FATE REWRITTEN.....

9. In the comfort of Familiar Smiles

The school day ended, and as agreed, the five friends gathered at the school gate, chatting excitedly about their plans. Together, they began the walk to Kai's home, with Yeonjun leading the way beside Soobin. As they strolled, Soobin took in his surroundings. Seoul had changed a lot since he was last here-the streets, the buildings, everything. It felt familiar but distant, as though pieces of his memories were gently shifting to make room for new ones.

Beomgyu and Kai, meanwhile, bickered playfully about the most trivial things. Taehyun, holding Beomgyu's hand, shook his head with an indulgent smile as their fingers intertwined-a sight that didn't go unnoticed by Soobin. Feeling his own surge of nervousness about meeting Kai's family, he found himself retreating inwardly, but then a soft touch on his shoulder brought him back. Yeonjun was beside him, smiling with reassurance.

"Don't be nervous," Yeonjun murmured with a warm gaze. His smile radiated comfort, grounding Soobin in the present moment.

Kai noticed, chiming in with a grin. "My mom is super energetic and friendly, Soobin hyung. Right, yeonjun hyung?"

Yeonjun nodded, chuckling. "Trust me, she'll treat you like family."

When they finally arrived, Soobin's eyes widened. Kai's house was massive-a beautiful, elegant mansion framed by an expansive garden and rows of flowers, as well as an impressive number of staff bustling around with warm smiles.

As they stepped through the gates, a cheerful maid approached them, beaming with excitement. "Yeonjun-ah! You're back! I missed you so much!" she said, her expression so animated that Soobin could instantly sense the warmth Yeonjun seemed to bring to everyone here.

Yeonjun's smile grew as he responded, "Yesss, Yeonjunnie is back!"

Beomgyu gave a dramatic pout, tugging on the maid's sleeve. "What? You only missed him and not me?"

The maid laughed, ruffling his hair. "Oh, Beomgyu-ah, I just saw you yesterday! But I still missed you."

Soobin couldn't help but smile at their easygoing camaraderie, admiring the way Yeonjun interacted so naturally with everyone. It was a side of him that he hadn't yet seen-warm, open, and lively.

As the maid's eyes fell on Soobin, she looked taken aback. "Oh my, who is this handsome young man?" Her gaze darted between Yeonjun and Soobin, a playful glint in her eye. "Yeonjun, don't tell me you brought your boyfriend home?"

Both Soobin and Yeonjun froze, eyes wide, their words tumbling out in sync. "N-no, it's not like that-"

But before they could say more, they heard a cheerful voice.

"Yeonjun-ah!" Mrs. Huening, Kai's mother, appeared with open arms, practically gliding toward Yeonjun as she wrapped him in a tight embrace. "I missed you so much!"

Yeonjun hugged her back, his voice warm and light. "I missed you too, Mom."

A soft pang of surprise struck Soobin. He hadn't expected Yeonjun to call Kai's mother "Mom," and it sparked an unexpected emotion in him. Yet, seeing the genuine affection Yeonjun had for her was heartwarming. This was a bond that ran deep, and it only made Soobin admire Yeonjun more.

Mrs. Huening turned to Soobin with a kind smile. "You must be Soobin," she said warmly, glancing back at Yeonjun's shy smile before focusing on Soobin again. "I've heard so much about you!"

Soobin gave a polite bow, smiling back. "Hello Mrs.Huening, it's a pleasure to meet you."

She looked him up and down, her smile widening. "You're taller than I expected! Kai said you'd be handsome, but I didn't realize you'd be this charming." Her eyes sparkled, making both Yeonjun and Soobin exchange a bashful glance.