[8:00 PM]
Haneul glanced at Bora, who was standing near the hallway.
"Is Haru still asleep?"
He asked quietly.
Bora nodded.
"Yes. I checked on her a while ago.
She was sleeping peacefully."
Haneul frowned slightly.
"But she never sleeps this long."
Bora hesitated, then said gently,
"Go and check on her.
Earlier, I just looked in from the door.
She was asleep."
Haneul straightened.
"I'll check myself."
He turned and went upstairs.
[Haru's Room]
The room was dim, the soft night lamp casting faint shadows on the walls.
Haru had been sleeping since she returned from school.
Haneul entered quietly and sat beside her bed.
"Haru-ah"
He slowly brushed her hair away from her face, his touch careful and gentle.
"Isn't your nap a bit too long today?"
As his palm rested against her cheek, his expression changed.
It was too warm.
His heart tightened.
He gently shook her shoulder.
"Haru-ah"
Her eyelids fluttered open.
"Are you not feeling well?"
He asked softly.
Haru slowly sat up, and Haneul pulled her close instinctively.
She clung to him immediately.
Her body heat pressed against his chest, spreading too fast, too unfamiliar.
"It's okay,"
Haneul said, forcing calm into his voice.
"Let's eat something first.
Then we'll take medicine, and Haru will be fine."
Haru gave a small nod.
Then she looked up at him.
"Abba?"
"Yes?"
Haneul answered immediately.
"Abba..... I don't know why, but he's late,"
He murmured.
"It's the weekend... but he's still not home."
He froze for a moment as he lifted her into his arms,
A strange sensation twisted in his stomach as he stepped out of the room.
Something felt off.
(Upstairs outside the room]
Bora was already coming up when she saw them.
"What's wrong?"
She asked quickly.
Haneul tightened his hold on Haru.
"She's warm. I think she has a fever."
Bora rushed over and pressed her hand to Haru's forehead.
"Oh, Haru-ah"
She said worriedly.
"Yes, she does have a fever."
"I'll feed her first,"
Haneul said.
"She hasn't eaten anything since she came back."
Bora nodded.
"I'll prepare porridge quickly."
At the word porridge, Haru shook her head weakly.
"No"
Haneul looked down at her.
"But you won't get better if you don't eat anything."
"Porridge no,"
Haru whispered, eyes filling with tears.
"Haru-ah"
Her tears spilled.
"Okay, okay,"
Haneul said immediately, panic slipping into his voice.
"No porridge. No porridge."
He looked at Bora.
"Just bring something normal.
Her favorite."
Bora nodded and hurried downstairs.
Haneul carring Haru went to his room first.
"Let's change and get warm first."
He changed her into warm night clothes, wrapped her properly, and carried her downstairs.
Her legs hung limply, her head resting against his shoulder, eyelids heavy.
[Dining Area]
Bora had already prepared the meal and placed it on the table.
Haneul sat and fed Haru slowly.
She ate a little, then shook her head, already full.
Haneul's heartbeat sped up.
Her cheeks were flushed now, her body warmer than before.
Bora returned.
"I already called sir. He's coming back."
Haneul looked up.
"Why is he late today?"
"He had a dinner meeting,"
Bora replied.
Haneul nodded.
"Bring me the medicine.
Or…. should we take her to the hospital?"
He couldn't hide his worry.
Bora smiled gently at him and came closer. "It's okay. She's a child.
Children get sick often."
She pulled the thermometer from Haru's armpit and checked it.
"See? It's not that high."
She looked at Haneul reassuringly.
"Take her to the room.
I'll bring the medicine.
Sir will be home soon."
Haneul nodded.
He stood, Haru in his arms again.
That strange sensation stirred in his lower belly once more, like something moving, unfamiliar and unsettling.
He ignored it and went upstairs.
[Meanwhile /In the Car]
Taekyun sat quietly in the back seat.
"To RL Bar?"
Lihan asked.
"Skip the bar,"
Taekyun replied.
"I'll go straight to the residence."
After a moment, Lihan spoke again.
"Sir, Namjoon and Lara called.
They wanted you to join them."
"Send them gifts,"
Taekyun said.
"Tell them I'll join next time."
"Yes, sir."
Taekyun's heartbeat felt irregular.
Ever since Bora called about Haru, unease had settled deep in his chest.
The car sped up.
[9:00 PM /Residence]
Bora stood beside Haneul, even though her working hours were long over.
Haneul lay next to Haru on the bed.
She kept clinging to him again and again in her sleep.
Haneul turned to Bora.
"You should leave.
