The soft morning sunlight filtered through the gauzy kitchen curtains, casting a pale golden hue across the countertops and gently illuminating the tiled floor. The scent of toasted bread and freshly sliced vegetables lingered in the cozy room, mingling with the faint, sleepy clang of utensils and the distant hum of a radio playing quietly on the counter.
"Eomma, you really need to have another baby," Seung-joon declared, arms folded and brow furrowed in frustration.
His adoptive mother, Yuna, turned from the cutting board, her hands stilling mid-slice. She blinked at him, clearly caught off guard.
"What?" she asked, a mixture of confusion and amusement in her tone.
"They need a sister," he said flatly, jerking his head toward the living room where the twins' voices rose in escalating argument over the TV remote. "They won't stop dressing me up."
A sudden burst of laughter erupted from the hallway, followed by the sound of Tae-min shouting something unintelligible. Yuna chuckled, returning to her sandwiches with a shake of her head.
"That's because you're so pretty," she teased, layering cheese over slices of ham. "Even if they had a sister, they'd still be after you."
Seung-joon rolled his eyes and dropped into a kitchen chair with a dramatic sigh. "It's getting old, Eomma. Yesterday, Tae-min hyung wouldn't leave me alone until I put on one of your dresses."
Yuna paused, a sly smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Did he get any pictures?"
"Eomma..." Seung-joon groaned, drawing out the word with practiced despair.
"Okay, okay," she said, finally relenting. "I'll ask the twins to tone it down."
"Ask them to stop it altogether," Seung-joon muttered as he grabbed a sandwich from the tray and took a defiant bite.
Yuna watched him go, her eyes lingering on the set of his shoulders, the way he still managed to look small despite his growing frame. As he stalked off to glare at the twins in the next room, she smiled softly to herself.
Why did you have to grow up so fast?
Twelve years had passed since Seung-joon first came to live with them.
Yuna could still picture that day as if it were yesterday. Kevin Frazer had brought his son, Seung-joon, with him—a small, shy boy who clung to his father's side.
The sight of him had taken Yuna's breath away.
He looked so much like Nari, her best friend who had passed, that it almost hurt to look at him.
The only thing different was the color of his eyes.
Despite being the same age as the twins, Seung-joon was shorter and almost fragile in comparison.
Yuna had been prepared for the usual resistance from the twins, who never liked sharing their space with anyone.
But to her astonishment, they accepted Seung-joon right away, embracing him as their little brother.
And because they couldn't bear the thought of being separated from him, Kevin decided to stay with Yuna's family at their request.
Yuna's heart broke when she saw Seung-joon standing silently at his father's funeral, his face unreadable, his eyes dry.
Not a single tear had fallen, and that frightened her.
She worried that Kevin's death would leave deep scars and that Seung-joon would retreat into himself.
But as the twins stood on either side of him, holding his hands tightly, Seung-joon gradually grew into a strong and determined young boy.
It was almost amusing to watch him fool his brothers, who believed he was still the timid child they had always protected.
But Yuna knew better. Among the three, it was Seung-joon who had a strong and mature mentality—his quiet resolve hidden behind his calm demeanor.
Yet one thing hadn't changed—he never grew taller.
To his great annoyance, he stopped growing at the same height Nari had been at seventeen.
His long black bangs constantly fell into his eyes, and every time Yuna looked at him, she couldn't help but be reminded of Nari, who used to grumble about the same thing.
And Yuna knew, deep in her heart, that once Seung-joon gained a little weight, he would become as stunning as Nari had been—captivating everyone's attention just like she once did.
An exasperated groan filled the room, drawing Yuna's attention. She looked up to see Seung-joon standing stiffly in the middle of the living room, dressed in a bright yellow pullover while Tae-min fussed around him with relentless persistence.
"Oh hyung, I look like a girl! No, I'm not wearing those glasses. They're ridiculous," Seung-joon protested, his arms raised halfway in exasperation.
But Tae-min was relentless, practically bouncing with excitement as he tried to fix the look to his liking. In the end, of course, he won. With a dramatic pout on his face, Tae-min stomped off to a corner of the room and flopped down, sighing theatrically.
