Thursday, January 8th. 6:00 AM.
Yoon's residence, Seoul.

Jeonghan woke to the blaring alarm, a familiar sound pulling him from the warm, comforting realms of sleep. He stretched, only to find his movement stifled by the sleepy embrace of his younger sister. He looked down at her precious face, her soft lashes resting against her cheeks, and instinctively pulled her closer, hoping to stir her awake. As she blinked sleepily, she nestled back against his shoulder, surrendering to the comfort of his presence.

"Jae," he murmured, his voice deep and husky from slumber. "We need to get ready for the day." But she merely snuggled deeper into the warmth of the blankets, drifting back off to sleep. With a slight chuckle, he ruffled her hair and gently slipped from the cocoon of fabric, draping it over her as he made his way to the shared bathroom.

A few minutes later, Jaeha stirred awake, the sound of water cascading from the shower and birds chirping outside gently rousing her from her dreams. A yawn escaped her lips, stretching the skin around her cheeks and reminding her of the tears she had shed the night before. A sigh escaped her as memories flooded back-the image of their father's fists and boots flashing across her mind. He had struck Jeonghan to keep her from coming downstairs, and the thought made her frown. Jeonghan had borne the brunt of their father's rage silently, not letting a sound escape him, even as painful thoughts clawed at her.

In the night, Jaeha had woken several times, but the weight of exhaustion kept her anchored to her bed, unwilling to rise, but each time the thought of her brother kept her company, even when he was miles away in dreams.

When Jeonghan emerged from the bathroom, he found her sitting at the edge of his bed, her head in her hands. Concern etched across his features, he placed a gentle hand on her head, prompting her to look up. A tired smile broke through her clouds of worry.

"Good morning," she said, her voice a bit hoarse.

"Does your head hurt?" he asked worriedly, his hand moving to check her forehead.

"Nope," she replied, shaking her head and standing to stretch. "Just woke up multiple times at night. I think I'll take a bath now."

She slipped into her room but popped back out, darting for her bag before bounding to the bathroom. He watched, confusion flickering across his face, before a smile warmed his lips.

Jaeha emerged from the bathroom with her uniform on, but it was far from pristine. Wrinkles adorned the fabric, but he shrugged it off; it didn't matter. She was growing up, after all, and he knew she still had a few years before the pressures of perfection seeped too deeply into her bones. Jeonghan always made sure to discourage makeup from entering her life, often checking her room for any traces of it. Unlike many of her friends, she embraced her natural beauty, a gift inherited from their mother that contrasted sharply with their father's looks.

As she prepared to descend the stairs, nerves twisted in her stomach. She took a deep breath and let the weight of uncertainty drift away, forcing herself forward. Steeling her resolve, Jaeha walked down, bracing for the sight of their father.

To her mild relief, he was sitting on the couch, engrossed in a magazine. She exhaled quietly, feeling a flicker of courage bolster her heart as she made her way to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for herself and Jeonghan.

"Include me for breakfast," his voice called out lazily, not even bothering to look up.

A surge of irritation bubbled within her, and despite her better instincts, she glared at him from over her shoulder, the intensity of her gaze strong enough to send daggers his way. How could he remain so nonchalant?

iNcLudE mE fOR ThE brEaKfasT. Asshole.

Yet, she was scared-not just of their father, but of the weight that lingered in the air, a reminder of their painful reality. As she busied herself with breakfast, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was just another day in a life carved out amidst shadows, but with them side by side, perhaps they could light a path through it all.

She made breakfast for three, much to her dismay. He walked toward the island and settled down on one of the stools, a casual air about him. She placed a plate in front of him and quickly turned away, feeling annoyed. Racing upstairs, she knocked on her brother's open door, the sound a little impatient.

He turned around in his chair, looking up with a relaxed smile that faded into curiosity when he saw her expression. His brows arched playfully. "Breakfast is ready. He's eating, too, but I didn't want to stick around, so I came here," she explained, plopping down on his bed with a dramatic huff.

