#luvmarinotes

The front door had barely closed behind him before you were in his arms.

Weeks apart had made both of you desperate in the softest way possible. Dino had laughed the moment you nearly collided into his chest, dropping his bag carelessly to the floor before catching you by the waist and lifting you like it was nothing. The next thing you knew, you were seated on his lap on the couch, legs wrapped around his waist, fingers tangled in the hair at the nape of his neck.

“I missed you,” you whispered against his lips.

He answered by kissing you harder.

It was warm and familiar, the kind of kiss that made time blur. His hand cradled the back of your neck, thumb brushing your skin, while the other rested securely on your waist as if he still needed to reassure himself that you were really there.

You smiled into the kiss, breathless when he kept chasing your lips every time you tried to pull away. You felt his hold tighten, his strength grounding you against him.

Then his phone rang, breaking the quiet serene moment between the two lovers.

But neither of you moved from each other, just completely lost within the moments together.

Then, his phone rang again.

Dino only tilted his head and kissed you deeper, making you laugh against his mouth as you gently pushed at his chest.

“You have to answer that.” You murmured against his lips

His brows pinched together immediately. “They can wait a few more minutes.” His voice came out low and whiny, lips already brushing yours again. “Or an hour.”

You giggled, pressing your palm flat against his chest to hold him back. “Chan.”

He groaned dramatically, dropping his forehead to your shoulder with the sound of someone deeply wronged by life itself. It made you laugh harder.

Still keeping one arm around your waist, he reached behind him for the vibrating phone and glanced at the screen.

His expression turned even more offended.

He lifted the phone so you could see.

Hoshi Hyung Calling

You bit back a grin.

“Of course,” Dino muttered before answering. He raised a brow before sending a soft teasing smirk at you. “Oh, hyung.”

You stayed curled comfortably in his lap, arms looped around his shoulders while he spoke. His voice was polite enough, but every few seconds he shot you looks of pure suffering that nearly made you laugh out loud.

As he listened, his eyes drifted over you absentmindedly.

Your sleeve seemed to had slipped down one shoulder, revealing the straps of your velvet colored bra

Without breaking conversation, Dino reached over and gently tugged the fabric back into place, smoothing the neckline with absent care. A second later, he brushed your hair away from your face too, fingers lingering at your cheek before returning to hold the phone.

The gesture was so natural, so practiced, that your chest tightened.

Even while distracted, he was always taking care of you.

You played with the curls at the back of his hair, letting your fingers trail down to the nape of his neck. He shivered slightly but kept talking, one hand squeezing your waist in silent retaliation.

Finally, he sighed. “Yes, hyung. Okay. Bye.”

He then threw his phone on the end of the couch that was next to him.

You smiled softly. “What was that about?”

Dino slumped back against the cushions. “Hoshi hyung being dramatic over something that could have been a text.”

You laughed, brushing his fringe back.

He looked at you for a moment, eyes softening completely now that the interruption was gone. Then he tucked a strand of hair behind your ear and the corner of his mouth lifted into a teasing smirk.

“Now,” he murmured, pulling you closer by the waist, “where were we, baby?”

You barely had time to giggle before he buried his face against your neck, pressing warm kisses there until you squealed and clung to him.

“Chan—” you breathlessly giggled.

He only grinned against your skin before finding your lips again, kissing you slow this time, like he had all night to make up for lost time.

It was widely known that Byeol possessed the kind of beauty that could stop a war. She carried features so striking that conversations often paused the moment she entered a room. Born from a blend of British and Korean heritage, her face held a rare harmony of softness and sharp elegance, creating a look many described as unforgettable. There was something naturally sultry and almost untouchable in the way she carried herself, paired with an exotic allure that cameras could never fully capture. Whether under harsh stage lights, barefaced in rehearsal rooms, or simply laughing with her members, Byeol had the kind of presence that made people stare first and speak later.

And naturally, a beauty like hers did not go unnoticed. It attracted attention wherever she went, from curious glances in hallways to bold greetings at award shows, from idols suddenly finding reasons to linger nearby to actors growing a little too comfortable during shared schedules. Admiration followed her as easily as shadows did, and though SEVENTEEN had long grown used to the world being captivated by Byeol, it did not mean they reacted calmly whenever they witnessed it.

And it did not take long before that attention turned more personal.

Within the industry, it became something of an open secret that Byeol was often the topic of quiet conversations backstage and lingering glances across waiting rooms. Some male idols would find unnecessary reasons to pass by her group’s area during music shows, only to suddenly forget what they were looking for the moment she looked up and smiled. Others became noticeably more talkative during award show seating arrangements, their usual composure slipping into awkward charm whenever she responded politely.

Actors were no better.

During filming schedules and guest appearances, there were those who treated scenes with her with an unusual level of enthusiasm, laughing a little longer than needed during rehearsals or offering small gestures of help that went beyond professionalism. Some would linger after takes just to continue conversations that had already ended, while others would ask staff unnecessary questions just to stay within her orbit a little longer.

It was never blatant enough to be scandalous, but it was obvious enough for people who were paying attention.

And SEVENTEEN was always paying attention.

They noticed everything— the slightly too bright smiles, the repeated attempts at proximity, the way certain names came up too often in Byeol’s schedule conversations. None of them ever said it outright at first, but the shared glance between members was always the same.

Here we go again.

KIM YOUNGDAE [2019-2021]

Byeol and Kim Young-dae first worked together in Korea’s sensational 2019 drama The Penthouse, where they quickly became known for their easy and playful chemistry on set.

Their personalities balanced each other naturally, with Byeol’s bright and teasing nature often drawing reactions out of Youngdae’s calmer and more reserved demeanor. She loved making him flustered, while he quietly looked after her during long filming days.

Staff often noticed how attentive he was toward her, helping with scripts, checking if she had eaten, and staying nearby whenever schedules became exhausting.

What made his feelings obvious was how often cameras caught him staring at her when she was not looking, smiling unconsciously whenever she laughed, or losing composure the second she spoke directly to him.

Even during interviews, mentioning Byeol’s name was enough to make him visibly shy, which only fueled speculation from fans and viewers.

Though nothing was confirmed at the time until the 3rd Season premiere where Kim Young-dae admitted in an interview that he genuinely liked Byeol during the filming of The Penthouse.

How did the boys react? Well for starters, they were mortified.

2023

The fourteen members of the SEVENTEEN group, gathered around each other as they were doing a reaction video where they would react on their past works over the years. For Byeol’s part, it showed her previous acting career.

Byeol’s eyes widened when her scenes from the Penthouse drama was shown. She lets out a squeal, kicking her feet as she covered her face. “Noooo, why did you guys have to show this.” She said.

She would rarely watch with the boys whenever it comes to her kdramas as it was embarassing to watch them react to her acting, and as well as the kissing scenes.

“Aigoooo, our babies first acting gig.” All of the men in the group cooed when it showed the adorable young face of Byeol on the gigantic projector screen. It was visible to hyung line how each of them had their softened gazes when Byeol was wearing a white colored gown that seemed to amplify her beauty on screen.

“Waahh, nomo yeapo,” Minghao sighed, smiling softly at the screen. It was a scene from Season 2, where Bae Rona was competing for the Cheong-A Arts Festival Grand Award.

“Oh, I actually sang this part. I actually had to train a lot underwater just to bring out that opera voice within my diaphragm.” Byeol explained, raising her hands just to gesture things. The members let out an “ooh” sound.

“That’s so amazing!” Jun sang in an opera voice.

Then the screen showed a where Bae Rona and Seokhoon were having a conversation. But in the rest of the members mind, it was as if Seokhoon was really flirting with their maknae.

“Ah, this guy.” Jeonghan stated with a dead look on his face. Byeol nervously laughed when each of the boys started showing disinterest when Kim Youngdae, the actor for the Seokhoon character in the Penthouse, appeared on screen.

“C’mon guys, it’s just Youngdae Oppa.” She giggled, placing her hands on her lap. “He’s really genuinely nice to me.”

“Sure,” Dokyeom scoffed out loudly, earning a weirded look from Woozi.

“Isn’t that the actor who liked you on set?” Dino wondered since that interview trended back then. A few of the members murmured back their response, already knew about that piece of information.

Byeol, however, hadn’t have the slightest clue about this. She turned to him in a whiplash moment. “Wait really? Since when did you know that.” She gasped, eyes widening. She had zero knowledge about this.

“So that’s why he kept on asking me out for a dinner. I thought it was just a co-worker thing.” She mumbled, ignoring the snickering sounds from others.

“Our Byeolie,” Mingyu sighed, looking over to her. “Just stay as oblivious as you can.”

‘Please for our sake’ all of the boys thought, knowing how

“There better not be a kissing scene here,” Seungcheol warned the staff, which made the whole room fell into giggles. Byeol turned towards their manager, Younghwan, giving her a genuine terrified look. She sweatdropped when the first and last kissing scene was shown from the Season 3. It was a kissing scene of Seokhoon and Bae Rona.

“AHHH NO ANDWAEEE! MY BYEOLIE’S INNOCENT LIPS HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED!” The whole room erupted in chaos when they realize that their maknae had her first onscreen kiss.

“OPPA, IT WAS JUST A DRAMA KISS SCENE.” Byeol said before bursting into laughter when they clammered over their poor manager; demanding justice.

“You traitor!”

“Wae!! Why did you allow Byeol to do that scene?!”

“YOUUU BETRAYYY MEEE,” Seungkwan sang, pulling on Younghawn’s front shirt in a dramatic way. Byeol couldn’t help but burst into laughter when he sang one of her songs.

After a while, the boys had settled back down in their seats with their pouts displayed on their face. Byeol sighed, already getting a bit of an headache from this.

“Guys, chillax. I don’t get why you’re overreacting over this.” She said, placing her hands on her waist like what a mom would do when they’re scolding their children.

“I’m literally twenty three years old. I’m practically an adult now.” Byeol sighed. “I don’t know why you guys still treat me like a kid.”

When they heard they said those words, only they can see right in front of them was the same little spunky 12 year old girl that they all loved and raised.

Hoshi grasped his front chest where his heart was beating, dramatically sobbing his eyes out. “Our Byeolie doesn’t like us anymore!”

“Dramatic much,” Woozi muttered under his breath, though there was a hint of sadness behind his eyes.

CAI XUKUN [2020]

It all started during the filming for season 2 of Youth With You, a survival show in China

During the first evaluation filming, Cai Xukun noticeably straightened in his seat the moment Byeol was introduced as the special dance instructor, his eyes following her as she walked in with quiet confidence. Even the trainees seemed to notice the sudden shift in atmosphere.

While the other mentors kept their reactions subtle, Xukun was often seen smiling to himself whenever Byeol spoke, especially when she corrected choreography with her usual gentle but firm tone.

He then would usually accompany her, explaining things to her in english incase she doesn’t understand. To his surprise, she was actually good in Mandarin.

He frequently asked for her opinion first during performance discussions, even when the other mentors had already spoken, making it obvious that he valued what she thought.

In behind the scenes clips, he would unconsciously angle his body toward her during group conversations, a tiny detail fans immediately noticed and replayed countless times.

He would stop by her dressing room whenever they would have a shoot, and often gives her coffee or flowers (just becauase).

Staff cameras once caught him fixing his posture and smoothing his clothes before Byeol joined the mentor panel for the day, which sent fans into chaos online.

He became strangely attentive to small things, like handing her water first, pulling a chair closer for her, or reminding staff that she had been teaching nonstop for hours.

In one rehearsal clip, Byeol absentmindedly thanked him and lightly touched his arm. Xukun visibly lost his train of thought mid sentence and had to start over.

Fans also noticed he looked especially pleased whenever trainees praised Byeol’s teaching style or admired her dancing.

When Byeol once praised his stage presence in front of everyone, he tried to stay composed, but the smile he hid afterward became one of the most replayed moments that season.

Near the end of filming, viewers noticed he seemed quieter on days Byeol was absent, then instantly brighter whenever she returned.

Though nothing was ever confirmed, many fans believed his interest was obvious because he treated Byeol with a softness and attentiveness that felt different from everyone else.

2020

Byeol had stepped out of rehearsal for a short break, still slightly out of breath, hair loosely tied and sweat towel draped over her neck. She propped her phone against a water bottle on the studio table and tapped the video call open.

On the screen were thirteen familiar faces squeezed into one chaotic video call.

Well… twelve visible faces.

One square only showed Mingyu’s forehead.

“Can someone tell Mingyu to tilt the camera down?” Byeol laughed, adjusting her own phone.

“I am here,” Mingyu’s voice protested.

“We know,” Woozi said flatly. “Unfortunately.”

The room erupted into noise.

Byeol giggled, chin resting on her palm as she watched them bicker. Being away from Korea always made her miss them more, but moments like this made the distance feel smaller.

“Byeol!” Seungkwan practically shouted. “Are you eating properly there or not?”

“Of course, Minghao Oppa would always pack me lunfh. ” she said, smiling as she flopped into the chair. “So I’m all fine here guys.”

Before the conversation could settle, Dino squinted at the screen.

“Who is that behind you?”

Everyone froze.

Byeol blinked and turned slightly. Behind the glass door of the studio, Cai Xukun was speaking with a staff member, clipboard in hand, relaxed but attentive.

“Oh,” she said casually, turning back. “That’s Xukun. He’s part of the production team here and one of the hosts for this show.”

Silence.

A very dangerous silence.

Then Seungcheol slowly leaned forward. “He is… always near you?”

Byeol laughed. “We’re literally working together. He checks choreography sometimes.”

Joshua narrowed his eyes. “Checks choreography? I thought he was only for hosting?”

Vernon added, “Why is he looking in your direction right now?”

