[Hospital]
Haneul sat quietly on the couch inside the hospital room, his hands resting on his lap, fingers loosely intertwined.
His gaze was unfocused, fixed on nothing in particular.
Haru had been taken away a few minutes ago for tests.
Taekyun was not inside either.
Haneul's thoughts drifted, heavy and scattered.
As the door opened,
Taekyun walked in.
He looked at Haneul and moved toward him, sitting beside him on the couch, close enough that their shoulders almost touched.
Haneul turned his head slightly, looking at him.
"How long will it take?"
He asked, his voice low.
Taekyun glanced down before answering.
"Five to ten more minutes."
Haneul nodded, then hesitated.
"Should I go check on her?"
"What if she's crying?"
Taekyun lifted his gaze and looked at him calmly.
"It's okay,"
He said.
"She'll be fine."
Haneul studied his face.
Taekyun looked composed.
Steady.
If he wasn't worried, then Haru really must be okay.
So Haneul stayed seated, even though the strange, uncomfortable sensation in his lower belly returned, subtle but unsettling.
Trying to distract himself, he turned to Taekyun again.
"Did you…. check on Jiwon hyung?"
Taekyun's expression froze.
His face went blank, still, as if something sharp had passed through him.
Before he could respond,
Haneul spoke quickly.
"Oh, I didn't mean anything,"
He said softly.
"Just asking."
Taekyun forced himself to speak.
"I'm investigating it."
His voice was calm, simple but the words cut deeper than he expected.
Haneul smiled faintly and nodded.
"It's okay,"
He said.
"I trust you. You'll find my hyung, even if it takes a long time."
Taekyun looked at him for a long moment.
Then he slowly turned his face away, eyes lowering to his hands.
After the investigation is done….
How will I even tell him?
Haneul believed the investigation meant searching for his brother.
But in reality, Taekyun wasn't searching for someone alive.
He was uncovering the truth behind an accident that had happened years ago
an accident that had already taken Haneul's brother away.
The door opened.
Haneul straightened.
The nurse entered, carrying Haru in her arms.
The doctor followed behind her.
Both Taekyun and Haneul stood up immediately.
Taekyun looked at Haru and gave her a small nod before turning toward the doctor to discuss the test results.
Meanwhile, the nurse carefully laid Haru on the bed.
"Haru,"
Haneul said softly as he hurried over, sitting beside her.
He took her hand gently and kissed it, his eyes falling on the small bandage where blood had been taken.
He rubbed the area around it slowly, soothingly, as the nurse prepared the IV drip.
"Did it hurt?"
He asked quietly.
Haru shook her head slowly.
"Haru-ah,"
Haneul murmured.
The nurse smiled beside them.
"She's very strong,"
She said.
"Unlike most children, she stayed completely still. She didn't cry at all during the procedure."
Haneul looked at Haru with soft pride.
"Yeah,"
He said quietly.
"She's strong."
The nurse smiled.
"She's very much like Mr. Taekyun,"
She said.
"She will most likely manifest as an Alpha."
Haneul blinked and looked up.
"Alpha?"
The nurse nodded.
"The results aren't final yet,"
She explained,
"but judging by her pheromone wave pattern and scent, the chances are high."
Haneul smiled and looked back at Haru.
The nurse gave him a small nod.
"Haru-ah,"
Haneul said gently,
"Let's finish this drip, then we'll go home."
Haru looked at the nurse.
The nurse smiled at her, holding the equipment.
Haru slowly shook her head.
"Haru-ah,"
Haneul coaxed softly.
"Aren't you strong?"
Haru nodded, then pouted.
"This hurts."
Haneul glanced at the nurse, then back at her.
"It won't,"
He said gently.
"I promise. I'll hold your hand, and you won't even realize."
Haru hesitated for a moment….. but then nodded.
Haneul held her hand close, rubbing her head softly.
When the nurse inserted the drip, Haru didn't react at all.
No flinch.
No cry.
Even if it hurt, she stayed still.
The nurse smiled warmly.
"It's done,"
She said.
"It'll take ten to fifteen minutes, then you can leave, Haru-ah."
Haneul nodded.
"Thank you."
The nurse gathered her things.
"You're really pretty,"
She added, smiling at Haneul.
Haneul blinked, then gave a small nod.
"Thank you."
She smiled softly and walked out of the room.
After a while, Taekyun returned.
Haru's eyelids were heavy.
She slowly closed her eyes.
Haneul watched her for a moment, then quietly stood and sat back on the couch beside Taekyun.
"Are the tests okay?"
He asked.
Taekyun nodded.
"All the test results are normal,"
He said.
"Only the manifestation test will take a few days."
Haneul exhaled in relief.
"The nurse said there's a high chance she might manifest as Alpha."
Taekyun nodded but something about him looked disturbed.
"It's good,"
Haneul continued.
"At this rate, she'll be a great protector.
Like you."
Taekyun looked at him sharply.
"I don't want her to be Alpha."
Haneul stared at him, surprised.
"Huh? But….. why?"
"I want her to be..... soft,"
Taekyun said.
"Normal."
"But she can still be normal even if she's Alpha,"
Haneul replied.
Taekyun stood up.
"I'll go out for a bit."
He left the room.
Haneul remained seated, confused, questions piling up in his mind.
Taekyun couldn't explain it.
He had always wanted a normal life and never got one.
After Haru was born, he wanted her to live softly, freely, normally.
But in the Kim family, being Alpha was never normal.
No matter how much one tried to pretend otherwise.
[Residence]
All the staff gathered around Bora one by one, handing her small bags and boxes.
"For your mother."
"Please give this to her."
Bora smiled, bowing slightly.
"Thank you."
Her mother, Seo, had worked at the Kim residence for many years.
She had quit after her heart condition worsened, but she had always been kind.
She treated every child in the residence equally, never drawing lines between them
She had sent Bora along them to work at Taekyun's residence so they could stay together.
One by one, they bowed to her and went back to their duties.
Chef Mina stepped out.
Bora turned and smiled.
"You have something for me too, don't you?"
Mina handed her a lunchbox.
"I don't have much,"
She said,
"but eat this on the way."
Bora smiled and took it.
Mina stepped closer and hugged her.
"Bora…. I know it's dangerous,"
She whispered.
"But I'm with you."
Bora's eyes filled slowly.
"I don't have any other choice,"
She said quietly.
"Haneul calls me his sister.
He's too innocent to be hurt."
She swallowed.
"Then there's Haru. And sir.
I've lived more of my life with them than anywhere else."
Mina held her tighter.
"I know,"
She said.
"You're not doing anything wrong.
This is for your mother too.
And you're not betraying sir
you're protecting them."
Bora looked at her.
"I dragged you into this,"
She said.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't tell anyone else."
Mina shook her head.
"Even though I joined you only a few years ago,"
She said,
"you're too kind, Bora.
Because of you, I'm not afraid of sacrificing my life either."
"Don't say that,"
Bora said firmly.
"We still have to serve.
And I will come back. For sure."
Mina nodded.
"Take care of your mother,"
She said.
"I won't let them get suspicious."
Bora nodded.
"Keep it secret until I return,"
She said.
"And take care of Haneul and Haru's meals especially.
You know how picky they are."
Mina smiled.
"I will."
They hugged once more.
Bora got into the car.
The car pulled away.