4

The quiet park was Wonwoo’s safe haven.

A place where he could let Minhyun play while escaping the suffocating weight of the past. Dino, his younger brother, had been his unwavering pillar of support through it all, stepping in as both an uncle and a stand-in father figure for Minhyun. The little boy, in turn, had a habit of calling Dino “Papa,” despite their gentle corrections.

"Come here, Papa!" Minhyun’s bright voice rang out as Dino handed Wonwoo a coffee and scooped him into his arms. Wonwoo smiled, warmed by the bond they shared. Dino always had a way of making things lighter, easier, and for that, Wonwoo was endlessly grateful.

“Papa, you’re the best!” Minhyun chirped as Dino spun him around, drawing a rare laugh from Wonwoo.

“Of course, I’m the best,” Dino teased, “but don’t forget Mommy is the real MVP.”

Minhyun giggled, wrapping his little arms around Dino’s neck. It was moments like this that made Wonwoo feel like maybe, just maybe, things would be okay.

But then he felt it. A shift in the air, a sudden awareness of being watched. His laughter faded as he turned, his gaze locking onto Mingyu’s. The world seemed to stop as their eyes met, the bustling park fading into silence.

“Mingyu,” Wonwoo whispered, his voice trembling just enough for Dino to notice.

The man followed Wonwoo’s line of sight, his grip on Minhyun tightening protectively. “Is everything okay?” Dino asked quietly, his other hand resting on Wonwoo’s back, steadying him.

Wonwoo nodded slightly, though his eyes stayed fixed on Mingyu, who took a tentative step forward.

“Wonwoo,” Mingyu said softly, his voice carrying years of longing, guilt, and unanswered questions.

But the sight before him, the man holding Minhyun with an ease that spoke of intimacy and familiarity, his hand on Wonwoo’s back, stopped him in his tracks. The puzzle pieces rearranged in his mind, painting a picture that wasn’t true but hurt all the same.

“What are you doing here?” Wonwoo asked, his voice carefully composed despite the tension radiating between them.

Mingyu hesitated, his gaze flickering to Dino and then back to Wonwoo. “I was… I was just passing by,” he lied, his voice faltering. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Dino’s eyes narrowed slightly, his protective instincts flaring as he adjusted Minhyun in his arms. “Do you need anything, Wonwoo?” he asked, his tone calm but firm.

“No, it’s fine,” Wonwoo replied quickly, turning to Dino with a small smile meant to reassure. “Just an old friend.”

Old friend. The words hit Mingyu like a punch to the gut, leaving him reeling. He swallowed hard, trying to mask the ache rising in his chest. “I should go,” he said abruptly, taking a step back. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”

“Mingyu-” Wonwoo started, but the words died on his lips. What could he say?

Mingyu forced a nod, his expression unreadable. “Take care, Wonwoo.”

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 confirming what his heart already knew.

Wonwoo stood frozen, his gaze lingering on Mingyu’s retreating figure. Dino shifted Minhyun on his hip and looked at Wonwoo, his voice soft. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Wonwoo shook his head, forcing a smile. “No. Let’s go home.”

But as they walked away, the ache in his chest remained. Dino’s hand on his shoulder was grounding, but it couldn’t erase the storm of emotions swirling inside him.

That night, as Minhyun drifted off to sleep, his innocent question broke through the silence. “Mommy, was that my Daddy?”

Wonwoo stilled, his heart pounding. He knelt beside Minhyun, brushing a strand of hair from his face. “Why do you ask, sweetheart?”

Minhyun blinked sleepily. “Because he looked like me. And he looked at me like you do.”

Wonwoo’s breath caught, tears prickling at the corners of his eyes. He forced a small smile, leaning down to kiss Minhyun’s forehead. “You don’t need to worry about that, okay? Mommy and Uncle Dino love you very much.”

Minhyun’s lips curved into a small smile. “Okay, Mommy. I love you too.”

