#single mother | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

i-myeoni-blogs · 27 days

Text

The Warmest Glow

Part 1

Pairing - Non idol Wooyoung x Y/N (Reader)

In the midst of agitated mind and heart, all Wooyoung yearned for was a moment of calm. His eyes, weary from resisting sleep, spoke of restless nights spent searching for serenity. Despite trying various distractions – burying himself in work, seeking comfort in the company of friends and colleagues – he found no pause. It was as though his mind had set standards only one person could meet.

Wooyoung had decided to take a breather from his jam-packed life, filled with five years of relentless civil work. He just wanted some downtime, maybe even a vacation. Where did he go? He made his way to the serene Hyeopjae beach, Jeju Island, hoping to unwind to the sound of crashing waves and feel the breeze on his face.

But, as fate would have it, the serenity he craved was nowhere in sight. The beach was buzzing with activity, umbrellas scattered across the sand, and the air alive with the chatter of tourists. Feeling disheartened but not ready to throw in the towel, he sought refuge in a nearby restaurant, craving not just food but also a break from the prying eyes of strangers.

Yet, even there, he couldn't dodge unwelcome attention. Amidst the clinking of dishes and din of diners, someone had the audacity to point out the small mark beneath his left eye and the mole on his lower lip, a mole he remembered, she always loved to kiss.

Returning to the beach once again he gazed to the horizon, where the sun was painting the sky in breathtaking hues. With his hands in his pockets, he allowed himself to bask in the warmth, reminiscing about a time when moments like these held a different meaning. Before he could retreat to his rented hotel room, his heart urged him to linger a while longer and soak in the orange glow.

But memories of the woman he loved kept flooding back, haunting him at every turn. Each passing moment served as a painful reminder of her, her voice resonating in his mind like a melancholic melody. "I love the sunset glow; it makes you look as sweet as honey." She used to say that to him while tracing her fingers across his face.

But perhaps fate had other plans, for soon enough, a jolt startled him as someone accidentally collided with his feet, leaving behind a small, damp spot. Opening his eyes, he noticed a big stain of blue on his pants near the knee, his expression darkening with a deep frown. Yet, as his gaze shifted, a wave of sensitivity washed over him, softening his features.

"Hey there, little one, where are you headed?" Wooyoung exclaimed as this young girl, maybe 4 or 5 years old, bumped into him, holding onto her ice cream cone for dear life. She seemed apologetic, her blue ice cream melting and smudging Wooyoung's pants with blueberry cream. With a teary-eyed look, she glanced up at him, and that was the last thing Wooyoung needed today.

"I'm sorry, mister, I didn't mean to mess up your pants," the girl said, her voice trembling with guilt.

"It's okay, I'm not upset. It's just a stain, it'll come off," Wooyoung reassured her, gently wiping away her tears with a kindness that came naturally to him. He had always been good with kids, tender and reassuring, capable of making any worry vanish with a single smile. "What's your name?" he asked, holding her tiny hands in his own.

"Grace," the little girl replied, her smile returning at his friendly demeanor.

"What a lovely name. Where are your parents?" Wooyoung inquired softly.

"I chased after the puppy," Grace explained, pointing to the little furry troublemaker nearby. "But he was too fast, and now I can't find my mom," she admitted, her eyes welling up with tears again.

"Don't worry, we'll find your mom," Wooyoung vowed, already determined to help them reunite.

"Grace," a voice called from behind Wooyoung. The girl's face lit up, and she shouted, "Mom!" waving her hands to her mother. As Wooyoung got up slowly to greet the woman, his smile faded, replaced by a rush of emotions he thought he had buried long ago. "How many times have I told you not to run away like that?" It was a voice engraved deep in his memory, the one he yearned to hear whenever he was alone—the voice of the woman he loved.