Byeol turned again just in time to see Xukun glance toward the glass, his gaze briefly landing on her before he continued speaking.

She shrugged. “Probably just checking on rehearsal timing.”

On the screen, Jeonghan smiled in a way that was definitely not friendly. “Timing, sure.” He deadpanned.

Dino suddenly pointed. “He just smiled at you.”

Byeol rolled her eyes, “I smiled first! It would be impolite to ignore him.”

Woozi sighed. “Why is this constantly becoming a problem.”

At that exact moment, Cai Xukun stepped closer to the glass door, briefly raising a hand in greeting when he noticed Byeol on the call. She smiled and waved back at him.

But the SEVENTEEN side of the screen immediately erupted.

“HE WAVED.”

“WHY IS HE WAVING LIKE THAT?”

“IS THAT NECESSARY FOR WORK?”

Byeol burst out laughing. “Guys, calm down— he waves at everyone. What’s the big deal?”

Minghao, who had been quietly observing, finally leaned into frame. His expression was calm.

Too calm.

“I understand now,” he said slowly.

Byeol immediately straightened. “Minghao— no.” She warned, already knowing where this was going.

He ignored her.

“If I see one unnecessary interaction,” he continued evenly, “I will fly to China.”

“Here we go again,” DK whispered.

“I will stand outside that studio,” Minghao went on, voice steady but deadly serious, “and evaluate every male presence within a twenty-meter radius.”

Seungkwan clapped. “That’s our protective king!”

Mingyu added, “Make it fifty meters.”

Byeol was laughing so hard she covered her face.

“You’re all insane! Why are you encouraging this?!” She said.

Jeanghan smiled sweetly. “We are supporting world peace.”

Wonwoo nodded, “Prevention is better than heartbreak. He jested.

At that moment, Jun suddenly appeared in frame, chewing on something off-camera like he had just walked in.

He looked at the situation, then at Byeol behind the screen, then at the chaos unfolding.

“Oh,” Jun said slowly.

Everyone turned to him.

Jun tilted his head, then smirked slightly.

“If Minghao goes,” he said casually, “I’ll go too. I’ll just say I’m there for dance consulting.”

Hoshi laughed and clapped his hands, “I like that idea! Go! Book a flight!”

“NO ONE, is bookint a flight!” She exclaimed loudly.

Joshua pointed at the screen. “He is still there.”

True enough, Cai Xukun was now talking to a staff member— but his attention kept briefly shifting toward Byeol’s direction, like he was making sure everything was fine before leaving.

Dino squinted again. “He looks like he wants to say something.”

Jeonghan grinned evilly. “He can say it to us first.”

Byeol shook her head, still laughing. “You are all overreacting. He’s just being polite.”

Minghao didn’t break eye contact with the camera.

“I am already booking a flight,” he said calmly.

Byeol groaned. “Gēgē!”

“Carry on,” he added, already on his phone to book the next flight. “It is completely necessary,”

Jun added lightly, “I can always say that I got lost and magically appear in the studio.”

The rest of the boys all erupted in cheers, demanding the two chinese boys to bring honor to them all.

“DON’T ACTUALLY DO IT—” the girl groaned.

On the other side of the glass, Cai Xukun finally walked away, unaware he had just become the subject of a full international protective meeting.

Byeol wiped tears from laughing.

And somewhere in the chaos of the call, she muttered, “I should never tell you guys anything.”

Then she later regretted it in the upcoming days. It was a few days after the call when she came home from shooting, Minghao and Jun stood inside the Xu household by the living room, demanding Byeol to accompany her for tomorrow’s shooting. Overprotective much….

There were rumors circulating within the Kpop community about a certain ‘Inkigayo sandwhiches’ where idols would use it as a way to sneak in their numbers into other idol’s sandwiches. Suspiciously but well made plan for a getaway dating site!

Byeol, being a whole social butterfly within the Korean Industry, received tons of sandwhiches over the years being an idol.

Her, being an oblivious little bee, she would just accept it with wholeheartedly.

2021

“Yah, where’s our maknae?” Seungcheol questioned as he came out from the bathroom break. The SEVENTEEN group had just finished performing their pre recorded performance for their new comeback, “Rock with you.”

“I don’t know, she’s always bouncing around the place.” Jeonghan tirelessly sighed, slumping most of his body weight onto the couch with his arm behind it.

“You shouldn’t have left her, you know how she’s doomed to get lost in this place,” The leader of the group scolded them as a hint of worry lines appeared on his forehead.

Then all of a sudden, the “missing” maknae barged inside the dressing room, skipping happily in her steps as her arms grasped around that would seem to be tree neatly wrapped sandwiches.

“Oppaaaa~ everyone! I got free sandwiches today.” She giggled, jumping up and down in place with her curly brunette hair bounced all around her.

“Wow, byeol. You’re so generous to share this with us,” Seungkwan exclaimed, standing up from his makeup chair and wrapped his arms around the girl. She smiled and nodded.

“Mianhae, if it’s only three. Sunbaenim and hoobaes gave me some while I was walking back down here. They said that our performance was great!” She giggled.

This caught the attention of majority of the boys, glancing at each other with furrowed browed expressions before looking back at the happy maknae.

She checked the sandwhiches, jutting out her bottom lip in concentration. “Ah… one was from an Enhypen member, then another waa from The Boyz. Oh! Sehun Sunbaenim also gave one!”

Wonwoo had already taken off his glasses. That was never a good sign within the group.

Mingyu, who was previously laying on the floor, picked himself up and picked up one sandwich from her grasp. He narrowed his eyes in suspicion and lets out a loud tsk when he noticed that there was a slight yellow paper slipped within the contents of the sandwich . “Aish jinjja… Did you open these?” He asked, looking back at their maknae.

Byeol shook her head. “was saving them to share.” She said, placing them down to the table where the other members immediately took it to inspect. To their dismay, there was really a paper inside of it.

“Share?” Dino repeated. “With us?”

“Of course.”

The boys looked ready to cry. Even though their maknae was oblivious with these type of things, they couldn’t help but softened up at the thought that she had remembered them after all.

Woozi pinched the bridge of his nose, already feeling a bit stressed in thinking that their maknae was surrounded by sharks outside of the group.

“Byeol.” He softly said.

“Yes?”

“Did any of them ask for your number?”

She thought hard, squinting her eyes a bit as she placed a hand under her chin.

“… One said if I ever wanted a collab, I should call him.”

Silence.

“And another said if I was hungry next week, he’d prepare lunch again.” Byeol stated, clicking her fingers.

Joshua covered his face.

Jun stared into space. “They are flirting.”

Byeol gasped. “With who?”

“With you,” thirteen voices answered back with the same deadpanned tone.

Her jaw dropped, horrified at the thought of them flirting with her.

“No way. They were just kind!” She exclaimed, rubbing her arms around her as she felt goosebumps.

Jeonghan laughed bitterly. “That innocence will kill us one day.” He said, holding onto the sandwhich as if it were contaminated thing.

Hoshi suddenly stood up and hugged the girl tightly, “Nobody is going to steal our princess from us.” He whined.

From then on, the members had decided to make a pact to never leave Byeol alone with a man within 50 meter radius. Poor Manager Younghwan, who had to control the boys before they do something crazy.

Byeol had said it so many times that even the interviewers started laughing before she could finish.

“I am not spoiled by them.” She said it with full confidence too, sitting neatly in her chair while thirteen pairs of eyes around her immediately reacted in offense.

“What do you mean not spoiled?” Seungkwan exclaimed from the side.

“We literally raised you,” Hoshi added dramatically, sniffing hard as if he had just went on a full dramatic sob moment.

“That sounds worse when you say it like that,” Jihoon muttered, earning laughter from the room.

Byeol only rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “They’re exaggerating. They treat me normally.” She said, grabbing a bottle from the table before struggling in opening it.

The interviewer smiled, already familiar with this argument. “Normally?” He asked.

Before Byeol could answer, Mingyu leaned over and placed the water bottle cap she had been struggling with back into her hand after opening it for her.

Joshua gently fixed her sleeves, that were slightly crinkled. Jeonghan wordlessly slid a snack into her lap, knowing that she tends to get hungry. Then Dokyeom, Seungcheol, and Minghao were dramatically hovering around her as if they were mother hens. At this point, there were 13 men fretting over at this point, calling her princess in different languages.

“Princess!”

“Princess, let me carry you-“

“Stop it!” She exclaimed out loudly, playfully pushing their hands away.

The room burst into louder laughter as the thirteen boys jokingly bowed to the audience before returning back to their seats.

Byeol stared at them in disbelief. “You all did that on purpose.”

“We did nothing,” Vernon said calmly.

“Technically, it shows that they’re really spoiling you a lot, Byeol-sshi,” the interviewer said.

The members nodded like witnesses in court. Byeol groaned and covered her face while everyone laughed again.

For years, she had insisted they did not baby her. According to Byeol, they were simply kind older members who cared for her as their bandmate and friend.

But according to everyone else, she was hopelessly spoiled.

There were too many clips of jackets being draped over her shoulders before she noticed the cold. Too many moments of members feeding her first before touching their own food. Too many scenes of them panicking over tiny cuts, carrying her bags, fixing her hair, guiding her through crowds, and hovering whenever she looked one percent tired.

Byeol continued denying it every chance she got. And SEVENTEEN just continued proving her wrong without even trying.

1. The “Byeol Eats First” Rule

Whenever food arrived in the practice room, the members acted like it was a law that Byeol had to eat first. Containers were barely set down before someone slid them toward her. Another member would already be opening chopsticks or peeling the lid off her drink. If she said she was not hungry yet, they ignored her and placed food in her hand anyway. If there was one last dumpling left, thirteen hungry men somehow became full the moment Byeol glanced at it.

Whenever they would go abroad for their world tour and had the opportunity to go around to eat street foods, the boys would buy different set of pieces and would allow Byeol to take the first bite. Though for Jeonghan, before she could even take a bite from his, he would simply pull the food away and would ask with a teasing voice. “Byeol-ah, nugu aegi?”

Byeol would simply stare at him with a small pout before saying, “Hannie Oppa’s aegi.”

Cue, thirteen boys squeals (more like screeching)

2. Escorting Her Through Crowds

At airports, music shows, and crowded events, Byeol never realized when the formation happened. One member would naturally walk ahead, two stayed at her sides, and another checked behind them. Hands hovered near her shoulders so she would not get bumped. She would complain that she could walk by herself, but nobody listened. If it were only their rules, they wouldn’t even allow her to walk, instead, they would just simply carry her around lol. So for now, they would simply guide her forward while continuing their own conversations like protecting her was second nature.

3. Checking if She Slept

The first thing they asked in the morning was rarely a greeting. It was always whether she had slept well. Eversince she had joined the group in 2017, it was known to everyone that Byeol’s a student so she truly juggles a a lot with her academics and idol life. If Byeol looked tired for even one second, everyone would notice immediately. They could tell from the way she blinked slower, how quiet she was, or how she dragged her feet. Then the mothering began. Minghao would always make her warm tea, using the herbs that he had bought from China, and even used his expensive tea set just for her to enjoy. Jihoon would quietly pull her to sit beside him inside the Vocal’s Team van, ushering her to take a nap with him. And of course, it was surprising that it wasn’t Seungcheol or Jeonghan who were scolding her for stayint up too late— it was Joshua. He was very much scarier when he’s angrily scolding at her, in her opinion.

4. Automatic Jacket Service

If the room felt cold, Byeol never had time to notice before a hoodie was dropped over her shoulders. Sometimes one member covered her legs with a blanket while another fixed the hood around her head. There were days she looked down and realized she was wearing layers from three different members at once. None of them seemed to care that they were freezing as long as she was warm.

5. When She Gets Scolded

If staff corrected Byeol too harshly, the entire mood of the group shifted immediately. Nobody argued back, but every member moved closer to her once it was over. One made her laugh with a bad joke, one passed her a snack, another quietly fixed her hair. Someone would ask if she wanted to practice together later. They never let her sit alone with embarrassment for long.

In other situations where Byeol was deeply troubled that might cause trouble with her contract with them, Seungcheol’s the first in line to march towards the PLEDIS/HYBE main office to discuss and defend his princess. There would also be situations where her life is in danger, you bet there would be consequences and the boys will definitely press charges for her safety.

6. Tiny Injury = National Emergency

A papercut, scraped knee, bitten lip, or tiny headache could send the group into chaos. Literally, someone did run out of the HYBE building just to buy for bandages, initially forgetting that their company has their own clinic within that building. Seungkwan would start searching tor symptoms online like it was a life threatening case. Then later they would cry out that it might cause cancer if not treated, which obviously led to another bickering session for the whole group (do not trust the internet). Jeonghan would obviously be the type of member to glare suspiciously at the chair or table that had hurt her, most probably thinking of selling it or perhaps burning it. Byeol would be standing there perfectly fine while everyone around her panicked louder than necessary.

7. Letting Her Win on Purpose

They loved claiming they were competitive until Byeol started losing a game. It was always known during Going Seventeen episodes that Byeol’s great at games, but there are a few times that she would lose in those too. Then out of nowhere, sudden mistakes happened everywhere. Hoshi forgot rules he made himself. Mingyu dropped cards from his hands. Seungkwan acted like luck had personally betrayed him. Byeol would celebrate proudly while they exchanged knowing looks behind her back.

8. Hair and Accessory Patrol

The members constantly fixed something on her without asking. They adjusted crooked microphones, brushed lint off her sleeves, retied shoelaces, straightened necklaces, and smoothed messy bangs away from her eyes. It became so common that Byeol would pause mid sentence whenever someone approached her face with serious concentration. Each of the boys also had a habit to bring a hair tie around their wrists or bring a floral clip that would usually be seen hanging on their bags.

