Jin leaned back in his chair, the soft sounds of laughter and conversation swirling around him as he tried to drown out the weight of his thoughts. His friends had gathered at their usual spot—a cozy bar adorned with dim lighting and the chatter of patrons enjoying their evenings. But tonight, Jin found it difficult to engage. The news he’d received earlier still clung to him like a heavy fog, suffocating any joy he might have felt in this moment.

“Hey, Jin! You’re not falling asleep on us, are you?” One of his friends, Yoongi, nudged him playfully. “We came out here to cheer you up, not watch you drift off.”

Jin forced a smile, shaking his head as he sat up straighter. “No, I’m good. Just... a lot on my mind.” He glanced around the table, seeing the concerned expressions of his friends. They were all aware of his situation with Mina, but he hadn’t shared the latest developments yet. He wasn’t sure he was ready to talk about it.

“Did Mina send you another text?” Hoseok asked, his voice laced with concern. “Is she still giving you a hard time?”

Jin sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. “No, it’s not just texts. I found out she’s been with another guy... again.”

The mood shifted at the table, the air thickening with disbelief. “What do you mean again?” Namjoon asked, his brow furrowing. “How many is this now?”

“Four,” Jin replied, his voice barely above a whisper. “Four different guys in just over a week since we separated.” The words felt bitter on his tongue, and he glanced down at the table, unable to meet their eyes.

“Four? What the hell?” Yoongi exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief. “I can’t believe this. What a piece of work.”

“Yeah, tell me about it,” Jin said, his voice laced with sarcasm. “I guess I was just the last in a long line of ‘boredom’ for her.”

“Boredom? Seriously?” Hoseok scoffed, clearly offended on Jin’s behalf. “That’s just... I don’t even know what to say. You deserve better than that.”

“Thanks, guys,” Jin murmured, grateful for their support, but the anger bubbling inside him was hard to contain. “I just don’t get how someone could be so reckless, especially after everything we’ve been through. How could she just move on like it was nothing?”

“Because she’s selfish,” Namjoon said bluntly, his tone firm. “You deserve someone who values you, Jin. Someone who will care about you and Jiwoon, not just think about their own needs.”

“Maybe I just don’t deserve anyone at all,” Jin replied, bitterness creeping into his voice. “I’ve been left with a two-year-old and a broken marriage. Who would want that?”

“You’re a good dad, Jin. That’s what matters,” Yoongi reminded him, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “The right person will see that.”

“Yeah, and I doubt she’s out there in bars with multiple men,” Jin said with a wry smile, but his heart wasn’t in it. “It just sucks. I’m trying to focus on Jiwoon and move on, but then I get hit with stuff like this.”

His friends continued to offer words of comfort, but Jin felt the anger begin to swell again. He wanted to vent and scream, to let all this frustration out, but he knew it wouldn’t change anything. He just needed to get through it, one day at a time.

Meanwhile, back at the mansion, Mia was finishing up her routine with Jiwoon. She had tucked him into bed, the little boy snuggled under his dinosaur-themed blanket, his eyes growing heavy as she softly read him a bedtime story.

“And then the brave knight rescued the princess from the dragon,” Mia whispered, her voice soothing as she watched Jiwoon’s eyelids flutter. “They rode off into the sunset, happy and safe. The end.”

Jiwoon let out a small yawn, his little face lighting up with a smile. “Mia, can you stay with me a little longer?” he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Of course, sweetheart,” Mia replied, gently smoothing his hair back. “I’ll stay right here until you fall asleep.”

As she settled down on the edge of the bed, her heart swelled with affection for the little boy. In the short time she’d been there, Jiwoon had brought so much joy into her life. She loved listening to his stories, seeing his imagination come alive, and it made her feel more at home than she had in years.

As she watched him drift off, Mia couldn’t help but think about Jin. She had noticed how he had been quieter lately, burdened with an unseen weight. She wished she could do something to help him, to lift his spirits. He was such a good father, and it broke her heart to see him in pain.

After Jiwoon finally succumbed to sleep, Mia quietly slipped out of his room and began tidying up the mess from their earlier adventures. She gathered toys, picked up crumbs from the floor, and wiped down surfaces, all the while thinking about Jin and the struggles he faced.

Mia couldn’t help but feel an ache in her heart for him. He was going through so much, and while she knew it wasn’t her place to pry, she wished he would open up to her. The connection they had started to build felt genuine, and she wanted to be there for him in whatever way she could.

With the housework complete, Mia took a moment to breathe and reflect. She grabbed a glass of water and settled on the couch in the living room, the warmth of the space enveloping her. The house felt quieter now, the only sound being the soft hum of the night outside.

As she sat there, her thoughts turned to Jin. She admired how he had handled the challenges of fatherhood, even in the wake of his tumultuous separation from Mina. He never let it interfere with his time with Jiwoon, always putting his son first. It was one of the things that had drawn her to him in the first place—his unwavering commitment to his child.

Just then, she heard the front door open, and she looked up to see Jin entering the house. His expression was weary, and she could tell he had been through a lot that evening. He walked in quietly, his shoulders slumped, and Mia felt a pang of concern.

“Hey, Jin,” she called softly, rising from the couch. “How was your night?”

Jin paused, glancing up at her. “Hey, Mia,” he replied, forcing a smile. “It was... alright. Just a lot to think about.”

Mia could see through his facade; the weariness in his eyes was unmistakable. “Want to talk about it?” she offered gently, crossing her arms as she approached him.

Jin sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Not really. Just more drama with Mina. I found out she’s been with four different guys in the past week since the divorce.” His voice was laced with bitterness, and Mia felt her heart ache for him.

“Four?” she echoed, her eyes widening in disbelief. “I’m so sorry, Jin. That’s... that’s really awful.”

“Yeah, it is,” he said, his tone dropping as he sank into the nearest armchair. “I don’t understand how someone could just move on like that, especially with everything we’ve been through.”

Mia moved closer, her concern for him deepening. “It’s not your fault, you know? You did everything you could for your family.”

“I thought so,” Jin replied, his voice heavy with frustration. “But it feels like it was never enough. She’s just... bored, I guess. Bored of me and our life together.”

“Boredom is a terrible excuse for hurting someone,” Mia said, crossing her arms. “You deserve so much better than that.”

Jin looked up at her, surprised by her fierce protectiveness. “Thanks, Mia. It’s just hard to keep moving forward when it feels like I’m being dragged back. I want to focus on Jiwoon and be a good dad, but it’s hard to shake off everything that happened.”

Mia took a seat on the edge of the coffee table, looking directly into his eyes. “You’re doing great, Jin. Jiwoon is lucky to have you. Just remember that you’re not alone in this. If you need someone to talk to or lean on, I’m here.”

The sincerity in her voice touched Jin in a way he hadn’t expected. It felt good to have someone who genuinely cared, someone who didn’t view him through the lens of his failures. “I really appreciate that,” he said, his voice softening. “It means a lot to me.”

As they sat in the quiet of the living room, an unspoken bond began to deepen between them. Mia’s heart raced at the thought; she had always admired Jin’s strength, but now, seeing him vulnerable made her want to be there for him even more.

“Maybe we could... I don’t know, do something fun together?” Mia suggested, trying to lighten the mood. “Take Jiwoon out for ice cream or something? A little distraction might help.”

Jin chuckled softly, the tension easing from his shoulders. “Ice cream sounds perfect. I could definitely use a break.”

“Great! Let’s make it a family outing!” Mia smiled, her spirits lifting. “I’ll grab Jiwoon, and we can head out.”