3

The world seemed to tilt on its axis as Mingyu froze in place, his breath catching in his throat. There, on the other side of the park, stood Wonwoo, radiant in a way Mingyu had never seen before. His laughter floated in the air, light and unburdened, as he crouched down to ruffle the hair of a small child who giggled back at him.

Mingyu’s heart clenched. A child?

The boy couldn’t have been more than two or three, his features a blend of innocence and warmth. He looked up at Wonwoo with wide eyes, the same warm brown that Mingyu had spent years getting lost in. The resemblance was uncanny, though the child’s smile was brighter, unguarded in a way Wonwoo’s never was.

And then Mingyu saw him, a man walking toward Wonwoo with two cups of coffee in hand, a soft smile gracing his lips. Wonwoo accepted it with ease, like it was the most natural thing in the world, his face lighting up in a way Mingyu hadn’t seen in years.

Mingyu’s knees felt weak. He wanted to turn away, to leave before they saw him, but his feet were rooted to the ground. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from the sight of Wonwoo, happy, content, and by all appearances, moved on.

“Papa!” the child’s voice rang out, drawing Wonwoo’s attention. The boy reached up toward the man, who scooped him into his arms effortlessly, making both Wonwoo and the child laugh.

Papa. Mingyu’s stomach twisted. The word echoed in his mind, sharper than any blade.

Wonwoo’s gaze shifted suddenly, as if sensing someone watching. His eyes locked onto Mingyu’s, and the laughter died on his lips. For a moment, the world seemed to stop, the bustling park fading into silence as their eyes met.

“Mingyu,” Wonwoo whispered, barely audible but enough to shatter the fragile cocoon of time they’d been trapped in.

The man beside him noticed, following Wonwoo’s line of sight. His brows furrowed slightly, protective, as he shifted the child in his arms and placed a steadying hand on Wonwoo’s back.

Mingyu took a shaky step forward, his voice caught in his throat. “Wonwoo…”

But the words died as he saw the hesitation, the wariness, and something else in Wonwoo’s expression, regret. The man he had been chasing for years was right in front of him, yet he felt farther away than ever.

“Mingyu,” Wonwoo said again, his tone steady this time, though his eyes betrayed the storm within. “What… what are you doing here?”

“I-” Mingyu faltered, unsure of what to say. I’m here for you. I’ve been looking for you. I miss you. I love you. But none of those words seemed right in the face of this new reality.

The man beside Wonwoo gave him a polite but firm nod, his presence a quiet assertion of the life Wonwoo now had. “Is everything okay?” he asked softly.

Wonwoo turned to him, a small, reassuring smile on his lips. “Yeah. Just… an old friend.”

Old friend. The words hit Mingyu harder than he expected, a cold confirmation of what he had lost.

“I should go,” Mingyu said hastily, his voice thick with emotion. “I didn’t mean to… interrupt.”

Wonwoo hesitated, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes. But then he nodded, his expression carefully neutral. “Take care, Mingyu.”

And just like that, it was over.

Mingyu turned and walked away, each step feeling heavier than the last. He didn’t look back, afraid of what he’d see. Afraid of how much more his heart could break.

He had come searching for Wonwoo, for the man who had been his anchor, his constant, his everything. But now he realized he had been chasing a ghost, a memory of what once was.

Wonwoo had moved on. And now, Mingyu had to find a way to do the same.