The boys would never complain when Byeol would stick cute clips on their bag straps. She would only deem them worthy of being fabulous. So, the boys just wore it like it’s their badge of honor from the princess.

9. Ensuring Their Princess Never Cries

It was known to everyone that Byeol is a Pisces, so the water signs tend to be emotional over things, and Byeol was no exception. Whenever Byeol looks even slightly upset, the members immediately notice. The energy in the room shifts without anyone saying anything. One of them will quietly move closer to her, another will try to make her sit down, and someone else will gently ask what is wrong in a softer voice than usual. They do not rush her or pressure her to talk. They just stay near her, making sure she is not alone in it. For them, it is simple. If Byeol is hurting, they will stay until she is okay again.

10. Watching Her Reactions

Whenever something funny happened on camera, half the members were not even watching the main event. They were watching Byeol. If she laughed, they laughed harder. If she looked confused, a few of them would start explaining at once. If she looked amazed, they became even more dramatic just to hear her laugh again.

11. Byeol Falling Asleep Anywhere

If Byeol fell asleep in a chair, on the couch, in the van, or backstage, the room instantly became quieter. Voices dropped to whispers. Someone would place a blanket over her. Someone moved bags so she could stretch out within that cramped space. Another member guarded the area like security. They acted less like bandmates and more like parents trying not to wake a toddler. And they definitely adjusted really well when it comes to her.

12. Proud Parent Mode

Whenever Byeol accomplished something small, the reaction was ridiculous. If she finished a hard performance, remembered choreography quickly, cooked something edible, or answered confidently in interviews, the members cheered like she had won an award. Loud applause filled the room. Boys would be sobbing fake tears and exclaiming how proud they were. Dramatic much. They praised her so much she became embarrassed every time. But, they were truly the best moral support she could ever ask for.

13. The Habit She Never Notices

Byeol insisted she was not babied at all. The members only laughed because the proof happened every day. The second she entered a room, multiple voices asked if she had eaten, if she was cold, where her phone was, why she was carrying something heavy, and whether she had slept enough. She never noticed how automatic it all was. They did it because caring for Byeol had become part of their routine, and nothing will change that.

So no matter how many times Byeol insists she is treated normally, nobody believes her anymore. Not the fans, not the staff, and definitely not the thirteen members who continue to spoil her without thinking twice. At this point, Byeol may be the only person left who does not realize that being babied by Seventeen has simply become part of her everyday life.

[January 24, 2019]

The fanmeet for SEVENTEEN’s Home comeback had already been warm from the very beginning.

It was one of those winter afternoons in January where the venue lights felt soft instead of harsh, where the members wore cream knits and pale colors, where everyone seemed gentler than usual. The comeback itself carried that same feeling of comfort and warmth. It was the kind of song people listened to when they needed to breathe again.

Rows of CARATs waited patiently, clutching albums to their chests, hands trembling from excitement. The line moved steadily down the long table where thirteen boys smiled, greeted, signed pages, listened carefully, and laughed often.

And in the middle of them all sat Byeol.

She was still the young 17 year old who still carries the quiet bright personality that people would always took notice of.

She wore an oversized cardigan over her pastel pink crop top shirt because she had complained backstage about the cold. Her hair was pinned back loosely, and every few minutes she tucked a strand behind her ear while speaking to fans. She was a little tired— comeback schedules had been nonstop— but she still greeted every person like they were the first fan of the day.

To her right was Minghao, elegant and composed as always, writing neat messages into albums with focused eyes. To her left was Jihoon, who looked serious until fans said something funny and made him crack a smile.

The staff called the next fan forward.

A young woman stepped up carefully, clutching a small whiteboard and marker to her chest. Her hands shook slightly— not from cold, but nerves. Her album was decorated with tiny stickers, and hanging from her bag was a small trinkets of keychains that were seventeen related.

She bowed first to Minghao.

Minghao smiled immediately, accepting the album with both hands. Then he noticed the whiteboard.

The fan uncapped the marker quickly and wrote something down before showing it to him.

‘Hello! I’m Y/n! I’ve been a fan for three years now. I’m deaf. I apologize if I couldn’t speak to you properly.’

Minghao’s expression softened instantly. He placed a hand over his chest and bowed deeper this time, slower, more deliberate. Then he pointed to the board and gave her a thumbs up, waiting patiently while she wrote more.

They communicated through smiles, gestures, and written notes. It took a little longer, but neither of them minded. Minghao even wrote a message back in neat Hangul, making her laugh silently when he added a tiny doodle beside his name.

Then she stepped to the next seat.

Byeol looked up with her usual bright grin, reaching automatically for the album.

“Hi—” she began cheerfully.

The fan lifted the whiteboard.

‘Hello, Byeol-ah! I’m your Unnie Y/n. I’ve been a fan of yours since your Produce 101 era. I’m deaf, I apologize if I can’t communicate properly with you. It’s so nice to see you.’

Byeol’s words stopped mid breath. For a split second, she only stared at the board. Then her eyes widened— it was not in discomfort, nor confusion, but from realization.

“Oh,” she mouthed softly, mouth completely going into an “O” shaper lips.

Then her entire face lit up.

She quickly placed the album down, leaned forward, and gently waved both hands in the fan’s line of sight to catch her attention.

The fan looked up, blinking in confusion.

Byeol raised her hands and began to sign.

‘Hello. Nice to meet you, Unnie. I’m Byeol! Thank you for coming today. Don’t worry, please speak comfortably. I can understand you well.’

The marker slipped from the fan’s hand and clattered softly onto the table.

Her mouth fell open. For a second she simply stared, eyes wide and wet with shock. Then she pointed shakily to herself, as if asking ‘me?’

Byeol nodded eagerly and signed again, slower this time. ‘Yes, of course unnie. It’s nice to meet you as well.’

The fan covered her mouth with both hands, happy sounds escaping from her mouth. Around them, the venue seemed to hush down as they realized what was happening.

Nearby fans noticed first. Then the staff who worked behind, their managers seemed to have paused to watch the interaction with soft gazes. Then members further down the table started glancing over curiously.

“What’s happening over there?” Mingyu curiously asked, leaning his head nearest to the table just so he could see clearly to his left.

Minghao turned fully in his seat. Jihoon paused mid-signature. Seungkwan down the line craned his neck dramatically until Joshua nudged him back into place. Seungcheol had to stand up to look closely as he was worried that another incident would’ve happened, but the scene only made his eyes soften at the sight of their softhearted maknae.

Byeol, oblivious to everyone else, kept smiling at the fan like nothing else mattered but their fan.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve signed so I might be a little rusty. Sorry if mistakes.’

The fan shook her head rapidly, tears spilling now. She immediately replied back as she shakily worked on doing the ASL .

‘No need to feel sorry. Thank you. Thank you so much for being so kind, Byeol-ah’

Byeol read it and her own expression softened.

Then she signed again with a soft smile. ‘You waited long time to come here?’

The fan nodde, ‘Three years. This is my first fansign. I was nervous.’

Byeol inhaled sharply, looking genuinely moved. She placed one hand over her heart.

Then signed with extra care.

‘I’m happy you came. Very happy! In fact, I can explode from happiness!” She sighed, exaggerating her movements. This seemed to crack smiles among the members who were glancing over to their way from time to time.

‘How do you know sign language?’

Byeol read it. Something soft passed over her face. She smiled softly at her.

‘My father was deaf.’

The fan froze.

Byeol continued, slower now.

‘This was technically my first language too.’

She gave a small, shy smile and added, though she was saying the words outloud softly just so she wouldn’t mess things up.

‘At home, we spoke with hands and eyes.’

The fan softly smiled, raising her hands to sign once again.

‘I never thought I would meet an idol who understands me. I find it hard to communicate well with other people.’

Byeol’s brows knit together. Genuine sadness.

Then she signed back firmly.

‘You should be understood everywhere. Every person is precious in this world, and you deserved to be understood as much as the rest of us.’ The fan burst into silent tears.

Even Minghao looked away for a second, smiling softly to himself.

Down the table, Seungkwan sniffled dramatically.

“Why am I crying?” he whispered

“Seungkwan-ah, you’re such a cry baby.” Jun snickered, patting Boo’s back.

The main vocalist lets out a watery laugh, “This is just moving.”

Byeol watched as the fan did another sign. ‘Your father must have been proud of you.’

Byeol’s entire expression softened into something younger. More vulnerable.

She looked at the words for a moment before signing slowly. ‘He was my biggest supporter.’

Byeol paused for a moment, smiling softly as memories of her and her father together when she was a child.

‘He passed away years ago. I still think of him every day whenever I perform, both of my parents.’

The fan covered her mouth again, brows furrowing in sadness, not entirely expecting for Byeol to open up.

The young idol continued, hands gentler this time.

‘Even if he could not hear the music, and I wasn’t a professional singer yet since I was technically still a kid. He would always say he could feel it through me.’

The fan burst into silent tears that she couldn’t stop, shoulders trembling as she laughed soundlessly at the same time.

Byeol panicked immediately in the way only Byeol could. “Oh no! Ottokaee, don’t cry jebal.” She exclaimed, her hands flew up.

‘No cry! Wait— just happy cry, okay. But no sad cry! Because, if you cry i’ll cry too.’ Byeol signed, laughing softly as her emotions seemed to heightened the more she thinks about it.

The fan laughed even harder, couldn’t stop herself from getting emptiomal.

Jihoon beside them quietly slid a tissue box toward Byeol without looking up from his seat. Byeol grabbed it, gasped in gratitude, and offered tissues to the fan with both hands.

Minghao smiled so softly it nearly went unnoticed.

Even the bodyguards that were standing by were smiling at the interaction. It was a good thing that the managers and staff had took noticed of this, so they at least extended a few minutes for Byeol to be with the fan.

The fan wiped her eyes and signed once again.

‘I’m grateful that your parents had raised you well, our uri maknae. Even if your started with seventeen late and was paused for a short moment, i’m glad you’re still fated to stay with us in this family that we formed. You guys, this group, have always been my inspiration to live in this world so thank you.’

Byeol lips turned downward into a pout, hands trying to cover up her face that seemed to fail to hide her sadness. “Mygosh, you are so sweet, Unnie.” She said, laughing as she horribly tried to fan herself using her right hand but failed when a tear slipped down her cheeks.

The members seemed to have noticed this, pausing for a moment to watch their maknae in worry. Minghao, who seemed stopped for a moment to pat the girl’s back, softly smiling and whispering a few encouragement words in chinese. The girl nodded, closing her eyes for a moment to recompose herself.

Their fans in the audience lets out a chorus of awwww, then out of nowhere, a fan screamed at the top of his lungs. “Don’t cry, Maknae!”

This caused the whole table to laugh, even the two who were having a moment.

Byeol bowed her head, wiping a few of her tears from her corner of her eyes and cheeks. She tried not to think much of her parents since she knew deep down that it would only make her feel sad and lonely of being orphaned at a young age. Grief was always a quiet thing for her— something that was not outspoken, but it lingered in the softest corners of her heart, waiting for moments like this to resurface.

Byeol took a shaky breath, her shoulders trembling slightly as she tried to steady herself. She looked back at the fan, eyes glistening, a fragile smile forming despite the tears that refused to stop.

“Unnie…” her voice came out softer this time, almost like a whisper meant only for the two of them. “Thank you… really.”

She pressed her lips together for a second, as if holding back a flood of emotions, before continuing, signing once again as she said her thoughts out loud.

“I think… sometimes I wonder what kind of person I would’ve become if things were different. If my parents were still here…” Her voice wavered, but she didn’t look away. “But moments like this— when someone like you says things like that to me… it makes me feel like maybe I didn’t lose everything.”

Her hand slowly dropped from her face, fingers curling slightly as if trying to hold onto the warmth of the moment.

“You said you’re grateful to my parents…” she let out a small, breathy laugh, shaking her head. “I think… they would be the ones grateful to you. Because you’re here, just like the other carats, loving me, supporting me… helping me grow into someone I hope they’d be proud of.”

Another tear slipped down, but this time she didn’t try to hide it.

“I know it took long for me to join but I think it was just a long path that still led me here. To seventeen, to carats, to you…” she smiled gently, eyes soft but certain.

She placed a hand over her chest, as if grounding herself.

“I’m so happy to hear that we inspire you to live… but you should know, Unnie… you inspire me too. Every letter, every word, every time you, carats, stay with us— it reminds me that I’m not alone. That I have a family I found, not just one I lost.”

Her voice cracked at the last sentence, and she quickly laughed through it, embarrassed but sincere.

“So… please don’t thank me alone, okay?” she added softly, continue to sign. “Let’s… keep living well together. For the people we’ve lost, and for the people we’ve found.”

Byeol gave a small bow, lingering a second longer than usual, as if pouring all her gratitude into that simple gesture.

When she lifted her head again, her smile was still tearful— but this time, it felt whole. “Ah jinjja, we shouldn’t be crying unnie! Our make up is now ruined,” She jokingly said, grabbing a tissue from the box to wipe off her tears then encouraged the fan to grab some tissues as well.

She then grabbed (y/n’s) album and started signing and leaving small notes of motivation for her in the album. The maknae would nod and giggle in whatever things that the fan had said to her.

This time was up, Byeol laughed helplessly and reached across the table, gently offering both hands.

The fan placed hers into Byeol’s hands, bowing her head down in appreciation. The young girl smiled and squeezed her hands warmly.

Someone further down the table sniffled loudly.

“Is that Seungkwan-hyung crying?” Chan whispered as he peered from the other side of the table.

“It is,” Vernon answered.

The line behind the fan had gone still, everyone watching quietly with soft expressions. A few fans were already wiping tears. Phones were lowered out of respect. No one wanted to interrupt.

