chapter 5: Meeting Daddy
672 Words
It was a sunny Saturday afternoon — the kind of day Minjun would usually spend at the park or coloring in his sketchbook while Mirae worked on clients’ fashion looks.
But today, everything felt different.
She dressed him in his favorite yellow hoodie and jeans. He sat on the bed, swinging his legs while sipping juice through a curly straw.
“Mommy,” he said, “where are we going?”
Mirae froze. She’d practiced this all night — every sentence she would say to minjun, every word — but now her throat was dry. She knelt in front of him, forcing a soft smile.
“We’re going to meet someone very special.”she said trying to look calm
His big eyes lit up. “A superhero?”
She laughed weakly. “Sort of.”
“Is it Uncle Jisoo? He always gives me candy.”
“No, baby. It’s... it’s someone new. Someone Mommy used to know a long time ago.”
Minjun tilted his head. “A friend?”
She hesitated. “Yes. A friend. And I think you’ll like him.”
---
The cafe was quiet again — Mirae had picked it on purpose. Not Jihan’s world of luxury. Just a peaceful space with warm lighting and wide booths where Minjun could sit comfortably.
She spotted Jihan at the back, standing nervously with his hands in his pockets.
He looked different today. More human. Less CEO.
When he saw them, his eyes locked on Minjun instantly — like the boy was the only thing in his mind.
Minjun looked up at the tall man beside the table. He said “Hi.”
Jihan’s breath caught. “Hi... Minjun.”
Mirae held her son’s hand tighter. “This is Mr. Jihan. He’s Mommy’s... old friend.”
Minjun blinked. “He’s really tall.”he said looking at mirae
Jihan chuckled softly. “I get that a lot.”
“Do you have toys?”
“Not with me, but I can bring some next time.”
“There’s a next time?”
“If you want.”
Minjun nodded. “Cool.”
---
They ordered hot chocolate and tiny sandwiches. Minjun talked — about cartoons, school, his favorite dinosaur. Jihan listened, completely absorbed. He didn’t push. He didn’t say the word “dad.” He just... showed up.
Mirae watched him carefully, every movement, every reaction. He was trying. Genuinely trying.
When Minjun reached across the table to show him a crayon drawing of a T-Rex, Jihan smiled like it was a masterpiece.
“He’s brilliant,” he said later, when Minjun ran off to play with sugar packets at a nearby empty table.
“I know.”she said trying to force a smile.
“He has your eyes.”
Mirae nodded, a lump rising in her throat.
“And my hair,” Jihan added, brushing his own. “I saw it the moment he walked in.”
Mirae looked at her son — their son — completely oblivious to the storm that brought him here.
“You handled today well,” she said softly.
“I was terrified.” jihan said looking into her eye with confidence
“You didn’t show it.”
“I wanted to.”
She looked at him. “Why?”
“Because I missed out on four years, Mirae. And that’s my fault, partly. But I want to make up for it.”
“You can’t buy his love.”
“I’m not trying to. I just want to be around. Slowly. No pressure.”
Mirae exhaled. “One visit at a time.”
“I’ll take it.”
---
That night, after Minjun fell asleep clutching his new dinosaur keychain Jihan had bought from a street vendor, Mirae stood by the window, looking out at the stars.
She wasn’t sure how to feel.
Fear. Hope. Confusion. All wrapped tightly inside her chest.
But one thing was certain:
Lee Jihan was back in her life.
And this time, he wasn’t walking away.
- Writer
