Beneath The spotlight

Chapter 35: The Unraveling

Days slipped by in the same quiet rhythm. Dunk had come by a few times since their conversation, always making an effort to spend time with Kian, and Joong had reluctantly allowed it. Despite his resolve to keep a distance, seeing Dunk interact with Kian—seeing Kian's natural joy in his presence—made it harder to ignore the reality that Dunk was here to stay.

It wasn’t just about Kian anymore, Joong realized. Dunk wasn’t just trying to be a father to his son—he was trying to rebuild something that had never quite been given the chance to take root. And Joong couldn’t deny that part of him, buried deep beneath the layers of resentment and hurt, wanted to let Dunk in.

But the scars were still there.

Kian was still blissfully unaware of the complicated web of emotions and history that his father and Dunk shared. To him, Dunk was just a nice guy who showed up to play games and made him laugh. But Joong could see the way Kian’s eyes would light up whenever Dunk came over, the way he eagerly waited for him to knock on the door. It hurt, in a way he hadn’t expected.

That afternoon, Joong sat at the kitchen table, his laptop open, trying to work through some emails. He was trying to keep himself occupied, distracted from the thoughts that kept circling back to Dunk. Kian was in his room, making noise with his toys, and Joong felt a momentary sense of peace, even as a nagging sense of uncertainty lingered.

There was a knock at the door.

Joong’s fingers stilled on the keyboard, and for a moment, he hesitated. He knew who it was before he even got up to check. Dunk was persistent, and Joong had stopped pretending that it bothered him as much as it used to.

When Joong opened the door, Dunk stood on the other side with a bag of what appeared to be groceries.

“I thought I’d bring some food over,” Dunk said, holding up the bag. “Thought Kian might want to try something new.”

Joong blinked, surprised by the gesture, but didn’t comment. “Come in.”

Dunk stepped inside, and Joong felt the usual tension in his chest—the mix of wanting to let Dunk in and not knowing how to. But as Dunk started unpacking the groceries, Joong found himself observing him closely. Dunk had always been a natural in these situations, making himself at home in ways Joong couldn’t quite figure out.

Kian appeared a few minutes later, running into the kitchen with his usual energy.

“Mr. Dunk! What did you bring?” Kian asked excitedly, looking at the bag of food.

“Some snacks and a few new things to try,” Dunk said, flashing him a smile. “I thought we could have a little snack party later. What do you think?”

Kian’s eyes brightened. “Yes! I love snacks!”

Joong watched the two of them, his heart aching slightly. It wasn’t the first time Dunk had brought over treats or tried to bond with Kian in these small, seemingly insignificant ways, but today it felt like something deeper was shifting. It was hard to ignore the fact that Dunk was trying—so hard—while Joong kept holding back, afraid of letting someone else into their lives.

“You’re spoiling him,” Joong said, a hint of teasing in his voice, though the words felt hollow as soon as they left his mouth. It was easier to push Dunk away with sarcasm than it was to confront the emotions that had been bubbling to the surface for months.

“Maybe,” Dunk said with a chuckle, not seeming bothered by the comment. “But he deserves it.”

Joong wasn’t sure how to respond to that. He had always prided himself on being the only one Kian truly needed, the one who had always been there. But now, with Dunk in the picture, things were changing, and Joong was struggling to adapt.

After a while, Dunk stood up, stretching his arms. “I should get going. I just wanted to bring these over for Kian. I’ll see you guys tomorrow, okay?”

Kian pouted, looking up at Dunk. “You’re leaving already?”

“I have some things to take care of, buddy. But I’ll be back soon. I promise.” Dunk ruffled Kian’s hair affectionately, and Joong couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly he interacted with Kian, how easily the bond between them had formed in such a short time.

Joong watched Dunk leave, the door clicking softly behind him. He stood there for a moment, his mind spinning with everything that had happened over the last few months.

Kian, now happily munching on the snacks Dunk had brought, looked up at him, his mouth full. “Dad, Mr. Dunk is nice, huh?”

Joong smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah, he is.”

Kian grinned. “Can we see him again tomorrow?”

Joong’s heart ached at the question, but he didn’t know how to answer. He had spent so long trying to protect Kian from the complexities of his past with Dunk, but the truth was, Kian had a right to know Dunk. And Dunk had a right to be part of his life.

“Sure, buddy. We’ll see him tomorrow,” Joong said, swallowing his uncertainty. It was easier to say yes, easier to pretend everything was fine.

But deep down, Joong knew that nothing would ever be the same again.

As the evening wore on and Kian drifted off to sleep, Joong sat alone in the living room, the weight of everything pressing down on him. Dunk’s presence in their lives was inevitable now, and Joong didn’t know if he was ready for it. But one thing was clear: Kian deserved the chance to have a relationship with his father, no matter how complicated things were between them.

Joong just wasn’t sure how to move forward. But he would have to figure it out—for Kian.