Jiah stepped into her family's spacious yet cozy home, a rush of familiar scents hitting her nose her mother's floral perfume lingering in the air and the faint aroma of her favorite dishes being prepared in the kitchen. She slipped off her sneakers, neatly placing them by the door, and called out, "I'm home!"

Her mother, Baek Yerim, appeared from the living room with a bright smile. "Jiah, you're back!" she said warmly, pulling her into a hug. "We've been waiting for you."

Before Jiah could respond, she heard an unmistakable voice. "Jiah, my precious granddaughter!"

Jiah froze in surprise. That voice belonged to none other than her grandmother, Kang Jiseon, a woman she hadn't seen in months. The last time they spoke, her grandmother was busy shopping and sightseeing in Shanghai, where she'd been traveling for the past year. "Halmeoni?!" Jiah exclaimed, eyes wide.

She rushed into the living room, and there she was her grandmother sitting elegantly on the couch, sipping tea as though she owned the place. Her stylish, tailored outfit made her look more like a celebrity than a retiree. Jiah squealed with delight and ran over, flinging herself into her grandmother's arms. "What are you doing here? Weren't you in Shanghai?"

Jiseon chuckled, patting her granddaughter's back. "I wanted to surprise you, of course! Your debut is coming up how could I not come home to see you before your big day?"

Jiah pulled back, her grin practically glowing. "I'm so happy you're here!"

Her father, Hwang Jihyun, stepped into the room just then, a warm yet reserved smile on his face. "Jiah, don't forget about us now," he teased lightly.

She quickly got up to hug him, and then her mother joined them. Jiah's heart felt full, surrounded by the people she loved most. After hugging both her parents, she immediately returned to sit beside her grandmother, who patted the seat next to her.

"You've gotten even thinner, Jiah," Jiseon commented, narrowing her eyes with mock disapproval. "Are they feeding you properly at that company of yours?"

"Halmeoni! Of course, they are," Jiah said with a laugh. "We're training a lot, so I need to keep fit. But I promise I'm eating well."

"Hmm. I'll be the judge of that once we have dinner," Jiseon replied, raising a sharp eyebrow.

The family settled around the living room, the conversation quickly turning to Jiah's upcoming debut with LE SSERAFIM. Her mother was the first to bring it up. "So, how's everything going? Are you nervous?" Yerim asked, her tone both curious and encouraging.

"I'm not as nervous as I thought I'd be," Jiah admitted, her smile widening. "It's been really exciting so far. The team is amazing, and I've been learning so much. The new members Garam, Eunchae, and Kazuha are so sweet and I already knew Yunjin from Produce 48, so it was great reconnecting with her. We've all been bonding really well."

"That's good to hear," her father said, leaning back in his chair. "Teamwork is going to be important for you. Are the schedules manageable?"

"They're busy, but I don't mind, it's nothing I'm not used to" Jiah said, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "It feels rewarding. Plus, we've been getting some breaks here and there. Sakura and Kazuha actually went home to Japan for a few days, so it's a little quieter right now."

Her grandmother perked up at the mention of Sakura. "Why didn't you bring her along this time? She's usually attached to you at the hip whenever you come home."

Jiah chuckled. "I know, right? But the company wanted us to spend some time with our families before our busy schedule, so they're back in Japan for three days."

"That makes sense," her mother said thoughtfully. "But next time, bring her. You know we adore her."

"I will, I promise," Jiah replied.

Her grandmother reached over, placing a hand on Jiah's. "It sounds like you're thriving, sweetheart. I'm so proud of you. But remember to take care of yourself, too. No matter how busy you get, don't forget your health comes first."

Jiah nodded earnestly. "I'll remember, halmeoni."

Just then, Yerim stood up. "Speaking of health, let me check on dinner. Your favorites are on the menu, Jiah," she said with a wink.

Jiah clapped her hands in delight. "You didn't!"

"Oh, I did," Yerim said as she disappeared into the kitchen.

Jiah leaned back on the couch, basking in the comfort of being home. It felt surreal to her that she was on the brink of debuting as an idol, yet sitting here with her family, she felt like the same girl who used to come home after school to tell them about her day.

As the family continued talking and enjoying each other's company, Jiah's grandmother, Jiseon, turned to her with a curious glint in her eye. "By the way, Jiah, how's that boy Heeseung doing? I remember he used to come around a lot when you two were together."

The question hung in the air for a moment, and the once lively atmosphere turned slightly tense. Jiah's brother, Jiho, chose that exact moment to walk into the house. "Halmeoni," he said, his voice carrying a teasing edge, "you do remember Jiah and Heeseung broke up three years ago, right?"

Jiseon's face froze for a moment before she made an awkward grimace, clearly recalling the pain Jiah had gone through after the breakup. "Ah, that's right," she murmured, her tone apologetic. "I must be getting old, forgetting things like that. I'm sorry, Jiah."

