The sound of the front door opening interrupted Jaehyun mid-sentence as he explained some ideas for their project. The sudden noise made him pause, his eyes flicking toward where the stairs lay behind the wall of his room.

"Oh, looks like Mom is home," he said as he turned to Woonhak, who was sitting on the very edge of Jaehyun’s bed a bit awkwardly. "I'm gonna go say hi to her, okay? Do you wanna meet her? You can just stay up here if you’re not comfortable."

A subtle tension lingered in the youngers posture as he hesitated, his fingers toying with the hem of his grey sweater. He hesitated for a second, looking at Jaehyun in a way the older boy couldn't quite place. Then he said, "I.. I'll come down with you."

Jaehyun’s face lit up with a smile. He reached out gently, his fingers brushing against Woonhak’s wrist before curling around it carefully. He didn’t tug or pull, just offered a steady presence. "Okay, let’s go," he said reassuringly.

Together, they made their way down the stairs, Jaehyun’s steps confident while Woonhak followed, each footfall hesitant. They stopped just outside the kitchen door. Jaehyun turned to him, searching Woonhak’s eyes for any sign of doubt.

"Don’t worry," Jaehyun murmured, his smile gentle. "She’s really nice. I promise."

Woonhak swallowed and nodded. Jaehyun tightened his grip slightly around the brunettes sleeve and then pushed the door open.

"Hi, Mom!"

His mom, who was unloading groceries from a brown paper bag into the fridge, turned around, her smile immediate and radiant. "Hey, Hyunnie!" Her eyes brightened further when she noticed the boy standing slightly behind her son, eyes darting nervously around the room.

"Oh, hello there!" she greeted, her tone soft and welcoming. "You must be Woonhak, right?"

Woonhak nodded, his eyes widening at the fact that she already knew his name. The warmth in her voice seemed to catch him off guard. His gaze flitted to Jaehyun, confusion clear in his expression. Jaehyun’s mom chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling.

"Jaehyun talked about you a lot for the past days" she said, her voice kind and sincere. "He really wanted to be your friend. It’s so nice to finally meet you, sweetie."

Woonhak blinked, the words settling in slowly. His lips parted slightly as he glanced at Jaehyun, surprise and something else Jaehyun couldn't name reflecting in his eyes. He didn’t speak, but the subtle shift in his expression spoke volumes.

Jaehyun’s mom clapped her hands gently, breaking the moment. "Alright, boys, sit down at the table. I’ll make you some pancakes!"

Jaehyun turned to Woonhak with a questioning look, his eyes asking without words: Are you okay? Woonhak’s answer was a small, almost imperceptible nod. Jaehyun smiled, his heart swelling with relief, and led Woonhak to the table, his hand lingering on the younger boy’s sleeve until they both settled into their chairs.

***

It didn’t take long for the smell of buttery pancakes to fill the air, the comforting aroma wrapping around them like a warm blanket. Jaehyun’s mom soon placed two plates in front of them, the pancakes golden and steaming.

"There you go," she said with a smile.

"Wow, they smell amazing!" Jaehyun exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with delight. Beside him, Woonhak murmured a soft, "Thank you, Ms. Myung."

Her gentle laugh filled the room. "No need to be so polite, sweetie. You can call me Haewon. Or Mom — whatever feels right to you."

Jaehyun shot his mom a warning glance, his brows knitting together slightly. He was worried that her chattering might be too much for Woonhak. He turned back to the younger, ready to reassure him if needed. But his mom placed a gentle hand on Jaehyun’s shoulder, her voice low and knowing. "Trust me, Hyunnie," she whispered. "I know what I’m doing."

Then, with that same kindness, she turned to Woonhak. "You are always welcome here, okay, sweetie? Whenever you need a place to stay, or someone to talk to, you can come here. No questions, no expectations."

Woonhak’s fingers curled around the fork in his hand, his knuckles pale. He stared down at the pancakes, his eyes glistening slightly, though he blinked the emotion away before it could fully surface. A shaky breath escaped him, and he nodded, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Okay... Thank you."

Jaehyun’s heart ached in a way he couldn’t quite explain, but it was a good ache — the kind that came with hope. He smiled softly, nudging Woonhak’s elbow.

"Let’s eat before they get cold."

Woonhak finally smiled back, just a small curve of his lips, but it was there. And for Jaehyun, that tiny smile felt like the sun breaking through the clouds.

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