Byeol signed one more sentence before handing the album back.

‘Come again. Next time, I better know more a little about you. Promise.’

The fan wrote with shaking hands.

‘You already gave me enough today.’

Byeol read it, then immediately shook her head.

‘No. You came to see me. I should give more.’

The fan laughed through tears and bowed deeply, it was so deeply that Byeol hurried to bow back just as low, almost hitting her forehead on the table in the process. Jihoon caught her sleeve before impact.

“Careful,” he muttered automatically.

She straightened and grinned sheepishly.

The fan moved on down the line, still crying, clutching the album like treasure.

As soon as she was out of reach, Jihoon glanced sideways. “You never told us you knew sign language.” He stated.

Byeol blinked. “I know a little.”

Minghao added quietly, “That little was enough.”

She ducked her head, embarrassed. “I’m rusty. I used to do it a lot back then.”

Jihoon clicked his tongue. “You were cool. I’m so proud of you.” He said, patting her back softly.

She gasped, eyes sparkling at him. “Was that a compliment, Jihooniee Oppa?” She squaked.

“Don’t make it weird, kid.” He deadpanned.

Down the line, Dokyeom dramatically shouted, “Why do I only learn things about Byeol during public events?”

“Because you never listen to us in general,” Jeonghan replied. Dokyeom paused for a moment, before gasping out loudly.

“That is slander.” He exclaimed, abruptly standing up in his seat which earning laughs from members and their fellow carats. Byeol giggled, tilting her head upwards in surprise when the manager placed a flower crown on her head. She sheepishly smiled before looking at the next fan.

The fansign continued, but something had changed in the room after that. It felt softer with a hit of warmth encapsulating the mood of the room.

Later that night, clips spread everywhere online. It went over the internet how wholesome it was for Byeol to communicate with the deaf fan. Communication has no limits. That’s what Byeol truly stands for.

Years later, fans would still talk about it as one of Byeol’s most beautiful and iconic moments.

But Byeol herself, when asked about it once in an interview, only looked confused and said,

“I just wanted to talk to her properly.”

If there was anything Byeol would never exchange, it was the boys of SEVENTEEN— and, without question, their parents.

Growing up, family had always felt smaller than it should have been. After losing her parents at ten, Byeol learned how to live quietly under the care of her grandparents, how to make peace with absence, how to accept that some spaces in her life would remain unfilled.

So when she first stood in that practice room during pre-debut evaluations, watching the members reunite with their families, Byeol told herself she didn’t need anything more.

So, she stayed near the corner anyway.

Hands clasped in front of her, eyes quietly observing as the room filled with laughter, familiar voices, and the kind of warmth that didn’t belong to her. Parents called out their sons’ names, pulled them into hugs, fussed over how thin they looked or how tired they seemed.

Byeol just watched the boys. She didn’t notice Choi Seungcheol approaching until he was already standing beside her.

“Why are you all the way here?” he asked, glancing at her. He was already informed that her grandparents weren’t coming at all.

“I’m fine here,” she said softly, offering a small smile.

He didn’t look convinced.

“Come on,” he said, gently nudging her arm. “You should meet them.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “No, it’s okay—”

“It’s not,” he cut in, already guiding her forward.

“Oppa…” she protested under her breath, trying to slow down, but he only held onto her wrist a little more firmly, careful but insistent.

“They’ve heard about you,” he added, like that was supposed to help. “They would really like to meet you.”

“That makes it worse,” she muttered.

He let out a small laugh. “You’ll be fine.”

Before she could come up with another excuse, they were already standing in front of his parents.

“Eomma, Appa,” Seungcheol called casually, catching both attention of his parents. “This is Byeol.”

She froze for a moment, standing still right beside him. For a split second, she considered bowing and immediately running back to the corner.

But it was too late.

Because Seungcheol’s mother had already stepped forward.

“Byeol-ah?” she said gently.

And then she crouched down slightly, meeting the girl at eye level, her expression soft in a way that made Byeol’s nerves falter. “We’ve heard so much about you from our Seungcheol.”

Byeol blinked, caught off guard by the warmth in her voice.

“A-anyeonghaseyo,” she stammered, bowing quickly.

Behind them, Seungcheol’s father smiled quietly, while nearby parents began to take notice.

“Aigoo, such a polite girl.” Mingyu’s mother chimed in, clapping her hands together enthusiastically.

“She’s even prettier from what my channie boy had said!” Lee Chan’s mother said, stepping closer with a fond smile.

And just like that, she was surrounded by a group of parents who had nothing but love for the little girl. She felt welcomed into that circle.

It was overwhelming at first— the way they spoke to her so fondly, the way they insisted, “Call me eomma,” “Call me appa,” as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Byeol didn’t know how to say it back then. But she remembered how it felt.

When their debut was announced in 2017, the parents celebrated just as much as the boys did. Some traveled just to be there, filling the room with pride and excitement that spilled over to Byeol as well. And over the years, without her even realizing when it started, the words came easier.

The worde Eomma and Appa. At some point, she had stopped getting conscious about calling them those words. She felt like it was right to call them that as they had been nothing but have paternal instincts over her.

Byeol basically had 13 parents at this point.

There were times that the boys would whine that their parents would often seen Byeol rather than their own sons.

It showed in the smallest, funniest ways. Seungcheol, being the youngest in the family, was perplexed but not surprised that his parents would rather ask how was byeol was that day rather than knowing their own son.

2018:

It was the time when Byeol had came home from school and Seungcheol was at the kitchen, having a conversation with his parents through voice call.

“Oh princess, you’re home.” Seungcheol perked up at the sight of their youngest coming through the door. Byeol smiled tiredly as she removed her shoes before going inside the dorm.

“Hello Oppa,” She said, walking over to him and planted a kiss on his right cheek, which he patted her back in return.

“How was school?” He asked, setting down his chopsticks to properly face the teen

“It was okay. I’ve got upcoming exams.” She stated.

“Oh? Is that our daughter I’m hearing?” A familiar tone of a woman coming from seungcheol’s phone. Byeol looked at it curiously before she started smiling widely

“Eommaaaa! Appaaa!” She greeted, leaning forward at the table just so she could fin in to the frame of his phone.

On the other end, Seungcheol’s parents smiled just as brightly.

“Aigooo, our baby?” His mother cooed, eyes crinkling. “How is our baby? Have you been eating well.”

“Neee,” Byeol nodded eagerly, lifting her lunchbox. “Gyu oppa made my lunch today!”

From somewhere behind her, Mingyu yelled, “Tell them I woke up early for that!”

Seungcheol’s father chuckled. “You’re taking good care of her.”

“Of course,” Mingyu shot back from afar.

Seungcheol stared at the scene in disbelief for a moment before finally scoffing. “Ya,” he cut in, pointing at himself. “I’m still your son too. Aren’t you going to check on me?”

There was a pause. His mother blinked.

“Oh, right,” she said casually. “Did you eat?”

“I’m literally eating right now!” Seungcheol whined. His father laughed. Byeol couldn’t hold it in anymore, laughter spilling out as she leaned against the table.

And Seungcheol— he just shook his head, but there was no real annoyance in his expression. Because if there was one thing he knew for sure— it was that she was just as much their daughter as he was their son.

The same case occured when Jeonghan had brought Byeol with him just to have dinner at his childhood home.

2020:

“Oppa, are you sure this is okay?” Byeol pouted as they got by at his house.

Before he could even enter the house, the front door was swung open to reveal Jeonghan’s younger sister. She evidently gasped in excited when she saw them arrive.

“You’re here,” she exclaimed. Jeonghan smiled, already opening his arms for her. Except, instead of running in to his arms, his sister just walked right past him and went straight to Byeol.

“Hahaha, unnie!” Byeol giggled, wrapping her arms around the older girl.

“Oh is that Byeol? Ah, our uri baby!” Jeonghan’s mother followed suit, immediately hugging the girl as well while her husband gave the girl a side hug too.

“You’ve gotten tall,” he commented, ruffling the girl’s hair.

“Ne appa, I grew an inch!” Byeol proudly said. The parents smiled fondly at the girl, praising her for such achievement.

Meanwhile, Jeonghan stared at the scene with an unimpressed look. “I also grew!” He fake whined.

“No, you didn’t.” His sister immediately shot back.

It happened quite often to her at times. Whenever she’s at LA, she would mostly spend most of her time eating at the Hong’s residences. Joshua would sometimes get surprised that during one of his calls to his mother, he was surprised to find out that Byeol was there in his LA house.

2021:

“Feeling at home, Byeol-ah?” Joshua jokingly stated through the phone.

“Ne! I’m Eomma’s favorite daughter now.” Byeol smiled widely, hugging Joshua’s mom from behind while placing her chin on the older woman’s shoulder to peer down at the call.

Jaimie Hong laughed softly, patting the girl’s head. “Aigooo, my sweet girl.” She said.

With Jeon Wonwoo’s family, it was always quiet, but never empty. Byeol sometimes would joke that Wonwoo and her are actually relatives due to their surnames. Byeol remembered sitting in their living room during a rainy afternoon, legs tucked under her, while Wonwoo’s mother quietly placed a blanket over her shoulders.

2019:

She didn’t say anything at first, just adjusted the fabric until it covered her properly. “Cold?” she asked her gently with a motherly gaze upon her face.

“A little,” Byeol admitted, smiling upwards at wonwoo’s mother.

From the side, Wonwoo spoke softly, almost amused. “She always says that after she’s already cold.”

His mother hummed, as if that was expected. “Really? Then I’ll make you a quilt before you go back to work,” she said, tucking a piece of fallen hair behind the girl’s ear.

The girl visibly gasped, unable to contain her excitement. “You can knit?” She gasped.

“Of course!” Wonwoo’s mother wholeheartedly laugh.

“Can you teach me how to knit? I’ve always wanted to learn how.”

And that was how Byeol ended up sitting on the floor beside her, a soft bundle of yarn placed between them like it had been waiting for this moment all along. His mother guided her hands patiently, correcting the way she held the needles, slowing her down whenever she rushed.

From the couch, Jeon Wonwoo watched the two of them in silence for a while before speaking. “You’re going to make something completely uneven.”

His mother didn’t even look up. “Then she’ll learn.”

Byeol frowned slightly, tongue poking out in concentration. “I can do it properly.”

Wonwoo raised a brow. “You said that five minutes ago.”

“I improved already,” she shot back.

His mother smiled softly, watching her try again. “That’s good. Improvement means you’re learning.”

Wonwoo leaned back, shaking his head lightly as he muttered, “She listens to you more than me.”

His mother finally glanced at him. “That’s because she trusts me.”

The room fell into a comfortable quiet again after that, broken only by the soft clicking of needles and Byeol’s occasional frustrated hums when the yarn slipped. But even then, she didn’t stop. She just tried again, a little slower this time, with Wonwoo still watching from the side like he had no choice but to stay and see how it turned out.

With Woozi’s family, care was never loud, but it was always precise. Byeol noticed it the first time she visited for a meal. There were dishes she liked without having to say it, placed neatly in front of her as if it had been decided in advance that she would need them.

2022:

“Eat this too,” his mother said, sliding another side dish closer to her.

“You’re too thin.” She softly nagged her.

“I’m not that thin,” Byeol replied, but she was already being ignored in the gentlest way possible.

Jihoon sat across from her, watching the entire scene unfold with a tired expression. “Sometimes I feel like Byeol’s more of your child.”

“Aish, what are you talking about. Both of you are my children.” his mother responded without looking at him. “Music geniuses!”

Byeol laughed quietly, eating anyway, while Jihoon sighed but there’s a deep smile on his face

There were also times that she felt unexpected loved from the parente. When Byeol was invited to become a dance teacher for the Chinese program Youth With You Season 2, which was a similar program from Produce 101. Jun and Minghao accompanied her back to their country, insisting that she should stay back and forth in their own homes instead of renting an apartment or a hotel for the duration of her stay in China

And during the duration of her stay in China, she was spoiled… very spoiled. Minghao and Jun’s parents would take her around just to see the wonders in China. She was also spoiled with tons of food. As everyone knows, both parents only had sons so they immediately adopted Byeol as their only daughter within the family. They do love to splurge money on shopping spree on Byeol even though she had the capability to buy her own stuff.

As for the language barrier, well, there was no language barriers at all! In fact, she was actually able to keep up with their conversations as to how Minghao and Jun had trained her with during their train years. Even if there were words that she wasn’t familiar with in chinese translation, the mother hens are there to teach her.

2020:

“Eommaaa,” Byeol called out, catching the attention of her two chinese mothers.

“What do you think?” She asked, posing for them with the outfit that they had chosen for her.

“Omo! It looks so pretty on you,” Minghao’s mother gushed over while Jun’s mother nodded in agreement as well.

As much as they loved the dress, their two sons however wasn’t too keen with the idea.

“Isn’t that neckline too low?” Jun stated, narrowing his eyes as he criticized the dress a bit.

“The length too, it’s too short. You know you get too cold when you’re in Korea,” Minghao somehow turned this into a lecture.

“But isn’t it pretty? I love it.” Byeol said, twirling around while smiling happily when both of her chinese mothers clapped enthusiastically at their daughter.

“I think jie jie looks very pretty!” Jun’s little brother stated, smiling widely. Byeol couldn’t help but coo at the boy’s honest comment.

“Boys, let her have some fun! It looks very pretty on her,” Jun’s mother scolded at them, only to earn grumbling responses from the boys.

At Kim Mingyu’s home, there was no such thing as subtle within the family. They could immediately notice things that she hadn’t noticed before.

2023:

“You got thinner,” his father said immediately.

Byeol blinked in surprise, “I didn’t—“ she said.

