The next day Krystal sat out on the balcony in front of the library, holding a tightly wrapped lunch box in her lap. She impatiently tapped the tips of her fingers on it as she looked up the stairs in anticipation. Once Jin came into view, she quickly lifted off the bench. “Jin, over here.” She called out for him.

Jin smiled presently when she handed him a lunch box full of homemade foods. “Thank you.” He didn’t waste anytime digging into the steaming black bean noodles and pieces of marinated steak. Krystal thought the grunting noises he made after each bite was super cute and couldn’t keep the smile off her face as she watched him enjoy the food she had made.

Jin could feel her eyes on him, so, even with a ton of noodles hanging out of his mouth, he turned to look at her. Her giggles prompted him to quickly slurp them up and use the back of his hand to wipe off the sauce that had made its’ way to his chin and lips. “I know what you’re thinking.” He said.

Krystal used a napkin to wipe off her face. “Really? Okay, tell me.”

Jin happily looked down at the food. “Your cooking is getting better. Everyday I eat the lunch you prepare for me, and it feels like time slows down. The whole world becomes quiet. Only because I want to enjoy your care for me.”

Krystal smirked. “What are you talking about? It’s only regular food. Not at all as magical as you make it out.”

Jin looked over at her and smiled. “So…you were thinking, why doesn’t Suga appreciate this peaceful, hard to get happiness, right?”

Krystal’s face turned grim as she bit her bottom lip and nodded her head. “I feel unworthy as a friend to Lonna, and I feel bad for her. He’s leaving, and she is being so unusually calm about it. Something just feels so wrong about it all.”

“How?” Jin asked.

“Every day, although she attends class as normal, but now when she takes notes, she is super diligent about it. Compared to the day-dreaming Lonna of the past, she’s completely different.”

“Same with the basketball club. She does everything.”

Jin’s statement made Krystal’s jaw drop in shock. “She even told me, she wanted me to get her a job at the restaurant. She isn’t leaving any time for herself.”

“It’s because she is using work to numb and escape her pain over losing Suga.” Jin frowned.

Suddenly their moment was interrupted when RM stole a piece of Jin’s steak. “Hey! You thief!” He yelled as he stood up and bared his chopsticks like a weapon.

RM just laughed off his threat and stuck the food in his mouth. “I’m jealous. A lunch box of love from your girlfriend.”

Jisoo quickly smacked him in the back of the head. “Bullshit.”

RM rubbed the pain away as his cheeks flared red. “But the taste…not too good.”

Taking offense to his words Krystal stood up on her tippy toes to make herself seem more intimidating to the tall boy. “Take back what you said.”

RM looked at all the angry faces around him and pouted. “Everything I say is wrong….”

Jisoo placed a hand on his shoulder. “Then just don’t speak.” RM rolled his eyes at her mean words and continued to eat the piece of steak in silence. Jisoo came closer to Jin and Krystal and handed them a small flyer. “Tomorrow we are having Suga’s going away party. Are you coming?”

Krystal’s eyes grew wide with worry. “Did you tell Lonna?”

“No.” Jisoo said to Krystal’s relief. “Suga said he doesn’t want to cause her any pain. So, situations that remind her of separation…are a no go.”

Krystal huffed and crossed her arms angrily over her chest. “As if he were actually sensitive.” She looked at the three of them. “You guys go, I will keep Lonna company that night.”

“That is a good idea.” Jisoo agreed with a sad smile.

As soon as Lonna walked into the living room, she wished she hadn’t. Her chest ached with every open suitcase that laid on the floor in front of her. She walked over to one and bent down to brush her hand over one of the soft t-shirts on top, trying to bite back the emotions that were welling in her.

Suga stopped his walk down the stairs as he spotted Lonna. The heartbroken expression made him frown. He didn’t like seeing it, but he knew that Lonna would not be this open if she knew he was watching. “You’re back.” He said successfully shaking Lonna from her thoughts and making her look at him. Just as Suga had predicted, she masked her previous frown with a bright new smile. He made his way to her, with a fake smile of his own.

“Yea, I’m back. Are you going out?” Lonna asked as Suga bent to add more clothes to one of the suit cases.

“I’m going to buy a few things and I have to get my visa later.” Suga answered. “There isn’t much time, I need to be there before the next semester starts.”

“Then the day you leave is set?” Lonna’s voice sounded sad to Suga, even though she quickly covered it up with another fake smile.

“I told mom I at least had to attend the wedding.”

“Then that is next Sunday.”

Suddenly Suga stopped his packing. The ache of emotions started to tug at him. He closed his eyes tightly, trying to will away the tears. “Yea.” His answer was shakier that he had liked. In hopes of trying to hide his true feelings, Suga stood up and faced Lonna, who instantly wiped the frown from her face. “The gang is throwing a farewell party for me tomorrow, so I will be gone.”

