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Two hours had passed since Jeongin stepped into the kids' room, but to Changbin it felt like a whole decade.
Jeongin is sitting cross-legged on the floor beside Chan, sleeves rolled up, completely absorbed in whatever 'very important' project Chan had cooked up.
The boy hovered shyly beside her, cheeks pink and eyes sparkling every time she praised him. He wasn’t loud like Yongbok, or wild like the twins. Chan was soft-spoken, polite, and painfully humble. Which meant every tiny encouragement from Jeongin made him beam like he’d won a Grammy.
“Is this okay, Innie?” he asked in a small voice, lifting his paper-and-tape piano stand invention.
Jeongin gasped dramatically. “Okay? Channie, this is genius. You made this yourself?!”
Chan’s ears turned red as he nods. “Ah… thank you…” He twiddled his fingers, smiling down at the floor.
Meanwhile, Hyejin and Jihan zoomed around the room with capes made from Changbin’s shirts, occasionally bumping into Jeongin’s back, or Chan’s little project, or each other.
Once in a while, Jeongin reached out without looking and gently redirected a twin away from disaster, like she had a radar built in.
And where was Changbin?
Slumped on his gaming chair, controller in hand, pretending to be very, very, VERY invested in his game.
He wasn’t.
Not even a little bit.
He kept glancing over every few seconds, at Jeongin laughing softly at Chan’s joke, at Chan proudly showing her how the toy piano could stand on its own now, at Jeongin patting his head like he was the cutest kid alive.
Changbin’s grip tightened on his controller.
What project was even that important?!
Why was Chan suddenly so funny?!
When did Chan become a genius inventor everyone must adore?!
Jeongin didn’t even notice him sulking. She was too busy listening attentively to Chan’s whispered explanations. Even the usually hyper twins paused at moments, resting against Jeongin’s shoulder before zooming off again.
And Chan… Chan had never looked so happy, especially after hours of getting Jeongin’s full attention. He was glowing like a puppy that finally got adopted.
Changbin scoffed under his breath.
Cute.
Too cute.
Dangerously cute.
Because Jeongin’s soft little laughs?Chan kept earning them, not Changbin.
He slouched deeper in his chair, chin on his fist, mood dipping lower. He wasn’t mad. No, no. He was just... observing.
Very unhappily observing.
And absolutely not jealous.
No one saw it. Not Jeongin, not Chan, not even the always everywhere twins.
Only Changbin knew how dramatically he was suffering in silence, watching his crush and his baby brother bond without him.
And it was only going to get worse.
Jeongin finally flopped onto the couch after nearly two hours of helping Chan glue bottle caps, draw crooked stars, and write a very dramatic title card for his 'space piano concert.' The teem let out a long breath, stretching her arms before pulling out her phone. A moment of peace.
Changbin, who had been pretending he wasn’t sulking from the corner, perked up the moment he saw her hands free.
Finally.
He switched off his game and stood up, casually strolling over as if he weren’t waiting for this very moment.
“You're free?” he mumbled, leaning against the armrest.
But he didn’t even get to sit.
Because like summoned by a ritual, the twins came sprinting in, Hyejin dragging her brother Jihan behind her like he was a balloon.
“Inie!” Hyejin declared loudly. “Channie make songs!”
Chan, who had been shyly tuning his tiny toy piano in the corner, froze like someone turned a spotlight on him.
Jeongin’s eyes lit up immediately. “New ones? Show me!”
Changbin’s face dropped so fast it could’ve cracked the floor. Not again, his eyes said.
Chan looked like he was about to combust, cheeks red, fingers shaking with excitement. He climbed onto the little stool, cleared his throat three dramatic times, and then,
Started singing.
“Tunnel vision! I’m just staring at you... boop you!
I’m watching all your moves like a sneaky kangaroo.
My heart’s bouncing like a trampoline.
Come on, let’s go play. WHEEEE!”
A melody that went up when it should’ve gone down, lyrics that rhymed only if you squinted, and a beat that did not technically exist.
The teens doesn't look so amused.
But...
The twins were losing their minds, dancing like this was the best concert they’d ever attended.
Jeongin kept smiling, nodding enthusiastically, even though her soul left her body somewhere around the second line.
“This is… wow, Channie. You’re so creative!” she praised, clapping like he had just performed on a concert stage.
Chan nearly fainted from pride.
