(Y/N) POV:

I remain curled up next to Mi-sun unnie, eyes vacantly staring at the TV and the light rom-com she'd picked for the two of us to watch. But I can't seem to focus on it or grasp onto anything- regardless of how easy it is to focus on the plot. The actors are moving on screen, displaying some incredibly sweet moments but I just can't bring myself to gush and squeal over them. 

"(Y/N).... (Y/N)." I feel myself being shaken.

I blink away the slight glazed feeling to sit up from where I've been leaning into unnie, curled up next to her on the couch. I look at her and note the sad expression on her face and when her hand comes to cup my cheek and push away the strands of my hair, I lean and melt into the touch- soothed by these small touches.

"Sweetheart you need to get out and get some fresh air. Why don't you turn back to your hobbies again? You were happy." She says, eyes soft and concerned as she looks at me.

I sigh, eyes dropping to stare at the blanket the two us had been cuddling under.

"Unnie I don't know if I can see them." I mumble.

"See who?" she presses.

"There are some people that I've slowly started warming upto. Have started seeing them as friends...but I think I disappointed them, pushed them away when I ran out when I felt the calling." I mumble.

She sighs, fond and sad.

"Sweetheart look at me..." she waits until my eyes slide up to meet hers.

"I think you might be thinking wrong. I think you're also afraid of truly letting them grow close." She says, somehow able to see right through me.

Able to see that it's not so much how we'd left things last time but how I was scared of letting them in too close, how I'd formed an attachment of sorts and was scared where it would take me.

And a part of me somehow knew that they'd understand, that if I told them something came up they'd give me that space, they'd be there for me.

And I couldn't decide whether the thought terrified me more or warmed me more.

"I'm scared of things going wrong. I'm scared of getting close to them." I confess.

She sighs and looks at me understandingly.

"You can't let that fear stop you from living. You can't let fear stop you from having a chance at being happy sweetheart." She says softly.

And I know she's right. That her and oppa have always been the voice of reasoning, have always urged me to slowly step out of my comfort zone, to see life in colours other than black and white.

"She's right...for once." Habaek oppa says as he enters, face splitting into a smile when it rouses a giggle out of me.

"Wanna start off by going to dinner with me?" he asks, voice hopeful as he approaches.

Mi-sun unnie gives me a nudge, stretching outwards and dislodging me slightly and laughing even as I grab onto her all of a sudden, eyes widening with surprise.

"Go ahead darling. I'm beat." She says yawning.

"And besides, I need to know whether the bridesmaid will ever become the bride! I hate her sister too." She huffs, refocusing her attention on the screen and pressing play.

And as Habaek oppa offers me a hand to help me up, I feel a slither of the playful me slip out and I purposely block her sight as I leave, giggling when she protests.

Maybe I'll watch the movie later, properly this time.

And pad off to change.

----

I smile when Habaek oppa pulls us to stand outside a barbecue place, rolling my eyes fondly at him when he tugs imploringly at the loose sleeve of my shirt, pulling a cute expression at me.

"Come on (Y/N)~ let me treat you to BBQ, I'll throw in dessert too." He bargains.

I let out a small laugh as I tug him in.

"That's a given." I say, falling silent as we enter the slightly busy BBQ place, heading over to a free table.

Habaek oppa quickly calls over for salad and side dishes alongside orders for meat for him to grill and when it arrives on a laden tray he deftly begins to place it onto the heated grill, tongs, and scissors at the ready and gloves on.

"It's been ages since we've come to these places." He laments, smiling at me over the slight steam that begins to curl and float between us.

He takes time and precision to grill the meat, attuned to just how long it takes, which pieces will require longer and just what size to cut the meat into, placing it onto my plate and his.

He groans happily around his first mouthful, eyes going wide at the taste and I can't help but smile at the happiness he displays at enjoying the food.

He gestures to me with his chopsticks, nodding his head at me.

"Eat up, you're looking far too sick and unfed." He insists, tongs diving back to take the grilled meat and pile it onto our plates, adding to the portion he's already put there.

"You are not leaving until I'm satisfied you've eaten properly. I will not have my cherub wasting away." He insists.

His concern and habitual fussing makes me smile and I pick up my chopsticks to start eating, taking small slow mouthfuls to allow myself to properly chew and swallow- not knowing whether or not my stomach will reject it, just as it had been doing these past few days.

But the food doesn't make my stomach churn and Habaek oppa can't hold back the look of fondness and immense relief when I continue to eat, tucking into his food with more gusto and calling out for an order of noodles. 

I go to put food on his plate from the side dishes- it's an easy, normal habitual task; one that we've all unconsciously attuned ourselves to doing, to putting food on each other's plate as we eat and yet the beaming grin he sends me makes it feel somehow more special.

And as I'm piling food onto his plate, I sense someone step close towards our table and turn expecting it to be the ahjumma or ahjussi to be bringing the noodles oppa ordered.

But when I turn with a grateful smile, ready to take the bowls I pause when I catch onto two pair of legs and slowly trail my eyes up, stiffening when they catch onto who it is. The smile slides off my face and I feel my stomach churn, twist unpleasantly.

