It had been almost a year since Joshua had left the Kim mansion, and time had done its part in softening the sharp edges of his pain. Though the journey had been difficult, full of emotional turmoil and quiet moments of doubt, Joshua had finally found peace with himself. He had come to terms with the years of neglect and favoritism, understanding that his family hadn’t meant to hurt him, even though they had. The months of solitude and reflection had helped him heal, and now he felt ready to return to the place he once called home. Not because he had forgotten the past, but because he had grown strong enough to forgive.
Joshua missed his family more than he let himself admit, and deep down, he wanted to reconnect with them. He knew that in order to fully heal, he had to face them again, not as the broken boy who had left, but as the confident, independent man he had become. So, with that resolve in his heart, Joshua booked his flight home, determined to surprise them and fill the house with the love they all so desperately needed.
When Joshua arrived at the Kim mansion, it was late in the afternoon. The house looked the same grand and familiar but there was a sense of stillness about it that tugged at his heart. He walked up to the front door, memories flooding his mind as he touched the cold doorknob. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door quietly and stepped inside. The sound of his own footsteps echoed in the silence.
His parents and brothers were sitting in the living room, but no one had noticed him yet. Joshua took a moment to look at them, seeing how much they had changed in his absence. His mother, Wonwoo, looked more frail than before, his face drawn and tired. Mingyu sat beside him, his arm around Wonwoo’s shoulder, offering comfort. His brothers were scattered around, quiet, as if the energy had been sucked out of their usually lively home. The entire atmosphere was somber, a stark contrast to how it used to be.
Joshua took a step forward, and finally, Mingyu noticed him. His eyes widened in disbelief, mouth slightly open, as if he couldn’t trust what he was seeing. He stood up slowly, and that movement made Wonwoo turn his head as well. The moment Wonwoo’s eyes landed on Joshua, it was as if time stopped. Wonwoo’s breath caught in his throat, his chest tightening with a mix of shock and overwhelming emotion. He hadn’t seen his youngest son in nearly a year, and the sight of Joshua standing there, smiling gently, shattered the fragile wall of composure he had built around his grief.
Before Wonwoo could react, Joshua rushed forward, heading straight for his Appa. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around his Appa, pulling him into a tight hug. Wonwoo’s body trembled as Joshua’s warmth enveloped him, and for a moment, he was too stunned to react. The scent of his son, the feel of his arms everything hit him all at once. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he clung to Joshua like a lifeline, afraid that if he let go, Joshua would disappear again.
“Appa, I’m home,” Joshua whispered, his voice soft yet full of emotion.
Wonwoo broke. The tears that had been locked inside him for months came rushing out all at once. He sobbed into Joshua’s shoulder, his arms shaking as he held his son even tighter. “Joshua…my baby,” he choked out, his voice thick with emotion. “You’re here. You’re really here.”
Joshua’s own eyes filled with tears at the sound of his appa’s broken voice. He hadn’t realized how much he missed this the warmth of his family, the love that still existed between them despite everything. He gently rubbed Wonwoo’s back, trying to soothe him, though his own heart was heavy with emotion.
“I missed you, Appa,” Joshua whispered, pulling back slightly to look into Wonwoo’s tear-streaked face. “I missed you all so much.”
Wonwoo shook his head, his hand trembling as he cupped Joshua’s cheek. “I’m so sorry, Joshua. I failed you…I-”
