By the end of the week, people had stopped whispering about it — well, mostly. Sean hadn’t.

The garage buzzed louder than usual that Friday. Someone had decided a successful week of races deserved a celebration, which in Han’s circle meant a party. Music blared, cars lined the street outside, and the smell of street food and burnt tires filled the air.

You and Han arrived together — his hand resting casually at the small of your back, the kind of touch that said everything without a word. Heads turned as you walked in. You caught more than a few looks — some curious, some jealous, some downright annoyed.

Sean spotted you first, grinning as he sauntered over. “Would you look at that,” he drawled. “Han Lue, the man who never gets attached, showing up with someone for once. Didn’t think I’d live to see the day.”

Han didn’t even glance at him. “Guess you’re living longer than expected.”

Sean laughed, raising his hands. “Hey, no judgment. Just surprised to see you this domestic.” You smirked. “Relax, Sean. I promise I’m not keeping him on a leash.” Han’s mouth twitched into a smirk. “You sure?”

Sean groaned. “Okay, gross. Forget I said anything.”

You laughed, shaking your head as Sean wandered off to find another drink.

For a while, the party rolled easy — music, laughter, lights bouncing off polished metal. You found yourself leaning against Han’s RX-7, talking with a few of the drivers while Han slipped away to grab drinks.

That’s when it started.

A couple of girls — familiar faces from the Tokyo drift scene — sauntered over, all smiles that didn’t reach their eyes.

“So you’re the reason Han’s been too busy for anyone else lately,” one said, tone light but edged. You tilted your head, polite smile steady. “Guess so.” “Cute,” another chimed in. “Didn’t think he was into… mechanics.”

Your jaw tightened, but you kept your voice even. “Better a mechanic than a backseat driver.”

The first girl laughed — not kindly. “He must really like you. Usually, he’s not the type to—”

“—to what?” Han’s voice cut through the noise before she could finish.

He was behind you, calm but unmistakably sharp, two drinks in hand. The girls froze as he stepped closer, his presence doing what his tone didn’t need to.

“Problem?” he asked, eyes moving from them to you and back again.

The girls exchanged nervous glances. “No problem, Han. We were just talking.” “Mm,” he said, voice low, nonchalant. “Funny. Didn’t sound like talking.”

One of them tried to recover. “We were just saying it’s… new. Seeing you so—” “Happy?” he finished for her, passing you your drink without looking away.

The silence that followed was cutting.

You took the glass, trying not to smile, while the girls muttered quick excuses and slipped off toward the crowd.

Han turned back to you, unbothered, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. “You okay?” You raised a brow. “You didn’t have to do that.” He shrugged. “Didn’t like the tone.” “I can handle myself, you know.” “I know,” he said simply, leaning beside you. “But I like handling it with you.”

You laughed quietly, shaking your head. “Smooth.” He gave a lazy grin. “Always.”

Sean passed by again, catching the tail end of the exchange. “Man, you two are disgustingly cute. What happened to the mysterious loner thing, Han?” Han didn’t miss a beat. “Guess it got tuned out.”

You nearly choked on your drink. “Tuned out?” He gave a half-shrug. “New part, better performance.”

Sean groaned. “You’ve officially gone soft.” Han’s grin didn’t fade. “Nah. Just smarter.”

Later, when the party thinned out and the music quieted, you found yourselves outside, leaning against your Silvia, Tokyo lights painting everything in gold and violet.

“You didn’t have to defend me back there,” you said softly. “I know,” he replied, just as quiet. “But I wanted to make sure they knew.” “Knew what?”

He looked at you — that slow, steady gaze that could stop time. “That I don’t hide what matters to me.”

The noise from inside faded, replaced by the hum of the city and your heartbeat syncing with his.

You smiled, brushing your thumb against the edge of his hand. “You’re getting bold, Han.” He smirked. “You’re worth showing off.”

HAN POV

I woke up this morning and stretched with a yawn as I did every morning. I checked the clock which told me it was 11 am. I was excited because that meant Lee Know would be awake.

