"Okay, that's all for today. Thank you so much!" They stood up and applauded. It seemed like practice was over for the day.

It had been a week since Youn joined the orchestra, and they had been rehearsing for quite some time now. Taylor and Mint couldn't be happier these days. The practice sessions had been going smoothly ever since Youn arrived. He was truly a musical genius.

"Hello..." Taylor stuttered. Thankfully, he didn't choke on his water. Cole stood in front of him, holding a camcorder in his hand. He always accompanied Youn to the practices, enjoying watching his brother at work.

But more than that, he saw it as an opportunity to get to know Taylor better. Initially, he had been too afraid to say hi to him, but today he gathered his courage and was ready to take the first step.

"Hi, it seems like you really love this orchestra," Mint smirked at Taylor. The boy maintained his poker face and packed up his things.

"Yeah, actually, I play some instruments. I play the drums," Cole smiled, revealing his bunny teeth.

"Ohh..." Mint suddenly lost his focus on Cole. He noticed one of the orchestra members walking towards Youn with a sweet smile on her face. He felt a pang of sadness. Taylor looked at him, his face filled with confusion.

"Say, how about grabbing a coffee after this?" Cole suggested, looking at Taylor expectantly.

"I don't drink coffee," Taylor replied with a hint of reluctance.

"He loves ice cream," Mint chimed in unexpectedly, bursting with words and a smile on his face. Despite his previous reservations, Mint had managed to overcome his feelings. That's the magic of Mint – he's a 'hot and cold' kind of person.

"Oh, I noticed a new ice cream shop just across the street!" Cole exclaimed, still gazing at Taylor with excitement. Mint chuckled and gave Taylor a playful glare.

"Ah, yes. We actually knew about it, but we haven't had a chance to go there yet due to our practice sessions," Taylor explained.

"Really? That's quite frustrating!" Cole pouted slightly, clearly disappointed.

"I suppose we could hang out today..." Taylor finally gave in. He couldn't help but feel sorry for this adorable boy who had tried his best to ask him out. As Mint had suggested, there was no harm in saying yes.

It wasn't that Taylor didn't want to hang out. He had his reasons for being hesitant. Avoiding this boy meant avoiding the possibility of love entering his life. And truthfully, love scared him.

"Say, how about you and Cole go ahead? I'll catch up with you later," Mint suggested, his eyes still fixed on Youn and the girl who were engaged in conversation, sharing smiles and giggles.

"Alright then! Shall we, Taylor?" Cole asked, eager to seize the opportunity.

Taylor had no choice but to reluctantly nod, shooting Mint a glare that seemed to say, "If you don't show up, I'm going to kill you!"

Mint chuckled sheepishly, fully aware of the awkwardness on Taylor's face.

----------------------

They arrived at the ice cream shop shortly after that.

"So, what would you like?" Cole asked, looking at Taylor with curiosity.

"I'll have a strawberry ice cream with chocolate syrup, please. And vanilla, too," Taylor replied, placing his order with the girl behind the counter.

"I'll go with mint chocolate," Cole said, catching the girl's smile as she looked at Taylor. She seemed quite flirtatious. Taylor returned her smile, unaware of Cole's internal intimidation.

Hey there, girl, stay away from my crush!

The thought made Cole blush, realizing he needed to focus on the present moment and not get lost in his daydreams.

"So, you're a fan of strawberries?" Cole asked, attempting to steer the conversation and capture Taylor's attention.

"Yes, I love strawberries in everything. Strawberry pancakes with honey, strawberry shortcake, and strawberry milkshakes. Anything strawberry works for me!" Taylor replied, his boxy smile lighting up his face.

Cole couldn't quite comprehend it, but his heart was racing like a bullet train... Well, more like an old steam-powered locomotive, fueled by hot coal and steaming emotions.

"Can I ask you something?" Taylor inquired.

"Of course, go ahead."

"How is Mr. Wu your brother? I mean, he's Asian, right? And you look more Western..." Taylor had been puzzled about their relationship since day one. Was it true that they were brothers?

Youn and Cole didn't bear any resemblance to each other at all. Their features told a different story. Cole had a pair of doe eyes and a jawline that resembled someone of European descent, while Mr. Youn Wu had smaller eyes and a cute, petite face.

"He's my stepbrother," Cole explained. "His father is from Hong Kong, and his mother is Korean. My father, a European man, married his mother. However, they got divorced five years later. I know very little about my mom, except that she's Korean American. She left me when I was five."

"But he's nice and cares about you. You're lucky!"

"Yes, I admit that. Not only do I have a kind brother, but I also have a wonderful stepmother. Yoo-Ji is the most loving woman I've ever known. When my parents divorced, I was devastated. I understood that she had had enough of my father, but it still hurt. Sadly, I had to stay with my dad," said Cole.

"But now that I'm of legal age, I can choose who I want to live with. To avoid any bickering between Yoo-Ji and my dad, I decided to stay with Youn," Cole shared. It wasn't easy for him to discuss his family with someone, but somehow Taylor made him feel comfortable enough to open up.

"Do you ever hate your dad?" Taylor suddenly asked.

"I... I don't know," Cole hesitated. "I mean, aside from being controlling and forcing me into things I dislike, he's a nice guy. But he never really understands me, his own son. I envy Youn because he has a mother like Yoo-Ji. But for me, well..." Cole's mood turned gloomy as he thought about his father.

Taylor remained silent, toying with his ice cream spoon. His expression turned bitter, and a sadness lingered in his eyes.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Cole asked, concerned.

