Chapter eleven

⭐ ୧ If you're looking for an heir, adoption is a better method. ও 🍼

It was still early morning, the sky painted in soft hues of orange and pink as the three siblings—Hae Jun, Sanha, and Aera—set off for Seoul. Their goal was to meet Hae Jun's biological father, a man none of them fully trusted, and their decision to leave early was deliberate—to avoid Joo-won's inevitable curiosity and interrogation.

Now, they stood in front of "Heaven Hotel," a colossal building with gleaming windows that reflected the morning sun. The sheer grandeur of the place was overwhelming, a symbol of wealth and privilege that seemed worlds away from their modest lives in Haedong.

"Wow," Hae Jun breathed, his eyes wide as he tugged at both Aera's and Sanha's sleeves. "Don't places like this cost several hundred thousand won a night?"

Aera's jaw dropped, her head tilting back to take in the full height of the building. "This place probably costs more per night than our entire monthly rent," she murmured, still staring in awe.

Sanha, on the other hand, looked unimpressed, his hands casually shoved into his jacket pockets. "Is this the right place?" he asked dryly, glancing at Aera before gently reaching out to close her gaping mouth with two fingers. "You're going to catch flies," he teased, a small, amused smile tugging at his lips.

Aera blinked, snapping out of her daze. "I wasn't that obvious!" she protested, nudging his hand away, though her cheeks reddened slightly.

"It is," Hae Jun confirmed, his voice tinged with a mix of excitement and nerves. His eyes remained fixed on the grand building. "He told me to meet him at the Heaven Hotel lounge."

Sanha scoffed, patting Hae Jun firmly on the back. "Don't let this place intimidate you," he said with mock seriousness. "If you're going to take a swing at him, we've got your back."

"What are you even saying?" Hae Jun chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm going to ask him nicely."

Aera sighed, stepping between the two boys. "Can we not start planning fistfights before we've even met him? Let's just go in and see what this is all about."

With that, the three of them entered the luxurious hotel and made their way to the lounge. The space was lavish, a breathtaking view of the ocean.

They were soon seated at a table with Hae Jun's biological father. The man exuded wealth, from his tailored red jacket to the designer wristwatch glinting on his wrist. Aera couldn't help but stare at him, recognition flickering in her eyes. He was the same man she'd seen at the school gym that day, the one she, Joo-won, and Dal had spied on while trailing Hae Jun.

Now that she looked closely, the resemblance between him and Hae Jun was undeniable, though his polished demeanor seemed worlds apart from Hae Jun's grounded personality.

"Is it my organs?" Hae Jun's sudden, blunt question broke the silence.

Aera and Sanha both froze, their eyes shutting momentarily in disbelief. Aera bit her lip, trying to suppress the urge to groan. Of all the questions he could've led with, that was the one he chose?

Hae Jun's father blinked in confusion before laughing lightly, seemingly amused. "What? What about your organs?" he asked, leaning back in his chair. "Oh, my goodness. I'm perfectly healthy. I take herbal tonics all year round and don't even touch processed foods. Don't you believe me? Do I need to show you my medical records?" He gestured to himself. "The doctor says my physical age is in the thirties.  This isn't an easy feat, even if you're rich."

"Then why did you come looking for me?" Hae Jun asked, his tone growing more serious.

The man hesitated for a moment before replying, "Obviously, because you're my son. You're my blood."

Hae Jun leaned forward, his expression hardening. "But you disregarded me nineteen years ago," he said coldly. "I heard you cut Mom off when she was due to give birth."

"Says who?" his father shot back, though his tone betrayed a hint of defensiveness. "Seo Hyeon isn't the type to say something like that."

"Aunt," Hae Jun replied curtly.

At this, the man's face soured. "Aunt... Oh, her?" He shook his head in disbelief, then gestured toward Aera and Sanha. "Is that why you brought your friends along? To argue? To fight three against one? You've grown more petty than I thought."

Sanha leaned forward, his tone sharp and unyielding. "I think it's more petty for an adult to call minors petty for 'fighting three against one.'"

The man faltered, clearly caught off guard by Sanha's retort.

Hae Jun didn't give him time to recover. "If it isn't for organs, then fine. Please don't contact me again. You already cut off our ties back then. I came here to tell you that." He glanced at Aera and Sanha, and the three of them rose to leave.

