Mated love || Minwon ffs || Mafia.

Mine

Wonwoo's POV

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As Mingyu disappeared downstairs, I was left standing in the hallway, my thoughts racing. Someone special? Who could it be? My mind went wild with possibilities, none of which were helping my growing anxiety. I trusted Mingyu, of course, but hearing him refer to someone as “special” was enough to ignite a small fire of jealousy. What if it’s an ex? A past flame that’s come back to reignite something?

I shook my head. Stop it, Wonwoo. Don’t jump to conclusions.

Still, I couldn’t just sit there. I decided to head downstairs, my steps light as I tried to make sense of my feelings. Mingyu was in the kitchen, humming softly to himself as he prepared coffee.

"Are you not going to tell me who it is?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

He glanced at me over his shoulder, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Patience, my little kitty. You’ll find out soon enough."

"But why is it a surprise? Is it someone from your past?" I pressed, my insecurities slipping through.

Mingyu’s expression softened, and he set down the coffee pot. He walked over to me, wrapping his arms around my waist. "Wonwoo, you’ve got nothing to worry about. This person is important to me, but in a completely different way. Trust me, okay?"

I nodded reluctantly, burying my face in his chest. "Fine. But you owe me an explanation later."
As Mingyu opened the door, I felt my stomach twist in anticipation. I wasn’t sure what—or who—I expected, but it definitely wasn’t a small boy with wide, curious eyes and a shy smile. He couldn’t have been more than seven or eight, his round cheeks slightly flushed from the cold outside.

“Dad!” the boy shouted, his voice high-pitched with excitement as he threw himself into Mingyu’s arms.

Dad?

Mingyu laughed, picking him up effortlessly and spinning him around. “Hey, buddy! Did you miss me?”

“Yeah!” the boy chirped, holding onto Mingyu tightly. He pulled back just enough to look at Mingyu’s face. “You didn’t tell me you had a cat now,” he said, pointing directly at me.

“A… cat?” I asked, my voice unsure.

Mingyu turned to me, grinning sheepishly. “Dino, this is Wonwoo. He’s not a cat—well, not literally. He’s my… partner.”

“Partner?” Dino asked, tilting his head like he was solving a puzzle. Then, his expression shifted to suspicion. “You mean like… a sidekick?”

I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me, though I tried to stifle it. “Not a sidekick,” I corrected, crouching down to his level. “Nice to meet you, Dino. I’m Wonwoo.”

Dino didn’t shake my hand. Instead, he squinted at me, his tiny arms crossed. “Are you gonna take Dad away from me?”

The question hit me like a slap. I opened my mouth to respond, but Mingyu stepped in, gently squeezing Dino’s shoulder. “No one’s taking anyone away, okay? Wonwoo’s not here to replace you. He’s just another important person in my life.”

Dino didn’t seem convinced. He looked at me again, this time with narrowed eyes. “I’ll keep my eye on you,” he declared, before stomping into the house.
Dino was polite, but just barely. Throughout the day, every attempt I made to engage with him was met with subtle defiance. He’d move my things around, "accidentally" spill crumbs on the couch I’d just cleaned, or talk over me whenever I tried to join a conversation with Mingyu.

To be honest, I didn’t blame him. Mingyu was clearly the center of his little world, and I was an intruder in his eyes. Still, it was exhausting.

“Wonwoo, you okay?” Mingyu asked, plopping down beside me on the couch after Dino went upstairs to unpack.