Jeon J had barely finished reading the first few words when Mr Donghyun quietly took over.
His voice was calm.
Steady.
Almost as if he had been waiting for this moment.
He recited the entire prayer from beginning to end.
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِهِ وَاغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وَاجْعَلِ الإِيمَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ نُورًا وَهُدًى
Allāhumma ihdihi waghfir lahu warḥamhu waj'alil-īmāna fī qalbihi nūran wa hudā.
Jeon J slowly lifted his eyes.
For a few seconds, he simply stared at him.
That suspicion...
The one that had followed him ever since he had first heard those words.
The one that had quietly pushed him away from people, into silence, into long nights spent wondering why the same unfamiliar line kept appearing in his dreams.
It hadn't been nothing.
Mr Donghyun knew something.
He had known from the beginning.
That was why Jeon J had finally come.
That was why, after months of keeping everyone at a distance, he had asked Jea to arrange this meeting.
Tonight, they sat in a quiet private dining area of the White Bowl Kitchen restaurant, away from the main hall.
Ji-ho had welcomed them himself.
The restaurant was unusually quiet tonight, so after greeting them, he had excused himself to take care of a few things.
But before leaving, Jeon J's eyes had caught something.
The bracelet around Ji-ho's wrist.
It was still there.
The same bracelet.
The same little MJ charm resting against his wrist, still carrying the faint shine it had always had.
Jeon J had looked at it for a moment.
"Nice bracelet."
Ji-ho had followed his gaze.
A small smile appeared on his face.
He touched the little MJ charm gently with his fingertips.
"Some things are very special."
Something had shifted inside Jeon J.
He had looked at Ji-ho.
But there had been no warmth in his eyes.
Only a quiet mixture of hurt and jealousy that he himself didn't fully understand.
Ji-ho had eventually excused himself, promising to send them coffee.
Even he had seemed slightly surprised.
Their previous meetings had been cold.
Awkward.
Almost painfully formal.
But today, Jeon J had neither the sharpness nor the hostility he'd shown before.
There was simply something tired about him.
Mr Donghyun had noticed.
He had noticed everything.
So he hadn't rushed him.
He had simply sat there and waited.
After several moments of silence, Jeon J slowly ran his fingers over the water bottle in front of him.
"You must be wondering why I asked you to meet me."
Mr Donghyun smiled.
"I was a little surprised."
He leaned back comfortably.
"But then I thought perhaps our son had developed a sudden appreciation for his old man's coffee."
A teasing warmth entered his voice.
"Although this isn't the best way to get it."
Jeon J finally smiled.
A small laugh escaped him.
Mr Donghyun continued,
"You could have simply come to the mosque."
"I might have made it for you myself."
Then he gave him a playful look.
"Now you'll have to drink Ji-ho's coffee."
"And believe me..."
"He makes good coffee."
A faint smile remained on Jeon J's face.
"But not as good as mine."
Jeon J looked at him.
For the first time that evening, the heaviness in his expression loosened slightly.
Then Mr Donghyun's smile softened.
"You look tired."
Jeon J's fingers stopped moving.
"You have a peaceful expression," Jeon J said quietly.
Mr Donghyun looked at him, smiled and said.
"Everyone has their struggles."
He paused.
"Some days are easier than others."
Jeon J stared at him.
"Then how do you stay so calm?"
Mr Donghyun's expression became thoughtful.
"My son..."
"No one's life is perfect."
"Restlessness is part of being tested."
He rested his hands on the table.
"What matters is what we do with it."
"Some people shout until everyone around them knows they're hurting."
"Others become quiet and ask Allah for peace."
Jeon J listened.
He understood the words.
Or perhaps he understood them enough to know that they were leading him somewhere.
He wasn't sure.
Maybe he had come here looking for the answer to one question.
Or maybe there was something much bigger hiding underneath it.
He looked down at the bottle again.
Then—
He read the words.
Only the beginning.
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِهِ...
He hadn't even reached the next part when Mr Donghyun's voice filled the quiet room.
He recited the entire prayer.
And now Jeon J knew.
The words were real.
They weren't something his dreams had invented.
They weren't meaningless sounds his sleeping mind had somehow memorised.
Jeon J stared at Mr Donghyun.
"What does it mean?"
Mr Donghyun held his gaze.
"It means..."
His voice became quiet.
"O Allah, guide him, forgive him, have mercy on him, and place in his heart the light and guidance of faith."
Jeon J didn't move.
The words seemed to settle over him one by one.
Guide him.
Forgive him.
Have mercy on him.
