It was already evening when they finally reached back home.
The moment the main door opened,
Bora came running out from inside as if she had been waiting at the entrance the entire time.
She didn't even look at Taekyun or Haneul first,
She went straight to Haru.
"Haru!"
Bora grabbed her gently but tightly, pulling the little girl into her arms.
"Are you okay?
Tell me, are you hurt?"
Haru shook her head slowly.
Her eyes were still swollen from crying earlier.
Haneul entered behind them, walking next to Taekyun.
His steps were slow and his eyes were completely red, exhausted from crying and guilt.
Bora noticed it immediately.
"Haneul"
She whispered,
But he avoided her stare,
Keeping his head lowered.
Taekyun checked Haru's face again.
"Come here,"
He said softly.
Haru walked to him and he crouched down.
With one hand he wiped the dust from her cheek with his thumb.
"Want to eat something now?"
He asked.
Haru nodded weakly.
Taekyun looked toward the cook.
The woman stepped forward gently.
"Haru, want me to make a milkshake?"
She asked softly.
Haru nodded again.
Taekyun gave a small nod to the cook,
And she left immediately to prepare it.
Without saying anything else,
Taekyun scooped Haru up easily and carried her upstairs toward her room.
His hold was careful, steady, almost fearful of hurting her again.
Haneul watched them disappear up the stairs.
His chest tightened.
He stood there silently.
Bora stepped toward him, noticing the way his eyes filled again.
"Haneul,
Are you crying?"
She asked quietly.
Haneul shook his head immediately even though his eyelashes were trembling.
"I didn't know she's allergic to nuts,"
He whispered, voice cracking.
"It's okay,"
Bora said softly, guilt in her own face.
"It's my mistake.
I should have told you about it from the start."
Haneul still shook his head stubbornly.
"It's not your fault"
Bora sighed and opened her arms slightly.
Haneul didn't think,
He stepped forward quietly, letting her hug him.
She rubbed his back gently.
"It's okay. She is fine now,"
She murmured.
"And her attack wasn't as severe as before. You didn't do anything wrong."
Haneul nodded slowly.
Bora gave him a glass of water.
"I'll go upstairs,"
Haneul said quietly.
But Bora held his arm.
"Sit down first. I'll go look after Haru.
You take a breath."
He hesitated but obeyed.
[UPSTAIRS]
Taekyun was sitting right beside Haru when the servant brought the milkshake.
Haru sat up slowly, her movements weak, and drank it little by little.
Taekyun watched her silently the whole time
every swallow, every small pause, every blink.
When she finished,
He gently took the glass from her hands.
"Give it to me,"
He said quietly to the servant,
Handing it over.
Then he took a tissue and wiped the corner of her mouth carefully.
The servant left.
Taekyun lifted Haru's medication syrup and fed her slowly.
Haru grimaced but drank it without complaint.
After that he began changing her clothes gently,
As if she were glass.
A soft knock came.
Bora stepped inside.
"Sir,"
She whispered,
"I'll do it. You should go and rest."
Taekyun looked at Haru for a moment.
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
Her face was a little flushed,
And she still looked weak,
But she smiled faintly at him.
That smile broke him more.
He stood and walked out.
The hallway felt heavy, tight around his chest.
His heart was pounding strangely
Too heavy, too loud, too painful.
He didn't even know what emotion it was. Worry? Fear? Something else?
He walked toward his room, but before entering,
He glanced downstairs.
Haneul was sitting on the couch with his hands clasped on his knees, head lowered, shoulders stiff.
He looked like he had been sitting there in silence for a long time.
Haneul finally stood and began coming upstairs.
Taekyun immediately turned away and went into his room.
He sat on the bed,
Rolling up his sleeves with rigid, tired hands.
[IN HARU'S ROOM]
Haneul stepped inside quietly.
Haru was almost asleep.
Bora looked up at him.
"Are you going to stay with her,"
Bora asked gently,
"Or do you want me to stay?"
Haneul shook his head.
"You can go. I'll take care of her."
He sat next to Haru.
The little girl, half-asleep, wrapped her small arm around his hand.
Haneul touched her hair softly, brushing it away from her face.
Bora finished cleaning the room and walked toward him again.
"She may get fever in the night,"
Bora warned.
"It happens after her allergic attacks.
Don't get scared.
If it rises too much, take her to Sir Taekyun's room and lay her next to him.
He'll take care of her."
Haneul's worry doubled, but he nodded.
"I'll tell the cook to bring you something to eat."
Haneul shook his head.
"I'm not hungry.
I had sandwiches on the way back.
Taekyun bought them."
Bora nodded.
"Alright then."
She gave one last look and slowly closed the door.
Haneul lay down beside Haru, turning on his side so he could face her.
His hand remained under her arm, letting her cling to him.
His thoughts spiraled.
I never thought,
I'd be this close to her.
Seeing her like this… hurts me.
Why does she have to suffer so much?
This world it's dangerous.
Pain everywhere. No peace at all.
And then his thoughts drifted.
And,
Hyung… how is he?
Where is he?
How will I find him?
What if he's not here?
He shut his eyes and shook his head hard.
I can't think like this.
Not now.
He looked at Haru again.
For now, she needs me.
If she becomes fine,
Taekyun will also be fine.
I'll stay until they both find peace.
They look so empty inside.
I'll help them.
In my world I have nothing left.
Here, I can at least take care of them.
And when their family becomes whole again, maybe, they'll help me find my hyung.
If needed I'll stay here forever.
With Haru and Taekyun.
[MEANWHILE/ IN TAEKYUN'S ROOM]
Taekyun spent the whole night sitting on the couch in front of his bed.
He didn't move.
Didn't sleep.
Barely even breathed.
His eyes kept going back to his wedding photo with Harin on the wall.
Tears fell silently.
"I'm useless,"
He whispered.
"I didn't protect you.
Not my brother.
Not my daughter."
His knuckles went white from how hard he clenched his fists.
"You know, Haneul
He's so different,"
He muttered.
"Or am I thinking differently about him?"
He shut his eyes tightly.
"It irritates me. It annoys me too much.
Why am I worried about him?
Why am I losing to him?"
His voice cracked.
"Harin"
"You always calmed me down,"
He whispered to the picture.
"Held me whenever I fell like this.
You protected me.
But I couldn't protect anyone."
He leaned back on the couch, exhausted but unable to relax.
"I'm worried,"
He breathed.
"Really worried.
I don't know what I'm doing.
Tell me what I should do just once."
"I don't want him to stay,"
He admitted shakily.
"But his tears melt me.
His care for Haru melts me.
I can't pretend anymore.
I can't keep distance."
"Whenever I go near him.
I can't hold myself.
He's too fragile. Like you, like Haru."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"And that forces me to protect them both."
His hands covered his face.
"I'm scared,"
He said.
"I'm really scared of losing."