Few months later...

Jeonghan lightly smacked the back of my head, laughing as he did. "Yah, Yoon Aerim, why are you so worried right now? You look rushed."

I smacked his hand away and gave him a glare. "Yah! You're the one who told me that Ayoung said there was a school activity in school and I'm late. Why are you following me anyway? I can walk by myself."

"I just came to annoy you like the good big brother I am to you." Jeonghan scrunched his nose and started doing aegyo.

He was being an embarrassment and being the good sister I was, I walked ahead of him and pretended I never saw the guy in my life before. 

Yes, it has been nearly five months since Sanha woke up from the hospital and there were articles being posted and honestly? Neither of them were true. Most of them will filled with lies such as me being some mafia leader targeting Astro. The company already denied it and the only real news was the one written on the newspaper. 

Because unlike online articles, the newspaper only posted and published the truth. 

I'm still friends with Astro and kept close contact with them. There was a time where I convinced myself I should act like we knew each other but I had to remember my cousin was part of that group and seeing him often meant he brought his hyungs around wherever he goes. It was as if Astro has became my family naturally. 

Jeonghan continued doing annoying acts to me and I smacked his hands away, screaming, "Yah! Oppa! I'm as late as it is!"

"I know."

"Then?" 

Jeonghan smiled and looked elsewhere, like the tree planted by the streets. "It's just nice to bully my adorable little sister, you know?"

I rolled my eyes and walked away from him. "You big bully. You call yourself a caring older brother? You're just doing child abuse to me right now!"

Jeonghan pinched my lips together and cautiously looked around the area before whispering, "Yah, keep your voice down or people will think I'm really doing that."

Jeonghan pinching my lips together didn't stop me from smirking. Smacking his hand away, I began racing off, yelling, "Help! Child abuse! Help!"

"Yah!" Jeonghan yelled behind me. I heard his footfalls accelerate and that only made me rush even more. "Get back here, Yoon Aerim! You're in so much trouble!"

I briefly turned around to run backwards to say, "Let's see if you can catch me first!"

"Yah!" he yelled. 

I smirked and turned back around and continued running off. 

Jeonghan eventually caught up to me, panting heavily like a middle-aged old man after a marathon. He held onto one side of my shoulder, which weighed me down. Wow, I didn't know his arm was that heavy. Jeonghan was thin and he looked light but always remember that looks can be deceiving, especially when it came to my oppa. 

"You... you're going the wrong way," he said between heavy pants. He pointed to a restaurant next to my school and said, "Your... your activity is in there. I forgot to tell you the place."

"Mwo?" I looked at him before I slapped his chest. "Don't lie to me, oppa."

"Ow!" Jeonghan flinched and covered the area I slapped. "I'm not lying! Go check for yourself, tsk! Why did Mom bring you back from the hospital when you were born? It would have been better if Mom actually forgot you there!"

"Mwoya?!" I began hitting his upper arm repeatedly. "Aish, I always thought having an oppa was a good thing. I guess I only continued to lie to myself. Having an oppa is such a horrible thing!"

Jeonghan immediately head-locked me and said, "Yah, I'm still older than you. You better take back what you said, Yoon Aerim! I have the right to take away all your dessert privileges! Don't think I don't know that Sungcheol sneaks snacks and give them to you."

I couldn't help but grin as I remember Sungcheol, my older brother's university friend, giving me ice cream every now and then. Sungcheol treated me like an actual little sister and despite my older brother being a stubborn butt and overprotective, Sungcheol still treated me like a better brother. 

"At least he takes better care of me than you do, you butt head!" I told Jeonghan, squirming out of the head-lock. 

"What was that? You dare say my friend takes better care of my sister in front of me? That's it. I'm going to Sungcheol's house to kill him," Jeonghan said, letting me go. 

"Yah!" I stopped him as he slowly walked away. 

Jeonghan turned around, looking hopeful. "Are you going to say I'm the better oppa now?"

I placed my fingers under my chin and gave it a thought. "Hmm, well Sungcheol oppa seems to take better care of me, honestly. I mean, the oppa I have now clearly told me things I didn't understand like stay away from Sanha and everything and how could I clearly follow things I didn't understand? So, well—"

"Yah!" Jeonghan scolded, pouting heavily. It reminded me of my annoying cousin, Yoon Sanha. 

I pointed at the restaurant next to my school and asked, "You said it's in there, right?"

Jeonghan nodded but didn't stop pouting. I can see why Sanha was related to us. There was something about the Yoon boys. They can't stop pouting. Even Daeul.

"Okay," I replied to him, walking away. 

"Yah! Where do you think you're going?" Jeonghan called after me. 

