Chapter 6: 5

The living room was dimly lit, with the faint glow of a single lamp casting long shadows across the room. The hum of the refrigerator from the kitchen filled the silence, a quiet background to the weighty conversation that was about to unfold. Wonwoo’s posture was tense, his hands clasped tightly as he leaned forward, his gaze fixed on the floor. Dino sat across from him, his elbows resting on his knees, watching his older brother wrestle with the storm inside him.

“You’ve been quiet,” Dino said, breaking the silence with a soft, steady voice. “That’s not like you.”

Wonwoo sighed deeply, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “I’m just… tired of running, Dino. I feel like I’ve been running ever since Minhyun was born. First from my own feelings, then from my fears, and now… from Mingyu.”

Dino straightened up, his gaze sharpening with concern. “Hyung, you’ve done everything you could to protect Minhyun. That’s not running. That’s being a parent. But I know this thing with Mingyu, it’s been eating at you.”

Wonwoo’s lips tightened into a thin line, his eyes still fixed on the floor. “It’s not just about me anymore. I’m scared, Dino. Or worse… scared of him staying and not being the kind of father Minhyun deserves.”

Dino nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. “I get that. But hyung, you can’t carry all of that on your shoulders. You can’t control what Mingyu does or how he feels. What you can control is how you handle it, how you show up for Minhyun. And you’ve always done what’s best for him.”

“I don’t know,” Wonwoo admitted, his voice cracking slightly. “What if I’m opening a door that can’t be closed again? What if I’m wrong?”

“You’re not wrong,” Dino said firmly, leaning closer. “Minhyun deserves to know where he came from. Even if it’s messy or complicated. He has a right to know. And hyung, you’ve always put Minhyun first. That won’t change, no matter what happens.”

Wonwoo looked up, his eyes meeting Dino’s for the first time that night. “And what if Mingyu doesn’t care? What if he’s moved on?”

“Then that’s on him,” Dino replied without hesitation. “But at least you’ll know you tried. At least Minhyun will know you gave him the chance to meet his father. That’s all you can do, hyung. Be honest. Do your part. Let the rest fall into place.”

The room was quiet again for a moment, but this time the silence was less suffocating. It was grounding, a pause that allowed Wonwoo to reflect on Dino’s words.

Wonwoo reached over, placing a hand on Dino’s shoulder and squeezing it tightly. “Thank you, Dino. For everything. I don’t say it enough, but I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Dino chuckled softly, his warm smile lighting up the room. “That’s what family is for. And you don’t have to do this alone, hyung. I’ll be here every step of the way. Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out together.”

Wonwoo nodded, feeling the weight in his chest lighten just a little. “You’re a good kid, you know that?”

“I prefer to think of myself as the best,” Dino quipped, earning a faint laugh from Wonwoo. “Now go get some sleep. You’ll need it for whatever comes next.”

The next morning, Wonwoo woke early, the weight of his decision pressing heavily on his chest. After ensuring that Dino would take care of Minhyun for the day, Wonwoo slipped out of the house.

He took a cab to an old apartment complex on the other side of town. It had been years, but he still remembered the address. As the building came into view, his heart raced. Taking a deep breath, Wonwoo approached the door labeled 4B. His hand trembled as he knocked.

When the door creaked open, Mingyu stood there, hair tousled, his eyes widening in surprise. “Wonwoo?”

“Uhm, Mingyu,” Wonwoo said softly, his voice shaky. “Can we talk?”

Mingyu hesitated for a moment before stepping aside to let him in. The apartment was tidy, yet the air was thick with tension. Mingyu’s sharp gaze followed Wonwoo as he sat stiffly on the couch, his hands fidgeting nervously.

“Why are you here, Wonwoo?” Mingyu asked bluntly, crossing his arms. There was no hostility in his tone, but the guardedness was unmistakable.

Wonwoo took a deep breath, steeling himself. “There’s something I need to tell you. It’s important.”

Mingyu frowned, his body tensing. “I’m listening.”

The words tumbled out of Wonwoo, shaky but determined. “There’s someone I want you to meet. His name is Minhyun… and he’s your son.”

The room fell into a suffocating silence. Mingyu froze, his eyes locked on Wonwoo as if trying to determine whether he had heard correctly. “My… son?” he finally managed, his voice low and unsteady.

“Yes,” Wonwoo said, his voice cracking. “He’s five years old. And… he’s ours.”

Mingyu’s expression hardened, his hands balling into fists at his sides. “Five years?” he hissed. “Five years, and you didn’t think I had a right to know? You just decided for me?”

Wonwoo flinched but held his ground. “I… I made a mistake, Mingyu. I was scared-”

“Scared?” Mingyu’s voice rose, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “You think that justifies keeping something like this from me? Do you have any idea what it feels like to hear this now, after all this time? To know I missed five years of his life?”

Tears welled up in Wonwoo’s eyes, but he forced himself to stay calm. “I know I hurt you. I hurt both of us. But I was terrified. Back then, you were… you were so different. You were a playboy, Mingyu. I didn’t think you’d care. I thought you’d see this as a mistake.”

Mingyu’s laugh was bitter, laced with pain. “And what about now? Do you think I don’t care now?”

“I don’t know,” Wonwoo admitted, his voice breaking. “But I couldn’t keep this from you anymore. Minhyun deserves to know his father.”

Mingyu clenched his jaw, pacing the room as he struggled to process the revelation. “Do you know what made this worse, Wonwoo?” he said, his tone sharp. “That day at the park. I saw you. I saw you with a man . You looked… happy. Like you’d moved on, like I was just some stranger in your past.”

Wonwoo blinked, startled. “You…”

Mingyu snapped, the anger giving way to something deeper, something raw. “And you know what hurt the most? When you introduced me to that guy. ‘Yeah. Just... an old friend,’ you said. An old friend, Wonwoo. After everything between us.”