Jeonghan chuckled, finding her annoyed glare adorable. "Alright, we'll head down in a few minutes," he said before turning back to his book. "Did you go to that park with Seungkwan? Everyone's buzzing about it for some reason."

She hummed in acknowledgment. "I heard all about it, but we couldn't go. He said we'll go on the weekend. Oppa, will you come with us? You can bring Cheol along too!"

His snort turned into a smirk. "Cheol? He'll murder you if he hears that."

"Pfft, he doesn't scare me. Let him come at me." The bravado slipped from Seungcheol to their father, and her grin faltered into a frown. But when it comes to him....a wave of unease washed over her.

Remembering where she'd left her phone, she froze. She had brought it downstairs along with her bag and placed it on the kitchen counter. Panic rippled through her, and she bolted out of the room. Jeonghan blinked at her retreating figure, then swiftly closed his books, curiosity piqued.

As she dashed downstairs, she skidded to a halt in the kitchen. Her heart dropped at the sight of her father, his hand holding her phone. It was unlocked, and he was scrolling through her messages.

"Give that back," she asserted, her voice steadier than she felt.

He turned, huffing in annoyance. "I'm your father; I have every right to look at it. I bought it, after all," he said defensively, glaring at her. She waltzed over to him, reaching out to grab it away but he held her shoulder to keep her at a distance. She felt her stomach knot as he held the phone away, towering over her, intimidating in his stature.

"Stop being a brat and stay put," he spat, turning his back on her. An urgent worry flared in her chest. What if he deleted something? She stepped forward, reaching for the phone again, but once more it was held above her. He pushed her away, his fingers inadvertently grasping her jaw, a gesture that not only hurt but one that also sparked fear.

Just when she thought she was at her breaking point, a hand snatched the phone from his grip. Jeonghan stood there, a protective fire burning in his eyes as he glared at their father. As he handed the phone back to her, she felt an overwhelming wave of relief mixed with gratitude. Quickly joining behind her brother's back.

"You will respect her privacy," Jeonghan said, voice low and steady. "If she doesn't want you to see something, then you won't. She's not hiding anything; you're just making her life harder."

Their father's anger bubbled beneath the surface, but instead of arguing, he trudged back to his room with his mind racing with thoughts, the heavy door slamming shut behind him. The sudden change in his attitude left Jeonghan rather paranoid.

Jaeha stood, a little shaken but grateful for her brother's intervention. She held her phone tightly, trying to steady her heartbeat.

"Let's go," Jeonghan said softly, guiding her back toward the island. The tension in the air lingered, but in this moment, they were together, and that was enough.

She grabbed two plates while Jeonghan served them with a casual grace. A smile danced on her lips as she settled into her seat, a sight that almost made him chuckle. They ate in comfortable silence, and with their father not present in the room, it was a lot better. Something fell in his room and as if on cue, they exchanged glances, both breaking into warm smiles that hinted at an unspoken bond.

"Thank you," she whispered, and he responded with a gentle nod of acknowledgment.

"Do you have anything to hide?" he prodded softly, barely able to keep the playful tone from his voice.

"You can have my phone, boss," she replied with a teasing grin, and the smirk that tugged at his lips told her everything she needed to know-he trusted her implicitly.

8:32 AM
Yihwa high school.

"That jerk..." Seungkwan muttered, gripping his chopsticks hard enough to make them bend. Jaeha sighed, pushing her food around her plate rather than eating.

"I was terrified, but somehow I found the courage to stand up to him. Oppa was limping when I helped him upstairs. Do you know how much that hurts?" she said, her voice trembling slightly in anger as she took a bite, omitting the details about the money and something far more sensitive.

Seungkwan frowned, frustration building inside him. He shouldn't be the one losing his cool; she needed support. "Jae-ya, don't you think you should report him? You're living in fear at that house. He deserves to be held accountable."

She shook her head, determination etched across her features. "Jeonghan oppa said to wait-no reckless moves. He promised he'd handle it. I shouldn't worry," she replied, but her face quickly shifted to a near-tearful expression, just dramatically. "But come on; I saw him limping! How am I not supposed to worry?" she murmured, dropping her head as she shoved food into her mouth.

