As the evening wore on, Jin’s mind raced with a mixture of emotions. He sat at the kitchen table, the remnants of their dinner scattered before him, while Mia busied herself tidying up the last of the dishes. The warmth of their shared intimacy lingered in the air, but in the back of his mind, a nagging voice whispered reminders of reality.

This was just a one-time thing, he told himself, trying to push away the warmth that spread through him whenever he thought of her. I needed to release some tension, and it just happened.

Mia was special; there was no denying that. She had quickly woven herself into the fabric of his life, effortlessly taking care of Jiwoon and bringing a lightness to their home that had been missing for far too long. But with every minute they spent together, Jin felt the urgency of his feelings grow stronger, threatening to topple the carefully constructed walls he had built around himself.

I can’t get attached. He had been through enough heartbreak to know better than to open himself up again. Memories of his tumultuous relationship with Mina flooded back, and he felt a knot of anxiety form in his stomach. That kind of connection leads to pain.

He couldn’t afford to let that happen. Mia was his son’s nanny, and although they had crossed a line, he could not let himself believe it would lead to something more.

“Mia,” he called, breaking the silence that had fallen between them.

“Yeah?” she replied, glancing up from the sink, water dripping from her hands as she washed the last of the dishes.

“Thank you for tonight,” he said, his voice steady. “I really needed it.”

She smiled at him, her eyes brightening with warmth. “I’m glad I could help,” she replied, her tone light. “But it was more than just a release, wasn’t it?”

Jin felt his heart skip a beat. He wasn’t ready to dive into the depths of what had happened between them, not when his mind was still battling against the feelings he was starting to acknowledge. “It was... an experience,” he said cautiously. “But let’s not make it more than it was.”

Mia’s smile faltered slightly, and he felt a pang of guilt at the shift in her expression. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he also needed to be clear about his intentions.

“Of course,” she said softly, her voice tinged with disappointment. “I just thought...” She trailed off, and Jin could see the wheels turning in her mind, the understanding of what they had shared clashing with his words.

“I think we both needed that, but we shouldn’t read too much into it,” he continued, trying to keep his tone gentle. “Our situation is complicated as it is. We have Jiwoon to think about.”

Mia nodded, her gaze dropping to the floor, and Jin felt a rush of regret for being so blunt. He hadn’t meant to make her feel small, but he needed her to understand where he stood.

“Let’s just focus on our roles for now,” he said, trying to steer the conversation back to safer ground. “You’re an amazing nanny, and I want to make sure we keep things professional.”

“Right,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “I understand.”

The atmosphere shifted, and Jin could feel the tension between them thickening. He hated that he had dimmed her light, but he felt compelled to maintain some semblance of control.

As she finished up the dishes, Jin busied himself with a few leftovers, but his mind was elsewhere. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had just pushed away something precious. **Maybe Mia was special, but special was too risky.**

He glanced over at her, watching her work in silence, her focus intense as she scrubbed the last of the plates. The way her hair fell in soft waves around her face, the way her hands moved deftly as she wiped down the counters—it all stirred something deep within him.

But he had to resist. I can’t let myself feel. The last thing he wanted was to get drawn into another emotional whirlwind. He had responsibilities—Jiwoon was his priority, and he couldn’t allow himself to get caught up in a complicated relationship with someone who could easily become the next source of heartache.

After a few moments, Mia finished tidying up and turned to face him, her expression unreadable. “I think Jiwoon is waking up,” she said, glancing toward the living room where the soft sounds of a toddler stirring could be heard.

“Let’s go check on him,” Jin replied, grateful for the shift in focus. He pushed aside the weight of their earlier conversation and followed her into the living room.

Jiwoon was sitting up on the couch, rubbing his eyes sleepily. The sight of his son brought an automatic smile to Jin’s face. “Hey, buddy!” he called out, kneeling down beside the couch to meet Jiwoon’s gaze.

“Daddy!” Jiwoon exclaimed, his face lighting up as he reached out for Jin. Jin scooped him up, lifting him effortlessly into his arms. The simple joy of being with his son washed over him, grounding him in reality.

“How was your nap?” he asked, kissing the top of Jiwoon’s head.

“Good!” Jiwoon replied, his little hands grasping at Jin’s shirt. “I had a dream about dinosaurs!”

“Dinosaurs, huh?” Jin grinned, feeling a sense of normalcy return. “Did you ride one?”

“Yeah!” Jiwoon nodded vigorously. “He was big and green, and I was brave!”

