codename: Seraphim

"Eomma, I'm home!" Beom-ki called out as he kicked off his shoes, the sound echoing through the familiar warmth of his family home. The scent of freshly baked cookies filled the air, a comforting fragrance that brought back countless childhood memories. His stomach rumbled at the smell, and a grin spread across his face as he hurried toward the kitchen.

His mother was there, just as he expected, moving gracefully between the counter and the dining table. She had already laid out a plate of cookies, their golden brown surfaces glistening slightly under the light. When she saw him, her face lit up, her eyes twinkling with joy. "Aww, my baby," she cooed as Beom-ki rushed over, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. Despite the teasing tone, there was an unmistakable warmth in her voice, a mother's love that made everything in the world feel just a little bit better.

Beom-ki eyed the cookies greedily, already reaching for one before his mother swatted his hand away playfully. "Not so fast," she teased, a smile tugging at her lips. "I have a surprise for you."

His hand hovered over the plate for a second, then dropped. "Surprise?" He raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. His mother was the type to pull something unexpected every now and then, but what could it be this time?

"Surprise," she repeated with a knowing smile, her gaze drifting toward the hallway.

Beom-ki turned his head, following her eyes, just in time to see the door to one of the bedrooms creak open. Out stepped his twin sister, Beom-sook, dressed in casual attire but still carrying that same poised, confident aura she always had. She wasn't just his sister; she was a successful lawyer in the States, and her presence here, back home for the holidays, was completely unexpected.

"Oh…" The word slipped out of Beom-ki's mouth before he could stop it. He stood frozen for a moment as Beom-sook walked toward him, each step bringing them closer together until they were standing face to face. It was like looking in a mirror—their features were so strikingly similar, from the sharpness of their eyes to the familiar cut of their jaws.

For a beat, they just stood there, taking each other in, the surreal feeling of being reunited after so much time apart hitting them both at once.

"I see you still have that cut on your eyebrow I gave you," Beom-sook said, breaking the silence, her tone teasing as she reached out to lightly tap the small scar that marked his left brow. It was from a childhood accident—a playful fight between them that had gone a little too far.

Beom-ki smirked, shaking his head as he crossed his arms over his chest. "And I see you still don't have hair," he shot back with a straight face, his eyes flicking to her short buzz cut. "That's nice."

For a second, the air between them was tense, their expressions serious, but then, as if on cue, they both broke into laughter. It was the kind of deep, genuine laughter that only siblings shared, the sound filling the room and warming the atmosphere even more.

"Shut up, asshole," Beom-sook laughed, playfully punching him on the arm. "I told you I was getting a buzz cut!"

Beom-ki's laughter bubbled over, his body shaking with amusement. "You look like a thumb," he said, his voice full of mirth. He loved teasing his sister, and she always gave as good as she got.

"And you look like an idiot," Beom-sook fired back, unable to suppress her own laughter. The banter between them felt so natural, as though no time had passed at all. Despite their busy lives, despite the distance between them, whenever they were together, it was like they were kids again.

As their laughter died down, Beom-sook reached out and pulled him into a tight hug, her arms wrapping around his shoulders. Beom-ki hugged her back just as fiercely, his face burying into the crook of her neck. There was a deep sense of comfort in her embrace, one that made the world outside seem a little less complicated.

"I missed you big sister," Beom-ki muttered, his voice muffled against her shoulder. His grip tightened, not wanting to let go just yet.

"I missed you too, Beom," Beom-sook replied softly, her tone matching the tenderness in his. There was so much they didn't say, but it was all there in the way they held each other. The long months apart, the late-night video calls, the text messages that never fully captured what they wanted to express—it all disappeared in this moment, leaving only the warmth of family.

Their mother watched them from the kitchen, her eyes shining with quiet pride and happiness. She had always hoped for moments like these, when both her children were home, safe, and together.

