As Jin and Mia exchanged tentative smiles, laughter bubbling beneath the surface of their shared pain, a sudden cry pierced the quiet of the house. The sound was soft but urgent, and both of them froze, their smiles faltering.

“Jiwoon,” Mia said, her heart racing as she sprang to her feet.

Jin was already heading for the stairs, his legs moving swiftly as he shouted, “I’ll get him!” The sound of his son’s cries grew louder as they rushed up the staircase, their hearts pounding in unison.

When they reached Jiwoon’s room, Jin pushed the door open, his heart dropping at the sight before him. Jiwoon was sitting up in bed, tears streaming down his cheeks, his little fists balled tightly. The dim light from the hallway cast shadows across his face, and Jin could see the fear etched there.

“Daddy!” Jiwoon cried, reaching out for him.

“Shh, buddy, I’m here,” Jin soothed, rushing to his son’s side. He scooped Jiwoon up into his arms, cradling him against his chest. “It’s okay, I’ve got you. It was just a bad dream.”

Mia stood by the doorway, her heart aching as she watched the scene unfold. She had been so focused on helping Jiwoon that she hadn’t realized she’d accidentally turned off the lights earlier. In the darkness, the poor boy must have felt lost and afraid.

“Did you have a bad dream?” Jin asked, brushing Jiwoon’s hair back from his forehead. “What was it about?”

“I was in the dark! And the monster was going to get me!” Jiwoon wailed, burying his face against Jin’s shoulder. “I wanted the light!”

Jin felt a pang of guilt wash over him. If only he had checked the light before putting Jiwoon to bed. “It’s okay, sweetheart. The monster can’t get you; Daddy won’t let anything happen to you,” he promised, trying to reassure his son.

But as he held Jiwoon, the earlier news about Mina flooded back into his mind, threatening to steal the peace of this moment. Jin’s grip tightened around Jiwoon, his heart heavy with frustration and pain. He glanced back at Mia, who stood uncertainly by the doorway.

“Mia, can you please—” he began, but the words came out sharper than he intended. “Just go to your room. I can handle this.”

Mia’s eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, she hesitated, caught off guard by his sudden anger. “Jin, I just—”

“Just go!” Jin snapped, his frustration spilling over as he tried to comfort Jiwoon. He felt the walls closing in on him, a mixture of emotions overwhelming his mind.

Mia’s expression fell, hurt flashing across her features. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“Can you please just leave us alone for a moment?” Jin said, his voice rising as Jiwoon clung to him. “I need to be with my son right now!”

“Okay, I’ll go,” Mia said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. She turned and stepped out of the room, the door clicking shut behind her.

The silence that followed was deafening. Jin took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm as he held Jiwoon. “I’m sorry, Jiwoon,” he said softly, rocking him gently. “Daddy’s just a little stressed right now.”

“But why did she leave?” Jiwoon sniffled, looking up at Jin with wide, innocent eyes.

“Sometimes adults need their space, just like you do when you’re feeling upset,” Jin explained, his heart aching for his son. “Mia was trying to help, but I got upset, and that’s not fair to her.”

Jiwoon nodded slowly, still clinging to his father as he wiped his tears. “I didn’t mean to be scared, Daddy. I just wanted the light.”

“I know, buddy. And it’s okay to be scared,” Jin reassured him. “You’re safe now. We’ll make sure there’s always light, okay?”

With each moment, Jin felt the weight of his earlier frustration dissipate as he focused on calming his son. The nightmares that haunted Jiwoon were now a shared burden, one that Jin would do everything in his power to lift.

Eventually, Jiwoon’s cries faded into soft whimpers, and he nestled against Jin, seeking comfort. “Can you stay with me?” Jiwoon asked, his voice small and vulnerable.

“Of course,” Jin replied, settling beside him in the bed. He pulled the blanket up over both of them, creating a cocoon of warmth and safety. “I’ll stay right here until you fall asleep.”

As Jiwoon closed his eyes, Jin felt a mixture of relief and sorrow. He couldn’t shake off the earlier events—Mina’s actions, the chaos that had invaded their lives—but in this moment, with Jiwoon in his arms, he could at least focus on what mattered.

“Daddy?” Jiwoon whispered, eyes still closed.

“Yes, buddy?”

“Can we make sure Mia is okay?” Jiwoon asked, his small voice filled with concern.

Jin’s heart ached at the innocent compassion in his son’s words. “I’ll check on her, don’t worry,” he promised, though he felt a pang of guilt for the way he’d spoken to her. “But right now, you need to get some sleep.”

As Jiwoon drifted off, Jin remained by his side, thoughts swirling in his mind. He was still furious about Mina’s betrayal, but there was also a flicker of regret for how he had treated Mia. She had been nothing but kind and caring, and he had taken out his frustration on her without thinking.

After a while, Jiwoon’s breathing steadied, and Jin gently slipped out of bed, making his way toward Mia’s room. As he approached, he could see the soft glow of light seeping from under the door, and he knocked lightly.

“Mia?” he called softly. “Can I come in?”

There was a pause, and then she opened the door slightly, her expression unreadable. “Yeah, come in,” she replied, her voice soft.

Jin stepped inside, the warmth of the room wrapping around him like a blanket. Mia was sitting on her bed, her eyes glistening in the light. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he needed to say.

“I’m really sorry for how I spoke to you earlier,” he said, sincerity lacing his tone. “I was frustrated, and I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. You were just trying to help.”

Mia looked down, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her blanket. “It’s okay, Jin. I understand you’re going through a lot right now.”

“No, it’s not okay. You deserve better than that,” he said firmly, his heart racing. “You’ve been amazing with Jiwoon, and I appreciate everything you’ve done for us.”

She met his gaze, and for a moment, they held each other’s eyes. “Thank you,” Mia said quietly. “It means a lot to hear you say that.”

“I really am sorry,” Jin reiterated, stepping closer. “I shouldn’t have yelled. It’s just... everything with Mina is overwhelming, and I didn’t mean to lash out at you.”

“I get it,” Mia replied softly. “We all have our moments, and you’re under a lot of stress.”

“Still, that doesn’t excuse my behavior,” Jin insisted, a hint of determination in his voice. “I want you to feel welcome here, not like you have to walk on eggshells around me.”

A small smile broke through the tension in Mia’s expression. “I appreciate that, Jin. I want to help you and Jiwoon however I can.”

“Then let’s work on this together,” Jin said, feeling a flicker of hope ignite within him. “We can help each other through this.”

“Absolutely,” Mia agreed, her voice gaining strength. “I’m here for both of you.”

In that moment, a silent understanding passed between them—a bond forged not just in shared pain but in a commitment to move forward together.

“I’ll let you get back to bed,” Jin said after a beat, his heart lightening. “And thank you for being so understanding.”

As he turned to leave, Mia’s voice stopped him. “Jin?”

“Yeah?”

“I know things are tough right now, but you’re doing an amazing job with Jiwoon. He’s really lucky to have you as his dad.”

Jin felt warmth spread through him at her words. “Thanks, Mia. That means a lot coming from you.”

With one last smile, he stepped back into the hallway, his heart feeling a little lighter. As he made his way back to Jiwoon’s room, he couldn’t help but think that perhaps, amidst the shadows of his past, a new light was beginning to shine.

As he lay down next to Jiwoon once more, he vowed to himself that he would find a way to move forward—not just for his son but for himself and the unexpected connection he had begun to forge with Mia.