The house was built on top of a hill, overlooking the nature around it. It was a modern minimalistic building, dominated with grey hues and clear glass walls. It surprisingly blended with it's surrounding as the only building in the area. And now the house does sound empty and lonely without the two. His brother and his girl.

He wasn't expecting it but now Saeran is used to be around the happy chatty voices of them two, how they seem to be able to joke around and be cheerful all the time. Weird, he remember that she wasn't like that before. When she first pick up the device that starts this all. Or they say that a couple would mirror each other as times pass.

And in the compound they are always surrounded by the sounds of the animals and mostly he'll be busy working on things.

But for a moment, some peace and quiet like this is nice. Alone, just him, and his thoughts.

He stood at the hallway, watching the rose bush that he had planted. The glass window reflects his face, albeit unclear. He can see that he look... normal? Happy?

Life has been so good to him.

"Saeran! We're back!"

There goes his peace and quiet.

He walk towards the house entry, passing more glass-walled halls. Ha Eun greeted him with a bright smile. His brother was bending down taking off Ha Eun's shoes. Both of them had bags of groceries and some were on the floor.

"Did you get it?", asked Saeran.

"Get what?", Ha Eun asked back.

"You said you wanted to eat my cake so I said to buy that crackers."

Ha Eun avoided his eye contact and made humming sounds. He look at his brother. Same. This two idiots.

"No wonder I kept thinking we missed something.",Saeyoung said.

Saeran gave a huge sigh and picked up some bags from the entry.

"I told you to bring a list every time you go grocery shopping. I'm not letting you go shopping again. You kept on buying useless things, it's a waste of money.", Saeran said with his angry tone.

"What no! Shopping is my entertainment.", Ha Eun groaned.

He eyed his brother as he placed the bags down on the kitchen counter.

"I meant that idiot brother. He can't come next time."

Saeyoung is clearly unbothered as he replied with laughter.

"Oh I'll leave the unpacking to you guys. I need to do something.", Saeyoung said.

He grabbed a bottle of chilled water from the fridge and disappeared from the kitchen, not before planting a kiss on Ha Eun's cheek. Saeran is used to it too, their lovey-dovey-ness. He just continued to unpack the stuff from the bags.

"Why did you get this dish soap, you said the smell lingers in the plate last time?", Saeran asked Ha Eun.

"Isn't it this one?"

"No, you liked the one with the white flower on the packaging."

"My bad.", she answered flatly.

"I'll just get the remaining items tomorrow, I'm going down the village too. You need to stock up the medicines too right."

"Yeah, I'll come with you."

"Or I can drop you back here first after you check the village clinic. You need to take it easy."

"No, it's just shopping... Oh wait!"

She raised the cucumber on her hand high and pointed it towards Saeran.

"What?"

"Do you want some alone time with that volunteer girl tomorrow?"

'What is this about a girl?'

Saeyoung popped his head back into the kitchen.

"Hey I thought you were working!", yelled Saeran.

"He was talking with a girl that had volunteered with that charity education last time. I think they looked good together.",explained Ha Eun.

Saeyoung replied with a playful whistle.

"Stop it. It's nothing."

"I can pick up Ha Eun tomorrow. We won't disturb you. I'll be at the sanctuary in the morning to work on the tracker signals.", Saeyoung said.

Yeah these nosy two should stay far away from him for now.

The computer slowed its whirring and stops. He can see the world outside covered in the night sky. The skies here are much more beautiful than the ones from Korea. You can see the twinkling stars easily and they looked like you can reach them within grasp.

He had placed his workroom so his seat would face the glass walls. Not your ordinary glass walls, they were bullet-proof and shatter-proof glass. Sometimes he can see Saeran gardening or Ha Eun just lounging and reading.

Saeyoung had started their life anew these past years. He created something that is better for him, Saeran, Ha Eun and even the world.

He had purchased land and started a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa. He made this mansion away from the sanctuary on top of a hill. This glass house that provided them with safety and warmth.

Vanderwood lived separated from them but Saeyoung had asked him to oversee the village they built, they made schools, provided better lives for the people there. But he's still close, they can just fly him in if needed.

