[7:00 PM — Dinner]
The dining room was unusually quiet.
The long table was filled with alot of dishes, the warm scent of food filling the room, yet nobody seemed completely focused on eating.
Everyone's minds were occupied with the same thing.
Haneul was sitting there.
After five years.
Beside Taekyun.
Taekyun sat quietly next to him, occasionally glancing toward Haneul with soft slight smile.
On Haneul's other side sat Haru.
And beside Haru was Taeha.
The little boy barely touched his food.
Every now and then, Taeha secretly glanced toward Haneul from the corner of his eyes.
But whenever Haneul happened to notice him, Haneul would give him a small, gentle smile.
Taeha immediately looked away.
Sometimes he even moved slightly closer to Haru, hiding partially behind her shoulder.
Haneul noticed every time.
He didn't say anything.
He simply smiled softly and let him be.
Across from them sat Jina, with Nayeon beside her while holding Seoah.
The entire table was strangely peaceful.
Yet beneath that silence were countless questions.
Everyone had things they wanted to ask.
How had Haneul survived?
Where had he been?
Why had he disappeared?
How had he returned?
But nobody knew how to begin.
Jina finally broke the silence.
She reached for a plate of japchae and moved it toward Haneul.
"Have some."
Her voice carried a warm smile.
Haneul looked at her.
For a second, his eyes softened.
"Thank you."
He took the plate.
Then, without thinking, he placed some of the food onto Taekyun's plate.
Taekyun's eyes immediately moved toward him.
Their gazes met.
Haneul smiled faintly.
Taekyun gave him a small nod.
There was something incredibly natural about the simple gesture.
As if five years had never existed.
Haneul then looked toward Haru.
Before he could even say anything, Haru immediately pushed her plate forward.
"Me too."
She smiled.
Haneul chuckled softly.
"Of course."
He placed some onto her plate.
Taeha watched from the side.
Haneul noticed him looking.
He hesitated for a moment before gently asking,
"You.... want some?"
Taeha looked at him.
For several seconds, the little boy simply stared.
Then he shook his head.
"I don't like this."
He pointed toward the food.
Haneul paused.
"Oh...."
He quickly moved the plate aside.
"What would you like?"
Taeha didn't answer.
Instead, he lowered his head and moved closer to Haru, partially hiding behind her.
Haneul's hand remained suspended for a moment.
He slowly lowered it.
He felt genuinely awkward.
He didn't know what to say.
He didn't want to force Taeha.
But at the same time....
He desperately wanted to know how to become his mother again.
Taekyun noticed the change in Haneul's expression.
Without saying anything at first, he reached beneath the table and gently took Haneul's hand.
Haneul looked toward him.
Taekyun gave him a reassuring nod.
"Eat."
His voice was quiet.
"Let him be on his own."
Haneul slowly nodded.
Taekyun then looked toward Haru.
"Haru."
"Yes."
"Help your brother."
Haru nodded.
"Yes, Abbuji."
She quietly moved closer to Taeha.
"Come on, Taeha."
Taeha peeked from behind her.
Haneul watched them silently.
A small smile eventually returned to his face.
Across the table, Nayeon glanced toward Jina.
Jina met her eyes.
Neither woman said anything.
They didn't need to.
The entire situation felt like something that shouldn't have been possible.
A surprise.
A mystery.
A miracle.
Nobody knew how to properly express what they were feeling.
They had spent five years believing Haneul was gone.
And now.....
He was sitting at their dinner table.
Eating with his family.
Talking to his children.
Holding Taekyun's hand beneath the table.
It was almost too much to understand.
Haneul quietly squeezed Taekyun's hand.
Taekyun squeezed back.
Haneul relaxed slightly.
Maybe things wouldn't become normal immediately.
Maybe Taeha would need time.
Maybe there would be countless questions and difficult conversations ahead.
But they were together.
And that was enough for tonight.
[Later That Evening]
After dinner, Taekyun quietly stood.
"Taeha. Yuna."
Both children looked toward him.
"Come upstairs with me."
Haru nodded and followed her father.
Taeha holding Haru's hand went upstairs.
As they disappeared toward the staircase, Haneul remained in the living room with Bora.
The atmosphere was much lighter now.
Bora finally looked toward Haneul.
There were still tears lingering in her eyes.
"So...."
She gave a small, almost disbelieving smile.
"You're really back."
Haneul smiled softly.
"Yes."
Bora looked at him for several seconds before laughing quietly through her tears.
"After five years...."
She shook her head.
"I still can't believe.... I'm actually seeing you sitting here."
"I thought.....you left me....forever...Haneul-ah."
Haneul smiled softly as Bora hugged him.
"My foolish....boy.... how can you leave your unnie without a single goodbye."
His smile became softer.
"I'm sorry....I didn't wanted to...but."
"I know don't explain let's forget bad things and let's live happily like before again ...no even better."
