(Y/N) POV:

I throw the house door open, rushing through and ignoring the way Mi-sun unnie rushes after me. Habaek oppa emerges from the kitchen, wiping his hands on a small towel- looking confused at the two of us.

"Did you enjoy the performance?" he asks, approaching us where we're standing in the hallway.

"Unnie stop deceiving me and trying to set me up!" I exclaim furiously, exasperation bursting out into my voice when she'd slyly confessed on the way home that she'd decided to sign us up after seeing the instructor somewhere and somehow deciding that she wanted to set me up with him.

"She what?!" Habaek oppa yells, storming over and standing in the middle, placing himself between the two of us, incredulous eyes turning to Mi-sun unnie who only shrugs her shoulders, looking completely unabashed. I've been on the receiving end of oppa's intense stares- and I still don't know how Mi-sun unnie can smile unaffected when she's on the receiving end.

"Mi-sun do you never learn? It clearly makes her uncomfortable...and you know she doesn't seek casual intimacy. She's not as comfortable with the idea as we might be." He says, face expressing concern and frustration.

There. The first time I see her look slightly ashamed.

"But she needs to try opening up more to others. She can't live life avoiding meeting people." She says.

The words sting. Just as her hidden agenda had.

I didn't like meeting people because I started seeing the good in them, saw them as potential friends or people I'd want close to me. But knowing I was immortal, knowing I wouldn't age- how could I continue or initiate relationships with others when eventually they'd notice, and down the line it would be me left to deal with the hurt and guilt and loneliness? I just couldn't deal with endless cycles of hurt and pain.

I didn't want to have casual intimacy when every encounter and try at it through the centuries had left me feeling drained and hollow, as if I had been a shell, an object used and discarded. It wasn't pleasant.

And her words are tinged with truth and memories. She's clearly recalling the first century we'd been together, when it had been so hard to move on and accept that I was alive and the ones I knew weren't. Hard to accept that my family grew old, withered away and left the world and I was destined to wonder it, trapped in the state and age I had been when the change had first happened.

"Let's not fight over it. I try unnie, I really do...please don't push me and ask for more. I will try even more." I mumble without facing her, heading upstairs instead- appetite soured with her words, no matter how well-intending and true have left only a bitter taste in my mouth.

And I quickly change and pull the blankets over me, letting sleep wash over me and just for a while to put a stopper to thoughts that are best left unopened and explored- better for them to wither away in the darkness of the night.

----

The next day passes by in a blur, deciding to use the day to organise my room properly, to give it a new fresh look- Habaek oppa joins in happily, helping me lift and move the furniture around until I'm happy with it and helping me pick out covers, stringing up fairy lights, helping me arrange the curtains, filling the drawers with me. And then the two of us sink gratefully onto the large bed, lying side by side, content with the way the room looks now.

"You want help with yours tomorrow?" I say, turning to face him. He twists his head so he can face me too, nodding.

"I'd like that. Might have to buy some stuff first though." He muses, eyes drawn back to the ceiling, to the way the light throws out dancing shadows across the room.

Mi-sun unnie had only met us at mealtimes, expression guilty and sorrowful as she'd trudged in this morning and thrown arms around me as she'd silently held me. And though we had talked later, aired it all out and I'd readily forgiven her and moved on- I knew she wanted some time alone, it was her way of sometimes dealing with things, by taking a step back to silently reflect. It was a habit she'd had for centuries, so I'd given her the space she'd wanted- though the invitation to join us at any point had been made clear, she hadn't been home since.

The two of us lie there taking in the dancing shadows, silently seeking comfort from one another.

"You know...Mi-sun is right but went about it the wrong way. I don't think setting you up with people will help. I think you should join a club or something. Or spend time enjoying what you like doing. A few decades back you became addicted to arcades remember?" he says, voice contemplative and nostalgic.

He's right. But his words leave me with a question in mind- whether or not I should actually return to Hoseok's dance lessons. And the idea of maybe visiting and finding a nearby arcade wouldn't be a bad idea at all.

"I'll think about it. Seriously." I reassure, and with my head resting on his splayed arm, I curl into him and fall asleep- comforted by his ever-constant presence in my life, for the person who taught me to live and not just exist.

----

Tomorrow is another day. And when it dawns I spend it helping oppa set up as promised, transforming the large empty space in one adorned with personal touches that make it inviting and welcoming, a space that is his. The walls are adorned with photos, photos that catalogue years past of us as a family- all featuring different periods of dress, quality becoming clearer and clearer the more recent they become. That wall of his always makes me smile, always brings me reassurance.

And it's night when we escape his room to go fill our growling stomachs- the change in walls and colours a much-needed reprieve. All I'd seen today had been piles of clothes, boxes filled with trinkets and books and photos. It had been such a tempting idea to just snuggle into his freshly made bed and head off to dreamland whilst he moaned and despaired over the way he should categorise his clothes. I'd gotten away with it once already today; I didn't get away with it again.

Mi-sun unnie and Habaek oppa are curled up on the couches, eyes glued to the film playing on the large screen but being at home for the past two days has gotten me feeling slightly antsy and restless and my legs itch to move some more, to get out and get a lungful of actual fresh air.

