Chapter twelve

⭐ ୧ You're not going anywhere,
Hae Jun. Got it? ও🍦

The faint hum of the boiling kettle in San Ha's kitchen was the only sound that filled the small, cozy space as he carefully poured steaming tea into two ceramic cups. Aera, sitting at the dining table, rested her chin on her hand and watched him with an appreciative smile. She always found something oddly calming about the way San Ha handled even the simplest tasks with such patience.

"Hae Jun's going to be there a while," she said, breaking the silence.

San Ha nodded, glancing at her. "I hope things go smoothly. It's a lot to take in."

Before Aera could respond, the sound of the front door opening drew their attention. Joo Won walked in, her footsteps purposeful as she headed straight to the kitchen. Her expression was unusually stern, her sharp gaze shifting between San Ha and Aera.

"Hey, did Dal leave?" San Ha asked with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.

Joo Won didn't respond. Instead, her cold, focused gaze locked on Aera, sending a chill down her spine.

"Uh... do you want some ice cream?" Aera asked nervously, pointing to San Ha's fridge in a weak attempt to defuse the tension.

"I bought the one you like," San Ha added quickly, though his voice betrayed his unease.

Still, Joo Won said nothing, her piercing stare unwavering. The tension in the room grew thick, and Aera exchanged a helpless look with San Ha.

Finally, Joo Won folded her arms, her expression making it clear she wasn't going to let this go until she had answers. San Ha sighed, giving Aera a small nod, silently agreeing that they couldn't keep her in the dark any longer.

The three of them sat on the apartment building's terrace, a light breeze carrying the salty scent of the nearby ocean. Aera fidgeted with her strawberry ice cream as they recounted the events to Joo Won.

"So... his biological dad?" Joo Won asked, her eyes wide with shock as she processed the revelation.

"Yes," Aera confirmed, nodding solemnly.

Joo Won's initial surprise gave way to a bright, almost naive smile. "Wow. So he has a dad. Good for him!"

"Is that good?" San Ha asked, frowning slightly at her enthusiasm. Joo Won nodded enthusiastically.

Aera tilted her head, studying Joo Won's reaction. "Even if that ahjusshi takes Hae Jun with him?"

Joo Won's smile faltered for the first time. "Is he going to take him?"

San Ha sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "Isn't that obvious?"

"I guess so," Joo Won muttered, her tone quieter now.

The three sat in silence for a moment before San Ha broke it, his voice gentle but serious. "Are you two okay with him leaving?"

Joo Won blinked, then shook her head quickly. "He won't go anyway, right?"

"He might go," San Ha said, his gaze steady. "Since it's his biological dad."

As they spoke, Hae Jun had quietly appeared behind them, holding a small plastic bag and a pack of cold water. His eyes were puffy and red from crying, though he stayed silent, listening to the conversation unfold.

"What about our dad?" Joo Won asked suddenly, her voice filled with concern. "What will or dad do? Even now, he's always worried that Hae Jun might skip a meal. How could he leave our dad?"

Aera's eyes lit up as an idea came to her. "We can tell him to visit his biological dad occasionally. Like his aunt does." She nodded enthusiastically, turning to Joo Won for support.

"That's a great idea," Joo Won agreed, her energy returning.

San Ha chuckled softly, standing up and leaning his back against the terrace railing, his yellow ice cream in one hand. "So he can't leave?" he asked, looking at both girls with a playful smile.

"He can't," Joo Won said firmly, shaking her head.

"Never," Aera added with equal determination, her voice soft but resolute.

San Ha's smile widened as he caught sight of Hae Jun standing behind them. He tilted his head slightly, gesturing for the girls to turn around.

"What?" Aera asked, confused by the movement. She and Joo Won turned in unison, only to find Hae Jun standing there, his lips quivering as he tried—and failed—to hold back tears.

"Why are you crying?" Joo Won asked, frowning in concern.