Haneul nodded with a smile.
"Yes."
[Later That Night]
The residence had finally grown quiet.
After spending some time with the children, Taekyun eventually returned to his room.
A warm shower helped ease the exhaustion that had settled over him throughout the day.
A few minutes later, he stepped out of the bathroom.
A towel rested loosely around his neck, and he was wearing only a pair of comfortable trousers.
His dark hair was still damp, small drops of water sliding slowly along his temples.
He was drying his face when.....
Knock. Knock.
Taekyun paused.
His eyes immediately moved toward the door.
He already knew who it was.
"Come in."
The door opened slowly.
Haneul stepped inside.
The moment their eyes met, something warm passed through Taekyun's chest.
Even after everything that had happened.....
Even after spending the entire day with Haneul beside him.
His heart still reacted as though seeing him was something extraordinary.
Haneul closed the door behind himself.
His eyes accidentally fell toward Taekyun's bare chest.
His cheeks immediately became warm.
Taekyun noticed.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Without saying anything, he slowly opened his arms.
Haneul looked at him for a moment.
Then he walked forward.
Taekyun immediately wrapped his arms around him.
He held Haneul close against his chest, breathing in his scent.
His chin rested gently against the top of Haneul's head.
For a few quiet seconds, neither spoke.
They simply stood there together.
Finally, Haneul looked upward.
"Your.... hair is still wet."
Taekyun lowered his eyes toward him.
A small smile curved across his lips.
"Do you.... want to dry it for me?"
Haneul blinked.
Then nodded slowly.
"Okay."
Taekyun removed the towel from around his neck and handed it to him.
Haneul took it.
He was about to stand there when Taekyun gently reached for his hand.
"Sit."
He guided Haneul toward the edge of the bed.
"It's okay,"
Haneul said softly.
But Taekyun simply smiled.
He gently placed Haneul on the bed before lowering himself onto the floor in front of him.
Haneul's eyes widened.
"The floor...."
"I'm fine."
Taekyun turned slightly and rested his head against Haneul's legs.
Then he looked up at him.
"Go ahead."
Haneul hesitated.
But seeing Taekyun so relaxed made him smile softly.
He nodded.
"Okay."
He lifted the towel and carefully began drying Taekyun's damp hair.
His movements were slow and gentle.
Taekyun closed his eyes.
For the first time that day, his entire body seemed to relax.
The quiet rhythm of Haneul's hands moving through his hair felt strangely comforting.
After a moment, Taekyun spoke.
"Were you.... with the children?"
Haneul nodded.
"I was in Haru's room."
He paused.
"Taeha was there too."
Taekyun opened his eyes slightly.
Haneul's movements slowed.
"But when he saw me....."
His voice became quieter.
"He hid behind Bora."
Haneul looked down at Taekyun.
"Then he went back to his room."
Taekyun understood immediately.
He didn't say anything for a moment.
Instead, he reached up and gently took Haneul's hand.
His large fingers enclosed Haneul's smaller ones.
He slowly rubbed his thumb over Haneul's knuckles.
"Give him time."
Haneul lowered his gaze.
Taekyun continued calmly.
"He's just not used to you yet."
His thumb continued moving gently over Haneul's hand.
"But he'll understand."
"He'll learn that you're not a stranger."
Haneul nodded.
"I know....."
He resumed drying Taekyun's hair.
"But...."
His voice became uncertain.
"What if he...."
Taekyun slowly opened his eyes.
Before Haneul could finish, Taekyun rose from the floor.
He stood directly in front of him.
Haneul was sitting on the edge of the bed, his legs hanging slightly over the side.
Taekyun gently touched his cheek.
His thumb brushed away a tiny trace of moisture beneath Haneul's eye.
"He will."
His voice was quiet but certain.
"He'll get used to you."
Haneul looked into his eyes.
Taekyun gave him a reassuring smile.
"Don't let those thoughts frighten you."
He gently held Haneul's face between his hands.
"Think about me."
A faint smile appeared on Haneul's lips.
"And Haru."
Taekyun nodded.
"And everyone else."
His expression softened.
"We're all happy."
"We're happy that you're here."
"Happy that we finally get to see you again."
Haneul's eyes filled slightly.
Taekyun leaned closer.
"And Taeha...."
He gently brushed Haneul's hair away from his forehead.
"He'll get used to you too."
Haneul nodded slowly.
"I hope so."
"He will."
Taekyun pulled him into his arms again.
Haneul rested against his chest.
Taekyun held him tightly, one hand gently resting against the back of his head.
"You've already waited five years."
His voice softened.
"You don't have to rush anything now."
Haneul closed his eyes.
For the first time that night, his heart felt a little lighter.
He tightened his arms around Taekyun.
"I'm glad.... I'm home."
Taekyun lowered his head and rested his cheek gently against Haneul's hair.
"So am I."
He held him closer.
"Welcome home, Haneul."