“You did,” his mother agreed, already guiding her to sit. She softly said comforting words that her daughter hasn’t been taken care really well, patting her hands in reassurance that the food that she prepared was good for her.

“Mingyu,” his father called out to his son, who sat froze on his seat. “why are you not feeding her properly?”

“I do!” Mingyu defended himself.

Byeol laughed as another portion was placed onto her plate.

“Byeol-ah, eat more so that you’ll grow big,” his mother insisted, letting her husband lecture their son.

“Ne Eomma,” Byeol grinned before diving into her food.

As for the Lee Seokmin’s family, everything felt brighter. It was like she was surrounded by a sun. It was during Chuseok Holiday when Byeol was invited to spend the holiday with the family. Knowing that his parents wanted to see their other daughter, she just nodded in agreement.

2024:

“Wait, wait!” his mother said suddenly. Before Byeol could ask why, a camera clicked.

Seokmin groaned. “You didn’t even warn us!”

His father leaned over, checking the photo. “It’s good.”

“Of course it is,” his mother said proudly. “Our Byeol-ah looks pretty.”

“How about me?” Seokmin asked, pointing to himself with an expectant look on his face.

“Eh, it could’ve been better.” His mother shrugged. DK looked at his mother with mouth wide open in shock, while while older sister snorted and patted his back sympathetically.

“Don’t compete with our dongsaeng or else you’ll just break your heart.”

There were other times that Byeol was at Jeju with Seungkwan, visiting his family. In there, she was surprised and amazed with how much Jeju could offer from the scenery, foods, and culture. Needless to say, she gained a little bit of weight during her one week duration stay with them.

She couldn’t help it. If anything, Byeol was like a food vacuum machine that kept on inhaling the food. She also has complete stock of tangerines deliver by Seungkwan’s father.

2022:

“Eat slowly,” his mother reminded her gently.

“I will, eomma.” Byeol said as she chew onto her food. She gave the older woman a thumbs up, “You always have the best meals.”

“You always say that.” She softly nagged, patting the girl’s shoulder.

From across the table, Seungkwan frowned. “She listens to you more.” He snorted.

“That’s because she doesn’t argue unlike someone.” His older sister side commented, snickering quietly.

“I don’t argue!”Seungkwan squawked. Byeol stuck out her tongue at Seungkwan, shaking her head as she took another bite.

And when Byeol was with Vernon, there is a 100% chance that she would be around his family as well. His parents absolutely adored Byeol, treating her like she was one of their own. With Byeol being a foreigner too and is considered to be Wasian, she coulr honestly relate to this family more than the others.

Sofia, his younger sister, absolutely adored Byeol. She aspired to be her one day despite the three year gap between them with Byeol being the oldest.

Byeol was mostly surrounded by boys, so it was a sigh of relief whenever she’s around with seventeen’s sisters or sofia.

However, not all people liked the idea of. He despised the concept of Sofia and Byeol being in one room. They were like a mischievous duo that kept on doing unworldly but funny things just to bother him

2021:

“Kidney function, is not a right. It’s a…?” Byeol said, holding out a imaginary mic towards Sofia, who grinned.

“It’s a privilege,” The two girls snickered to themselves while Vernon let out s groaning sound.

“Will you quit with that line.” Vernon mumbled.

“Byeol-ah, your mom’s making your favorite strawberry cake.” Vernon’s dad announced, popping his through the kitchen doorway

Byeol gasped loudly, “really?!” She said. “I love you Vernonie’s eomma!”

“Spoiled,” Vernon joked, earning a slap from Byeol.

And when Byeol was with Dino’s parents, it was like Dino and Byeol twins that were separated from birth. Knowing that Byeol was also a great dancer, it was like the dancers in the family were finally complete.

2025:

“Again, again!” his mother clapped from the side of the living room, completely invested.

“Eomma, we just danced,” Chan groaned, hands on his hips, already tired from the constant dance request from both of his parents.

“And? One more time!”

Byeol laughed beside him, slightly out of breath but already stepping back into position. “It’s okay, oppa. Last one.”

Dino deadpanned at the girl, “That’s what you said three times ago.”

His father stood nearby, arms crossed but smiling proudly as he watched the two of them. “You move the same,” he pointed out suddenly.

Both of them paused.

“What?” Chan frowned.

“You and Byeol,” he continued, gesturing between them. “The way you hit the beats. It’s similar.”

Byeol blinked, glancing at Chan, who looked at her too. Then, their faces cracked into smiles.

“No wonder you’re my favorite partner,” he said, nudging her shoulder.

“Ya!” she laughed, pushing him back lightly.

From the couch, his mother gasped dramatically. “See? I told you. If we had a daughter, she would be exactly like this.”

“Eomma…” Chan dragged out, already embarrassed.

But she only smiled wider, looking between the two of them like she was seeing something she had been waiting for.

“I’m changing my last name to Lee now,” Byeol laughed, posing like a rapper, grinning when they all laughed at her.

And maybe that was it. It was never about one big moment or a single realization. It was a collection of small things that slowly built something real. Shared meals at crowded tables, warm greetings the moment she stepped through the door, laughter that came easily without her forcing it, and voices that called her “our daughter” as if there had never been any doubt.

Somewhere along the way, Byeol stopped feeling like someone who was simply included. She became someone who was expected, someone whose presence was noticed when she was gone and welcomed the moment she returned. She found herself with a place waiting for her, not just beside the boys, but within the families that raised them. And for the first time in a long time, Byeol did not feel like she had lost a family. She felt like she had found one again.

It was another filming day for Going Seventeen, which meant two things: chaos was guaranteed, and somehow, it would always start with Byeol.

“Oppa—”

Mingyu barely had time to react before he felt a small tug on the back of his shirt. He turned, only to find Byeol behind him, eyebrows furrowed in deep concentration as she wrestled with her clip-on mic like it had personally offended her.

“This thing hates me,” she muttered under her breath, trying to clip it onto her neckline for the fifth time.

Mingyu blinked. “You’re fighting a microphone.”

Before he could step in, Minghao was already there.

“Ay, ay, ay… you’re going to break it,” he half-scolded, gently but firmly taking the mic from her hands. With practiced ease, he clipped it neatly onto her collar.

The girl visibly frowned, puffing out her cheeks as her low lip jutted out into a pout.

“I was handling it,” she tried to reason out.

When Minhao had clipped the mic, he raised a brow at her way and smirking slightly at her dejected look. He lifted his head back up and pinched the girl’s face.

“Continue that,” he said calmly, “and your face will start looking like a squishy.”

The girl gasped, full on betrayal look on her face. She visibly shuddered at his words as she cupped her cheeks with her hands, squishing it softly. “I am not a squishy.”

Mingyu turned away, shoulders shaking. Minghao just glanced at him, both of them silently agreeing that, yes, she absolutely was.

It didn’t take long to gather everyone in the meet up area. Staff were still adjusting cameras, and no one had stepped up yet to start the GoSe intro.

Which, in hindsight, was their first mistake.

“Wait a moment,” Byeol suddenly announced.

The members paused. While everyone was busy pointing at each other, Byeol had came prepared. However, it was highly an impromptu.

Byeol took a loud breath in, facing away from the camera and pulled out a pair of shades that she had borrowed from Minghao.

“Wah, she has props.” Seungcheol snickered, already anticipating to this nonsense.

Byeol cleared out loudly before turning around, doing a rapper stance that she would usually see from the HipHop boys.

“Ayo, wassup Carats yeah. It’s your girl, byeolie. Yeah. Yeah. We are going seventeen.” Byeol spoke in english, waving her hands like a rapper.

[Gose captions: Rapper Maknae in the house]

“Who we are?” She asked, extending an invisible mic towards the boys.

“We—“

“What-“

The boys bursted into laughter at their uncoordinated response. Slowly, she stood upright. The sunglasses slid down just enough to reveal the sheer judgment in her eyes.

“Ya!” She said, stomping her feet which deeply amused the older boys. “That’s not we’ve practiced!”

“With what practice.” Woozi shot back instantly.

“Guys, you gotta say your name when I asked y’all okay? Capicheee?” Byeol stated, lecturing them for a bit with what they’re going to say.

“Uhuh sure princess.” Hoshi grinned, not taking this seriously.

Byeol then moved towards the middle camera, whispering softly. “Okay, sorry carats. The boys needed a little bit of teaching. Just wanted to make things perfect just for you.”

“Ya! What are you telling them over there?” Seungkwan exclaimed, dragging the girl away from the camera.

Byeol blinked innocently. “Whatever do you mean? I’m just saying how pretty and handsome our carats are.” She said.

Before anyone could respond, she spun back to the camera, threw a wink, and blew an exaggerated flying kiss.

A collective groan echoed behind her.

“Just do your rap and go,” Mingyu sighed, arms crossed like a tired father.

“Okay, chill. You can’t rush art!” Byeol shot back, going into her previous stance with shades on already.

“What she said.” Joshua nodded, who was far too supportive.

“Stop encouraging her!” Seungkwan half joked.

“Yo yo yo, yeah yeah” she started as soon as the background music started playing. What makes things even funnier to the boys is the seriousness behind her expression.

“Oh she’s actually serious.” Vernon laughed out loud, clutching onto Seungkwan’s arm.

“Who are we?” Byeol said, extending her arm towards the boys.

“SEVENTEEN!” They all said, jumping up and down.

“What? What?” She hyped them up, crouching down as she jumped her upper body.

“SEVENTEEN!”

“Yeah, we are seventeen.” Byeol said, swinging her head from left to right. “We are going to play some games yo.”

“She’s doing great.” Dokyeom laughed, clapping his hands together.

After a few beats, she started yelling words out of nowhere.

“YEET!”

“SKRTTTT!”

“YEET!”

“SKRTTT—“ Byeol stood up with a poker face expression as the boys around her started laughing once more.

“We are— at the— abandoned— water amuseme-“

“It’s not abandoned.” Wonwoo cleared out throat, smiling innocently at the camera

“Whatever— i don’t care— i just wanna play games— so— carats can have some fun! Yo yo, break it down yo. This is byeolie!”

After she rapped, the boys enthusiastically laughed, clearly amused by their maknae.

The members doubled over in laughter, some clapping, others shaking their heads.

“Amazing.” Jun commented, laughing as he clapped his hands together.

“I am not sure if I lost my hearing,” Jeonghan stated towards the camera. “or be amazed from that performance”

“Haters can stay mad.” Byeol said as she continued stood in the middle, sunglasses still on, chin slightly raised.

She completely satisfied with her perfomance.

As if she had delivered the greatest opening in GoSe history.

“Anyway, can we already choose our teams now?” Mingyu asked, glancing at his team.

“Pair up and play rock paper scissors and split up into losers and winners.” Seungcheol said. Minghao agreed, already doing the game motions of rock paper scissors.

“Then, let’s pair up with the person you don’t have want to team up with.” Mingyu suggested.

Byeol, who was leaning against Dino, looked surprised and laughed when he pulled away from her, just to pair up with Mingyu who he didn’t like.

“That’s right.” Dino stated before realizing that he misunderstood what he said.

“Ya, it was supposed to be the one you didn’t like to team up with.” Byeol stated, snickering afterwards.

“Okay, just find your pair.” One by one, the boys merged into pairs. However, Byeol was left flabbergasted as no one wanted to team up with her.

“Waeeee, why is no one choosing me.” Byeol whined, looking around as everyone had found their pairs that they didn’t want to team up with.

The boys laughed at her expression. “Sorry Byeol-ah, you’re very hard to be unlikable.”

“She’s is actually crazily good at games.” Hoshi stated.

“Of course, everyone wants to be in my team.” The girl sighed, flicking her hair off her shoulder.

Wonwoo smiled, approaching the girl with his right arm raised. “I don’t have a pair.”

“Kaja! Let’s be pairs.” She said, hooking her arm around his and pulled him towards the center where everyone was lined up.

When it was their turn, the two smiled at each other.

“Ya, you better win Byeol-ah.” Jeonghan said, peering down from behind her with his arms crossed.

“No no no, your team is already bad enough.” Dino yelled back.

“Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!” Wonwoo did scissors while Byeol did rock.

“WINNERRR!” The team winner cheered as Byeol excitedly cheered and jumped into

Minghao’s arms, who started raising her up and down like a child.

“Good job, Byeol-ah!” Seungcheol excitedly clapped the girl’s back.

[GoSe captions: What an ideal team!

Strength + Intelligence + Dexterity]

“Oh dear,” Seungkwan and the others felt dread when they realized the other team had good members.

[GoSe captions: Strange team!

Artist + Hong Heungho + Going personality]

“We’re in trouble!” Dokyeom said, covering his mouth. Seungkwan nodded, shaking her hands. “This isn’t right.” He said.

Then, suddenly, seungkwan started kneeling down to the floor, while the others behind started waving in a more worried way. “We’re sorry! Please have mercy.”

[Gose captions: They really need to repeat the game]

“This isn’t really right!”

“Please, just this once.”

“Nooooooo,” Byeol said, laughing as her team started hugging each other in a group hug. They really didn’t want to change their teams.

“What about this? The two strongest people play rock paper scissors,” Vernon tried to negotiate but Seungcheol started to disagree.

“No, it’s over.” He said.

Vernon looked at him with a slight defeat look on his face. “No?” He asked, almost pleading.

Hoshi kneeled, pressing his hands together infront of him. “The balance is broken please.”

[Gose captions: it’s not yet over until they say so.]

“Yah! Do you think we’ll be done for?” Dino said, grabbing their arms.

Seungkwan shook his head, “Yes, I think so.” He said, pulling away from them, continue to plead for their rights.

“Honestly, I think…” dino started.

“No shush.” Dokyeom pleaded to the second youngest.

