Jin left early that morning, the sun just beginning to peek through the curtains. He had a long day ahead at work, but the thought of leaving Jiwoon and Mia together at home brought him a sense of comfort. After spending the past few days with her, he felt confident that his son was in capable hands. As he locked the door behind him, he glanced back at the two of them, Jiwoon still rubbing the sleep from his eyes while Mia hummed softly, preparing breakfast in the kitchen.

“Have a good day, Dad!” Jiwoon called, his voice still slightly raspy from sleep.

“Make sure to be good for Mia, alright?” Jin replied with a smile, ruffling his son’s hair before heading out.

Once the door clicked shut, Mia turned her attention fully to Jiwoon. “How about we have a fun breakfast today?” she asked, trying to engage him as she finished setting the table.

“Yay! Fun breakfast!” Jiwoon exclaimed, bouncing on his little feet.

Mia laughed and quickly scrambled some eggs while also toasting bread. She sliced up some fruit, making sure to include Jiwoon’s favorites—strawberries and bananas.

“Can I help?” Jiwoon asked, his eyes wide with enthusiasm.

“Of course! You can help me wash the strawberries. Just be careful, okay?” she replied, handing him a bowl and guiding him to the sink.

As Jiwoon carefully rinsed the fruit, Mia busied herself with the rest of the breakfast. She was genuinely enjoying the time spent with Jiwoon; his laughter was infectious, and it made the kitchen feel bright and warm.

After breakfast, Mia decided it was time to tackle the challenge of getting Jiwoon to eat some vegetables. She had heard from Jin that Jiwoon was a picky eater, and she wanted to make sure he was getting a balanced diet.

“Alright, little chef,” she said, kneeling beside him at the table. “Today, we’re going to have some fun with veggies!”

Jiwoon scrunched his face up. “But I don’t like veggies! They taste funny!”

“They don’t taste funny when you try them with a bit of magic,” Mia said, winking playfully. “How about we pretend they’re superpower foods that’ll make you strong?”

Jiwoon considered this for a moment, his brow furrowed. “Like Hulk?”

“Exactly! If you eat your veggies, you’ll become Hulk’s best friend!” Mia declared, lifting up a small carrot stick like it was a magic wand. “You’ll be super strong and able to lift heavy things!”

Jiwoon’s eyes lit up at the thought. “Okay! I’ll be Hulk’s best friend!” he agreed, picking up a carrot stick tentatively.

Mia beamed, encouraged by his response. “Great! Let’s dip it in some ranch dressing. That’ll make it taste even better!”

With a little coaxing, Jiwoon dipped the carrot in the ranch and took a small bite. Mia held her breath, watching him intently. He chewed thoughtfully for a moment before his face broke into a grin.

“Yummy!” Jiwoon exclaimed, his surprise evident.

“See? Not so bad, right?” Mia encouraged, feeling a rush of accomplishment. She was gaining his trust, one carrot stick at a time.

With newfound confidence, Jiwoon finished the carrot and moved on to some broccoli, while Mia cheered him on. “You’re doing amazing, Jiwoon! Keep it up!”

By the end of breakfast, Jiwoon had eaten more vegetables than Mia had expected. She felt a swell of pride as she watched him finish his last bite of broccoli, grinning as if he had just conquered a great feat.

“Yay! I’m Hulk!” Jiwoon declared, raising his arms in triumph.

“You are! And you’re going to grow big and strong,” Mia said, clapping her hands together. “Now, let’s clean up this mess before you take a nap.”

Jiwoon nodded, eager to help. They worked together, clearing the table and washing the dishes. Mia was pleasantly surprised by how much Jiwoon wanted to assist, and the two of them chatted and laughed as they cleaned.

Once the kitchen was tidy, Mia knew it was time for Jiwoon’s nap. She ushered him to his bedroom, where she tucked him in with his favorite blanket.

“Can you read me a story?” Jiwoon asked, his eyelids heavy with sleep.

“Of course! What story do you want?” Mia replied, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Harry the Dirty Dog!” he shouted, his eyes brightening momentarily.