But Hae Jun didn't answer. Instead, he let out a loud sniffle and began walking toward them like a zombie, arms outstretched. One hand clutched the white plastic bag, while the other held the cold pack for his face.

"Stay away. Stay away!" San Ha said quickly, sidestepping and pushing him towards Joo Won.

Joo Won frowned, trying to avoid the crying Hae Jun. She instinctively pushed him toward Aera, who was already standing with open arms, a fond smile on her face.

"It's okay," Aera murmured softly as Hae Jun collapsed into her embrace, sobbing into her shoulder. She gently patted his back, her voice soothing. "Let it out, Hae Jun. It's okay."

San Ha leaned back against the railing, watching the scene with a small, amused smile. "You know, this is kind of nice. The big guy finally showing some vulnerability."

"Shut up, San Ha," Aera said without malice, glancing at him with a smirk.

Joo Won sat back down at the table, raising her chocolate ice cream to her mouth as she watched Hae Jun cry. "You're such a crybaby," she muttered, though her tone was more affectionate than teasing.

Hae Jun sniffled loudly, lifting his head from Aera's shoulder just enough to glare at Joo Won. "Yah, you're heartless," he mumbled, his voice thick with emotion.

Aera chuckled, her arms still wrapped around him. "You're not going anywhere, Hae Jun. Got it?"

He nodded into her shoulder, his tears finally slowing as the warmth of his siblings' presence surrounded him. In that moment, the unspoken bond between them felt stronger than ever.

The moon hung low in the night sky, casting a gentle silver glow over the terrace. The faint sound of crickets echoed in the background, harmonizing with the cool breeze that made the warmth of their earlier ice cream a distant memory.

The group sat huddled on the Korean traditional outdoor table. San Ha, seated on the far left, leaned back slightly, his legs stretched out in front of him. Aera sat beside him as she absentmindedly traced patterns on the table beneath her. Joo Won was next to her, her posture unusually upright as she occasionally shot sideways glances at Hae Jun. On her right, Hae Jun sat, his red-rimmed eyes and pouting lips betraying his earlier tears.

Joo Won's voice broke the comfortable silence. She leaned forward, her tone mockingly dramatic as she began narrating, "19-year-old Kang Hae Jun, who is more of a coward than anyone. Kang Hae Jun, who is always looking for his dad and crab soybean paste stew."

San Ha bit down on his lip, fighting the grin threatening to spread across his face. Beside him, Aera clamped her hand over her mouth, her shoulders shaking as she stifled her laughter.

"To Hae Jun," Joo Won continued, narrowing her eyes at him, "his dad is the best chef. 19-year-old Kang Hae Jun bursts into tears as he considers the possibility of losing such a good chef."

"That's enough," Hae Jun muttered, his voice strained with embarrassment.

But Joo Won wasn't done. "19-year-old—"

"That's enough," San Ha cut in, amusement lacing his voice. He smirked when Joo Won shot him a sharp side-eye. "He said he's sorry, okay?"

"I'm upset," Joo Won declared, ignoring him and looking pointedly at Hae Jun, "that I went around cluelessly looking for Kang Hae Jun."

Hae Jun sniffed, finally calming down enough to speak. "Why were you looking for me?"

"I know. Why was I looking for you?" Joo Won tilted her head thoughtfully. "It was definitely something more important than this situation." She paused, her eyes lighting up as the memory returned. Without warning, she stood up abruptly, grabbing Aera's wrist and pulling her up.

"What? What's happening?" Aera exclaimed, stumbling slightly as Joo Won dragged her toward the stairs.

"Time to brag about our love letters!" Joo Won sang excitedly, her grin wide.

Moments later, the girls returned to the terrace, each holding an envelope. Joo Won's energy was palpable as she proudly displayed her letter to the boys, her smile practically glowing under the moonlight. Aera trailed behind, her hands clasped nervously behind her back, her letter tucked out of sight.

"I told you to stop delivering letters," San Ha sighed, reaching out for Joo Won's envelope as she waved it in front of his face.

