"Grandpaaa," Dasom grinned.
Chairman Lee shook his head fondly as Jean hurried to pull out a chair for him.
"Ah, youth," the old man sighed as he sat down. "You know… your grandparents and I used to run amuck exactly like this too."
Bee gasped dramatically. "No way."
"Oh please," he scoffed proudly. "We were WORSE."
Asher actually looked intrigued. "You?"
Chairman Lee pointed at them accusingly.
"The four Don families and the Woo family were inseparable back then too. Your grandparents used to sneak out with me to night markets, festivals, karaoke bars— all sorts of places."
Jean looked horrified in amusement. "The elders went clubbing?"
"We absolutely did," Chairman Lee corrected proudly. "And because people recognised us everywhere, we used to wear disguises."
Dasom burst out laughing. "Disguises?!"
"Yes!" he defended immediately. "Wigs, sunglasses, hats; your Grandmother once dressed me like a fisherman."
Bee nearly fell off the counter laughing.
"I NEED photos."
"There are no photos because thankfully we were smarter than your generation," Chairman Lee replied smugly.
Even Asher laughed at that.
Chairman Lee chuckled warmly as he looked around at them all.
"You four remind me of those days," he admitted. "The world will try to make you busy, important, powerful… but don't lose this."
His gaze softened. "Keep making memories together for the rest of your lives."
The kitchen grew quieter at that.
Then Chairman Lee affectionately patted Jean's cheek first.
"You flirt too much."
Jean grinned shamelessly.
He kissed Bee's forehead next, "You work too hard."
Then Asher's, "You worry too much."
Finally he reached Dasom, cupping her face gently. "And you," he said softly, "carry too much in your heart."
Her expression immediately softened.
Chairman Lee kissed each of them goodnight in the affectionate, unhurried way only grandparents could before slowly standing again with a groan.
"My old bones need sleep," he muttered dramatically.
"Goodnight Grandpa!" they chorused.
He shuffled away waving one hand lazily behind him. The four friends sat there smiling to themselves long after he disappeared upstairs.
-
The four friends finished their dessert before wandering downstairs to the private cinema room tucked away in the east wing of the estate. The oversized couches, plush blankets, and dim amber lighting instantly made the room feel cosy.
Bee flopped dramatically onto the couch. "Should we watch a romance? Or maybe a drama?" she asked while scrolling through the endless movie list.
Asher immediately answered without hesitation, "Let's watch our favourite. The Godfather."
Jean groaned. "You suggest that every single time."
"Because it's a masterpiece," Asher defended.
Dasom suddenly snapped her fingers. "Wait. Remember that lesser-known movie we became obsessed with in Finland?"
Jean's eyes widened in recognition. "Ahhh… Sing Street?"
Bee immediately pointed at him. "THAT'S the one."
Within minutes they had all settled in together beneath blankets, snacks scattered everywhere as the familiar opening scenes began to play across the giant screen.
The atmosphere quickly softened into something warm and nostalgic. They quoted scenes before they happened, sang along terribly to the soundtrack, and laughed at memories from Finland that the film always brought back. At one point Jean dramatically attempted the accent again and Bee nearly choked laughing.
"You still sound ridiculous," Dasom told him through tears of laughter.
"And yet you still love me," Jean replied proudly.
"Unfortunately."
By the time the credits rolled, Bee was half asleep against Asher's shoulder while Dasom yawned for what felt like the tenth time that night.
"Alright," Asher said as he stretched. "Skincare and bed. We've got that hike tomorrow morning."
The girls groaned dramatically while Jean muttered, "You people and your self-care rituals…"
"Shut up and moisturise," Bee shot back.
The four of them piled into Dasom's massive marble bathroom, immediately crowding around the twin vanities. Toners, serums, moisturisers, and face masks were scattered everywhere while music softly played from Dasom's speaker.
Bee carefully tied her hair up before applying toner. "Honestly Daisy, your bathroom is bigger than some apartments."
"That's because my grandparents are insane," Dasom replied casually while patting serum into her skin.
Jean stared at the products lined up across the counter. "Why do you all own seventeen different bottles that do the exact same thing?"
"They don't," Bee and Dasom answered simultaneously.
Asher quietly applied moisturiser beside them while Jean eventually gave in and copied what everyone else was doing.
"You're literally using the wrong serum," Bee scolded.
"How would you even know that?"
"Because that one is mine."
Soon all four of them were standing around in fluffy pyjamas wearing sheet masks, taking ridiculous selfies together in the mirror. Bee posted one almost immediately while tagging all of them.
Jean looked horrified at the photo. "Delete that right now."
"No," Bee replied proudly. "You look incredibly Kawaii."
Dasom laughed so hard her face mask started peeling at the edges.
Everything felt normal again for the first time since arriving back in Hassano.
Warm, familiar and safe.
The four eventually collapsed across Dasom's enormous bed, still talking nonsense long after the lights were off.
