Chapter seventeen

⭐ ୧ San Ha's approval? That
might take a lifetime. ও 🍨🌙

Aera lay sprawled out on the worn sofa of their small apartment, her head propped on her hand as though posing for an imaginary camera. Her sharp eyes followed her younger sister, Joo Won, who had her face pressed firmly against the door of Hae Jun's room, her ice cream melting slightly in her other hand. Aera smirked faintly. The evening had settled into a cold, quiet night, and it was clear to her that Joo Won's attempts to coax Hae Jun out of his self-imposed isolation would be futile—at least for tonight.

Still, she admired her sister's persistence. Joo Won was not one to give up easily, especially when it came to diffusing tension within their little family.

"Have some ice cream. Now's your only chance," Joo Won said, her voice calm but edged with determination as she knocked lightly on the wooden door. She pressed her ear to the frame, waiting for any sign of movement from inside. But the silence that greeted her was unbroken. "Are you crying? Is that why you won't open the door?" Joo Won teased gently, trying to elicit a reaction. Again, nothing. The seconds stretched on, and her shoulders sagged slightly in defeat.

From the sofa, Aera shook her head, watching her sister with a mix of amusement and exasperation. Sliding off the couch, she padded toward the door, her sock-clad feet making faint sounds against the floor. She stood beside Joo Won, her arms crossed as she surveyed the closed door thoughtfully.

"If you open the door now," Aera began with a sly smile, her tone casual but calculated, "Joo Won will fold laundry for a week."

Joo Won's head snapped toward her sister, her lips parting in a gasp of betrayal. "But Eonnie, why would I—"

The door suddenly creaked open, interrupting Joo Won's protest. Hae Jun's arm shot out, swiftly snatching the ice cream from her hand. The movement startled Joo Won, who stumbled back slightly, clutching at her chest as though he'd stolen something far more valuable.

"H-Hae Jun!" Joo Won stammered, recovering quickly. But before she could say more, Hae Jun began to close the door again.

Aera, faster than him, shoved her hand against the door to keep it ajar. She leaned slightly forward, her tone now firm and motherly. "Reconcile. Why fight when you don't even want to? You guys aren't little kids anymore."

Hae Jun met her gaze for a long moment, his expression impassive, though the redness around his eyes betrayed his emotions. Without a word, he pushed the door shut, forcing Aera to step back.

She sighed in defeat, rolling her eyes as her hand fell to her side.

"Come out and eat," Joo Won continued, pressing her forehead against the door again with a pout. Her voice was softer now, pleading. "Don't eat while crying alone. You have to brush your teeth, too."

The door opened once more, revealing Hae Jun. He stood there, his ice cream already partially eaten, his face unreadable but his eyes unmistakably swollen and red.

"I'm sick and tired of both of you," he said seriously, his tone cold but his words wavered slightly as his gaze flicked between Aera and Joo Won.

Aera met his words with a forced smile, the corners of her lips twitching slightly. "Noted," she replied dryly, turning on her heel to retreat to her room. As she walked away, her voice carried faintly over her shoulder. "They look like little kids fighting over insignificant things."

Joo Won stood frozen, her mouth opening as though to respond, but she said nothing as Aera disappeared behind her door. Left standing in the hallway with Hae Jun, she sighed, muttering under her breath, "I'm not the one being dramatic here."

Hae Jun ignored her, stepping back into his room and shutting the door once again with a click. The apartment fell quiet save for the faint hum of the fridge in the kitchen and the occasional creak of the floorboards as Joo Won shuffled back to the living room. She slumped onto the sofa, finishing her ice cream in thoughtful silence.

It was the next day, early morning, and Aera was seated in her classroom. Despite it being lunch break, she was bent over her notebook, diligently preparing for the test scheduled for the following day. Her pen moved across the paper with precision as she filled the margins with notes and diagrams. The quiet hum of students chatting, laughing, and eating filled the room, but Aera paid no attention. She was known for her academic excellence, always securing top marks. She and San Ha were the only ones in their family who genuinely enjoyed studying and saw it as their ticket to a brighter future.

The classroom's relative calm shattered as the door burst open, and two of her closest friends, Yun Hee and Ji Eun, stumbled in, gasping for air like they had just sprinted a marathon. Heads turned, and the buzz of conversation dimmed slightly.

"Yah!" Yun Hee exclaimed, her voice high-pitched and urgent as she hurried over to Aera, who remained laser-focused on her notebook. "Your oppas are ganging up on Jun Ho and Min Jun!"

Aera's pen paused mid-stroke, but she didn't look up. "What are you saying?" she asked, her tone skeptical. She scoffed softly, her eyes still on her notes.

"I heard they dragged them to the gym storage!" Ji Eun added breathlessly, leaning on Yun Hee for support.

Aera's pen slipped slightly on the page, and her mind reeled as memories of the previous night surfaced.

"Who said you're cheerful for someone who got abandoned?"

