"Eomma, you really need to have another baby," Seung-joon declared, his tone edged with frustration.
His adoptive mother turned to him, clearly caught off guard by the request.
"What?" Yuna responded, her voice laced with confusion.
"They need a sister," he explained, casting a sharp glance at the twins, who were currently bickering over the TV remote. "They won't stop dressing me up."
Yuna simply chuckled and went back to making sandwiches.
"That's because you're so pretty," she teased. "Even if they had a sister, they'd still be after you."
"It's getting old, Eomma. Yesterday, Tae-min wouldn't leave me alone until I put on one of your dresses."
"Did he get any pictures?"
"Eomma..." Seung-joon groaned, his exasperation unmistakable.
"Okay, okay. I'll ask the twins to tone it down."
"Ask them to stop it altogether," Seung-joon demanded as he picked up a sandwich and took a bite.
Yuna watched Seung-joon walk away, still glaring at the twins.
'Why did you have to grow up so fast?'
Twelve years had passed since Seung-joon first came to live with them. Yuna could still picture that day as if it were yesterday. Kevin Frazer had brought his son, Seung-joon, with him—a small, shy boy who clung to his father's side. The sight of him had taken Yuna's breath away. He looked so much like Nari, her best friend who had passed, that it almost hurt to look at him. The only thing different was the color of his eyes. Despite being the same age as the twins, Seung-joon was shorter and almost fragile in comparison. Yuna had been prepared for the usual resistance from the twins, who never liked sharing their space with anyone. But to her astonishment, they accepted Seung-joon right away, embracing him as their little brother. And because they couldn't bear the thought of being separated from him, Kevin decided to stay with Yuna's family at their request.
Yuna's heart broke when she saw Seung-joon standing silently at his father's funeral, his face unreadable, his eyes dry. Not a single tear had fallen, and that frightened her. She worried that Kevin's death would leave deep scars and that Seung-joon would retreat into himself. But as the twins stood on either side of him, holding his hands tightly, Seung-joon gradually grew into a strong and determined young boy. It was almost amusing to watch him fool his brothers, who believed he was still the timid child they had always protected. But Yuna knew better. Among the three, it was Seungjoon who had a strong and mature mentality—his quiet resolve hidden behind his calm demeanor.
Yet one thing hadn't changed—he never grew taller. To his great annoyance, he stopped growing at the same height Nari had been at seventeen. His long black bangs constantly fell into his eyes, and every time Yuna looked at him, she couldn't help but be reminded of Nari, who used to grumble about the same thing. And Yuna knew, deep in her heart, that once Seung-joon gained a little weight, he would become as stunning as Nari had been—captivating everyone's attention just like she once did.
An exasperated groan filled the room, drawing Yuna's attention. She looked up to see Seung-joon dressed in a bright yellow pullover while Tae-min fussed around him with his usual persistence.
"Oh Hyung, I look like a girl! No, I'm not wearing those glasses. They're ridiculous," Seung-joon protested, his frustration evident.
But Tae-min was relentless, and as usual, he won. With a pout on his face, Tae-min dragged his feet, heading to the corner of the room where he plopped down, sighing dramatically. Seung-joon cast an annoyed glance in Taemin's direction before finally giving in.
"Fine, I'll wear them," Seung-joon muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes.
Yuna couldn't help but smile as she quickly reached for her phone and snapped a picture.
"Eomma.....!!!!"
Yuna looked up and locked eyes with Seung-joon, his glare sharp enough to cut through steel. A murderous glint flickered in his gaze.
"What? I didn't take any photos," Yuna said, her words rushed as she fumbled to hide her phone in the kitchen drawer, trying to play innocent.
Meanwhile, Tae-min was snapping pictures like a photographer at a high-profile event, entirely oblivious to Seung-joon's deadly glare. The look that would have terrified anyone else only made Tae-min more fascinated, his grin widening as he admired Seung-joon's irritated yet undeniably attractive expression.
"Ah… if only you were a bit taller, you could've been a killer model."
'Literally.' Seung-joon thought sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
"Hyung, that's enough. I'm leaving," he said, exasperated. "Appa, can you drop me off at school?"
Tae-hyung glanced up from his paper, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Oh, Joon-ah, you look pretty."
"Appa, not you, too," Seung-joon groaned, letting out a deep sigh.
"Are you planning to steal someone's heart today?" Tae-hyung teased, his eyes twinkling with a knowing smile.
Seung-joon paused, locking eyes with his adoptive father before his lips curved into a small, shy smile. "Well… maybe," he replied, his tone serious despite the warmth in his expression.
"Who?" the twins asked in unison, their curiosity piqued.