And somewhere between teasing arguments, sleepy laughter, and half-finished conversations, they all drifted off together exactly the same way they had countless times growing up.
Asher was the first to wake.
The early morning light filtered softly through the curtains as he quietly climbed out of bed, careful not to wake the others sprawled across Dasom's massive bed in various sleeping positions.
Jean was somehow half hanging off the edge of the bed.
Bee had stolen nearly all the blankets.
Dasom was still fast asleep with one arm thrown dramatically over her face.
Asher shook his head fondly before heading downstairs.
The kitchen staff looked mildly surprised to see him already dressed in fitted black workout clothes at this hour.
"Morning," he greeted politely.
The chef smiled. "Young Master Asher. Everything you requested last night is prepared."
On the kitchen island sat neatly arranged protein shakes, fresh fruit, and individual jars of chia pudding topped with berries, banana slices, and honey.
Satisfied, Asher thanked them before heading back upstairs.
The second he entered the room, he clapped his hands loudly.
"Come on! Up you get! Breakfast is ready."
A collective groan filled the room.
Jean immediately shoved his face deeper beneath a pillow. "Now I remember why I hated having you in charge of morning activities."
"You say that every trip," Asher replied calmly.
"Because every trip you turn into a military instructor at sunrise."
Ignoring the complaints, Asher walked over and grabbed Jean by the ankle, affectionately dragging him halfway across the bed.
"Move."
"THIS IS ABUSE!" Jean yelled dramatically while Bee burst into sleepy laughter.
Meanwhile, the girls were already sitting up stretching.
Dasom let out a long yawn before fixing her messy hair. "Honestly? I weirdly missed this."
Bee nodded while stretching her arms above her head. "Same. Finland flashbacks."
Asher crossed his arms, trying and failing to hide his amused smile. "Fifteen minutes. Then I expect everyone downstairs for breakfast."
"Yes, coach," Jean grumbled from the floor.
Asher pointed at him. "You especially."
After freshening up, the four eventually made their way downstairs dressed for the hike. Bee wore an effortlessly stylish matching activewear set, Jean looked like he'd walked straight out of a luxury sports campaign, and Dasom somehow still looked beautiful despite claiming she was "half dead."
Asher handed everyone their drinks. "Protein first," he instructed.
Jean narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the shake. "One day I'm gonna test this for steroids."
"It's banana and peanut butter."
"That's exactly what someone hiding steroids would say."
Bee snorted into her chia pudding while Dasom laughed so hard she nearly choked on her drink.
The atmosphere was light and easy again. The kind of warmth only years of friendship could create.
Asher watched them quietly for a moment while sipping his own shake. Seemingly taking in the room.
Asher took them on one of his favourite coastal trails, a long scenic loop known for its breathtaking cliffs and hidden waterfall tucked deep within the forested section of the hike.
The entire trail took a little over four hours altogether. It was roughly three hours to reach the waterfall itself, then just under two hours returning along the opposite side of the loop back to the carpark.
The four friends had an amazing time from the very beginning.
Each of them wore a small matching hiking backpack Asher had ordered for them years ago during their Finland days. Despite Bee complaining about "ruining the aesthetic" back then, they still used them religiously.
Inside were energy gels, first aid supplies, towels, water bottles, snacks, and enough food to survive Asher's overly prepared hiking standards.
"You pack like we're climbing Everest," Jean complained while chewing on a protein bar.
"You'll thank me later," Asher replied calmly.
Dasom walked ahead laughing while Bee snapped candid photos of everyone throughout the trail.
The coastal scenery was stunning. Waves crashed violently against the cliffs below while winter sunlight poured across the island in soft golden hues. The sea breeze tangled through their hair as they joked, raced each other along sections of the trail, and stopped every now and then simply to admire the view.
By the time they finally reached the waterfall, all four of them were exhausted but exhilarated.
Crystal-clear water poured down the dark rock face into a large natural pool below. A handful of locals were already there swimming, sunbathing, and relaxing near the rocks.
"This was worth every second," Bee breathed as she admired the falls.
The group found a sunny spot nearby and laid their towels side by side before peeling off their outer layers and changing down into their swimwear.
The second Dasom's feet touched the water she gasped. "OH MY GOD THAT'S FREEZING!"
Jean immediately splashed her. "Get in properly then!"
"JEAN NICIA!"
Soon the entire area around them erupted into chaos.
Asher and Bee stayed closer together, swimming affectionately while Bee clung onto him dramatically every time the colder currents brushed past.
Meanwhile, Jean and Dasom were fully committed to their water fight.
"You fight dirty!" Dasom yelled after he splashed water directly into her face.
"You just suck at defence."
"I literally have a black belt."
"That clearly isn't helping you here."
Eventually all four of them climbed the rocks surrounding the waterfall and began jumping into the deep sections below one after another.
Bee screamed every single time.
Jean somehow managed a perfect flip.
Asher jumped effortlessly like he did this every weekend.
And Dasom laughed so freely the sound echoed across the water.