The words echoed in her mind, and a pang of guilt hit her. Her brothers—Hae Jun and San Ha—must have assumed Min Jun was the one who said such cruel things.

The classroom fell silent as Yun Hee and Ji Eun's frantic words registered with the other students.

"Ganging up?" someone murmured from the back of the room.

"Are they thugs?" another student asked, frowning.

The rising chatter snapped Aera into action. She abruptly stood from her desk, her chair screeching against the floor. Without a word, she bolted for the door, her notebook abandoned on the desk.

Yun Hee and Ji Eun exchanged a quick look before scrambling after her. "Hey, Moon Aera!" Yun Hee called, struggling to keep up.

The trio dashed across the campus, their hurried footsteps echoing against the walls of the hallways before they spilled out into the open air and crossed the football field.

"Slow down!" Ji Eun yelled, clutching her side as she lagged behind.

"They probably won't hit him or anything!" Yun Hee shouted, her voice tinged with desperation.

But Aera didn't slow. Her heart pounded in her chest—not from the sprint but from the overwhelming need to stop whatever misunderstanding had unfolded. When she reached the gym storage, she skidded to a halt, her breath catching as the scene came into view.

Inside, Hae Jun had both Jun Ho and Min Jun by the collars of their uniforms, his grip firm and his expression cold. San Ha stood a few steps back, his face devoid of emotion.

The sight of her brothers towering over the two boys made Aera's stomach churn. At the same moment, Joo Won arrived, her eyes widening in shock. Aera didn't hesitate. She flung open the gate and rushed inside, with Joo Won following closely behind.

"They aren't always smiling, are they?" San Ha drawled mockingly, his gaze flicking to Aera and Joo Won as they hurried to stand beside him.

Aera's frown deepened as she assessed the situation. She never imagined her brothers would resort to such intimidation over an assumption.

"No! I didn't say anything!" Jun Ho blurted, his hands waving defensively before clutching at Hae Jun's grip on his collar.

"Hae Jun I swear I didn't say anything—" Min Jun echoed, his panicked eyes darting between Hae Jun and Aera.

San Ha took a deliberate step toward Min Jun, his posture threatening, but Aera quickly stepped forward, raising her voice. "He didn't!" she said firmly, her tone resolute. Her eyes darted to Hae Jun, whose grip loosened slightly. "In fact, he said he admired how strong we were in our situations!"

Hae Jun's hardened expression faltered as he glanced at her, then at Min Jun. Slowly, he let go of Min Jun's collar.

"Do you really think that?" Hae Jun asked, his voice softer now.

Min Jun nodded, smoothing out his disheveled uniform. "Hyung, I've always admired how cheerful and positive you are no matter the obstacles. I'm your number one fan. Ever since I saw you playing basketball, I've looked up to you. If you'd let me, I'd be honored to be your friend."

Hae Jun's lips curved into a grin, his earlier hostility melting away. He clapped Min Jun on the shoulder. "I liked you the moment I saw you," he said with a laugh. "My sister's friends are my friends, too. In fact, you're like my brother now since you'll be dating my sister soon." He winked at Aera, his teasing tone lightening the atmosphere.

"Oppa!" Aera whined, her cheeks flushing as she grabbed Min Jun's arm and pulled him closer to her.

Hae Jun gave a thumbs-up, clearly amused. But San Ha remained tense, his fists clenched as he glared at Min Jun.

"And you?" Hae Jun's smile vanished as his gaze shifted to Jun Ho, who looked like he wanted to disappear under their scrutiny.

"He never directly said anything about me not having a mom! " Joo Won interjected, her voice shaky. "He just... implied I had a difficult family environment."

San Ha's piercing stare turned to Jun Ho, who hesitated before pointing at Joo Won. "You told me not to tell anyone!"

"Then why was he grabbing your collar?" Joo Won asked, puzzled.

Jun Ho explained sheepishly how he and Min Jun had tripped over a mat, and Hae Jun had grabbed them to keep them from falling.

Aera and Joo Won exchanged wide-eyed looks of embarrassment. Of course, their brothers wouldn't resort to violence.

As the tension eased, Yun Hee, Ji Eun, and Dal arrived, their faces flushed from running. They stood quietly, watching as the group sorted itself out.

Joo Won expressed with a nervous smile, "I mean... it's just... It wasnt a big deal. Not really." She defended her stance, adding, "And even if. We hear it all the time. The townspeople always say that to us. It doesn't affect me at all!" She cast a sidelong glance at San Ha, who was currently focused on Min Jun.

San Ha brushed past everyone, muttering, "If it truly didn't, you would've told us."

Joo Won frowned, trailing after him. Hae Jun followed, but not before bumping into Jun Ho's shoulder and smirking at Min Jun.

As everyone trailed behind San Ha near the school field, Hae Jun stopped to obstruct Jun Ho's way after some consideration. "Not even friends. Got it?"