"Y/N," Wooyoung turned around and whispered her name as she approached, out of breath from her quick chase. Her eyes, mirroring his own, showed confusion, guilt, sadness, and hurt. Grace was Y/N's daughter—a discovery that stirred up a storm of emotions within Wooyoung, reminding him of a past he hadn't fully moved on from.

As Y/n rounded the corner, her heart skipped a beat at the sight of Wooyoung standing there, unexpected and unbidden. She greeted him tentatively, her expression a mix of surprise and uncertainty, even to herself. She hadn't anticipated crossing paths with him after 5 years, especially not while on the hunt for her daughter, and certainly not with her daughter in tow, holding onto his hand.

"Mamma, this handsome uncle is really nice," Grace bubbled with innocent enthusiasm, oblivious to the complexity of the situation. "I messed up his pants but he's not angry."

Y/n managed a nervous smile as Grace happily bounded over to her side, releasing Wooyoung's hand. She glanced at him, seeing the confusion in his eyes, and felt a pang of unease.

"Did you thank him?" Y/n gently prodded Grace, who shook her head before turning to Wooyoung with a cheerful shout of gratitude.

Wooyoung returned the smile, though his eyes betrayed a deeper turmoil. Despite his outward calm, he couldn't shake the sting of seeing Y/n with a child, a visible reminder of her life moving forward without him, probably with the person he dreaded. It was a bitter pill to swallow, especially considering he was the one who had initiated their breakup.

The memory of their parting flickered in his mind; a small misunderstanding that had snowballed into something larger. A mix of his own insecurities and infidelity. And yet, seeing her now, with a child in tow, stirred up a mix of conflicting emotions within him.

He couldn't deny the twinge of jealousy that gnawed at him, nor could he shake the regret that tinged his thoughts. All those years of loving her, only to realize too late that he had let her slip through his fingers.

In the quiet, Wooyoung broke the tension with a simple phrase: "It's been a while," he said, and y/n nodded in acknowledgment. Grace, observing the exchange, jumped in with curiosity, "You both know each other?"

Y/n hesitated for a moment before replying, "Uhm... he's a friend," giving Wooyoung a quick glance. His response, barely above a whisper, carried a hint of pain, "Friend... yeah."

Sensing the discomfort, y/n offered, pointing to the ice cream stain on Wooyoung's pants, "Uh... if you don't mind, I could wash those off or they'll stain bad, blueberry stains are wild, I must say." Despite his initial urge to refuse, Wooyoung found himself unable to resist when y/n added, "Please." He couldn't forget the weight of that word; it was the one thing he regretted not heeding when they parted ways.

"Sure," Wooyoung agreed, moving to stand beside y/n. As they walked, they engaged in small talk, learning snippets about each other's lives. Y/n revealed that she lived nearby in Jeju and now crafted children's storybooks, having ditched her previous gig in article writing—a job that always brought back memories of their past collaboration. But she left out that particular detail. Wooyoung told her that he lives in Seoul, and was promoted as general commissioner.

"We're here," y/n announced, marking a subtle yet significant milestone in their unexpected reunion. Grace dashed inside the moment Y/N unlocked the door, earning giggles from both Y/N and Wooyoung. "Slow down, Grace," Y/N called after her cheerful daughter.

"I really need to pee, Mama," Grace announced, making a beeline for the stairs to her room.

Wooyoung nervously slipped off his shoes and entered the house. It was a sleek, modern design, spacious enough to house ten people comfortably. The floors gleamed with white tiles, and large glass doors separated the interior from the outside veranda. With its contemporary decor and furnishings, Wooyoung couldn't help but marvel. "You can change in that room; I'll get you something to wear," Y/N offered, gesturing towards a door.

Wooyoung nodded and made his way to the room Y/N indicated. It resembled Y/N's room, with its neatly arranged shelves filled with books, purple curtains, and lavender sheets adorning the bed. It struck him as odd how well he still remembered Y/N's tastes, but the room seemed less lived-in. Perhaps it was Y/N and her husband's room. He thought he'd spot some pics of Y/N with her hubby around, but there wasn't a single photo frame in the room. Wooyoung mused, as he headed to the bathroom to discard his stained pants.