I smiled and tapped the wall behind me three times. "Good morning," the syllabized taps sang out to him.

He knocked back right away with three quick raps. I grinned and stared at his photo on my lock screen wishing he could be in the room with me, so I could cuddle into his warm embrace the way we did during our months off.

There were two more knocks against our shared wall.

"Love you," they told me.

My heart smiled at the reminder, and I tapped back twice.

Someday we wouldn't have to hide and pretend we weren't together. Someday we'd be able to share a room and a bed in a hotel without worrying that fans would find out and berate us online. When I imagined that world, I felt immensely happy. One day I hoped it would be real. 

Two knocks hit against my door. I knew right away that they weren't Lee Know's gentle knuckles and soft tone.

I got out of bed and put my slippers on before allowing the stylist in.

"I've got breakfast," he announced with a cheerful attitude. I tried my best to appear grateful and sipped the coffee he'd gotten me. It wasn't what I would've ordered for myself, but I needed some sort of energy if I was to make it through a half day of being groomed and clothed by someone I didn't know.

I missed the days when we were just 8 kids sitting in Chan's room and experimenting with piercing each other's ears and dying shoelaces neon. Everything was so professional now. It was a bit exhausting...and I missed my friends.

The stylist told me his name was Gavin. He'd apparently fought for the chance to style me as my hair was his favorite. I laughed and told him he must be a STAY because that's what everyone's been telling me lately.

"What's a STAY?" he pondered.

"Never mind," I mumbled.

His fingers massaged some moose into my hair, and he finger-combed it to give it a messy rockstar look (as he called it). Real rockstars would laugh at the primping being put into obtaining their all-natural signature look.

When he finished, I began to eat the sausage biscuit he'd gotten me and watched from the desk as he steamed the wrinkles out of the satin suit I was to wear.

Three knocks hit against the wall. It was after noon now which meant Lee Know was saying "I miss you." I wanted him to be here with me more than anything.

I tapped back and the stylist looked in confusion but didn't say anything.

"Ready to get dressed?"

I shoved the rest of my food in my mouth and nodded. "Let me just brush my teeth."

A few minutes later, I was being stripped and asked to step into navy satin pants with a red stripe on the side.

"Yes!" Gavin cheered when I buttoned them. "They fit so well."

"Sure," I nodded with a laugh. I didn't see what the big deal was. They were just pants.

I was given a belt, a white button-up, and then a red blazer to put on. I laid them out on my bed. The red would look nice with my current hair color. Fans would like it. More importantly, Lee Know would, too.

I took a selfie and sent it to him before I finished getting dressed.

"Garden of Time's the theme? What if we went nude like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden," I texted him alongside the photo where he could see I was shirtless.

He hearted the photo right away as though he'd been waiting for my text. "Want to bite my apple?" he replied with a close-up of his bum. I snort-laughed and threw my hand over my mouth out of habit.

"Something funny?" Gavin asked.

I threw the shirt on and began doing the buttons. "Nope!"

He helped me add the finishing touches which included a black wool jacket over the entire ensemble.

"Time to line up," someone shouted from the hall.

I was already assigned to line up 2nd behind Chan. Lee Know would be 7th.

I saw him standing where the back of the line would be, and my heart raced excitedly. I had not seen him since yesterday but it felt like forever. I extended my hand to graze against his as I walked by. I didn't have to look to know he was smiling. I was too.

I got behind Chan, and we walked out one by one to the car that would take us to the event.

Chan went first and paparazzi flashed wildly. Fans shouted in shrill voices. I was grateful for my long hair because I could put on my headphones to drown out the overwhelming shouts and nobody would know that I was still plagued by anxiety. I reached for them in my pocket and put them in my ears.

Our manager motioned for me to walk and I stepped outside. I couldn't hear a thing but the beginning of "Want So Bad". I smiled softly as I walked and joined Chan in the car, eagerly awaiting Lee Know.

I sat in the back and turned the music off before saving a place for him beside me. When it was finally his turn, he walked tall and confidently, pausing to pose for fans. I envied his ability to do that so naturally.

