Just A Few Numbers Away

Chapter 79

A Hannam Farewell

​The heavy door of the Hannam the Hill suite swung open, and for a moment, the silence of the hallway was replaced by a chaotic, joyful symphony from within.

​Aen and Yoongi stepped inside together, both still carrying the lingering exhaustion of the workday.

Aen was adjusting her bag, her mind finally switching off from the logistics at Korea Yakult, while Yoongi let out a long breath, glad to be out of the Gangnam-gu office and back in his own sanctuary.

As they stepped inside, the living room was a whirlwind of laughter.

Namjoon was sitting on the floor, trying to explain the rules of a board game that Taehyung and Jimin were clearly ignoring in favor of making Carly laugh.

Then suddenly, Jung Kook swooped Carly up and ran near the balcony, helping her "fly" through the air, his loud laughter echoing her own.

They had taken their "babysitting" duties for the princess very seriously while the adults were at work.

​The smell of garlic and soy ginger wafted from the kitchen, where Lana was putting the finishing touches on an early dinner.

She moved with a practiced ease in setting the table, swatting away Taehyung's hand when he tried to sneak a taste of the food.

The moment Yoongi called her, the play session came to a halt.

Carly's head snapped toward the entrance, her face lighting up with a radiance that could rival any stage light.

​"Momhie! Dadhie!" she squealed, her small feet thumping against the polished floor as she sprinted toward them.

"I miss you!"

​Aen dropped her bag just in time to catch her daughter, but Carly was already reaching out for Yoongi, too.

Yoongi didn't hesitate; he reached down and scooped the seven-year-old up, tucking her against his shoulder with a practiced comfort.

​"We missed you too, Princess," Yoongi murmured, his gummy smile appearing instantly.

​"Did you have fun with your uncles?" Aen asked, reaching out to stroke Carly's hair.

​"Yes! Uncle Kook let me fly!" Carly chirped, seemingly oblivious-for the moment-to the fact that her suitcases were already packed and waiting by the door.

​Lana leaned out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel and giving Aen and Yoongi a tired but happy smile.

"Welcome home, Ate, Kuya. Dinner is ready-I made all of Carly's favorites since it's her last night here. And don't worry, the boys only broke one plastic toy."

​"Hey! That was Namjoon-hyung!" Jimin shouted from the couch, sparking another round of laughter.

​Even though the reality of the flight back to the Philippines loomed over them, the house felt full.

Between the boys' antics and Lana's home-cooked meal, they had succeeded in making Carly feel like the most loved girl in Seoul, turning what could have been a lonely afternoon into a celebration of the family they had become.

***

The hallway of the Hannam suite was a flurry of activity as the group began the descent to the basement parking.

​Namjoon and Jungkook took charge of Lana's luggage, hauling her suitcases toward the SUV the boys had brought.

Meanwhile, Taehyung and Jimin assisted Yoongi with Carly's bags.