[Next Day ]
[1:00 PM / Garden]
The garden was quiet, the soft hum of the afternoon breeze rustling through the flowers.
Haneul sat beside Haru on the bench, the little blanket wrapped around her arms, shielding her from the mild chill.
"Haru, let's look at the flowers,"
Haneul suggested gently.
"There are a lot of new blooms today."
Haru shook her head slowly, her tiny body still, refusing to meet his eyes.
Haneul's voice softened as he tried again, "Do you want to see Mongi's room?"
Haru finally looked at him, her expression unusually stern for a child.
"Hate… Mongi,"
she said simply.
Haneul froze. His heart skipped.
"What..… what did you say?"
he asked, incredulous.
Haru's lips were pressed together, her eyes avoiding his.
The words were strange, unfamiliar, almost alien coming from her.
She had loved Mongi.
She even called Haneul "Mongi" with all the fondness a child could hold.
Why was she saying this now?
"Haru.… why did you say that?
Don't you love Mongi?"
Haneul asked softly, trying not to sound panicked.
Her gaze drifted away.
"Mongi… left.
Hate… Mongi."
Haneul felt a chill run down his spine.
It was as if she had realized something he hadn't, as if she were seeing the world differently now.
All the times she had thought of Haneul as Mongi it had changed.
Her sudden shift in mood, the intensity behind her words, it was unsettling.
He struggled to understand.
Was this part of her early manifestations?
Since Alphas matured quickly once their pheromones developed, sometimes these shifts came abruptly.
But the coldness in her tone, the hatred she had never voiced before, worried him deeply.
Just then, Mina appeared, carrying a small tray.
"Haru,"
She called gently, holding out a milkshake.
Haneul helped steady it as Haru took it slowly, sip by sip.
But even as he guided her, his mind raced.
Is this because of her sudden manifestations?
He wondered.
Is this just her Alpha side developing faster than her body can handle?
Mina watched them carefully.
"Oh, Haneul, I almost forgot,"
she said.
"Bora called last night. She sent me a voice messages for you."
Haneul looked up at her, curious.
"Yes?"
he prompted.
Mina played the message.
Bora's voice sounded a little hurt, unusually fragile:
"Haneul-ah, you already forgot me, right?
What am I supposed to do with you?
I gave you my phone, right?
I didn't know you'd be so forgetful."
Haneul blinked, shocked. Bora never spoke like that.
Her voice had always been playful, teasing, but now it carried genuine sadness.
Mina played another clip:
"If you receive this message and your heart allows it….. talk with me."
Haneul looked at Haru.
She was hearing everything.
He turned to her.
She slowly took the glass from his hand and began drinking her own.
Mina asked,
"Where did you put your phone?
She seemed really hurt."
Haneul replied,
"I don't really use my phone, and I thought she just had left, so I wouldn't disturb her.
I'll talk when she calls you."
Mina said,
"It's okay. I'll make the call now you talk with her."
Haneul swallowed hard and nodded. Soon, Bora attended the call.
Bora said,
"Hello, Mina."
Haneul said,
"It's me, Haneul."
Bora:
"Huh… Haneul."
Haneul slowly nodded to himself.
"How are you doing?"
Bora's voice:
"I'm doing fine, Haneul-ah. And you?"
"I'm also fine. How is your mother?"
"She's better now. But I'm not a bit"
"Oh, you're sick?"
Haneul asked.
"No, actually. But.… Mr., how much I remember, someone almost cried when
I was leaving, said they would miss me, but it seems like you and Haru already gave up."
Haneul said hurriedly,
"No, no, it's not like that.
I'm really sorry.
I really forgot about my phone.
Also, Haru is still not feeling well, due to which I've been quite busy.
But we really miss you."
Bora said,
"I miss you both too.
Can I get to see you now?"
Haneul asked,
"Now.… are you coming back?"
"Oh, my naive boy, I mean video call. Can I?"
Haneul nodded as Mina took the phone and put it on video call.
Haru looked down as Haneul waved at Bora. Haneul showed Haru as well to her.
Haru looked up at the phone and turned her face slowly.
Haneul looked at Haru's expression changing and said,
"Haru-ah, see, it's Bora."
But there was no reply.
Bora asked,
"Haru-ah, are you missing me?"
Haru looked at the screen and gave a slow nod.
Bora said,
"I'm coming in two days."
Haneul said,
"Two days?"
Bora nodded.
"Mother is not that seriously ill and has been discharged.
I have talked with my brother as well, and he'll look after her."
Haneul smiled.
"It's good. Then come soon."
Mina smiled.
"Yaa, come soon.
For the past 2–3 days, I've been reheating and making dinner at 9 at my leaving time."
Bora smiled.
"It's okay. It must be because of someone special."
Haneul blushed.
Bora said,
"Haneul, when I come, we'll celebrate Haru's birthday, okay?"
Haneul glanced at Haru.
Listening to that, she slowly turned and got close to Haneul.
Haneul smiled as Haru put her head on his shoulder.
Bora said,
"Our Haru is growing up too fast."
Haneul nodded.
"Yes, and soon she's going to manifest as well."
Bora said,
"Yes, Lihan told me.
She's still too young for it, but it's normal in her bloodline.
Hope her test results come out well,
Haru-ah. I'm really worried."
Haneul said suddenly,
"Don't be worried, Bora.
The doctor said there's a high chance of her being an Alpha."
Bora nodded with a sad expression, and Haneul noticed it.
"You are also worried like Taekyun,"
he said.
Bora replied,
"You just don't know them, Haneul.
As we know."
Before Haneul could say anything, from Bora's back, a man in full black appeared, and within a second Bora said,
"Bye, we'll talk later."
The call ended.
Mina stood there, gulping tightly.
Haneul looked at her.
"Huh.… what suddenly happened?"
He clearly saw the frightened expression on Bora's face, and the man behind her was too different, dressed in black, with very short hair. It seemed as if he had just shaved his head.
Mina took the phone from Haneul's hand. "Oh, it must be her brother."
Haneul looked at her.
"Brother? But how can he?"
Mina didn't elaborate.
"Oh Haneul, it's getting a bit cold outside. Let's go inside and have lunch."
Haneul nodded and slowly helped Haru. She slowly got off the seat.
"Should I carry you?"
he asked.
But Haru shook her head, wanting to walk on her own.