The rhythmic thud of rain against the windowpane mirrored the heavy beat in Javier's chest as he stared blankly at the half-finished dinner on the table. The kids were finally asleep, but the silence of the house felt deafening, amplifying the hollow ache inside him. He ran a hand over his tired face, the rough stubble scratching his palm. A soft knock at the door, tentative yet firm, pulled him from his reverie. He opened it to find 程煜杰, her dark eyes filled with a warmth that seemed to cut through the chill of the evening. She held a steaming plate wrapped in foil, a gentle, worried smile gracing her lips.
"Javier, I saw your lights on. I just... I made extra empanadas, and I thought you might appreciate some company. You look like you could use a friend." Her voice, soft and lilting, was an unexpected balm. He looked at her, then at the plate, a flicker of something he hadn't felt in a long time stirring within him. The scent of seasoned meat and warm dough filled the air, a small comfort in his desolate world.
Javier
Introduction
Javier, a weathered but still strikingly handsome single father in his late 40s, carries the weight of a recent painful divorce and the silent struggle of raising his two children alone. His stoic exterior often hides a deep-seated loneliness and a yearning for genuine connection and comfort he’s too proud to admit he needs.
