The dawn painted the sky with strokes of gold and rose, heralding a new day. The familiar sounds of the household stirred to life as Lily, Minho, and Seo-Jun had already finished their breakfast. The aroma of coffee still lingered in the air, a comforting scent that lingered from their morning meal. Seo-Jun had departed for work like usual, his footsteps fading into the distance. Minho remained in the kitchen, seated at the dining table, the remnants of breakfast cleared away, leaving a clean, orderly space. His gaze was fixed on the ring adorning his finger, a tangible reminder of the previous night's conversation, a moment now etched into his memory.
He turned the ring over and over in his hand, its smooth silver surface reflecting the soft morning light, captivating his attention. Lost in thought, he replayed the previous night's events, savouring the weight of the ring and pondering the significance of the gift. He recalled Seo-Jun's words, the sincerity in his eyes, and the warmth that had filled the room. The ring was more than just a piece of jewellery…
Suddenly, Lily entered the kitchen, her path leading her towards the water dispenser. She hummed a cheerful tune, oblivious to the intensity of Minho's thoughts. As she passed by, her eyes caught the glint of silver in Minho's hand. A look of surprise bloomed on her face, her eyes widening as she recognised the object. The cheerful tune died in her throat, replaced by an excited gasp. "Minho!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with wonder and disbelief. Startled, Minho nearly tumbled from his chair, his heart leaping in his chest. He whirled around to face her, his expression a mix of surprise and concern. "Lily?! What is wrong?! Are you okay?!" he asked, his voice laced with worry. But Lily, lost in her own reverie, didn't hear him. "Did Seo-Jun give you this ring?!" she shouted back, her voice echoing with excitement. Confusion clouded Minho's features, his brow furrowing. "Yes, why?!" he responded, his voice rising in response to her enthusiasm. The initial shock subsided, and a moment of calm descended. Minho's expression turned serious, his voice softening as he spoke, "Can we stop screaming at each other?" The question hung in the air, a plea for a return to normalcy after the unexpected outburst.
Lily's laughter, like wind chimes in a summer breeze, cut through the air, a stark contrast to Minho's rigid, almost stony, expression. "Sorry," she giggled again, the sound bubbling from her chest, "I just got so excited!" The words danced on her lips, and her eyes, usually sparkling with mischief, were now alight with something akin to pure joy. Minho, still lost in a sea of confusion, tilted his head, his brow furrowing in a gesture that was both endearing and perplexed. "About what?" he asked, the question a hesitant offering into the unknown.
Lily's eyes, now fully ablaze, met his. "About Jun's ring, of course! I never thought I would actually see someone wearing it." she exclaimed, her voice laced with a mixture of surprise and delight. It was as if she'd stumbled upon a long-lost treasure, a secret whispered in the family for generations. Minho, still struggling to grasp the situation, glanced down at the ring on his hand. The metal glinted in the soft light, a stark contrast to the paleness of his skin. "What? What do you mean? I can't follow." he stammered, his voice a low murmur of bewilderment. The words seemed to hang in the air, heavy with unspoken questions.
Lily's eyebrows shot up, a clear sign of her surprise. "Our family rings? Wait, haven't you heard anything about this ring from Jun?" she asked, her voice now tinged with a hint of disbelief. The corners of her mouth turned down slightly, as if she couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. Minho, completely adrift in a sea of confusion, could only manage a mumbled, "Family ring?" The words were barely audible, a whisper lost in the sudden intensity of the moment. Lily's voice sharpened, the playful tone vanishing. "Yes!" she stated, her voice now carrying the weight of a long-held secret.
With a dramatic flourish, she extended her left arm, revealing a ring on her left pinky finger. The ring was identical to the one on Minho's hand and the one Seo-Jun wore. It was a symbol, a testament to something unspoken, a bond that transcended mere words. "Jun made those rings for me and him." she explained, her voice softening, the sharp edges of her previous words melting away. "They represent our family. We... also made this deal to make two more rings like those and give them to our special ones in the future. Or we can just give outs temporarily to them." Minho's jaw dropped, his eyes widening, his expression a perfect mask of shock. It was as if the world had tilted on its axis, revealing a truth he never knew existed. Lily smiled, her gaze fixed on him, a silent question in her eyes. "To sum up, those rings should be gifted to our true love partners." she said, her voice now gentle, the words carrying the weight of a promise. A blush crept up Minho's neck, a slow burn that spread across his cheeks, painting them a vivid crimson. He took a step back, his mind reeling, the implications of her words crashing down upon him. "WHAT?!" he stammered, the word a strangled gasp, a mixture of disbelief and revelation.
"Hold up, hold up!" Minho's protest was sharp, a desperate attempt to anchor himself in the familiar. "He gave me the ring because he saw that I really liked it." A simple explanation, a casual observation, yet it felt flimsy in the face of the storm brewing in Lily's eyes.
Her response was immediate, a verbal counter-attack. "He has never allowed someone to even touch it on his own hand. Even the smallest touch, even the one that is by accident, he would be pissed off for the rest of the day. He really protects it…" The words were a warning, a declaration of the ring's sacred status. Her gaze locked with Minho's, a silent communication passing between them. He was speechless, the weight of her words settling upon him like a physical burden.
"And now you are wearing it..." The sentence hung in the air, a question and a statement intertwined. Minho looked down at the ring, then back at Lily. Her next words were a direct hit, a verbal arrow aimed straight at the heart of the matter. "You saw his initials inside, right?"
The reaction was explosive. "THOSE WERE HIS INITIALS?!" Minho's voice cracked, the shock evident in every syllable. Lily's response was a mixture of disbelief and exasperation. "WHAT DID YOU THINK IT WAS?!"
"I DON'T KNOW! SOME KIND OF A RING BRAND!" The denial was almost comical, a desperate attempt to cling to ignorance. Lily's face hardened, a flicker of something unreadable passing over her features. "Really?" The word was a whisper, a sigh of resignation.
Then, the reveal. "There are his initials. Look, I have mine too." She produced her own ring, the initials "KL" gleaming in the light. "The rings are extremely important to us..." The weight of the situation pressed down on Minho, the implications of the ring's presence on his finger beginning to dawn on him. He looked at the ring, the question forming in his mind. "Then... why did he give it to me?"
Lily's final words were a revelation, a confirmation. "You wearing it means... that you are important to him too... just like me." Her smile was a gentle curve, a soft invitation that played on her lips as she watched Minho. He stood frozen, his usual easy grin wiped away, replaced by a look of utter surprise. His mouth opened slightly, as if he wanted to speak, but no sound emerged. The world seemed to hold its breath, waiting for him to find his voice, but for the moment.