I watched him closely and blushed when I realized our jackets were similar. I wonder if it'd been done on purpose.

Lee Know entered the car and his eyes found mine right away. He gave me a soft smile, and my hand reached to pull him towards me. He put an arm around me immediately, and I sunk into him. "Hey, pretty boy. I've missed you," he whispered.

He kissed my forehead, and I hummed against his shoulder, happy to be beside him once again.

"Missed you more. You look so pretty, baby," I complimented.

"So do you," he smiled and placed a soft kiss on my lips.

My heart felt full when he was near me.

"Are you two listening?" Chan asked.

"No," I told him honestly, earning a few chuckles from the others.

Chan sighed but repeated himself, "When we get there, keep your coats on for the first photo. We'll take pictures at the second spot without them. We'll go out in the same order as earlier. Okay?"

"Got it," Lee Know told him. He surprised me by pulling me into his lap. "You need to get out before me," he explained and switched seats with me. He patted my leg when he placed me back down and the car rolled to a stop.

His hand stroked mine where it sat on his leg and the door opened. I threw him one last glance and followed Chan out of the car. Cameras flashed and aggressive camera operators demanded different poses and facial expressions.

I clicked my phone in my pocket and drowned them out with my headphones again.

My eyes shined when Lee Know's voice started his verse. I glanced over at him. He was posing with a hand in his pocket attempting to seem casual and sexy...and succeeding at seeming casual and sexy.

He looked my way and winked. My heart pounded in my chest. We'd been together for years, but I still felt like a teenager with a crush whenever he looked at me.

My face turned red, and we were guided to the second area for photos. We handed our coats to our stylists, and I went to stand beside Chan again but found that Hyunjin had filled the spot. I glanced toward Lee Know and jumped into the empty space in front of him before anyone could direct me somewhere else.

He tapped my bum and grinned boyishly before turning on his professional self again. This time, I didn't need the headphones.

"Meow," Lee Know sang quietly. It had become an inside joke between us to see who could meow the loudest in public, but it was so unexpected that I nearly crumbled from laughing so hard. I'd never heard him do it at a red carpet before.

Chan narrowed his eyes at me, silently scolding me, and we were corralled to walk to our table for the evening.

Our stylists brought our coats somewhere else...I didn't really care where. My mind was too occupied by the way Lee Know blushed whenever I caught him staring.

I was, of course, seated away from him, and I looked around at the other attendees. It made me sad to see couples who got together out of infidelity or couples who didn't really love each other seated together and being paraded as some amazing love story. I wanted that. I deserved that.

I deserved to hold Lee Know's hand while we ate and cheers his champagne glass during the speeches and feel his knee lightly touch mine under the table just because he'd know it would drive me crazy to touch him.

My heart was always so full of him. My body always wanted his. My mind thought of nothing else.

I caught his gaze again and knocked twice on the table. "Love you," it told him.

“You tuned her yourself?” you asked, even though you already knew the answer. He smirked. “Didn’t trust anyone else with your car.” You shot him a sideways glance. “You mean you didn’t trust anyone else to show off with my car.” His grin deepened. “Maybe both.”

The city faded behind you as you wound your way up the mountain roads — familiar routes where you’d once raced, pushed limits, chased adrenaline. Now, it felt different. The air was crisp, still, the world reduced to the sound of the engine and the occasional shift of Han’s voice.

Halfway up, you stopped at a lookout — the same one where, weeks ago, you’d both sat above Tokyo’s skyline, pretending you didn’t feel what you felt.

The view hadn’t changed. The two of you had.

You cut the engine. Silence settled. For a while, neither of you moved. Then Han broke it, voice low, rough around the edges.

“You know,” he started, “the night you crashed… I kept thinking about how stupid it was.” You frowned. “Thanks for that.” He gave a quiet chuckle. “Not what I meant. I meant me. For thinking I could keep things simple.”

