___

Thanks to the four boys who accompanied you, and after two hours of them (especially your brother) giving hard to deny evidence, the case was yours.

Jaesang was finally charged and handcuffed, a sight you had been waiting too long to see.

You almost felt overwhelmed at the insane amount of pressure that was lifted off of your chest. You felt so grateful towards the boys who were by your side.

In the car, where you finally relaxed behind the tinted windows, you gave each of them a sweet smile.

"I'll make dinner if you guys would like to stay at my place for a bit." You stated. "I want to express my gratitude."

Sunwoo chuckled. "Don't go all sappy on us now."

"Yeah, I think I liked it better when you were witty. Like you were with Juyeon." Eric snickered.

You laughed, a laugh they hadn't heard in a long time. "Me too, actually. I've become too soft."

"I don't think so," Younghoon chimed in. "I think you're just comfortable enough with us to let your guard down."

You nodded in agreement. That was true, they made you feel safe and at ease.

You got home and everyone started to get comfortable, which meant you taking off your makeup. You were a bit worried to take your makeup off, considering the bruise on your face, but you knew you didn't have to cover up for them.

You walked into the kitchen and made immediate eye contact with Younghoon, who furrowed his eyebrows.

"What happened?"

"Sumin," you said as you grabbed things out of the fridge. "We got into an argument."

"Did you hit her back?" Sunwoo asked.

You shook your head, and Eric piped up, "Why not?"

"I was trying to prove my point. I don't have to get violent to get my point across, but she does."

They nodded quietly, wondering where your fierce attitude went. Not that you weren't fierce, but you would've hit Sumin undoubtedly. Maybe you were just too tired to put up a physical fight.

You cleared your throat, unable to find the right words for what you wanted to ask. "Why didn't anyone else answer my text, especially Jacob?"

They glanced at each other, and your brother kept a careful eye on you. He knew you were upset, more than you were letting on.

"I'm not sure," Sunwoo mumbled. "He saw it."

"He saw it?" You reiterated.

"I think he's just going through a lot, Minji." Eric whispered.

You looked down, knowing that he was. Could you cry in front of them? Hyunjoon saw the split second of change in your expression and got up.

"You can talk if you need to, cry if you need to," he whispered, oh-so brotherly like. "You're going through a lot too."

And the tears fell. Hyunjoon stood by you as you desperately wiped at your eyes, not wanting to make anyone uncomfortable.

"He was the one who said you would all be there," you whimpered. "So why did he back out all of a sudden?"

"I wish I could give you an answer, Minji." Sunwoo said. "Everyone is distancing themself from you because of Sumin, kind of like you did us because of Jaesang. It's his natural instinct to get distant with you when someone threatens him about it."

"I was with him while Jaesang was here. I got distant once, and that's my fault, I know it is. Even then, I came straight to his house after I lost the first case, and Jaesang was free to do whatever at that point," you pointed out. "I like him too much to stay distant, so why is it easy for him?"

You held back a sob as Hyunjoon pulled you into his chest. He had never seen you in so much emotional pain since you were in Korea. Maybe it was best for you to go back home at this point.

Your hands pulled on Hyunjoon's shirt as you balled the sides into your fists. It gave him deja vu, from all the times Jaesang made you cry so often. Hyunjoon was your only saving grace back then.

Boys didn't deserve his little sister, no one did.

"Minji, go sit down. I'll finish dinner." He said.

"No, it's okay." You wiped your eyes. "I'm over it."

You went back to what you were doing and forced a sad smile on your face, thinking about the decision you had put on the back burner.

Would moving back home fix your problems?

No, that was selfish.

You had people like Younghoon, Eric and Sunwoo who sat in your kitchen after testifying in court for you. And even if you felt the way you did towards Jacob in that moment, you knew you'd be miserable without truly expressing your feelings for him, without showing him how much he meant to you.

It was hard to be there for him when he wasn't there for you in the time you needed him most.

"I didn't mean to make you upset." Sunwoo spoke up. "I'm sorry, Minji."

You shook your head. "It's okay, Sunwoo. You didn't make me upset."

You looked over and smiled at them sweetly, glad you were in their presence.

Dinner was soon finished, and you gave them their plates filled with food that you had put so much love into. You sat down, gently, as if you were on the verge of breaking.

"What have you guys eaten today?" You asked.

"Nothing as good as this looks," Eric complimented. "Thank you."

You nodded in return. "I put a lot of love into this so if any of it goes to waste, I'll be highly offended."

Sunwoo broke out into laughter, which sent everyone else into a laughing fit. There was nothing particularly funny about your comment, but Sunwoo laughing so contagiously made you happy.

Almost happy enough to take your mind off of Jacob.

___