"Can I sit with you two?" a voice interrupted, drawing their attention. It was Vernon, his brow furrowed with concern. Did he overhear? Jaeha's thoughts raced, but she nodded nonetheless, with Seungkwan following suit once he caught her eye.

"Is it okay? You looked troubled, so I thought..." Vernon stammered, glancing away, uncertain. "I'll just sit over there," he said, motioning to a corner lacking any furniture.

Jaeha and Seungkwan exchanged looks, their expressions signaling a shared mission.

Target: Insecure Vernon.

With grins plastered on their faces, they wrapped their arms around him, lightly pulling him toward their table. Vernon's eyes widened in surprise but he sat down obediently, as though the force of their friendship had eased him into his place.

"Tell us, Vernon. Everything about you!" Jaeha said, her infectious enthusiasm lightened the atmosphere.

By the end of the lunch break, Vernon emerged beaming, proudly declaring to anyone who would listen that he now had friends. Having moved from America to Seoul only last summer, he had spent months feeling adrift, yet here he was in their company, the warmth of camaraderie slowly easing his insecurity. As he recounted stories of his past, he couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging with Jaeha and Seungkwan, confident that this time, he had found friends who truly had his back.

"Seungkwan and (Y/N) just don't leave eachother huh? They have been with eachother for how long? 8 years? 9?"

"10"

"Amazing..." Vernon mumbled in his seat while before looking at the two who were talking to eachother, oblivious to the talks about them. (Y/N) was sitting on his desk while he laid his head on her lap looking away from her, seemingly complaining about something. He knew that seungkwan's personality is loved by everyone in class and maybe even in the other classes as well. Jaeha on the other hand, he didn't know much about her, other then that she is 'Jeonghan's sister'. He didn't like the fact that she known only because of her brother's popularity.

Jaeha had shared a few things about her, but what struck him was how much he enjoyed her personality and attitude. She had a certain lightness about her, a blend of humor and eccentricity she used as her coping mechanism. Always up for an adventure, she was a whirlwind of unpredictability. Just minutes ago, he watched as she leaped from the cafeteria balcony to escape the dull task of washing dishes. It wasn't a high jump by any means, but knowing his clumsiness, he couldn't help but think that if he were to attempt it, he might just end up in a cast.

In class, Vernon kept a watchful eye on her and her friend Seungkwan, intrigued by their dynamic. He was surprised to see that they hardly absorbed more than half of the lecture. They either stared off into the distance or succumbed to the lull of sleep. Yet, when he glanced at their grades, a delightful contradiction unfolded: despite their classroom antics, they consistently performed exceptionally well. It was as if they completed each other-when Seungkwan excelled in one subject, Jaeha lagged, and vice versa. Their chemistry fascinated him. In English and Science, he held his own, while Korean and Math proved more challenging.

He hoped this budding friendship would flourish and last.

3:30 pm
assembly hall, Ikkwan highschool

Jaeha sat quietly, listening to her principal's speech, the steady cadence of his voice almost lulling her into sleep. He spoke about the school's growing popularity over the years, the excitement humming in the air as plans for the March graduation ceremony unfolded. It was a special occasion, celebrating the super seniors, but the real buzz came from the announcement about performances hosted by the 1st and 2nd-year high school students.

"Students can submit their names and performance ideas to their class teachers until the 11th of February," the principal continued, his face breaking into a warm smile. "The graduation will take place on March 3rd. I expect my 3rd-year students to support your juniors and, for the love of all things holy, do not peek into the auditoriums!"

A few laughs rippled through the crowd, but Jaeha found herself napping against Seungkwan's shoulder as he leaned forward, eyes sparkling with excitement. He was practically vibrating with anticipation, ready to take the stage in any way he could.

"Jae-ya, you absolutely have to participate this year! You missed out on everything back in middle school, including our graduation ceremony. It's time to change that!" he urged, poking her chin gently.

She groaned, pursing her lips in protest. "No thanks, I'll just be a spectator this time too."

"Come on! You should really give it a shot," Vernon chimed in from behind them, leaning forward to add his encouragement. The three friends were utterly distracted, tuning out the principal's continuing speech.