I turned around to face him, but our distance grew wider than it originally was since I walked away. I shrugged and told him, "What? You said it's in there. I'm as late as it is, oppa. Are you really holding me down like this?"

"Aish, whatever then! Go if you want to," Jeonghan said, putting his hands on his hips. It made him look like a middle-aged ahjusshi out on the streets taking a stroll. 

I gave him a teasing smile before I walked into the restaurant. It was oddly dark when I entered but seconds later, the lights came on as well as people popping out of absolutely no where. I flinched back, startled and definitely not expecting something like this. 

"Happy birthday, Yoon Aerim!" they chorused with smiles plastered on their face. 

It took me seconds to react. My face that was blank slowly lighted up as a smile eased up on my lips. All of Astro were here, so was Ayoung and my beloved family. Daeul immediately ran up to me, giving me a big hug. 

"Happy birthday, noona!" Daeul stammered a little with his greeting but he was growing, so that was acceptable. 

"Thank you, my little Daeul!" I lifted him off the ground and gave him the biggest hug, using it to express my feelings for him. 

"Aerim-a! Congrats on turning 16, you grandma," Ayoung greeted, ruffling my hair a little. 

Putting Daeul down, I immediately said to her, "Yah, you said we had an important group meeting or something! What is all of this?"

That was when Jeonghan also entered the restaurant and stood behind me. "Can't you think, pabo-yah? We said all of those to get you here and celebrate the day you were born. Tsk, I knew it was a mistake when I saw Mom hold some alien in her arms then."

I smacked his chest again. "Aish, will you ever stop with that? You became such an annoying brother after the whole 'Mr. Yook' fiasco."

Jeonghan rolled his eyes playfully. "Whatever, Yoon Aerim. You're just mad because I bossed you around while I was admitted in the hospital. And who said you were allowed to smack me that way? I'm not fully recovered, you know?"

"Aigoo, hyung! You're stealing Aerim away from us!" a voice complained. 

I turned my head to the side and saw Sanha approaching me with his usual smile. Though our memories didn't look like they were going to come back ever, we tried to go back to acting like before. After Mr. Yook got arrested, Sanha's mom came out from hiding and my parents—being the kind and loving parents I know and love—welcomed her back to the family. After all, she didn't even need hiding. It was all Mr. Yook's fault.

"Sanha!" I greeted happily.

"Aerim!" Sanha didn't bother to give me a simple, friendly wave. He dived in and gave me a bear hug. 

I slapped his back multiple of times, hoping he'd let go. "I... can't breathe... here!"

Finally, Sanha let me go and chuckled happily. "Sorry and happy birthday!"

I smiled. "Thank you!"

"Aerim-a!" MJ greeted, running up to where we all stood. "Happy birthday!"

"Thanks, oppa!" I said, grinning like a little kid. 

"Happy birthday, Aerim!" the remaining Astro members, Eun Woo, Moonbin, Jin Jin and most especially Rocky, greeted together. 

"Thank you, you guys!" I gushed. 

"Okay, everyone! Let's go on with this! Aerim-a, come here!" Dad called. He sat with Mom on the table located directly in front of the stage. 

I followed Dad's orders and stood in front of him. Mom handed him a microphone and greeted the guests who came together, "Thank you everyone for coming to my daughter's sixteenth birthday. Also, thank you, Astro, for coming, despite your busy schedules."

Jin Jin and the others threw him a thumbs up to show him that it was nothing. 

I smiled at them before waiting for my dad to proceed with this speech I didn't know he worked on. Either he was hard working enough to work on a speech, or he was simply saying whatever words come to his mind. 

"Don't mind my daughter, though. You see, we planned a surprise birthday party for her but I'm quite surprised to find out she didn't even suspect a thing about this whole party. Even when Jeonghan said the most obvious thing this morning," Dad was saying and immediately, my face changed into disbelief. 

"Appa!" I whined, displeased that he was embarrassing me in public.

"That's my pabo sister right there!" Jeonghan yelled somewhere in the room. 

I glared and tried to locate him. He was nowhere to be found, though, much to  my disappointment. No matter, I could simply murder him tonight. We didn't live together for no reason, you know?

Ignoring Jeonghan, I waited for Dad to continue his speech once again. I hope he wouldn't embarrass me out of nowhere again. Once was enough. 

Dad chuckled before he went on, "It's been sixteen years since my daughter has been born, huh? I remember Jeonghan screaming, thinking my wife brought home some alien. Who knew these two ended up growing into trouble makers? I always had to prepare a belt near me. You know what they did then? They hid all my belts that I had to go to work once with loose pants."

