Hearts in chaos: Hearts Entwined book 4

3

Jin pushed the grocery cart down the brightly lit aisle of the supermarket, glancing at the list on his phone. It had been a while since he’d done the shopping alone with Jiwoon, and he hoped it would be a simple trip. They needed milk, bread, and a few essentials, but more than anything, Jin wanted to spend quality time with his son after the emotional upheaval of the past few days.

“Daddy, can we get some cookies?” Jiwoon asked, his wide eyes sparkling with excitement as he pointed to a colorful box on the shelf.

“Sure, buddy. But only if you promise to share them with me,” Jin replied, ruffling Jiwoon’s hair. The little boy giggled, and Jin felt a warmth spread through him. Despite the turmoil of the divorce, moments like this reminded him of the joy of being a father.

As they continued shopping, Jiwoon wandered a few steps ahead, his attention drawn to a display of toy cars. Jin followed him, watching as his son picked up a red car and began pretending to zoom it along the floor.

“Vroom, vroom!” Jiwoon exclaimed, making the sound effects as he raced the car back and forth.

Jin chuckled at his son’s enthusiasm. “Nice car, Jiwoon! But remember, we have to focus on groceries, not racing,” he said, playfully tapping his son’s shoulder.

Just then, a young woman in her mid-twenties walked past them, her shopping cart filled with fresh produce. She stopped when she noticed Jiwoon playing with the toy car.

“That’s a cool car!” she said, kneeling down to his level. “What’s your name, little speedster?”

“Jiwoon!” he beamed, holding up the car proudly. “It goes super fast!”

The woman smiled, her eyes sparkling with warmth. “I can tell! I’m Mia. Do you like racing?”

“Yeah! I want to be a race car driver when I grow up!” Jiwoon declared, his little face full of determination.

Mia laughed, her voice light and engaging. “That’s amazing! I bet you’ll be the fastest driver out there. Do you have a favorite race car driver?”

“Um… I like Lightning McQueen!” Jiwoon said, his enthusiasm infectious.

“Great choice! He’s really fast!” Mia encouraged, exchanging smiles with Jin as she spoke with Jiwoon.

Jin stood back, observing the interaction between his son and Mia. There was something about the way she spoke to Jiwoon that put him at ease. She was patient and genuinely interested, and it warmed his heart to see his son open up to someone so easily.

“What else do you like, Jiwoon?” Mia asked, still kneeling beside him.

“I like dinosaurs!” Jiwoon replied, his eyes lighting up. “And I have a T-Rex toy that’s super big!”

“Wow! T-Rex is a real king!” Mia exclaimed, giving him an exaggerated look of awe. “Does he roar?”

“ROAR!” Jiwoon shouted, pretending to stomp around like a dinosaur.

Mia giggled and joined in on the fun, mimicking Jiwoon’s dinosaur movements. Jin watched, an unexpected smile breaking across his face. This was a side of his son he cherished—the pure, unfiltered joy of childhood.

“Looks like you’ve got a new friend, Jiwoon,” Jin said, stepping forward and finally introducing himself. “I’m Jin, Jiwoon’s dad. It’s nice to meet you, Mia.”

“Nice to meet you too, Jin!” Mia replied, standing up and extending her hand. “Your son is a lot of fun. He’s got an incredible imagination!”

“Thank you. He loves to play,” Jin said, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. “It’s been a tough week for us, but he’s handling it like a champ.”