The carnival lights glowed softly against the evening sky, blending with the gold, pink, and purple shades of sunset. Ara stepped through the entrance, her eyes wandering over the colorful stalls and whirling rides. The air smelled of popcorn, cotton candy, and fried food.
It didn't take her long to spot Renjun. He was waiting near a small café by the cotton candy stand, holding a small pink bag in his hand.
"You came," he said, smiling, almost as if he hadn't expected her to show up.
"Of course I did," Ara replied, walking over.
Renjun handed her the bag, his eyes playful. "Here. For you."
Ara blinked, shaking her head. "What? You didn't have to..."
"Too late," he said with a dramatic pout, clutching the bag to his chest before shoving it into her hands. "You have to take it. I even tied the ribbon myself."
Ara rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the smile tugging at her lips. "You're impossible."
Together, they wandered through the carnival, playing games and laughing more freely than they had in a long time. Ara surprised herself by winning a tiny plush dragon at the ring toss, while Renjun failed at the hammer strength test, insisting the machine was broken. Their laughter blended with the music of the rides, warm and light.
Eventually, they ended up in front of the haunted house.
"Wanna go in?" Renjun asked, raising his brows in challenge.
"You're not scared?" Ara teased.
"Please. Ghosts are scared of me," he said, puffing out his chest.
"Right," Ara smirked. "Let's test that theory."
The haunted house was dark, lit only by faint red lights that stretched shadows across the walls. Animatronic monsters popped out of hidden corners. Eerie whispers floated through the air. Within minutes, both of them were screaming and clinging to each other like kids. When a skeleton dropped from the ceiling, Renjun nearly collapsed, frozen mid-scream, forcing Ara to drag him out.
"Never again," he gasped once they stumbled into the open, both laughing breathlessly.
They bought churros afterward and sat on a bench, the night air cool against their skin. But as they sat, Renjun's smile slowly faded. His fingers tightened around his soda.
"There's... actually a reason I asked you here today," he said, eyes avoiding hers.
Ara straightened, sensing the change in his tone.
Renjun inhaled deeply, then finally looked at her. "I know you know. That I'm... your brother."
Ara's heart clenched. She nodded softly. "I found the letter. After our parents were arrested."
Silence hung between them for a moment, broken only by the hum of carnival rides and the chatter of strangers.
"I wanted to tell you so many times," Renjun whispered. "But I was scared. Scared you'd hate me. Or think I just wanted to drag up the past."
"Renjun..." Ara's voice trembled. "You're my brother. You're not the one who hurt me. They did."
His jaw tightened, his eyes watering. "They hurt me too. I spent years thinking I wasn't wanted. That I wasn't good enough. Kwangya was... rough. I had no one. But I kept going because I hoped maybe someday, something would change."
Ara reached out and placed her hand gently over his. "It did change. We found each other."
Tears welled in both their eyes as the words spilled out. Ara spoke of the pressure she carried, the manipulation she endured, the guilt she felt for living in the home that had abandoned him. Renjun told her about the loneliness, the scars, the anger that had shaped him.
It wasn't perfect, but it was honest. And in that honesty, something inside them healed.
When the night ended, they walked home side by side, the wall that had stood between them finally gone.
The next day at school, Ara and Renjun stood before their friends. Their hands were loosely intertwined... not in romance, but in solidarity.
"We have something to tell you," Ara began, her voice steady.
Renjun drew in a breath. "I'm Ara's older brother."
The room went still. For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Giselle's eyes filled with tears, and she smiled softly. "That's... wow. That's amazing."
Haechan grinned wide, pulling them both into a hug. "I knew there was something deeper."
Jaemin, Jisung, Mark, and Jeno quickly followed, each offering words of comfort and support.
Chenle and Ningning stood together, exchanging a look before smiling at Ara and Renjun. They were proud... proud that the truth was finally out, proud that healing had begun.
It wasn't just a revelation.
It was a rebirth... for both Ara and Renjun.
A.N:-
- They finally confronted the truth.
