“Daddy...?”
“Shh.”
Jurim hushed Guru when she called him Daddy.
Guru nodded reflexively.
Jurim becoming her dad was still far in the future. Calling him Daddy right now would be strange.
“You went and made yourself a woman, and even a kid.”
His words were sharp, but even as he hugged her, Jurim stroked Guru’s back like he was making sure she was really there.
Just as he seemed deeply relieved that she existed, Guru’s heart went soft at his presence.
At that moment, Chloe yanked Guru into her own arms.
“What kind of racket are you making in someone else’s house!”
Jurim froze for an instant under her fierce gaze. On Ijo stepped in front of him.
Holding Guru protectively, Chloe shoved both Jurim and On Ijo right out the door with a harsh push.
“Bringing your little brother over too, now? I didn’t expect that.”
“No, this isn’t what I—”
“Out. All of you.”
Bang!
In a blink, Jurim and Ijo were shoved outside, left standing side by side in front of the closed door.
On Ijo thunked his head against the entryway wall and muttered,
“Jurim.”
“Yeah.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“Do you even know where you’ve shown up?”
“I followed you. Didn’t know it was your girlfriend’s place.”
On Ijo let out a laugh of disbelief.
“I heard you were out of training, but what is this all of a sudden? Did you at least go see the team doctor? Want me to take you to the ER?”
“And you?”
“What?”
“You didn’t answer any of my calls—just trailing after some woman?”
“Trailing? Jurim, that’s a sweet way to put it.”
“Well, judging by the fact we both got thrown out, you got dumped, huh.”
“So that’s why you didn’t say anything? ‘Cause you got dumped?”
Jurim sneered at his suddenly silent brother.
“Pathetic.”
Then he slid down the wall and sat on the ground.
On Ijo, stabbed right where it hurt, had nothing to say. Quietly, he sat down beside him.
“...This time I really don’t have a comeback.”
The brothers sat side by side in front of the apartment door, mouths shut.
When the silence filled the hall, Jurim leaned his head against his brother’s shoulder.
“Forget it. We’ll talk later. I need some sleep.”
“Here?”
“Yeah... let me sit a bit.”
On Ijo chuckled like it was ridiculous, but still offered his shoulder.
Jurim hadn’t slept a wink in two days.
His last memory was chasing after Guru on the aircraft carrier. Then he’d shielded her, and together they’d been swallowed °• N o v e l i g h t •° in light.
He’d only realized two days ago that he had come back in time.
The instant he saw the familiar ceiling of the training center, the realization struck like lightning.
The Sheir that had been in his left hand must have stayed behind in the future.
Only he had come back.
'Only me?'
No. Impossible.
He’d reached out to grab Guru, who was swallowed in the light.
Guru existed somewhere in this past. She had to.
If not, that would mean her very existence had been erased in this moment.
That was why he’d looked for his brother.
If anyone could help him find her, it was the On Ijo of this time.
'Hyung, pick up your phone already. I need a favor, urgently.'
That expectation had brought him to his brother, but On Ijo hadn’t answered.
Growing desperate to find Guru, Jurim had tracked his brother’s trail—and discovered Chloe, Guru, and him.
'How the hell are those three together?'
But his curiosity evaporated quickly.
The three of them shopping in the market had looked like a perfectly ordinary family.
A solid family.
And for some reason, a sharp instinct stabbed at the corner of his heart.
'Han Guru. Five-year-old Han Guru....'
Chloe Han.
Mixed blood.
The same pale platinum hair.
Similar looks.
S-Rank crafter.
'They look too alike.'
Guru resembled Chloe and On Ijo so much she could have passed as their daughter without question.
The hypothesis formed vividly in his head.
'Why didn’t I notice sooner?'
It didn’t feel like just an impossible fancy—his chest throbbed with the suspicion.
Jurim clenched his teeth.
Slow down.
It was already overwhelming enough to accept that he’d come back to the past.
'If I test it, I can confirm if it’s true.'
There was no need to jump ahead yet.
Besides, after so many sleepless nights, his mind was too fogged to think clearly.
Folding his arms, Jurim stopped thinking and closed his eyes.
'Guru is safe.'
Guru was safe behind that door. Within his reach.
That was enough. For now....
Suddenly, the hard sensation against his temple felt strangeovel.com
His brother’s shoulder. His brother’s shoulder, which he thought he’d never see again.
His chest heaved.
“Hyung.”
“Yeah.”
“You’re really On Ijo?”
“Then who else do I look like?”
“...What if it’s a dream?”
Jurim’s words faltered as his voice trailed off.
“What if I wake up and it’s all just a dream?”
Was it the exhaustion? He couldn’t hold back his heart. The fear slipped out.
What if Guru, On Ijo alive, this whole world—all of it—turned out to be an illusion?
“You must be really tired.”
His brother’s chuckling voice said it like there was no way that could be true.
Relief came over him.
Crash!
Chloe woke to the sound of more breaking.
As her scattered mind pieced together what had happened, her face twisted.
The number of uninvited guests had grown.
From one, to two, to three.
“Steak in the morning? No wonder you got dumped.”
“On Jurim, you really want to keep saying hurtful things?”
“Dat’s wight. No mowe bad wowds.”
“See? No bad words in front of the baby. Friend, let me help you with that mixer.”
“Not friend—Uncle. And not ‘friend,’ Gwuu.”
“Uwuuu. Samchon, say ‘Gwuu’ pwoperwy.”
“Yes, Princess Baby.”
Whiiirrr—
As On Ijo ran the blender, he folded his arms and tilted his head.
“But seriously, why’s my little brother suddenly gone weird?”
“Why are you picking fights?”
“You never even thought of stepping outside the training center, and suddenly you show up here? What for? Don’t tell me you’re spying on Hyung.”
“Something like that.”
“What was that urgent favor, anyway?”
“That doesn’t matter anymore.”
As On Ijo tilted his head curiously, Chloe just sighed and looked up at the ceiling.
Had there ever been such a noisy morning since she turned twenty?
And why did the kid keep opening the door for people?
Had those two idiots stayed out all night again?
Her head spun.
Ughhh....
When Chloe lowered her head again, both Guru and On Ijo were holding things out to her—a cup and a plate.
“Banana shake!”
“Steak!”
Both wore solemn expressions, like they were competing for her choice.
Chloe picked up the banana shake and gulped it down.
“Yaaay!”
“Knew I’d lose again.”
Guru pumped her fists in victory, while Jurim snorted.
“You need to eat hearty in the morning. Try some of this.”
On Ijo whined, still holding the steak.
“Steak in the morning? Just looking at it makes me feel sick.”
At her cold remark, On Ijo’s shoulders slumped, his eyebrows sinking low.
Chloe brushed her hair back with a weary hand and added,
“I don’t usually eat in the mornings. My digestion’s bad.”
At that, On Ijo’s eyes lit up.
“Then tomorrow I’ll make something easy to digest.”
Tomorrow? Chloe was about to snap at him to quit his sly games, but Guru cut in.
“Banana juwce!”
“Okay. Then tomorrow, let’s make banana juice together, Gwuu.”
“Yaaay!”
“Don’t get excited over that....”
Why did those two get along so damn well?

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