Light.
Guidance.
Faith.
His fingers slowly slipped away from the bottle.
"But..."
His voice was barely audible.
What do you mean? Jeon J asked.
"My son…"
Mr Donghyun's voice softened.
"This is an Arabic prayer—one that has been asked for someone with a great deal of sincerity."
Jeon J stared at him.
A flicker of disbelief crossed his face.
"But…"
His voice faltered.
"Why would this prayer be in my dreams?"
Mr Donghyun held his gaze for a moment.
"Perhaps someone has been praying it for you."
A pause.
"Perhaps they have been praying it for you for a long time."
Jeon J's fingers slowly loosened from the water bottle.
Then stopped.
The warmth seemed to leave his hands all at once.
He let go of the bottle.
His fingers curled into tight fists beneath the table, as if he could somehow hold on to the last bit of composure slipping through them.
His eyes remained fixed on Mr Donghyun.
For the first time that evening...
he looked less like a grown man searching for an answer—
and more like a child who had just been told something he wasn't prepared to hear.
"Why would anyone pray this for me?"
Mr Donghyun remained silent.
Jeon J looked at him again.
His eyes were no longer merely curious.
They were searching.
"Why?"
Mr Donghyun watched him carefully.
And suddenly, another moment came back to him.
A much older conversation.
She was sitting quietly in front of him.
Her hands folded together.
Her eyes lowered.
He remembered asking her the same thing.
Why are you asking Allah to guide him when guidance is Allah's work?
And the answer had come quietly.
Zoya lifted her tear-filled eyes toward Mr Donghyun.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then, quietly, she spoke.
"Allah says in the Qur'an…"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ"
"And your Lord has said, 'Call upon Me; I will respond to you.'"
— Surah Ghafir, 40:60
Zoya lowered her gaze again.
"That is why…"
She took a slow breath.
"I am only doing my part."
Her fingers tightened gently in her lap.
"If I ask with sincerity…"
A faint, almost hopeful smile touched her lips.
"And if I keep doing what I can…"
She looked back at him.
"Then perhaps Allah will reward that effort too."
Her voice softened.
"And maybe…"
She paused.
"Maybe, as part of that reward…"
Her eyes lowered once more.
"He will say 'Kun''—'Be'—and turn this prayer into something real." to this prayer too.
Mr Donghyun remembered smiling that day.
Because the answer had been exactly what he expected.
Not because it was clever.
Because it was sincere.
He returned to the present.
Jeon J was still waiting.
"My son..."
He spoke gently.
"Maybe they never believed they could guide you."
Jeon J looked at him.
"They only believed they could ask."
A long pause.
"And sometimes..."
Mr Donghyun continued,
"When someone matters to you, asking is the only thing you can do."
Jeon J looked away.
His eyes had become strangely empty.
Then Mr Donghyun remembered another question.
One he had asked long ago.
But why him?
The answer had come after a long silence.
Because I want him to know.
Not because she wanted to make him hers.
Not because she wanted to force anything upon him.
She simply wanted him to know the One who had created him.
Mr Donghyun looked at Jeon J.
"You know..."
He paused.
"Someone once told me that they didn't want to decide another person's path."
Jeon J looked back at him.
"They only wanted to pray that he would find the right one."
Something flickered in Jeon J's eyes.
Mr Donghyun continued,
"And perhaps that is the most honest kind of prayer."
He glanced toward the window.
"To ask for something you want..."
"Then still leave the answer with Allah."
Jeon J lowered his head.
He couldn't answer.
At that moment, the waiter quietly entered and placed one cup of coffee on the table.
"Your coffee, sir."
Neither of them moved.
The waiter hesitated for a second, then quietly left.
Jeon J's eyes remained fixed on the untouched cup.
After several moments, he finally spoke.
Jeon J kept his eyes on Mr Donghyun.
"I've heard these words before…"
His voice was quiet.
"Not in a dream."
A pause.
"I heard them from someone in real life."
Mr Donghyun looked at him.
There was no point denying it anymore.
Not when he already knew.
Not when the answer was sitting quietly between them.
So Mr Donghyun simply smiled…
and nodded.
Once.
That single movement was enough.
Jeon J didn't ask again.
He didn't need to.
For the first time, an answer passed between them without either man having to put it into words.
And then—
silence.
A long, heavy silence settled over the table.
Jeon J slowly lifted his eyes.
There was something different in them now.
Something that hadn't been there when he walked through the door.
His lips parted.
And for the first time—
he said her name.
"Zoya?"
Just one word.