"It's okay, halmeoni," Jiah replied, smiling softly. She had long since learned how to brush off any mention of Heeseung, though the memories still lingered somewhere deep inside.

Jiah stood up, her smile widening as she turned to her brother. "Oppa, when did you get home?"

"Just now," Jiho replied, walking over to his sister. He kissed her temple affectionately before pulling her into a brief hug. "How have you been, Jiah? It's been a while since I've seen you in person."

"I've been fine," she said with a grin, letting go of him. "You're the one who's been too busy to visit. Always off on some work trip or late at the hospital."

Jiho chuckled. "Someone has to keep the family reputation intact, right?" he teased, earning a mock glare from their father, Jihyun, who was seated nearby.

Jiyeon glanced toward the dining table where Yerim was setting the table for six. He tilted his head curiously. "Are we having a guest? Who's the extra seat for?"

"It's just Sunghoon," Jiah answered nonchalantly, grabbing a glass of water from the counter.

As if on cue, the doorbell rang. Jiah perked up, setting her glass down and heading toward the door. She opened it to reveal Sunghoon standing there, dressed casually but still managing to look effortlessly polished.

"Finally!" Jiah greeted him with a grin.

"Yah, you're the one who told me to come late," Sunghoon replied, nudging her playfully to the side as he stepped into the house. Instead of greeting her further, he made a beeline for Jiseon, who was sitting comfortably on the couch.

"Halmeoni!" Sunghoon called cheerfully, leaning down to give her a warm hug.

"My dear Sunghoon!" Jiseon beamed, patting his back affectionately. "It's been too long. You've grown so much every time I see you."

"Still your favorite grandchild, right?" Sunghoon teased, shooting a smirk over his shoulder at Jiah, who rolled her eyes in amusement.

Yerim called out, "The food's ready, so everyone sit down before it gets cold!"

The family gathered around the table, the delicious aroma of homemade dishes filling the room. Sunghoon plopped down in the seat next to Jiah, while Jiho settled across from them. Jiseon sat at the head of the table, watching her grandchildren with a warm smile, while Minseo and Jihyun served the food.

As they started eating, the conversation turned to everyone's schedules. Jiah spoke about the final preparations for her debut with LE SSERAFIM, her voice brimming with excitement. Jiho shared some funny stories from his latest hospital shift, and Sunghoon mentioned the upcoming Music Bank filming schedule.

It wasn't long before Jiho turned his attention to Sunghoon with a teasing glint in his eye. "Since you're an MC on Music Bank, that means you're going to have to introduce Jiah and her group on their debut stage, huh?"

Sunghoon smirked, taking a sip of water. "Of course. I'll make sure to give her the grandest introduction anyone's ever seen."

Jiah rolled her eyes dramatically. "You'd better not embarrass me in front of the entire country, Sunghoon. I'm more excited to see Wonyoung than to see you on stage, anyway."

Sunghoon's smirk dropped as he glared at her. "Yah, is that how you treat family? I could easily sabotage your intro, you know."

"Go ahead," Jiah shot back, a playful grin on her face. "It'll only make me go viral."

Under the table, Sunghoon kicked her lightly, earning a startled yelp from Jiah. "Seriously?" she hissed, glaring at him.

Their grandmother chuckled, shaking her head at their antics. "You two are always like this. It's like watching children argue."

Yerim smiled fondly at the scene. "That's how they've always been. Even when they were kids, they couldn't go five minutes without bickering about something."

Jiah stuck her tongue out at Sunghoon, who responded with a mock glare, but the moment was filled with warmth and laughter. Jiho leaned back in his chair, watching his younger siblings with a satisfied expression.

"So," Jihyun said, steering the conversation back on track, "how does it feel, Jiah, knowing you'll be performing on live television again?"

Jiah paused, her smile softening into something more reflective. "It's surreal, honestly. I've dreamed about this moment again for so long, and now it's finally happening. I just want to make everyone proud."

"You already have," Yerim said, her tone firm and reassuring. "No matter what happens, we're all proud of you, Jiah."

Jiah's eyes shimmered as she looked around the table, taking in the faces of her family. This was the support system that had carried her through the toughest times, and now they were here, cheering her on as she took another big step in her life.

Sunghoon, in a rare moment of seriousness, reached over to ruffle her hair. "You're going to do great, Ji. I know it."

"Thanks" Jiah replied, swatting his hand away with a small laugh.

The rest of the meal passed in a blur of laughter, stories, and teasing. By the time the plates were cleared, Jiah felt a deep sense of contentment. Being with her family before her debut reminded her of why she had worked so hard to get to this point.

As the evening came to a close and Sunghoon prepared to leave, he leaned down to whisper to Jiah, "Don't forget to practice your big smile for when I introduce you. You're going to need it."

Jiah rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless. "Just don't trip on stage, Sunghoon. You'll embarrass us both."

With that, he gave her a wink and left the house, leaving Jiah surrounded by the people she loved most. This was exactly the kind of day she needed before stepping into the spotlight.