"Wait," the man said quickly, gesturing for them to sit back down. "As you can clearly see... Sit down." He coughed, clearing his throat. "Well, I have some money and property. I have everything. But I don't have a child."

"So what?" Hae Jun asked, his voice cold and uninterested.

The man fidgeted nervously. "So what? Oh, so... My wife's family... How should I put this?" He hesitated, searching for the right words.

"Do they want your money?" Aera interjected, her tone sharp. Her gaze was unwavering as she stared him down.

The man hesitated again before nodding slightly, the truth evident in his silence. "They used to only joke about it before. But nowadays, they're more blatant about it. They're dividing my property amongst themselves. Isn't that ridiculous? Coveting my assets while I'm still alive just because I don't have an heir?"

Hae Jun scoffed. "If you're looking for an heir, adoption is a better method."

"This isn't a bad deal for you, either," the man countered, his voice growing more desperate. "You can do anything you want if you come with me to America."

"America?" Hae Jun repeated, surprised.

"Yes, America. You know, don't you? America is known for basketball. NBA, Michael Jordan," the man said, clearly trying to appeal to Hae Jun's love for basketball.

Aera and Sanha exchanged glances, both silently gauging Hae Jun's reaction.

"What are you saying?" Hae Jun frowned. "Basketball is fun in Korea, too." He stood abruptly, ready to leave again.

Sanha grabbed his wrist. "What?" Hae Jun asked, confused.

"Are we beggars?" Sanha said, pulling out some cash and slamming it onto the table. Aera and Hae Jun followed suit, adding their own money to cover the drinks they hadn't even touched.

The man stared at the bills in stunned silence. "Hey, that...."

"Let's go," Sanha said, walking toward the exit.

Hae Jun grabbed his bag and followed, while Aera lingered for a moment. She turned back to the man and gave a small, polite bow before hurrying after her brothers.

The three of them sat near the shoreline, the sound of the waves crashing against the sand filling the silence between them. The salty breeze carried a sense of calm, but the tension from their earlier encounter still lingered in the air.

Aera sat on Sanha's left, her white skirt carefully arranged to keep sand from clinging to it. Their hands rested close to each other on the soft grains, so close that the occasional brush sent a jolt up Sanha's arm. He kept sneaking glances at their hands, swallowing hard as he fought the giddy, nervous feeling bubbling inside him.

He couldn't shake the memory of that time on the transit bus when Aera had casually held his hand. It had been a simple gesture, fleeting and innocent, but it had turned his heart into a drum, and now, sitting here, he wondered if she felt the same electricity he did—or if he was alone in his strange emotions.

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by Hae Jun's exaggerated groan.

"Darn it! Seriously," Hae Jun complained loudly before letting himself fall backward onto the sand, flailing his arms and legs in frustration.

Sanha instinctively shifted away as sand flew in his direction, raising an arm to shield himself. "Stop that," he scolded, his tone sharp. "Sand is flying everywhere."

"He's the worst," Hae Jun grumbled, sitting up again and crossing his arms like a sulking child. "He's worse than I expected. I'd rather he just asked for my organs!" He glared at the two of them, his expression a mix of exasperation and disbelief.

Aera tilted her head, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Would you give them to him?" she asked teasingly, brushing some sand off her skirt.

"Why would I?" Hae Jun shot back, his voice filled with indignation. "They're my precious organs! Seriously!" He flopped back onto the sand with a dramatic groan, resuming his flailing.

Sanha sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as a few girls walking by gave them strange looks. "How long are you going to keep this up?" he asked, patting Hae Jun's arm to stop him. "People are staring."

Hae Jun stopped mid-flail and sat up again, his pout intact but his movements stilled.

To break the growing tension, Aera spoke up, her voice calm and thoughtful. "Let's say your mom had her reasons," she began, smoothing the folds of her skirt. "Why did your aunt stay quiet and let things get to this point? It's not like she didn't know."

Hae Jun frowned, running a hand through his hair. "Aunt probably concealed it for my sake," he said after a moment. "There are things better left unknown in this world."

"You should know about it since it concerns you," Sanha countered, his tone firm.