Seung-joon cast a glare in his direction, muttering, "Fine, I'll wear them," as he rolled his eyes.
Yuna couldn't help herself. She quickly reached for her phone and snapped a photo.
"Eomma...!!!"
She looked up just in time to lock eyes with Seung-joon, whose glare could have shattered glass. A sharp, unmistakable flicker of betrayal lit up in his eyes.
"What? I didn't take any photos," Yuna said, her voice overly innocent as she fumbled to tuck her phone into the kitchen drawer, pretending nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, Tae-min was snapping pictures like a photographer at a high-profile event, entirely oblivious to Seung-joon's deadly glare.
The look that would have terrified anyone else only made Tae-min more fascinated, his grin widening as he admired Seung-joon's irritated yet undeniably attractive expression.
"Ah… if only you were a bit taller, you could've been a killer model."
Literally, Seung-joon thought sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
"Hyung, that's enough. I'm leaving," he said, exasperated. "Appa, can you drop me off at school?"
Tae-hyung glanced up from his paper, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Oh, Joon-ah, you look pretty."
"Appa, not you, too," Seung-joon groaned, letting out a deep sigh.
"Are you planning to steal someone's heart today?" Tae-hyung teased, his eyes twinkling with a knowing smile.
Seung-joon paused, locking eyes with his adoptive father before his lips curved into a small, shy smile. "Well… maybe," he replied, his tone serious despite the warmth in his expression.
"Who?" the twins asked in unison, their curiosity piqued.
"I'm not telling you," Seung-joon replied as he walked out, leaving the twins exchanging puzzled glances.
"I can't think of any girl Seung-joon would find interesting," one said, frowning.
"Me neither. He must be pulling our legs," the other added, shaking his head.
As Tae-hyung drove Seung-joon to school, a quiet settled between them. The soft murmur of morning traffic drifted in through the windows, mingling with the golden light that bathed the city streets. Seung-joon stared out of the window, lost in thought, until Tae-hyung's warm hand gently brushed his cheek.
"Joon-ah, be careful, okay?" Tae-hyung said softly, his voice full of quiet concern.
"Okay, appa," Seung-joon replied, his voice calm but filled with the unspoken connection between them.
Since Kevin's passing, Tae-hyung had been Seung-joon's rock, the unwavering source of emotional strength that guided him through life. Though Seung-joon still missed his father deeply, he had never truly felt fatherless—Tae-hyung had always been there, silently supporting him, no matter what path Seung-joon chose.
"Appa, when do you think Tae-jon hyung and Tae-min hyung will finally realize that I have grown up?"
Tae-hyung burst into laughter. "Probably after their deaths!" he chuckled. "You must be holding yourself back a lot, huh?"
Seung-joon smiled, a hint of mischief on his lips. "Well, sort of. They're lucky they're adorable."
Tae-hyung pulled the car to a stop next to the school bus.
"Got everything you need?" he asked, glancing over at Seung-joon.
"Yes, appa," Seung-joon replied, grabbing his bag from the back seat.
"Will you show me the person who stole our Joon-ah's heart?" Tae-hyung asked, his tone light but curious.
Seung-joon felt the heat rise to his ears, but he turned to look out of the car window, his eyes scanning the school grounds eagerly. His heart skipped a beat when he spotted Min-jun standing by the main hall with Chang-min.
"The one in the blue sweater," he said, pointing subtly toward Min-jun.
"Oh," Tae-hyung murmured, his gaze following Seung-joon's finger.
Seung-joon glanced back at his adoptive father. Tae-hyung's eyes were fixed on Min-jun, studying him with a serious look on his face. After what felt like an eternity, Tae-hyung broke into a soft smile, turning to Seung-joon with a knowing look.
"I feel sorry for Minister Han's son," Tae-hyung said with a teasing tone.
"Appa…" Seungjoon protested, but Tae-hyung's smile betrayed his jest.
