"Who says a dream must be something grand? Just become anybody. We deserve a life.
Whatever, big or small, you are you after all."

- Paradise (BTS)

Yuna has just made her way back home when she heard the sound of muffled shouting. She dumped her bag next to staircase, not even bothering to take off her shoes as she ran into the living room. Glass shards were scattered over the floor, her mom's favorite vase hurled against the wall, a painting askew. Sang-hoon is glaring at her mother and brother, chest heaving, fists clenched by his sides. Sang-jun is staring back at him, eyes vacant, and Ara is standing between them, arms held out. It's an unfortunately familiar scene, and Yuna has to hold onto the railing to steady herself, stomach already churning with anxiety.

"Don't do this Sang-hoon," her mother said, voice quiet. "Don't,"

"Why the hell shouldn't I?" he yelled back. "All he does is lay around and do nothing after attending his classes. Is this the type of son I raised?"

"The type of son you raised?" Sang-jun repeated, scoffing. "Are you serious? You sent us abroad when we were kids because you couldn't deal with us, and now you're saying you raised us?"

"Don't talk back to me! The past is the past. Focus on the present,"

"How can I focus on the present when you've ruined our pasts!" Sang-jun is shaking, fingers digging into his palms. "All you've done is make us study and study. Even when we were sick we had to get up and study. When mom got sick and had to be rushed to the hospital, you didn't care. When Yuna got into her accident, you didn't care. Yet you stand here, preaching about raising us and telling us to focus on the present,"

"Why you little-" Sang-hoon made a move as to hit his son, but found his path being blocked by Yuna. "Get out of the way Yuna-ah,"

"The reason Sang-jun lies around all day is because you broke him," she shouted, heart beating like a drum. "You made him study every single day, forcing him to go without meals and not letting him leave his room. That's why he's like this. Yet you still can't improve," she raised her head, eyes full of tears. "When everyone used to complain about you, I defended you. I said you didn't understand and you'd been raised a different way. Your son goes through a mental breakdown, was on his knees because his head felt like it was exploding and you still won't change the way you are?"

"Mental illnesses are nothing that can impact your lives,"

"I was going to die," she said suddenly, and Sang-hoon took a step back, looking like he'd been slapped. "You pushed me so much that I thought dying was better than living. I wanted to die so badly, that I had letters already written out for everyone. I was going through severe depression that could've killed me, yet you stand here and say mental illnesses are nothing that can impact our lives?!" tears are falling down her cheeks, hiccups making her body move. "You're a pathetic man, and a horrible father, and living with you is like living through the biggest form of hell," she spun on her heel, striding into her room and slamming it shut behind her. She wiped aggressively at the wetness staining her face, heart beating so loud that it felt like it was echoing inside her mind.

Her father had always been unreasonable. But she'd had hopes. Always tried to be optimistic and happy and do the best she could because then maybe, maybe he'd change for the better. All that happened was the world proving her wrong, proving that she was a fool, and that her optimism would do nothing. A knock on the door came, a creaking noise filling the room as Hana entered timidly.

"Unnie?" she whispered. "I'm scared," Yuna held out her arms and let her younger sister fall into them, pasting a wide small onto her face to disguise the sadness she felt.

"Hey, why are you scared?"

"Dad left," came the answer, Hana burying her face against her shoulder. "Said something about 'not being able to take it' and stormed out," Yuna gritted her teeth, feeling bitterness flow through her, but patted Hana's back.

"What about mom and Sang-jun?"

"They're clearing up the vase that dad smashed. Unnie," Yuna hummed in reply. "Were you really going to kill yourself?"

"Hana. What did I say about listening in to our arguments?"

"I know you told me to ignore them, but they were so loud and then you came so I had to listen," Yuna sighed.

"The world is harsh. And sometimes, even someone like me can't take it. But in the end, I decided to leave that decision and never think of it again, because of you all. I could never imagine leaving you, mom or Sang-jun," she rocked back and forth with her sister in her grasp, trying to soothe her. "Close your eyes and try to fall asleep. I'll come back after talking to mom," Hana nodded, letting Yuna wrap the blanket around her small frame and hug her.

"Goodnight unnie. I love you," she mumbled, exhaustion pulling at her. Yuna smiled back at her, heart cracking. Her sister was so young, so frail and innocent. She didn't deserve to have this sort of unhappiness, but had to go through it anyways.

"Love you too kiddo," she quietly shut the door behind her, walking into the living room. "Well," she said. "It's nice to see you finally out and about,"

"Yuna-"

"It's alright mom," Sang-jun interrupted her. "We all need a little humor to brighten us up after what happened,"

"And exactly what happened? To make dad go all crazy like that?"

"He started scolding Hana for not giving him his food on time, and then saw me and yelled at me too. Obviously it got messy," Yuna rubbed the bridge of her nose, looking tired.

"Does he have to involve Hana all the time? She's just a kid,"

"I sent her away as soon as he turned towards Sang-jun," Ara looked out of the window. "I don't understand what's wrong with him,"

"Neither do we mom. It's just best to leave him alone. He'll come to his senses soon. It's either learn to be nice to us, or be alone for the rest of his life," Sang-jun collapses on the couch, gazing at a picture of them. It showed their entire family, all of them dressed up in formal wear, bright smiles on their faces as they hugged each other. "A happy family. Wonder where that went," there were years where their father used to be normal. Loving and devoted to his wife and children, always coming up with games to play and making them laugh. It's only when they got into middle school that he became a stern and serious person with no regard as to how they were feeling.

"Well, one good thing to come out of this is you finally leaving your room," Sang-jun's breakdown after his exams was definitely something that would stick with her for a long time. It had been scary to watch him fall apart, clutching his head and crying out in pain, pushing away anyone who had tried to come near. It took months of intensive therapy, and he still wasn't better, but at least he was improving.

"I missed seeing how our living room looked," he replied, overdramatic as usual. Yuna rolled her eyes, but let him ruffle her hair. "It's good to be back,"

"Come on Yuna," Ara smiled at her. "Let's get you some food and then you can sleep,"

~

Yuna let her head rest on the table, eyes shut tightly as she attempted to sleep. Ye-seo sat in front of her, patting her back gently. She had heard the shouts coming from her friend's house and, though she couldn't offer words of comfort, the least she could do was let Yuna have her peace.

Seo-joon watched over the girl, a worried expression on his face. It was pretty well known in Sky Castle that Song Sang-hoon was not the best of fathers, and expected too much from his children, and the kids of Sky Castle had come to a silent agreement to put aside any differences they had to be there for Yuna, who was always trying her best to make them smile.

Ki-joon was looking out of the window, hands shoved into his pockets, a scowl on his face. He hated it. He hated the constant competition they were all underneath, hated the disregard their parents had for their kids. He glanced at Yuna, face softening as he noticed that she had fallen asleep. He pulled out a chair, sitting down in front of her and gazing at her. She breathed out evenly, light hair spilling around her shoulders. The sun cast shadows over her, painting her in shades of gold and yellow, and she let out an muffled noise when he gently brushed away a strand of hair from her eyes. He broke out into a smile when she moved, nuzzling her cheek against his hand. "Cute,"

His classmates watched him, hiding their smiles behind their hands and pretending to mind their own business. Normally fierce Ki-joon would always calm down around Yuna, and it was a source of amusement to them all. But, as they spied Ki-joon using his hand to shield her from the sun, they were glad the two had each other.