Lexie never thought the sound of footsteps in an arrival hall would feel so loud, so grounding. The kind that echoed inside her chest more than around the airport. With one hand gripping the handle of her suitcase and the other wrapped around Ethan's smaller fingers, she stepped past the immigration gate with a breath that was half relief, half anticipation.
Matthew spotted them instantly. His tall frame weaved through the crowd with practiced ease, his face breaking into a grin as soon as he caught sight of them.
"Mattie Samchon!" Ethan squealed, his voice lifting above the low hum of arrivals.
He let go of Lexie's hand and ran straight into Matthew's arms, launching himself into a hug that nearly toppled the man backward.
"You got heavier," Matthew laughed, hugging him tightly. "What did they feed you in Vancouver? Rice or rocks?"
Ethan giggled, nuzzling into his godfather's neck. "Mama made pancakes! With bananas! And Samchon, guess what—I rode a plane again! I sat by the window!"
Lexie smiled as she approached, tugging the suitcase behind her. "He didn't even nap. Too excited. He wanted to see if Korea still looked the same from the sky."
Matthew gave her a quick once-over. "And you? You okay?"
She nodded, though there was a quiet tension still clinging to her shoulders. "I'm home."
* * *
That evening, her apartment was filled with the soft chaos of unpacking. Boxes that had been delivered ahead of time waited in corners, suitcases lay half-opened, and the dining table was a mix of half-eaten delivery food and storybooks. Ethan had taken a liking to every room, skipping between his new bed, the living room with the TV, and the balcony where he could see a sliver of Namsan Tower.
Lexie sat cross-legged on the floor, folding Ethan's little shirts into neat piles, when her phone buzzed with a message.
Matthew Lee💙👬
Can I come by for a bit?
Her heart skipped.
Not from fear, but from the heavy weight of all the questions she had buried since she left Vancouver.
Would Ethan like him? Would Mark know how to talk to a child? Would this moment—this quiet collision of her two worlds—go the way she hoped?
L:EXIE
Sure.
Just let me know when you're outside.
She set the phone down slowly, exhaling as she stared at the shirt in her lap without really seeing it.
* * *
It was nearly 8 p.m. when the doorbell rang.
Ethan was already bouncing in place. "Is that Mattie Samchon again?"
"No, sweetheart," Lexie said, trying to keep her voice calm. "It's Mattie Samchon's younger brother."
He cocked his head. "Another samchon?"
"Sort of."
She opened the door, and Mark stood there—taller than she remembered, though it had only been days. His hair was damp like he'd showered before coming over, a nervous energy lingering behind his usual calm.
"Hey," he said, offering a small smile.
Lexie stepped aside. "Come in."
The moment Mark entered, Ethan clung to her leg, peeking out from behind like a shy kitten. His eyes were curious but cautious.
Mark crouched down to eye level without hesitation. "Hey, little man. I'm Mark Samchon"
Ethan blinked. "Are you… a singer?"
Mark grinned. "Sometimes."
Ethan studied him a little more, then glanced at his mother. "He talks like in the radio."
Lexie laughed softly. "That's because you've probably heard his songs, love."
Mark slowly offered his hand. "Can I get a high five?"
It took a second, but Ethan stepped forward and slapped a small palm against his.
"Whoa! That was powerful. You've been working out?"
Ethan giggled again, more at ease now. "I lift Mommy's backpack sometimes."
"That explains everything."
Lexie watched the exchange quietly, her chest loosening with each second that passed. They were okay. More than okay. Something about Mark's patience—the ease in his tone, the way he didn't push, didn't rush—told her that this wasn't going to be a disaster.
"Can I show you my toy box?" Ethan asked.
Mark raised an eyebrow. "Only if I get to see the coolest toy."
With that, the four-year-old grabbed Mark's hand and dragged him toward the living room.
Lexie didn't move, just watched the scene unfold like it wasn't her life.
Because for the longest time, she couldn't imagine it ever would be.
* * *
Later that night, after Ethan had fallen asleep mid-sentence on the couch beside Mark, she returned from the kitchen with a cup of warm barley tea. Mark carefully shifted Ethan's small body into her arms as she carried him to his bed.
The boy barely stirred.
When she returned, Mark was sitting on the edge of the couch, fingers loosely laced together.
"I was nervous," he admitted.
She blinked. "You?"
"I've never had to introduce myself to a four-year-old before. Especially one that is important."
Lexie smiled, settling beside him with her tea. "You did okay."
He turned slightly to face her. "Is this real now?"
She nodded. "As real as it gets."
They sat in silence for a while, the city lights washing through the curtains. It was a quiet kind of comfort—the kind you didn't have to explain.
"Thank you," she said softly. "For showing up."
Mark's gaze didn't waver. "I'm not going anywhere this time."
And just like that, the pieces of her life that had once felt so scattered… began to fall into place.
~~ 끝 ~~