Maybe a walk would help clear my head. Make it easier to think.

After calling out the two of them, their heads only turning to wave goodbye and telling me to be safe, I slip out of the door, headphones sliding to cover my ears and setting off on a walk, not knowing where I'm headed, just letting my feet guide me.

The sky darkens as I come to a stop near the riverside, somehow inevitably lured to the sight of the endless, deep depths of the water that sits as a murky indigo, unmoving and still- so different to the Ocean whose waters are always active and churning and restless- always wanting more and me forced to give over and over again. This water is safe, gentle. Not connected to the Ocean, and it offers me a respite from the watery chains, allows me to look and marvel at the way moonlight glints off it's surface, the way a gentle almost motherly breeze picks up and brushes across my face in a tender caress; the way a mother would to her child, if mine had been alive, or had I not survived and lived to this day.

I lean against the railing, feeling the cold metal bite against my skin, my ears are filled with the soft melodic tunes coming out of the headphones, instilling an inner calm and sense of serenity in me, a true and proper feeling of finally finding peace since coming. The air has done wonders to lift me out of any lingering feelings of shame and bitterness I'd associated to leaving, the memories of what had prompted me shunned to the back of my mind. 

There's only the feeling of the wind kissing my skin, sifting gently through my hair. The way the cold metal is a contrast to the warmth of my skin and the way at the horizon, there's different shades of blue that meet- the sky and water becoming one.

There's the feeling of resolution building up inside me, that maybe Seoul is where I needed to be. Seoul could be the answer to all of our moving and running and hiding. Maybe it could help heal parts of our shattered souls.

And I can feel a small smile tug at my lips, but before it can stretch out I find my world suddenly shifting and the ground from under my feet moving and I find myself being bowled over, toppling to the ground with a thud and the sudden presence of a weight on top of me. A noticeably warm masculine weight.

And my eyes widen to meet the face of the one who's sent me crashing to the ground.

JOON POV:

"Tannie stop running. Tae will kill me if I lose you!" I yell desperately after the fluffy Pomeranian who only darts away happily, tail wagging cutely as he rushes away from me further ahead onto the dark pavement.

I groan envisioning the devastated teary look Tae will shoot me, the others turning away and me miserably left to suffer alone, all because I'd given into Tannie's adorably puppy eyes and slowly undone his leash for a few seconds and he'd seized the chance to escape.

"Tannie please! Come on, please~" I hiss into the night but his playful barking is only getting quieter and more distant.

I rush after him, eyes glued onto the barely lit ground, desperately searching for a cute ball of fluff on tiny legs. I'm so focused on my aim to find him that I barely note the way the pavement becomes better lit, streetlighting brighter here but even so nothing could've prepared me for the sudden obstacle, rushing dab smack into it, going tumbling to the floor- eyes squeezing shut in anticipation of the painful union with the pavement.

But the ground doesn't greet me, a soft small obstacle does, something that shifts against me, very much breathing and very much female. My cheeks flood with shame and mortification as I realise that I've just gone and tackled a girl to the ground.

My eyes flash open, filled with panic and worry and came face to face with a shadowed face, the lighting only giving a glimpse of plump rosy lips which have parted and express a pained gasp. The sound is oddly more entrancing and alluring and almost sensual to my ears. The sound registers and I frantically scrabble off her, hands brushing against thin fabric as I rush to my feet, suddenly seeing her smaller frame fully. I reach my hand down to help her up, guilt bubbling inside and the girl just raises herself up on her hands, brushing herself off as she rises, my hand still hovering in the air where it had been poised to reach down to help her.

Of course she doesn't want help from the stranger who just knocked her over.

And when she straightens up, moonlight reveals to me the first full glimpse of her.

I find my breath catching at large doe eyes framed with thick, dark lashes that curl attractively against her smooth skin, trail over the softness of her cheeks contradicted with the sharpness of her jaw, eyes falling down to land on those very lips that had uttered that sound. And then my eyes flash back to her, see the threads of pain in them and try to ignore the way a wavy strand of her hair curls attractively against her cheek.

"I am so, so sorry. I didn't see you there. I am incredibly sorry. I ended up hurting you, are you injured anywhere?" I ask, voice steeped with apology and self-blame, hands fluttering anxiously- unsure as to what to do.

She shakes her head.

And then makes a gesture, thumb pointed towards her chest and then shaking her hand. I don't know if I look confused because almost instantly her head shakes, beratingly towards herself, and she gestures to herself again with a finger and then raises her thumbs up in the universal gesture for 'good'. Ahh...she's fine.

"Are you sure? I was just looking for my dog...Yeontan!" I suddenly screech, eyes frantically darting to search for the fluffy young pup.

And it's almost in comical instantaneity that there's a resounding bright 'woof' that filters through the air and in my sight of view comes the fluffball trotting back, tail wagging happily as he rushes forward.

But he stops curiously next to the stranger, the mute beautiful girl, head cocked as he peers upwards. But what surprises me more is when she sinks towards the ground, slender small hand brushing tenderly against Tannie's head. And just like Tae recently regaled me a tale of the day at the library, he eagerly and almost instantly takes to a stranger as well, barking happily at the gentle ministrations.

