Unexpected Visitors

The dorm was unusually quiet. The other members were out at schedules, leaving Dokyeom alone to practice his vocals. He was in the middle of belting out a high note when his phone buzzed. A message from his sister, Soo-ah: "We're here! Come let us in!" He had forgotten that she and their cousins, Min-ji and Hana, were visiting Seoul. He rushed to the door, his heart pounding with excitement and panic. The dorm was a mess.

"Yah, Soo-ah! You should have warned me earlier!" He exclaimed as he opened the door to see his sister and cousins grinning. Soo-ah rolled her eyes. "We wanted to surprise you. Plus, we haven't seen you in months. Mom sent food." She held up a container of kimchi jjigae. Min-ji, the older cousin, looked around the dorm with wide eyes. "This is where Seventeen lives? It's so... normal." Hana, the younger one, was already peeking into the living room. "Is anyone else here?"

"They're all out. But they'll be back soon," Dokyeom said, ushering them inside. He quickly grabbed scattered clothes and shoves them into a laundry basket. "Make yourselves comfortable. Sorry about the mess." Soo-ah laughed. "We're family, it's fine." She set the food on the kitchen counter.

They spent the next hour catching up. Soo-ah was a year younger than Dokyeom, studying fashion design. Min-ji and Hana were his cousins from their mother's side, both in college. Dokyeom showed them around the dorm, pointing out each member's room. "That's S.coups's room, he's the leader. He's very serious but soft inside. That's Jeonghan's room—he's angelic but mischievous." Hana giggled. "I've seen him on TV. He's so pretty."

Suddenly, the door lock clicked. Dokyeom's eyes widened. "They're back early!" The three women straightened up as the door swung open. Joshua entered first, followed by Jeonghan, Jisoo, and Mingyu. They froze at the sight of the unfamiliar faces.

"Dokyeom? Who are these beautiful ladies?" Mingyu asked, a teasing smile on his face. Dokyeom stepped forward, scratching the back of his neck. "Everyone, this is my sister Soo-ah, and our cousins Min-ji and Hana. They're visiting from Jeju." Soo-ah bowed politely. "Annyeonghaseyo. Thank you for taking care of our Dokyeom."

Jeonghan smiled warmly. "It's our pleasure. Any family of Dokyeom is family to us." He walked over and shook their hands. Jisoo gave a gentle nod. Mingyu immediately offered to make them something to eat. Soon the rest of the members trickled in—Seungkwan, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK (as they called him), Dino, The8, and Vernon. The dorm became lively.

Min-ji, who had a quiet personality, found herself drawn to Wonwoo, who was sitting in a corner reading. She approached hesitantly. "Is that 'The Alchemist'?" She asked. Wonwoo looked up, surprised. "Yes. Have you read it?" They launched into a discussion about the book, finding common ground. Meanwhile, Hana was chatting animatedly with Seungkwan about K-pop dances. Soo-ah helped Mingyu in the kitchen, laughing at his failed attempts to fold dumplings.

As the evening progressed, Dokyeom watched his family blend seamlessly with his members. He felt a warmth in his chest. But then he noticed something—Jisoo kept stealing glances at Soo-ah. Every time she laughed, he smiled. Jeonghan, ever observant, nudged Jisoo. "You like her?" Jisoo blushed. "She's just... nice."

Later, everyone gathered in the living room for a impromptu karaoke session. Soo-ah sang a duet with Dokyeom—a ballad they used to sing as kids. Her voice was clear and sweet. Jisoo watched, mesmerized. After the song, he approached her. "You have a beautiful voice. Would you like to sing another with me?" Soo-ah's eyes widened. "I... sure, if you don't mind." They sang a slow R&B song, their harmonies blending perfectly. The members wolf-whistled. Dokyeom raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Min-ji and Wonwoo were still talking, now sitting on the balcony. The night air was cool. "I never thought I'd meet someone who actually reads philosophy for fun," Min-ji said. Wonwoo chuckled. "I could say the same. Most people just ask about my face, not my mind." She laughed. "Well, your face is nice too, but the mind is more interesting." Wonwoo's ears turned red.

Inside, Hana was teaching Dino a TikTok dance. They were both laughing so hard they couldn't finish. Hoshi joined in, adding his own chaotic moves. The atmosphere was full of joy.

As midnight approached, Soo-ah announced they should head back to their hotel. The members protested. "Stay! We have guest rooms," Joshua offered. Dokyeom looked at his sister. "He's right. You can stay here tonight. We have plenty of space." After a brief discussion, the three women agreed.

Soo-ah was assigned the spare room that Hoshi sometimes used. Before she could settle, there was a knock. Jisoo stood there, holding a cup of tea. "I thought you might like some warm tea before sleep. It's chamomile, good for relaxation." Soo-ah accepted it, touched. "Thank you, Jisoo-ssi. You're very thoughtful." He smiled. "Call me Jisoo. Goodnight, Soo-ah." She watched him walk away, her heart fluttering.

The next morning, they woke up to the smell of pancakes. Mingyu had made breakfast for everyone. They ate together, chatting and laughing. Before leaving, Soo-ah exchanged numbers with Jisoo. Min-ji got Wonwoo's number to continue their book discussions. Hana got a promise from Dino to teach her more dances online.

As they walked to the subway, Soo-ah said, "Dokyeom, your members are amazing. I'm glad you're with them." Dokyeom hugged his sister. "I'm even happier you visited. And... Jisoo seems to like you. Be careful, he's a charmer." Soo-ah blushed. "I'll be fine."

Back at the dorm, Jisoo looked at his phone. He had already sent Soo-ah a message: "It was lovely meeting you. Let's keep in touch." He smiled as he saw the typing indicator appear. Maybe this unexpected visit would lead to something beautiful for everyone.