All his life he's been indoors cooped up with his computer, he's starting a life completely under the sun. This touch with nature seem to be working well with Saeran too. Sometimes in his mind he like to imagine Yoosung coming in here for his work as a vet, but the chances would be astronomical.

Finally, he turned on the security measures to his work room and closed the door.

He had wired the money to Ha Young and Hyun Young's joint account. He has been doing this every month, masking it as an insurance payout. Jumin should've sniffed something, but he's not saying anything.

Ha Eun's memories never returned.

She has been his Ha Eun ever since and with them cutting ties with her old life, it hasn't been much of a dilemma for her.

He passed the living room, the cozy space with pillows and a TV. There's piles of board games that the three like to play with. After all this time, Saeran is still a competitive player.

Ha Eun wasn't in their bedroom, but her humming signals her whereabouts. He pop his head into the bathroom. She was inside the grey coloured tub. Her face was pure serene, her eyelash flutters gently on her eyes. He tap her soap-bubble covered shoulder softly.

"Hi. Finished your work?", she asked, her voice always so melodically in his ears.

"Yeah, you want to wash your hair today?"

"Oh, it would be great."

Washing her hair, drying her hair, combing her hair, even braiding her hair sometimes were the activities Saeyoung had reserved his privileges. Even tying her shoes, in fact he would do all the tiny things for her.

It all started when he picked her up from her trip with Zen. She was transitioning with the thought of them finally being able to leave everything, and it was when he offered to wash her hair. It began with a simple arrangement of a chair in front of the sink and he was still cautious and gingerly ran his fingers on her shorter hair.

But now they both have progressed far beyond that.

Far too much probably.

One time Saeyoung was mending the electrical fence in the sanctuary with their staff when Saeran radio-ed him.

"Uhh... Your wife just shot a potential poacher in the leg. I don't know what else to say."

Yeah, he won't have anything else to say too in that situation.

He wasn't expecting to pick up another gun but they kept some for security measures, especially in the sanctuary. Even though mostly were dart guns for tranquillising. He had taught Ha Eun a real one too and it looked like she enjoyed it. And the sight of her behind the scope with her serious look just send chills down his spine.

And yet she is also the person to wipe her tears on his sleeve because she was bawling watching a scene of a sad movie.

"I love you."

"I know."

In fact they never had a wedding, nor has Saeyoung ever properly proposed. It's all just the way it was, one day she's his wife. It was just a ring on her hand that symbolises that. They were still laying low in a city where he had walked past a jeweller whose designs caught his eyes. Saeyoung then commissioned them on one of the most complicated ring they had ever made.

The centrepiece is a pink oval sapphire in a sea of small diamonds and surrounded in boxes of white opal and with blue sapphires making it cross-shaped. It's flashy, but if there's anything he want it to be, it'll be flashy. At night when she had fallen asleep, he had slipped the ring into her finger. She didn't say anything when she woke up, just smiled and adored the ring that shines even brighter in the sun. It was one of the best morning in his life.

The girl was a volunteer for a charity education group that goes to villages to teach school-age children. She'll come several days a week from the charity base in the city. The Chois had bettered the lives of the villagers by building water lines, enhanced farming and provided better health, the children had gone to school to the next village so they had left it untouched. But with the charity offering a school in the village, the villagers gladly accept.

The girl had hit a crisis and wasn't sure what to do with her life when she finished school. So when she saw the ad looking for volunteer teachers, she jumped at the opportunity right away.

Saeran had met her the first time when one of the kid ran away from the classroom. He was supervising one of the water channel repair at that time. She was a bit naive from his judgement but at the same time so full of willpower. He had talked several times when their times meet.

He finally unloaded the last box of medical supplies to the clinic. Ha Eun ran a mental calculation and checked the thing off her list that she's holding. Saeran saw her exiting the classroom from the clinic window and Ha Eun could realise right away what's he looking at.

"Go. I'm visiting the houses and then your brother said he's coming right away.", she said.

"I'll get your groceries after this.", he said before leaving.

Saeran half jogged to their car to grab something and turned to the classroom.

"Here, you said you wanted to try kimchi.", Saeran said.

The girl took a bundle of plastic out of the box, unwrapping layers and layers of wrapping.

"The protection level is kind of scaring me right now."

