"How does Love speak?
In the faint flush upon the tell-tale cheek,
And in the pallor that succeeds it; by
The quivering lid of an averted eye,
The smile that proves the parent to a sigh–
Thus does Love speak.

How does Love speak?
In the avoidance of that which we seek,
The sudden silence and reserve when near;
The eye that glistens with a tear–
The joy that seems the counterpart of fear,
As the alarmed heart leaps in the breast,
And knows, and names, and greets its god-like guest:
Thus doth Love speak."

⊱ ───ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ─── ⊰

Beneath the sprawling branches of the weathered tree in the orphanage yard, Mai and Cheon Seok sought refuge from the hardships of 1950. The autumn air carried the weight of uncertainty, yet amidst the chill, a warmth lingered in the air.

Cheon Seok's voice, a soothing balm, spoke of love amid the prevailing misery. "My love, in this world of strife, we've carved a sanctuary within each other. Our love, a beacon of light amid the shadows."

Mai's gaze, resilient and reflective, met his. "In these shared laughters and silent moments, we've found blessings in the midst of hardship—a haven in each other."

As the amber hues of the evening painted the sky, Cheon Seok, with a graceful gesture, knelt on one knee. In his hand, a delicate peony ring—the symbol of their enduring love and the life burgeoning within.

"Mai," he whispered, his words carrying the weight of promises, "will you share this life with me? Through war and peace, storms and sunshine, let us navigate this journey together."

Tears welled in Mai's eyes as she nodded, a radiant smile breaking through. Cheon Seok gently slid the ring onto her finger, sealing a covenant that transcended the desolation around.

Amid the autumn warmth, Mai, with a soft chuckle, broke the stillness. "Cheon Seok, when you return from the war, paint me a picture. Paint us—a canvas of our shared moments, our love, and the little one growing within."

Cheon Seok's eyes sparkled with a promise. "I will, my love. Each stroke will echo our laughter, whisper our dreams, and honor those who helped us be together."

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a golden glow as Mai and Cheon Seok stood beneath the wise branches of the giant tree. A vow, not just between them, but a commitment to the uncertain future waiting to be painted.

In 1950, with the world in turmoil, Mai and Cheon Seok, hand in hand, embraced the certainty of an uncertain future. Love, an unwavering compass, would guide them through the war-torn landscapes, and the promise of a painted masterpiece would keep their hearts connected across the distance that fate had chosen to weave.

⊱ ───ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ─── ⊰

"In the haunting aftermath of my tempestuous outburst, Y/n stood amidst the emotional wreckage, her eyes reflecting the jagged remnants of fear. The echo of my own unbridled frenzy reverberated in her gaze, and I could feel the weight of uncertainty pressing down on us." I deeply sighed as a tear rolled down the corner of my eyes.

As the dust settled, I saw the fractured lines etched across her expression, a delicate portrait of trust disrupted. My heart ached, knowing that the tempest within me had inadvertently cast shadows on the tranquility we once shared. And no one but I was to blame.

"I could sense her concern, a silent plea for the return of the Jungkook she knew—the one who danced with joy in her eyes. Yet, the fear loomed large, the fear that my momentary loss of control might have irreversibly damaged the connection we held so dear."

In the quiet aftermath, I grappled with the ache of recognition—an understanding that, despite my pure intentions, the tornado within had unleashed a storm that now threatened to break the delicate threads of our reality.

She listened, a silent witness to the damages that had cast shadows on the friendship I once knew. When my words faltered, she spoke with a tenderness only a sister could offer, "Jungkook, storms may shake us, but they can also clear the skies. Apologize, not with just words, but with the actions that demonstrate the truth of your remorse. She knows the tempest within you, and yet, she stays. Don't let this be the fracture that breaks what you both have built."

"Noona," the mucus in my nose threatened to flow like a river,"noona, I have never felt this way for anyone else. I've never loved anyone like I have loved her."

Antonella gave a little smile, a mixture of understanding and the wisdom that only an older sister could possess.

Her eyes, a reflection of the years we'd shared, held a depth that spoke volumes. "Jungkook, love is a tempest in itself. It brings joy and turmoil, and in its complexity lies its beauty. You've never been one to shy away from the storms within, but it takes courage to navigate the one of the heart."

"I'm afraid to follow the path that my heart sets. I fear rejection, I fear losing friendship. I fear that I will only harm her."

Antonella's arms wrapped around me. Her small torso clung to my body as I snuggled my head on her shoulders. In a world where no one understood me, she never shied away.

"Jk, it's only you that knows your imperfections. Everyone else sees you as the perfect guy. Tall, handsome, good at everything that you choose to do. There's nothing on your exterior that separates you from being the best." Her hands played with my hair.

"Lie, lie, lie! That's not true." I clenched onto her.

"That is the truth, Jungkook."

"It cannot be. They always loved you." Antonella's eyes, shimmering with the weight of unspoken truths, met mine.