People laughed. I did too. I remember those times when Jeonghan and I would run around the house to find a safe place to hide all of Dad's belts. To think that was when I was six. It's been a decade already, huh?

"Enough of old stories. It's time to eat, everyone!" Dad said, ending the speech like that. Everyone in the room clapped, including me. I can't believe I'm already sixteen. 

After we were done eating, we had some free time to mingle around. Mom and Dad talked with their friends whom they invited to my surprise birthday party and I took the time to talk to Astro and Ayoung. I wasn't sure what was Jeonghan doing but I was pretty sure he was taking care of Daeul. For today, he says. That meant I would be back to being the nanny noona of Daeul tomorrow.

"I can't believe Aerim's already sixteen! It felt like only yesterday she was fifteen," Sanha said, staring into oblivion with a proud smile on his face. 

I knocked the side of his head. "That's because it was only yesterday I was still fifteen, pabo!"

Sanha massaged the area I knocked and sheepishly smiled. "Oh, keurae? Then I should have said: it felt like only yesterday we just met."

"And to think my best friend's on-screen boyfriend ended up being her cousin." Ayoung shuddered at the thought. "That is just wrong in every way."

"No one asked for your opinion, Choi Ayoung," I said, laughing afterwards. "I gotta admit, though. It was really wrong to act all lovey dovey with Sanha. Especially after finding out he was my cousin. You can't believe it!"

Ayoung smirked and whispered something only I heard, "At least you found love in the same group, right?"

Ayoung was glancing at Rocky a lot and grinned at me. I only felt uncomfortable by this. My cheeks were slowly burning up and my body warmed up like I was in some sauna room. 

You could already guess what happened between Rocky and I in the past five months. 

"We'll come visit you often, Yoon Aerim! We'll even pick you up from school, how does that sound?" asked MJ, raising his cup up. 

"Mwo? Pick me up from school?" I was this close to kicking his shin. "What do you take me for? A little kid?"

MJ ruffled my hair excitedly. "You'll always remain a kid to me, Yoon Aerim."

I nearly bit his arm off because he ruffled my hair messily. As if Sungcheol oppa and Jeonghan oppa hasn't done enough of that to me. 

"Remember to visit often, okay?" Jin Jin reminded, giving me a brotherly smile. 

Eun Woo and Moonbin nodded next to him. Moonbin even gave me a thumbs up. 

"Arasso, arasso! I won't forget to visit," I told them, smiling. 

"Even if she doesn't visit, I'll bring you all to her house! Then we can play with Daeul and—" Sanha was saying but I immediately smack the back of his head.

"Yah! Who are you to bring people over to my house? What are you? Do you live with me or something? Tsk, pabo!" I said, rolling my eyes. I can't believe I'm related to him. 

"I can't believe I have you for a cousin! You're so abusive!" Sanha whined, massaging the back of his head. 

"You're a guy! You're supposed to be able to take a hit from a girl, since guys always claim they're stronger," I told him. 

"But I'm not strong!"

"No one cares if you are." Having Sanha as a cousin meant I could easily get away after dissing him. I'm not those type of cousins who took care of their cousins. I was more of the type who teases them a lot, since I found that the most comfortable. 

The others only laughed at the interaction between two cousins who only remembered and met each other years later. I caught Rocky staring at me the whole time with a wide smile on his face and I only smiled back, feeling all warm inside once again. I wonder when I'll ever get used to this feeling he gives me.

✯~✯ ~ ✯

That night, I spent the entire night opening presents all the guests left for me. I received presents from all except one. There was only one person who didn't give me a gift and he was asking me to meet him at this time of night. 8pm was not the time I expected to get my gift but obviously, he wanted to see me now. 

Sighing, I grabbed a jacket and headed out after telling Jeonghan where I was going. He wanted to follow me but I told him that it was completely unnecessary. I said I'd be back soon and left. 

Out in the cold, down at the playground near my apartment, I saw a figure waiting by the swings. I smiled to myself and sneaked behind him, throwing my hands around him and shouting, "Boo!"

"Ah!" He fell off the swing and onto the sandy ground of the playground. He looked up and saw my face and complained, "Yah! Yoon Aerim! I told you to stop doing that!"

I sheepishly smiled and took a seat on the other empty seat of the swing, shrugging. "No promises, oppa."

Rocky smiled and stood up from the ground, brushing his hands together before he lightly flicked my forehead. "What a mean girlfriend."

I felt my body heat up once again as my head fell downwards. I would never get used to the way he calls me his girlfriend, even if we weren't officially dating. He and I promised that we'd only get together once I was of legal age, which was two years from now. As of now, he'll keep acting like I was really his girlfriend. 

"Oh? Blushing already? If you're going to be like this, how would you react to my future actions, huh?" Rocky asked, wearing a teasing smile. 

