The next morning, the penthouse was unusually quiet. The typical sounds of laughter and banter were absent, replaced by an undercurrent of tension and worry. Hana had fallen ill overnight, the cold rain she’d been drenched in the evening before taking its toll on her. By the time morning arrived, she was running a high fever, her body trembling with chills.

Jimin was the first to notice. He had gone to check on Hana in her room after noticing she hadn’t come down for breakfast. When he entered, he found her curled up under the blankets, her face flushed with fever and her breathing labored. Panic shot through him as he rushed to her side, placing the back of his hand on her forehead.

“Hana,” he whispered urgently, his voice thick with worry. “You’re burning up.”

Hana stirred slightly, her eyes fluttering open to meet his concerned gaze. She tried to offer him a weak smile, but it quickly faltered as a wave of dizziness washed over her. “I’m okay,” she mumbled, though her voice was hoarse and shaky.

Jimin didn’t believe her for a second. He quickly left the room, his heart pounding as he called for the others. Within minutes, Tae and Hobi were at her bedside, their faces mirroring Jimin’s worry as they took in her condition.

Tae crouched beside the bed, his hand gently brushing her sweat-dampened hair away from her forehead. “Hana, why didn’t you tell us you were feeling this bad?” he asked, his voice strained with concern.

Hana shook her head slightly, wincing at the effort it took. “Didn’t want to worry you,” she whispered, her eyelids heavy.

Hobi, who had been silently observing from the foot of the bed, felt his chest tighten at her words. She had always been so selfless, always putting others before herself—even when it came at the expense of her own well-being. He sat down on the edge of the bed, his expression serious as he looked at her.

“You’re always worrying about us, Hana,” Hobi said softly. “But right now, we’re worried about you. You need to rest and let us take care of you.”

Hana didn’t have the energy to argue. She felt too weak, too drained to protest, and a part of her knew they were right. She closed her eyes again, letting out a small sigh as she surrendered to the exhaustion that weighed heavily on her.

Jimin, Tae, and Hobi exchanged worried glances. They knew this fever was more than just a mild cold—it was serious, and they needed to act quickly to bring it down. Jimin immediately went to get some medicine while Tae and Hobi stayed by Hana’s side, their anxiety mounting with every passing minute.

Jimin returned with a cold compress and fever reducers, gently coaxing Hana to sit up so she could take the medicine. She complied, though her movements were sluggish, and Jimin had to support her as she swallowed the pills.

Tae carefully placed the cold compress on her forehead, his heart aching as he watched her wince from the cold sensation. “This will help bring the fever down,” he reassured her, though he was really trying to reassure himself.

Hobi reached for her hand, holding it gently between his own. “You’re going to be okay, Hana,” he said softly, though the worry in his eyes betrayed his calm tone. “We’re here for you.”

Hana managed a faint nod, though she was already slipping back into a fitful sleep. The boys stayed with her, taking turns watching over her as the hours passed. They made sure she was comfortable, adjusting the blankets and keeping the cold compress fresh.

As the day wore on, the fever showed little sign of breaking. Hana remained in a restless sleep, her body occasionally trembling with chills despite the layers of blankets covering her. The boys grew more and more anxious, their usual confidence and bravado replaced by a helplessness they rarely felt.

Jimin sat by the bedside, his hand gently rubbing soothing circles on Hana’s back as she slept. He felt an overwhelming sense of guilt—he should have insisted on her staying dry, or at least made sure she was warmer when he picked her up the previous night. The thought of her suffering because of his oversight made his chest tighten painfully.

Tae paced the room, his nerves getting the better of him. He hated feeling this powerless, hated that he couldn’t just make her better with a snap of his fingers. Every time he glanced at Hana, a pang of worry shot through him, making it hard to breathe.

Hobi, usually the one to keep everyone’s spirits up, was unusually quiet. He sat on the floor beside the bed, his back against the wall, staring at Hana with an intensity that revealed just how deeply he was affected. She had always been the one to bring light into their lives, and seeing her like this made him realize just how much they all depended on her—not just for her care, but for the warmth and love she brought into their lives.

That evening, the boys gathered in the living room, their faces etched with concern. Hana was still asleep, and while they were relieved she was getting some rest, they were deeply worried that her fever hadn’t subsided.

