The kitchen was soaked in soft golden light—morning sunlight filtering through gauzy curtains and spilling across the table like a blessing. The quiet hum of family life echoed in small ways: the tap of a spoon, the crinkle of toast being buttered, the distant whirr of a toy being dragged across the living room floor.
Sherri sat at the head of the table, legs tucked to the side, still in her pajama shirt. A hand rested absently on her still-warm mug of coffee, now forgotten. Her gaze was unfocused, fixed on the gentle movement of dust motes dancing in the sunlight. Across from her, YoungBok sat with his chin in his palm, eyes on the two boys who were giggling over spilled cereal. But even his smile was faint—distant.
At the far side of the table, Hyunjin was still. He hadn't touched his plate, and his fingers toyed with the corner of his napkin like he was grounding himself—reminding himself that this wasn't a dream. That he was here. That he was finally home.
He had only been back a few days. The excitement of his return had been loud, overwhelming, even beautiful. But now, in the quiet of ordinary morning, came the reality of everything he had missed—and everything he had come back to.
The three of them had drifted into memory without even realizing it. Sherri thinking of lonely nights with only the boys and empty spaces. YoungBok remembering all the letters he never sent, all the ache he'd tucked beneath his smile. And Hyunjin... Hyunjin sitting there, wondering if he could ever make up for the time stolen from them.
The silence was thick—not from discomfort, but from weight. A shared knowing.
Then—
The spoon slipped.
Their eldest gasped as it clattered to the floor, cereal scattering like tiny beads. "Oops!" he squeaked, eyes wide.
Just like that, the moment cracked open.
Sherri blinked, startled back. She offered a soft chuckle and leaned down to gather the mess, her voice calm and mother-sweet. "It's alright, baby. No harm done."
Hyunjin moved without thinking—his chair scraping back slightly as he stood. "Let me help."
Their hands brushed as they reached for the same spoon. Sherri looked up at him.
For a second, he just stared at her—so close now. Not behind a screen. Not in photos. Not in memory. Just here.
"You're really back," she murmured before she could stop herself.
Hyunjin swallowed, his throat tight. "Yeah," he whispered. "I'm really back."
YoungBok's voice joined softly from behind them. "We know, Jinnie. But sometimes our hearts still need a minute to catch up."
They cleaned up together, quietly. The boys giggled and returned to their breakfast, their chatter slowly growing louder, fuller—as if even they could sense the shift.
Once the children were off to play, leaving a trail of toast crumbs and juice stains behind, the kitchen calmed again.
Hyunjin stood near the sink, his eyes glassy, staring at the half-empty plates. "I thought I was ready to come back," he admitted softly. "But it's like… I'm here, and still catching my breath."
Sherri crossed to him, slipping her hand into his. "You don't have to rush. We've waited this long. We're not going anywhere."
YoungBok moved to his other side, wrapping one arm around his waist, pressing his forehead gently against Hyunjin's shoulder. "It's okay to feel lost. You've come back to something new. Us, the boys… even we changed. But we're still yours."
Hyunjin turned, eyes brimming now. "I was so scared," he breathed, voice cracking. "That I'd come back and feel like a stranger."
"You're not," Sherri said, firmly. "You're home."
He crumbled a little into their arms, finally letting the weight slide off. YoungBok kissed his temple, and Sherri held his hand tighter.
In the quiet, in the mess of a morning routine, they held onto each other—not to fix the broken time, but to start again. Together.
Their boys called for them in the next room, little voices like bells.
Hyunjin smiled through his tears.
And this time, he didn't feel like a visitor. He felt like a father. A husband. A man finally where he belonged.
A Month Later – First Stage Back
The lights were blinding. The energy of the crowd was deafening.
It was Hyunjin's first stage back with Slay Kids.
Backstage, the members gathered around him—Chris, Minho, Changbin, Seungmin, Jeongin, Jisung, and YoungBok. They all wore mics, stage makeup done, in full gear.
Chris clapped Hyunjin's back. "Ready, Hwang?"
Hyunjin smiled. "I've never been readier."
YoungBok laced their fingers together quickly and whispered, "We're going to kill it."
The music hit.
The stage lit up with fire and power.
Hyunjin emerged center stage, and the arena exploded.
Every move was precise, powerful, raw with emotion. His return wasn't just a comeback—it was a statement: He was still here. Still standing. Still slaying.
From the side of the stage, Sherri held the boys, watching with pride. The camera panned to her and the kids briefly, and the crowd cheered even louder—recognition, respect, love.
The performance ended, and the members gathered center stage.
Chris spoke into the mic. "Our Hyunjin is finally back with us. Let's show him all the love he deserves."
YoungBok pulled him in for a side hug, and the crowd roared.
Hyunjin stepped up to the mic.
"I've waited so long for this. Thank you, Stays, for waiting with me. My family waited for me too—YoungBok, Sherri, my two little stars. I'm not just back—I'm better. Because love made me stronger."
It was the beginning of a new chapter—one where nothing could shake the foundation they'd built, together.
The day after Hyunjin's electrifying comeback performance, the group gathered in the JYP conference room. A familiar energy filled the room—laughter, teasing, and that unique bond only years of working and living together could create.
Hyunjin sat between YoungBok and Chris, still riding the high of being on stage again. But now, a new idea buzzed in the air, one that felt personal—different.
Their manager cleared his throat. "So… we've been discussing a new project."
The members leaned in.
...