"Your manager boy is quite good at his work. I still call him 'manager boy' just to see him becoming uncomfortable as hell. He's so defenceless it's so cute," Sera said with a smile.

She was sat, with her hips glued to the ground, opposite to a headstone that had 'Kim Seokjin' titled onto it. A bunch of white roses rested by the base of it. It was Seokjin's 3rd death anniversary.

"He's used to it, when I do address him as the owner, he's always taken aback and a bit scared, he thinks I only call him that when I'm serious. He's right though. Business with him is so smooth, he's holding onto the reputation you created for the restaurant very well."

/Sera was doing well as a cafe owner now. It had been 3 years since she sold her club, she even recommended her Etiquettes employees to the new buyer, she didn't want them to suffer because of her impromptu decision. They respected her decision and was thankful for her recommendation. Her cafe started a partnership with Seokjin's old restaurant which was now under his trusted ex-manager not too long ago. All in all, work life was pretty relaxed for Sera now./

"Enough about business and stuff, I have news. You're the type of person who'd want to know about how I'm doing, even if you're not, I'm telling anyway. It's my 2nd year in my relationship today! You might even remember, last year also I had mentioned about my first anniversary."

"What else is new with me this year?" she continued. "Well, remember last year I said I was getting better at cooking, I'm much much more better now, I can even cook your recipes from your cookbook."

Footsteps neared Sera and she turned her back to have a look hoping to find a random stranger visiting the nearby grave. That just it wasn't a stranger. 

"You know, you look like a fool talking to yourself like that," Yoongi's raspy voice reverberated as he approached Seokjin's grave.

"Use your common sense, I'm just talking to him. And even if I was talking to myself, I have the right not to be judged," Sera replied.

"To the dead? To the stone?" Yoongi snickered. "Anyway, I wasn't expecting you here, it's surprising. I didn't find you here the last two years, so why now?"

"I was here both the years, it's not necessary that we happen to meet because we both came at the same time. Again, common sense!" Sera grabbed her purse and stood up, dusting the back of her hips. "Anyway, I'll give you privacy though I wanted to speak more to him, feels like he'll want more news from me."

"Please, that was so stupid and useless," Yoongi muttered as he took the spot Sera was previously seated on.

"Just a helpful fact before I go, someone once told me that the soul of the dead is connected to their bodily counterpart buried on earth, whatever you'll communicate with them, they'll hear it from their afterlife. And if you're smart enough, I don't need to tell you who that someone was. So stop being a prick and say something to him, he'll want that and he'll listen to it." Sera said and walked away.

○◆○

Sera was sat on her couch, her fingers swishing through the raven locks of Jeongguk who had his head lying on her lap. Sera had developed a special bond with the boy over the course of time. He was now one of her many friends. She had finally learned to open up to people and make friends with them. She changed a lot in the last 3 years, her lifestyle changed a lot. The beginnings of it all were through infinitesimal steps that brought about such drastic changes. 

/After Jimin left, she had tried to look for hobbies on Rowoon's strict demand. Sera decided she had to let go for her past completely first, and she came up with an idea to ensure that both  Rowoon's approach and hers were adapted. She began penning down her experiences with life. She was no writer but it was an autobiography, she just had to be herself. She felt much better when she was finished with her leisurely but also therapeutic draft. Sera also contributed to publish a book on Seokjin's website, one that helped pass on her knowledge on the dark world. When the e-book gained views, she also gained confidence in her writing. That had led to her editing her autobiography and getting it to be out for the world to read. And that was how Sera's second and her last book blew up after it was published under the title 'Sins'.

Her life went back to just the cafe after that. But it was peaceful. She felt content knowing people liked even one of the work she wrote. She had employees that loved her, many friends, including Jeongguk and Taehyung. Even though Yoongi didn't appear much in her life after Seokjin's death, Hyejin made sure the man( now her husband) wasn't rude whenever Sera was around. For record, Hyejin didn't have any bad blood with Sera, she was still her very good friend. As a matter of fact, Hyejin and Sera's all other friends would, in a heartbeat, confirm they preferred the new Sera over her three years ago.

Rowoon and Hongnan had moved out of Sera's house. Hongnan graduated and was now working a well-paying job, enough to afford the lease of an apartment independently. Rowoon was married to a fine gentleman. Sera didn't mind them moving, for she now had her boyfriend living with her. As for Hoseok, well, he was, now, her boyfriend of exactly 2 years./

Fat tears rolled down Jeongguk's eyes, the liquid wetting Sera's thigh alerting the woman.

