"Through Time"

The next morning, Minhyuk woke up earlier than anyone else. The house was quiet except for the faint clinking sounds coming from the kitchen, where Hyunwoo's mother was busy preparing breakfast. Hyunwoo's father had already left for work, leaving the house in a serene state.

Minhyuk stretched, glanced at the clock, and decided to wait for Hyunwoo to wake up. As he sat quietly, lost in thought, the door suddenly creaked open, and a man stepped inside.

"Hey, wake up, Hyunwoo!" the man called out, walking into the room confidently. Hyunwoo groaned and rolled over in bed, mumbling something unintelligible before forcing himself up.

While Hyunwoo trudged to the bathroom to shower, the man casually sat down near Minhyuk, sizing him up with a curious look.

"Who are you?" the man asked, tilting his head slightly.

"My name's Minhyuk," Minhyuk replied, keeping his tone neutral.

"Do you live here?" the man pressed, his tone friendly but inquisitive.

"Just temporarily," Minhyuk said with a small shrug, trying to appear nonchalant.

The man smiled and extended a hand. "I'm Chae Min. Hyunwoo's best friend."

Minhyuk hesitated for a moment before shaking his hand, forcing a polite smile. "Nice to meet you."

But inside, his mind was racing. Dad had a best friend? Why didn't I know about this?

As they sat in silence, a memory resurfaced in Minhyuk's mind—he remembered a small box of old photos he had found back home. Among the pictures was one of Hyunwoo and another young man, laughing together in what looked like a school setting. Wait… that must have been him!

His thoughts were interrupted by Hyunwoo's mother, who called them to the dining table. "Breakfast is ready!"

Breakfast,Minhyuk joined them at the table, where Hyunwoo's mother had laid out a delicious spread of Korean breakfast dishes: steaming bowls of rice, kimchi, fried eggs, and a hearty soybean paste soup.

Hyunwoo emerged from the bathroom, his hair still damp, and sat down across from Minhyuk. Chae Min took the seat next to Hyunwoo, and they immediately began chatting like old friends.

The table was filled with laughter as Hyunwoo and Chae Min reminisced about their college antics. Hyunwoo's mother occasionally chimed in with her own stories, shaking her head at their foolishness but smiling fondly all the same.

Minhyuk, however, remained quiet, only offering the occasional polite chuckle. He couldn't stop himself from staring at Chae Min, his mind replaying the fragments of memories he had of those photos. How close were they? Why did Dad never mention him before?

"Minhyuk, are you okay?" Hyunwoo's mother asked, noticing his silence.

"Ah, yes," Minhyuk replied quickly, forcing a smile. "Just a bit tired."

"Eat up. You need energy for the day," she said warmly, placing another serving of soup in front of him.

As breakfast went on, the atmosphere remained light, but Minhyuk's thoughts stayed heavy. Something about Chae Min's presence felt significant, and he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this friendship than he understood.

Who is he really? And why do I feel like I've seen him before in more than just those photos? Minhyuk thought, determined to find out more.

After breakfast, Hyunwoo and Chae Min prepared to leave for campus. Chae Min slung a backpack over his shoulders while Hyunwoo carried a messenger bag, walking together like they'd been doing this routine for years.

"Don't get into trouble," Hyunwoo's mother called after them with a knowing smile.

"We won't!" Chae Min replied cheerfully, though the glint in his eye suggested otherwise.

As soon as they stepped out, Minhyuk sprang into action. He quickly headed to the bathroom, muttering to himself, "I need to keep up with them."

After his shower, Minhyuk stepped out with a towel wrapped around him and opened the wardrobe. Taped to the inside of the door was a sticky note that read, You can wear these.

Minhyuk chuckled at the gesture, appreciating the thoughtfulness. He picked out a clean outfit, a simple white t-shirt and jeans, and got dressed. He looked at himself in the mirror, smirking. "Not bad," he said, ruffling his damp hair.

But as he walked back to the main room, he tripped over one of Hyunwoo's sneakers lying in the hallway. He stumbled forward, flailing his arms to regain balance, and crashed into the doorframe with a loud thud.

"Ow! Seriously, Hyunwoo, organize your stuff!" he grumbled, rubbing his forehead.

Once ready, Minhyuk left the house. This time, he had a plan—he wanted to find out more about his mother. He walked briskly toward the large mansion he had visited the day before, the memories of the heated confrontation with his grandmother still fresh in his mind.

When he reached the gate, he rang the doorbell and straightened his posture. He wasn't here to argue this time.

The door opened, and the same strict housekeeper who had glared at him earlier appeared. "What do you want now?" she asked coldly.

Minhyuk forced a smile. "I'd like to speak with her," he said, gesturing inside.