Afterwards they stretched out beneath the winter sun to air dry, careful to remain in the warm patches of sunlight.
Hassano's island climate made winter far gentler than most places. The cold only truly settled in once the sun disappeared or when standing beneath heavy shade.
So the four of them lounged comfortably across the rocks and towels, soaking in the warmth while eating snacks and talking nonsense.
Dasom laid back against her towel with her eyes closed, sunlight warming her skin while her friends bickered nearby.
Asher, as always, had come overprepared.
From his backpack he unpacked ingredients for what he proudly called "Italian nachos," which was essentially plain salted potato chips loaded with an absurdly fancy arrangement of toppings.
There were pickled capers, sliced pickles, multiple cheeses, salami, jalapeños, and ribbons of prosciutto layered over the chips.
Jean stared at the spread in disbelief. "You hiked all this up here?"
"Nutrition matters," Asher answered seriously.
Bee rolled her eyes while already reaching for another handful. "You're such a dad."
Despite the teasing, all four of them devoured the snack eagerly beneath the warm winter sun.
After eating, Bee and Jean wandered back into the water together, immediately resuming whatever chaotic game they had invented earlier.
Meanwhile, Asher sat quietly beneath the sunlight reading a book, completely relaxed.
A short distance away, Dasom lounged across her towel with headphones in and her hat resting over her face as music softly played in her ears.
After a while, Asher reached over and lightly tapped her shoulder.
Dasom lifted the brim of her hat and slid one headphone aside. "Time to go?"
"Nah," Asher replied softly. "I just wanted to see how you are… like really, Daisy."
Her expression softened instantly. "You really are the dad of our friend group."
He huffed quietly. "Someone has to keep you idiots functioning."
Dasom smiled faintly before staring out toward the water where Bee and Jean were splashing each other again.
After a moment she answered honestly.
"Things have just been… confusing lately." She sighed softly. "Being back at the Lee estate feels like home but strange. Familiar, but overwhelming at the same time."
Asher closed his book completely, giving her his full attention.
Dasom appreciated that about him. He was always attentive.
"I think I forgot how heavy everything feels here," she admitted quietly. "Not in a bad way… just emotionally."
Her eyes drifted toward the waterfall.
"I've mostly just felt grateful though," she continued. "When I really think about it… I've been blessed with so much in my life."
Asher listened silently.
"The hardest part was surviving," Dasom confessed softly. "Not the crash itself… surviving after it."
The sunlight warmed her skin while the sound of the waterfall filled the comfortable silence between them.
"I didn't know how to exist after losing them," she admitted. "I think everyone thought I was handling it well because I stopped crying… but honestly I just stopped feeling anything for a while."
Asher's expression softened.
"That therapist from Australia helped a lot," Dasom continued. "I've been seeing him since I was thirteen. He taught me how to actually process things instead of burying them."
She laughed faintly to herself. "He used to make me journal every day. I hated it at first."
"And now?" Asher asked.
"Now I think it saved me."
For a moment neither of them spoke.
The breeze shifted softly around them while Bee's laughter echoed from the water nearby.
Then Asher gently nudged her shoulder.
"You've done well, Daisy," he said sincerely. "Better than most people ever could."
Her eyes softened at his words. "Thanks, Ash."
Dasom continued softly, "I needed people who grounded me. You guys helped with that a lot."
She smiled faintly as she looked toward Bee and Jean, who were still out in the water several metres away, far too busy splashing each other and arguing to hear anything happening onshore.
"But overall, I'm doing okay. Really." She shrugged lightly. "Maybe just a little confused about my love life, but yeah…"
Then suddenly her eyes narrowed at Asher.
"Speaking of," she said, sitting up slightly so Bee couldn't accidentally overhear them. "When are you planning to propose?"
Asher nearly choked on his drink.
At the same time, Jean who had just wandered back over from the water to grab snacks burst into laughter after catching the question.
Asher shot him a glare.
Jean dropped onto the towel beside them grinning. "Oh this is good."
Asher rubbed the back of his neck, looking unusually shy for once. "Honestly… soon."
Dasom's eyes widened immediately.
"I'll confirm things once the ring is finished," Asher admitted quietly. "I wanted it to suit her perfectly, so I had it custom made."
Jean dramatically clutched his chest. "This guy is disgustingly in love."
"Shut up."
"How long?" Dasom asked excitedly.
"Another month maybe," Asher answered. "So probably around then."
Dasom let out a loud gasp. "Okay, I can't wait!!!"
Her voice carried enough for Bee to finally look over suspiciously from the water.
"What are you guys talking about over there?" she called out while treading water.
Jean immediately yelled back, "Nothing! Mind your business!"
Bee narrowed her eyes. "You're all acting weird."
"We're literally eating chips," Dasom replied innocently.
Bee looked unconvinced but eventually returned to splashing water at the locals Jean had accidentally started competing with.
The second she turned away again, Dasom grabbed Asher's arm excitedly.
"Oh my gosh Ash, she's going to cry."