But somehow, it changed everything.
Until now, she had always been her.
A person he avoided naming.
A name he kept at a distance.
But tonight, for the first time, Zoya had crossed his lips.
Mr Donghyun looked at him.
He didn't answer with words.
He simply nodded.
Once again.
Yes.
That was all Jeon J needed.
No explanation.
No confirmation spoken aloud.
The truth had already found its way to him.
The untouched cup of coffee sat between them, forgotten.
Then—
click.
The sound of the door opening broke the silence.
Both men turned toward it.
The door opened quietly.
Ji-ho stepped inside, and the warmth in his expression immediately softened the quiet atmosphere around the table.
He looked at Mr Donghyun first, then at Jeon J.
"아빠, 하나 여쭤보고 싶은 게 있어요."
Appa, hana yeojjwobogo sipeun ge isseoyo.Dad, I wanted to ask you something.
Mr Donghyun smiled.
"그래. 말해 봐."
Geurae. Malhae bwa.Of course. Go ahead.
Ji-ho pulled out the chair beside the table but remained standing.
"오늘 와 주셔서 다행이에요. 아직 시간이 좀 남았으니까, 이프타르도 같이 하고 가세요."
Oneul wa jusyeoseo dahaeng-ieyo. Ajik sigani jom namasseunikka, ipeutareudo gachi hago gaseyo.I'm glad you came today. There's still some time, so stay and have iftar with us.
Then his expression became slightly more thoughtful.
"그리고 내일 이프타르는 어떻게 할지 여쭤보고 싶었어요."
Geurigo naeil ipeutareuneun eotteoke halji yeojjwobogo sipeosseoyo.And I wanted to ask what you think we should do about tomorrow's iftar.
Mr Donghyun nodded slowly.
"오늘이 라마단 열여덟 번째 날이지?"
Oneuri ramadan yeolyeodeol beonjjae naliji?Today is the eighteenth day of Ramadan, right?
"네."
Ne.Yes.
Mr Donghyun glanced toward the window.
"그럼 내일 이프타르를 하는 게 좋겠구나. 월요일이기도 하고, 화요일부터는 조금 바빠질 거야. 수요일쯤이면 이티카프에 들어가는 사람들도 많아질 테고."
Geureom naeil ipeutareureul haneun ge johgetguna. Woryoirigido hago, hwayoilbuteoneun jogeum bappajil geoya. Suyoeiljjeumimyeon itikape deureoganeun saramdeuldo manhajil tego.
Then tomorrow would be a good day for iftar. It's Monday, and things will become busier from Tuesday. By Wednesday, many people will probably have begun i'tikaf.
Ji-ho's face brightened.
"아, 맞아요. 그리고 조야도 내일 온다고 했어요. 이티카프에 들어간다고 하더라고요."
Ah, majayo. Geurigo Joya-do naeil ondago haesseoyo. Itikape deureogandago hadeoragoyo.
Ah, that's right. And Zoya said she's coming tomorrow too. She told me she's going to join the i'tikaf.
Jeon J's head lifted instantly.
His eyes moved toward Mr Donghyun.
The older man noticed.
But he only smiled softly.
"알고 있다. 그 아이가 말해 주더구나. 그 아이가 하는 모든 기도를 Allah께서 받아 주셨으면 좋겠구나."
Algo itda. Geu aiga malhae judeogu-na. Geu aiga haneun modeun gireul Allahkkeseo bada jusyeosseumyeon joketguna.
I know. She told me about it. I hope Allah accepts every prayer that child makes.
He paused before continuing.
"그래서 이번에는 여자들이 이티카프를 할 수 있도록 모스크 안쪽 여성 공간도 더 신경 써서 준비해 뒀다. 가림막도 제대로 마련했고."
Geuraeseo ibeoneneun yeojadeuri itikapeul hal su itdorok moseukeu anjjok yeoseong gonggando deo singyeong sseo-seo junbihae dwotda. Garimmakdo jedaero maryeonhaetgo.
That's why this time I've made proper arrangements in the women's section of the mosque for the women who want to observe i'tikaf. We've also made sure the privacy screens are properly arranged.
He smiled.
"그리고 네 엄마도 함께 있을 거고."
Geurigo ne eommado hamkke isseul geogo.
And your mother will be there too.
Ji-ho smiled warmly.
"아빠, 이번 라마단은 왠지 더 특별한 것 같지 않아요?"
Appa, ibeon ramadaneun waenji deo teukbyeolhan geot gatji anayo?
Dad, don't you feel like Ramadan feels especially beautiful this year?