As Beom-ki pulled back from the hug, he wiped his eyes quickly, hoping his sister wouldn't notice the slight dampness there. But Beom-sook, ever perceptive, caught the motion. She didn't say anything, though. She just smiled, a small, knowing smile that let him know she understood.

"Still a big baby, I see," she teased lightly, nudging him in the ribs.

"Yeah, well, you're still a pain in the ass," Beom-ki shot back with a grin, though his voice was thick with emotion. He wasn't embarrassed, not really. They had always been close, and his sister knew him better than anyone.

"So," Beom-sook started, crossing her arms as she looked him up and down. "What've you been up to? Besides fighting crime and being a tough guy."

Beom-ki snorted. "Oh, you know, the usual. Saving the day. Breaking hearts."

"Breaking hearts, huh?" Beom-sook raised an eyebrow. "Whose heart did you break this time?"

"Not mine," Beom-ki muttered under his breath, his thoughts briefly flashing to Ji-soo. But he quickly brushed the thought away, forcing a smile back onto his face. "Anyway, enough about me. What about you? When did you get here?"

Beom-sook chuckled, sensing there was more to his story but deciding not to push. "Just yesterday. Thought I'd surprise you. Mom's been keeping me under wraps until you got home."

Beom-ki shook his head, still grinning. "Well, consider me surprised." He glanced over at their mother, who was busying herself in the kitchen, pretending not to watch them too closely. "Best surprise ever, though."

"Damn right," Beom-sook agreed, clapping him on the back. "And I'm here for a while, so you better get used to me being around."

Beom-ki's smile widened. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

They sat down at the dinner table, the comforting aroma of freshly cooked food filling the room. The clatter of plates and the sound of utensils scraping against them echoed in the warm, cozy atmosphere. Beom-ki reached for his glass of water, taking a sip, trying to settle the emotions swirling inside him. But no matter how much he tried to act normal, his twin sister, Beom-sook, had her eyes on him. She could always tell when something was wrong.

She studied him for a moment, narrowing her eyes before speaking up. "Have you been crying, Beom-ki?" she asked, her voice sharp but with a hint of concern, as if she already knew the answer.

Beom-ki nearly choked on his water, coughing lightly as he quickly shook his head. "What? No, no, I haven't been crying," he replied, his voice a bit too rushed, a little too defensive. He forced a laugh, trying to brush it off, but Beom-sook wasn't buying it. She never did.

"Mm-hmm," she hummed skeptically, raising one eyebrow as she continued to stare him down. "Your eyes look puffy. Who hurt you, huh? Just tell me, and I'll give them the beating of their life." Her voice had a playful edge to it, but there was a seriousness underneath. Beom-sook wasn't one to let anyone mess with her family, especially her twin brother.

Beom-ki couldn't help but chuckle at her protective tone, though the sound was a little hollow. "What? No, no, it's nothing like that," he said, trying to laugh it off again, but the weight of the truth pressed down on him, making it hard to keep the smile on his face.

Their mother, who had been busy serving food, paused for a moment softly, her motherly instincts kicking in. "What happened? Why were you crying?"

Beom-ki froze for a second, his fork hovering over his plate. He knew they weren't going to let this go. His mother and sister were both watching him now, concern etched on their faces, and he felt the walls he had been trying to build around his heart begin to crumble. There was no use hiding it—not from them.

He let out a deep sigh, the sound heavy with frustration and hurt, setting his fork down on the table. He leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair, trying to find the right words to explain everything without breaking down. "I... I caught my girlfriend... fucking her so-called brother," he said, his voice flat, almost too casual for the bomb he had just dropped.

Beom-sook's fork clattered to the table, her eyes widening in shock. "What?" she said, her voice a mix of disbelief and anger. "What do you mean?"

Their mother gasped softly, her hand coming up to cover her mouth, her eyes wide with worry. "Oh, Beom-ki…" she murmured, her heart breaking for her son as she tried to process what he had just said.