Hearts Entwined || PpoToz

CHAPTER 14

SEOYEON POV

Wednesdays wouldn’t be Wednesdays without a little back-and-forth with Yooyeon—although, today, things have been quieter than usual. I’m enjoying a peaceful lunch with Xinyu and Nakyoung when I spot Yooyeon heading our way.

“What’s she want now?” Xinyu mutters, barely looking up from her food.

Yooyeon stops in front of our table, her expression as neutral as ever. “Seoyeon, come with me. Mrs Jo is looking for us.”

There’s something about the way she says it—straightforward, no nonsense. I know she isn’t kidding around, so I don’t waste time and stand up to follow her to the teacher’s room. As soon as we enter, we spot our homeroom teacher, and I give her a quick greeting.

“What’s this about?” Yooyeon asks directly.

Mrs Jo hands us a slip of paper with an address on it. “I need you two to check on a student who hasn’t been to school in months.”

A task like this isn’t exactly what I had planned for the day, but Yooyeon and I exchange a glance, and we both nod. We’re to visit the student after school.

***

Later, as we walk home together, I can’t resist the urge to poke at Yooyeon. “So, do you think they’ve been hiding from you? Afraid of that competitive streak?”

She rolls her eyes, clearly unimpressed. “Or maybe they’ve just been avoiding your lectures.”

We keep up the playful banter, but as we near the crossroads where we usually part ways, something unexpected pops into my mind. I stop in my tracks and look at her seriously.

“Yooyeon, can you come with me to the orphanage?”

Yooyeon looks at me, clearly confused. “The orphanage? Why?”

I shrug, trying to act casual, even though my heart’s suddenly racing. “Just… because. Will you come?”

For a moment, she studies me, probably trying to figure out what’s going on in my head. Then, she nods. “Okay. Lead the way.”

And so, without another word, I start walking toward the orphanage, Yooyeon following close behind.

As we arrive at the orphanage, the sound of children’s laughter fills the air. A group of kids is playing together, their small figures darting around with unrestrained joy. But I’m not here to watch them play—I’m here for someone specific.

Yooyeon, clearly puzzled, stays by my side as I scan the area. “What are we doing here?” she asks, her tone more curious than annoyed.

I don’t answer immediately, my eyes searching until they land on a tiny figure near the edge of the playground. She’s about three years old, with chubby cheeks and dark hair that’s a little tangled from play. My heart tightens as I see her, and without thinking, I call out.

“Hyerin!”

The little girl looks up at the sound of her name, her big eyes locking onto mine. A grin spreads across her face as she recognises me, and I can’t stop myself—I run to her, leaving Yooyeon standing bewildered at the gate.

When I reach Hyerin, I drop to my knees and pull her into a gentle hug. She wraps her tiny arms around my neck, babbling something excitedly that I can barely make out. I hold her close, feeling a mixture of emotions swirling inside me.

Yooyeon catches up, her confusion only deepening. “Seoyeon… do you know her?”

Still holding Hyerin, I look up at Yooyeon, my voice steady but soft. “Yeah, I do. This is Hyerin—my half-sister.”

Yooyeon’s eyes widen as she processes my words, her surprise evident. But she stays quiet, trying to wrap her mind around this new revelation. Hyerin tugs on my hair playfully, bringing my focus back to her, and for a moment, it’s just me and her, the rest of the world fading away.

Yooyeon’s confusion is still written all over her face as she watches me with Hyerin. She finally speaks up, her voice hesitant. “Seoyeon, how… how is this possible? I didn’t know you had a half-sister.”

I let out a soft sigh, knowing this conversation is inevitable. “Come on, let’s sit over there,” I say, nodding toward the swings. Yooyeon follows me, her curiosity evident, and we both sit down. I keep one eye on Hyerin as she plays nearby.

“My parents… they divorced when I was younger, but it wasn’t messy. They still got along well enough. After a while, my mum remarried, and that’s when Hyerin came along. She’s my half-sister.”

Yooyeon listens intently, her gaze never leaving me as I continue. “But one day, there was an accident. My mum, her new husband, and Hyerin… They were all in the car when it happened. Only Hyerin survived.”

I pause for a moment, watching as Hyerin chases after a ball, her laughter ringing out. “For some reason, after the accident, they put Hyerin in the orphanage instead of letting her stay with me or anyone in the family. My dad wanted to adopt her, bring her into our home, but…” I swallow hard, the memory still fresh. “He passed away from heart failure before he could make it happen.”

Yooyeon looks at me, her face a mix of shock and sorrow. “But… why won’t they let you take care of her now?”

“I don’t know,” I admit, my voice tinged with frustration. “They never gave me a clear reason. But they did make a promise: if I get a perfect score on the CSAT, they’ll let me bring her home.”

As I speak, I keep my focus on Hyerin, who’s now sitting in the grass, happily playing with a few other kids. Yooyeon is silent beside me, clearly taken aback by everything I’ve just told her. The guilt in her eyes is unmistakable, and I know exactly what she’s thinking about—those times she’d brought up my parents in our arguments, not knowing the weight of what she was saying.

For a moment, Yooyeon just stares at me, guilt and regret written all over her face. “Seoyeon, I…”

“It’s okay,” I interrupt, my tone calm. “I’ve come to terms with it. I’ve moved on, or at least, I’m trying to.”

Yooyeon looks at me, surprised by how composed I am. She opens her mouth to say something but then closes it again, seeming unsure of what words could possibly make this better. I give her a small smile, my heart feeling lighter somehow. I can see that she’s genuinely sorry, and for now, that’s enough.