28

The sun has just risen over the countryside. Birds chirp outside, and a light morning mist hangs over the hills. The kitchen is filled with the smell of toasted bread and soybean soup. The house is still quiet except for light footsteps.

Heyoung is already up, hair tied in a loose bun, wearing a hoodie and pajama shorts. She pours herself a cup of warm tea, still waking up, when she notices someone outside.

She steps to the window and sees Scoups sweeping the front yard with her mom, bundled in hoodies and thick socks, sharing light conversation.

"Of course, he's up early," Heyoung muttered into her cup. "Plus points."

She opens the back door and steps out barefoot onto the porch. Scoups glances up and smiles immediately.

Scoups playfully greeted, "Good morning, sleepyhead."

Heyoung raised her eyebrow, "Sweeping the yard before 7 AM? Are you trying to be my mother's favorite child?"

Scoups grins, "Too late. I already am."

Mrs. Lee cheerfully chimed in, "He was out here before I even finished my coffee! Aigoo, he's a keeper, this one."

"Stop giving him confidence, Mom." Heyoung teased.

Mrs. Lee waves her hand and heads inside with the broom, muttering something about breakfast and checking on Heechan.

The porch is quiet again. Scoups sets down the rake and steps up next to Heyoung.

"You okay?" Scoups gently asked.

"I'm fine. Just... you know, being here makes me miss how simple things used to be." Heyoung gently replied.

Scoups nods, "Yeah. But also... it's kind of nice thinking this could be our 'normal' someday."

She looks at him, surprised.

"Our normal?" Heyoung asked

Scoups shrugged while smiling sheepishly, "Maybe not sweeping with your mom every morning, but... yeah. Waking up beside you. Family. Laughing like this."

Heyoung is quiet for a moment, letting that sink in. Then, very softly—

"I think I'd like that too."

They share a quiet moment.

The door behind them opens again, and Ayun walks out, holding a yawning Heechan in her arms.

Ayun asked in her half-asleep voice,

"Why are you two being romantic in the cold? Heechan and I demand pancakes."

"Yes, ma'am. Chef duty is coming up." Scoups chuckled.

He heads inside to help in the kitchen while Heyoung stays back, watching him go.

Jaehyuk walks out just then, carrying a basket of eggs from the henhouse. He raises an eyebrow at her dreamy expression.

"You're already picturing your wedding, aren't you?" Jaehyuk teased.

Heyoung snorted, "No. Just the part where you cry while giving a speech."

Jaehyuk grins, "Fair."

They both glance toward the kitchen, where Scoups is now wearing Mrs. Lee's pink apron, dramatically flipping pancakes while making Heechan giggle.

Heyoung smiles. Slowly, the pieces are falling into place.

=====

The group's vans come to a slow stop in front of a bustling traditional market nestled between narrow streets. The morning sun casts a golden glow on the colorful awnings and handwritten signs.

The smell of tteokbokki, roasted chestnuts, and freshly baked bread fills the air—locals, mostly elderly vendors and families, move about casually with warm greetings. It's a place time hasn't quite touched.

SEVENTEEN members hop out of the vans, already wide-eyed. Jaehyuk follows, hands on his hips, looking proud.

Heyoung walks beside Ayun, who is wearing a soft baby carrier with Heechan nestled against her chest, blinking at the world around him.

"Alright, first stop — the heartbeat of this town. The market." Jaehyuk grins as he stretches.

"This is where we used to run errands for Mom. I used to beg Jaehyuk-oppa to buy me hotteok every Sunday." Heyoung said as she gestured around them.

Ayun looked around in awe, "It's like something out of a memory..." Even the colors feel different here."

"So this is where little Heyoung ruled the world, huh?" Scoups whispered while taking a step closer to Heyoung.

Heyoung smirked, "More like where I tripped over fish crates and cried because Jaehyuk-oppa didn't share his dumplings."

"And I still wouldn't," Jaehyuk said as he overheard Heyoung.

The group begins moving through the market.

Elderly vendors recognize Jaehyuk and Heyoung

"Jaehyuk-ah! Is that you? Yeah, you grew up so well! Who are all these handsome boys?!" Elderly Vendor Ahjumma said while waving his hands excitedly.