Mr Donghyun looked at him.
"왜 그렇게 생각하니?"
Wae geureoke saenggakhani?
Why do you think so?
Ji-ho glanced toward the window.
"날씨도 좋고요. 그리고 이번에는 이티카프에 들어가는 사람들도 대부분 젊은 사람들이잖아요."
Nalssido jokoyo. Geurigo ibeoneneun itikape deureoganeun saramdeuldo daebubun jeolmeun saramdeulijanha-yo.
The weather has been beautiful too. And this year, most of the people joining i'tikaf are young.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"그리고 처음으로 여자아이들도 이티카프에 들어가잖아요."
Geurigo cheoeumeuro yeojaaideuldo itikape deureogajana-yo.
And for the first time, some of the young women are joining as well.
Mr Donghyun's smile deepened.
"라마단은 누구에게나 은혜를 가지고 찾아오는 법이지. 그 은혜를 어떻게 받아들이느냐는 우리의 몫이고."
Ramadaneun nuguegena eunhyereul gajigo chajao-neun beopiji. Geu eunhyereul eotteoke badadeurineunyaneun uriui mogsi-go.
Ramadan always comes carrying mercy for everyone. What we do with that mercy is up to us.
He glanced toward Ji-ho.
"그리고 여자아이들 이야기는 조야가 먼저 꺼냈다. 그렇게 진지하게 이야기하는데 내가 어떻게 거절하겠니."
Geurigo yeojaildeul iyagineun Joya-ga meonjeo kkeonaetda. Geureoke jinjihage iyagihaneunde naega eotteoke geojeolhagetni.
And the idea for the girls came from Zoya. She spoke about it so sincerely that I couldn't exactly refuse her.
Ji-ho laughed softly.
"그래도 아빠가 집에서 이티카프를 하는 게 낫다고 말했을 것 같은데요."
Geuraedo appaga jibeseo itikapeul haneun ge natdago malhaesseul geot gateundeyo.
I still think you probably told her it would be better to observe i'tikaf at home.
Mr Donghyun chuckled.
"말했지. 그런데 그 아이가 그러더구나. '모스크에 여자들을 위한 안전하고 독립된 공간이 있는데, 왜 집에 있어야 하냐'고."
Malhaetji. Geureonde geu aiga geureodeoguna. 'Moseukeue yeojadeureul wihan anjeonhago dongnipdoen gonggani inneunde, wae jibe isseoya hannya'go.
I did. But she said, 'If the mosque has a safe and private space for women, why should we stay at home?'
A fond smile touched his face.
"그러면서 거기서 함께 기도하고 싶다고 하더구나. 네 엄마도 그 말을 듣고 바로 찬성했고."
Geureomyeonseo geogiseo hamkke gidohago sipdago hadeoraguna. Ne eommado geu mareul deutgo baro chanseonghaetgo.
She said she wanted to pray there with the others. Your mother agreed with her immediately.
Ji-ho smiled.
"역시 엄마네요."
Yeoksi eomm네요.That's Mom, alright.
The two exchanged a quiet laugh.
Jeon J had remained silent throughout the conversation.
His attention, however, had settled on one unfamiliar word.
I'tikaf.
He finally looked at Mr Donghyun.
"이티카프가 뭐예요?"
Itikape mwoyeyo?
What is i'tikaf?
Mr Donghyun turned toward him.
For a moment, he considered how to explain it without making it sound complicated.
"라마단 동안 일정한 기간 동안 모스크에 머물면서 기도하고, 자신을 돌아보며 Allah와 더 가까워지려고 하는 시간이야."
Ramadan dongan iljeonghan gigan dongan moseukeue meomulmyeonseo gidohago, jasineul dorabomyeo Allah-wa deo gakkawojiryeogo haneun siganiya.
During Ramadan, it's a period when a person stays in the mosque for a certain amount of time, spends more time in prayer and reflection, and tries to draw closer to Allah.
Jeon J listened quietly.
"So they stay there instead of going home?"
Mr Donghyun nodded.
"Yes. Especially during the last ten nights of Ramadan, when many people choose to devote more of their time to prayer and reflection."
Mr Donghyun glanced toward Ji-ho, his expression turning practical.
"Tomorrow, we'll need more food for iftar," he said. "The number of people will be higher this time, so you'll have to manage the quantity properly. And keep a close eye on the timing as well."
Ji-ho nodded confidently.
"Don't worry, Appa. I'll manage everything."
Mr Donghyun smiled.
"Also, use the donations we've received for Ramadan for both suhoor and iftar. The people who donated them should receive the reward for what they intended."
