You took a deep breath. You could hear the whirring of a microwave and the buzz of the television inside the small apartment Hyun-Ki was staying in. 

Get a hold of yourself. You're family.

You pressed the buzzer. 

'Who is it?' came a voice, echoing down the hall. 

The door opened before you could reply.

'H-Haneul?'

'Hyun-Ki... I-'

You found yourself pulled towards him and into his apartment, the door shutting behind you.

 

'What are you doing here?'

'You never explained what you meant...'

'Meant?... Oh... What I said to you when you were in London?'

'You went and found the guys just to tell them I was in danger! That's so burdensome on them, Hyun-Ki!'

'Haneul-ah, I only did it because I know they care about you. You wouldn't listen to me when I called you but I knew they'd have a different effect. You trust them. Even though you've known them for less than a year, you trust them with your heart. I know you do.'

The microwave pinged.

'Your food is ready, Hyun-Ki-ah'

'Forget the food, you're here now. We've got lots to talk about'

He led you into the small room with a television in it and a few beanbags. You assumed it was the living room. It was small and smelt a bit damp. 

'Hyun-Ki... Is this where you've been living this entire time?'

Your cousin nodded and you felt a sharp pang of remorse in your heart. 

'Is it just you?'

'I have a few housemates but they've gone out for a drink. They'll probably be back tomorrow sometime... It's late though, Haneul. Did you get here alright? It's late. I can't believe those guys just let you come out in the dark alone'

'Well I didnt give them a chance to stop me, Hyun-Ki-ah... I needed to get here quickly'

'You want answers, right?'

You nodded. 'I need to know everything.'

'There's a lot to tell you...'

'Then I'll stay the night'

'You sure?'

You nodded. 'Positive'

'Araso, I'll go get some bedding and things. It'll be like a sleepover'

'Just like the old times' you said, smiling. You had forgotten how much you missed your cousin's presence. 

'Exactly. Just like the old times.'

 

You stayed up through the whole night, a mug of sweet milk in your hand, just talking. Catching up. You almost forgot about coming for the truth. 

'Haneul, you don't have any childhood photos, do you?' 

You shook your head. 'Eomma and Appa burnt them when they tried to hide my existence'

Hyun-Ki stood up and began to look around the bookcase for something. Eventually, he pulled out a small shoebox that was crushed and dusty with age. He passed it to you.

'Open it'

You opened the box and saw a large stack of photos, carefully bound together by an elastic band that had seen better days. Some were old childhood photos from when you lived in Hong Kong which you smiled at. Others were more recent photos- ones taken when you knew Hyun-Ki wasn't present.

'H-How did you get these?'

'Joon sent them to me'

'Oppa sent them to you?'

Hyun-Ki nodded. 'He wanted me to know how you were all doing. He kept saying that even though we were living apart, we would always be together'

'Oh Joon...' 

You flicked through the photos. There was one of your brother and your cousin with their newly dyed hair and you were the figure on the floor in hysterics in the background. There was another of your brother at his Leavers Prom with his girlfriend.

'Tilly? Right? The brunette girl next to him is Joon's girlfriend, right?' said Hyun-Ki

You nodded. 'She was nice, I liked her'

There was a photo of you, Aaron and your family. 

'That was your boyfriend, right? Joon told me about him'

You coughed. 'Ahem... Yeah... That's him'

'How is he? Joon seemed quite fond of him'

You sighed. 'He's in Korea now. He's at my university...'

'Oh! Are you two back together then?' 

'Well... Not really...'

'Not really? Come on, Haneul. I can't decipher girl talk. Explain please'

'I just... I've been away from him for so long'

'And your heart's taken'

'What?'

'You. You're different from when you first came here and I know why'

You crossed your arms and raised your eyebrows, leaning back against the beanbag. 

'Oh really. Why then?'

'You're in love'

You tutted. 'Hyun-ki, you sound so melodramatic. Please stop'

Your cousin held his hands up. 'Araso, araso. You don't want to talk about this with me, I get it. Joon did warn me about that'

You laughed. 'Dear God, what did oppa say?!'

'He said 'never ever try and be a girl with Haneul. She'll punch you.''

You groaned. Aish...

Putting away the shoebox, Hyun-Ki placed the box on your lap. 

'Keep it. It's for you. I owe you this as well as an explanation. It's the least I can do.'

 

Nestling down under the pile of duvets, Hyun-Ki turned off the main lights and the lamp. His eyes changed.

He looks sad...

You looked at him, waiting for him to start.

'Where should I begin?' he asked

'The phone call. What was that about?'

'It was like I said. They realised there was someone else they hadn't found in our family. They saw the cracks in the cover up your parents made and they were making plans to come to London personally. I had to get you out of there. With you going to the graveyard everyday, it would have ben inevitable for them to spot you and piece two and two together'

'How did you know they had found out about this?'

'The family tree painted in our grandparents house tells the number of people born up to a certain point where they stopped adding a tally...'

'Ah...' A silence fell. 'Hyun-Ki-ah?...'

'Mm?'

'I'm sorry'

'For what?'

'For pushing you away before. Really. I should have been more forthcoming. I didn't know Joonie had kept in touch with you...'

Your eyes started to shut. It was late and you were tired. Hyun-Ki noticed this and tucked a pillow under your head.

'It's okay, Haneul. All that matters is that we support each other now'

You yawned. 'Will we be safe now?'

Hyun-Ki turned off the lamp so you wouldn't be able to see his expression. He hesitated a little but you were already almost asleep so you didn't notice. 

'...Y-Yeah, we'll be safe from now on'

Deep down, you knew that there was no way he could possibly promise that you would be safe but you closed your eyes anyway. Hyun-Ki's arms were around you, protecting his baby cousin. 

I finally got you back, Haneul. Family is forever.

 

 

 

---

And so nothing bad happened to Haneul ^^ How do you like this sweet reunion with Hyun-Ki? He's a nice guy, right? :)