"Oh its her. My sister-in-law, she's pregnant and the only thing she can't stand is this."

The girl's eyes immediately went to the clinic. She truly had thought that the long haired woman that looked extremely loving and at the same time charismatic was Saeran's girlfriend or sorts. But then she saw two of Saeran and it took her another week to finally realised the connections.

She had talked with Saeyoung, the elder brother, apparently the patriarch and the one that made this whole development possible. She wouldn't expect it if no one had told her. He looked playful, terribly nice and friendly. But it was only when she saw him standing beside his wife, placing a protective hand around, his eyes would scan the surrounding as sharp as an eagle.

That's love, I guess, she thought to herself.

"I adore your sister-in-law and your brother too.", she said.

"The two idiots?"

"Well, they are cute, they look nice. And I admire you and them too. You guys managed to accomplish so much."

The bumpy ground has turned into perfect smooth roads, houses became a place of perfect shelter.

"What's the secret?", she asked.

"Huh... Patience, research good negotiation tactics and don't be weak, I think."

"Don't be weak...?"

"When you are kind people like to think you are weak. Don't. Like my brother. If something were to happen to her and bodies were to end up on a spike tomorrow morning, I surely won't be surprised."

The girl giggled in reply. Saeran snapped and came back to reality.

"Wait, you won't commit something and frame me because of my words right?", he asked jokingly.

"No! Of course not!"

Saeran had done prior research when the girl first showed up, he won't risk interaction with people with even the slightest chance of putting his family in danger. She came clean.

They heard some commotion and Saeran and the girl immediately went out to check. In front of a villager's house was a man, a local from his looks but Saeran hadn't seen him before.

He was arguing to some women, the villagers.

"Its my student's mother.", she said.

Ha Eun was there, in fact the man looked like he was confronting with Ha Eun, the women were mediating him. This is bad, Saeran thought to himself. It'll be worse when his brother is here. With no hesitation he sprinted to location.

The girl stood for a second and watched Saeran as he rushed. His back looks broader when he acts for the good of others. It's like he spend no time thinking and just rushed to Ha Eun's aid. The girl's heart swells, it'll be nice to be a part of such tight family.

'I told you we don't need help from strangers!'

The man shouted angrily at Ha Eun. She kept calm and the village women looked like they were already fighting for her.

'Everyone's lives are better now and no one is being disadvantaged. I trust there is no more problems here."

Ha Eun stride forward and took steps to left the man. The man, still looking annoyed, pushed his hand forward seemingly to grab Ha Eun. But Saeran's hand flew faster and he stopped the man's hand before he can reach Ha Eun.

The man looked at Saeran and the girl, another foreigner.

'This is our home now?! Trampled by foreigners?!'

"Does anybody know him?", Saeran asked.

"I'm sorry. He's my husband. He hasn't been home in years so I was surprised he came back so suddenly.", a woman answered.

"Sir, I can call security on you or you can visit your family in peace.", warned Saeran.

The woman grabbed the angry man and tried to pull him inside the house. At the same time Saeran reached his hand behind his back and Ha Eun reached for it. They backed up slowly from the scene.

"Are you okay?", he asked worryingly.

"You got there on time. And look who you brought here."

The girl giggled nervously in front of Ha Eun. She had watched her from afar but never really had a chance to talk properly. She had seen Ha Eun work in the clinic and she is nothing but admirable. But with Saeran, her tone and aura completely changed. She was soft.

"Oh I haven't introduced you yet..."

Suddenly, Ha Eun held a hand over her mouth.

"Why did it smell like kimchi?!"

The girl looked down at the small bowl in her hand that she had held tight all this time, not realising.

Saeyoung crossed some dates on the table calendar and wrote 'Vanderwood coming'.

He had just finished the call with Vanderwood, catching up on things. They just met two weeks ago but he always calls now and then. He was alone and he complained time to time that he was lonely. He used to be watching Saeyoung so closely, reminding him when he's slacking off. Vanderwood even wanted Saeran to accompany him there instead.

Saeyoung declined of course, not with the triplets arriving soon. They'll be outnumbered.

A triplets.

He remembered when they first found out about having triplets. They were lost for words and kept asking one another. 'Triplets...so three then?'

