Chapter 117: Versions of A Home

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Maybe things weren't perfectly settled.
Maybe there were still shadows stirred by an old friend from the past.

But this home will always be filled with plushies and crooked shelves and people trying-really trying-to hold each other through it.

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Laughter, tension, footsteps... it all hums together like this living, breathing orchestra.

And today, the conductor had just walked in.

Gabriel, measuring tape slung around his neck like a stethoscope strolled through the open front door like he belonged here.

I was at the kitchen island, halfway through a slice of melon, when I saw him.

"Tabby," he called out in that singsong Taglish of his, grinning.

"Do you still organize like a hurricane or did you finally learn spatial awareness?"

Y/N, who'd been refolding a kitchen towel like it had personally offended her, froze for half a beat.

Her smile came slow, hesitant. She glanced over her shoulder at us-at me, at Joon, at Hobi.

Joon, ever the anchor, bumped her arm gently. Hobi gave her a soft smile and a nudge.

That was all it took.

She turned to Gab with a smirk and stuck out her tongue. "I married spatial awareness."

They laughed.
Loud and easy.

And that's when I felt it-that subtle shift in the air. Like someone had added a teaspoon of vinegar to the soup.

I caught the glance Joon sent me.

I gave him a half-smile in return and leaned on the counter.

Supportive. Friendly.
Hands off the fire alarm.

"Nice to see you again, Gabriel,"

Joon said, always leading with diplomacy

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Joon said, always leading with diplomacy.

"The studio's upstairs, Y/N says you're helping out?"

"Yep! I brought some layout sketches, thought I'd get a look at the space before I finalize anything," Gab replied, nodding politely.

He turned to Kook and Hobi. "You guys good with modular shelving? Or do you want fixed units?"

Jungkook's answer was a slow nod.

Hobi-bright, cheerful Hobi-wasn't quite as bright today.

Still smiling, but the wattage had dropped.

"Modular's great," Hobi said with a lightness that didn't quite match his eyes.

"We like to rearrange."

Gab nodded. "Cool, cool."

He passed behind Y/N with a ruler in one hand and his clipboard in the other-and I saw it.

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