"They never did, Kook, they never did. I was never the perfect girl. In this man's world, where every move was scrutinized, I was the imperfect daughter, the one who never quite fit the mold. I was unruly, a troublemaker, a menace to his meticulously crafted life. I was a bigger bully. He made sure I understood, time and again, that everything could have been so much better if I were his son."

"Who?" Swollen with tears, my face etched a sketch of confusion.

"My father."

"Tch, impossible. He loves you so much!" I protested against her statement but the battles she fought inside her stayed calm like ever before. Afterall, we both take on our mothers.

Her voice carried the echoes of years spent yearning for acceptance, for a love that seemed elusive. "No matter what I achieved, it was always overshadowed by the ghost of a son he never had. But you, Jk, you were the one who was a calm, sweetheart. Who saw me beyond the expectations. You appreciated my existence when the world tried to overlook it."

"But you beat up bullies. You bullied my bullies. You did everything to protect me. You were always there."

She had been my refuge, a fortress against the shadowed waves that sought to erode my sense of self. Antonella's every action, every confrontation with those who sought to diminish me, was a testament to her commitment to shield me from the harsh realities that lurked beyond our sanctuary.

"And only you knew that, Jk. I wanted to keep you happy, keep you safe and protected. Because no one but you, nobody else, wanted me alive. Because only you cherished me." The pain that she had kept suppressed within herself hit me as soon as they found their revelation.
The revelation of her sacrifices, her silent battles fought for my well-being, unraveled the stoic facade she had maintained.

"Why did you never tell me this?"

As her unwavering character trembled, cracks forming in the strong exterior, Antonella allowed herself to succumb to the vulnerability she had shielded for years. Tears, a manifestation of the pain she had endured in silence, traced paths down her cheeks. The strong sister, who weathered storms for others, broke down in my arms.

"I thought... I thought keeping it to myself would spare you from the burden. I wanted to be your strength, your unwavering support. I didn't want you to ever feel that you had to stop and stand to hold me up. But, Jk, I never knew that my silence would cast shadows over our connection."

"Noona, shadows are for people you're meant to lose."

"And I don't want to lose any of you. No one of you. I love you, I love Esmé, I love Jimin. I can't bear the pain of losing you. I've lost enough. I'd lost my whole world when the lord decided my mama's job in the world had been completed. I can't lose myself anymore and you make me, Jk. You all make me."

As Antonella's voice trembled with the weight of her confession, I felt the gravity of her words resonate within the depths of my being. Her vulnerability laid bare the fear of further loss, a fear that had silently shaped her actions and decisions.

"I never realized... I never realized how much you've been carrying, Noona," I admitted, my own voice filled with a mix of empathy and regret. "I don't want you to lose anyone either. We're a family, and I don't want to imagine a world without you or any of them."

Antonella's eyes, a mix of gratitude and longing, met mine. "You're my family, Jk. Losing Mama, it tore me apart. But you, Esmé, Jimin, you've stitched those wounds. I just... I can't bear the thought of losing anyone else I hold dear."

In that moment, the unspoken bonds of our familial connection tightened. I understood the depth of Antonella's love and the fear that had driven her to protect us, even at the cost of her own emotional well-being.

"From now on, we protect each other. No more secrets, no more shadows," I declared, my commitment echoing her earlier sentiments. "We face whatever comes together, as a family."

Antonella's tearful smile conveyed a mixture of relief and gratitude.

"Now, no more tears, okay?"

"You know, Jk, I didn't come to Seoul because I left you alone. I was badly trying to pull you away but I was always unable to. All of us, except her, have had bad days with my father. You didn't have it as bad as me and I didn't have it as bad as Jimin, that's the only relief."

"I know, I understand now. The day I had a fight with Jimin, Jimin told me that if not saying something about you doesn't harm either of us, it's better not told. And that day I was too dumb to understand it. I think I've mentally grown ever since."

My words gained me a chuckle from Antonella as she sat up straight, blowing her nose and preparing her face to look as if nothing ever happened.

"You were always the strongest person I knew, Jk. You have the best control over yourself and that is why I trust you so much. You may mess up but you never fuck up."

"Nah, that's an over exaggeration. I'm completely fucked over this time." Her acknowledgment of my strength, however, felt like a double-edged sword, a reminder of the expectations that came with being the one perceived as unbreakable.

Antonella's hand gently cupped my face, her gaze unwavering. "Jk, strength lies not just in control but in acknowledging vulnerability. You're allowed to break down, to lose control. It doesn't diminish your strength; it humanizes you."

In that moment, surrounded by the echoes of pain and determination, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. Antonella's unwavering support became a beacon of light, guiding me through the darkness of my own doubts.

"So you mean it? Should I?"

"Absolutely. I know her as much I know you. You should tell her and maybe the world that collides in you will find it's place.  Don't back away anymore."

"And what if she doesn't want me the way I do?"

"I'll make sure to black magic her into feeling the same."