When they got home, Saeran almost choked on his food when they break the news during dinner. Three, so one for each to take care, including him.

The journey there wasn't easy. They lost their first baby.

He was accompanying Ha Eun for a trip to a village, when a villager asked for help. Her child has fallen while playing, fallen several meters to a rocky hill below. The ground was soft due to the rain. Saeyoung couldn't go down and climb up, he's too heavy and might slide down too.

The calls to the sanctuary wouldn't get through either. No one was answering. So Saeyoung went back to the sanctuary to get some supplies and more manpower. Ha Eun stayed behind.

But when he went back, the boy was already reunited with his mother and Ha Eun was with them, all muddy brown.

Saeyoung didn't need any explaining to understand. They were all happy, or so they thought.

She took it upon herself for the tragedy, blamed her disobedience, blamed her selfishness for leaving her first children behind.

It was a dark hole they both lingered. But they persevered.

And now, waiting for the arrival of their triplets.

Saeyoung took the car keys and went passed the shoe rack before grabbing a pair of sunglasses Ha Eun had left on top of it. She probably didn't remember she forgotten it. In Saeran's term, she's pregnant and became an idiot.

He smiled as he enters the car, can't wait to be reunited back with her.

It took him years and most of his early life to learn the truth, everything good that happened to him in his life always leads back to her.

The sanctuary dog walked into the kitchen and casually nudged Saeran's elbow. He had taken the girl back to the sanctuary, he needs to go back to get groceries so she offered to come along.

Saeyoung had picked up Ha Eun that was sick due to the kimchi and let her rest in the sanctuary until he finished some work.

"Don't worry she's always like this.", said Saeran as he cuts the fruit in front of him.

The girl was sitting on the dining table, petting the dog. She saw the husband, as always ever so friendly as he assured the same thing Saeran had said whilst softly rubbing his wife's back as she emptied her stomach.

"I truly forgotten.", she answered.

"She'll be sick for the rest of the day and tomorrow she's back, fit as a fiddle. Don't worry about it."

Saeran moved the drink he had made to a cup and puts one in front of the girl.

"She always feel better with this. Drink up, wait here, I'll take one for her.", Saeran said before leaving.

Saeran had been with them since the beginning of it all. Since they started the first brick in their house, their sanctuary, their first animal rescue, their first staff, and their first baby.

He heard the helicopter in their yard and Saeyoung came bursting, and out with Ha Eun with the medic on board. It happened too fast, but when he saw the trail of blood leading back to their bedroom, he kind of knew what had happened.

With a bucket in one hand and a cloth in the other, he slowly traces the drops of blood. With more blood, he felt his heart aches as well. Their room was on the other side of the house, far away from his own room, so he has never been there, and now he's here trying to clean out the death in the room.

The cloth kept soaking the blood in the couple's bed, as more blood emerge, and the bucket water turned even more red he can feel the loss in him too.

So he truly understand how protective his brother has been this second time, especially with three lives in line.

The girl looked around the dining room, she has seen workers working around diligently, and animals roaming around fenced area. Perhaps this is what everyone wanted to achieve in life. The greatest purpose in life, helping others, helping nature, helping the world. Is this where she's supposed to be?

"Hey sorry to keep you waiting.", called Saeran.

"No problem."

She walked out the door to enjoy the view even more.

"I love this place.", she said.

"I know, the view is amazing."

She smiled to herself, that wasn't what I meant.

"You should see the view from our bedroom window."

"Our?", she asked again.

Saeran paused, finding the mistake in his sentence.

"Our... There's a bedroom upstairs for when we need to spend the night here. It's a waste of space to have each for us, so yeah. But that's not what I meant. When you wake up every morning and see the sun and all the vast lands, you can help to be in awe."

"I would like to see that. And I want to know more about you."

"Me?"

"Yeah."

"What do you want to know about me?"

"Start at the beginning."

Saeyoung opened the door slowly, but the wooden door gave away his presence by making a small creak.

The cold breeze greeted him and the gentle afternoon ray. He placed his laptop down on the table and approached the bed. A bucket of water, a pitcher of water and a half empty glass of juice. Saeran.

