Chapter 701: Side Story 3. Stellar Blossom - 36
Certainly, fifteen-year-old Joon was very different from the seven-year-old Joon.
Gone was the innocence in those black eyes. They had turned deep by forced maturity. Zein easily found his old self inside those eyes: a kid who had to bear the responsibility of another life while living under the abuse of the environment. They could see his reservation, mindful steps, and careful words in everything he did.
Honestly, it was rather saddening.
But then, sometimes, they could see sparkles inside those black eyes, and Han Shin said his brother definitely smiled more than the real fifteen-year-old Joon. It gave them hope that the sliver of freedom he got in the past week wasn’t for naught.
That even if it was small, he was healing nonetheless.
"Anyway, you should go to the hospital and have a check-up, Joon," Calix advised after the reunion was done. "Or would you rather the doctor come here?"
"No, Sir--I’ll go," Han Joon refused politely while standing up. "It’s not like a medical checkup can be done from home, right? And I had been cooped up here since I got out of the hospital."
"I’ll help you change!" Shin raised his hand as he saw his brother move toward the stairs.
"I’ll prepare the car, then!" Bassena stood up too, and raised his palms toward Calix--because his car was in another building and had a pair of baby seats attached there.
Calix laughed and dropped his key on Bassena’s palm. "So you’ll be the one going with him? Guess we’re no longer needed, Laurel."
"Huff. Kids grew up too fast," Laurel sighed and shook her head in lament.