The winter wind was relentless, but I had a mission. My uncle had prepared a massive batch of galbi-jjim (braised short ribs) and insisted that since Hanbin had saved my life—and had been tutoring Doyoon for free during the break—we couldn't let his family go through the week without a proper home-cooked meal.
"It's a 'thank you' for the tutoring," Uncle had said, though we both knew it was more than that.
I stood outside Hanbin's apartment building, balancing the heavy insulated containers. I was nervous. This wasn't the university lab; this was his territory.
I buzzed the unit. A girl's voice, sharp and energetic, came through the intercom.
"Who is it?"
"It's... it's Park Danoh. I'm a friend of Hanbin's."
The door clicked open immediately.
When I reached the floor, the apartment door was already open. Standing there was a girl who looked like a softened, female version of Hanbin. She had the same sharp eyes, but hers were filled with a mischievous curiosity.
"You're the Unnie!" she chirped, looking me up and down. "The one Doyoon can't stop talking about. And the one my brother actually leaves the house for."
"I'm Jeon Harin," she added, grabbing one of the containers. "Come in, come in! My parents are at the shop, but Hyuk-oppa is home. He's been dying to meet the girl who finally made Hanbin act like a human being."
"Harin, stop talking," a deep voice resonated from the hallway.
Hanbin appeared, wearing a simple grey sweatshirt. He looked surprised, his gaze dropping to the containers. "Danoh-ya? What are you doing here?"
"My uncle insisted," I said, feeling a blush. "He said you were working too hard tutoring Doyoon."
"And I insisted she come inside!" Harin countered. "Oppa! Unnie is here!"
A taller, broader version of Hanbin—Hyuk-oppa—walked into the living room. He had a kinder expression than Hanbin.
"So, you're the famous Park Danoh," Hyuk Oppa said, offering a polite bow. "Hanbin doesn't say much, but the fact that he brought you up at all told us everything. Thank you for the food."
While Hanbin sat on the sofa looking embarrassed, Harin dragged me to the kitchen.
"So," Harin whispered, nudging me as we plated the ribs. "Doyoon says you're a 'Coding God' like my brother. Is he as bossy in the lab as he is at home, Unnie?"
"He's... precise," I said carefully.
Harin laughed. "That's a nice way of saying he's a perfectionist. But seriously, Unnie... thanks for being there for him on the 22nd. Jeonghan Oppa told me you went to the park. He usually comes home looking like a ghost, but this year... he just looked tired. In a good way."
I looked at Hanbin. He was talking to Hyuk, but his eyes were tracking me through the doorway.
"He cares about you a lot," Harin continued, her voice serious. "You're definitely in his main code now."
Dinner was a lively affair. Hyuk-oppa told stories of Hanbin as a child, and Harin kept me laughing. Hanbin remained mostly silent, but it was a comfortable, grounded silence.
"I'll walk you down," Hanbin said as the evening wound down.
We stood by the elevators. "My family is... a lot," he muttered.
"I liked them," I said truthfully. "Harin is wonderful. And Hyuk-oppa is so kind."
He looked up, his gaze catching mine. He took a step closer.
"They liked you too," he said, his voice low. "Harin doesn't call people 'Unnie' unless she trusts them. And Hyuk... he's already decided you're a permanent part of the system."
He reached out, his hand settling gently on my shoulder. "Be careful going home, Danoh-ya."
I walked away feeling like the winter air wasn't so cold after all.