The twins Jun and Eunji were the true embodiment of the freshness that the Hyun family had been missing since the head of the family's death. The girls were just five when a terrible disaster broke the foundations of a happy family. Sungwoon loved his children unconditionally, and spent a great deal of time with them when he was not busy with the gang. When he died so suddenly, the girls, though small, felt the emptiness that their dad would usually fill. That's why they became attached to Siwon so quickly - they just lacked parental warmth.
Daechul still feels guilty that after his dad died, he self-locked himself and failed to give his brother and sisters the support they needed.
The girls were playing in their spacious pink room with their dolls as Daechul knocked on the door. Jun turned over her shoulder and when she saw her eldest brother her whole face lighted up.
"Chulie!", she jumped up and ran into her brother's strong chest. Eunji barely had time to react so she sat shocked. When the effect wore off, she simply hugged Daechul's leg.
"How are my little princesses doing?", asked with a warm smile. It was no secret that sisters always had a soft spot in the guy's heart. Their innocent smiles and childish behaviour made Daechul overprotective. He loved his family too much and swore he wouldn't let anyone hurt them in the slightest.
"We missed you", pouted Jun.
"You leave for too long", agreed Eunji.
Daechul sighed.
"I know, girls. I had a lot of work, but I think I'm going to stay longer and we can spend a lot of time together, okay?"
The twins didn't have time to even open their mouths when Maya's voice called for lunch. Daechul stood up and carried them to the dining room at the request of the sisters. When Maya saw her kids interacting with each other so softly and lovingly, she laughed, and the slightest trace of tears could be seen in her eyes. Maybe that's why she wanted him to marry so fast. The mother didn't want her children to feel such loneliness as she felt after the love of her life died and took a piece of her heart with him, leaving everything in ruins.
He still remembers the funeral. How his once strong and happy mother fell on her knees and shed every last bit of control over her emotions to shreds, wailing for hours to come. How he had to hold her back as she trashed in his arms. How her eyes became dull, and the pain that she was trying so hard to keep at bay, sprang up and engulfed each person that stood before the hearth wrenching sight.
Maybe that's why he refused to fall in love. To restrict himself for that possible agony.
Daechul felt his heart hurt. He was tired seeing his mother so distraught. That's why he is paying Sunmi so much, he reminded himself.
Just as he set his sisters on their feet, he heard the front door opening and closing. By the heavy steps the person was making, it wasn't hard to identify who it was. Daechul involuntary tensed. He knew Siwon wasn't a bad person, but it still hurt seeing him sitting in his father's seat at the end of the table.
He came into the dinning room just as the cooks brought the food in.
Upon seeing his stepson, his easy smile changed into a carefully schooled polite expression.
"Oh, hello, Daechul. Didn't know you were back. How are you?"
"Hi, Siwon, I'm good, thanks. I got back just moments ago", Daechul tried to get along with Siwon for his family's sake. The men shook hands, and it was so awkward, that Maya barely controlled her smile. Awkwardness was a better emotion than anger. To her, this was progress.
Siwon smiled, then greeted his girls and wife, and they sat to eat.
Daechul frowned.
"Where's Junghyun?"
Maya smiled brightly. "Actually, I'm not supposed to tell you, but I can't wait any longer. He's on a date".
Daechul almost spit his water out.
"What? Since when is he dating?", Daechul's protectiveness kicked in.
"Today is their first date, darling", Maya took a sip of her white wine.
"Okay, who is she then?"
Maya blinked. Even Siwon froze while chewing on his steak.
"His name is Geun", she carefully stated.
The twins giggled at Daechul's shocked expression.
"What?!", Daechul abruptly stood up.
His protective instincts kicked up a notch.
"Chulie, what are you doing?"
"I need to make a call. But first, tell me his surname", Daechul pated his pockets looking for his phone.
"Daechul, you are not going to stalk that boy. Sit down", Maya's face was adorned by a harsh frown.
"Mother-"
"Daechulie, I get that you love your brother and want to protect him, but that definitely would be too much. And just think how heartbroken Junghyun would be if he found out about this? That wouldn't be fair for him."
Daechul sat back down. Maya smiled softly.
"Geun is a great guy. I trust him to bring Junghyun safe and sound."
"But he's only sixteen..." Daechul sighed. He wasn't bothered by his brother's sexuality. He didn't define people based on that. But such sudden news had him thinking about worst case scenarios of his brother being hurt by that mysterious boy. And then he sighed once more, because sooner or later his siblings will start this love thing as he called it. He just prefered later, and was so shocked that it became sooner.
Maya smiled sympathetically, and the family resumed their eating.
"I know how you feel, darling. It's hard to accept such changes in family dynamics, especially given the fact that he never told you this. Junghyun just wanted to tell all this in person, he wasn't hiding anything", she said and took another sip of her wine.
Daechul nodded.
"So, when is he coming back?"
"I told Geun to bring him back before ten. Until then, try not to worry and go play with the girls. They missed their big brother dearly".
/\/\/\