40

The airport bustles with quiet movement—commuters, staff, and early flights. Heyoung steps through the sliding glass doors pulling her luggage, her expression unreadable. Her hair has grown longer, a touch lighter, and her eyes carry the calm of someone who's lived through a storm.

Just ahead, Ayun waves eagerly, bundled in a hoodie and beanie. Beside her, Jaehyuk stands with his hands in his coat pockets, smiling slightly. The three meet in a quiet embrace.

Ayun tightly hugged Heyoung, "You're finally back! You look so... calm. Like, peaceful calm. It's weird."

Heyoung softly laughed, "London makes you quiet, or maybe healing does."

"You're just in time." The weather's better now. Seoul missed you." Jaehyuk said as he took her luggage.

Ayun rides the shotgun seat while Heyoung sits in the backseat. The early sunlight shines through the windows as they drive into the city.

"So... what exactly happened while I was gone?" Heyoung curiosity asked.

Ayun and Jaehyuk exchange a glance. Jaehyuk sighs and answers.

"A few weeks after you left...someone leaked voice messages from Aerum. Everything. Her messages with those fans, pictures of her planning it."

"She tried to deny it, but one of the fans flipped. I gave everything to a reporter anonymously. HYBE found out and... yeah. Fired. Blacklisted. She's basically gone from the industry." Ayun added.

"She got what she deserved. But we still wish none of it ever happened to you." Jaehyuk also added.

Heyoung softly whispered, "I just wish none of it involved him."

A moment of silence falls. Then Ayun turns in her seat, looking nervous but excited.

"Okay, now that we've got that out of the way... there's something else we need to tell you."

"What is it?" Heyoung asked as she raised her eyebrow.

Jaehyuk clears his throat, eyes fixed on the road.

"We're dating."

Heyoung blinks. For a moment, she's stunned and silent.

"You—what?! Since when?!"

Ayun grinned, "Since around the time you left. It just... happened. Slowly. And I guess after all the drama, we realized... life's too short not to be honest."

Heyoung leans back, letting out a surprised laugh.

"I leave for a few months and come back to find my best friend dating my brother."

"Yep. It's a full K-drama out here." Ayun said

They all laugh. For the first time in a long while, it feels like warmth is settling back into their lives.

Heyoung smiled at them, "I'm happy for you two. Really. You deserve it."

"Thanks. And... just so you know, they didn't know you're back yet. They're swamped preparing for the online concert. Not even Seungcheol." Jaehyuk said.

Heyoung quietly said, "I know. I'd like to keep it that way for now."

Outside, the Seoul skyline slowly rises as they cross into the heart of the city — a quiet homecoming, veiled from the world, but slowly unfolding.

=====

The screen is filled with the glowing stage of SEVENTEEN's virtual concert. Bright lights shimmer, confetti rains down, and the members wave at cameras with wide smiles and tired eyes — the kind that only comes from giving their all.

Fans across the globe are watching through their screens, hearts full.

As the music fades, the stage dims slightly for the final moment. One by one, the members take turns thanking fans. When it comes to Scoups, the camera lingers on him. He holds the mic tightly, eyes scanning the silent arena that once held thousands of Carats.

His smile falters slightly, but he speaks with deep sincerity.

"This concert means more than just a performance to us. We've been through a lot lately. I... I've been through a lot."

The other members glance at him, quiet but supportive. Jeonghan gently places a hand on his back.

"There was someone I loved so deeply — still do. And because of everything that came with loving her... she left. Not because she wanted to, but because she thought it was the only way to protect me." Scoups added with a little bit of shakiness in his tone.

The live chat explodes in reactions. Some fans already know. Some are piecing it together. The air shifts with his words.

Scoups sadly smiled, "I couldn't protect her the way I wanted to. And I've lived with that every day since. But I want to say this here, tonight—"

He looks straight into the camera now, his voice unwavering.

"Thank you to the fans who supported us...thank you for your patience and your kindness. And to her... wherever you are—Heyoung—I love you. I still do. And I always will."

On the other side, inside of Heyoung's Apartment.

The screen reflects off the TV in a warm-lit living room. Heyoung sits frozen on the couch, one hand covering her mouth, the other gently resting on baby Heechan's blanket-covered belly in his bassinet nearby.

Beside her, Ayun watches quietly, her eyes flicking to Heyoung with a knowing look.

"He said my name..." Heyoung whispered

Her eyes begin to shimmer with tears, a quiet mix of pain, love, and disbelief.

Ayun softly said, "He never stopped waiting."

Heyoung turns back to the screen, where the members are bowing deeply to fans. Scoups is wiping his eyes as the screen slowly fades into the "Thank you for watching" banner.

She holds Heechan's tiny hand in hers, and whispers to him, more to herself:

"I think... maybe it's time."

=====

The concert is over. SEVENTEEN are in their dressing room, still riding the high of the performance. They're live on Weverse, reading fan comments, laughing, teasing each other — the usual chaos softened by post-show warmth.

Scoups sits in the center, a bit quieter than usual, eyes a little distant.

"Tonight meant a lot. We've been through so much lately, and... your love, your support — it's the reason we're still here."

The dressing room door creaks open.

Some members — DK, Jun, Joshua — glance up and freeze for a split second before smoothly looking away, trying not to ruin the moment.

But Scoups notices the change in the room. He turns—

And there she is.

Heyoung.

Standing at the threshold, breathless from running, still catching her breath. Her eyes lock onto his.

Scoups stand immediately. His chair scrapes lightly against the floor, but no one notices.

The camera's still rolling, forgotten for a moment.

"Hey..." Scoups barely whispered.

"I watched the concert." Heyoung gently said.

His face cracks — a mix of disbelief and longing and sudden, vulnerable joy.

"Why now?"

Heyoung softly looked at him, "Because you looked straight into the camera... and I felt like you were still waiting."

At that moment, Hoshi and Jeonghan, barely containing their smirks, quietly turn the phone camera toward the two of them.

The Weverse live chat explodes:

"WAIT IS THAT—"

"THEY'RE IN THE SAME ROOM??"

"OH MY GOD IT'S HAPPENING"

"KISS KISS KISS KISS"

Scoups walks toward her, slowly at first — then with purpose.

When he finally reaches her, he pauses, eyes scanning her face like he's afraid it's a dream.

"You came back." Scoups said with a hoarse voice.

Heyoung smiled, "I always meant to. I just... didn't know how."

And that's all he needs to hear.

He cups her face gently, reverently — thumbs brushing her cheeks like she's made of something breakable.

She leans into him.

He kisses her.

It's not rushed. Not shy. It's the kind of kiss that says: I waited. I stayed. I never stopped loving you.

The room around them is dead silent — even the members stare, stunned into stillness.

After a few seconds of silence:

Wild cheering.

Loud whooping.

Jeonghan fake-swooning onto the couch.

Seungkwan yelled, "SOMEONE TURN OFF THE LIVE—NO WAIT, LEAVE IT ON!"

The Weverse live chat floods:

"I'M SOBBING"

"THIS IS REAL LOVE"

"CARATS WILL DEFEND THEM FOREVER"

"THIS IS BETTER THAN ANY K-DRAMA"

Heyoung pulls away just enough to speak, her voice unsteady but smiling.

"I'm ready this time... to stay."

Scoups smiles through glassy eyes, resting his forehead against hers.

"Then let's not waste another second."

The members crowd in, some still yelling, some clapping, some pretending to cry dramatically. The Weverse live is still going, with fans around the world watching the rawest, most genuine moments unfold.

Scoups and Heyoung — finally together, finally seen, finally home.