“No just listen,” Dino continued. “I’m the one leading the team. I…”

Byeol laughed when Hoshi suddenly covered Dino’s mouth.

“Please, just this once!” Hoshi pleaded towards Seungcheol.

“This is great, just great.” Byeol remarked.

“Okay, okay, then Dino and Mingyu can pick. Play rock paper scissors.”

“Me?” Dino said in disbelief.

“You’re brains.” Dokyeom said with a serious look on his face.

Then Seungkwan shook his head, “Then, can it be me and Dino?” He asked.

“Yeah, let’s do that.” Byeol said.

[Gose captions: It’s Team Dino vs Team Seungkwan]

“I don’t know what it is but I get competitive with him.” Dino said, looking at the cameras.

“I might not be of much help but i’ll be very cooperative.” Seungkwan said, letting Byeol to hold onto his back as she jumped up and down.

“Let’s go kwannie!” She cheered.

“Please choose me!” Mingyu and Joshua kneeled before Seungkwan causing her to laugh.

“So pick me, choose me, love me,” Byeol said, quoting one of the lines from the Greys Anatomy show.

“I like people who are cooperative.” Seungkwan added, side eyeing the others.

Dino, was clearly not amused that his previously assigned teammates didn’t want to team up with him. “Are you sure you’re my teammates?” He sarcastically said.

“Okay, rock paper scissors shoot!” They did the second try and Dino won, which made every not feel happy about it.

“Ya! What’s with your faces.” Dino exclaimed, pointing at them. “Why aren’t you happy?”

This caused everyone to laugh.

“Wait a minute!” Dino said, snorting after.

“Nobody was breathing just now.” Dokyeom said out of amazement.

The second youngest just sighed, “Okay, I’ll take your appeal.”

[Gose captions: supply without demand]

Everyone laughed at how sarcastic he sounds. Byeol shook her head when Seungcheol started pleading towards Dino to not choose him.

Mingyu leaned forward. “Dino, it’s not that I don’t like you…”

“Oh?”

“You have a penalty.” He finished. Dino hummed for a moment and tilted his head towards his way. “Okay, come here then.”

Byeol cackled at Mingyu’s reaction when Dino called him over, slapping Jeonghan’s arm out of amusement.

“Why did you even talk,” Dino sighed. “If you stayed quiet, I wouldn’t have chosen you.”

One by one, Dino and Seungkwan were able to assemble their teams. With Mingyu teamed up with Dino, the other team seemed to be balanced already.

Then when it comes to another round of rock paper scissors, Seungkwan had won again.

“Woah, why are suddenly people looking over here.” Seungkwan joked.

[The camera turns to Byeol who let out an excited gasp; an edited of her with a pair of big circular glasses as she started to look like a star student in class]

“It’s giving photosynthesis.” She said, clapping her hands together. “Y’all are basically the sunflowers. And Seungkwan’s team is the radiant sun!”

“A cooperative manner,” Dokyeom started, staring intensely at Seungkwan. “I’ll show you what cooperation is-“

His monologue was cut off by Hoshi’s loud booming voice. “I’LL DO MY BEST!!”

“I’ll do my absolute best!” Hoshi added, showing how he should choose him.

“I’ll show you what cooperation is.” Dokyeom voice out his thoughts, interrupting Hoshi.

“They’re very excited.” Byeol snickered as the two started arguing each other on who would be the best choice to pick for the team.

Seungkwan was a bit reluctant in choosing so his eyes drifted towards the girl. With Seungcheol and Jeonghan already on his team, he also did want her to have her in his team since she’s really good with these type of games.

“Byeol-ah,” The girl perked up at Seungkwan’s voice calling her out. She tilted her head to the side as she was completely hidden behind Jun.

“Do you have anything to say?” He asked, letting her take the stage to say whatever she wanted.

“Oh, I will work really hard.” Byeol said with pure seriousness and enthusiasm in her voice.

“I like this one better,” Seungkwan said, turning his head towards Seungcheol and Jeonghan. Scoups nodded, grinning widely.

“Okay, Byeol.”

Byeol grinned, excitedly going over to them and shook hands with Seungkwan, who brought her over beside the two eldest members in the group.

“Oi oi, isn’t that unfair.” Mingyu slightly scoffed but a smile was still on his face.

“The balance has been broken again.” Dino nodded in agreement.

“Shhh you can’t do anything about it.” Jeonghan said teasingly.

The two leaders continued discussing and choosing their teammates. Once everyone settled things among their teammates, Joshua stepped forward.

“Okay, we have to set some rules first before we start.” Joshua said, nodding in agreement alongside the boys. “This should be applied during the games.”

“First, we have to play safe. Don’t do anything stupid that could hurt you or anyone else.” He said.

“Right, right.” Hoshi nodded in agreement.

“We have to look out for Byeol, or else an accident might happen again.” Joshua stated, eyeing at the girl who was absentmindedly checking her bidazzled shoes that she had custom-made.

Feeling gazes upon her, she raised her head and raised a brow at confusion. “Me?” She asked, pointing at herself. She suddenly blushed out of embarrassment when she realized everyone was looking at her.

“Duh, who else?” Dino teasingly said.

“What! That was one time.” She whined, hiding her face against Seungcheol’s arm, who laughed and rubbed her back in a comforting way. She’ll definitely not try to break her arm this time.

“That better be your last injury,” Hoshi half scolded her.

Dokyeom sighed, rubbing the back of his ear. “You guys better not try too much to win.”

“What’s your team’s name?” Seungcheol asked.

“Team name?” The girl turned towards the guys. Seungkwan leaned down and whispered the name that he was planning to announce. Her eyes perked up at what he said and grinned.

“Have you even thought of your team name?” Dokyeom asked back.

“Yes!” Byeol excitedly said, pushing Seungkwan forward.

“Since the hot packages are all here. We are going to rule the games with these members.” Seungkwan explained, he glanced back at his teammates, motioning for them to follow his lead.

“We are—“

“Hot pack!” They enthusiastically announced. Byeol crossed her arms together, nodding her head with a huge smirk on her face.

“Yeah yeah, break it down yo—“ Before she could continue her rap, Seungcheol placed a hand over the girl’s mouth, completely shutting her off. She narrowed her eyes as she stared up at him, quietly cursing under her breath as everyone around started laughing at her failure.

She just wanted to rap!

Dino and the others announced that they’re not logical team. Hoshi couldn’t help but voice his thoughts out.

“So, in other words, you’re dummies.” He said.

“What do you mean?” Dokyeom said in a funny but serious voice. “Are all illogical people dummies?” He asked.

Byeol couldn’t help but laugh at his face.

“We’ll film you walking in and start filming again inside.” The staff announced.

“Neeee,” everyone said in unison.

“Oh do you want it to be cool or funny?” dokyeom suddenly asked with a serious tone in his voice. Byeol just shook her head out of amusement.

“He was born to be in Going Seventeen.” She joked as they all exited area.

˖.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖

“So, how will we strategize this?” Jeonghan inquired as the group ‘hot pack’ had settled in.

“I think you already know how you’ll win this game.” Seungkwan joked towards Jeonghan.

The second eldest of the group shrugged with an innocent smile on his face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve been always an honest person.” He said, leaning back on his chair with his right arm slung closely around Byeol’s chair.

Byeol, who was completely stuck in her own thoughts, was already strategizing what to do. “We only got five minutes right?” She asked.

“Yeah, to take as much pictures as we can.” Jun nodded.

“I think we should really spread out and find as much as we can.” She said.

“But what if one of us gets tagged?” Joshua asked. “Won’t we automatically lose our pictures?”

“Then I guess it’s safe to say that everyone should take a picture of the stuff that they found. If jeonghan finds one then the others should go to that spot and take a picture as well.” Seungcheol stated.

Hoshi was thinking hard of what to do and turned towards the staff. “We really can’t use airdrop?”

“No.” One of the staff said.

Byeol pouted, “Bumberrrr.”

˖.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖

When it was their turn to search for the items, they quickly walked out of their headquarters and head to the area where they’ll be heading the game.

“Wow this place is huge,” Byeol gawked, running down the stairs. She smiled and bowed at the staff who stood by as their refreshments.

“Can I get a snack?” The girl asked, pointing towards the oreo pack that she found inside the box.

“Byeol-ah, you’re in a game, not a snack break.” Hoshi swooped out of nowhere and grabbed a hold of the girl’s back hoodie. She gasped, hands stretched out towards the cookie.

“I just want the oreos!”

[video edit of angry byeol with exclamation marks around her]

In the end, Byeol was able to get her oreos before separating from everyone else. She glanced around, sneaking funny expressions towards the camera to entertain her carats. She also took this time to eat her snacks as she run around.

Due to Byeol being a fast runner, her cameraman had a hard time catching up to the girl. She took as much pictures as she can. She also find out a small warning sign to not dive when the floor level wasn’t even yjay high.

She stood there for a moment with furrowed brows as she was confused with the whole situation. “I’m just gonna take a picture of this.” She muttered to herself, snapping the picture.

Then her eyes drifted over towards the sides of pool areas where she saw water guns hanging in the nets.

At first, she thought it was a decoration since it’s technically a waterpark. But then, she observed the other area where there were net fences; there was no signs of those water guns.

“Hey guys! I think I found one by the pool area.” Byeol yelled out, pulling out her phone to take a photo.

“What is it?” Jeonghan asked from the other side.

“Water guns!” Byeol said, letting out a few pew pew sounds.

“Isn’t that already obvious in a waterpark vicinity?” Jun bemused.

“Might be but it’s odd to see hanging designs of it on the right side then the other were none.” She shrugged, reasoning it out.

“Oh! The timer!” Everyone snapped their heads towards the speaker, immediately bursting into separate groups. “Don’t get caught guys! Stick with the plan.”

“Hehehe,” Byeol giggled as she ran towards the where the waterslide was, motioning for her camera man to follow her. She grinned when she saw S.Coups, Joshua and Jun going for the other purple slide.

“Where are you going?” Joshua asked, turning to the girl.

“I’m going in to the other slide,” she said, waving a goodbye to them.

“Just stay out of sight okay? We’ll handle the others.” Seungcheol reminded her softly. The girl nodded before proceeding in going to the other slide. She turned to the camera and smiled widely.

“We have to hide from the others,” she giggled to herself. Then she realized that it was a bit dark. She awkwardly turned to the camera man, “It looks scary.” She said.

“What if I climb up first then you follow behind? I’ll use my phone as flashlight.” He suggested. It was a known fact that Byeol had a fear of the dark, and the only time she would be fine if she had someone to be with.

“Thank you so much.” She sighed in relief, then followed the camera man, crawling up to the slide where it’s mostly dark.

When they both went to the middle part of the slide, both her and the cameraman stared at each other before quietly snickering under their breath.

“It’s so dark,” Byeol gasped, pulling out her switch that she had brought with her.

“Wha- what are you doing?” The cameraman couldn’t help but laugh as she turned on the device. It was basically the only source of light that they both have, making the light look funny when it lit up on the girl’s face.

Byeol gave the cameraman coy smile, “Entertainment. I’m gonna show you my house in Animal Crossing.” She said. The only sound that could be heard where from the faint sounds coming from her nintendo switch.

Her head perked up when she heard a loud noise was echoing throughout the facility. She slightly kicked her feet, “It’s starting.!”

Byeol fixed her legs just so she wouldn’t cramp in this small area. She softly chuckled, “I bet they’re going to have a hard time finding me.” She said.

Surprisingly, no one had tried to check the slide yet. While the others were stressing over in finding the hotpack team, Byeol was quite contented in staying inside that dark slide.

Then suddenly, she heard a voice come from outside.

“You check the other side then I’ll check here.” That sounded like Vernon.

“Oh no,” Byeol whispered, turning off the switch immediately, tuning in to the footsteps from the outside. “We’re going to get caught.” She added, crunching her nose in distaste.

Byeol stared at the camera for a moment before she started hearing yells from the other purple slide. She widened her eyes, “Oh no, they got caught!” She whispered yell.

“Nooooo, my comrades. Rip to them.” She said, doing the sign of the cross.

[video edit of Byeol wearing a military outfit and helmet]

She then silently laughed when she heard Minghao’s cheers from the upper top of the slide. Byeol leaned her back, quietly making funny faces at the camera. When she heard no voices anymore, she sighed in relief.

“It’s a good thing they didn’t check this one.” Byeol grinned, high fiving with her cameraman.

“You seem relaxed.” He commented.

“I think I got a lot of pics already. Don’t want to run outside, just incase most of my teammates were caught.” She said, rebooting her switch just so she could play.

“I’m a good comrade, I listen to orders.” She smiled then clicking a few buttons on her switch. She let out a gasp of excitement before leaning to her left just so her cameraman could see her screen.

“Oh look! This one’s my character…”

[Gose caption: Animal Crossing time~]

˖.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖

Meanwhile, Seungkwan, Jun, Joshua, S.Coups, Hoshi and Jeonghan got caught in the span of 8 minutes.

“Wah that game was funny,” Jun laughed, sitting beside Seungcheol.

“We literally got cornered.” Seungcheol said, shaking his head.

“Is that everyone?” Dino asked, turning around.

“There’s no one left!”

“No, Byeol is still hiding.” Mingyu reminded, turning and running around the area to search for the last member.

“Woah, Byeol’s really good at hiding.” Woozi commented, looking around where the pool area was.

“Where did Byeol hid?” Jeonghan asked, turning to the others.

“Slide,” Joshua mouthed.

“She’s probably sleeping somewhere.” Seungkwan joked.

“I think we already checked the whole place.” Mingyu said, groaning slightly when he heard the alarm ringing that it was times up.

[Gose captions: Round 1 is over]

Jun clapped, “It’s over.”