The housekeeper hesitated but eventually let him in. Minhyuk was led into a spacious living room, where his mother sat, cradling a baby in her arms. She looked up, startled to see him.

"Who are you?" she asked cautiously, holding the baby closer.

Minhyuk took a deep breath. "My name is Minhyuk," he said, stepping closer. "I heard you might need some help around here, so I thought I could offer my assistance."

His mother frowned, her expression skeptical. "Why would you want to help me?"

Minhyuk hesitated, searching for the right words. "Because I… I'm good with kids. I can help take care of your baby."

She looked at him for a long moment before nodding slightly. "Alright. But don't try anything funny."

As she handed him the baby, Minhyuk asked casually, "By the way, what's your name?"

"Seo Yura," she replied, sitting back in her chair.

Minhyuk froze for a moment. Seo Yura… Mom!

Seo Yura tilted her head, noticing his reaction. "Why? What's wrong?"

Minhyuk quickly shook his head. "Nothing. It's just… a nice name."

She raised an eyebrow, then asked, "What's your name again?"

"Minhyuk," he answered simply.

Her eyes widened. "Minhyuk?" she repeated, her voice tinged with disbelief.

"Yeah… why?"

"Because," she said, staring at him, "that's my baby's name too."

Minhyuk laughed nervously, trying to play it cool. "What a coincidence," he said, though inside he was panicking. Of course it is, because I'm your son!

Yura narrowed her eyes at him. "You're not playing some kind of weird joke, are you?"

"No, no," Minhyuk said quickly, waving his hands. "I swear. It's just a really common name, isn't it?"

She didn't seem convinced, but the baby in her arms started to fuss, distracting her. Minhyuk took the opportunity to change the subject, offering to help soothe the baby while silently vowing to tread more carefully from now on.

Minhyuk was officially hired, though it wasn't without resistance. Seo Yura's stepmother, a strict and sharp-tongued woman, was less than thrilled by the arrangement.

"A young man as a babysitter?" she said, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes at Minhyuk. "That's highly inappropriate. What kind of person even considers such a thing?"

Minhyuk, sensing the hostility in her tone, stood firm. He wasn't about to let her intimidate him.

"With all due respect, ma'am," Minhyuk began, his voice steady but polite, "I don't think caring for a child has anything to do with gender. Besides, I'm here to help Seo Yura, not to cause any trouble."

The stepmother scoffed. "Help? You're just some strange young man who appeared out of nowhere. It's absurd. I forbid it!"

Seo Yura, holding her baby, glanced between them with uncertainty. She wanted the help but didn't dare oppose her stepmother directly.

Minhyuk thought quickly. He needed another plan."Well, if being a babysitter is such a problem," Minhyuk said, flashing a confident smile, "how about I become Seo Yura's personal driver instead? I heard she's planning to return to campus, and having a reliable driver could make her life much easier."

Seo Yura blinked, surprised by the suggestion. "A driver?"

Minhyuk nodded earnestly. "Yes. I can take you to and from campus safely. It'll give you more time to focus on your studies and your baby."

The stepmother raised an eyebrow, considering the idea. "And what makes you qualified to be a driver?"

"I've driven in all kinds of conditions," Minhyuk said, thinking back to his time in the future when he drove sleek, high-tech cars. "I can handle any situation on the road."

After a long pause, the stepmother sighed. "Fine. You can be her driver. But one mistake just one and you're out."

"Understood," Minhyuk replied confidently.

The next morning, Minhyuk prepared for his new role. Seo Yura handed him the keys to a modest car parked outside the mansion.

"Try not to wreck it," she said teasingly, though there was a hint of nervousness in her voice.

"Don't worry," Minhyuk said, climbing into the driver's seat. "You're in good hands."

Seo Yura sat in the backseat with her baby, and they set off for her campus.

At first, everything was smooth. Minhyuk navigated the roads skillfully, impressing Seo Yura with his confidence behind the wheel. But things quickly took a comedic turn when they hit a busy intersection.

Minhyuk, unfamiliar with the old traffic system of this era, hesitated at a yellow light.

"Go!" Seo Yura urged from the back.

Minhyuk panicked, hitting the accelerator too hard. The car jerked forward, causing Yura to grab onto the seat.

"Slow down!" she shouted.

"Sorry!" Minhyuk said, easing up on the gas.

But the chaos wasn't over. A motorbike suddenly swerved in front of them, and Minhyuk had to slam on the brakes. The baby, startled by the abrupt stop, began to cry.

"Great," Yura muttered, trying to soothe her child. "Are you sure you're a good driver?"

Minhyuk laughed nervously. "It's just a warm-up. I'll get the hang of it."