"Ggukie, don't cry, please. It's not worth crying," she said to Jeongguk.

"He shouldn't have said that, noona. It's hurts," Jeongguk replied.

"Come on, Ggukie! You've been crying for like how many minutes now. You and I both know it wasn't what Taehyung meant. Go and talk to him. I bet it'll take just 5 minutes for you to patch up. As much as I love you, I have work to do so I wouldn't mind to kick you out, so get up."

"You sure it won't become worse if I talk to him?"

"Of course, it won't, you adult-baby!"

/Jeongguk sat up and Sera wiped his tears away. Jeongguk was the easiest one for her to bond with. He was so alike her brother Dosik that she couldn't stay away from him. Even though Sera always pretended that she hated Dosik, she never actually completely did. And after her re-birth three years ago, she confirmed that she didn't hate him at all. Since that day, she had had been longing to meet him. That longing's thirst was quenched when Dosik gave her a surprise visit a year ago.

He wanted to apologise and reconcile with his sister, and Sera wanted no better. She was madly craving for the reunion. Dosik announced that he was going to be a father soon. He also wanted Sera to go back to Daegu with him. Sera had politely rejected. She also went extra miles to brainwash him against his field of work. A few emotional advances like questioning the safety of his then unborn child and examples from their own childhood had sealed the trick very well. When he had left her house that day, he was a changed man. Sera now had a cute niece and a sister-in-law back at Daegu. When she visited the city to meet with them both, she had also reconciled with her mother./

Jeongguk was about to reach the door when it flung open by an entering Hoseok. Jeongguk ran out without meeting the man's eye and Hoseok closed the door puzzled.

"What's with him?" Hoseok asked.

"He's not feeling well. Had lover's quarell with Taehyung. You're back early today? It's just 4."

Hoseok had been the best boyfriend. The things that Sera ever wanted, those she failed to receive from both Yoongi or Jimin, Hoseok was to provide her all that. A lovely, charming and loving man who had no ounce of dirt on him, unlike Sera's unpure, stained soul. And that was what Sera wanted, someone to balance and complete her. Hoseok wasn't a drug dealer, he wasn't a drug- abuser, or an alcoholic or a smoker. And it would irk him if someone glorified it, he hated those habits. The only thing that he was even remotely addicted to would be the commercial soda Sprite. He was the most important factor why Sera was now completed recovered from alcoholism. 

Hoseok smirked. "Why are you back so early, today? I could ask the same."

Sera smiled and opened her arms. "Come here." Hoseok ran in for a warm, tight hug and a kiss.

"Happy 2nd anniversary. Sorry for not wishing you in the morning," Sera said.

"Happy anniversary to my favourite girl in the world too. And I left early because we have plans today."

"We do?" 

Hoseok nodded enthusiastically.

"Well then, boyfie, I left early because I was expecting it."

"You ruined my surprise though, I wanted to come surprise you at the cafe."

"I'm sorry, honey. On the bright side, you wouldn't have wasted fuel going to the cafe. And you can still surprise me, I don't know what plans we have."

"For the time being, dinner!" Hoseok said and kissed her cheek.

"There's more to come?"

"Maybe. But hey, we still have time for the dinner, let's go cuddle, yeah?"

"Let's go!" Sera said excitedly. "I have gossips on Tae and Ggukie!"

"Again! For the hundredth time, I don't want to hear what weird stuff my cousin does with his boyfriend. Why do you even obsess over their relationship so much?"

"Just because I can," Sera shrugged innocently.

○◆○

Hoseok and Sera patiently sipped on their wine, eyes lovingly lingering on each other's, waiting for their last course and dessert to arrive. They were at a 5-star restaurant. It surely was a surprise when Sera reached the place, it was a extremely expensive restaurant and that both fascinated and worried Sera. The fact that her man would stretch his limits to afford such dining for her! 

Hoseok was now a convenience store owner. He had been the owner of a dance studio till two months back. It came off as a huge shock to Sera and everyone surrounding Hoseok when he announced he was giving up his dance career. Taehyung and Sera tried multiple times at making him open up, there surely must've been something, some difficulty that made him quit his passion. It was all in vain, Hoseok refused to give them such an answer. It was financially better to put a cease on the dancing career and invest somewhere else, that was the man's reasoning.

"The dessert will be here any minute," Hoseok said.

"Yeah," Sera smiled.

"Before it comes, I have the last surprise and your gift for you," he said soothingly.

"Oh, you brought your gift, I didn't know, mine's still back at home. If I had known—"

"Relax, beautiful. It's alright," he ensured.