"I'm not telling you," Seung-joon replied as he walked out, leaving the twins exchanging puzzled glances.
"I can't think of any girl Seung-joon would find interesting," one said, frowning.
"Me neither. He must be pulling our legs," the other added, shaking his head.
As Tae-hyung drove Seung-joon to school, a quiet settled between them. Seung-joon stared out of the window, lost in thought, until Tae-hyung's warm hand gently brushed his cheek.
"Joon-ah, be careful, okay?" Tae-hyung said softly, his voice full of quiet concern.
"Okay, appa," Seung-joon replied, his voice calm but filled with the unspoken connection between them.
Since his father's passing, Tae-hyung had been Seung-joon's rock, the unwavering source of emotional strength that guided him through life. Though Seung-joon still missed his father deeply, he had never truly felt fatherless—Tae-hyung had always been there, silently supporting him, no matter what path Seung-joon chose.
"Appa, when do you think Tae-jon hyung and Tae-min hyung will finally realize that I have grown up?"
Tae-hyung burst into laughter. "Probably after their deaths!" he chuckled. "You must be holding yourself back a lot, huh?"
Seung-joon smiled a hint of mischief on his lips. "Well, sort of. They're lucky they're adorable."
Tae-hyung pulled the car to a stop next to the school bus.
"Got everything you need?" he asked, glancing over at Seung-joon.
"Yes, appa," Seung-joon replied, grabbing his bag from the back seat.
"Will you show me the person who stole our Joon-ah's heart?" Tae-hyung asked, his tone light but curious.
Seung-joon felt the heat rise to his ears, but he turned to look out of the car window, his eyes scanning the school grounds eagerly. His heart skipped a beat when he spotted Min-jun standing by the main hall with Chang-min.
"The one in the blue sweater," he said, pointing subtly toward Min-jun.
"Oh," Tae-hyung murmured, his gaze following Seung-joon's finger.
Seung-joon glanced back at his adoptive father. Tae-hyung's eyes were fixed on Min-jun, studying him with a serious look on his face. After what felt like an eternity, Tae-hyung broke into a soft smile, turning to Seung-joon with a knowing look.
"I feel sorry for Minister Han's son," Tae-hyung said with a teasing tone.
"Appa…" Seungjoon protested, but Tae-hyung's smile betrayed his jest.
"I'm kidding," Tae-hyung said, gently taking Seung-joon's hand and giving it a comforting caress. "Joon-ah, don't make things harder for yourself. I know you are a resolute and careful person, and I believe in you to do what's best for you."
Seung-joon buried his face in Tae-hyung's chest, seeking solace in his embrace. Tae-hyung wrapped his arms around him, rubbing his back soothingly. After a moment, Seung-joon reluctantly pulled away, stepping out of the car to help his club members organize their luggage. This task kept him occupied and stopped him from looking at Min-jun, knowing that seeing him might heighten his emotions. He boarded the bus and took a seat at the front. As he settled in, he noticed Min-jun approaching the bus with his head bowed, lost in thought. Seung-joon closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. When he opened his eyes, he was surprised to find someone sitting next to him—a rare occurrence since he usually preferred to be alone.
Seung-joon's mouth fell open in surprise, and his ears flushed with heat when he realized Min-jun was sitting beside him. Min-jun lost in his own world with headphones on and eyes shut, seemed completely unaware of Seung-joon's presence.
Seung-joon's heart pounded in his chest. He had never been this close to Min-jun before. Trying to calm himself, he shut his eyes tightly and began counting backward, focusing on steadying his racing heart. He continued until he felt his heartbeat return to normal. With his eyes still closed, he thought to himself,
'Han Min-jun, will you always make me feel this way?'
He slowly opened his eyes when he felt calm and looked at Min-jun from the corner of his eyes.
'Han Min-jun, you are going to be the death of me.'
Seung-joon felt a deep sense of contentment, though he struggled to keep his emotions in check. He bit his lips repeatedly, fighting the impulse to laugh out loud like an infatuated fool.
'How am I going to get through these two days?' he wondered, overwhelmed by his feelings for Min-jun.
Seung-joon found it impossible to enjoy the ride or concentrate on anything else while Min-jun was sitting beside him. Throughout the journey to the resort, Seung-joon's gaze remained fixed on Min-jun's face, longing to reach out and touch him. The arrival at their destination was a relief. With a gentle touch, Seung-joon tapped Min-jun's arm, trying to wake him from his slumber.