Despite the rocky start, they eventually arrived at the campus. Seo Yura stepped out, cradling her baby, and glanced back at Minhyuk.

"Well," she said with a small smile, "you didn't crash, so I guess that's a good start."

Minhyuk grinned. "Told you I could handle it."

As she walked toward the campus building, Minhyuk watched her with a sense of pride. He was getting closer to his mother, bit by bit, even if it meant enduring a few bumps along the way.

That Morning,Hyunwoo stretched and yawned as the sunlight streamed into his room. He looked over at the other bed, expecting to see Minhyuk still asleep, but it was empty. Instead, there was a folded piece of paper left on the pillow.

Curious, Hyunwoo picked it up and read the message scribbled on it:

"I'm out working. Don't worry, I'll be back later."

Hyunwoo raised an eyebrow. "Working? What kind of job did he find?" he muttered to himself. He shook his head, deciding to let it go for now. Minhyuk was always full of surprises.

Later That Afternoon,Minhyuk pulled up outside Seo Yura's campus in the car he'd been entrusted with. He adjusted his jacket, trying to look professional as he leaned against the car, waiting for her.

When Seo Yura emerged with her baby, she looked a little surprised to see him waiting so dutifully.

"You're early," she said, walking up to him.

"I figured it's better than being late," Minhyuk replied with a smile, opening the car door for her.

As she settled in, Minhyuk got into the driver's seat and started the car. "Where to next?" he asked, glancing at her in the rearview mirror.

"Just take me home," Seo Yura replied, her voice softer than usual as she tried to calm her fussy baby.

On the way back, Minhyuk made a detour to pick up Hyunwoo from his campus. Hyunwoo was waiting outside, looking slightly annoyed.

"You've got some nerve, ditching me this morning," Hyunwoo said as he climbed into the passenger seat.

Minhyuk smirked. "Relax, I left a note. Besides, I'm working now, remember?"

Hyunwoo glanced at the backseat and saw Seo Yura and her baby. His expression shifted to one of curiosity. "Wait, this is your job? You're driving her around?"

"Yes, and doing it quite well, thank you very much," Minhyuk replied smugly.

Hyunwoo rolled his eyes. "You're unbelievable."

On their way back to Seo Yura's mansion, Minhyuk stopped the car at a red light. Suddenly, a taxi pulled up next to them, blaring loud music. Minhyuk glanced at the driver, who was dancing enthusiastically to the beat.

Hyunwoo raised an eyebrow. "What's with that guy?"

Minhyuk grinned mischievously. "I bet I could outdance him."

Before Hyunwoo could stop him, Minhyuk rolled down the window, turned up the car radio, and started mimicking the taxi driver's moves.

Seo Yura, holding her baby, looked horrified. "What are you doing?!"

"I'm winning a dance battle!" Minhyuk declared, flailing his arms in exaggerated movements.

The taxi driver noticed and began dancing even harder, drawing the attention of pedestrians. Some people started cheering, while others recorded the bizarre scene on their phones.

"Stop embarrassing us!" Hyunwoo hissed, trying to pull Minhyuk back into the car.

But Minhyuk was having too much fun. He leaned out the window, pointing dramatically at the taxi driver like he was in a music video.

When the light turned green, the taxi driver gave Minhyuk a thumbs-up before speeding off.

Minhyuk sat back, laughing. "That was epic."

Hyunwoo groaned. "You're impossible."

Even Seo Yura couldn't help but chuckle softly, though she quickly tried to compose herself.

When they arrived at Seo Yura's home, the tension in the air returned. The stepmother greeted them at the door with her usual icy demeanor.

"You again," she said, narrowing her eyes at Minhyuk.

"Nice to see you too," Minhyuk replied with a polite smile, though his tone was dripping with sarcasm.

Seo Yura sighed, trying to defuse the situation. "He's just my driver, nothing more."

The stepmother didn't look convinced but stepped aside to let them in.

Minhyuk excused himself and waited outside near the car while Seo Yura went inside. He leaned against the hood, staring up at the sky as he thought about the day's events.

Later that evening, back at Hyunwoo's house, the two of them sat in their room, each lying on their respective beds.

"Today was insane," Hyunwoo said, staring at the ceiling. "You seriously need to tone it down."

Minhyuk chuckled. "Come on, you've got to admit it was fun."

Hyunwoo shook his head but couldn't hide a small smile. "You're something else, Minhyuk."

As they drifted off to sleep, Minhyuk couldn't help but think about how close he was getting to uncovering the truth about his family. Despite the challenges, he felt more determined than ever to see it through.

This time, he wouldn't just be a bystander—he'd make sure his presence changed everything.