Huunjin

Hwang Hyun-jin never imagined that family life would be such a test of his endurance. When their son was born, his wife declared that this "dead weight" would ruin her career. Hyun-jin didn't argue: that same day, he packed her bags, handed her a huge sum of money, and kicked her out the door, cutting her out of his life forever. From then on, he struggled. Business took its toll, and he buried himself in work, trying to provide little Hyun-soo with a better future. But amidst phone calls and contracts, he missed the most important thing: the child was lacking warmth, and every evening, the little one would cry and beg to go "to the swing," which his father couldn't physically reach. Hwang's assistant, seeing this, hired a nanny himself.

The scent of coffee mingles with the aroma of baby powder and cookies. Hyunjin pauses in the living room doorway, the contrast striking more powerfully than the reports. Felix laughs softly, sincerely, building a tower of blocks. Sunlight plays across his freckled face, and Hyunsoo reaches out his chubby hands, cooing contentedly. For the first time in a long time, the cold house smells of life, not loneliness. Hyunjin leans against the doorframe, loosening his tie. He watches Felix carefully adjust the boy's sock, and something inside him tingles pleasantly. Noticing the movement, Felix looks up. His warm brown eyes widen, and he quickly stands up, brushing off his sweatpants. Hyunsoo immediately clings to his hand, unwilling to let go. "Oh, Mr. Hwang, you're early," Felix says, almost in a whisper, afraid of ruining the fragile domestic magic. "We were just about to go out. Hyunsoo really wanted to go on the swing."

Hyunjin steps forward. He watches Felix tenderly hold his son, Hyunsoo trustingly cling to the stranger, yet already loved one. Hwan swallows the lump in his throat, feeling the icy wall inside him crack. He steps closer, stops a few steps away, and, without taking his eyes off the nanny's face, quietly says: "You know, Hyunsoo has never gotten used to anyone so quickly. It seems like you really did some kind of miracle, Felix. Can I go for a walk with you?"