Saeyoung took out the small wash towel on Ha Eun's head and poured the water from the pitcher, the heat blew faint steams in the air and it reheated the towel. The warm feeling was greeted by Ha Eun's approving humm.

"You want to go home?", he asked.

"In a minute. Your work's done?"

"Yeah, I managed to get the trackers back online."

He rubbed the small of her back with slow circles, something that she had came to like. Her belly has swelled so much and it's not even near the end of her term. She never complained but he knew it must be tough. But he needs her off work and to stay home soon, after their first loss, he's not gambling now.

Her slow breathing suggested that she had fallen asleep, again. She just said they can leave in a minute, scrap that.

The bed dipped as Saeyoung joined her in the bed, playing softly at the strands of her hair. Because of her, he learned how to tie ponytails, braid hair, how to dry them gently, how to make intricate shoe lace patterns. Saeran thought it's stupid, but for him it was his devotion for Ha Eun. These hands of his are still able to take on people on combat, lift heavy weights, incapacitate someone, or even worse, take a life, but for the person next to him, he can be the gentlest pair of hand in the world.

"I want that beautiful macarons."

She was half-sleeping. Saeyoung tucked away the hair strands from her face, away from the closed eyes and full cheeks.

"Which one?", he asked back.

"The one we had in Paris."

The last time it was some chocolates from London, and more sweet treats from their days in Berlin. He planted a small kiss on her cheek.

"Yeah, I'll get it for you."

She smiled sleepily and nuzzled her face closer to his palm, finally sleeping next to his warm skin. Just watching that chest rise like slow ocean waves and the warmth emanating from her body like a warm sunrise is enough. Or more.

This is more than he can ask for, someone to love him, his family close to him and a chance of being a father.

This is his true end.

EPILOGUE

The room was filled with low murmurs of people dressed in black. The ceremony had ended so people were chatting with their friends, sharing their memories and moments, honouring the man celebrated today one last time.

Another figure dressed in black stepped inside the room, the hat with nets covered her face and she walked quietly and swiftly most people didn't notice her coming. She just leave a bouquet of flowers and walked out again.

She was halfway down the stone steps of the temple when a voice, not one but two voices, called her in unison.

"Imo!"

The figure turned around at the sound. Two girls were standing at the entrance. The figure pointed out to herself, wondering if the girls were calling her. One of the girls nodded. She walked back up the steps, approaching the girls.

"Are you leaving already?", the other girl asked.

"Yeah, I don't have much time.", the figure answered.

"Do you know our grandfather?"

"I do, but a long time ago. That's why I'm here today to pay respects one last time."

The girls gave an approval ohs and then they waved at her.

"Alright then, bye."

"Bye."

The figure waved and the girls waved back at her before going back into the temple hall.

Zen found the two as they entered back at the temple.

"Girls."

"Appa, does eomma has a twin sister?", asked Ha Young.

The question took Zen in surprise, but he masks it from the two pairs of curious eyes in front of him.

"Wha... what?"

"Someone that looked like her just went out.", continued Hyun Young.

"But she doesn't recognise us, so it may be a stranger."

"Don't talk to strangers, alright. Your grandmother was looking for you."

Zen patted the two girls before leading them to their grandmother.

Someone that looked like their eomma...

Is it her? It wouldn't be her right? Why would she be here?

He waited until the girls were out of his sight, to look for answers. He jogged to the exit and scanned the view in front of him until he found a figure clad in black descending down the stone steps of the temple.

"Ha Eun!"

Please be her. Or don't. Don't look back.

She looked back. Her face was covered with the net on her hat, but he knew it was her. He walked down the steps, closing the distance between them.

It's her. It's really her.

Song Ha Eun.

He had told the girls when they're old enough to ask, that their mother died in a car accident. He cleared their house of her pictures, apart from one photo from their wedding in his bedroom. Knowing that she's alive somewhere and they might bump into each other in the future, Zen had did that to prevent the twins from recognising and remembering how their mother looked like. But certainly they remembered, somehow, Zen's preventive measures have failed.

"Hyun."

She had recognised him. He can see it in her eyes.

And her memories never returned.

The way she looked at him, like an old acquaintance, for it is who Zen was. Someone that had tried to reclaim her but given up on her and should've never been there in the first place, squeezing himself between her and Saeyoung.

