Certainly, fifteen-year-old Joon was very different from the seven-year-old Joon.
Gone was the innocence in those black eyes. They had turned deep by forced maturity. Zein easily found his old self inside those eyes: a kid who had to bear the responsibility of another life while living under the abuse of the environment. They could see his reservation, mindful steps, and careful words in everything he did.
Honestly, it was rather saddening.
But then, sometimes, they could see sparkles inside those black eyes, and Han Shin said his brother definitely smiled more than the real fifteen-year-old Joon. It gave them hope that the sliver of freedom he got in the past week wasn't for naught.
That even if it was small, he was healing nonetheless.
"Anyway, you should go to the hospital and have a check-up, Joon," Calix advised after the reunion was done. "Or would you rather the doctor come here?"