“Oh, are you going out to eat?” Lonna asked in a fake excited tone.

“Maybe.” Suga said rubbing the back of his neck.

“Remember!” Lonna said in a high-pitched voice, making Suga jump in surprise slightly. Lonna started to wag her finger at him as if she was giving him a lecture. “Don’t eat pizza or pasta, or in Italy, you will puke from overdose.” All Suga could respond with was awkwardly shaking his head in agreement. “And check the moon while you’re there, see if it is really rounder than ours.”

“Idiot.” Suga said.

Lonna just laughed like crazy as if he had made the funniest joke in the world. “I really am an idiot.” Seeing the concern on Suga’s face Lonna finally broke the act and let her head drop in embarrassment. “Well, I should go to my room.”

As she started to walk slowly up the stairs the depressed emotions were no longer hidden from Suga’s view. He let a sad smile grace his lips as he watched her go up. “There is only one moon in my heart, Lonna.” He thought to himself as he let a single tear free. “No matter where I go, this will always be the truth. But…of course I can’t tell you that. It’d only hurt you more.”

The Next Night

“Cheers!” They all shouted as they clang their beer bottles together. The music in the bar was blasting and everyone was laughing at Suga’s going away party. Seeing his friends smile made the pain he had been feeling dissipate a tiny bit.

RM chugged down a huge drink, before slamming his bottle on the table and turning to Suga. “Hey, Suga. Tonight, I will drink with you, because in my life, you’re the first…” RM had already started laughing in embarrassment. “Man, I have ever liked.”

Yoongi too, burst out laughing. “Then let’s kiss.” He said before grabbing RM by his face and trying to force him to him, but to no surprise, RM pulled away as fast as he could.

“I don’t like…” He exclaimed as he ran to hide behind Jisoo, who was laughing hysterically. He pointed a finger out from behind his hiding place. “My heart can be yours, but my body belongs to Jisoo.” All the boys wolf whistled at his statement.

Jisoo, embarrassed by the unwanted attention, shoved RM’s head with her hand. “You idiot.” Her anger didn’t last long as she looked in Suga’s direction. “Prince, in Korea, you’re number one. In Italy you will be lower. Everyone says Italian guys are really handsome.”

Suga chuckled at her statement. “I haven’t wanted to be a hunk for a while.”

“Psst…Please!” Taehyung spoke. “Your position in the number one spot, will quickly be replaced by me.” Jimin simply shook his head and pointed at himself, in response, Taehyung threw a peanut at him.

“Suga, you are leaving soon.” Jhope said. “Give us some nice words.”

Suga gave a mischievous half smile. “Nice words.” He said sarcastically.

Jhope rolled his eyes in annoyance but couldn’t blame Suga for taking the chance he had given him. “Fine, I’ll do it.” He said standing up and pointing to each one of them. “All of you take good care of yourselves. Jisoo, in front of others, don’t embarrass RM.”

“What are you talking about?” Jisoo asked slightly angry at the others laughs of agreement.

Jhope just waved off her attempt to smack him. “And, Taehyung, do you or do you not know why you can’t get a girl?” Taehyung shook his head. “It’s because…you are not as good looking as you think you are.”

“Rude!” Taehyung shouted.

“And, Jimin?” Suga said through his laughter.

“Right, Jimin…” Jhope said tapping his finger on his chin. “Oh…I suggest you learn vocal music.”

“Why?” Jimin asked in his unusually high-pitched voice, making everyone laugh.

“Your voice is too sharp sometimes.” Suga answered. He stood up and patted Jhope on the back. “Good job. You did well. Everyone heard, right? So, in the future, I won’t have to repeat myself.” He pulled lightly on Jhope’s ear, causing him to yelp a bit. “Jhope, you are too annoying. You’ve got to change that.”

Jhope knew he couldn’t deny it. “That’s right.”

“You talk to much.” Taehyung said teasingly and Jhope just stuck his tongue out at the younger boy. The live band on stage came back from the small break in their set, and Suga smiled when he noticed they had finally brought out the club’s piano.

He rushed to whisper a request in the leader’s ear, which he did not refuse. He cracked his knuckles before sitting down on the plush seat. He first took a second to play a few keys to check the old piano’s sound, it was pure music to his ears, as he closed his eyes and let his fingers glide effortlessly from key to key. The friends he had left at the table listened to the music he played with somber expressions. The jokes that had made them laugh earlier, had now been forgotten as they listened to the sadness of the song. They couldn’t refuse themselves the tears as Suga continued to play.

Krystal and Jin both sat with concerned looks as they watched Lonna pound her second large mug of beer in such a short time. Once she was done, Lonna slammed the empty mug done and yelled for the waiter to bring her a refill. Grabbing the newly full mug from the waiter roughly, she quickly pushed it to the middle of the table, causing some of the froth to spill over the top and on to the food below. “Cheers!” She yelled, as if the accident didn’t bother her a bit.