"You come up with new names everyday, these past weeks," Sera tried to hide his blushing cheeks with her palms. "I swear, for the past 2 months, I feel like we're starting all over again, like I am falling for you all over again."

"Isn't that exciting!" Hoseok pulled out a ring box out of his pocket. "My final gift to you tonight." He opened the box and revealed the beautiful ring inside. "I want this to be the final night you'll address me as your boyfriend. Let me be your fiance from now on. Will you marry me, Geum Sera?"

It was as if the time had frozen for Sera. On the other hand, back at Taehyung's house, him, his boyfriend, Rowoon and Hongnan were having the time of their life, drinking and partying; betting if Sera would cry or not. They were all pre-informed about the proposal.

Sera extended her hand towards him, the other hand grabbed her fast-beating chest. "In a heartbeat." Hoseok slided the ring on her finger to fix it at its base.

"So pretty," he said.

Tears rolled down Sera eyes. "I never thought—I really never thought that something like this would happen to someone like me. Like someone would want to seal bond with me. It's so weird, I'm so happy."

"You shouldn't cry baby," Hoseok ascended from the comfort of his seat and walked to Sera's chair to wipe her tears. "I thought the same about me too, but here we are." He patted her head.

"What's wrong with you? You're perfect," Sera complained.

"And what's wrong with you? You deserve love, I deserve love. We are meant for each other Sera."

"I love you."

"I love you too." Hoseok pulled her into a kiss.

"You don't do your happy dance anymore," Sera said smiling. Not just the happy dance, but he didn't even dance anymore, she wanted to say, but decided against it. Since the day he quit his previous job, there wasn't a dancing Hoseok anymore too. And that concerned his woman.

"Congratulations madam and sir," a waiter interrupted, a beautiful cake standing on the plate he carried. A few other waiters were accompanying him.

"Dessert's here," Hoseok said and went back to his seat. The cake with the congratulatory message was placed on the table. The waiters started clapping and congratulating them, while one of them made two slices of the cake and served to the both.

"Wow, you really thought this through, huh? The surprising thing," Sera laughed.

"I did some research on the internet," Hoseok replied.

The both finished their dessert and left for home. Hoseok was driving while Sera obsessed over the beautiful engagement ring.

"Did you tell the others about this?" Sera asked.

"Yeah, bros and girls. I regretted it instantly. I doubted if they could keep this a secret."

"Yeah. Bet they are betting if I would have cried or not."

Hoseok smiled. "The plans aren't over yet, you know."

"What, are we going to show up to their place now?"

"What? No, that's not what I meant, darling."

"Ohh!" Realization dawned over the woman. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

He smirked and nodded. 

When they reached their house, Sera rushed out of the car hastily. "Take your time, honey. Maybe, go tell Jeongguk and the others that I said yes. I'm gonna go get myself ready for you," she seductively winked.

When Sera left, Hoseok dragged his car to the car shed uncomfortably slowly. When he saw their room upstairs light up, he opened his car's storage compartment. He slowly traced back a pack of the infamous Indigo cigarettes from it. Lighting one up, he brought the cancerous stick to his lips. Taking a few puffs, he exited his car. After he was satisfied, he walked to the gate and threw the used stick out. Turning back, he slowly walked towards the house. 

As he walked, he clasped his horizontally extended hands and stretched his hands and shoulder. He then, sluggishly, tilted his head from side to side, stretching his neck muscles as clacks sounded at each stretch, his shoulders rolling right after.

○

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Loud voices echoed in the dark earth. Voices capable of melting the gravest ghouls. The other souls in the graveyard looked at one of the graves pitiably. The one grave that was the source of the voice. 

"Who is that?" one soul asked the other. They were seated on a random grave in the graveyard of Angel's Church and Orphanage.

"Even I don't know. I'm not familiar with the old spirits here. This one is very recent though. The voices started only 2 months ago. Whoever stuck in here seems new to this world, why else wouldn't he know how to come out of that grave, it must suck being stuck inside it. But, you know, that grave is an old one though. It doesn't make sense, does it?"

"Didn't you try telling him how to get out of that?"

"It's like the person can't hear me or something. He never responds. Just always yells for people to help him just like he's doing now."

Both the souls stared at the grave that read 'Kim Namjoon'.

"Help me!" voices came from inside the grave. "I'm tired of this, please. Please save me. Eomma, appa, noona, Sera, Taehyung. Sera! Taehyung-ah, save hyung, please...please...please..."

"Save me..."

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