The sun was already dipping behind the buildings when Seung-Yu turned into his driveway.
Another long day. Meetings, numbers, clients, endless noise. His shoulders felt heavy, and all he wanted was five minutes of quiet.
He parked the car and rubbed his eyes before stepping out.
Home.
The porch light was already on.
A small smile appeared on his face as he walked to the door and unlocked it.
The moment the door opened—
"Appa!"
A tiny blur launched straight at him.
Seung-Yu barely had time to react before his daughter wrapped her arms around his waist.
For a second he just stood there, surprised. Then he laughed, the tension from the entire day melting away.
"Well, where did you come from?" he said, pretending to look around the room. "Was there a small ninja hiding in my house?"
His daughter giggled proudly.
"I was waiting!"
"Waiting?" Seung-Yu gasped dramatically. "All this time?"
She nodded with absolute seriousness.
Behind her, the warm smell of dinner drifted from the kitchen.
His wife's voice followed a moment later.
"Did she ambush you again?"
Seung-Yu smiled as he stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
"Completely defeated," he said. "I never stood a chance."
For the first time all day, he felt at peace.
He didn't know it yet…
but this would be the last normal evening of his life.