"I really don't see the point. I'm not interested," Jaeha replied flatly.

"Just think about it! You have till February 11th to decide," Vernon pushed, a hopeful glint in his eyes.

"Sure, I'll think about it," she replied, nodding half-heartedly.

"Whatever you choose, at least let us know what you're thinking," Vernon urged. "So, Seungkwan, what do you have planned?"

"Doing a play!" Seungkwan declared, his enthusiasm lighting up his face like a kid in a candy store.

Vernon raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms as he smirked. "You do realize you might be the first high school student to put on a play here? This school is full of introverts!"

"Always the first!" Seungkwan shot back, grinning wider.

Despite herself, Jaeha couldn't help but chuckle at their banter, soaking in their infectious energy. But, deep down, she felt a familiar tug of uncertainty. Could she really step out from the sidelines and join in? She shook her head slightly, but for some reason, the thought lingered longer than she expected.

4:21 PM
Boo Residence

"Really?" Seungkwan's older sister, Soojin, exclaimed, her brow furrowing in visible frustration, mirroring their mother's expression. The tension hung thick in the air as they listened to Seungkwan recount the recent events.

"Should we report it, then?" Their mother suggested, concern etched on her face. Seungkwan shook his head emphatically. "I told her that already, but she insisted her brother said not to intervene, that he'd handle it. I'm not entirely sure how, but I think we should trust them," he reassured, even though uncertainty gnawed at him. Who knew what he could resort to next?

Seungkwan's family was what Jaeha considered home. While Seungcheol's family was what Jeonghan considered home. But both the family loves the two siblings.

7:47 PM
Yoon Residence

"And since the king's children couldn't find any evidence, they ordered the soldiers to continue their search. After a few years, the older brother died, and the younger brother, determined to uncover the truth, learned the king was behind the treachery. Now seated on the throne, the younger brother ordered the execution of their father," Jeonghan narrated, watching as Jaeha's mind began to wander.

"Fancy sharing what's on your mind?" he prompted gently.

"I just think, for some reason, their lives feel strangely similar to ours, don't you think?" She said, catching him off guard, leaving him wide-eyed in disbelief. A laugh escaped him.

"Pfft-"

"What? Oh, nonono! You'll be fine! Don't worry," she quickly assured, catching the playful concern in his tone.

He erupted into laughter, his amusement contagious, while she flushed with embarrassment, mumbling an apology.

"It's all good. Ah~ that was a good laugh," he responded, still chuckling.

"But you're right; Dad's the villain in our story," he said, his tone turning more solemn. "Mom's gone, and while we can't find hard evidence, our gut tells us he is behind it all. But hey, we're not going anywhere; we have our lives to live," he said with a reassuring smile, to which she responded with one of her own.

"You better remember this; I don't want you flunking history again," he teased, shaking his head playfully.

"Can't blame me! History is a snooze fest. I appreciate the bravery of our ancestors, but there's just too much to keep track of. I mean, seriously, there are over 200 dynasties, and each one has at least 50 rulers! You can't expect me to memorize all those names," she exclaimed, throwing her hands up in frustration. "I don't even know my own cousins!"

"I do," he interjected, a cheeky grin on his face.

"What? When?" she asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"When I was eight, Dad took me to some relative's house. I played with my cousin, but I didn't even catch his name," he recalled with a chuckle.

"Wow, you were such a social butterfly," she shot back sarcastically.

"Well, I played with him, didn't I?" he replied, feigning indignation.

"Bet you didn't talk," she shot back, smirking.

"You're as cheeky as ever. You really know me," he said, feigning defeat.

"I've known you for 15 years, remember?" she pointed out with a teasing smile.

"Wait, so have I... it's still 15?" he muttered, catching on to the childish banter.

"HAHAA!!! GOD, YOU'RE STUPID!" she laughed, the sound bright and infectious.

"I just wasn't thinking straight," he protested, though he couldn't help but smile.

"Sure~" she replied, and in that moment, they both knew that no matter the challenges ahead, together they could face anything life threw their way.