I feel my eyes widen and I shift. 

Because standing in front of me are Seokjin and Namjoon- eyes equally wide and bodies frozen.

As if they too can't believe what's in front of them.

JIN POV:

"Yah Namjoon-ah, let's stop and eat. I'm hungry." I whine as I tug at his arm, pouting when he turns to grin at me.

"Ahh hyung I told you that you didn't need to wait for me after you finished work, now the others will have had dinner by now too." He says, looking at me fondly and exasperated.

"Why not? Can't I want to spend time with my lovely Joonie baby?" I coo, leaning forward to pinch his cheek, smiling when he flushes under the streetlights.

He sighs.

"Okay hyung, I guess I can treat you to dinner. What do you fancy?" he asks.

I grin.

"Let's go have BBQ and now that you've said it, I'm going to order loads." I tease as I step forward, snagging his hand to tug him eagerly behind me as I hurry towards the restaurant, mind already wandering to what I'll order.

He laughs but keeps pace and we step through to the warm, slightly busy restaurant, the smell of meat and rice rising alongside the din of chatter as people eat at tables.

I move forward to get to a table of two, weaving in and out of the small crowds of people, hand tight on Joon as I walk when I suddenly freeze, eyes catching onto a table. Namjoon comes stumbling into me, nearly sending the two of us careening had it not been for the way his arm came to wrap around my stomach, tugging me back into him.

"Hyung! You don't just stop in the middle of walking." He says, but I'm focused on the sight of a table.

Staring intently at it feeling should I blink the image will melt away like a mirage leaving the sight of something else in its stead.

But the sight doesn't go and when I dare blink and my eyes fly open, it remains there.

"Hyung what are you—" Namjoonie asks, head coming over my shoulder to follow my line of sight before he too realises.

"Isn't that (Y/N)?" he asks.

I nod.

Because after a week or so of radio silence, of her suddenly vanishing as if she'd never existed, she's there in plain sight, she's there sitting at a table.

Even though I'd heard from Jiminie, Hobi and Kookie somehow it felt unreal and yet the sight in front of my eyes becomes proof for me.

I step forward without realising that my only intent now is to get to her, to even just greet her, a passing by greeting, but feeling the overwhelming need of wanting to see her up-close, of wanting to asserting to my frazzled mind that she was there, she was okay.

"Hyung you can't just..." Namjoon splutters behind me but he too keeps equal pace with me, strides matching mine as we reach her, standing to the side of her. She's serving the man opposite her, a small smile on her lips- a sight that makes me loosen a breath and relax slightly and suddenly she seems to sense us, turning with a smile to face us. When all of a sudden the smile fades and her eyes widen- shocked and surprised. I feel the same expression coat my features, even if a part of me shatters when I take a proper look at her, feeling a part of me twist in pain when I look down at her, taking in her face properly and a full long look at it.

When the boys had mentioned she was hurting we'd all figured that it was some emotional or mental strain, one that caused her to withdraw and retreat into herself. Had felt our hearts pang in pain for her, with her- for the friend we'd been unable to give that emotional support to.

But looking at her I realise that the pain of her hurt is showing physically.

Her beautifully bright and expressive eyes are shadowed, dark circles rimming them and the fullness of her cheeks have lessened slightly, cheekbones far more prominent, slightly hollow. And there's this fatigue that hangs over her, in the way her body seems to be frail and exhausted, the way her shoulders curve inwards and it's like the light she usually holds is flickering out.

My eyes dart to her arms, where the boys had shakily confessed they'd seen bruises and marks on but they're covered under a shirt, hidden from view.

I can feel my worry for her growing but right now all I can rejoice in is the crashing waves of relief that she's there.

"(Y/N)...I haven't seen you for a while." Namjoonie carefully hedges, voice soft and gentle.

But somehow it seems to be the wrong to say because she stiffens under our eyes and I repress the urge to elbow him.

The man opposite immediately reaches across to hold her hand, squeezing it gently.

"None of that cherub." He chides fondly and I watch as she nods, taking a deep breath and as she exhales, the tightness to her jaw leaves with it.

She tilts her head as she looks up and I realise I've just been gaping and not saying anything, I feel the tip of my ears burn red.

"I missed you in baking lesson. There was no pretty sous-chef to fight off the others." I say, beginning with a soft teasing tone and watch as her eyes blink up at me in surprise before a small smile causes her lips to twitch, curving upwards slightly.

Progress.

That's how it's done Namjoon, nice and gently. Not scaring your friends away.

Instead Namjoon focuses on the man opposite, dipping his head in greeting.

"Habaek ssi nice to see you again." He greets.

Namjoon knows him too?

Now I have a name to put to the man who was shopping with (Y/N).

"Likewise Namjoon-ah, though I'm so sorry I missed our last meeting. I was so eager to share the new books I'd found but something came up." he says, voice deep and apologetic.

I glance back at (Y/N).

Had they been going through something? That something which had put such an apparent toll on her?

I remain silent and keep those questions unvoiced.

"We just stopped because we recognised (Y/N). I was a bit worried that I didn't see her and didn't have a way to contact her either." I say, and when the two look at me with surprise, the heat around my ears rise.