"I'm kidding," Tae-hyung said, gently taking Seung-joon's hand and giving it a comforting caress. "Joon-ah, don't make things harder for yourself. I know you are a resolute and careful person, and I believe in you to do what's best for you."
Seung-joon buried his face in Tae-hyung's chest, seeking solace in his embrace. Tae-hyung wrapped his arms around him, rubbing his back soothingly.
After a moment, Seung-joon reluctantly pulled away, stepping out of the car to help his club members organize their luggage.
This task kept him occupied and stopped him from looking at Min-jun, knowing that seeing him might heighten his emotions. He boarded the bus and took a seat at the front.
As he settled in, he noticed Min-jun approaching the bus with his head bowed, lost in thought.
Seung-joon closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.
When he opened his eyes, he was surprised to find someone sitting next to him—a rare occurrence since he usually preferred to be alone.
Seung-joon's mouth fell open in surprise, and his ears flushed with heat when he realized Min-jun was sitting beside him.
Min-jun, lost in his own world with headphones on and eyes shut, seemed completely unaware of Seung-joon's presence.
Seung-joon's heart pounded in his chest.
He had never been this close to Min-jun before. Trying to calm himself, he shut his eyes tightly and began counting backward, focusing on steadying his racing heart.
He continued until he felt his heartbeat return to normal. With his eyes still closed, he thought to himself,
Han Min-jun, will you always make me feel this way?
He slowly opened his eyes when he felt calm and looked at Min-jun from the corner of his eyes.
Han Min-jun, you are going to be the death of me.
Seung-joon felt a deep sense of contentment, though he struggled to keep his emotions in check. He bit his lips repeatedly, fighting the impulse to laugh out loud like an infatuated fool.
How am I going to get through these two days? he wondered, overwhelmed by his feelings for Min-jun.
Seung-joon found it impossible to enjoy the ride or concentrate on anything else while Min-jun was sitting beside him.
Throughout the journey to the resort, Seung-joon's gaze remained fixed on Min-jun's face, stealing glances like precious secrets.
He longed to reach out, to brush his fingers across Min-jun's cheek, to know if his skin was as warm and soft as it looked. But he kept his hands tightly folded in his lap.
The arrival at their destination came as a much-needed relief.
The bus hissed to a halt, tires crunching softly against gravel. As students stirred and stretched, murmuring sleepily and gathering their things, Seung-joon turned to Min-jun.
With a hesitant yet gentle touch, he tapped Min-jun's arm, trying to rouse him.
Min-jun blinked awake, his expression dazed and adorably confused, mouth parted slightly and brows furrowed.
Seung-joon nearly laughed, his lips twitching at the sight, but he masked the amusement with a composed smile and looked away.
Min-jun quickly disembarked, head ducked and ears tinged pink, vanishing into the thick swirl of chattering students.
By now, the sky had deepened into soft hues of burnt orange and dusky lavender, shadows stretching long beneath the tall pine trees lining the gravel path.
The golden hour light cast a warm, dreamlike glow over the resort grounds. Seung-joon lingered, his every movement unhurried as if he wished to savor the moment.
The cool evening breeze stirred his hair and whispered through the trees, carrying with it the distant hush of waves lapping the shore.
He moved to the bus's storage compartments and began helping his club members unload the luggage.
The clinking of suitcase wheels against pebbled ground and low voices of weary students merged with the peaceful twilight, wrapping Seung-joon in a calm far removed from the whirlwind of emotions he'd felt during the ride.
By the time Seung-joon reached the teacher in charge of room assignments, the process was nearly complete. A cluster of students stood nearby, chatting and fiddling with key tags as the teacher handed out the last of the room slips with practiced efficiency.
"Ah, Kim Seung-joon," the teacher said, looking up with a hint of weariness. "We've run into a bit of an issue. One of the rooms has a plumbing problem, so we're short a bed. You'll be sharing with Han Min-jun—he's got a double bed and already agreed to take a roommate."
Seung-joon's heart skipped a beat. His breath caught for a moment, but he forced a polite smile to mask the sudden rush of emotion. "Does Han Min-jun sunbae know he's sharing with me?"