“It’s a good thing we have one left member.” Seungcheol commended since he knew Byeol basically had taken tons of pictures.

“Byeol-ah, our uri princess, you did so well!” Jeonghan yelled out, grinning happily that their team got saved.

“Our plan succeeded!”

“What an ace,” Seungkwan chuckled.

“Our ace girl.” Joshua said with Jun agreeing with him.

Then, Mingyu noticed two people coming out from the green slide. “Ya, there she is coming from one of the slides.” He said out of disbelief.

[video cut towards Byeol when she heard the alarm sound going off]

“Oh? It’s over already?” Byeol said, shutting off her nintendo switch. She glanced at the cameraman and smiled, “Should we go now?”

The two of them slide out smoothly down the slide with Byeol helping the cameraman with his heavy camera equipment.

“There she is!”

Byeol turned around and smiled when she saw a few of her members. “Hey!” She said, saluting at them. She had a slightly messy hair from being cramped inside of that dark slide.

“You were there all along?” Vernon gawked at her as she approached him and Minghao.

Minghao laughed when he glanced down at Byeol’s hands. “Why did you bring your nintendo switch with you.”

The girl nodded and smiled, “I wanted to show caratduel, my world.” She said, letting Minghao lead her back to the others.

Seungcheol couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her.

“Heyyy!” Byeol laughed when she realized that she was only one left alive. “I miss you guys!”

“She was playing animal crossing all along inside that slide.” Minghao mentioned, earning laughter from a few of them.

“Is that why I’ve heard faint animal crossing sounds when I passed by.” Dino laughed.

“Guilty as charged.” Byeol said, winking. She walked towards Jeonghan who wrapped an arm around and led her back up the stairs towards their base.

“Bye byeeeee,” she said, waving to Dino’s team.

Once they got back to their own headquarters, she started gathering pictures that she had taken earlier.

“Did you get a lot?” Hoshi asked, peering over the girl’s shoulder. She nodded her head, sticking out her tongue.

“Ne, so so so much. I literally ran back and forth just so I could check everything out.” She said, clicking a few pics that she had chosen.

“How about this? The trash can? I don’t think I have airdropped it yet.” She asked, glancing over to the monitor.

“We can add a heart just to check.” Jeonghan replied.

“Though, are we sure that’s included?” Jun asked.

“I mean, is a trash supposed to be at a water park, though?” Seungcheol asked.

“But it’s not completely out of place?”

“Really?”

[Gose captions: There’s really trash cans around the waterpark.]

“I think you guys should add the waterguns and the diving sign.” Byeol added, leaning closer to the monitor. “They look pretty suspicious to me.”

“Okay, I think that is it.” Byeol announced, setting down her phone on the table.

Jeonghan nodded, glancing over to the producers. “We placed hearts on them.” He said. He started listing the pictures that they’ve chosen.

[Gose captions: Team Hot Pack: 2 points]

“Also, I’ve got a question.” Seungkwan said, catching the attention of others. He looked down at Byeol with amusement on his eyes. “Why did you bring your switch with you?”

“What? Can’t a girl can’t play when she’s bored?” Byeol innocently said, batting her eyelashes at her way.

“Aish jinjja,” Seungcheol shook his head at her.

to be continued…

After the funeral, everything felt quieter in a way that was not gentle at all.

It was not the kind of quiet that brought peace. It was the kind that stayed inside her chest and refused to leave, settling into places that used to hold sound. Eva stopped singing after that day, not because she decided to, but because something in her had quietly accepted that there was no longer anywhere for her voice to go.

The melody she once carried so easily, the one she had promised so brightly in the car, began to fade from her life without resistance. At first, she would still hum unconsciously, but even that slowly disappeared, until even silence felt more natural than sound.

When her grandparents brought her to Korea, she followed without protest. She did not ask questions about where they were going or how long they would stay. She did not cry loudly or reach for anything she had left behind. She simply held onto the one thing she refused to let go of, the framed photograph of her parents, pressing it close to her as if it could replace everything else she had lost.

The airplane ride stretched on endlessly.

Clouds moved outside the window like something distant and unreachable, soft and quiet in a way the world inside her no longer felt. Her grandmother sat beside her the entire time, holding her hand gently, but Eva never loosened her grip on the frame in her other hand. It stayed with her through everything.

“Oh Eva, you will definitely love Korea.” She heard her mother gushed over the idea of having her grandchild in Korea. “Daegu is the perfect place for you to grow up. You’ll meet lots of friends there. I’m sure of it.”

Eva didn’t mind her how she was gushing over this idea. It seems surreal that it hadn’t been a month that it was then decided that she’ll be under her grandparents custody. However, she really didn’t like the idea to be left in someone else’s care other than her grandparents who stayed by her side all throughout the funeral. She was deeply grateful for them.

When she first arrived at her grandparents’ home, where her father had grown up, everything felt unfamiliar despite how carefully it had been prepared for her. The house was warm and neatly kept, filled with the scent of tea and polished wood. Family photographs lined the shelves and walls, each one capturing moments from a life she had never seen.

As Eva stepped further inside, her eyes landed on several pictures of her father when he was younger.

There he was as a small boy in a school uniform, smiling beside his parents.

Another of him as a teenager, taller now, holding a trophy with shy pride.

Another with messy hair, laughing with friends she did not know.

She had only ever known him as Papa.

The ones who had the most gentle hands, voice as warmth like a radiating sun, and a smile that was only meant for her and her mother.

Seeing him as someone young, someone’s son before he became her father, made something ache inside her chest.

Her eyes then stopped when she saw a portrait that she hadn’t seen for a while. It was a portrait of her parents on their wedding day, each wearing a traditional korean hanbok. Then next to it’s portrait was a small picture of them, but a little baby in her mother’s arms. It was her.

Eva stopped in front of them quietly, admiring the picture of their little family. She didn’t realize that her grandfather had stopped right behind her. Her grandfather’s eyes seemed to notice her stares. He softly patted the girl’s head, catching the attention of hers. “That’s an old picture of you and your parents here in Korea. It was your first time here so they wanted you to see the sea even though you were only a year old, barely could even remember it.” He chuckled.

The child stood there for a moment in silence. Her half lidded eyes that only seemed to carry sadness and guilt.

Without saying a word, she lowered her gaze and followed where he grandmother had been been went down the hallway.

“I hope everything is to your liking, Eva,” her grandmother said softly as she opened the bedroom door.

“This used to be your father’s room.”

Eva’s eyes widened for the briefest second before settling back into their usual quiet stillness.

The room was simple but warm. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a pale glow across neatly arranged furniture. A bed had been made with fresh sheets, a small desk stood near the window, and shelves lined one wall with books and keepsakes that had clearly been cared for over the years.

“It only felt right if you would stay here,” her grandmother continued gently. “You can decorate it whatever you want. I’m sure your grandfather will help build whatever shelves you need.”

Eva stepped inside slowly, her gaze moving across the room as if searching for traces of him.

Her grandfather stood quietly behind them, hands folded in front of him, watching the child with an ache he could not hide.

On the shelf near the bed sat an old framed photograph of her father as a young boy, smiling brightly in a school uniform.

Eva stared at it for a moment, completely lost in her thoughts as she seemed to have lost her senses around her. She didn’t even noticed when her grandmother had placed a comforting had behind her back before leaving her alone in that quiet room.

⭒˚.⋆ ✴︎˚ ⋆˙⟡

The days that followed passed in a strange and colorless rhythm.

Morning would come, and she would wake in the room that had once belonged to her father. Sunlight would spill across the floorboards, warm and steady, but it never seemed to reach the places inside her that had gone cold.

Her grandmother would prepare breakfast each day, setting an extra spoon beside her bowl with quiet hope. Her grandfather would ask gentle questions in slow Korean, giving her time to answer if she wished.

Most days, she would only nod.

Sometimes she did not answer at all. She felt her grandparents worry as she stopped talking to them. Instead, she would just use sign language just like she would do back then with her parents.

She moved through the house like someone afraid to disturb it, her footsteps light, her presence quieter than the ticking clocks on the wall. She spent long hours sitting by the window, watching people pass outside, children running home from school, neighbors carrying groceries, bicycles rattling over the pavement.

Life continued everywhere except inside her.

At night, she would lie in the bed that had once held her father as a boy and stare at the ceiling in the dark. She hated how dark it was. Her father used to decorate her room with glow in the dark stars up in her room.

In that room, she often wondered if he had once looked at the same shadows, dreamed beneath the same roof, listened to the same wind outside the window.

The thought should have made her feel closer to him.

Instead, it only reminded her how far away her parents was now.

⭒˚.⋆ ✴︎˚ ⋆˙⟡

Another worry that her grandparents is not the silence of their grandchild, but the way she had stopped singing all together.

Eva no longer sang. It was not because she had completely forgotten how to. It was simply because every note reminded her of someone who would never hear her again.

And so her life became made of small silences.

The soft sighs of grandparents who loved her but did not know how to carry what she carried. It was all too much for a 10 year old to deal with.

Eva sighed, staring at the wind chiming in the air as the wind blew through the sliding doors to the garden. It was an afternoon in Korea, and all she could think was how hot and it was. Her grandfather had left to get groceries in the market, while her grandmother was baking a cake of her favorite.

‘Everything is so boring.’ The child thought, puffing out her cheeks in dismay.

Then she paused for a moment when she heard a different sound from the summery crickets outside the garden.

It was music.

Soft at first, barely noticeable, as if it did not belong to her world at all. It came from somewhere next door, flowing through the thin walls like it had nowhere else to go.

Eva paused for a moment, the wind blowing widely through the window.

Her head tilted slightly, uncertain whether she was imagining it.

But it continued… it sounded like a piano.

The piece of music was filled with slow but intricate notes. Deeply intentional in a way that made the air feel different, like someone was speaking without needing words at all.

She slowly stood up and walked over towards the sliding door, opening it wide enough for her to fit through. From there, the music became clearer.

Each note felt deliberate, not rushed, not decorative, but honest in a way she could not explain. It did not ask anything from her. It simply existed, filling the space between silence and thought.

She stood there for a long time, just listening.

And something inside her, something that had been still for so long she had almost forgotten it was there, shifted very faintly. Like a part of her body remembered something her mind had locked away.

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the of the sliding glass door, unconsciously closing her eyes as she listening to the tunes.

Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out. After a moment, she closed them again.

And she remained there, completely immersed with the sound of piano.

And for the first time in a long while, the silence inside her did not feel completely empty.

Something in it had begun to listen back.

⭒˚.⋆ ✴︎˚ ⋆˙⟡

[DAEGU, KOREA]

The days after she first heard the music through the neighbor’s home did not change everything all at once, but they did begin to shift the shape of her silence.

At first, Eva still did not speak much. She would sit in her room with her knees pulled close to her chest, the framed photograph of her parents resting beside her like something she could not let go of even when her fingers ached. The silence in her grandparent’s home was not cold, but it was careful, as if everyone understood that she was still somewhere far away even when she was physically present in front of them.

But sometimes, when the house was quiet enough and the world outside felt far away, she would hear it again.

Those musical keys.

Soft, steady, and patient, slipping through the thin walls like it had learned the shape of her loneliness. It came at irregular hours, never loud enough to disturb, but always clear enough to find her. And without meaning to, Eva began to listen for it.

She did not understand why at first. She only knew that when the sound appeared, her chest felt less tight, even if only for a little while.

One afternoon, she decided to sneak out— well, ore like explore around the place. She quietly made her through the side fence of the home and saw a small wooden gate that leads to the other side. She glanced around before decided to open it. She popped her head to the side, peeking just to see if anyone was there; only to be disappointed when she saw no one. She furrowed her brows together and was about to leave when she accidentally hits the door wide open, which caused a loud bang.

She panicked and abruptly pulled the door back and quickly shuts it back into place. The music on the other side paused abruptly, followed by the faint sound of movement.

Her hand dropped from the fence wall, and she stepped back instinctively, unsure if she had done something wrong. Her heart beat faster, unfamiliar with being noticed in a place she had assumed was invisible.

Before she could fully run back in, the wooden fence gate opened.

When she looked up, a teenager who seemed to be around 17 years old stood by the entrance, his expression neutral but slightly surprised, as if he hadn’t expected to see a child standing there.

Yoongi blinked once, then tilted his head slightly. “Ah… a kid?” He muttered.

The two stared at each other like stuck in headlights. Yoongi felt a bit intimidated by the kid’s stare.

“What are you doing here?” He asked after mustering up the to ask.

Eva did not answer immediately. She felt like she should just leave him here. She looked down, then back up again, unsure of what she was supposed to say.

Yoongi was quick to notice her foreign look features. ‘It must be Mr and Mrs. Jeon’s grandchild’ he thought. He remembered his parents mentioning it a few days ago. It was sad to hear of what had happened to her family.

“Uh,” he awkwardly cleared out his throat. “Do. You… know… um korean?”

He questioned with his broken english. Eva stood like deer in headlights before slowly nodding.

The teenager visibly sighed in relief. He wasn’t really that good with his english. “You should’ve said it earlier.” He deadpanned.

Yoongi studied her for a moment longer before sighing softly, stepping aside and leaving the fence door open.

“Come in if you want,” he said casually. “You’ve been standing there like that for a while.”

Eva furrowed her brows together with question marks. She was about to retort back but only angrily pout as she followed him back to his home.

That was how she ended up sitting quietly inside his room that had a wide opened window where he would usually play his instruments. It was smaller than she expected.

Yoongi did not ask her many questions at first. He simply returned to what he was doing, adjusting sounds and pressing keys softly, occasionally glancing at her to make sure she was still there and not overwhelmed. The music started again after a few minutes, slower than before, layered gently like thoughts being formed in real time.

