After freshening up, Luna slowly stepped out of her room, her eyes landing on the siblings laughing together. Hyunsu was teasing Nina about something as they set the dining table, their chuckles filling the quiet house.
For a moment, Luna stood there unnoticed, watching them.
Something about their warmth tugged at her heart—a familiar ache she couldn't quite understand. Their laughter stirred memories buried deep within her.
She and Jae used to set the table together during family gatherings—arguing over who would place the cutlery, flicking crumbs at each other, their playful bickering hidden from the eyes of the adults.
Her mind told her she had long forgotten those days, but the sharp tug in her chest said otherwise.
The absence of those moments weighed heavier than she had ever realized. And without warning, the invisible wound she had buried for years began to ache once more.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Luna silently watched them, forcing the pain back where it belonged—deep down, hidden behind the walls she had spent years building.
"LuLu, why are you just standing there?" Nina called out, snapping Luna from her thoughts.
"Yeah… coming," Luna murmured, shaking off the trance as she walked toward the table.
The three of them sat down, but a subtle awkwardness lingered between Luna and Hyunsu—both still replaying the chaos of the morning in their minds.
Sensing the tension, Nina broke the silence. "How are you feeling, LuLu?" she asked, her voice gentle with concern.
"I'm okay. But what happened last night? I only remember getting out of the car at the airport. How did you find me?" Luna asked.
"It wasn't me—he found you," Nina said, nodding toward Hyunsu. "I tried calling you, but the rain and poor signal made it impossible to reach either of you. Somehow, he found you first, and after a while, we finally got in touch. So, he drove you home and took care of you."
Luna glanced at him, her voice soft with a hint of guilt. "Sorry for troubling you."
Hyunsu didn't look up, simply nodding as he picked up his chopsticks. His gaze flickered briefly to the food in front of him, as if it had been ages since he'd tasted something so familiar.
Without hesitation, Hyunsu started eating, making both girls stare at him.
"Are you a pig? Why are you eating like that non-stop?" Nina teased, nudging his shoulder playfully.
Hyunsu barely paused between bites. "It's been a long time since I've had real food," he muttered, stealing a quick glance at Luna.
"Real food?" Nina raised an eyebrow. "Then what do you usually eat?"
Hyunsu let out a dramatic sigh, chewing slowly before smirking. "Certainly not that excuse for a meal they serve on flights. Dry chicken, rubbery rice… I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy."
Nina snorted. "So, you're saying you suffered?"
"Suffered?" He scoffed. "I barely survived."
From the corner of his eye, Hyunsu caught the faintest hint of a smile on Luna's lips. His grin widened.
Hyunsu leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his tousled hair falling slightly over his forehead—effortlessly handsome, as always.
"Brother, I think you've changed a lot…" Nina said sarcastically, eyeing him.
"What? Can't a man change?" Hyunsu asked, leaning back lazily, chopsticks still in hand.
"Change?" Nina scoffed. "You?"
Hyunsu smirked. "Well… I guess some things never change." His gaze drifted to Luna, making her heart unexpectedly flutter.
Nina watched them both, a knowing smile slowly forming on her face.
Hyunsu continued, his voice turning softer. "I don't know… she never feeds me. She does all kinds of things, but never feeds me. I don't know why. Sometimes, I wonder if she's just never hungry."
"She? Who? What are you talking about?" Nina asked, picking up some food from her plate.
"There's someone like that… you don't need to know," Hyunsu muttered, lowering his head and silently eating again.
Nina's curiosity got the best of her. With a mischievous grin, she blurted out, "Brother, did you get a girlfriend?"
Hyunsu immediately choked on his food, coughing uncontrollably at his sister's unexpected question—especially in front of Luna.
After all, who would want to discuss girlfriends in front of their childhood crush?
Hyunsu had always been the rebellious one—cold, indifferent, never stopping for anyone. But that day, he stopped for Luna.
It was her first day at high school after moving into a new neighborhood. The unfamiliar hallways, the unfamiliar faces—it all felt suffocating. Seeking peace, she escaped to the rooftop, her mind drifting back to the life she had left behind, a past she couldn't fully remember.
Then, a sudden commotion broke through the quiet.