“We need to get her to the hospital,” Tae finally said, his voice strained with the weight of the decision. “This isn’t something we can handle on our own.”

Jimin nodded, though his expression was conflicted. “But Hana… she hates hospitals. She’s always said she doesn’t want to go unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

“I know,” Hobi replied, his voice quiet. “But this might be one of those times where we have to make the decision for her. We can’t let her stay like this.”

Before they could make any further decisions, Jin entered the room, having just returned from a quick trip to get more supplies. He could immediately sense the tension in the room and quickly assessed the situation.

“How is she?” Jin asked, his voice filled with concern.

“Still the same,” Jimin replied, rubbing his temples in frustration. “The fever hasn’t gone down.”

Jin’s brow furrowed as he processed the information. “I’ll go check on her. If there’s no improvement, we’ll need to make a decision soon.”

The boys watched as Jin disappeared into Hana’s room, their anxiety palpable. They trusted Jin’s judgment, but the idea of taking Hana to the hospital was something they all dreaded. They knew how much she valued her independence, how much she hated feeling like a burden.

After what felt like an eternity, Jin emerged from the room, his expression a little more relaxed than before. “Her fever is still high, but it’s starting to break,” he announced, his voice a mixture of relief and caution. “We’ll give it a little more time and see if she improves. If not, we’ll take her in.”

The boys nodded, feeling a small sense of relief that there was at least some positive news. They returned to Hana’s room, taking turns sitting by her bedside, speaking to her softly even though she was unconscious. They told her stories, reminded her of happy memories, and reassured her that she was going to be okay.

As night fell, the fever finally began to recede. Hana’s breathing became more even, and the tension in her body started to ease. The boys remained vigilant, staying by her side and continuing to care for her as her condition slowly improved.

It wasn’t until the early hours of the morning that Hana finally stirred, her eyes fluttering open to find Jimin asleep in a chair beside her bed, his hand still resting on her arm. She blinked groggily, disoriented and weak, but the sight of Jimin’s peaceful face brought her a sense of comfort.

She tried to sit up, but the effort was too much, and she slumped back against the pillows with a soft groan. The noise was enough to wake Jimin, who immediately straightened up, his eyes wide with alertness.

“Hana,” he breathed, relief flooding his features as he leaned closer to her. “You’re awake.”

Hana gave him a small, tired smile. “Hey,” she whispered, her voice hoarse from the fever. “What… what happened?”

“You got sick,” Jimin replied, reaching out to take her hand in his. “You had a really high fever, and we were all so worried about you.”

Hana nodded weakly, memories of the past day slowly coming back to her. She could see the worry etched in Jimin’s face, and she felt a pang of guilt for causing them so much concern.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, her eyes closing briefly as exhaustion threatened to pull her back under.

“Don’t be,” Jimin said quickly, his hand squeezing hers gently. “We just want you to get better. That’s all that matters.”

Hana’s heart warmed at his words, and she managed to keep her eyes open long enough to see Tae and Hobi enter the room. Both of them looked equally relieved to see her awake, though the exhaustion was clear in their eyes.

Tae sat on the edge of the bed, his hand brushing against her cheek. “You scared us, Hana,” he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. “But we’re so glad you’re okay.”

Hobi knelt beside the bed, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You need to rest now, okay? We’ll take care of everything else. Just focus on getting better.”

Hana nodded, too tired to argue. As she drifted back to sleep, she felt a sense of peace knowing that the boys were there, watching over her, caring for her. For the first time in what felt like forever, Hana allowed herself to fully trust them, knowing they had her best interests at heart. Their presence, once a source of turmoil, now brought her a deep sense of comfort and security.

---

Over the next few days, Hana’s recovery became the boys’ top priority. They worked in shifts, ensuring that she was never alone and had everything she needed. Tae, Jimin, and Hobi were particularly attentive, their worry manifesting in small acts of care that spoke volumes about how much they valued her.

Tae took it upon himself to monitor her temperature and make sure she stayed hydrated. He’d sit beside her, gently coaxing her to drink water or herbal tea that he prepared himself. Whenever Hana woke up, she’d find him quietly reading by her bedside, ready to assist her with anything she needed.