Jaehyuk laughed as he politely bowed his head, "They're the idols I manage, Ahjumma. This is SEVENTEEN!"

Ayun looks a little overwhelmed but fascinated. She walks slowly, stopping at a stall selling handmade baby socks. The elderly vendor immediately fusses over Hee-chan.

"Omo! So precious! Your baby?"

"Oh—no! He's mine, but I'm not—uh—not with—uh..." Ayun said.

Jaehyuk stepped in with a completely straight face, "She's a friend. He's not mine. We get mistaken all the time."

Vendor Ahjumma laughed, "Aigoo, too bad! You'd make a sweet little family."

Ayun and Jaehyuk exchange an exasperated look while SEVENTEEN howls with laughter a few stalls down.

"Should we get baby Heechan a 'My Dad is SEVENTEEN's Manager' onesie?" Mingyu teased.

They all start picking out random snacks—rice cakes, dried squid, yakgwa—while laughing, taking selfies with the locals, and trying samples.

Jeonghan and DK somehow get pulled into helping one of the vendors restock bags of rice.

=====

The vans pull up to a small, quiet school with faded yellow walls and a tiny playground out front. The sign reads the name of the local elementary school — Heyoung and Jaehyuk's alma mater. The gates are open, though the yard is mostly empty due to summer break.

As soon as they step out, a rush of nostalgia washes over Heyoung and Jaehyuk. The sun beams down softly. Crickets chirp. A ball lies forgotten near the basketball court.

Jaehyuk's hands are in his pockets as he looks around, "Looks exactly the same... except smaller."

Heyoung smiled softly, "Right? I remember thinking this place was huge."

The SEVENTEEN members wander in slowly, taking it all in with respectful curiosity. Scoups walks beside Heyoung while Jaehyuk leads the group toward the schoolyard.

"This looks like something from a youth drama. You two went here together?" Joshua said as he read a weather-worn sign on the wall.

Heyoung nods, "Yup. Jaehyuk was already the class president in second grade. I got in trouble for sneaking snacks into art class."

"Some things never change, huh?" Jeonghan teased.

Jaehyuk grins at his sister, "She once cried because she lost a pencil she named 'Sir Sparkle'."

"Oppa!" Heyoung groans.

Ayun chuckles as she bounces Heechan gently in her arms, standing by the swing set. Heechan's eyes follow a pair of birds hopping near the sandbox.

"I can already picture him going to school someday..." Ayun softly said to herself.

DK smiled as he overheard Ayun, "He'll probably be the most popular kid in class. Especially if he inherits your cheeks."

Ayun blushes but smiles gratefully.

Meanwhile, Scoups notices Heyoung quietly, drifting toward one corner of the schoolyard– a small tree near a bench.

"You okay?" Scoups said as he approached Heyoung.

"This used to be my favorite spot. I'd sit here when I was upset. When I missed Dad. When I was tired of hiding behind Jaehyuk's shadow..." Heyoung said as she looked at the tree.

He says nothing at first, just standing beside her, letting her sit on the bench while he takes the spot next to her.

"You've never needed to hide. Not from him, not from anyone." Scoups softly said.

Heyoung looked at him, "I know. But back then, it felt easier. He was always the golden one. And I was... background."

She glances down at her hands, he reaches out and gently takes one of them.

"You're not background to me."

A pause. Her eyes meet his, and she offers a small smile.

"I hope you're ready. Mom thinks you're just 'a friend' who keeps showing up in our pictures." Heyoung playfully said to lighten the mood.

"Should I wear a hanbok to dinner? Bring fruit baskets? Recite poetry?" Scoups replied in a mock panic.

Heyoung laughed, "Honestly, just don't mention you almost broke a light fixture during practice, and you'll be fine."

Back near the others, SEVENTEEN are gathered around the jungle gym. Dino tries to fit inside the slide tube but gets stuck halfway, causing a riot of laughter.

Ayun takes a picture of the chaos, while Jaehyuk shakes his head in fond disbelief.

"Don't break our childhood, you guys!" Jaehyuk shouted as he called them out.

Vernon grins, "Too late, Jaehyuk-hyung!"