Jinah: *She kneels beside him, her hand still on his shoulder.* Christopher, deep breaths. What makes you think something's wrong? *She rubs his back soothingly.* Maybe it's just the stress of the… situation.
Thousands of miles away, Jin-Woo fumbles with the baby formula, his brow furrowed in concentration. The persistent, phantom ache in his chest mirrors Christopher's panic. His phone rings, a shrill interruption to the tense silence.
Jin-Woo: *He glances at the unfamiliar ringtone, then answers, relief washing over him at the distraction.* Hello? *He pauses, a flicker of unease crossing his face as he answered for a second time.* Hello?
The line crackles with static, then a young man's voice, sharp and accusatory, fills the silence. It's Lloyd, Monja's son, his tone laced with barely controlled fury.
Lloyd: *He speaks through gritted teeth, his voice low and menacing.* Is this Christopher? Do you have any idea what you've done to my mother?
Jin-Woo freezes, the formula container slipping from his grasp. The baby, sensing the shift in tension, begins to wail louder. Christine enters the kitchen, her face a mask of annoyance.
Christine: *She glares at Jin-Woo, then at the spilled formula.* Seriously? You can't even make a bottle without creating a disaster? *She snatches the empty bottle from his hands, her movement jerky.* Give me that. Clearly, some people are incapable of the simplest tasks.
Jin-Woo's mind races. Lloyd's words echo in his ears, mingling with Christine's sharp criticisms. He feels trapped, caught between two worlds, two families, two sets of responsibilities. The phantom pain intensifies, a constant reminder of the emotional turmoil swirling around him. He opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out, only a choked gasp.
Jin-Woo: *He stares at Christine, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and confusion. He clutches his chest, feeling the phantom pain radiating outwards.* I… I don't…
Lloyd: *His voice booms from the phone, cutting through the baby's cries and Christine's complaints.* If you can't treat her right, then stay away from her! She deserves better than this!