Jimin, despite his usual energetic demeanor, was surprisingly calm and focused. He made sure Hana was comfortable, fluffing her pillows and adjusting her blankets. Whenever she felt too warm or too cold, Jimin was there to remedy the situation immediately. He even played soft music in the background, knowing how much she loved relaxing melodies.

Hobi, usually the group’s mood maker, found himself more subdued during this time. He stayed close to Hana, his presence a constant source of positivity. He’d tell her stories about his childhood or the funny things that had happened to them over the years. Even when Hana was too tired to respond, she’d listen, her heart swelling with affection for him.

As Hana’s strength slowly returned, the boys couldn’t help but notice how much they had changed in their approach to her. In the past, they might have relished in her dependence on them, viewing it as a way to keep her close. But now, their only concern was her well-being. They wanted her to get better, to regain her strength, and to see her back on her feet again—not because they needed her, but because they genuinely cared for her happiness and health.

One afternoon, as the sun streamed through the windows, Hana finally felt well enough to sit up in bed without help. Jimin was the first to notice, his eyes lighting up with relief.

“You’re looking much better today,” he said, unable to hide the smile that spread across his face. “How do you feel?”

“A lot better,” Hana replied, her voice still a bit raspy but stronger than before. “Thanks to all of you.”

Tae, who had just entered the room with a fresh cup of tea, beamed at her. “You’re the strongest person we know, Hana. We’re just glad you’re on the mend.”

Hobi, who had been sitting quietly by the window, nodded in agreement. “It’s been so good to see you getting stronger every day. We were really worried.”

Hana looked at each of them, her heart swelling with gratitude. “I know you were. I’m so lucky to have you all.”

The boys exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between them. They had spent so much time trying to protect her from the world, but in doing so, they had forgotten to let her live freely. This experience had taught them that real love wasn’t about control or dependence—it was about support, care, and mutual respect.

That evening, as they all gathered in the living room, Jin and Namjoon cooked a light meal to celebrate Hana’s recovery. Though she still wasn’t up to her full strength, Hana felt more at ease than she had in months. The boys’ genuine concern and the way they had cared for her made her realize that things had changed—truly changed—for the better.

As they sat around the table, laughing and sharing stories, Hana felt a deep sense of contentment. The bonds that had been strained over the past year were slowly mending, and the boys’ love for her had grown in ways that she had never imagined. They were no longer just a group of boys who had taken her in; they were her family, her protectors, and her closest friends.

After dinner, as the boys settled in for the night, Hana found herself sitting beside Jimin on the couch, a warm blanket draped over her lap. The others were scattered around the room, engaged in quiet conversation or simply enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

Jimin turned to Hana, his expression serious but gentle. “Hana, I just want you to know… we’ve all learned a lot from this. We never want to see you in pain like that again. We want you to be healthy and happy.”

Hana nodded, feeling the sincerity in his words. “I know, Jimin. And I appreciate everything you all did for me. I can see how much you’ve all changed, and it means so much to me.”

Tae, who had been listening from nearby, added, “We’ve all grown a lot, Hana. And we’re committed to making sure we don’t fall back into old habits. We want you to feel safe and loved with us—always.”

Hobi leaned over, placing a hand on her shoulder. “And we’ll keep working on ourselves too, Hana. Because you deserve the best from us, and we’re going to make sure we give you that.”

Tears welled up in Hana’s eyes, but they were tears of joy and relief. For so long, she had feared that the darkness in their past would overshadow any hope of a future together. But now, as she looked around at the boys—her boys—she saw a new light in each of them. They had faced their demons, and they had emerged stronger, kinder, and more united.

Hana smiled through her tears, feeling a warmth in her chest that she hadn’t felt in a long time. “I love you all so much,” she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.

Jimin pulled her into a gentle hug, his arms wrapping around her protectively. “We love you too, Hana. More than anything.”

The others quickly joined in, creating a group hug that enveloped Hana in warmth and love. She felt safe, cherished, and, most importantly, hopeful for the future they would build together—a future where they could all heal, grow, and find happiness in each other’s company.

As they pulled back, the smiles on their faces were all the reassurance Hana needed. They had come a long way, but they had done it together, and that was what truly mattered. With them by her side, Hana knew that she could face anything, and that their bond would only continue to strengthen with time.

In that moment, Hana knew that she was finally home, in every sense of the word.