You decide to get ready for work before going out of your room and facing Taehyung. You pull on a long-sleeved top, making sure the mark on your wrist is covered.

'I can't have Taehyung asking about it. I don't think I can lie to his face.'

You step out to sizzling sounds and a toasted smell filling the living room. Taehyung calls out to you from the kitchen.

"Breakfast will be ready soon! Please wait a moment."

"Ah, don't worry," you call back, "I have time."

Taehyung hurries out of the kitchen, carrying a plate stacked with nurungji.

"I woke up later than usual for some reason," he explains, contrite, "so I started on breakfast a bit late." He hands you the plate. "I decided to make nurungji out of some leftover rice."

The nurungji has been toasted to a nice golden brown, sugar sprinkled on top. You take the top piece and bite into it, crunching the crispy rice in between your teeth. A toasty sweetness explodes in your mouth.

"Waaa, Taehyungie! This is so good!" you exclaim, "Where did you learn to make it?"

"Is it?" Teahyung replies, sounding pensive, "It's not even half of what it should be... the nurungji from my memories..."

"From your... memories?"

Taehyung nods.

"I think... my mother used to make it for me," he says, brow scrunching, "I don't remember her face or anything else about her, but..." he closes his eyes, "I remember the nurungji, the smell, the crunchiness, the taste..." He opens his eyes once again, and there is sadness in them, a longing for something lost. "For me, nurungji evokes the feeling of a mother's love. Is that... is that strange?"

You wonder about Taehyung's mother, what she must have been like, this woman who made him memorable nurungji, who must have loved him very much... A mysterious woman who left the note that Taehyung keeps with him at all times.

You shake your head, eyes stinging with the threat of tears.

"Ah! Please don't be sad for me," Taehyung pleads, alarmed at your expression, "I might have lost memories of my past," he smiles, "but I have an entire future ahead of me for making memories with you. Right?"

"Taehyung... you're going to make me cry!"

"Eh? No! That's the opposite of what I intended!"

Laughing together while eating the nurungji of Taehyung's childhood, you think that this will definitely be among the memories you will always hold close to your heart.

'Taehyung-ah... let's make lots and lots of memories together!'

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As you settle into your desk at work, the reality of the day ahead sets in. Away from Taehyung's sunny smile, you remember V's mysterious one.

'I still haven't decided on whether to tell Hobi-ssi about my encounters with V.'

At that exact moment, your phone vibrates. You check the screen.

'It's Hobi-ssi! Did he somehow sense that I was thinking about him???'

'I really should tell Hobi-ssi ---ah no, it's Hobi now ---about V, shouldn't I? What's... holding me back?'

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You stand outside your apartment building, looking up to your unit's living room window.

'The workday flew by... Is it because I'm so nervous about tonight?' You shake your head, earning yourself a few strange looks from passersby. 'Haaa... I need to pull myself together!'

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Once again, Taehyung greets you at the door as soon as you get in.

"Welcome home! I missed you! How was your day?"

You can't help but giggle at his enthusiastic greeting.

"I missed you too, Taehyungie. Work went by really quickly today." You hold up a small plastic bag, "Oh, and I picked up pork belly on the way home, to go with the japchae."

"Wow, hyung would love this! Here," Taehyung takes the bag from you, "let me take care of it while you get changed." He shoos you off to your room, so you head off to change while he goes to the kitchen.

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When you step back out, Taehyung is already preparing the ingredients for the japchae.

"Hobi-ssi will be here in about an hour," you tell him, "That's plenty of time, right?"

Instead of answering your question, Taehyung gives you a sideways look and asks, "Are you cold?"

"Huh? Why do you ask?"

"You're wearing a long-sleeved shirt, even though it's warm in here," Taehyung observes, "Should I increase the temperature on the thermostat?"

 You wave a hand in front of you.

"N-no, I'm just in the mood for something cozy tonight."

Taehyung studies you for a bit longer, and you're worried he's going to call you out on your bluff, but he just says, "You're feeling nervous aren't you?"

You nod, relieved that Taehyung has decided to focus on a different topic.

"Don't worry, Hobi-hyung is one of the best people out there," Taehyung assures you, "He's extremely accepting and understanding so, whatever you're worried about," he gives you a thumbs-up, "don't worry about it!"

'How is it that Taehyung is always able to make me feel better about everything?'

"Taehyung-ah... You're right! Let's make the best japchae Hobi-ssi has ever tasted!"

"Let's get it!" Taehyung cheers.

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Once again, you and Taehyung cook together in perfect synchronicity, laughing and chatting all the while.

'Really, what was I so nervous about? It's... no big deal. Whatever it is, if I'm with Taehyung, we can face it together.'

Suddenly, Taehyung's head perks up.

"Hobi-hyung is here!"

'Huh?'

A few moments later, knocks sound on the door.