A while later, Y/N returned to the room with a set of clothes. She knocked gently, but there was no response. "I'm leaving the clothes on the bed," she announced, turning to leave. However, just as she was about to exit, the bathroom door swung open. Wooyoung, oblivious to Y/N's presence due to the running tap, emerged with a towel wrapped around his waist.

Y/N quickly averted her gaze and apologized, preparing to leave the room. But Wooyoung's next question stopped her in her tracks. "You still have this," he remarked, pointing at the clothing laid out on the bed. Y/N felt a nervous knot form in her stomach as she realized they were Wooyoung's clothes, a relic from their dating days. Wooyoung's surprise was evident; why would she still hold onto these, now that she was married with a child, he wondered.

“I didn’t get time to sort the clothes.” Y/N reasoned refusing to turn around completely, she saw Wooyoung discarding his stained pants on the ottoman that was near the bed.

“You didn’t get time in five years?” Wooyoung questioned.

“You should change.” Y/N quickly picked up the clothes from the ottoman still refusing to meet wooyoung’s gaze. “I’ll check on Grace.” She said and bolted out of the room. It’s been five years, after five years she met Wooyoung but the effect he had on her was still the same. He seemed a bit different though, a lot mature and quiet which was unusual of him. He was always giddy and clingy as far as she had known him.

Y/N tossed the stained pants into the washer and peeked in on Grace, who was swapping her regular clothes for comfy sleepwear. "Hey, baby, could you set the tables? I'll be right there," Y/N instructed, to which Grace nodded enthusiastically before darting off to the dining area. Y/N couldn't help but wonder how Grace would react to the situation unfolding.

"But seriously, why did I even invite him over?" Y/N muttered to herself, silently cursing the decision. With the washer set for a quick 15-minute cycle, Y/N stepped outside only to bump into Wooyoung, decked out in his old clothes. He still looked as fantastic as he did five years ago, maybe even more so, with those clothes fitting snugly over his now more muscular frame.

"Still fits, huh?" Y/N remarked nervously, feeling a bit self-conscious.

"Yeah, a bit snug, but I can manage," Wooyoung replied with a grin. Then, he shifted the conversation, asking about Grace's father and if he lived there. Y/N hesitated, avoiding eye contact, and before Wooyoung could finish, Grace's voice echoed from downstairs.

"Mama, tables are set!" Grace called out, saving Y/N from an awkward moment.

"Coming, sweetheart!" Y/N shouted back in relief, silently thanking Grace for the timely interruption. "Well, let's head in. Food's ready, and your clothes should be done soon," Y/N suggested, earning a nod of agreement from Wooyoung as they made their way to the dining area.

Y/N dashed into the kitchen and got to work warming up the food she'd whipped up earlier that morning. Wooyoung plopped down onto one of the dining chairs, and Grace settled in beside him, giving him the once-over with her eyes. Wooyoung caught on to the little girl's close examination and quipped, "What's up, kiddo? Do I look weird or something?" Grace just narrowed her eyes and shook her head. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Y/N gripped her fingers tightly, aware that something big was about to go down.

"It suits you perfectly," Grace declared. Y/N's heart raced as she listened in from the kitchen, her nerves going into overdrive.

"Yeah? You think so?" Wooyoung teased, tousling Grace's hair.

"Yep, it's my dad's clothes," Grace casually revealed.

And then it hit like a ton of bricks. Y/N knew she couldn't dodge this conversation any longer, especially not after Grace dropped that bombshell. She totally saw it coming when she handed him those clothes, she'd been hoarding for five years. Maybe she was just itching to have that chat with him.

With the food now warm and ready, she pulled it out of the oven, the only sound echoing in the kitchen being the click of the oven door. But why was there no chatter coming from the living room? Y/N didn't realize that Wooyoung was staring at Grace, his eyes and mouth wide open in shock at her revelation.