I looked away, blushing once again. I just imagined what would happen if he suddenly hugged me out of nowhere. I would definitely freak out and blush like crazy. 

Shaking my head, I didn't want to think of future events right now. It was still too early. Turning my attention to Rocky, I asked him with a grin, "So, where's my present?"

Rocky smiled and looked forward, avoiding my gaze as he continued to stare at the old, stationery store in front there. It was those old-style of shops. The ones you'd find or see when you were a kid. "Well..."

"Well what?" I asked, a little impatient. I was anticipating his present the most, since he was the most important person to me. As cheesy as it was, it was true. 

He fumbled inside his pocket and stuck his fist up. Whatever my present was, it definitely was something that could fit inside his fist. My eyes moved from looking at him to his fist repeatedly. 

What could it be?

Rocky kept switching fists and I got confused. I ended up smacking his chest, complaining, "Yah! Why are you doing this? That's mean of you, oppa."

Rocky only laughed and finally opened the fist that had nothing in it. With the same free hand, he ruffled my hair playfully. "Sorry. You're just so adorable."

I bit onto my bottom lip and avoided his gaze as I continued asking, "W-what's the gift?"

"Aigoo, you cutie." Rocky couldn't help but drown me in suspense. 

"You're really going to do this, Minhyuk oppa?"

Rocky shrugged. "Why not?"

"Tsk. If I'm just going to get teased like this, I should go home. Bye—"

Once I stood up, Rocky also stood up and opened his fist, revealing a Pandora bracelet—something I've been wanting for the last two months. Finally, right in front of me, was one in light blue. It was absolutely beautiful. 

"I hope you like it," Rocky said shyly, handing it to me. 

"Like it? Are you kidding me? I'm sure you are. You know I freaking love it!" I told him, lifting it up carefully with my hands. 

Rocky laughed. "What are you doing? It's yours. You don't have to pick it up that way."

"I'm afraid it might break," I confessed. 

"Yah, it's not that weak, okay? It represents you. It may look weak and fragile but it's actually stronger than you think it is. You were able to go through all those scary times all alone. Sure, there were probably times you failed but this is reality! When did everything go right every time? All hard times are thrown at you to make you a stronger person and I like how it shaped you into the Yoon Aerim I know and love now." Rocky gave me a smile before he pulled me closer until I was in his arms, comforted by the warmth of his body. 

"What do you think you're doing?" Being at such a close distance with Rocky was probably not a good idea. Sure, I was used to hugs and everything but when it came to hugging someone you liked, you couldn't help but feel shy. 

Rocky didn't say anything. He only pressed his hands against my cheeks, pulling my head closer until his delicate, soft lips touched my forehead. My eyes closed on its own and my heart began doing cartwheels. 

What Rocky said was true. I always thought I was a strong girl until I began facing all these scary things I couldn't understand and handle. Then I realized I lied to myself all along. The beauty of facing all these things? My lie ended up turning into a truth.

I don't know what the future will hold since I was still young, but I could tell from here on now, I would spend it with Astro, Ayoung and my two brothers happily. For all I knew, I could end up getting married to Rocky in the future, see Jeonghan and Sanha grow more annoying because of that and finally see Daeul in high school, breaking girls' hearts. I wasn't sure what it would look like in the future, but it would be as bright as a star.

~Author's Notes~

Hello, guys! You have reached the end of the book, heol! In all honesty, I have no idea what this story has turned into but I hope you still found this enjoyable. There are a few mistakes and typos that I will need to revisit and recheck but I'm actually still editing Under One Roof so that will that time. 

[there, aeevsha! I updated! ;)]

ABOUT THE BOOK 

This story was a challenge to write, that's probably why the updates took long. I'm really sorry if this story wasn't what you expected it to be. This was slightly forced and it was crappy but if you're a reader from the start until the end here, know that I love you for liking whatever crap I wrote here <333

Since this story is now completed, I'm not sure if I'll be writing another Astro fanfiction. I still have my Joshua fanfiction to write and I'm hoping to end it before August since I have a surprise story I'm hoping I could publish at that time ;) 

We'll see what happens in the future, okay, Kimichies? <333

Thank you for all the nice comments, votes and the support you have given both me and this book! I will do my best to improve myself if this story of mine has disappointed you (because in my opinion, this wasn't one of my greatest works) but I will hopefully improve! *^^*

If you still have any questions to ask, don't hesitate to leave comments down below and I'll do my best to reply to them! :)))))

I don't have much to say here, so I'll leave this author's note short! Thank you once again! Take care! Byuuuung! *^^*

xoxo

Byun Sang Kyung