Chapter 3

The golden afternoon sunlight streamed through the tall windows, illuminating the spacious playroom where Taehyung sat cross-legged on the soft carpet. A small tower of colorful blocks stood precariously in the middle, courtesy of Minho, who was now placing another block on top with the utmost care. His tongue poked out slightly as he concentrated, his small hands trembling with the effort.

Taehyung watched him, a faint smile tugging at his lips. There was something heartwarming about seeing the boy so engrossed, his world seemingly reduced to this simple yet monumental task.

“You’re doing great, Minho,” Taehyung encouraged, his voice soft yet enthusiastic.

Minho glanced up, his bright eyes lighting up at the praise. “You think so?”

“Absolutely. That tower could probably hold a dragon!” Taehyung teased, leaning forward to inspect it.

Minho giggled, the sound ringing like a tiny bell. “Dragons don’t exist, silly!”

“Are you sure about that?” Taehyung feigned surprise, raising an eyebrow. “I heard they hide in castles like this one, waiting for brave knights to find them.”

Minho clapped his hands together, delighted by the idea. “Then I’m a knight! I’ll protect the castle!”

The two dissolved into laughter, their voices filling the otherwise silent house. For a moment, Taehyung forgot the weight of his own struggles. There was a rare joy in Minho’s company, a pure and untainted happiness that felt almost foreign to him.

When the tower finally toppled, Minho let out a dramatic gasp, then collapsed into giggles again. Taehyung joined him, the sound of their laughter spilling out into the hallway.

After the playroom adventures, Taehyung decided it was time for a change of scenery. “Let’s go to the garden,” he suggested, picking up Minho’s sketchpad and crayons.

The little boy eagerly agreed, grabbing his hat and bouncing on his toes. The garden was a sprawling space filled with neatly trimmed hedges, vibrant flowers, and a large oak tree that cast a cool shadow over one corner. Taehyung spread out a blanket under the tree, and the two settled in with snacks that Mrs. Lee had prepared.

Minho hummed softly as he began drawing, his tiny fingers gripping the crayons with determination. Taehyung leaned back against the tree trunk, watching him with quiet admiration.

“You’re really good at drawing, Minho,” Taehyung said after a while, genuinely impressed by the boy’s colorful masterpiece.

“Thank you!” Minho replied, not looking up as he carefully added a sun to his picture.

They sat in companionable silence for a while, the rustling of leaves and distant chirping of birds providing a soothing backdrop. But Taehyung’s curiosity eventually got the better of him.

“Minho,” he began cautiously, “can I ask you something?”

The boy looked up, tilting his head curiously. “Okay.”

“What about your dad? Does he spend time with you?” Taehyung asked gently, unsure of how the question might land.

Minho’s expression shifted slightly. His shoulders slumped, and his eyes lost some of their sparkle. “Daddy’s always busy,” he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “He doesn’t come home much.”

Taehyung felt a pang of sympathy. “Oh... but when he does come home, do you play with him?”

Minho shook his head, his movements slow and deliberate. “No. Daddy’s very strict. He says I can’t go into his room or his study. And when he’s here, he’s always working.”

Taehyung’s heart ached for the boy. He couldn’t imagine growing up with such a distant parent. “Do you miss him?” he asked, his voice kind and steady.

Minho nodded, his gaze dropping to the ground. “Sometimes. But...” He hesitated, his small hands gripping the sketchpad tightly. “But I don’t have Mommy, so it’s just me most of the time.”

The mention of Minho’s mother made Taehyung pause. He remembered Mrs. Lee’s warning when he first arrived: “Do not ask Minho about his mother. It’s not your place to bring it up.”

Taehyung swallowed his questions, choosing instead to focus on comforting Minho. He reached out and gently patted the boy’s head, ruffling his soft hair. “Well, you have me now, and we’re going to have so much fun together, okay?”

“Okay!” Minho said, a small smile returning to his face.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of activity. They played hide-and-seek among the hedges, laughed over silly stories, and even tried to catch butterflies with their hands. By the time the sun began to set, Minho was yawning, his energy finally spent.

Taehyung carried him back inside, the boy’s head resting on his shoulder. He tucked Minho into bed, pulling the covers up to his chin and pressing a light kiss to his forehead. “Goodnight, Minho,” he whispered.

“Goodnight, Taehyung,” the boy murmured, already half-asleep.

Once Minho was settled, Taehyung retreated to his own room. He sat by the window, staring out at the darkening sky. The conversation with Minho lingered in his mind, filling him with a mix of emotions.

Who was this man that Minho called “Daddy”? Why was he so distant from his son? And why was Minho’s mother such a forbidden topic?

Taehyung leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. He had come here for a fresh start, but it seemed this household was shrouded in mysteries—mysteries that he was slowly becoming entangled in.

As the stars appeared one by one, Taehyung made a silent promise to himself: no matter what secrets this family held, he would do his best to make Minho feel loved and cared for. Because even in the shadows of this strange new world, he believed there was room for light.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***