"Anyway, she had good intentions—" Hae Jun insisted, leaning forward slightly.

Aera gave him a small, skeptical smile. "Good intentions don't always lead to good results," she pointed out gently.

"Exactly," Sanha agreed, glancing at Aera with a nod before turning back to Hae Jun. "She probably thought you wouldn't be able to handle the truth. But doesn't that make it worse?"

Hae Jun didn't respond immediately, his gaze drifting back to the ocean. After a long sigh, he muttered, "You're not entirely wrong." He then turned to the two of them, his expression more serious. "But don't tell Dad and Joo-won about any of this, okay?"

"How much of it?" Sanha asked, raising an eyebrow. "The fact that your birth dad appeared or that he's rich?"

"Everything," Hae Jun said with a dramatic wave of his hands.

Aera tilted her head in confusion. "Why shouldn't we?"

"They don't have to know," Hae Jun said, slipping back into his thick Busan accent.

Sanha's jaw tightened, clearly irritated. "Did you not hear a thing I said?" he said, his voice tinged with frustration.

"Okay?" Hae Jun said with a grin, reaching out to playfully shove Sanha's shoulder.

"I don't know," Sanha frowned, his lips pressing into a tight line, but it didn't last long. As Hae Jun grabbed his arm and shook him playfully, Sanha couldn't help the small smile that crept onto his face.

"Don't tell them," Hae Jun repeated, his grin widening as he started shaking Sanha harder. "Okay? Okay? Don't tell them!"

"Stop it," Sanha muttered, his words betraying his laughter.

"Okay?" Hae Jun turned to Aera, his eyes sparkling mischievously. Before she could respond, he reached over and gently pinched her cheek.

"Yah!" Aera swatted his hand away, trying to keep her composure.

"Come on, Aera," Hae Jun teased, still grinning. "You're the sensible one here. Say okay."

She sighed, her lips curling into a small smile despite herself. "Fine, okay," she relented, but her tone was wary. "But only because you're making such a big deal out of it."

Sanha glanced at Aera, their eyes meeting for a brief moment. Her smile lingered, and something about the way her eyes crinkled at the corners made his stomach flutter again. He quickly looked away, brushing sand off his jeans.

"Good," Hae Jun said, satisfied, as he leaned back on his hands. "That's settled. Now, what are we doing for dinner? I'm starving."

"Typical," Aera said with a small laugh, nudging Sanha's arm lightly. "We've just been through an emotional rollercoaster, and all you can think about is food."

"Can you blame me?" Hae Jun shot back, grinning. "I'm a growing boy."

"More like a growing headache," Sanha muttered, though his tone was fond.

The three of them laughed, the earlier tension melting away as the waves rolled in and the sun began its descent into the horizon.

The air was brisk as Hae Jun, Sanha, and Aera walked down the familiar streets of Haedong. The train ride had been a quiet one, and Aera had made it her mission to lighten the mood, cracking jokes and nudging her brothers until they at least cracked a smile. By now, their shared laughter had helped loosen the tension, and they were almost back to their usual dynamic.

Turning a corner, however, they were caught off guard by Joo Won and Dal walking toward them from the opposite direction. The sight of the pair brought their banter to a screeching halt.

"Oppa! Eonnie!" Joo Won called out with a bright smile, her voice carrying across the narrow street.

"Hey," Sanha greeted casually, his tone neutral, though his expression stiffened at the sight of her.

As the group approached each other, Hae Jun subtly shot Aera and Sanha a warning look, silently reminding them not to say anything about their earlier encounter. Sanha caught the hint and quickly addressed Dal, keeping the tone light. "Dal, are you visiting?"

"Hello," Dal replied politely, bowing her head slightly.

Aera and Sanha returned the gesture, both smiling briefly before the awkward silence settled over them.

"You three should stop by the store," Joo Won said abruptly, breaking the quiet.

"Why?" Aera asked, tilting her head curiously, her brows knitting together.

"There's a strange ahjusshi there," Joo Won explained, her tone lowering. "You should stop by."

"Who?" Hae Jun asked, his curiosity piqued despite the exhaustion on his face.

"I said I didn't know." Joo Won replied with a frown. "But... anyway, the atmosphere was weird."

Sanha groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm tired."