Changbin stood behind her, arms crossed, expression painfully unimpressed. He didn’t say a word, but everything about him screamed:
“I can’t believe I’m losing my crush to THIS.”
He didn’t even try to hide it anymore. His face was so expressive Jeongin almost looked back at him, almost, but Chan was already starting his second part, and she was trapped.
“The whistles keep on tooting like they’re yelling, HEY!
We got our tickets for the super fun ride today. HOORAY!
No turning back, hold on tight, don’t fall! Don’t fall!
It’s just us two… but I kinda want snacks and more and all! More snacks!”
The only people enjoying the performance? The twins, who were now screaming the chorus in their own language.
And Chan, who was glowing brighter than the sun.
Changbin just sighed, defeated, already regretting turning off his video game.
When the twins finally bounce toward their toy corner for a moment and Chan rushes to show Hyejin the 'secret chord progression' he invented, Changbin realizes... this is his chance.
Jeongin settles back on the couch, scrolling through something on her phone with her soft little smile.
Changbin clears his throat, smooths his shirt, and walks over like he’s the embodiment of confidence… even though his heart is staging a rock concert.
He plops down beside her, casually, but totally not casual.
“Hey,” he says, voice lowered just slightly. “So… finally free from mentoring the Beethoven of plastic pianos?”
Jeongin snorts. “Hey, stop teasing him. He’s really trying. And he’s good! For his age.”
Changbin internally rolls his eyes but keeps the smile. “Sure. But what about me? I was trying to survive that monster game level and you didn’t even look once.”
He nudges her lightly, playful, soft, flirt-coded.
Jeongin finally looks at him, amused. “You’re good at everything already. Channie needs encouragement.”
“But I need encouragement too,” he mutters before he can stop himself. Then, quickly, he tries to recover. “I mean- like- morally. Emotionally. As a growing boy.”
Jeongin laughs, hitting his arm lightly. “You’re fine. Big strong boxer boy.”
Changbin preens.
Yes. Okay. Good.
This is going well.
But then...
“Innie!” Chan calls, running back with the toy piano under his arm. “I made another song! Wanna hear?”
Jeongin chuckled immediately. “Of course! Come here!”
Chan beams like a little sunflower racing into spring.
Changbin’s soul leaves his body.
Chan kneels proudly, presses two mismatched keys, and then sings with absolute confidence.
“Jeonginnie, you’re so niceeee,
Please don’t eat spiceee…”
The twins clap like they’re at a stadium concert.
“Woooow Channie! That’s really cute!” Jeongin, smiled wide.
Chan blushes and hides his face behind the piano. “Thank you…”
Jeongin turns back to Changbin, completely sincere. “Right? He’s got potential. If he keeps going, he’s gonna rule stages in the future.”
Changbin blinks. “Potential?”
“Yes! He’s creative.”
“He’s making rhymes about spicy food,” Changbin whispers dramatically.
Jeongin nudges him again. “Let him dream! He’s just little.”
“And I’m just-” Changbin pauses, searching for dignity. “-the ignored one.”
Before she can answer, Chan leans against Jeongin’s shoulder shyly, and Jeongin automatically wraps an arm around him, praising his bravery like he just won a Grammy.
Changbin just sits there, staring at them.
Jealous, sulky… but nothing he’ll ever admit.
Dinner at the Han household was usually loud, but tonight it was loud in a very specific way.
Chan.
Only Chan.
Hyunjin had barely placed the rice bowl on the table when Chan, still glowing from earlier, started up again.
“And then Innie said my melody was really good! And she said my hands are perfect for piano! And she said-”
Jisung, who had been trying to serve juice, blinked. “Buddy… you’ve told us this exact sentence three times.”
“Because it was important, Dada.” Chan didn’t even stop chewing.
Hyunjin hid a smile behind her water glass. “Innie must’ve had fun with you all.”
Chan’s entire face brightened. “She did! She said she likes spending time with me! And she said I’m polite and talented and humble and-”
Changbin stabbed his carrot a little too forcefully.
Jisung noticed. “Bin… you okay there?”
“Fine,” Changbin muttered, even though he was absolutely not fine. His little brother was sitting there acting like he just met the love of his life at age seven.
Chan kept going, dreamy-eyed like he was narrating a romance drama. “And Innie said my song was so good she wants to hear more next time, and she said I should write a whole album-”
Changbin nearly dropped his spoon. “SHE WHAT?”
“Yeah!” Chan beamed proudly. “She thinks I have potential!”
