I have two weeks left before graduation :') then hopefully I have more freetime

I'm EXTREMELY sorry I haven't updated this book in a little over two months. I could make up a hundred excuses about why I've been slacking with my writing but, to be truthful, I just haven't had much motivation these days since I have a lot of things in my mind.

Anyways, hopefully this will be the last unexpected months-long hiatus for this book <3

=

Yoonji opened her eyes, dull blue orbs gradually adjusting to the sunset's last rays seeping through the living room, emitting a warm glow throughout the entirety of the white walls. The shadows of the late evening slowly caught up, crawling downward little by little until they reached the baseboard separating the painted wall from the wooden flooring. Her vision eventually focused on the high ceiling of the penthouse— giving her the opportunity to recollect her thoughts and memories.

She was laying on the couch. It was the first thing she concluded after she felt the cushions beneath her lower back. The second conclusion was that her head was on someone's lap and so were her feet. She also realized that someone's head was covering her view of the unreachable ceiling.

Blue eyes stared into her own. A comforting look masked the teeth-gnawing worry underneath the surface— underneath that tough facade. The same facade that constantly reassured Yoonji that everything would be fine and loneliness would never catch up to her as long as it was around.

As long as those eyes— those calming, blue shores— repeatedly played the tune of noiseless waves, the tune of each grain of sand hitting the bottom of an hourglass, and putting her in a continuous trance that pushed her to believe she could effortlessly jump over any hurdle...

The waves and the hourglass had distracted her once more.

How was she supposed to jump over a hurdle when her feet were surrounded in hardening cement? With her feet unwillingly bound to the ground?

But she had to remind herself that the blue shores never once left her side.

That the distraction was for her own good— for the sake of preventing her mental health from spiralling down like it did back when... when...

"Gi. Seokie." Yoonji whispered, a vivid image of her brother and the brown-eyed boy, who she only had the pleasure of knowing for a short time, flashed before her— as if she had recently seen them in order to refresh her fading memories.

"Gummie, can you hear me?" Jimin brushed dark strands out of her face, the feeling of the cold pads of his fingers against her cheek soothing her nerves.

He only ever called her that when something was wrong— when he sensed that she wasn't in the best state. When...

Was something wrong?

Something must have—

Then it slowly dawned on her.

The faces she saw before her mind went blank and the last thing she remembered was Junsu catching her mid-fall.

The feeling of betrayal. The feeling of broken trust. The feeling of the utter heartbreak she experienced the second her deep blue eyes landed on reposeful sand and emerald flames.

The second she saw two exact replicas of angels she once knew. Two angels who retreated back to heaven and abandoned her not long after death had taken away her own mother.

Angels... that never intended to stay.

"Gi. Seokie." Yoonji slowly repeated, mind no longer in its previous haze.

She remembered.

Remembered entering the penthouse.

Remembered greeting his older brother and nephew.

She couldn't miss the pairs of eyes staring straight at her as she made her presence known— orbs filled with curiosity as one held the image of beautiful sand dunes while the other sported a tranquilizing forest in the deepest of valleys.

Yoonji slowly pushed herself off of Jimin's lap, legs falling off of Junsu's thighs, as she sat up to recollect her thoughts and surroundings. She looked up, realizing the Kims were sitting across from them on the other couch.

Right... they were supposedly planning to have dinner together before she had unexpectedly blacked out.

She turned to Jimin, meeting his eyes once again. "Jimin-Oppa... I-I wasn't seeing things was I? T-they— Gi-Oppa, Seokie-Oppa— they looked just like them."

The man displayed an anguished look in response to the sight of his younger sister's distraught state.

"Yoonji, relax." Jimin soothingly brought his hand up, softly patting her hair in an attempt to ease the tension off her shoulders. The next series of words coming out of his mouth would be a lie. It would be best not to tell the truth— at least for the time being— about what Yoonji saw after entering the penthouse. "I have no clue what you're talking abou—"

He was cut off by the sound of a familiar beep resonating through the penthouse, one which informed them of a person's entrance through the front door.

Fuck, it was most likely Jaegeun.

Everyone's heads turned toward the door, watching as the blonde stepped inside the penthouse.

It'd been a couple hours since he brought his two groupmates over to finalize their project. With Jimin's reaction, Yoonji fainting, and a heavy blanket of confusion in the air, Jaegeun was glad that Yoongi and Hoseok decided not to question the situation any further. The three high schoolers worked in silence, ignoring the clear tension circulating the Parks' penthouse. After finally finishing the project they've been working on for the past week, Jaegeun walked the two older boys out of the place.

Of course, it was very awkward walking past his family who eyed Hoseok and Yoongi with a sense of sadness and longing through all of their orbs

It was as if they hadn't felt the sand underneath their feet and the warmth of a flickering flame against the palm of their hands for an excruciatingly long time.

The green-eyed male thought it was for the best if they didn't stay for dinner and Yoongi agreed. Jaegeun only nodded knowing it was only right considering he still wasn't sure what was happening with his dad and aunt.

Though that didn't stop the disappointment bubbling in the pit of his stomach.