Wonwoo’s breath hitched. “Mingyu, wait. That wasn’t-”

“Don’t,” Mingyu cut him off, his voice tight with emotion. “Don’t make excuses. I get it now. You didn’t want me in your life. You didn’t think I was worth it.”

“No!” Wonwoo stood abruptly, desperation in his voice. “Mingyu, the man you saw me with that day… that was Dino. My younger brother.”

Mingyu froze, his anger flickering into confusion. “Your… brother?”

“Yes,” Wonwoo said, his voice softening. “I wasn’t with anyone else, Mingyu. I never was. I didn’t introduce you as more because… I didn’t know how you’d react. I didn’t know if you even wanted to see me.”

Mingyu’s shoulders sagged, the weight of his emotions crashing down on him. “So… all this time, I thought…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “God, Wonwoo. I hated you for that. I thought you’d replaced me, moved on, and here I was… jealous and bitter.”

“I’m sorry,” Wonwoo said, his voice trembling. “I’m so sorry, Mingyu. I made so many mistakes, but I’m here now. I’m trying to make things right. For you and for Minhyun.”

Mingyu sank into the couch, burying his face in his hands. “I don’t even know where to start. Five years, Wonwoo. Five years I didn’t even know he existed.”

Wonwoo hesitated before sitting beside him, his voice gentle. “Start with meeting him. Start with being his father. We’ll figure out the rest.”

After a long moment, Mingyu looked up, his eyes filled with a mix of anger, pain, and something fragile that was suddenly replaced with hope. “I’ll try. For Minhyun. And maybe… for us.”

Wonwoo nodded, his heart aching but lighter. “One step at a time, Mingyu. That’s all we can do.”

And for the first time in years, a small, tentative smile crossed Mingyu’s lips. “One step at a time.”

On the other side, the afternoon sunlight streamed through the window as Dino sat on the floor with Minhyun, surrounded by scattered blocks and toy cars. The little boy’s laughter filled the room, his innocent joy a sharp contrast to the weight of the secret Dino had been guarding all day.

“Papa! Look!” Minhyun exclaimed, holding up a tower he had built with shaky hands.

“That’s amazing, champ!” Dino cheered, ruffling the boy’s hair. “You’re gonna be an architect someday, huh?”

Minhyun beamed, his big brown eyes sparkling. But then his smile faltered, and he tilted his head curiously. “Papa?”

“Yeah, buddy?” Dino replied, still smiling.

“Why did Mommy leave today?” Minhyun asked, his small voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of worry. “Is he going to find Daddy?”

Dino froze, his breath catching in his throat. He forced a smile, trying to keep his voice light. “Mommy just had something important to do, buddy. Don’t worry, he’ll be back soon.”

“But is he looking for my daddy?” Minhyun pressed, his gaze unwavering.

Dino’s heart ached at the question, at the innocence in Minhyun’s voice. He wanted to protect the boy from the complicated truths of the world for as long as he could. “Your mommy loves you very much, Minhyun. That’s all you need to know right now, okay?”

Minhyun nodded slowly, though the question lingered in his eyes. Dino distracted him with a new game, but his own thoughts were spinning. He didn’t know how to answer the question Minhyun had asked because he didn’t fully know what was happening himself.

As they played, Dino’s phone buzzed on the coffee table. He reached for it, his chest tightening when he saw the name on the screen: Hyun's Mommy🩵

He swiped to open the message, his eyes scanning the words quickly.

Hyun's Mommy🩵:

“Coming home now. I’m with Mingyu.”

Dino blinked, rereading the text as his mind raced. Mingyu. Wonwoo actually did it. He told Mingyu. And now they were coming back together.

“Papa?” Minhyun tugged at his sleeve, breaking him out of his thoughts. “Who texted you?”

Dino slipped his phone back into his pocket, forcing a reassuring smile. “It’s Mommy. He’s on his way home, champ.”

“With Daddy?” Minhyun asked innocently, his words sending a jolt through Dino.

“Uh…” Dino hesitated, unsure how much to say. “Well, I guess we’ll find out soon, huh?”

Minhyun’s face lit up with excitement. “I hope he brings Daddy! I want to meet him!”

Dino swallowed hard, his chest tightening at the pure, unfiltered hope in Minhyun’s voice. He reached out, pulling the boy into a gentle hug.

“Whatever happens, Minhyun, remember this, you’re loved. So, so much.”

The little boy hugged him back, his arms tiny but comforting. “I know, Papa. Mommy tells me that all the time.”

Dino smiled faintly, his thoughts drifting to the confrontation that was undoubtedly on the horizon. He didn’t know what state Wonwoo and Mingyu would be in when they arrived, but one thing was certain: this moment would change everything.

The sound of a car pulling up outside broke the silence. Dino’s pulse quickened as he glanced toward the door. “Looks like Mommy’s home,” he said, his voice steady despite the whirlwind in his chest.

Minhyun scrambled to his feet, running to the window. “I see Mommy! And… and there’s someone else!”

Dino stood slowly, his heart pounding as he moved to join Minhyun by the window. His eyes landed on the figures stepping out of the car. Wonwoo, looking pale but resolute. And beside him, Mingyu, his tall frame unmistakable even from a distance.

“Papa,” Minhyun said softly, his voice filled with awe. “Is that… is that my daddy?”

Dino knelt beside him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Maybe, buddy. Let’s wait and see, okay?”

Minhyun nodded, his eyes wide with anticipation.

Dino stood, bracing himself as the front door opened. The next chapter of their lives was about to begin, and Dino could only hope that whatever came next, it would bring healing, understanding, and a chance for this small, fragile family to grow whole again.