Trying to ignore the concern, and not cause trouble, Jin raised his glass to hers and gave Krystal a warning glare. “Come on, cheers.” Krystal rolled her eyes and put on a fake smile as she joined her glass with theirs. “Cheers!” Jin said again.

Jin and Krystal took a small drink from their first mugs of the night. “Cheers for what?” Lonna said tapping her chin in thought. “Cheers for…Jin being a good person forever.” Jin’s smile instantly turned awkward as Lonna placed her glassy eyes on him. “Promise to never change, okay?”

Jin simply shook his head. “Promise.”

Lonna smiled brightly and moved to lean on the table a bit more. “Now, you two toast me.”

“I’ll toast for…” Krystal said scratching at her temple in thought.

Being stumped for something, Krystal secretly nudged Jin’s arm with her elbow. “Uh…” He said starting to the think as well. “A toast to your life’s happiness and frequent joy. How’s that?”

Lonna chuckled drunkenly at his toast, and Krystal rolled her eyes. “Aren’t you too good a person? You sounded like you were memorizing your civil rights textbook.”

Jin’s head slumped in sadness. “No…I think it was a great toast.” Lonna said trying to reassure him.

“Really?” Jin asked slightly smiling. “Even I agree, it was pretty ordinary.”

Lonna sighed loudly. “If I carefully think about it, if you divide my life into three parts, there’s family, friends, and love. Then at least two-thirds of those are very satisfactory and very happy. So why am I acting like it’s doomsday just because of the person who is in the love part?” Krystal huffed angrily as she stabbed another piece of chicken with her chopstick, but Lonna just ignored it. “So, to my “Life’s happiness and frequent joy.” Let’s toast that again.” She put on a bright smile and tossed her mug outwards once more. “Cheers!”

Jin wasted no time in raising his glass to hers, but Krystal only sat with her arms angrily tossed across her chest glaring at Lonna. Lonna gave her a teasing grin and poked her shoulder. “Krystal! Come on, cheers!”

Krystal jumped up and slammed the napkin she had had in her lap on the table. “Why are you lying to yourself and others?! Why are you acting like this?!” She shouted.

“I’m not.” Lonna said with a dumbfounded look on her face.

Hearing the vulnerable whine in her friend’s voice, Krystal calmed her tone a bit. “People’s feelings can’t be cut into sections.” Feeling ashamed at her friend lecturing her, Lonna downcast her eyes to look at her nervously shaking hands. “You think pretending to be fine in front of us, hiding you pain, will make us not worry?” Tears started to spill from Krystal’s eyes. “Instead of looking at your forced smile, I’d prefer crying with you. Even drinking is fine. At least we could drink to vent our anger!” Krystal shouted getting angry once more. Lonna felt a great deal of pain well in her chest as she watched Krystal grab her beer mug and start downing it. Once done, with more beer on her clothes and chin than what she actually drank, Krystal slammed the mug on the table. “No one can control their feelings when they are drinking!”

“Krystal, what are you doing?” Jin asked as he finally got up and put his hand on his girlfriends’ shoulder. Lonna was at a loss for words. She didn’t even try to deny that Krystal was wrong, because she knew she couldn’t.

“Even I, as the observer, can’t handle this.” Krystal said and Lonna bit her lip to keep herself from losing the control she had on her emotions. “How can you, the participant, be so carefree?” Krystal stood next to her friend. “Lonna, in front of me, you don’t have to hold it in.”

Even though Krystal had hoped her speech had gotten to Lonna, she wasn’t surprised when she looked over at her with, yet another fake smile plastered on her face. “Krystal, I really am ok.”

The anger consumed Krystal, and she quickly balled her hands into tight fist at her side. “Oh, ok. So, I am just mistaken, then?!” She shouted, before stomping away. With her gone from sight, Lonna no longer held herself, she let the flood gate of tears fall down her cheeks as she sobbed.

Feeling sorry, Jin came over and lightly rubbed her back. “Lonna, I’m sorry. Krystal is just really emotional right now.”

Lonna shook her head. She pushed Jin’s hand back to him. “It’s ok. Go after her. Hurry, I’m alright here.”

Without a second thought, Jin did as she told him and left her alone. Again, Lonna broke down. She held her head in one hand, as the other gripped her mug handle like it was her only life line. All the pain she had been denying herself overwhelmed her, and she ran.

It didn’t take long for Jin to catch up to Krystal. She had only run to the front of the restaurant. “Krystal, what are you doing?” He asked her again. “You being upset, will only make her feel worse.”

Krystal wiped the tears from her eyes and turned to face him. “I’m sorry. I just can’t stand to see her like this. I’m not mad at her. I just hurt for her.”

Jin hugged her. “It’s ok. Let’s go back.” Both of their hearts dropped in fear to see Lonna was now missing from the table.

“Where is she?” Krystal asked Jin.