Glancing down, she spotted a boy on the ground floor—his rough, tousled hair falling messily over his eyes, uniform disheveled—as he beat someone without hesitation.
His punches were sharp, his face cold, eyes burning with something darker beneath his aloof exterior. Everyone around him watched, too afraid to interfere.
Luna's heart pounded at the sight. Even from that distance, something about him made it impossible to look away.
And then—almost as if he felt her gaze—he suddenly paused, his fist frozen mid-air, and looked up.
Their eyes met.
For a second, the world around them faded.
It was the first time Hyunsu ever stopped.
He looked up at the rooftop—at the innocent girl staring down at him, her face clouded with sadness. Her cherry-red eyes hinted that she had cried—a lot. Strands of her hair danced in the wind, framing her delicate features.
Something about her made him keep looking—longer than he should have.
In that fleeting moment, the chaos around him disappeared. His clenched fists loosened, and the burning rage in his eyes dimmed.
It was as if her sadness had reached out and wrapped itself around him—without saying a single word.
"Slowly! Slowly!" Nina patted his back, handing him a glass of water, pulling him out of his thoughts.
"Do you ever stop talking?" Hyunsu muttered, wanting to shut his sister up. He covered her mouth with his hand and said, "Eat first," slowly releasing her.
Watching them, Luna couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. The warmth between the siblings was something she hadn't experienced in years—something she longed for but was too afraid to admit.
Luna absentmindedly stirred her chopsticks in her bowl, her gaze distant, lost in thought. The rhythmic tapping of the sticks against the sides of the bowl became her only anchor.
Why does it hurt so much to see them like this? What am I missing?
Hyunsu glanced around the house. Paintings covered the walls—each one filled with sorrow. Not a single piece radiated warmth or life. They all seemed distant, like fragments of a world trapped in imagination.
Hyunsu's voice broke the silence. "Did you sleep well last night?"
Luna's gaze flickered up to meet his, her heart skipping a beat. There was something in his eyes—something familiar and unsettling—that drew her in. She hesitated, unsure of how to reply.
"Yeah," she said finally, her voice quieter than she intended. "I think I slept well."
But even as she spoke, the remnants of a nightmare still clung to her, making her question whether she'd truly slept at all.
"Are you still having nightmares?" Hyunsu asked again, his tone soft but direct.
Luna was taken aback by his question. She had never mentioned her nightmares to him—not back in high school, and certainly not now. How did he know?
Before either Luna or Nina could respond, he quickly clarified, "I mean, last night... you were having trouble sleeping. You were talking in your sleep. Sweating too—like you were panicking." He paused, glancing at her. "That's why I asked."
Luna's breath hitched, her hand tightening around her chopsticks. Did I really talk in my sleep? It felt too real, too personal for him to know. The idea of him witnessing her breakdown—no matter how small it might've been—felt like an invasion.
"Oh... yeah, she has trouble sleeping," Nina chimed in, her voice softer. "Her therapy isn't really helping her. Maybe you can help her, brother?"
How can he help me? Luna's thoughts raced as her gaze lingered on Hyunsu. She shook her head slightly, then spoke softly, "No, thank you."
Hyunsu met her gaze, their eyes locking for a brief moment. "If I can, I will," he replied, his tone sincere, as if offering a silent promise.
After breakfast, the siblings were preparing to leave Luna's place.
"LuLu, take a rest today, okay?" Nina said, her voice laced with concern. "Don't go outside—there's heavy rain today. I've already closed all the curtains and set up some music for you—don't turn it off. I'll drop him off at home, and I've got some things to handle at the gallery. I'll come back in the evening to check on you."
Luna nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"It's okay, no need to come," Luna replied gently. "You've missed your brother. Spend time with him. We can meet tomorrow. And by the way, don't tell my parents about this."
As the siblings walked to the elevator, Luna watched Hyunsu silently nod, his gaze lingering on her for a brief moment before he turned away and left with Nina. The elevator doors closed, and Luna was left standing in the quiet of her apartment, her thoughts swirling around the brief exchange.
She sat down on the couch, trying to shake the feeling that something had shifted in the air. The entire morning had felt strange—unsettling, even. As much as she tried to ignore it, she couldn't escape the nagging sense that something was about to change in her life.