Then the man breaks into a grin, easy and welcoming.

"It's nice to hear (Y/N) has friends worrying for her. Why don't you join us?" he offers, after silently communicating with (Y/N) through an exchange of glances.

She nods, gesturing to the table.

And like that I sink into the spot next to her and Namjoon goes around the table to sit next to Habaek.

And as Habaek continues to grill meat, with a talented hand and precise skill- I note, I turn to face (Y/N), seeing the way she seems to look weak, at the way her hands tightly grip her chopsticks.

"If you want us to leave then that's fine (Y/N)." I say softly so the other two don't hear.

She twists to face me and shakes her head adamantly.

And using those same chopsticks she begins to serve me too, food placed onto my plate. Her head curved as she does so, but this time there's something vulnerable about the gesture.

"How've you been?" I ask.

She makes a shaking gesture with her hand. On and off.

My heart twists with sympathy for her.

"You know the others actually turned out to be traitors. They always favoured the half you baked over my half." I confide, sharing that secret with her.

But it's all so, so worth it when my words bring an easy grin to her face, makes her eyes shine with happiness and amusement.

"Totally unfair! After the hours I've slaved away for them too." I say, taking on a mock betrayed tone.

Because if it means making a fool of myself to make her smile, then I'll do it.

Because sharing these small stories and snippets is easy.

Because she listens enraptured and as she listens her eyes begin to seem alive again.

JOON POV:

As Habaek and I talk, I can't help noting how often his eyes flicker back to her, to observe her and how with each time he does it, his smile widens more and more. I know it because if he's not glancing at the two of them, I am. Hyung is talking to her animatedly and it's clear that she's enjoying herself, given the way her smile forms and her eyes sparkle as she listens to him.

And yet still my eyes are drawn to the fragile aura she's silently exuding, this sense of raw vulnerability and the way Habaek's eyes are often protective as they rove over her.

And I can't help feeling worry for her, for the silent, physically drained version of her I saw.

And when Habaek calls out for her, the two of them shift so the conversation flows between the four of us.

"Taehyungie loved the photos you took off him. He made the others quite jealous." I say by means of beginning a conversation, a small way of seeing whether she reacts negatively to it.

But rather she just shifts, fiddling with her chopsticks, head ducked but not before I see a small flush on her cheeks.

Habaek laughs.

"She just has a way of capturing things perfectly. Our multi-talented cherub." He coos. Voice fond and sweet and tender.

And when he gets up to go the toilet, it's not without a reassuring squeeze to her shoulder and a kiss brushed across her head.

Every word and gesture of his has only indicated at sheer love and affection for her, for someone who so clearly cherishes her.

But it's also as if his presence was calming her because when he does step away, she ducks her head under the eyes of the two of us. I don't want her to feel uncomfortable.

Clearly neither does hyung.

Because after shooting me a sad glance he turns to her.

"So baking buddy, can I have your number? I feel you're more on my level." He says, voice teasing me but soft for her.

Her lips quirk.

Clearly he's talking about something I don't know about.

Something that rouses a smile but she nods slowly, taking the proffered phone in her hands and typing out her number before sliding it back.

He nods pleased before sending her a call so she can save his too.

"You can save me as Head Baker if you want." He quips humorously, grinning when it makes her face express amusement and happiness.

Somehow hyung knows what to say.

Somehow he knows exactly how to make her feel better.

It makes me feel slightly bad for not knowing her as well, like the others do- but then again we didn't have the best first starts I think with a flush.

How do you go about deepening friendship with a girl you bowled over?

Apparently all it takes is for Jin hyung to loudly quip that I'm really shy but I'd like to be friends too, grabbing my phone for me. Apparently all it takes is a hyung with a knowing gaze.

(THERE YOU GO! A BIT OF FEAR BUT NO RUNNING AROUND PANICKING AND RUSHING AWAY FROM THEM...SO THAT'S GOOD- I GUESS? UNLESS IT SEEMS TOO GOOD. LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS! THE PAIRINGS THEY'VE MET IN WILL BE CHANGING AND SHIFTING NOW SO LET'S SEE WHO IT IS THAT MEETS HER NEXT! HOW WAS THE ENCOUNTER? TOO HAPPY OR NOT? AND I FOR ONE AM REALLY EXCITED TO SEE JOON'S FRIENDSHIP SKILLS ADVANCE AND SEE HIS THOUGHTFUL WAYS OF TAKING CARE OF HER AND TALKING TO HER- THE STUFF I'VE GOT PLANNED MAKES ME EXCITED TO WRITE THEM ALL STRAIGHT AWAY! I HOPE YOU ENJOYED AND SEE IT AS HER STILL BEING SLIGHTLY HESITANT BUT NOT SHUTTING THEM OUT AND BOLTING. SHE THINKS THEY DESERVE MORE THAN THAT! STAY SAFE!)

QUESTION...ONE THING YOU MISS FROM PRE-PANDEMIC ERA?

Mine is...there's loads such as going to uni, being able to go out without a mask and even going on public transport but one MAJOR thing is being able to cough or sneeze or something without people wondering if I'm going to keel over or if I'm infected and stare with panic.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3