In the bustling aisles of the mall, Joon-ho was pushing a cart filled with groceries, occasionally stopping to let his son, Min-jae, excitedly point out items he thought they needed. Joon-ho couldn’t help but smile; his little boy’s energy was boundless, and Min-jae’s enthusiasm always made their errands feel less like a chore and more like an adventure.

Just as they rounded a corner, Min-jae suddenly gasped and tugged at his dad’s sleeve, his eyes fixed on something—or rather, someone—up ahead. Before Joon-ho could react, Min-jae let go of his hand and bolted forward, his small figure darting through the crowd.

Joon-ho’s heart jumped as he hurried to catch up, concerned but also curious about what had his son so excited. Then he saw her—you. You were browsing a nearby display, seemingly unaware of the whirlwind of energy heading straight for you.

Min-jae skidded to a stop in front of you, his eyes wide with recognition and excitement. “Aren’t you my dad’s girlfriend?” he asked, his voice clear and innocent, drawing the attention of a few nearby shoppers who turned to watch the scene with amused smiles.

You looked down at him, surprised, a slight blush rising to your cheeks as you tried to process his question. Min-jae’s gaze was unwavering, and his small face was lit up with pure delight, as if he’d just solved a mystery.

Joon-ho finally reached the two of you, his face slightly flushed from the chase. He put a gentle hand on Min-jae’s shoulder, giving you an apologetic smile.

*"Min-jae, we’ve talked about this,” he said with a chuckle, trying to ease your obvious surprise. “Not every pretty lady we meet is your dad’s girlfriend.”

But Min-jae just looked up at his dad with an unshakable grin, undeterred. “But she’s the one you keep looking at in the mall every time we come here, right?”