Hyunjin patted Changbin’s shoulder. “Baby, you good? You look… tense.”
“I’m not.” He absolutely was.
Because from where Changbin sat, watching Chan swing his legs and gush nonstop about Jeongin like she hung the moon, one thing became painfully, ridiculously clear.
Chan was in love.
Or whatever the seven-year-old equivalent of love was.
A crush.
A full-blown, undeniable, heart-shaped crush. With sparkles.
Chan sighed happily, resting his cheek in his palm. “Innie is so cool…”
Changbin’s eye twitched. “This is a nightmare.”
Night settles over the house with a warm hush, the twins finally asleep, Hyunjin doing dishes in the kitchen, and Jisung humming as he wipes the table.
Upstairs, Changbin sits on his bed with crossed arms and a stormy little pout. Chan climbs up beside him, legs dangling, still bursting with leftover energy from the day.
“Bin,” Chan starts immediately. No greeting, no pause. “did you see? Innie helped me finish my whole music class project. And she said my rhythm sense is good. And she taught me how to fix my piano app! And-”
Changbin exhales loudly. “Yes, Channie. You told me. Like, five times.”
Chan blinks, confused at the grumpy tone… and then continues anyway because he is happy and unstoppable.
“She’s so cool, right? Like… really cool. She knows everything. And she smiles so nicely. And she-”
“Okay, enough.” Changbin throws himself back dramatically on the bed. “I KNOW she’s cool. You don’t have to keep rubbing it in.”
Chan tilts his head. “Are you mad?”
Changbin sits up a little, his voice rising. “She’s ten years older than you, Chan!”
Chan’s face goes blank. “Yeah… I know that.” Then, he squints thoughtfully. “And?”
“And-” Changbin sputters, waving his hands, “and you- you can’t-!”
Chan stares, waiting, eyes big and innocent.
“You can’t… you just can’t-!” Changbin tries again… but Chan beats him to it.
“Can’t I have a sister who’s ten years older than me?”
“No! No, you can't- wait- what?”
Silence.
Complete, shining, blinding silence.
Changbin’s brain finally catches up, and realization hits so hard he actually stops breathing for a second.
Chan wasn’t in love with Jeongin.
Chan didn’t have a crush.
Chan just… wanted her as an older sister.
Chan swings his legs, clueless, content. “She’s like… really comforting, you know? Like having an older sister would be so cool. I mean, I have you as my big brother, and the twins and Bokkie, Dada and Mumma but… a big sister sounds cool.” He shrugs. “That’s all.”
Changbin stares, as his stupid jealousy melts into embarrassment so fast he feels his cheeks heat.
“Oh,” Changbin mutters. “Ohh.”
Chan blinks again. “Bin… why do you look weird?”
“No reason,” Changbin huffs, flopping onto the bed and yanking Chan down beside him. “Just- don’t say things like that out of nowhere. You scared me.”
Chan giggles and snuggles closer. “You're being dramatic.”
“Shut up.”
Chan grins wider. “You like Innie, right? I know.”
Changbin’s heart jumps but he only taps Chan’s forehead gently. “Go to sleep, Channie.”
Chan closes his eyes with a tiny smile.
And Changbin… finally smiles too, small, relieved, soft.
Because Chan wasn’t falling for his Jeongin.
He just wanted a sister.
Chan blinks at him. “Bin… are you okay?”
“No,” Changbin says dramatically, rolling and trapping Chan into his arms. “You stressed me out. Come here.”
Chan squeaks. “Why are you hugging me like this?! Bin...you’re being really, really weird.”
“I just love my little bro, okay?” Changbin insists, squeezing him tighter. “Let me have my moment.”
Chan tries to push him off once, twice… then gives up with a sigh that sounds suspiciously fond.
“You’re so strange.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Changbin says, ruffling his hair. “But you’re my even more strange little brother. And no one- not even Innie gets to replace me.”
Chan snorts. “No one was trying to replace you, Bin.”
“Good,” Changbin mumbles, still hugging him. “Really good.”
Chan relaxes, leaning back against him, tiny hands fiddling with Changbin’s sleeve. “Bin?”
“Mmm?”
“I’m glad you’re my brother.”
Changbin’s heart does a little flip.
“Yeah. Me too, Channie... me too.”
And they fall asleep like that, two brothers, tangled up in blankets and warmth, the jealousy gone, replaced by pure soft love.