The car merged onto the road, smooth and quiet.
Ji-Ah sat by the window, staring out, fingers tapping lightly against the glass.
What will Unnie say?
They had not been good lately. Not fighting,
not close either.
Just… distant. The kind that hurt more.
Then—
"I'm freezing," Min-Jea announced dramatically from the front passenger seat. "Why is the air-con attacking me?"
Seo-Jun's hand tightened on the steering wheel. "Freezing? I'm sweating. This car feels like the Philippines."
Min-Jea twisted around, offended. "That's because you're wearing a suit. Of course you're hot."
Seo-Jun glanced at him, deadpan. "And you're cold because you're wearing one sad shirt. Who feels cold in May?"
Min-Jea fired back instantly. "Who feels hot in May?"
Seo-Jun didn't even pause. "People with a functioning sense of temperature."
Min-Jea ran a hand through his silky curls, scoffing. "Take off the suit then."
"Drive the car," Seo-Jun snapped. "I'm the one driving."
They both started adjusting the air-con at the same time.
Cold. Hot. Cold.
Ji-Ah burst out laughing. "Are you two married or something?"
Silence.
Seo-Jun cleared his throat. "Absolutely not."
Min-Jea nodded firmly. "Divorced energy at best."
Ji-Ah laughed harder, wiping her eyes.
The heavy thoughts scattered, chased away by their ridiculous bickering.
She leaned back, smiling, as the car rolled on—too hot, too cold, and somehow exactly right.
--
The car rolled to a stop in front of a small house tucked neatly between two others. Nothing flashy.
Just warm yellow light spilling from the windows, paint slightly worn, the front steps smoothed down by years of familiar footsteps.
Ji-Ah stared at it for a second longer than necessary.
Home.
She stepped out first. The air felt different here. Softer. Like it knew her.
Min-Jea followed, blinking as if his body recognized the place before his mind did.
His shoulders relaxed without permission.
"…It feels warm," he said quietly.
Ji-Ah smiled. "It always is."
The door swung open.
"NOONA!"
Park Joon-Seo burst out like a missile, tie crooked, hair a disaster, eyes bright.
He didn't even slow down before wrapping his arms around her.
"You're late," he complained into her shoulder. "You took forever."
Ji-Ah laughed and hugged him back just as tightly. "Hello to you too, menace."
He pulled back, grinning. "You missed me."
"Don't push it."
Only then did he notice Min-Jea standing there, slightly unsure, hands in his pockets.
Joon-Seo blinked. "Oh. You're real."
Min-Jea huffed. "Nice to meet you too."
Before anything else could be said, a calm, steady voice came from inside.
"Joon-Seo. Don't block the doorway."
Ji-Ah's breath caught.
Her father stood just past the threshold.
Mr. Park looked older than she remembered. His hair was more silver than black now, his shoulders broader but slouched in that familiar way from years of work.
His eyes, though, were exactly the same.
Warm.
Observant.
Soft in a way that made her chest ache.
Ji-Ah didn't think. She ran.
"Papa."
He caught her easily, arms strong as ever, one hand resting on the back of her head like he used to when she was small.
"My Ji-Ah," he said, smiling, voice thick. "You came home."
She nodded against his chest, eyes burning. "I missed you."
"I know." He chuckled softly. "I know."
He pulled back and looked at her properly, pride settling into his expression. "You've grown well."
Then his gaze shifted.
Min-Jea stiffened.
Mr. Park stepped closer and studied him for a moment, then smiled and opened his arms without hesitation.
"You must be Min-Jea," he said. "Come here, little one."
Min-Jea froze. "…Little—"
Too late.
Mr. Park hugged him firmly, one hand patting his back in an almost fatherly way.
Min-Jea blinked, then slowly relaxed, arms lifting awkwardly before hugging back.
"…Thank you, sir," he said quietly.
Mr. Park nodded, satisfied. "Anyone who comes with my daughter is family."
Ji-Ah watched, heart full.
Joon-Seo clapped his hands loudly. "Okay, emotional reunion done. I'm starving."
"Then bring the food," Mr. Park said without looking at him.
"But I just got back—"
"Joon-Seo."
"Yes, sir."
Grumbling, Joon-Seo turned toward the kitchen.
Ji-Ah laughed, wiping her eyes.
Some things really never changed
The four of them sat around the low dining table, steam rising gently from bowls of soup, the clink of chopsticks filling the room with an easy rhythm.
Ji-Ah took one bite, swallowed… then hesitated.
She cleared her throat. Coughed once. Too loud.
Papa looked up immediately. "Eat slowly."
Ji-Ah nodded, then asked carefully, "Papa… where's Unnie?"
The room paused.
Mr. Park's chopsticks hovered for a second before he set them down.
"She went out," he said evenly. "She'll be back soon."
"Oh." Ji-Ah nodded, pretending that was nothing. Everything.
Joon-Seo, sensing the shift like a seasoned troublemaker, leaned back in his chair.
"You know," he said brightly, "you would never imagine how much she talks about you."
Ji-Ah blinked. "She… does?"
"All the time," he added quickly. "Like, nonstop. Praising you. 'Ji-Ah this, Ji-Ah that.' I almost got jealous."
Mr. Park hummed. "That's true."
Ji-Ah's lips curved despite herself.
"And how is work?" her father asked, turning to her gently.
Ji-Ah opened her mouth to answer and immediately choked on her soup.
Min-Jea handed her water without even looking. A knowing smile tugged at his lips.
"It's fine," Ji-Ah managed after coughing. "Cold boss. Very cold. And very… bossy."
"She's being modest," Min-Jea added calmly. "He made her his maid."
Mr. Park blinked. "I see."
Ji-Ah groaned. "Papa—"
He waved it off, amused.
"Don't worry. You'll get along. Who knows," he added lightly, eyes twinkling, "maybe I'll get a son-in-law soon."
Ji-Ah scoffed instantly. "Not with that man."
Laughter rippled around the table. Even Min-Jea smiled.
Then—
Footsteps.
Sharp. Fast. Familiar.
The front door opened with purpose.
"Ji-Ah!!"
The voice cut through the room like a blade.
Ji-Ah froze.
She stood so quickly her chair scraped loudly against the floor.
"…Unnie."
A woman stepped into the room.
Park Seo-Yeon.
Her hair was pulled back neatly, coat still on, eyes sharp and burning with emotion she didn't bother hiding.
She looked tired.
Strong.
Beautiful in a way that carried storms.
Her gaze locked onto Ji-Ah.
The room went silent.
Seo-Yeon took one step forward.
"You came back," she said, voice tight.
Ji-Ah swallowed.
"Yeah," she replied softly. "I'm home."