Y/N took a deep breath, grabbed the warm food, and strolled out of the kitchen into the living room, deliberately avoiding eye contact with both Grace and Wooyoung. Pasta in hand, she placed it on the table, then went on to divvy it up onto the three plates Grace had set out. Grace was in full chatter mode, boasting about her dad to Wooyoung: "My father's a cop," "He's always busy," "He lives in Seoul." Y/N sensed Wooyoung's gaze, but she kept her focus on the task at hand.

"What's he like, huh? Bet he's not as handsome as me," Wooyoung quipped. Y/N had finished serving and was now seated across from Grace, clutching her fork tightly as Wooyoung's words hit her. She didn't dare lift her eyes to meet his, sensing the invisible daggers being thrown her way.

"I dunno. I've never actually seen him. But mom talks about him all the time, though," Grace answered.

"Grace, eat up. Plenty of time to chat later," Y/N commanded sternly, still avoiding eye contact with either of them.

"So, Mom's always chatting about him, huh?" Wooyoung prodded, spearing his pasta with his fork. "Why isn't he here with you guys?"

"Mom says we had to leave, never said why? But she also mentioned..." Grace began, only to be cut off by Y/N's sharper tone.

"Grace, focus on your food first," Y/N said, her voice carrying a hint of frustration that startled the little girl into obedience

"Don't scold her," Wooyoung intervened.

"For now, Wooyoung, please! We can talk about it later," Y/N's voice cracked slightly as she lifted her head, her eyes welling up with tears. Wooyoung felt a twinge of pain but remained silent, clenching his jaw and diverting his gaze.

All three of them sat there, munching away in total silence. The only interruption was the gentle hum of the washer calling it quits after its 15-minute cycle. Grace, being the first to finish, plopped her plate by the sink, admitting defeat in her battle to reach it. She scampered back to the living room, snuggling up next to Wooyoung with a grin plastered on her face.

"You know, my birthday's coming up. I'll turn 5 next month," she chirped.

"Really? When's the big day?" Wooyoung's voice wavered a bit, and Y/N could sense his struggle to keep it together. She knew he was hurting, loaded with questions he wanted to hurl her way. All that, she knew when she invited him over. Maybe that's what she was gearing up for all along—to spill the beans about Grace being his daughter. But how sure was she? Not so much.

"It's on the 28th of October," she replied.

Wooyoung managed a smile through the turmoil inside him. He couldn't quite pinpoint which feeling was winning out. Was it sorrow for all those missed years not knowing he had a daughter? Or was it joy in finally discovering he had one? Questions swirled in his head; each one directed at Y/N. But how could he broach them? After all, he was the one who ended things, who pushed her away.

Right now, all he wanted was to offer a silent thank-you to whatever celestial being might be listening. Thankful for this moment with Y/N. Back when he craved nothing but peace, now all he craved was answers.

Y/N and Wooyoung finished their meals, wrapping up dinner together. After clearing the dishes, Y/N turned to Grace, coaxing her to head to bed, which she reluctantly agreed to after some playful resistance. Grace insisted she had just met Wooyoung who she called "Mr. Handsome" and was eager to chat or play with him. Meanwhile, Wooyoung settled comfortably on the couch.

As Y/N stood up, she mentioned casually, "I'll grab your clothes from the washer, they should be dry by now." Returning moments later with a carry bag, she placed it on the table. "Your laundry's all set," Y/N informed him, then added, "Want some coffee? I'm brewing a pot for myself."

"Yeah, sure," Wooyoung whispered, feeling a bit uncertain about how to kick off the conversation, but knowing he had to confirm what he suspected. Y/N slipped back into the kitchen to brew some coffee for the both of them. Time seemed to hang in the balance as they both grappled with their curiosity.

