Chapter 17: The Hidden Truth
After the threat of scandal and the stalker's ultimatum had been neutralized, life slowly began to regain its rhythm. With the tour coming to an end and the album release just a week away, Eclipse and their makeshift family were focused on keeping their image untarnished and their bond stronger than ever. Yet, amid the late-night planning and shared laughter, an unexpected secret lurked in plain sight.
One quiet evening, as the group gathered in one of the quieter rooms of the tour bus to unwind, Hana noticed something unusual while passing by Soyeon's open wallet on a nearby shelf. A small folded photograph had slipped out. Curious, Hana picked it up. The photo was soft and faded—animage showing her mom . But a small detail caught her eye: in the background, barely noticeable yet familiar, was the silhouette of a little girl. The expression on the face had a striking resemblance to Soyeon's features.
Hana's heart pounded as she clutched the photo. Questions tumbled through her mind until, with trembling resolve, she sought out Soyeon in the quiet hallway.
"Soyeon, may I talk to you for a minute?" Hana asked in a hushed tone.
Soyeon regarded her curiously before nodding. They stepped into an empty corner of the bus. Hana held out the photograph, her voice barely above a whisper.
"This—this picture… It shows my mom when she was pregnant with me," Hana began. "But there's something… someone in the background. Soyeon, did you…?"
Soyeon's eyes widened, and she ran a hand over her cheek as memories stirred. For a long moment, she was silent, then she sighed. "Hana, there's something I've never told anyone about… about my past," she said, her voice low and laden with remorse.
Soyeon took a slow breath and began to recount her own painful memories. "When I was very little, I still remember that terrible day. I was in my room when I heard Grandma shouting at Mom. I crept out, desperate to see what was happening. I ran after my mom, but she sent me back to my room. After the noise quieted, I went to find her—I wanted to see her face. I asked, 'Mom, can I have a picture, a sonogram, of my unborn sister?' but she wasn't there." Her voice wavered as she recalled the dark hours that followed. "Our neighbor heard me crying, calling out 'Mommy, Mommy!' and helped me call my mom again and again, but there was no response. I even called Dad... but he never answered. Later, he took me in his arms, apologized, and tried to comfort me. He said our mom had… run away. I remember him saying, 'I will find your mommy' as he set me down and made endless calls into the dark night. He even filed a missing person report, though it was dismissed. In time, I was given a note—a note that said everything was for my sake, that Mom had to leave to keep me safe. I've carried that secret with me all these years, always wondering why she left."
Hana's breath caught as the pieces fell into place. "But… my whole life, I thought Mom trained me alone. I remember how she taught me to sing, to be strong. I believed I was raised solely by her. I never knew…" Her voice broke. "I knew I had a sister that I never saw ,and a dad I also never saw"
Soyeon's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she reached out to take Hana's hand. "Hana, I am your older sister. I was left behind when Mom ran away, and I never fully understood why. I've always wondered if… if maybe we were meant to be together, even if fate separated us."
In that quiet moment, their stories merged seamlessly. Hana, raised solely by her mother, and Soyeon, haunted by a childhood of unanswered calls and midnight searches for a missing mother, realized that their lives were forever intertwined. The resemblance in the photograph was not a coincidence—it was evidence of the one person who had shaped both their destinies.
Tears welled in Hana's eyes as she squeezed Soyeon's hand. "I always thought I was alone in this world, that Mom was all I had. And now I know… you've been with me all along, in spirit, in memory."
Soyeon managed a small, bittersweet smile. "I kept the secret for so long out of fear and pain—but now that you know, maybe we can start healing together. I've always felt this pull, this bond, even if I didn't understand it until now." Hmm Yes Hana said.
You do look a lot like mom you know "Hana said .Ha and you look a lot like dad "Soyoen said .
Later, as the sisters joined the rest of Eclipse for a celebratory dinner before the final tour show, the air was filled with a tentative new beginning. Between laughter, shared stories, and gentle teasing from Jisoo, Taehyun, Jaemin, Minjae, Seokmin, and Hyunwoo, the revelation of their shared past was woven into the fabric of their collective bond.
Jisoo, with his ever-compassionate nature, patted Hana's shoulder softly. "We're a family here—both on and off the stage. And now, you two truly are."
Taehyun, usually reserved but earnest tonight, added quietly, "It might be complicated, but this only makes us stronger. We'll support you both."
In that warm, crowded dining hall, as the music of their celebration mingled with heartfelt confessions and promises of a new future, Hana and Soyeon found solace in each other. They had discovered that the past, as painful as it was, could be the bridge to a brighter tomorrow—one built on truth, love, and the unbreakable bonds of family.
End of Chapter 17