"Of course."
Ji-ho laughed softly.
"I'll take care of it. A lot of donations have already come in from my friends. We'll use those first, and then I'll come to you if we need anything more."
Jeon J had been quietly listening to them.
The coffee in front of him had long gone cold.
He hadn't touched it again.
Only now did he realize something else.
Mr Donghyun and Ji-ho were fasting.
And somehow, drinking or eating in front of them suddenly felt wrong.
He quietly pushed his chair back.
"I should go."
He stood.
Mr Donghyun immediately looked up.
"Jeon J."
Jeon J stopped.
"If you don't mind…"
A gentle smile appeared on Mr Donghyun's face.
"Stay for iftar."
Jeon J hesitated.
"Me?"
He glanced toward the table.
"But this is your religious gathering. How could I—?"
Mr Donghyun shook his head.
"This dining room is for everyone."
His voice was warm and uncomplicated.
"It doesn't matter what religion someone follows."
He gestured toward the empty chair.
"We would be happy if you sat with us and shared iftar today."
Jeon J looked at him.
There was no pressure in his expression.
No expectation.
Just a simple invitation.
For a moment, Jeon J remained standing.
Then his shoulders slowly relaxed.
"Alright."
He sat back down.
The minutes passed quietly.
The conversation gradually moved away from the heavier things.
Ji-ho spoke about tomorrow's arrangements, the number of people expected at the mosque, and the preparations that still needed to be completed.
Mr Donghyun occasionally added something, corrected a detail, or reminded him of something he might have overlooked.
Jeon J mostly listened.
He said very little.
But for the first time in a long while, the silence around him didn't feel like something he had to escape.
Then—
the atmosphere outside began to change.
The restaurant lights softened.
Staff moved more quickly through the dining area.
Dates and water were placed on the tables.
A quiet anticipation settled over the place.
Mr Donghyun glanced at the clock.
"It's almost time."
Jeon J looked toward him.
Ji-ho smiled.
"Just a few more minutes."
And then—
the call to prayer began.
The sound drifted through the restaurant.
Jeon J didn't understand every word.
But he understood what it meant.
Everyone became still.
Mr Donghyun quietly reached for a date.
Ji-ho did the same.
Jeon J watched them for a moment before taking one himself.
No one asked him to.
He simply did.
And when the fast was broken, the table slowly came alive again.
Warm food.
Quiet conversation.
Small smiles.
For a while, Jeon J simply sat there.
Not as an idol.
Not as someone people recognized.
Not as someone searching for answers.
Just—
a guest at someone else's table.
Later that evening, Jeon J finally stood to leave.
He thanked Mr Donghyun and Ji-ho before heading toward the door.
Just before he left, Mr Donghyun called him back.
"Jeon J."
He turned.
Mr Donghyun smiled.
"Tomorrow we're having iftar again."
Jeon J waited.
"You and your members should come."
Jeon J's expression changed slightly.
"All of us?"
"Yes."
Mr Donghyun's smile widened.
"Bring your friends. There will be plenty of food."
Jeon J hesitated.
For a second, his mind went somewhere else.
Tomorrow.
The mosque.
Iftar.
And Zoya.
He looked back at Mr Donghyun.
Then quietly nodded.
"We'll come."
"Promise?"
A faint smile finally appeared on Jeon J's face.
"I will try my best."
The moment Jeon J left, Ji-ho unlocked his phone.
His fingers moved quickly across the screen.
One message.
Then another.
Then another.
Within minutes, invitations began making their way through his contact list.
Friends.
Neighbours.
Students.
Regular faces of the mosque.
Everyone received the same warm message.
Tomorrow's Iftar. Everyone is welcome.
Across the room, Mr Donghyun smiled quietly as he reached for his own phone.
His invitation travelled in a different direction.
Far from Seoul...
towards Busan.
A notification lit up on five different phones.
The same invitation.
The same warmth.
The same simple request—
Join us for iftar tomorrow.
Elsewhere...
Jeon J stood outside the restaurant.
After a brief moment of silence, he opened his phone.
Without another word, he forwarded the invitation to the members of TBS.
The message quietly found its way across different corners of the country.
Some received it between filming schedules.
Some while travelling.
Some in waiting rooms.
Different places.
Different lives.
Yet every notification carried the same destination.
Tomorrow.
White Bowl Kitchen near the Han River.
None of them knew...
that by accepting one simple invitation,
their paths would meet again beneath the same evening sky.
To Be Continued...
Regards,
ZK💌