The next morning marked the end of Jihoon's whirlwind experience filming Family Outing.
As fun and lighthearted as the variety show had been, it had also drained every ounce of his energy. The shoot had wrapped close to midnight, but that wasn't the end of it.
There was still the customary post-shooting meeting, a casual debrief over snacks and banter with the cast and crew, and then some quiet late-night conversations with the members—those in-between moments that never made it to air, but somehow meant the most.
By the time his head hit the pillow, it was nearly 3 am.
And before his body could even sink fully into the warmth of sleep, he was up again by 5 am, groggy-eyed and sore, dragged out of bed to catch the ride back to the city.
The van ride to Seoul took almost two hours.
As the familiar skyline of the city began to emerge through the tinted windows, Jihoon could feel the sun rising behind the glass, its rays spilling like gold across the concrete buildings.
Their vehicle pulled into the apartment complex where Jihoon lived.
The driver eased to a stop, and Jihoon stepped out first, stretching his limbs with a relieved sigh.
His body ached from sleeping upright, and the previous night's fatigue still clung to him like damp clothes.
Life in front of the camera, even temporarily, was no joke.
The ever-present pressure to look presentable, act amusing, and say something clever—it was like being on a stage that never dimmed its lights.
Even for someone used to the demands of filmmaking, variety show life was a different kind of exhausting.
He turned back toward the van and leaned in slightly. "You wanna come up and hang out for a bit?"
Taeyeon, still curled up in the backseat like a sleepy kitten, shook her head with a half-laugh. "Nah... I'm heading back to the dorm. I'll drop by another time when I'm less zombified." She yawned, covering her mouth lazily. "Say hi to Jieun for me, okay?"
He nodded. "Will do. Get some rest."
She waved, and the van slowly rolled out of the complex, disappearing into the morning light.
Jihoon stood there for a beat, letting the quiet of the city morning wash over him.
The streets were just beginning to stir—delivery scooters weaving between lanes, old men opening convenience stores, the smell of fresh bread drifting from a nearby bakery.
After the chaotic, rustic charm of the countryside, Seoul felt oddly sterile but comforting.
He walked slowly toward his apartment building, his shoulders noticeably slumping now that the weight of performance had lifted.
There was a certain invisible exhaustion that came with being constantly observed. Every gesture scrutinized, every word measured.
He couldn't help but think—No wonder the pressure breaks people.
The cameras might turn off at night, but the persona doesn't.
That kind of tension… it leaves dents in the soul.
He swiped his keycard, stepped into the elevator, and leaned against the mirrored wall, eyes closed, finally letting himself exhale.
And when he entered his apartment, the scent of familiarity hit him—clean laundry, coffee grounds, the faint trace of Jieun's vanilla-scented shampoo.
He barely had time to put his bag down before he heard quick footsteps.
The moment Jihoon stepped into the apartment and closed the door behind him, he barely had time to take a breath before something small and fast launched itself at him.
"Oppa!" Jieun's familiar voice rang out as she flung her arms around him, burying her face into his chest.
Her embrace was tight, like she hadn't seen him in a month instead of just a day. "You're finally back! I missed you!"
Jihoon laughed softly, ruffling her hair with one hand. "I was gone for just one day, Jieun-ah."
Though he was exhausted, the moment he saw Jieun, Jihoon instantly pulled himself together. To him, she was the closest thing he had to family—and that meant everything.
"That's long enough!" she huffed, taking his arm and dragging him toward the couch.
She plopped down with a dramatic sigh, swinging her legs like a restless child. "When you're not home, it feels weird. I couldn't sleep well last night. I kept hearing noises... like the fridge humming. But louder."
Jihoon chuckled, gently patting her head.
"I'm sorry. There really wasn't anyone else in the company who could go on the show. They needed a last-minute guest, and I got volunteered," he explained, offering Jieun a casual smile.
But he didn't tell her the full story—some truths about the industry were too heavy for her to carry.
Jieun tilted her head, eyes wide with curiosity. "So? Was it fun? You got to eat, laugh, and play games on camera, right? That's how it always looks on TV."
Jihoon leaned back, throwing his arm over the back of the sofa and exhaling like a man who'd just come out of battle. "Fun? Absolutely not. Cameras were following me everywhere. I had to smile even when I was dying inside."
"And do you know how hard it is to come up with something clever to say all the time? I was a nervous wreck!"
Jieun giggled at his misery. "You make it sound like a survival show."
"It practically was," Jihoon said, rubbing his temples. "They should've just titled it Family Torture instead of Family Outing."
She laughed again, then looked up at him with a teasing pout. "Then why did you leave me here all alone while you went off to suffer for fame?"
"Ya," Jihoon said, narrowing his eyes and reaching over to gently pinch her nose.
"Speaking of which—why are you home today? Aren't you suppose to be staying at the company's dorm? Don't tell me you skipped training. Are you slacking off already?"
"I am not slacking!" Jieun wrinkled her nose and swatted his hand away. "The company said I don't need to go in for a while."
"They're finalizing my debut schedule, so they told me to rest and recharge before everything kicks off."
Jihoon's eyebrows shot up. He sat up straight, his playful expression quickly replaced with genuine surprise. "Wait, what? They finalized everything? You're debuting?"
Jieun hesitated for a second, then gave a small nod. "Mhm. They picked the song. The date's been penciled in. The concept's almost done too."
Jihoon's voice rose slightly, full of disbelief. "And you didn't tell me any of this?! Jieun-ah, this is huge!"
Jieun shrank slightly at his tone, her fingers curling into the hem of her sweater. "I… I didn't want to bother you," she murmured. "You were so busy with filming, editing, meetings… I thought you had enough on your plate."
Jihoon looked at her, his frustration instantly melting. He sighed and gently pulled her into his arms.
"Ya… I'm not mad at you," he whispered, resting his chin lightly on her head. "But Jieun, you have to understand—no matter how busy I get, nothing is more important to me than you. Your debut?"
"That's not just your big moment. It's ours. I want to be there, cheering for you, watching you shine. Don't leave me out of the special parts of your life, okay?"
Jieun said nothing for a moment. Her head stayed tucked beneath his chin, and when she finally spoke, her voice was soft—almost like a whisper. "Okay, Oppa…"
She closed her eyes, feeling his arms around her, and in that moment, all the anxiety she'd been carrying seemed to dissolve. His words were like warm water to her tired heart—soothing, affirming, safe.
They stayed like that on the couch for a while. No cameras. No deadlines. No stage lights or expectations.
Just a brother and a sister, quietly sharing a moment in the calm after the storm.
[Author's Note: Heartfelt thanks to Wandererlithe, JiangXiu Daoist098135 and Daoistadj for bestowing the power stone!]