Hearts in chaos: Hearts Entwined book 4

11

The morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room as Jiwoon woke up bright and early, excitement bubbling inside him. He stretched and rubbed his eyes, still feeling the remnants of sleep. After a quick breakfast and a few playful moments with his toys, he glanced at the clock. It was time to check on Mia.

Dashing out of his room, Jiwoon padded down the hallway, his little feet barely making a sound on the polished floor. The house was still quiet, and he felt a rush of excitement at the thought of seeing Mia. She had been so kind to him, making him breakfast, playing with him, and even tucking him into bed the night before. In his mind, she was already part of their little family, and he couldn’t wait to tell her that he had scolded his dad for being grumpy.

Without a second thought, Jiwoon pushed open Mia’s bedroom door, peeking inside. His heart raced as he saw her sitting on the bed, her hair damp from the shower, wrapped in a fluffy towel. She looked up in surprise, her eyes widening, but before she could say anything, Jiwoon rushed in.

“Mia!” he exclaimed, running toward her with his arms wide open. “I told Daddy that he shouldn’t be mean to you! You’re so nice, and he shouldn’t yell at you!”

Mia’s laughter filled the room as she knelt down to embrace him. “Oh, Jiwoon, that’s so sweet of you! Thank you for sticking up for me.” She hugged him tightly, feeling a warmth in her heart at the boy’s earnestness.

Just then, Jin strolled down the hallway, still bleary-eyed from sleep. He had planned to make coffee before diving into the day, but as he passed Mia’s open door, he froze in his tracks. His heart skipped a beat as he took in the scene before him—Mia sitting on the bed in nothing but a towel, and Jiwoon hugging her like they were old friends.

His eyes widened in shock. “Jiwoon!” he shouted instinctively, his voice a mix of panic and protectiveness.

The sudden outburst made Mia look up, and Jiwoon turned to see his dad standing in the doorway, his expression caught between surprise and embarrassment.

“Daddy!” Jiwoon called out, momentarily distracted from the moment. “I was just telling Mia how I scolded you for being mean!”

Mia’s cheeks flushed a light pink as she quickly stood up, wrapping the towel tightly around herself. “I—uh—I didn’t know he was coming in,” she stammered, her embarrassment evident.

Jin rushed into the room, his heart racing as he stepped closer to Jiwoon. “Sorry, Mia! I didn’t mean to barge in on you. I just saw Jiwoon here, and—” he faltered, quickly reaching for his son. “Come here, buddy.”

Jin picked Jiwoon up and held him close, shielding his son from the awkwardness of the moment. “Let’s, uh, let’s let Mia get dressed, okay?”

Jiwoon looked confused, but he nodded obediently. “Okay, Daddy.”

“Thanks, Jiwoon,” Mia said, trying to regain her composure as she turned her gaze toward Jin, whose expression was still a mixture of concern and embarrassment.

With Jiwoon in his arms, Jin stepped back out into the hallway, instinctively shutting the door behind him to give Mia some privacy. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heart.

“What were you thinking?” Jin murmured to Jiwoon as they walked back toward the kitchen. “You can’t just go barging into a woman’s room like that!”

“But I just wanted to tell her!” Jiwoon protested, tilting his head to look up at his dad with wide, innocent eyes. “She’s really nice to me, Daddy!”

“I know she is,” Jin said, softening at his son’s unwavering loyalty. “But you have to remember that it’s important to respect people’s privacy, okay? Just because we’re close to her doesn’t mean we can just walk in whenever we want.”

Jiwoon pouted, his little brow furrowing in thought. “But she was sad when you yelled at her! I wanted to make her happy again.”

A pang of guilt struck Jin as he recalled his earlier behavior. He had let his frustration with Mina spill over onto Mia, and Jiwoon had seen that. “You’re a good kid, Jiwoon. You were right to stand up for her. But I’ll talk to Mia and make sure she knows I’m sorry,” Jin promised, knowing he had to clear the air.

“Okay!” Jiwoon chirped, his mood brightening. “Can we play with her when she’s done getting dressed?”

“Yeah, we can do that,” Jin replied, his heart swelling at Jiwoon’s enthusiasm. “Let’s get you some breakfast while we wait for her.”

As they moved into the kitchen, Jin busied himself with preparing breakfast, the chaos of the morning fading into a comfortable routine. He could hear Mia in her room, the sound of her moving about making him realize how quickly she had integrated into their lives. The incident with Jiwoon only highlighted how much they needed her.

“Daddy,” Jiwoon said, sitting at the table, “can we make pancakes? I want to help!”

“Pancakes it is!” Jin grinned, his spirits lifting as he grabbed the ingredients. “Let’s make them together.”

Jiwoon’s face lit up with excitement as he hopped off the chair and pulled a stool over to the counter, eager to help. Jin chuckled as he watched his son try to mimic his movements, pouring flour and sugar into the bowl with small, determined hands.

Minutes later, the kitchen filled with the mouthwatering aroma of sizzling pancakes, and Jin felt a sense of normalcy returning to their lives, even amidst the chaos of the past few days.

As they waited for the pancakes to cook, Jin’s thoughts drifted back to Mia. He needed to talk to her about what had happened earlier and apologize for his outburst. She deserved to know how much he appreciated her kindness, especially toward Jiwoon.

Just as he flipped the last pancake, the sound of Mia’s door opening caught his attention. He turned to see her stepping into the kitchen, dressed in a simple but flattering outfit that highlighted her warm smile.

“Good morning!” she greeted brightly, though there was a hint of shyness in her voice as she glanced at Jin.

“Morning,” Jin replied, a bit sheepishly. “I’m really sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to freak out like that. Jiwoon was just excited to see you, and I—”

“No need to apologize,” Mia interrupted, her voice gentle. “I didn’t mean to make it awkward. I should have been more mindful.”

Jiwoon, who had been busy constructing a pancake tower, looked up at her with his eyes wide. “We made pancakes! You can help us eat them!”

Mia laughed, her earlier tension melting away. “I’d love that!”

As they all gathered around the table, Jiwoon recounted the events of the morning in animated detail, his little hands gesturing wildly. Jin watched with a growing sense of admiration for Mia as she listened intently, her laughter filling the air and creating a warm atmosphere.

“Okay, okay, slow down, buddy,” Jin chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “One story at a time.”

After breakfast, Jin felt a sense of contentment settle over him. The house was filled with laughter, and Jiwoon’s joy was infectious.

“Why don’t we do something fun today?” Jin suggested, looking at both Jiwoon and Mia. “Maybe we can head to the park or do some arts and crafts?”

“Park! Park!” Jiwoon cheered, bouncing in his chair.

Mia smiled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “That sounds great! I can bring some games and snacks.”

Jin nodded, grateful for her enthusiasm. “Perfect! I’ll grab the blanket and some drinks.”

As they prepared for their outing, Jin couldn’t shake off the feeling of warmth that filled his heart. He was beginning to see a light in the darkness of his recent past, and he was hopeful for what the future might hold—both for him and Jiwoon, and maybe even for Mia.

With Jiwoon’s hand firmly clasped in his and Mia walking beside them, Jin felt a sense of normalcy and comfort that he had longed for. Perhaps this unexpected turn in his life could lead to something beautiful after all.