Wooyoung's restless leg bouncing up and down and Y/N's rhythmic tapping on the kitchen counter spoke volumes. Before long, the coffee was ready. Taking a deep breath, Y/N gathered both cups, bracing herself for Wooyoung's inquiries. The steam from the mugs mingled in the air, and Y/N silently thanked her lucky stars that Grace was sound asleep.

Y/N could sense Wooyoung's eagerness to speak by the way his leg continued its restless dance and his face flushed with anticipation. "You can ask anything, Wooyoung," she said, her tone gentle yet encouraging. Without hesitation, Wooyoung posed his first question.

"Is she...?" Wooyoung didn't finish the sentence, instead gesturing toward the door upstairs. Y/N understood what he meant, and with a small voice, she confirmed, "Yes, she's your daughter," nodding in affirmation.

A frustrated sigh escaped Wooyoung's lips, his mind swirling with countless questions. The foremost among them: why had Y/N kept this from him? Y/N knew that if she waited for Wooyoung to unravel this tangled web of inquiries, it would take days to clear things up.

"I didn't keep it from you, Woo," she said, using the nickname she used to call him. It was surprising for him to hear that nickname again after five years, but it warmed his heart, making him feel loved after all this time. Sure, he had gone on some blind dates, but nothing felt right, and he had been searching for Y/N all along.

"I found out when I was already three months into my pregnancy after we broke up," Y/N explained, leaning forward from her spot on the recliner beside the couch, resting her elbows on her knees. "I tried to reach out to you. I even tried to go to your place, but you had moved out and didn't want to have anything to do with me."

A sob escaped Wooyoung's lips as tears welled up in his eyes, listening to Y/N recounting the whole story. He felt even more remorseful because Y/N was speaking so casually about it.

"I really tried, Woo. Before I moved to Jeju, I really tried," Y/N confessed, lifting her gaze to meet Wooyoung's glossy eyes, which mirrored her own tears.

"You're still calling me Woo!" Wooyoung chuckled sadly, memories of why he and Y/N broke up flooding back. He had thought she didn't love him anymore, that she was just with him for his power because he was a top-notch cop in Incheon. Everyone around him kept feeding him that idea, saying a catch like Y/N would only be interested in his status.

And then there were those damn rumors about Y/N and Mingi, another cop from their branch, supposedly being together. It all made him feel so insecure, pushing him to become overly possessive and toxic, eventually leading to their split.

"You'll always be my Woo," Y/N whispered, her voice trembling with emotion, trying to hold back her tears.

"Why? You should be furious with me, punish me, yell at me, leave me." Wooyoung started to ramble, his emotions spilling out. "No, wait, be mad, slap me if you have to, but please, don't leave me again. And don't take Grace away from me. I want to be a part of your life, her life." His voice cracked as tears streamed down his face, dropping to his knees in front of Y/N, clutching her hands in desperation.

"I would never do that, Wooyoung. Grace is your daughter, you have every right to be in her life," Y/N said calmly, gently helping him back up onto the couch. "But we’ll take it slow okay.” Wooyoung nodded.

“It's late now. You should head back to your hotel. We'll talk more later." Wooyoung opened his mouth to protest, but Y/N cut him off gently. "And you can see her tomorrow, alright? I'm saving your number and mine in each other's phones. Just relax."

Wooyoung finally had what he needed to head back to his rented place with some peace of mind: Y/N's contact number. He was eagerly awaiting the night to come to an end. Now that he had found Y/N and discovered he had a daughter, all he could think about was being with them. He found himself shedding tears, cursing his luck for missing out on those precious five years.

He should've been there with Y/N and his daughter. He missed Grace's birth, her first step, her first word. He wasn't there to witness Y/N's pregnancy, to see her with that big baby bump. He wasn't there to support her through the toughest times, and the guilt weighed heavily on him. What made it worse was that Y/N seemed so calm about it all. She didn't show any anger or disgust. But why? That question kept swirling in his mind as he drifted off to sleep, pondering possible answers.

Part 2

10 notes · View notes