"That's up to Joo Won to decide," Jun Ho muttered before flinching as Hae Jun took a step closer. He quickly moved on.

Aera fell into step beside Min Jun, her voice quiet. "Sorry about all this."

"Don't worry," he replied with a warm smile that made her breath hitch. "So... does this mean I passed the 'big brother test'?" he asked with a sheepish grin.

Aera smirked, glancing at him. "You got a thumbs-up from Hae Jun, so I'd say you're doing well. But San Ha's approval? That might take a lifetime."

"Great," Min Jun joked, running a hand through his hair. "Guess I'd better start preparing for the long haul."

The playful banter made Aera laugh, though she quickly covered her mouth, embarrassed by the sound. Min Jun's grin widened at her reaction, and his gaze softened as he watched her.

Behind them, Dal, Yun Hee, and Ji Eun exchanged knowing looks before following silently. The storm had passed, but its ripples lingered.

The bus ride had been unusually quiet. San Ha sat by the window, staring out at the blur of the city streets, his face set in a thoughtful frown. Aera, seated next to him, had noticed his silence, but she refrained from saying anything just yet. Joo Won, who had been busy looking through her backpack, finally closed it as the bus neared their stop.

When they disembarked, the crisp ocean breeze greeted them as they walked the familiar path by the abandoned train tracks. The rhythmic sound of their footsteps against gravel mingled with the distant crash of waves. The tension in the air was palpable, especially with San Ha walking just a step ahead of his sisters, his hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets.

"How are you two and Kang Hae Jun so alike?" San Ha's sudden question broke the silence, his voice calm but loaded with an undertone of exasperation. He slowed his pace, glancing at Aera on his left and Joo Won on his right.

"How?" Joo Won asked, blinking at him in disbelief, her voice tinged with defensive curiosity.

San Ha stopped walking and turned to face them, his gaze steady. "Hae Jun did that when his biological dad appeared." His tone softened, but his words carried the weight of an old memory. "He said there was no need to tell Joo Won,and Ahjusshi. He couldn't handle that his biological dad abandoned him before he was even born. But he said, 'Let's not tell them. What's the use in telling them? I'll just shoulder the pain by myself.'"

The girls stayed silent, their expressions gradually softening as San Ha continued. "But that's not right," he said, his voice firm now. "You two also want to know if something happened to Hae Jun or me."

"Of course we do," Aera said, stepping closer to him. "We're family. We deserve to share the burden, San Ha. That's what family is for—to help each other, not to keep each other in the dark."

Joo Won nodded earnestly. "Exactly! If something angers you or Hae Jun, we'd be angry with you. If something good happens, we'd celebrate with you. It goes both ways, you know."

San Ha's lips twitched, almost forming a smile, but he stayed focused. "Only when you two are okay can Hae Jun and I be okay." His voice softened, his words carrying the sincerity of an unspoken promise.

Joo Won raised her hand dramatically as if making a solemn vow. "We'll tell you everything from now on. For real, I swear it."

Aera chuckled at her younger sister's theatrical tone but quickly followed suit. She reached out gently, taking San Ha's hand in hers and lifting it alongside her own. "You swear it too," she said with a warm smile, her voice soft yet firm.

San Ha's eyes flickered to their joined hands, his throat tightening for reasons he didn't fully understand. Her touch was steady, reassuring in a way he wasn't sure he deserved. Swallowing hard, he nodded slightly but pulled his hand away with a sheepish cough.

"Fine. I swear," he muttered, turning abruptly to continue walking.

Aera and Joo Won exchanged amused glances, their eyes silently communicating the relief they both felt.

"Yah, San Ha," Aera called out, jogging to catch up with him. "You didn't have to make such a dramatic speech, you know."

"Yeah!" Joo Won chimed in, skipping up beside him. "We get it—you love us so much you can't stand to see us hurt!" She fluttered her eyelashes playfully, earning a side-eye from San Ha.

"Stop talking nonsense," he muttered, but the corner of his lips twitched upwards.

"Don't pretend you don't love it when we're honest with you," Aera teased, nudging his shoulder. "And since you love us so much, you're buying snacks on the way home."

"Absolutely not," San Ha replied firmly, but his softened expression betrayed his words.

Their laughter echoed along the quiet train tracks, the earlier tension melting away as the siblings resumed their usual banter. For San Ha, there was no staying mad at them for long—especially not when he saw how hard they tried to meet him halfway.

For Aera and Joo Won, there was nothing more reassuring than knowing their big brother, no matter how grumpy he acted, would always be there to catch them when they fell.

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

Hello! Sorry for my long absence 😭 I Just got back to school so I'll be even more busy since it's the last semester before I graduate and go to college. So hopefully I'll be able to finish this story before summer vacation because I'm gonna be working 😔

Anywaysss I hope you enjoyed today's chapter. I'll make sure to update as earlier as Saturday or Sunday. 🥲

I'll see you all on the next chapter!! 💗