As Minhyun fell asleep, Wonwoo sat by his bedside, the weight of Mingyu’s reappearance settling heavily on him. He had worked so hard to protect Minhyun from the pain of the past, but now, the past had found its way back. And he wasn’t sure if he was strong enough to face it.

Wonwoo exited Minhyun's room after ensuring the little boy wouldn't wake up anytime soon.

The house was silent, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator. Wonwoo sat at the dining table, his hands wrapped around a cup of tea that had long since gone cold. Across from him, Dino watched him with a mix of concern and patience, waiting for him to speak.

“I didn’t think I’d ever see him again,” Wonwoo finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Dino leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Mingyu.” It wasn’t a question.

Wonwoo nodded, staring down into his untouched tea. “He looked… different. But at the same time, he didn’t. And when he saw you holding Minhyun…” He trailed off, shaking his head.

Dino raised an eyebrow. “What? You think he assumed we’re together?”

Wonwoo let out a humorless laugh. “He probably did. I saw it in his eyes. That mix of confusion and… pain.”

Dino sighed, leaning forward. “Do you still have feelings for him?”

Wonwoo hesitated, his fingers tightening around the cup. “I don’t know. Maybe. But it doesn’t matter, does it? He left. He didn’t even know about Minhyun. And I can’t let him come back and disrupt everything we’ve built.”

Dino reached out, placing a hand on Wonwoo’s arm. “You’re right to protect Minhyun, but he’s going to ask questions, Wonwoo. You saw how he looked at Mingyu yesterday. The resemblance isn’t something you can hide forever.”

Wonwoo’s shoulders sagged. “I know. I just… I don’t know how to explain it to him.”

Dino gave his arm a reassuring squeeze. “When the time comes, you’ll know what to say. And I’ll be here, no matter what.”

Wonwoo gave him a small, grateful smile. “Thanks, Dino.”

The next morning, the kitchen was filled with the smell of scrambled eggs and toast. Dino was at the stove, flipping pancakes, while Wonwoo set the table. Minhyun sat at the table, his legs swinging as he sipped his chocolate milk.

“Mommy,” Minhyun began, his voice curious but hesitant.

“Yes, sweetheart?” Wonwoo replied, placing a plate in front of him.

“Why don’t I have a daddy?” Minhyun asked, tilting his head.

The question hung in the air, freezing both Wonwoo and Dino in place. Dino glanced at Wonwoo, silently asking if he should step in, but Wonwoo shook his head.

“What makes you ask that, baby?” Wonwoo asked gently, sitting beside Minhyun.

Minhyun looked down at his plate, fiddling with his fork. “Because everyone in my class has a daddy. They talk about their daddies all the time. And…” He paused, his little brows furrowing. “Was that man in the park my daddy? The one who looked like me?”

Wonwoo’s breath caught, his heart aching at the innocent question. Dino moved to sit on Minhyun’s other side, his presence steady and comforting.

Taking a deep breath, Wonwoo reached out to brush a strand of hair from Minhyun’s face. “Sweetheart, that man you saw… he’s someone from Mommy’s past. But right now, it’s just you, me, and Uncle Dino. We’re a team, remember?”

Minhyun pouted, clearly unsatisfied with the answer. “But if he’s my daddy, why isn’t he here with us? Did I do something bad?”

“No, no, no,” Wonwoo said quickly, pulling Minhyun into a hug. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, okay? And you’re so, so loved. Uncle Dino and I love you more than anything in the world.”

Minhyun sniffled, wrapping his arms around Wonwoo. “I love you too, Mommy.”

Dino reached over to ruffle Minhyun’s hair. “And don’t forget, you’ve got me, the best Papa ever.”

Minhyun giggled, the sadness in his eyes easing just a little. “You are the best, Papa.”

Wonwoo met Dino’s eyes over Minhyun’s head, gratitude and worry mixing in his gaze. The conversation had ended for now, but the weight of it lingered. The day Mingyu would become more than a shadow of their past felt closer than ever, and Wonwoo wasn’t sure if he was ready for it.