Joo Won pulled it away with a mischievous grin. "It isn't yours. It's mine." She pointed to the neat handwriting on the envelope. "Yoon Joo Won. You see that, right? Yoon Joo Won."

"Hey, is that more important than my situation?" Hae Jun asked in disbelief, his brow furrowing.

"Who gave you that?" San Ha asked, leaning back and crossing his arms.

"I don't know," Joo Won admitted, her excitement undeterred. "I'm going to start dating now, too." She smiled brightly, swaying on her feet. "Dating," she sang, twirling the envelope in her fingers.

"Let me see that." Hae Jun stood up, smirking. "Are you sure it isn't a chain letter?"

"It's not!" Joo Won protested, clutching the letter protectively as Hae Jun tried to grab it. She darted around the terrace, squealing as he chased her. "Take Aera Eonnie's! She's got one too!"

"She always gets lots of love letters. We know that!" Hae Jun said, halting in his pursuit and waving a dismissive hand.

"This time's different," Joo Won teased, her tone sing-song. "It seems like this guy really caught Aera's attention!"

"Yah!" Aera's cheeks flushed as she frowned, embarrassed. "That was a secret!"

At Joo Won's revelation, both boys turned their full attention to Aera.

"Aera likes someone?"

"For the first time?"

"It's not a big deal," Aera said with a sigh, reluctantly pulling the envelope from behind her back. The colorful design and intricate details stood out immediately, clearly more thoughtful than the usual plain white notes she received.

Curiosity piqued, San Ha stood and effortlessly plucked the letter from her hands, ignoring her half-hearted protests. He inspected it closely, his expression unreadable.

"Yah, give it back," Aera said, trying to sound annoyed, though her flushed cheeks and shy smile betrayed her. She reached out to take it, but San Ha held it just out of her reach.

As she pouted, flipping her hair in exasperation, something shifted in San Ha. Time seemed to slow as he watched her. The moonlight caught the soft waves of her perfectly styled hair, her curtain bangs framing her glowing face. Her cheeks and nose, pink from the cold, made her look even more endearing.

But beneath his admiration, a strange, unwelcome feeling stirred. Aera had always been popular, and her pile of love letters was nothing new. But this one felt different. The way her eyes sparkled, the way her lips curved in a secretive smile—she liked whoever wrote this. And he hated that.

Why did it bother him so much?

"You're blushing, Oppa," Joo Won teased, snapping him out of his thoughts.

San Ha handed the letter back to Aera, his usual teasing demeanor returning. "This guy better have good grades and better taste in ice cream than you."

"Yah!" Aera shot back, her laughter breaking the tension.

"Let's hope he knows how to deal with her mood swings," Hae Jun quipped, earning a playful swat from Aera.

As the four laughed under the starry sky, San Ha's smile lingered, but the strange pang in his chest didn't fade.

The terrace was quiet, bathed in silver moonlight. Aera lay flat on the wooden outdoor table, her arms spread out as if to embrace the vast sky above. The stars twinkled faintly, but her thoughts were too heavy to be lifted by their beauty.

It had been weeks since she had a good night's sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, memories of her childhood crept in, vivid and unrelenting. Tonight was no different.

Her mind replayed the night her mother left her in Haedong. The rain had poured relentlessly, soaking her small frame as she clung to her mother's hand.

"I'll come back for you, Aera. I promise."

Her mother's face was etched into her memory—the worry, the sadness, the love in her eyes. Even after all these years, Aera couldn't bring herself to resent her. She missed her mother and father more than she ever let on.

Now, with Hae Jun's biological father showing up, that familiar ache in her chest had returned, stronger than ever. She wondered, Will someone come for me, too? Will I ever see them again?

As if her mind wanted to escape, it flitted to something lighter—the mysterious love letter she'd received days ago. Her cheeks warmed slightly at the thought. She'd never cared for the attention she got from boys before, but this time felt different. The letter was sincere, heartfelt, and had made her heart race in a way she'd never experienced.