"They just left. Jackson-ssi's driving both of them back to school since Hoseok left his bike there." Jaegeun informed them, hands behind his back as he awkwardly stood with everyone's eyes boring into his own.

At the mention of the familiar name, Yoonji's head turned toward her nephew. Her mind was almost immediately fogged by a dark forest of remembrance. "H-Hoseok?"

She pushed herself off the couch, walking toward the high schooler. Jimin followed behind her, steps wary as he watched her every move.

"Yeah... do you know him?" Jaegeun asked slowly. He thought it'd be the perfect time to pry some answers out regarding his family's odd behavior.

The blonde widened his eyes when Yoonji bursted into tears, hands badly trembling as she held a tight grip on his right arm.

Or maybe not. He thought with a panicked look.

"Geun-ah, c-call them back. P-please. Call them b-back." His aunt cried out in heartbreaking whispers of a scream. Her voice was desperate, pupils contracting due to the heavy blanket of sadness washing over her face. Blue orbs quivering along with thin lips as her skin seemed to pale even more than usual as she pleaded and begged the boy. "I-I need to see them! J-Jaegeun— Geun-ah, please!"

Her nephew stood frozen, not knowing what to do or how to respond. He could only watch as Jimin managed to loosen her grip around his son's wrist. Junsu came behind and gently pulled her by the waist and away from the stunned high schooler. Namjoon and Jin remained standing close to the couch they were previously seated on as they shared a look of sympathy while watching Yoonji's breakdown. Cheolmin and Gyuri (who woke up from her short nap due to all the commotion) seemed to be just as confused as he was.

What the hell was happening?

Taking one last look at the younger woman, Jimin quietly closed her bedroom door to let her finally get the rest she needed.

It was a quarter past eight when Yoonji passed out once again— this time, from sheer exhaustion due to her wounded emotions and pained crying.

The Kims eventually left after Jimin assured them he'd be fine handling everything by himself for the rest of the night. Jackson had also gone home after dropping off Hoseok and Yoongi since he didn't have anyone else to drive. Gyuri still had to sleep over due to her absent parents so her and Jaegeun were conversing in his room— probably addressing the mutual confusion they had over the whole situation.

Yoonji's boyfriend decided to stay a little longer to check up on her which Jimin didn't mind. His concern was a clear sign to the older man that Junsu truly cared for her.

Seo Junsu

If Jimin had to admit, his little sister did have good taste in men. He hadn't had many chances to interact with the other guy but judging by first impression, he was exceptionally well-mannered and carried an admirable confidence in their relationship. According to all the stories Yoonji told him, Junsu was fairly intelligent and worked a nine to five job as an accountant in a private office close to his apartment.

The younger male also wasn't bad-looking at all— Jimin could probably bet he was popular back in college because of it. Although fully-dressed, anyone could tell he kept his figure in shape even after his two-year military service. He was younger than Yoonji by five years yet it only made him all the more charming (especially with those almond, blue eyes and parted, brown hair).

Of course, Jimin was against the relationship at first due to the age gap. His reaction was expected and his little sister was aware of his concerns. Thankfully, he eventually warmed up to the man after a couple of small conversations through video calls with his little sister while he was still living abroad.

Yoonji was happy with him and that's all that mattered.

"I think it's time for me to go now." Junsu spoke up from behind him after Jimin softly shut the door to Yoonji's bedroom.

The older man turned around, facing the guy. "It's getting a bit late, isn't it? You should stay for the night and I'll make breakfast for everyone tomorrow morning since it's a Saturday. Do you have work on the weekend?"

"Um... not this weekend, at least." The younger answered, rubbing the back of his neck in thought.

"Perfect. You can sleep in the guest room down the hall." Jimin smiled kindly. "The other guest room isn't really free anymore since it's basically Gyuri's room now."

Junsu nodded slowly, still unsure. "It's fine, hyung. I wouldn't want to intrude."

"Intrude?" The older repeated followed by a laugh. "We're not strangers anymore, Junsu-ah. You're part of our family now. You're welcomed to stay anytime— in the guest room, that is. Ji's room is off limits for you."

The taller brunet blinked dumbfoundedly, not catching the last part since he was still stuck on one particular word.

Family...

Someone considered him family.

He couldn't help but smile warmly at the thought.

"I'm gonna go check on Jaegeun and Gyuri before I head to bed myself. We've all had a long, confusing day." Jimin sighed, patting the other guy's back. "My room's on the other side of the hall if you need anything. Night, Junsu-ah."

The younger man nodded. "Night, hyung."

=

I figured it'd be a good idea to write everyone's ages down in an author's note to refresh your minds (not korean age):

Jimin: 36

Jaegeun, Hoseok, Chan, Felix: 17 (all fourth-years in high school)

Yoongi: 18 (also a fourth-year)

Cheolmin: 16 (third-year)

Gyuri, Chunhei, Bomi: 14 (first-years)

*disclaimer: younger Cara didn't really do her research when she wrote OE and wasn't aware that high school is only 3 years in Korea. I don't have time to edit the story so I'm just gonna have to keep the 4-year high school system like we have have here in the U.S so sorry about that 😔*

Namjoon: 37

Seokjin: 38

Yoonji: 29

Junsu: 24

Jackson: 54