Chapter 31 : Cracks at the Table
The breakfast table was a quiet storm.
Hana placed bowls of warm rice, grilled eggplant, and miso soup in front of the boys. Everything smelled comforting, homey. She even sliced fresh fruit on a small plate.
"Thanks," Jisoo said, nudging over a chair for her with a soft smile.
She smiled back and sat.
Taehyun watched the small exchange as he picked up his spoon. He didn't say anything—he didn't need to. The sharp clink of his spoon against the bowl said enough.
"Did you sleep alright?" Hana asked him, her voice gentle.
"Fine," Taehyun replied, short and cool, though his eyes lingered on hers a moment too long.
"Maybe you should've stayed in the living room too," Jisoo added casually. "Blankets were cozy."
Taehyun didn't look up. "I'm not the one who fell asleep out there."
Minjun coughed to hide a laugh, glancing between the two.
Hana just gave a small awkward chuckle, while Soyeon stirred her tea like she was trying to dissolve something that wasn't even in it.
She forced a smile. "Looks like the energy in here is… fresh."
"We're all just tired," Minjun said quickly, his usual peacemaker tone kicking in.
"I think it's kind of nice," Hana said, trying to smooth the tension. "Feels like family."
That did something to the air.
Jisoo smiled a little.
Taehyun's hand froze around his mug.
Soyeon's jaw tightened.
Family.
Was that what Hana saw them as?
She picked up her mug of tea, forcing a sugary laugh. "A little too cozy, maybe—"
But her fingers slipped.
CRASH.
The mug hit the floor and shattered, tea spilling across the tiles like a brown ink blot of frustration.
"Oh!" Hana jumped up. "Are you okay?"
Soyeon blinked at the mess, stunned into silence for a second too long.
"I'm fine," she said finally, kneeling to help. "Just… slippery hands."
Taehyun was already grabbing paper towels. Jisoo stood to pick up the larger ceramic shards.
Minjun muttered, "It's okay, no big deal."
But Hana noticed something different in Soyeon's face—a flicker of something sharp beneath the surface. Not just frustration over a spill.
More like losing grip on something she wanted to hold onto.
"Let me clean it—" Hana began.
"No. I said I got it," Soyeon said a little too fast, her voice a touch too firm.
Everyone paused.
Then slowly went back to eating.
But the cracks in the morning mood had already shown—and no one missed them.
Especially not Taehyun.
He glanced sideways at Soyeon, who was now scrubbing harder than she needed to, her expression tight.
And across the table, Hana was looking down at her food, distracted, quiet.
Jisoo was the only one watching her.