Who is he? she wondered, biting her lip. For the first time, she found herself wanting to meet someone, to know him, to feel what it was like to have a boyfriend—a first love.

She sighed, brushing her hair back as the night breeze kissed her face. The stillness of the night was comforting, yet her thoughts wouldn't quiet.

"Can't sleep?"

Aera startled, sitting up abruptly. She turned toward the sound and saw San Ha stepping onto the terrace. He was holding a book and looked more disheveled than usual, his hoodie slightly wrinkled and his eyes shadowed with exhaustion.

"Oppa," she said, trying to sound casual. "What are you doing here?"

He walked over and leaned against the railing. "Couldn't sleep," he replied simply, tapping the edge of the book. "Thought I'd study for a while."

"Study? At this hour?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

He shrugged. "It keeps my mind busy."

Aera tilted her head, sensing there was more to his words, but she didn't press. Instead, she patted the spot beside her. "Sit with me for a bit."

He hesitated before setting the book down and joining her on the table. They both leaned back, their heads tilted toward the sky.

"It's nice out here," San Ha said after a while. "Quiet."

"Too quiet," Aera murmured.

San Ha glanced at her. "Something on your mind?"

Aera hesitated. She didn't want to burden him, but the weight of her thoughts felt unbearable. "I've just been... remembering things lately. From when I was a kid."

"Like what?" he asked gently.

She clasped her hands together, her gaze fixed on the stars. "The night my mom left me. It was raining, and she said she'd come back for me. But she never did."

San Ha stayed quiet, letting her words linger in the air.

"I don't hate her," Aera continued. "I just... I miss her. And my dad. Sometimes I wonder if they're out there, thinking about me. And now, with Hae Jun oppa's dad showing up, it's like... I can't help but hope. Even though I know I shouldn't."

San Ha sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You're allowed to hope, Aera. It's not wrong to want that."

She glanced at him, noticing the tension in his jaw. "What about you? Why couldn't you sleep?"

He hesitated, his eyes flickering toward the book he'd brought. "Nothing important."

"Oppa," she said firmly. "Don't do that. You always say it's nothing, but I can tell when something's bothering you."

He looked at her, his expression softening. "I just... I get these memories sometimes. From when I was younger. Things I don't want to think about."

Aera's heart ached for him. "Why don't you ever talk about it?"

"Because it's easier not to," he admitted. "I don't want to drag anyone else into it."

"You're not dragging me into anything," she said, placing a hand on his arm. "You're my brother, San Ha. If something's bothering you, I want to know."

He smiled faintly, his gaze dropping to her hand. "You're too good, you know that?"

She rolled her eyes, trying to lighten the mood. "And don't you forget it."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while before Aera spoke again. "Oppa... can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Have you ever... liked someone?"

San Ha raised an eyebrow at her sudden question. "Why do you ask?"

"I don't know," she said, shrugging. "I just... about the love letter I got, it's been on my mind. I've never liked anyone before, but this... it feels different."

San Ha felt a strange pang in his chest but pushed it aside. "Do you know who it's from?"

She shook her head. "Not yet. But I want to find out. I don't know... it's exciting but also kind of scary."

He studied her face, the way her eyes lit up with curiosity and nervous excitement. For some reason, the idea of her liking someone made his chest tighten.

"Well," he said finally, "just make sure he's someone who deserves you. And if he isn't, let me know. I'll take care of it."

Aera laughed softly. "Thanks, Oppa. I'll keep that in mind."

The two of them stayed on the terrace, talking until the first hints of dawn appeared. In that quiet, shared moment, the weight of their unspoken fears felt a little lighter.

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

Here's today's chapter! A little longer and also with more #SanRa interactions! lol, I just came up with that ship name for those two, so what do you think about it? Think you have something better? 😉

I am so excited for them to start dating already! Like come on! I wish it was that easy to write chapters 😭

Good night everyone (night for me) I will see you all on the next chapter! 💗