“That’s my boy,” Jin said, puffing out his chest with pride. He turned to Mia, who was watching them with a smile, and felt a flicker of warmth inside him. **This is what it’s about—being a good dad.**

Mia approached, kneeling down beside them. “Did you have fun sleeping?” she asked Jiwoon, her tone gentle and encouraging.

“Yeah! Mia, did you see my dinosaurs?” Jiwoon asked excitedly.

“I did! They looked so cool!” Mia replied, engaging him effortlessly, and Jin felt a swell of admiration for her.

As Jiwoon launched into a detailed recount of his dream, Jin watched the interaction between them. Mia was natural with his son, and it filled him with gratitude. But at the same time, he couldn’t ignore the tug of conflicting emotions.

This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. The thought echoed in his mind, reminding him of the boundaries he needed to maintain.

After Jiwoon finished his story, Jin set him down and turned to Mia. “Thank you for being so great with him,” he said, trying to keep the conversation light.

She smiled back, but there was a hint of tension in her posture, and Jin couldn’t shake the feeling that he had hurt her. “It’s easy to be great when he’s so much fun,” she replied, her voice light, but her eyes held a deeper sadness.

“Let’s do something fun tonight,” he suggested, trying to redirect their focus. “Maybe a movie night?”

Jiwoon’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. “Can we have popcorn?” he asked, bouncing on his toes with excitement.

“Of course!” Jin replied, feeling the warmth of his son’s joy lift his spirits. He glanced at Mia, who nodded in agreement.

As they gathered blankets and set up the living room for their movie night, Jin felt a sense of normalcy wash over him. They picked out a fun animated movie that Jiwoon loved, and as they settled onto the couch together, he tried to push away the feelings that had plagued him earlier.

But as the movie played, he found it hard to concentrate. His mind drifted back to the intimacy he had shared with Mia, the way she had surrendered herself to him so completely. He couldn’t help but remember the softness of her skin, the way her body had responded to him, and the sounds she had made as they had lost themselves in one another.

No, no, no.He shook his head slightly, trying to dispel the thoughts. That was a mistake. We agreed it was a one-time thing.

But as he glanced over at Mia, watching her interact with Jiwoon, his heart ached with confusion. She was so much more than just a nanny to him—she was someone who brought light into their lives, someone he found himself drawn to in ways he couldn’t fully comprehend.

“Daddy! Look!” Jiwoon exclaimed, pulling him from his thoughts. Jin turned to see a bright scene playing on the screen, a colorful array of characters dancing and singing.

“That looks fun!” Jin said, grinning at Jiwoon’s excitement, but he could feel Mia’s gaze on him, and he knew she was aware of his inner turmoil.

As the movie played, Jin focused on Jiwoon, letting the familiar rhythm of their evening routine soothe him. They shared popcorn, laughed at the silly moments, and Jin relished in the joy of being a father.

But with every laugh, he felt the weight of his earlier decisions settling heavily on his shoulders.

After the movie ended, Jiwoon yawned widely, rubbing his eyes as sleepiness began to set in. “I’m tired, Daddy,” he murmured, snuggling up against Jin.

“Alright, buddy. Let’s get you ready for bed,” Jin said, standing up with Jiwoon still in his arms. He turned to Mia, who was gathering the blankets. “Thank you for tonight. I know Jiwoon had a great time.”

“I did!” Jiwoon chimed in, resting his head against Jin’s shoulder as they made their way to his bedroom.

Mia smiled at their little family moment, and for a brief moment, Jin felt an overwhelming sense of contentment. As he tucked Jiwoon into bed, the warmth of his son’s small body against the sheets brought a wave of protective love. He brushed a stray hair from Jiwoon’s forehead and kissed him goodnight.

“Sleep tight, little dinosaur,” he whispered, pulling the covers up to Jiwoon’s chin. Jiwoon giggled softly, his eyelids fluttering as sleep began to take hold.

“Mia, can you read me a story?” Jiwoon mumbled, his voice already thick with drowsiness.

Jin glanced over at Mia, who had followed them into the room. “Of course!” she said, her face lighting up with enthusiasm. “What story do you want?”

“Uh... the one about the dragon!” Jiwoon replied, yawning again.

Mia moved to the bookshelf, scanning the titles before finding the beloved story. Jin lingered by the door, watching as Mia settled into the chair beside Jiwoon’s bed, her voice soft and soothing as she began to read.

Jin felt a tug at his heart as he observed the scene. Here was Mia, effortlessly slipping into the role of caregiver, showering Jiwoon with the same warmth and affection he had felt earlier. But as he stood there, he couldn’t help but feel the familiar anxiety creeping back in.

What if this is the beginning of something I can’t control?

He shook his head slightly, trying to dispel the thoughts. It was just a release. Nothing more.