The teacher shook their head. "No, we hadn't finalized it until now."
"I understand," Seung-joon replied calmly, bowing slightly. "I'll go introduce myself."
The moment he stepped out of the teachers' room, his composure cracked. Once out of sight, he practically sprinted down the hallway, his shoes clicking against the polished floor, heart hammering in his chest. When he reached the room and found it empty, he closed the door behind him and dropped to his knees beside the bed.
He buried his face in the soft comforter and let out a muffled, strangled groan—half laughter, half disbelief.
Lifting his face, Seung-joon whispered to the stillness:
"God, I can't decide whether you're merciful or cruel."
Seung-joon let out a deep sigh as he made his way to dinner, doing his best to avoid looking at Min-jun.
He left the meal early, eager to find some solitude before Min-jun's return.
Once he was alone in their room, he collapsed onto the floor, his head resting against the bed, and tried to soothe his excited nerves.
A grin of pure happiness spread across his face. The thought of sharing a room with Min-jun was a dream he never thought would come true.
Seung-joon quickly stood up as he heard footsteps approaching from the corridor, making an effort to appear casual.
The door creaked open, and Min-jun walked in, seemingly unaware of Seung-joon's presence and headed towards the washroom.
When Min-jun heard Seung-joon's voice, he froze in the washroom doorway.
"Min-jun sunbae, there wasn't enough room for everyone. The teacher assigned me to your room since you have a double bed. If you'd prefer sleeping alone, I can sleep on the floor."
The silence that followed felt like an eternity before Min-jun responded.
"It's alright. I don't mind sharing. It's too chilly to sleep on the floor. You can choose which side you want; I'll take a shower first."
Min-jun responded quickly, locking himself in the washroom.
Seung-joon collapsed onto the bed, gazed out of the glass wall, and watched the sunset, feeling the chill in the air.
Oddly, seeing Min-jun's initial panic had a calming effect on him.
He sat on the bed, slipped on his headphones, and let the music wash over him.
He looked up as the bathroom door clicked open, and Min-jun emerged, visibly shivering.
For a moment, Seung-joon was paralyzed, but then a surge of frustration bubbled up inside him.
He took a deep breath and began to dry Min-jun's hair as Min-jun protested weakly.
Then Seung-joon tucked him into the warm sheets, enveloping his shivering form in a tight embrace, channeling his anger into the warmth of his hug.
He gradually loosened his grip as Min-jun's protests faded away.
"Sunbae, I know you might feel uncomfortable and embarrassed right now, but please try to bear with it for a while. Otherwise, you could end up seriously ill," Seung-joon said in a gentle tone, his voice filled with concern. He held Min-jun close until the shivering subsided, and Min-jun began to relax. After a few minutes, Min-jun cleared his throat and spoke softly.
"Kim Seungjoon, can I ask you for a favor?"
"What is it?"
"Could you call me hyung?"
Seung-joon paused, considering for a moment. In his mind, he thought,
'Can I call you Han-ah instead of hyung?'
But aloud, he said, "Sure, hyung."
To make Min-jun feel more at ease, Seung-joon pretended to be asleep.
He felt the soft touch of Min-jun's kiss on his head and watched as Min-jun quickly drifted off, clearly worn out by the day's events.
Seung-joon carefully removed his arms from around Min-jun, then pulled him closer into a comforting embrace, resting Min-jun's head on his arm.
Resting his own cheek against Minjun's head, Seung-joon sighed deeply.
Noticing the tears on Min-jun's face, he tenderly wiped them away and placed a gentle kiss on Minjun's closed eyes.
In that moment, Seung-joon felt as though he was finally breathing freely for the first time in his life.
'So, I've been missing you all my life...,' Seung-joon thought. 'Han Min-jun, it was really foolish to take a cold shower in this weather, but I'm grateful you did.'
Seung-joon tenderly kissed Min-jun's lips, feeling his heart and soul melting away in the moment.
'I'll consider God merciful,' Seung-joon murmured as he hugged and caressed Min-jun's head while Min-jun slept soundly.