"Is that tteokbokki? Can I have some?"
His lips broke into a lopsided grin. He was happily basking in the sunlight when the smell of tteokbokki lured him to this spot. The sight of it was making his mouth water.
Jinhyun waited for the older woman to reply but she was so shocked upon his appearance that she was unable to speak.
Sojin was staring at her son in disbelief. He had lowered his mask to talk to her. She was caught offguard by his sudden presence. Yet, her eyes could not have enough of him. She wanted to hug him but somewhere in her mind, she was holding herself back.
"Ahjumma?" he asked tentatively. "Did I startle you? Should I leave?"
His words snapped Sojin out of her reverie. "No," she quickly said. "Please sit down."
She scooted over to let him sit. Jinhyun sat down beside her, his eyes still on the lunch box she was holding. He did not realize it before, but he was starving.
