Jalabie spoke again.
Slower this time.
Like he wanted every word to land.
"Laddu believes in work," he said.
"Hard work. Nothing else comes first for him."
Maya frowned.
"That sounds unhealthy."
Jalabie shook his head.
"That's how he survives."
He leaned back slightly.
"He always says one thing," Jalabie continued, voice steady.
'I am a man. I was born to work hard. It's my duty to give a hundred percent.'
Father nodded slowly.
"He's said that here too."
"Yes," Jalabie replied.
"And the moment he remembers that truth properly—"
He tapped the table once.
"—he'll be normal again."
Mochi's voice cut in, controlled but sharp.
"But what if he works too much?"
The room stilled.
Jalabie turned toward her.
"You," he said simply.
"Are the solution."
Mochi blinked.
"…Me?"
"Yes," Jalabie replied.
"You stop him."
Mother leaned forward.
"Explain."
"When he works too much," Jalabie said,
"you pull him back without shaming him."
"When he stops working completely," he added,
"I push him forward without comforting him."
Maya crossed her arms.
"So you're the bad cop."
"Yes," Jalabie said.
"And she is home."
Mochi swallowed.
"That's not fair to either of us."
Jalabie nodded.
"I know."
Father spoke calmly.
"But you're saying he needs both pressure and rest."
"Yes," Jalabie replied.
"He collapses if he has only one."
The cousin added,
"He swings between extremes."
Mother sighed.
"And we've been cushioning the fall instead of restoring rhythm."
Mochi looked toward the sofa.
"He doesn't know when to stop," she said quietly.
"That's why," Jalabie replied,
"he trusts someone else to tell him."
Maya frowned.
"He didn't trust you today."
Jalabie smiled faintly.
"He never does when I'm right."
Candy ran past laughing 😂, Ben chasing her 🐕
The little girl clapped happily 👏
Life kept moving.
Mochi spoke softly.
"So when he comes back to himself… what happens to you?"
Jalabie didn't answer immediately.
Just a role that knew its ending.
A tall man in a long coat appeared at the doorway.
He didn't knock.
He simply said,
"Should we take him with us?"
Everyone froze.
Jalabie stood.
"That's my cue," he said calmly.
Mother nodded.
"We understand."
Jalabie walked to Candy's room, lifted the little girl gently.
She wrapped her arms around his neck without waking.
He picked up his bag.
At the door, he paused.
"Bye," he said.
The girl stirred and whispered softly,
"안녕." 👋
Candy waved enthusiastically.
"Bye!!"
Maya added quietly,
"Take care."
The tall man repeated,
"Should we take him?"
Jalabie answered without hesitation.
"No."
He stepped out.
The door closed.
After
The house felt… reset.
Not calm.
Not tense.
Reset.
Father spoke first.
"He came like a storm."
Mother replied,
"And left instructions."
Maya crossed her arms.
"I still don't like his methods."
"But," the cousin added,
"he didn't damage Laddu."
Mochi looked at the sofa.
Laddu slept there, breathing evenly 😴
"He reminded us who Laddu was before the noise," she said.
She spoke softly.
"Now it's our turn."
At the Office 🏢
Laddu walked in like nothing happened.
Jin looked up.
"Hey."
Laddu smiled brightly.
"Wow. You chose that shirt today?"
Jin blinked.
"…Good morning?"
"It's brave," Laddu added.
"Not flattering. But brave."
Jin laughed nervously.
"Someone woke up violent."
"Helpful," Laddu corrected.
"And you look tired. Sleeping or just aging emotionally?"
Jin stared.
"…I missed you."
"That version is gone," Laddu said cheerfully.
"You working today?" Jin asked.
"Nope," Laddu replied.
"Just vibes."
He waved.
"Bye."
Jin watched him leave.
"…Bob warned me," he muttered.
Evening — Home
Jin sat with the family.
"I nearly died today," Jin said.
Candy leaned forward.
"What was he like before?"
"He was funny," Jin said.
"Kind. He listened."
Mother nodded.
"Today," Jin continued,
"he roasted me like… sharp. Personal."
Candy blinked.
"Like angry jokes?"
"Yes," Jin sighed.
"Not playful."
Maya frowned.
"That's not him."
"He didn't work," Jin added.
"Just commented on my existence."
Silence.
"That's noise," Father said calmly.
Jin stood.
"I just wanted you to know."
Family Meeting
Maya spoke first.
"This isn't funny anymore."
The cousin nodded.
"He's losing core traits."
Mother sighed.
"He was gentle."
Candy hugged her knees.
"He protected people."
Father concluded,
"This isn't values. It's confusion."
Mochi stood.
"And when he comes back," she said,
"we remind him who he was. With truth."
No one argued.
Night — Laddu's Room 🌌
The door opened quietly.
Mochi stepped in.
"Can we talk?"
"…Okay."
"You went to the office."
"Yes."
"You didn't work."
"I didn't feel like it."
"Jin came here," Mochi said.
Laddu looked up.
"He did?"
"She was hurt."
"I was joking."
"It didn't feel like one," Mochi said.
"And that's not you."
Silence.
"You used to joke without cutting," she continued.
"You listened."
Laddu leaned back.
"Everyone's too sensitive."
"That's not you," Mochi said again.
He rubbed his face.
"I don't recognize myself."
"That's why I'm here," she replied.
"You're not angry?"
"I am," she said.
"But I'm worried."
"I didn't want to disappear again," he whispered.
"Then don't," Mochi said.
"Stay."
He nodded slowly.
"…Okay."
She stood.
"And Laddu?"
"Yes?"
"You don't have to perform to be held," she said.
"Just be honest."
She left.
The door stayed open 🚪
For the first time in days,
he didn't close it.