Seung-joon nearly burst into laughter at the stunned expression on Min-jun's face, but he kept his demeanor cool and nonchalant. Min-jun hurriedly disembarked from the bus, disappearing quickly. Seung-joon, on the other hand, took his time getting off and assisted his teammates in unloading their gear.
They worked for a while, transporting their belongings into the resort and getting everything set up. By the time Seung-joon reached the teacher in charge of room assignments, the process was nearly complete, with only a few keys left to be handed out.
"Ah, Kim Seung-joon, we have a bit of a dilemma," the teacher said with a worried expression. "One of the rooms had a plumbing problem, and we're one short. You'll need to share a room with Min-jun. He has a double bed, and he's already agreed to it."
Seung-joon's heart raced, but he forced himself to respond calmly. "No problem. Does Han Min-jun sunbae know he's sharing with me?"
The teacher shook their head. "No, he doesn't. We didn't finalize his roommate until now."
"Okay, then. I'll go introduce myself," Seung-joon said, keeping his voice casual despite the flutter of anticipation in his chest.
Seung-joon kept a straight face as he exited the teachers' room, but the moment he was out of the door, he hurried towards the room he would share with Min-jun. When he arrived and found it empty, he collapsed onto his knees and let out a muffled scream into the mattress. The sound bounced softly off the walls. After a moment, he lifted his head and said aloud,
"God, I can't decide whether you are merciful or cruel."
Seung-joon let out a deep sigh as he made his way to dinner, doing his best to avoid looking at Min-jun. He left the meal early, eager to find some solitude before Min-jun's return. Once he was alone in their room, he collapsed onto the floor, his head resting against the bed, and tried to soothe his excited nerves. A grin of pure happiness spread across his face. The thought of sharing a room with Min-jun was a dream he hadn't dared to hope for.
Seung-joon quickly stood up as he heard footsteps approaching from the corridor, making an effort to appear casual. The door creaked open, and Min-jun walked in, seemingly unaware of Seung-joon's presence. When Min-jun heard Seung-joon's voice, he froze in the doorway.
"Min-jun sunbae, there wasn't enough room for everyone. The teacher assigned me to your room since you have a double bed. If you'd prefer not to share, I can sleep on the floor."
The silence that followed felt like an eternity before Min-jun responded.
"It's alright. I don't mind sharing. It's too chilly to sleep on the floor. You can choose which side you want; I'll take a shower first."
Min-jun responded quickly, locking himself in the bathroom. Seung-joon collapsed onto the bed and gazed out at the glass wall, watching the sunset and feeling the chill in the air. Oddly, seeing Min-jun's initial panic had a calming effect on him. He sat on the bed, slipped on his headphones, and let the music wash over him. He looked up as the bathroom door clicked open, and Min-jun emerged, visibly shivering. For a moment, Seung-joon was paralyzed, but then a surge of frustration bubbled up inside him. He took a deep breath and began to dry Min-jun's hair as Min-jun protested weakly. Carefully, Seung-joon tucked him into the warm sheets, enveloping his shivering form in a tight embrace, channeling his anger into the warmth of his hug. He gradually loosened his grip as Min-jun's protests faded away.
"Sunbae, I know you might feel uncomfortable and embarrassed right now, but please try to bear with it for a while. Otherwise, you could end up seriously ill," Seung-joon said in a gentle tone, his voice filled with concern. He held Min-jun close until the shivering subsided, and Min-jun began to relax. After a few minutes, Min-jun cleared his throat and spoke softly.
"Kim Seungjoon, can I ask you for a favor?"
"What is it?"
"Could you call me hyung?"
Seung-joon paused, considering for a moment. In his mind, he thought,
'Can I call you Han-ah instead of hyung?'
But aloud, he said, "Sure, hyung."
To make Min-jun feel more at ease, Seung-joon pretended to be asleep. He felt the soft touch of Min-jun's kiss on his head and watched as Min-jun quickly drifted off, clearly worn out by the day's events. Seung-joon carefully removed his arms from around Min-jun, then pulled him closer into a comforting embrace, resting Min-jun's head on his arm. Resting his own cheek against Minjun's, Seung-joon sighed deeply. Noticing the tears on Min-jun's face, he tenderly wiped them away and placed a gentle kiss on Minjun's closed eyes. In that moment, Seung-joon felt as though he was finally breathing freely for the first time in his life.
'So, I've been missing you all my life...,' Seung-joon thought. 'Han Min-jun, it was really foolish to take a cold shower in this weather, but I'm grateful you did.'
Seung-joon tenderly kissed Min-jun's lips, feeling his heart and soul melting away in the moment.
'I'll consider God merciful,' Seung-joon murmured as he hugged and caressed Min-jun's head while Min-jun slept soundly.