Taekyun will be here soon."
"I'm fine,"
Bora said.
"I'll stay until sir comes."
But Haneul could see it.
She was exhausted.
"Bora,"
He said softly,
"please go. I can handle things here."
"Haneul, I'm really"
Before she could finish, Haneul smiled.
"I know you're tired too.
Trust me. I can handle things."
Bora fell silent.
She was tired.
Lost in her thoughts.
She nodded.
"Take care,"
She said.
"And call me if sir doesn't return on time or if anything happens."
Haneul smiled.
Every time she said that, it relieved him at least half of his stress faded.
He nodded.
Bora left, closing the door slowly.
[After a While]
"Haneul-ah"
"Haneul"
"Umma"
Haneul stood in a lab.
His clothes were torn.
It was cold.
Too cold.
He followed his mother's voice from his uncle's lab straight into his home.
"Umma"
He turned and saw Jiwon sitting on the couch, remote in hand, TV on.
But Jiwon was looking down, one hand pressed to his head.
Stressed.
"Hyung"
Haneul murmured.
Relief flooded him.
He ran to his brother and sat beside him.
"Hyung! Where were you? I really missed you. I came to this world for you.
See, I found you."
He smiled and hugged Jiwon.
But Jiwon didn't respond.
He slowly pulled away.
No hug.
No smile.
Not even a glance.
"Haneul-ah"
His mother's voice again.
He turned.
It was his home.
Jiwon was gone.
Now his mother and Jiwon stood together in front of him.
"Umma!"
He stood up suddenly.
But he couldn't move.
Where was Haru?
Where was Taekyun?
His mouth closed.
He couldn't speak.
His mother opened her arms, holding a jacket.
The cold returned.
Jiwon turned and began walking away.
"Hyung!"
He couldn't speak.
His mother said softly,
"Come wear this jacket "
But he couldn't move.
"Umma"
"Haneul-ah come back.
Come back to your world."
"You'll get hurt there,"
She said.
"You'll lose your child."
"My son, come back."
Tears fell.
"No…. no, I won't"
"Umma, Hyung, don't go"
"Wait no"
"You'll lose your child"
"No please no"
His eyes flew open.
The blanket was off.
Haru wasn't covered.
"Haneul"
Taekyun was shaking him gently, leaning over him.
"It's okay. It's okay."
Haneul gasped, breathless, cold sweat soaking his neck.
He grabbed Taekyun and hugged him tightly.
Taekyun held him.
"It's just a nightmare."
He rubbed Haneul's back.
But the words echoed.
You'll lose your child.
Haneul suddenly pulled away.
He turned to Haru.
She was still asleep, a slight fever lingering.
He grabbed her and hugged her tightly, heart racing, breath uneven.
Haru stirred, opened her eyes briefly, then fell asleep again in his arms.
Haneul looked up at Taekyun, tears spilling as he held Haru.
Taekyun stepped closer.
He gently took Haru from Haneul's arms.
She rested her head on his shoulder, already asleep, limbs hanging loosely.
Taekyun gently wiped the tears from Haneul's face.
"It's okay. It was just a nightmare."
He reached for the glass on the bedside table and held it out.
"Here."
Haneul took it with trembling hands and drank slowly.
Once he finished,
Taekyun carefully took the glass back from him, still holding Haru gently in his arms.
Taekyun reached out and held Haneul's hand.
"Let's go,"
He said quietly.
Haneul put on his shoes, fingers tightening around Taekyun's arm, tears falling as he walked with him.
[Taekyun's Room]
Taekyun laid Haru on the bed and covered her carefully.
He checked her fever again.
"It's not that high,"
He murmured to himself.
Haneul stood nearby.
Taekyun approached him slowly.
"What did you dream about?"
Haneul shook his head.
"It's nothing."
Taekyun wiped his tears with his thumb and pulled him into his chest for a moment.
Holding him tight.
Then he guided Haneul to the bed, laid him down, and covered him.
"Sleep here,"
Taekyun said.
"I'll change first."
Haneul nodded.
But Taekyun stayed until Haneul fell asleep, then turned off the lights.
After he showered and returned.
He sat on the bed, kissed Haru's forehead gently.
Then his eyes moved to Haneul.
Asleep.
Holding Haru tightly.
Taekyun leaned down and kissed Haneul's forehead too.
He covered them both fully with the blanket.
Then he lay beside them, staring at the ceiling for a long moment, feeling the warmth of two sleeping bodies beside him.
Finally,
He turned toward Haneul and closed his eyes.
"Hope this stays like this forever."