The bright morning sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows of the elegant home, casting a warm glow on everything it touched. Lala, a cheerful and playful little girl with sparkling eyes and boundless energy, had been waiting eagerly since early morning. Today, she had planned so many fun things to do with her favorite person in the world—CEO Kien, her beloved big brother-like figure who always made time to play with her, no matter how busy life got.
But today felt different.
Lala tiptoed into the living room, clutching her favorite teddy bear, expecting to find Kien smiling and ready to play their usual games. Instead, she saw him sitting on the couch with his sleek laptop open, typing away at lightning speed, his phone buzzing every few seconds. Papers were scattered across the coffee table, and his forehead was creased with concentration.
“Brother Kien!” Lala called out in her sweet, hopeful voice. “Let’s play hide and seek! I even found the best hiding spot today!”
Kien looked up briefly, his eyes softening when they met Lala’s bright face, but then he sighed and gave her an apologetic smile. “Not now, Lala. I have an important meeting in an hour. I promise we’ll play later, okay?”
Lala’s little heart sank. Later. He always said later.
She stood there silently, hugging her teddy tighter, watching him tap on the keyboard. The sound of the keys and the constant ringing of his phone made her feel like she didn’t belong in his world anymore. Her small hands clenched. She had been looking forward to this day all week, dreaming about laughter, games, and stories. But now, it seemed her dreams had been replaced by something she didn’t understand—deadlines, meetings, and endless work.
The Silent Storm Inside Lala’s Heart
Lala wandered into her room, her tiny feet dragging against the polished wooden floor. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the colorful drawings she had made just for him. One of the drawings showed her and Kien holding hands at the park, with a big rainbow above their heads. Another showed them eating ice cream together, both smiling happily.
But today, there were no rainbows. Only gray clouds in her little heart.
“Why doesn’t he want to play with me?” she whispered to her teddy bear, tears welling up in her big brown eyes. “Does he love work more than me now?”
She tried to be strong, but a single tear rolled down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away, afraid that even her teddy would think she was being silly. But deep inside, Lala felt something she had never felt before—a mix of anger and sadness.
The Little Plan
Suddenly, a spark of determination lit up in Lala’s mind. If Kien wouldn’t come to her, maybe she could make him notice her! She decided to put on her prettiest pink dress, the one Kien always said made her look like a princess. She brushed her hair carefully, added a little pink bow, and even dabbed a tiny bit of her mom’s perfume behind her ears.
“Now he’ll see how special I am,” she said to herself with a small smile.
She tiptoed back into the living room, spinning around like a little ballerina. “Tada! Look at me, Brother Kien!” she chirped, her voice filled with hope.
Kien glanced up again, his expression soft but still distracted. “Wow, you look beautiful, Lala. Really, you do.” His eyes darted back to the screen. “Just give me 10 more minutes, okay?”
That was the moment Lala’s fragile heart broke a little more. She turned around, hiding the tears that started streaming down her cheeks. Ten more minutes? That’s what he said an hour ago.
The Quiet Cry
Lala ran back to her room, slammed the door softly, and buried her face in her pillow. She cried silently, her tiny shoulders shaking. “He doesn’t care anymore… He doesn’t want me…”
The teddy bear sat beside her, its stitched smile doing little to comfort her. For a little girl, being ignored by someone she loved so much felt like the end of the world.
CEO Kien Notices
Meanwhile, Kien finished his call and finally looked up, stretching his arms. “Lala?” he called out, expecting to hear her cheerful voice. But there was only silence. He frowned and walked toward her room, knocking gently before peeking in.
What he saw broke his heart—Lala curled up on her bed, her pink dress wrinkled, her little bow fallen to the side, and her face streaked with tears.
“Lala…” Kien whispered, guilt washing over him. He stepped inside, kneeling beside her. “Hey, my little princess, what’s wrong?”
She sniffled, refusing to look at him. “You don’t want to play with me anymore… You only love your work now…”
Kien felt a sharp pain in his chest. How could he let her feel this way? He gently lifted her into his arms, hugging her tightly. “No, no, no, Lala… I’m so sorry. I’ve been so busy, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love you. You’re my favorite person in the whole world. Nothing will ever change that.”
She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. “Really?”
“Really,” he said, kissing her forehead. “Work is important, but you are more important. I’m sorry for making you sad. Can you forgive me?”
Lala wrapped her arms around his neck and nodded, a small smile returning to her lips. “Only if you play with me now.”
Kien chuckled softly. “Deal. What do you want to play first?”
“Hide and seek!” she exclaimed, her earlier sadness melting away.
A Special Evening Together
For the next few hours, laughter filled the house. They played hide and seek, built pillow forts, and even had a tea party with all of Lala’s stuffed animals. Kien made funny voices for the teddy bear, and Lala giggled so hard her cheeks hurt.
Later, as the sun set, they sat on the balcony, eating ice cream from a big bowl they shared. Lala leaned her head on Kien’s shoulder, feeling warm and safe.
“You know what, Brother Kien?” she whispered.
“What, princess?”
“I don’t need a rainbow if I have you.”
Kien’s heart melted at her words. He hugged her closer, silently promising that no matter how busy life got, he would always make time for her—because nothing in the world was more important than this little girl who loved him so much.
Final Thoughts
This touching moment between Lala and Kien reminds us of something important: love is about presence, not presents. Even in the busiest moments, a little attention, a hug, and a promise can make a world of difference to the people who love us the most.