You turned to look at him fully. “Simple?” “Yeah,” he said. “You and me. The cars, the crew, the late nights — I told myself it was all just business. Just fun.” He paused, eyes still on the skyline. “But then you stopped showing up. And it didn’t feel like fun anymore.”

Your breath caught — because it wasn’t like him to say things straight out. Han was the kind of man who spoke in metaphors, in silence, in glances that lasted half a second too long.

You leaned back against the hood of the Silvia, heart steady but loud. “You don’t have to say it, Han.” He turned, finally meeting your eyes. “Maybe not. But I want to.”

The quiet stretched between you again, until he stepped closer — close enough that the scent of smoke and mint wrapped around you, familiar and grounding.

“I like what we built,” he said softly. “The cars, the races… but mostly this. Whatever it is.”

You smiled faintly. “You mean the constant bickering and near-death experiences?” He huffed a laugh. “Yeah. That.”

You looked up at him — really looked. The city’s glow caught in his eyes, and for once, his walls were down. You reached out, fingertips brushing his wrist, the same way you had that morning after the crash. This time, he didn’t pull away.

“Han,” you whispered, “you’re terrible at subtlety.” He smirked. “Guess I’m learning from you.”

The air between you shifted — slower, warmer. His hand found your cheek, thumb grazing your jaw the same way it had before, only this time he didn’t stop. The kiss was soft, steady, unhurried — the kind that said you had all the time in the world now.

When you finally pulled back, you rested your forehead against his. “Took you long enough.” He chuckled, voice low against your lips. “You were worth the wait.”

For a while, neither of you moved. The city below glowed like it was burning just for you.

Then Han straightened, that familiar smirk returning. “Come on,” he said, nodding toward the car. “Let’s see if the new suspension holds up.” You laughed, sliding back into the driver’s seat. “You just want an excuse to ride shotgun while I smoke you on the next run.” He grinned, settling in beside you. “Prove it.”

You revved the engine, the night stretching ahead — open road, open sky, no more pretending.

This time, when you drifted through the first corner, you didn’t think about crashing or fear or what could go wrong. You thought about him.

Dinner was uncomfortable, to say the least. Jennie sat at the table, her usual excitement about seeing Han absent this evening and replaced by a stony silence as she stabbed at her food with a too-tight grip on her fork. Every now and then, she shot Han a glare, her little eyes narrowing whenever he talked excitedly about the adoption.

"We're picking Lily up tomorrow morning," Han said, smiling as he glanced at Lee Know, who nodded along. "She loves to draw, just like you, Jennie. Isn't that so cool?"

Jennie's glare deepened, and she muttered, "I don't care, Unca Han."

Ella and Chan exchanged a worried look but didn't say anything. The tension in the air was thick, and though they had hoped Jennie would come around, but it was clear that she wasn't ready to talk about Lily. She hardly touched her food, responding with short, clipped answers whenever anyone tried to engage her.

After dinner, Han and Lee Know stood at the door, thanking Ella and Chan for the meal. Jennie stayed behind, still sulking in her corner.

"Goodnight, Jennie-bean," Han said softly, giving her a warm smile, trying to make sure she didn't feel abandoned.

Jennie barely glanced up, muttering a quiet "Night" before stomping off to her room.

Ella sighed as the door closed behind Han and Lee Know. "She's really upset, isn't she?" Ella asked, feeling worried about how Jennie would react when she met Lily if things were this bad just hearing about her.

Chan nodded, running a hand through his hair. "We'll try to talk to her again tomorrow. She just needs some time."

But Jennie wasn't planning on waiting. While Ella and Chan cleaned up the dinner table and the kitchen, Jennie was in her room, packing a small suitcase with her favorite toys and clothes. She zipped it shut, and glanced around her room one last time before tiptoeing out, grabbing her shoes by the front door, and slipping out into the front door.

Her little feet pounded the pavement as she dragged her suitcase behind her, determined to get to Han's house. If Unca Han wanted a kid, well, she was a kid...and he had said she was his favorite girl in the world. In her eyes, he didn't need Lily when he already had her.

