single father | minchan

23

sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. chan and minho lay entwined, their fingers gently tracing invisible patterns on each other's skin. as they stirred awake, sleepy smiles tugged at the corners of their lips.

chan's eyes fluttered open, his gaze softening as he took in the sight of minho's peaceful face. he brushed a few stray strands of hair away from minho's forehead, his touch tender and affectionate. minho's eyelashes fluttered, his eyes slowly meeting chan's. a soft, shy smile spread across his face as he realized where he was. "morning," he murmured, his voice husky from sleep.

"hey," chan replied, his voice warm and filled with a mixture of happiness and contentment. "did you sleep well?" minho nodded, his fingers tracing circles on chan's chest. "yeah, i did. especially because you were here."

chan's heart skipped a beat at minho's words, his cheeks tinting with a faint blush. "i'm glad," he said softly. "i love waking up next to you." minho's smile grew, and he leaned in to press a soft, lingering kiss to chan's lips. their connection felt natural, like the missing piece that had finally fallen into place.

as they pulled away, chan's fingers intertwined with minho's, their hands fitting together perfectly. "last night was amazing," he admitted, his gaze filled with adoration. minho's cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink, but his eyes sparkled with joy. "yeah, it was. i'm really happy we took this step."

chan nodded, his thumb gently stroking the back of minho's hand. "me too. i've loved you for so long, and being able to be with you like this... It means everything to me." minho's expression softened, his heart swelling with emotion. "chan, you know i love you too, right? it's just... i really never thought you'd feel the same way."

chan chuckled softly, his eyes dancing with affection. "well, we're here now, aren't we? and i definitely feel the same way."

they shared a quiet, comfortable moment, their closeness saying more than words ever could. the world outside seemed distant, their focus solely on each other and the newfound intimacy they were navigating together.

"i can get used to this," minho whispered, his gaze lingering on chan's face.

chan grinned, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to minho's forehead. "good, because i'm not planning on going anywhere." hand in hand, they faced the morning with hearts full of hope and the promise of many more shared moments ahead.

——

the sun shone brightly in the park, where minho watched over hyunjin and jeongin, Chan's children. the children's laughter filled the air as they played on the swings, blissfully unaware of the approaching threat.

a dark shadow fell across the playground, and minho's heart sank as he recognized the figure approaching them - his estranged uncle, a man who had tormented him during his childhood.

minho's eyes widened with fear and anger as his uncle drew closer, his sinister grin revealing a set of crooked teeth. "what a lovely family reunion," his uncle sneered, his voice dripping with malice.

minho instinctively moved to stand in front of hyunjin and jeongin, shielding them from his uncle's presence. "what do you want?" minho demanded, his voice trembling with suppressed rage.

the uncle's cold eyes fixed on the children. "i've come for what's mine," he declared. "just like i had you once."

minho's grip on hyunjin and jeongin tightened. "they're not yours," he protested, his voice quivering. "they're Chan's kids, and i won't let you near them."

the uncle's face contorted with fury, and he lunged for the children. minho resisted with all his strength, but his uncle was relentless. desperation set in as he called out to a group of menacing men who had been lurking nearby.

"get over here! help me!" he bellowed.

as the men approached, minho's heart sank further. he fought to protect the children, but the odds were stacked against him. the men grabbed hyunjin and jeongin, pulling them away from minho's grasp despite his desperate struggles.

tears welled up in minho's eyes as he watched in horror, powerless to prevent his uncle from taking the kids. his heart ached with the pain of losing them, just as he had lost his own childhood to this cruel man.

as they were dragged away, hyunjin and jeongin cried out for minho, their voices filled with fear and confusion. "mama! mama!" minho could only watch, helpless and devastated, as they disappeared from sight.

the park, once a place of joy and laughter, was now filled with silence, broken only by minho's sobs of grief and the distant laughter of other children. in that heart-wrenching moment, minho realized that he had failed to protect the two innocent souls he loved so dearly.

the uncle turned with a low smirk to face minho, pulling out a gun from his pocket. he faced it towards minho, the younger's cold glare gazing back as tears streamed down his cheeks.

and the gunshot echoed through the once bright park, and as he fell to the ground, the blood seeping through onto the concrete, his vision faded.