"Me too," Hae Jun added, his frown deepening.

"Me three," Aera chimed in, rotating her stiff neck as if to emphasize her point.

The three of them turned in unison, ready to continue home and leave the mystery for another time, when Dal's soft voice stopped them.

"Monolid eyes," she said suddenly, pointing in their direction.

They turned back as one, their curiosity sparked again.

"He has large, monolid eyes," Dal elaborated, her gaze landing on Hae Jun. "You kind of resemble him."

Hae Jun's face fell, and a heavy sigh escaped his lips. "Darn it," he muttered before suddenly taking off at a sprint toward their dad's restaurant.

"Seriously?" Sanha groaned, breaking into a run after him.

"Gosh," Aera muttered, annoyance flickering across her face as she adjusted her bag and followed them.

Joo Won blinked in confusion, turning to Dal for an explanation. "What is it? What about monolid eyes?" she asked, already jogging to catch up with the others.

The restaurant door flew open with a loud bang as Hae Jun burst inside, his chest heaving from the run. "Dad!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the nearly empty space. His eyes darted frantically around the room, searching.

Aera and Sanha were right behind him, their steps slowing as they followed his gaze. Joo Won and Dal arrived moments later, their curiosity fueling their haste.

From behind the kitchen counter, Jeong Jae looked up from wiping a tray, clearly startled by the commotion. "Hey," he said, raising an eyebrow. "He left. Just now."

Hae Jun froze, his shoulders sagging as he processed the words. The others stood in stunned silence, unsure of how to react.

Aera let out a soft sigh of relief, her shoulders relaxing. She glanced at Sanha, who seemed equally relieved, though his eyes lingered on Hae Jun with concern.

Joo Won, however, was not about to let the moment pass quietly. She took a determined step forward, opening her mouth to ask the question already forming in her mind. Before she could speak, Aera and Sanha exchanged a knowing look and swiftly moved into action, each grabbing one of Joo Won's arms.

"Hey, what—" Joo Won protested, twisting her arms to free herself.

"Not now," Sanha muttered under his breath, keeping his hold firm.

"But—" Joo Won tried again, her curiosity only growing.

"No buts," Aera said firmly, her voice calm but resolute. "Let's go."

The two began steering Joo Won out of the restaurant, with Dal hesitating briefly before following behind them.

Joo Won glared at them both, trying to dig her heels into the floor. "Why can't I ask? What's the big deal? Why was there a strange man here? And what's with all the running?"

Aera sighed, glancing at her with a faint smile. "Joo Won, you don't have to know everything all the time. Trust me."

"That's not an answer!" Joo Won shot back, narrowing her eyes at her.

"It's all you're getting," Sanha said, his tone unyielding as he tightened his grip on her arm just enough to keep her moving.

Once they were outside, Aera finally let go, patting Joo Won's arm in an attempt to soothe her. "It's nothing to worry about, okay? Just trust us on this one."

Joo Won crossed her arms, clearly dissatisfied but relenting for the moment. "Fine," she huffed. "But I'm not letting this go."

"We know," Aera and Sanha said in unison, exchanging a look of shared amusement before turning their attention back toward the restaurant.

Inside, Hae Jun stood near the counter, his fists clenched as he looked at Jeong Jae. There was an unspoken tension in the air, and Aera knew this was a conversation meant for just the two of them.

With a final glance at her brother through the window, she turned to Sanha. "Let's give them some space," she said softly.

Sanha nodded, his expression thoughtful as he fell into step beside her. Together, they walked a few steps away, leaving the rest to unfold behind closed doors.

࿁ • 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘰𝘬 . . . 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝒚𝒐𝒖
ྀིྀི 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝒎𝒆 𐙚 ~ @ 𝑾𝒐𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 • ࿁

Two chapters in a row! lol I'll try to keep updating this frequently at least just this week since I have nothing else to do 😂

Anyways, I know there hasn't been much interaction between Aera and San Ha, but I promise it's coming soon, since it's just starting, I'm trying to give Aera the scenes between them two that are meant for Joo-Won and San Ha, so please bear with me, it's not easy to modify the whole thing without changing much of the original plot and dialogues 😭

Anyways, with that said, I'll see you all in the next chapter! ♥️