Maybe he shouldn't have called her, now what. What is he going to say? What is there to talk about?

With small and hesitant steps, he descended and closed the distance between them.

"Your father died in his sleep, peacefully, he wasn't sick or anything. He had spent a plenty of time with the twins during their life. I'm sure he rested in peace.", Zen said.

"Thank you.", she replied with that smile of hers.

Her smile never changed, it was still the same from when Zen remembered it.

"How did you know about the funeral?"

"Saeyoung told me."

"Where are you staying? But then you're not staying, of course you won't.", Zen stumbled with his words.

In Korea, she is still deceased. She shouldn't be up and about going everywhere as a deceased person. Why is he asking the obvious. He cursed himself in heart while she smiled at him.

"You met the girls.", he said as he pointed towards the hall.

She gave a look of surprise, before giving another look of realisation.

"Ah, I see the resemblance now. They've grown. You did well."

You did well, the words hit him. He raised the twins on his own, with the help of his friends and family and now that words from the mother just hit it different in his heart.

"I think they take after me in terms of height."

Ha Eun looked around, at the trees and forest that surround the temple.

"Is it alright for us to talk here?", she asked.

"Yeah, the cameras are after the younger ones now. Besides this is your father's funeral, not many people know."

She hummed and nodded in reply.

How many years since he left her in that house, he made peace with her, so finding her here was a surprise. She has much longer hair than he last seen her, and that big ring shining under the light. That man's taste, of course. And the garments she wore, it's clearly not something of a lower quality. He had given her a great life too then.

"Are you on your own then? When are you leaving?", he asked.

"It's just me so I'll leave by tomorrow night. I'll have a day and a half to do some shopping besides I can't stay too long I can't leave Saeyoung with the three boys..."

"Boys?"

"Yeah, we have three baby boys. It's chaos."

Zen giggles, feeling the tension in him relaxing. She had children too. For a split second, Zen had drew up a picture in his mind, but shakes it off immediately.

"I know that feeling, and I only have 2 girls, can't imagine three boys."

"And they were triplets so thankfully we got it all in one go. But everyday is an adventure."

The two shared another laugh. She still laughs beautifully like the way she did in his memories. At least she's also happy on the other side too. He himself was happy too. This is good.

"Where do you... where are you now?", Zen asked the question carefully.

"South Africa."

Zen quieted down for a few second, scanning his brain to see if he have any other questions. He might not see her again, ever, will he regret it?

"Alright, I won't keep you here longer.", he finally said.

"Goodbye, Hyun."

"Goodbye."

When she closed in on him, his body reacts naturally and they both share a tight hug. Ha Eun gave a final smile to the man standing tall, so far away like the moments they had briefly shared. She turned her feet and walked away from him.

*ping*

A text from Saeyoung.

'We are doing fine.'

He had texted a picture of Saeran cooking and the three boys seated at their own high chairs.

'The cavalry is here too.'

Another picture arrived of Vanderwood hanging the laundry outside.

'Looking good. Should I extend my stay then?', she typed the reply into her phone.

'No, I'll miss you.', a reply.

'But if you want why not.', followed quickly by another.

'Not in Korea, it's too risky.', and another reply.

She typed her answer.

'Just kidding. I miss you and the boys and Saeran so much already. Be back soon.'

Zen entered the hall back, passing the guests that are preparing to leave and saying their goodbyes. He shook hands with them as a gratitude and sent them off. The twins ran and grabbed him from his back.

'Appa! Can we go home with grandma?"

"Yeah of course. I'll have to stay for guests."

"Did you went and talk with that imo?"

"Yes I did.", he answered.

"Who is she?"

"It's eomma."

"Eomma? Our eomma?"

Zen nodded softly at the two girls in front of him.

"You said she is ... in heaven."

"She is in heaven."

The two girls tilted their head in confusion, this is his secret. He flicked them softly on their forehead, catching their attention.

"Run along now, don't keep your grandma waiting. Appa will come and pick you up tomorrow okay."

Ha Young and Hyun Young gave a hug to their father that stood tall, even amongst the guests and they trot to an elderly woman.

Zen sighed a relief.

Goodbye.

THE END