy him? I'm running out of ideas."
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In the restaurant Yeonjun was smiling to himself. He knew that Mirinae went to meet his father to plan his birthday. He had a mischievous smile on his face.

"What's with that smile?" Daniel was quick to notice. He sat on the chair since it was past lunch time, the rush hour was over with only one customer at present.

Yeonjun shared his mischievous idea which he planned with his father. Daniel could only laugh imagining his daughter's face if she found out about it.

Daniel and Jungkook still weren't on good terms but they kept their bad feelings aside for their kids who were their top priority. Both the kids ended up being best friends.

"She might kill you after that," Daniel said when he stopped laughing. Yeonjun shrugged his shoulders, "she did way worse to me."

Yeonjun noticed Meera's picture on the counter. He had seen the woman's pictures in his father's phone. He didn't know what had happened before but he had an inkling that both the men loved that woman.

"Do you still miss her?"

It didn't take Daniel more than a second to know whom he was referring to. He smiled and leaned forward to give his whole attention to the boy who was curious.

"Yes I do. I miss her everyday. She was the best thing that happened to me. If not for her, I would've been around the streets fighting people for money. I loved her. Still do."

His sincere words moved Yeonjun's heart. He knows that love is strong but this strong? He never would've guessed because he doesn't know about his mother. He is happy with his father but the curiosity about his mother bugs him all the time. He never saw a proper couple at his home. Everyone seemed to be running away from love.

Mirinae wished she never knew about her mother ..Yeonjun wished he at least knew his mother's name.
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Daniel sat in the balcony with a beer can in his hands. He still enjoyed drinking. The weather was cool and breezy which made the drink better.

He took the locket from the inside of his shirt to see the ring he once gifted Meera, a promise ring. They weren't married but he considered it a marriage. They lived together and had a child.

He wasn't lonely. He had a lot of people who cared about him and loved him. But he still missed Meera.

And his heart hurt knowing that their daughter hated her.

But with time he learned to live with it. Mirinae was her own person. It's up to her to hate or love someone. Even if she was young, she was given more freedom than any fourteen year old out there.

Daniel looked up at the sky and let a small smile, "Meera... For Mirinae and for myself I did try to fall in love with someone else but things never worked out. Maybe I'm not meant to be with someone else. You're the only for me... I couldn't give you the happiness you deserve and I'll always regret that. So I wish for you to be happy up there. I'm doing my best to raise our daughter. She isn't smart like you and probably fails her subjects but you made her, we made her.. I'll always be proud of her because she is a great person with a big heart.. she hates you. What she doesn't know is that she has the same heart as yours. You don't have to be worried about anything. Just be happy."

Meera has always been next to him. She was right there, sparkling like an angel wearing white, sitting on the railing ever so lightly. She had a gentle smile on her face. She didn't age a day since then. Her eyes adored Daniel like always. Her love never faded. It just grew stronger after seeing him being a single father.

"Daniel. You're doing great. You've always been a great boyfriend but now you're an amazing father. I'm more than proud of you baby. I saw how hard it was for you. But you made it. You overcame all the difficulties by yourself. That's admirable Daniel. Others would've given up but you didn't. I'll always love you Daniel. I'm happy if you're happy. If my Mirinae is happy. I know she hates me. And she has a reason to hate me. Isn't it better to hate me than forget me altogether? I'll take her hate. I'll take whatever she has to offer. I just wish for both of you to be happy and healthy. I'm at peace when I see you two eating dinner together, bickering over studies or see her protect other people. I'm glad that she takes after you. She is strong and a fighter Daniel. I'll always love you both. Take care."

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