He licks her hand happily, tail wagging furiously as he twists towards her, standing on hind legs to press his front paws to her knees and it's only when those hands return to pet him that I realise that the inside of her palms are scratched with angry reddened skin- scraped because of what I'd done.

"You are hurt!" I exclaim, watching as her eyes rise to meet mine. But she shakes it off and goes back to silently cooing and fussing over Tannie, who is becoming more and more excitable.

"Tannie stop it...come on." I hunch down to try and draw him back but he scampers away, tongue hanging out as he looks at me happily.

"Let me take you to get that checked out." I say, knowing that if I don't the guilt will continue to build.

And when I see her about to shake her head, clearly not keen, I press further.

"Please, it's the least I should do." I murmur and she silently nods, rising to her feet but stopping when Tannie cutely looks at her, expectantly and she just draws him into her arms and I watch as he happily settles down quickly.

I walk with her to the nearest pharmacy, eyes constantly darting to glance at her. Should I speak? Stay silent...but isn't that rude?

"I like going to see the river!" I blurt out, words pouring out of my mouth of their own accord.

I feel my cheeks heat in embarrassment but then she shoots me a smile, nodding along- eyes bright with my words.

"What else do you like?" I ask, making small talk as we approach the pharmacy.

She bites her lip, the rosy full bottom one dragged between pearly teeth.

She mimes opening a book.

"Reading?" I guess.

She nods animatedly. And then mimes moving her hand in an imitation of writing, then stirring an imaginary bowl.

"Writing and cooking?" I guess, she nods, but I can't press to ask what it is she writes- the interest sparking intrigue in me. Not only would I be pressing her to try and communicate when she clearly can't but also because do I even have the right to know? It could be private, maybe she likes it because it's her way with communicating with others- clearly unable to do so with her voice.

And as I snap out of my thoughts I realise that I'd nearly walked past the pharmacy, the bright glow of the interior seeping out.

She steps in, slowly setting Tannie down who whines sadly, even though he doesn't even know her, and she slowly approaches the counter where the middle-aged man turns towards her, eyes falling to the scratched red grazes on the skin of her palms.

"We should disinfect them and wrap them up with a breathable plaster." He muses, eyes barely rising before he bustles off to get the mentioned items. I notice a stiffness slightly bleeds out of her posture, as though she'd been awaiting or expecting something.

When he begins to dab carefully at the sensitive raw skin, his eyes rise to see if she's in discomfort but then freezes, eyes trained onto her face. I see her bite her lip, eyes expressing the pain of the disinfectant stinging her tender skin but the man's eyes are so intently on her, intrusive and unwanted.

And I feel disgusted and repulsed.

"You're making her uncomfortable." I say, going forward to wrench his hand off which had been tightly pressing the disinfectant-soaked cotton harshly against her skin. She snatches her hand back, curling it protectively towards her chest.

"I'll do it." I snarl at him, snatching the soaked cotton and the large cotton plasters from the counter, putting the money down and twisting to where she's sitting on a chair now, Tannie pawing gently at her bare leg, my eyes averting away from the slender ankle and rising to her distraught face.

"You don't deserve that, no-one does." I say softly, hands going forward to reach for her hand.

But she shakes her head, hand drawn even closer towards her and despite the slight hurt, I give her the cotton, understanding that she must be feeling uncomfortable and watch as her fingers tremble slightly as she cleans the grazes and carefully puts the plasters on, the white panning across and covering the red. And her fingers scrunch up the wrapper as she stands, stalking to the bin and quickly leaving the pharmacy- with Tannie and I hot on her heels.

Having just seen the way the man had acted around her I feel reluctant to let her walk home alone, though I've only met her, but she waves bandaged hands at me in goodbye, dipping her head in gratitude, a small smile on her lips before she turns, waves tumbling down her back as she leaves.

Vanishing from sight soon, as if she'd never been there.

----

"Namjoon-ah what took you so long?" a harried Jin hyung demands as I step through to the house, shucking off my jacket, bending to remove Tannie's leash.

Tannie goes scampering happily towards the sound of voices.

I follow the sight of his wagging tail to the living room where the others are seated, waiting.

"Ahh...so the thing is..." 

(THERE YOU GO! JOON! AS HIS ADORABLE CLUMSY SELF- WE'LL BE GETTING (Y/N)'S POV NEXT! THE CHAPTER UNINTENTIONALLY RAN ON AND IF I'D ADDED HERS THEN IT WOULD BE EVEN LONGER! SO HERE YOU GO MY LOVES- ENJOY HOPEFULLY! AND LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS! AND JUST A NOTE- SHE ISN'T MUTE BUT SHE FIGURED JOON DESERVED A RESPONSE THAN JUST SILENCE SO SHE GESTURED IT OUT. AND! WE'LL BE GETTING MORE OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE MAN NEXT SO STAY TUNED LOVELIES! STAY SAFE! WHO'LL BE NEXT I WONDER??)

QUESTION...FAVOURITE SPREAD TO HAVE ON BREAD?

Mine is...hands down chocolate spread!

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3