Taylor shook his head and forced a smile. He fought back the tears welling up in his eyes. It wasn't the right time for him to open up about his feelings. Perhaps another time.

"What about you?" Taylor asked, trying to change the subject.

"I have a sister. She means the world to me. She's been through a lot just to be there for me. She's always protective and loving. Her world may not be as glamorous as others, but she smiles and finds joy in every part of it," Cole replied, a smile forming as he thought of his sister Rae, who was probably at home by now.

"Seems like you're lucky too. Having such a caring sister," Taylor remarked.

"Yeah, she loves me unconditionally! And Mint as well! We treat Mint like family. He's a great guy," Cole responded.

"Is he your boyfriend?" Taylor blurted out, caught off guard by the bluntness of his own question. He fixed his sharp gaze on Cole.

"I don't feel the need to justify anything, but no... Mint is not my boyfriend. We're best friends, more like soulmates. Besides, he might have someone in mind right now," Cole's tone was firm as he clarified his relationship with Mint.

"Oh, so you're single?" Taylor asked, his curiosity evident.

"Why are you taking such an interest in my private life?" Cole responded, a hint of suspicion in his tone.

"Because I want to be a part of your 'private life'..." Taylor's voice trailed off, his heart suddenly ablaze with emotion.

Okay, this is intense! What did he just say? Is he serious?

Taylor felt as though he might fall off the chair in front of Cole. No words were exchanged, only a powerful gaze exchanged between them.

Maybe he's just joking... but that's not funny at all!

"Hey guys, sorry I'm late!" Mint's cheerful voice interrupted their intense moment, causing both Taylor and Cole to snap out of their reverie. They quickly looked away from each other, feeling the awkwardness fill the air.

"Oh, vanilla for me! Thanks, buddy!" Mint patted Taylor's shoulder before diving into his ice cream, completely oblivious to the sudden change in atmosphere. He didn't bother to question why his best friend had suddenly turned red.

-------------------
"Thanks, Rae, for your contribution," Joe said, smiling gratefully. She simply nodded in response.

"If it's for charity work, I don't mind at all," Rae replied.

"But I still don't understand why you refused to let go of that painting. There are so many collectors out there who are interested in it," Rae sighed, gazing at a painting hanging on the office wall.

"I poured my soul into it. If I let it go, then I'll feel soulless," she chuckled.

"Enough with the ominous words, Rae!"

"Joe, you know me well. When I say something, I mean it," Rae looked at him with sadness in her eyes. Joe had a deep understanding of her life. It wasn't easy to let go of something that was tightly woven into her heart, especially when it had caused her so much heartbreak.

Luckily, Rae hadn't become cold and bitter. If it were Joe walking in her shoes, he might have succumbed to depression. But Rae was a gem. She remained joyful and let go of the past with grace.

"Does he still keep in touch with you? Just curious," Joe asked cautiously.

"Nope... I'm avoiding him," Rae replied, her smile fading. Her head was lowered, her gaze fixed on her shoes.

"He called me last week, asking about you," Joe revealed.

"Please, don't mention anything, Joe. I don't want things to get messy. It took me years to rebuild myself. I don't want to crumble after all I've accomplished," Rae's hands nervously toyed with the hem of her sweater, which appeared both gloomy and resilient at the same time.

"Well, by the way... Good luck with the auction!" Joe swiftly changed the subject, wanting to divert the conversation before Rae spiraled into her own thoughts again.

It was her past and her choice, and Joe respected the decision she had made. He just hoped that she wouldn't succumb to the pressures and skepticism of society. After all, the world didn't revolve around them alone!

He had always emphasized this to his students.

"Thanks. I hope this time I can be someone's chef!" Rae replied, a touch of hope in her voice.

"Anything. Just don't burn down the house! We don't have an insurance policy for that!" Joe joked.

"Look who's talking! The man who once burned a pan while cooking fried rice..." Rae laughed, recalling a tragedy-turned-comedy stunt that Joe had pulled a few years ago.

If it weren't for Rae's quick thinking, he might have needed a new house! He had nearly set half of his kitchen ablaze.

"Joe, I think you should get married," Rae suddenly commented.

"What does that have to do with burning a pan?" Joe asked, taken aback.

"So that you can have someone to take care of you," Rae explained, playfully teasing the slightly messy Joe who stood before her.

"Hey, don't you dare question my independence!" Joe retorted, trying to defend himself.

"I'm not questioning it..." Rae winked at him before bidding him farewell and leaving.

Gosh, do I really look that disheveled? Joe wondered to himself, briefly examining his appearance.

------------------------

Rae skipped happily out of Joe's office, feeling a sense of fulfillment after contributing to this year's auction. As she strolled down the hallway, her gaze caught the sight of a painting displayed at the far end. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't realize that someone was approaching from the opposite direction, and they collided.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Rae squeaked, her tote bag slipping from her grasp, its contents scattering onto the floor. The man she collided with quickly bent down to help her pick up the scattered items. She hurriedly gathered her things, trying to clean up the mess before making her way towards the building's exit.

"Hey! You dropped this," the man called out, holding up an item. But before he could hand it to her, she had already walked away. He watched her walk slowly towards the entrance, letting out a sigh. Looking at the item in his hand, he realized it was a lip balm.

He couldn't help but tightly grip the lip balm in his palm, his eyes welling up with tears. It was the same brand of lip balm, with the same scent. A rush of memories flooded his mind, leaving him momentarily stunned.

He and that lip balm had a long history...