Back at home, Ella and Chan had finished cleaning up, only to realize the house was eerily quiet.

"Jennie?" Ella called, heading toward her room. Silence.

They checked her room, the living room, the backyard...nothing. Panic set in when they noticed her shoes missing by the door.

"Chan," Ella whispered, eyes wide with worry. "She's gone."

Chan's face went pale, tears brimming in both of their eyes as they realized they were living their worst nightmare. He immediately pulled out his phone, dialing Han's number. "She's probably headed to Han and Lee Know's," he guessed as the line rang. "It'll be okay Ella. We'll find her."

Han answered quickly, his voice full of concern as Chan explained what had happened while hugging Ella who was crying in panic. "I'll go out and look for her," Han said, already grabbing his car keys. "She couldn't have gotten far."

He hung up and jumped into his car, heart pounding as he tried to guess which route she would've taken. But when he opened the garage, there she was...standing in the driveway with her little suitcase and her favorite jelly sandals on, looking determined.

Han got out slowly, walking up to her. "Jennie-bean?" he called softly.

Jennie looked up, her face set in a stubborn frown. "I'm here to live with you," she declared, her voice small but firm. "You said I'm your favorite girl in the world. It's not fair you chose another girl when I can be your kid."

Han's heart clenched. He crouched down in front of her, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "Jennie, you'll always be my favorite girl," he said softly. "But that doesn't mean I don't have room in my heart for Lily, too."

"Unca Han. I can be your kid. Call Lily and tell her she can't come," Jennie cried.

Han sighed, pulling Jennie into a hug and then holding her to sit on his lap. "Jennie," Han began, his voice empathetic and his words careful as he tried to navigate this in a way that would end with Jennie feeling bigger. "Lily has never had a family before."

"Daddy said lying is bad Unca Han," Jennie rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

"Her mommy and daddy...they went to heaven a long time ago, Jennie, and she's been all alone since then, since she was a baby."

Jennie's frown deepened, her anger starting to fade into sympathy. "She doesn't have a mommy or daddy?"

Han shook his head. "No, Jennie-bean. That's why she's coming to live with me and Lee Know. We're going to be her new daddys. We're going to love her just like your mommy and daddy love you."

"Oh," Jennnie mumbled. "She has no toys?"

"She has a few toys, but she has no family right now. Isn't that so sad?"

Jennie imagined what it would be like to be all alone, "On my walk to your house, I saw a spider. Daddy wasn't there to save me from it."

"Was that so scary, Jennie?" Han asked, realizing that she was understanding.

Jennie nodded, recalling how she'd screamed and run away from it.

"And you know what? You're going to be her cousin," Han explained. "You'll be her family, too."

"Like baby Sebastian," Jennie told him.

"Exactly," Han smiled. "And Lily doesn't have any friends here yet, so I need you to be extra nice to her, okay? We want her to feel welcomed and safe here."

Jennie bit her lip, still thinking hard, but the fight had left her. She didn't know the poor girl didn't have a family. After a moment, she sighed and muttered, "Okay, Unca Han....I'll try to be nice to her."

Han smiled, pulling her into a tight hug. "There's my sweet girl."

Just then, Chan pulled up, rushing out of the car with Ella right behind him. Relief washed over both of them when they saw Jennie safe in Han's arms.

"Jennie! You can't just run away like that," Chan scolded as he snatched her up and squeezed her tightly. "Mommy and I were so scared."

"Daddy, you're squishing me!" Jennie screamed.

Later that night, after they brought her home, Jennie sat at the kitchen table with her colored pencils, carefully drawing a card for Lily to inform her of everyone in the family. She made pictures of all of the uncles and cats and kids, and when she was done, she looked up at Chan, who was watching her with a soft smile.

"Daddy," Jennie said, holding up the card, "can you write something for me?"

"Of course! What do you want it to say?" he asked, kneeling beside her.

Jennie grinned. "Write, 'Unca Han is my favorite Unca. He'll be a good daddy, too.' Oh! And 'Lee Know is nice and has cats'.'"