"I'll go get it," you tell Taehyung.

You open the door and, true enough, it was Hobi on the other side.

'How did Taehyung know?'

"Hobi-ssi--- ah, I mean, Hobi! Please come in!"

"Oh thank you, thank you," Hobi replies as he steps through the door. He takes off his shoes and enters the living room, looking around. "Wow, your apartment has a really nice vibe!"

"Hyung! Welcome to our home!" Taehyung greets.

"Waaaa, Taehyung-ah! You've grown so much since I last saw you!" Hobi jokes and Taehyung giggles in response.

'They're so adorable!'

The three of you settle around the makeshift dining table formed from stacks of your books.

'I really should get a proper table soon.'

"Oh, by the way," Hobi says, placing a paper bag on the makeshift table, "I brought some manggae rice cakes for dessert."

"Oh! From Jiminie?" Taehyung exclaims.

"Yeah!" Hobi confirms, "I told him it's from you, so he gave me a few extra pieces for free."

"Wow, did he really?" Taehyung coos, "That's too sweet of him!"

"He says he misses being pestered at work," Hobi adds.

"Um, sorry," you cut into their little exchange, "but who's 'Jiminie'?"

"He's a guy around our age who works at the rice cake shop near the orphanage," Hobi explains.

"They always sent me to pick up the orders," Taehyung expounds, "so Jiminie and I became best friends!"

"He asked me if you've moved to another planet," Hobi tells Taehyung, "since he doesn't see you anymore."

"Ah, that must be his way of saying he misses me," Taehyung responds.

"Then, we should go visit him at the rice cake shop!" you tell him, "I'm curious to meet him too!"

"You're going to love him!" Taehyung chirps, looking overjoyed "Hobi-hyung and Jiminie are like brothers to me. And now we have you! Our family is growing!"

'"Family".... This gives me such a warm feeling in my stomach.'

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Your dinner is filled with laughter and lively conversation.

Back in the orphanage, Hobi was nice and friendly, but slightly reserved, which is to be understood since it's his place of work. The Hobi before you now is much more relaxed and outgoing, cheerful and bubbly.

'If drops of sunshine were gathered and condensed to form a human being... it would be Hobi!'

Taehyung and Hobi regale you with anecdotes of life in the orphanage. Over the course of a shared meal, you witness the rapport between the two men. You can see that they truly consider each other as real brothers. Taehyung looks completely at ease around his hyung, and vice versa.

It warms your heart to know that Taehyung managed to find a family, even after losing his past, and you feel unbelievably fortunate to now be considered part of that family.

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The hours fly by, and all too soon it's time for Hobi to leave.

"Thank you so much for hosting me tonight," he tells you and Taehyung, "It was so much fun!"

"It was honestly our pleasure," you respond, "Thank you for visiting us!"

"I wanted to!" Hobi says, "I missed Taehyungie, and I also wanted to see how you were doing. Next time, I'll invite you guys over to my place for dinner."

"Hyung, you'll cook for us?" Taehyung asks, eyes wide.

"I'll probably end up ordering takeout," Hobi says, laughing sheepishly, "Anyway, I'll take my leave," he turns to you, "It's getting late and I know you have work tomorrow." As Hobi steps out the door, he turns back and says, "Thanks again for dinner! Let's hang out soon, yeah?"

"Definitely," you answer, "Please take care!"

"Bye, hyung!" Taehyung calls out as Hobi waves back from down the hallway.

As soon as you close the door, Taehyung turns to you.

"You've had a long day, so please go to bed. I'll take care of the washing up."

"Are you sure?" you ask, hesitant, "I'm fine, I swear."

"Yup! You need your rest, and it's already pretty late." Taehyung gives you a wink. "I've got this!"

"Alright, alright," you concede, "Goodnight, Taehyung!"

"Goodnight! And thank you for inviting Hobi-hyung over. Really, it means a lot."

"It's only natural to do so," you tell Taehyung, "We're family now, after all."

"Haaa, seriously!" Taehyung huffs, wiping at his eyes, "Off to bed with you before you end up making me cry!"

You laugh, and Taehyung joins you. His chuckles accompany you as you go to your room.

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As you get ready for bed, a niggling feeling gnaws at the back of your mind.

'Did I forget anything?'

Then, you realize what's bothering you.

'I had so much fun over dinner that I completely forgot about the V issue!' You sigh. 'Well, I guess this gives me an opportunity to consult V first before I go talk to Hobi.

You turn off your night light and fluff your pillow.

'I wonder if he'll appear tonight...'

The moment your back touches the bed, the day's exhaustion hits you all at once. In no time at all, you fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.

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Your eyes fly open.

It feels like you were asleep for only one second.

'How long was I really asleep?'

You check the bedside clock.

[ 00:00 ]

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A/N: I know there was no V in this chapter, but next chapter will be all V to make up for it!

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