But as Mia’s melodic voice filled the room, Jin felt the tension within him tighten. The more he watched her, the more he realized that she had already become a significant part of their lives, and he wasn’t sure how to navigate the emotions swirling within him.

After finishing the story, Mia leaned down to kiss Jiwoon’s forehead. “Goodnight, sweet boy. Dream of dragons,” she said softly, pulling back to meet Jin’s gaze.

“Thank you, Mia,” Jin said, feeling a swell of appreciation. “You’re incredible with him.”

Mia smiled, her cheeks flushing slightly at his compliment. “I just love spending time with him,” she replied, and for a moment, the room felt charged with unspoken emotions.

After Jiwoon was settled and the lights dimmed, Jin stepped out into the hallway, Mia following behind. The weight of their earlier conversation hung between them, and he could feel the tension still lingering.

“Thank you for reading to him,” he said, breaking the silence as they walked toward the kitchen. “It means a lot.”

“I enjoy it,” Mia replied, her voice steady but quiet. “He’s a wonderful little boy.”

They entered the kitchen, and Jin poured himself a glass of water, the cool liquid grounding him momentarily. He could feel Mia’s gaze on him, and he glanced over to see her watching him thoughtfully.

“Mia, about earlier...” he began, but she held up a hand, stopping him.

“Let’s not go back there right now,” she said softly, her eyes reflecting a mixture of understanding and sadness. “I know where we stand.”

Jin felt a pang of regret. He hadn’t meant to shut her down earlier, but the reality of their situation weighed heavily on him. “I just want to make sure we’re on the same page,” he replied carefully.

“I understand,” she said, a hint of disappointment in her voice. “And I appreciate you being honest. It’s just... I thought we might be building something more.”

The openness in her eyes made his heart ache. He couldn’t deny that he felt a connection with her, one that had blossomed in ways he hadn’t anticipated. But fear clawed at him, reminding him of the pain he had endured in the past.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said, sincerity lacing his tone. “You mean a lot to Jiwoon and me, and I don’t want to complicate things.”

Mia nodded, but her expression was wistful. “I get that, but sometimes it’s hard to ignore what’s right in front of us.”

He sighed, feeling the weight of her words. “I know. I just... I don’t want to rush into anything. We need to think about Jiwoon first.”

“Of course,” she replied, her voice softening. “I’ll always put him first too.”

They stood in silence for a moment, the tension gradually dissipating as they navigated the complexities of their feelings. Jin appreciated her understanding, but he couldn’t shake the uncertainty that lingered in the back of his mind.

“Let’s just take it one day at a time,” he suggested finally, his tone more hopeful. “I don’t want to lose what we have.”

Mia smiled, and in that moment, he could see a flicker of understanding in her eyes. “That sounds fair. One day at a time.”

As they finished their water and began to clean up the kitchen together, Jin felt a sense of relief wash over him. They could move forward without overthinking it, allowing their relationship to develop naturally, even if it meant keeping things simple for now.

When they finally finished, Jin turned to Mia, his heart racing slightly. “Thank you for tonight, for everything. I know I can be difficult.”

“You’re not that difficult,” she replied, a teasing smile dancing on her lips. “Just a bit stubborn.”

He chuckled, feeling the weight of the world lift slightly. “Maybe I am. But I appreciate you being patient with me.”

She stepped closer, their eyes locking for a brief moment, and Jin felt that familiar spark between them. It was thrilling and terrifying all at once.

“Just know that I’m here,” she said softly. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Jin felt a rush of warmth flood through him, the sincerity in her words striking a chord deep within. He nodded, wanting to reassure her in return. “I won’t push you away, I promise.”

With that, they shared a quiet moment of understanding, both aware of the complex emotions swirling around them. Jin felt a mixture of hope and trepidation as they navigated this uncharted territory together, determined to find their way without losing themselves.

As they made their way toward the living room, Jin glanced over at Jiwoon, who was sound asleep, a small smile on his lips. In that moment, he felt grateful for the stability they had created together, both as a father and as individuals.

“Goodnight, Mia,” he said, feeling a sense of contentment settling in his heart. “Tomorrow is a new day.”

“Goodnight, Jin,” she replied, her smile softening as she turned to head toward her own room.

As the door to her room clicked shut, Jin took a deep breath, trying to quell the emotions that still churned within him. He knew that the road ahead would not be easy, but he was willing to navigate it with Mia by his side, even if it meant facing the fears he had kept buried for so long.

One day at a time. He clung to the thought as he settled down on the couch, ready to drift into a restless sleep, filled with dreams of dragons, new beginnings, and the complexities of love.