“Alright, Harry it is!” Mia smiled, pulling the book from the shelf. She settled in beside Jiwoon, reading aloud with enthusiasm. As she turned the pages, she watched Jiwoon’s eyes flutter shut, his small body sinking deeper into the pillows.

After finishing the story, Mia quietly placed the book back on the shelf and tiptoed out of the room. With Jiwoon asleep, she felt a sense of peace wash over her.

She took a moment to collect her thoughts before deciding to tackle some of the household chores. Jin had mentioned a few things that needed attention, and she felt a sense of responsibility to contribute more than what was required in her contract.

Mia started by dusting the living room. She moved around, tidying up the cushions and arranging the books on the shelf. As she cleaned, she couldn’t help but think about how different this place felt now that she was part of it.

Next, she ventured into the laundry room, where she found a pile of clothes waiting to be folded. She hummed a soft tune as she worked, the rhythmic folding soothing her mind.

With the laundry done, Mia decided to tackle the kitchen again. She noticed the fridge was stocked with food, but a few items were starting to look less than fresh. She spent the next little while sorting through the produce, tossing out anything that had gone bad.

As she worked, Mia reflected on her current situation. She had never imagined she would be taking care of a young child, especially one who was dealing with the aftermath of his parents' separation. But Jin and Jiwoon made her feel welcomed, and for the first time in a while, she felt like she belonged.

With the kitchen now spotless and the lingering smell of breakfast gone, Mia took a step back to admire her handiwork. It wasn’t just the cleanliness she appreciated, but the sense of home she was helping to create for Jiwoon.

After an hour of chores, Mia felt accomplished. She decided to sit down for a moment with a cup of tea before Jiwoon woke up. She made her way to the couch, curling up with a blanket as she sipped from her steaming mug.

Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a text from Jin.

*“Hope everything is going well! How’s my little Hulk doing?”*

Mia smiled, feeling a flutter in her chest at the thought of him checking in.

*“He ate his veggies and is currently napping. The house is clean, and I’ve got tea in hand. We’re doing great!”*

Jin replied almost instantly. *“You’re a natural at this! Thank you for everything. Can’t wait to see you both when I get home.”*

Mia felt her cheeks flush with warmth as she read his message. She had only known Jin for a few days, but there was something about him that drew her in. He was kind, respectful, and dedicated to his son.

*“I’m just doing my job, but I’m glad to help! Hope your day is going smoothly.”*

As she waited for his response, she couldn’t shake the feeling of satisfaction that came from caring for Jiwoon. It was new territory for her, but with every day, she felt more at ease in her role.

Before she knew it, her tea was gone, and Jiwoon was stirring in his sleep. She placed her cup down, feeling refreshed and ready to greet him as he woke up.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” she said, kneeling by the bed as Jiwoon rubbed his eyes.

“I’m not sleepy!” Jiwoon protested, sitting up and yawning widely.

Mia laughed, “Well, you took a nice nap. How about a snack now? Something healthy to keep you strong?”

“Yes!” Jiwoon cheered, already swinging his legs over the side of the bed.

Mia led him to the kitchen and prepared a quick snack of apple slices and peanut butter, ensuring it was nutritious and delicious. Jiwoon devoured the slices eagerly, and Mia watched with delight.

Once they finished snacking, they decided to spend some quality time together. “What do you want to do, Jiwoon?” Mia asked, hoping to engage his imagination.

“Can we play superheroes?” Jiwoon suggested, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Superheroes it is!” Mia agreed, feeling her heart race at the idea. She had been looking forward to this.

They gathered some blankets to create capes and used cushions for shields. With Jiwoon leading the way, they transformed the living room into a superhero battleground, using their imaginations to fight imaginary villains and save the day.

Mia felt invigorated as they laughed and ran around, her worries forgotten. Jiwoon was bursting with energy, and she found herself matching his enthusiasm, letting herself be swept up in the adventure.

“Look out, evil villains!” Jiwoon shouted, brandishing a pillow like it was a sword. “Super Jiwoon and Mighty Mia are here to save the day!”

They took turns pretending to be the hero and the villain, creating elaborate storylines that left them both breathless with laughter.