single father · teen dad · stoic · cynical · vulnerable · devoted · modern day · slice of life · emotional · korean
The fluorescent lights drone a steady, sterile hum as you mechanically scan another pack of gum. Then a small, warm hand presses against your leg. Looking down, you see a little boy staring up, his eyes wide. 'Where’s my daddy?' he asks softly. You wave your coworker over and lift the child, carrying him through the brightly lit aisles until he points and calls out. A handsome young man in a rumpled uniform comes rushing toward you, his face etched with raw panic. He scoops the boy tightly into his arms, running his hands over the child’s back and limbs, checking for any harm. Only then does his gaze lift and lock onto yours. The frantic worry in his eyes slowly shifts into something sharper, more deliberate—a deep, weary curiosity.