“You don’t really speak much, do you?” Her thoughts got cut off as she realized he was speaking to her.

The child awkwardly sat there for a moment, unsure of what to say, before shrugging in reply. He threw an amused brow at her before continuing to take notes down on his music sheet.

For a long time, she only watched how he skillfully played the piano. It was like he was made to make music.

Then, very quietly, her voice broke the silence.

“… Why does it sound like that?” She asked, only to blink in surprise when she heard her voice. She widened her eyes for a moment, already thinking it was a mistake to speak.

Yoongi paused slightly, turning his head toward her. So she does really speak.

“Like what?” He raised a brow at her.

Eva hesitated, searching for words that were too large for her age and too unfamiliar for her grief.

“Like it’s talking,” she said finally.

That answer made something subtle shift in his expression, not surprise, but interest. He leaned back slightly, resting one arm on the edge of his chair.

“It is talking to me,” he said after a moment. “But in more of a musical way. I dunno, just a gut feeling.”

Eva looked down at her hands, thinking about that carefully. “Has it ever stopped for you?” She softly asked.

The teenager shifted in his seat. “Not that it happened, but I hope not.” He half joked.

“What if you can’t say anything anymore?” she asked quietly, pertaining to his instruments. “Like the music suddenly stops?”

The room grew still again, not uncomfortable, but thoughtful.

Yoongi didn’t respond right away. When he did, his voice was quieter than before, as if he understood the weight behind her question.

“Then you don’t force it,” he said simply. “I mean, you just have to let it sit there. You let yourself exist with it until it changes on its own.”

Eva’s fingers tightened slightly around the fabric of her sleeve, unsure if she should speak what’s in her mind.

“My parents…” she began, then stopped, her voice catching just a little before she continued. “I used to sing for them.”

Silence followed.

“I promised them I would sing forever.”

Her throat tightened, but she didn’t look away this time.

“But I stopped,” she admitted softly. “I don’t think it has a purpose anymore.”

The words hung in the air, fragile and heavy at the same time.

Yoongi looked at her properly now, no longer as a neighbor who had opened the garden door by a child in accident, but as someone listening carefully to something that mattered. She was genuinely curious.

He leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on his knees.

“Not sure how I could explain this to you, kid. But it doesn’t disappear,” he said calmly. “It just changes shape along the way.”

Eva frowned faintly, not fully understanding.

Yoongi glanced at the keyboard behind him.

“You see these, sheets? Music doesn’t stop being music just because you can’t explain why you made it,” he added. “It just becomes something else until you find your way back to it.”

“It’s like making a pot, if it keeps looking bad, then you just have to restart the clay and do another one.”

Eva stayed quiet after that, absorbing every word like it was something she had never heard before.

The room remained peaceful around them, the soft hum of equipment and distant city noise blending into the background.

After that day, she began to come back more often.

Yoongi didn’t mind that she would speak to him at all. But he would constantly try to talk, which he responds in the most strange but unique ways which made him deeply intrigued by her.

But there were times that she would speak. Sometimes asking small questions that she didn’t know she was allowed to ask.

Yoongi never treated it as strange. He never questioned why she was there or why she stayed quiet. He simply made space for her presence the same way he made space for sound.

Durint this time, she also started slowly become more open to her grandparents. Speaking to them from time to time, which deeply made them happy.

One afternoon, Eva had used the backyard door just to see what Yoongi was up. She’s always with him when she had nothing to do in the house.

“Back so soon?” Yoongi half joked, not looking up from his guitar as he adjusted the strings.

Eva simply sat beside him, eyes narrowing at the older teen. She took a deep breath, “How do you know when to start again?” She asked.

Yoongi paused, fingers resting lightly on the guitat. He thought about it for a moment, then exhaled softly.

“You don’t really know,” he said. “You just do it anyway. Even if it doesn’t sound right at first.”

Eva looked down at her hands befor looking back at him. “Even if it feels like you forgot how?” she asked.

Yoongi nodded slightly. “Especially then.”

The answer lingered in the room, quiet but steady.

Eva swallowed, her shoulders slightly dropping in a more relaxed manner for the first time in weeks. There was a pause before she spoke again, her voice softer now but clearer than before.

“I remember telling you my secret” she said.

Yoongi looked at her with a questioning look on his face.

“I said I promised someone,” she continued, “to sing forever.”

Her eyes lifted slowly toward him, something different forming in them now, not quite confidence yet, but something close.

A beginning of it.

“I want to sing again.”

For a moment, Yoongi just looked at her.

Then, very faintly, a small smirk formed on his lips, not teasing, not dismissive, but almost approving in a quiet way that did not need to be spoken loudly.

“Yeah?” he said simply.

Eva nodded, looking at him with a serious expression that only a ten year old could make, so earnest and determined that it almost made him laugh. Yoongi softly chuckled anyway, shaking his head. “You’re cute when you’re serious.”

“I am serious,” she insisted, sitting up straighter.

“I know.” His voice softened. “That’s why I’m listening.”

He reached over and turned the speaker down until the music became gentle and quiet, something that floated through the room instead of filling it too much. Then he leaned back on the couch and looked at her expectantly.

Eva swung her legs a little from where she sat, eyes dropping to her hands. “What if I forgot how?” she asked in a small voice.

Yoongi was quiet for a second before answering.

“You don’t forget things like that.”

“How do you know?”

“Because,” he said, tapping a finger lightly against her forehead, “it stays in here.” Then he tapped two fingers carefully over the center of her chest. “And here.”

Eva blinked up at him.

“That was cheesy,” she said.

Yoongi snorted. “But you know it’s trueZl

She softly giggled, which surprised the both of them. The sound bright and sudden enough to make him smile without meaning to.

The room felt warmer after that.

And as the music started again beside her, softer this time, she did not look away from it anymore.

⭒˚.⋆ ✴︎˚ ⋆˙⟡

[August 12, 2022]

Byeol woke up with lights slipping through the cracks of her curtains. She slowly sat up, rubbing her face tiredly before sitting up. In her other hand, her hand was grasping onto the picture frame. She lightly traced her parent’s faces, smiling softly.

“Good morning, mama, papa,” she quietly murmured before planting a kiss on the glass and setting back the picture frame back on her bedside before rising up from her bed. She started the day by stretching her limbs a bit before fixing her bed.

She walked out of her bedroom and passed by her living room. She briefly glanced at the empty white colored wall that was by the living room. She kept wondering to herself if she’s ever planning on putting a frame there. As she was about to head to the kitchen, Byeol thought she had misheard the knocking.

The silence inside her space had been familiar all morning, heavy in the way she had grown used to over the few months. Nothing about this day had felt unusual until that sound interrupted it, sharp and insistent, pulling her attention away from the quiet routine she had settled into.

Then another chiming music of her doorbell came through her speakers. Her shoulders dropped and sighed out loudly as she tirelessly walked towards the door, wondering who in the right mind would be creating this ruckus.

When she finally stepped closer and opened the door, she was flabbergasted at the sight.

The hallway outside was filled.

Seventeen stood there, dressed in formal attire that made the entire moment feel unreal. Suits replaced casual clothes, styled hair replaced messy rehearsals, and polished shoes stood neatly against her threshold like they belonged there. There was movement everywhere, small adjustments of cuffs and collars, quiet exchanges of words, and the kind of chaotic coordination that always seemed to follow them.

Jeonghan was the first to look at her directly, his expression calm but slightly questioning as he tilted his head. His voice carried a teasing confusion as he spoke.

“What’s going on? Why aren’t you all dressed up?” He exclaimed loudly.

Byeol blinked slowly, her gaze moving from one familiar face to another as if trying to understand what she was seeing. She felt a bit conscious of how she looked at that moment; she even had her bedhead.

“Huh?” She uttered out.

Before she could say anything further, Seungkwan stepped forward with immediate determination. His hands lightly caught her shoulders and turned her gently back toward the inside of the apartment as if the decision had already been made for her.

“Aish, seriously,” he muttered, shaking his head as he guided her inside. “We’re going to a photoshoot. You need to look fabulous in our family portrait.”

The word family made her pause without warning.

It lingered in the air in a way that felt heavier than the rest of the sentence. She turned her head slightly as she walked, confusion softening her features.

“Family… portrait?” She slowly asked, looking even more confused than before.

Seungcheol followed inside at a relaxed pace, glancing around the apartment before looking back at her. “Don’t act like you didn’t know,” he said lightly, patting the girl’s back as the other members shuffled inside the apartment.

“I haven’t been in Byeol’s apartment.” Wonwoo muttered, glancing around the place.

“Is that a real plant?” Jun curiously poked at one of her huge plants that was displayed by the entrance.

“They’re definitely real.” Byeol immediately stated, glaring slightly at all of them. Then she glanced down at their feet.

“Oi, shoes off.” She warned, glancing up at them. “This is a korean household.”

A few of the boys snorted in laughter before proceeding to drop off their shoes at the entrance.

“I swear I don’t get it why you guys have to come in here early in the morning.” She yawned, covering her mouth.

Seungcheol chuckled softly, ruffling the girl’s already bedhead hair. “Don’t be upset princess. Aren’t you excited? I thought you wanted to take a professional family picture with us.”

Byeol blinked before giving him a deadpanned expression. “Oppa, this could’ve been done in the afternoon.” She whined.

Mingyu had already wandered toward the kitchen without hesitation, opening the fridge like he had done it a hundred times before. “Did you eat?” he asked casually, scanning the contents. “You always forget.”

“I ate yesterday,” Byeol replied automatically.

“That’s not a real answer,” he responded, still looking inside. “Ghurl, we better get some groceries for you. Your fridge is almost empty.”

Joshua placed a garment bag carefully on the couch, his movements gentle and precise. “We brought your outfit,” he said with a soft smile, as if nothing about the situation was rushed or strange.

Vernon gave a small nod, his voice calm when he added, “it definitely suits you.”

DK leaned slightly forward with energy that filled the room instantly. “It’s really good, trust me.” He said, earning a thumbs up from Hoshi.

“It’s horonghae-fied for the baby cub,” Hoshi cheerfully stated.

Byeol winced a bit with a hint of judgment on her expression. “Okay, let’s not with that nickname please.” She stated, holding out her hands in protest.

Woozi stood slightly apart from the others, his expression composed, but his eyes briefly flickered toward Eva before he spoke. “Just get ready,” he said simply, as though that explained everything.

Minghao shrugged, “Yeah, we’ll wait.”

Seungkwan, meanwhile, was already moving around the apartment with purpose, adjusting things that did not need adjusting and pointing at Eva as if she was the center of a production that could not afford delays.

“No standing around,” he declared. “Slippers off, go shower, hurry.”

The apartment, which had been silent only moments ago, was now full of movement, overlapping voices, and the familiar comfort of people who acted like they belonged there. It was not loud in a chaotic way that felt overwhelming, but in a way that filled empty spaces she had long stopped noticing.

Byeol stood in the middle of it, watching them move as if her life had been temporarily handed over to someone else. But, her heart swelled in warmth as she realized she had missed these moments with them in their old dorm.

Slowly, she turned and went to change.

⭒˚.⋆ ✴︎˚ ⋆˙⟡

The studio felt different from her apartment the moment she stepped inside.

Bluish backdrops stretched across the room, soft lights glowing gently overhead, and the space buzzed with quiet preparation. But instead of feeling overwhelming, it felt exciting— like something fun was about to happen and she was actually part of it.

“Ahh, I can’t believe we’re having our own family portrait.” Byeol couldn’t help herself but grabbed the next person beside her— which was Wonwoo— and shook his arm excitedly.

“You seem pretty excited,” he quietly said.

“Duh! Of course, why wouldn’t I be? I’ve been wanting to do this with you all since last year.” The maknae excitedly stated, jumping up and down in place.

Dino appeared from behind her and placed both of his hands on her shoulder. “Now, now, you better not jump around too much. Why don’t we find your spot, hmm?” He said, leading the girl towards where there were fourteen seats gathered in the center.

Majority of the boys were already in their formal outfits, already joking, already making the “professional photoshoot” feel like anything but professional.

Seungkwan, however, was acting as if the chief of creative director for this photoshoot. “My goodness, gracious! Stop messing the formation.” He scolded Hoshi and Dokyeom who were making a fool out of themselves.

Joshua gently waved her forward, pulling her away from Dino’s side. “Come here.” He said, leading her towards the middle.

The girl laughed nervously, glancing around. “Why am I in the center?”

“Why shouldn’t you be in the center? Korea’s Nation’s Center?” Minghao jested, appearing to sit right beside her to the left, while Joshua took the seat at her right.

The girl pouted, playfully punching his shoulder. She knew that he’s going to user her title on her. “You know I’m only joking.” She said.

She watched as the rest of the members settled back to their spots. Dokyeom, who was feeling great at the moment, leaned forward as Byeol wqs just right in front of him. “Byeol-ah,”

“Hmm?” The girl hummed, leaning back to listen.

“I had a dream I argued with a goose and lost,” he whispered.

Byeol covered her mouth, laughing harder. “Why do you always lose in your dreams?”

Dokyeom stood there for a moment in thought and shrugged. “Might be because I’m kind.”

Seungkwan groaned. “This is my nightmare. A total nightmare!”

Seungcheol, already smiling a little, just said, “alright everyone in position before DK becomes a full time comedian.”

More laughter erupted in the room.

Byeol softly chuckled before glancing at the camera as they called out the group’s attention. She briefly roamed her eyes towards her sides, watching each of her members smile. She felt content and warmth spreading all throughout her body.

Everyone was happy. And she was in the center of all of it. Just naturally there, like she was always supposed to be.

The camera clicked.

She smiled a little at first.

Click.

Then all of a sudden, they heard a fart sound.

“Oi, oi, oi, keep that to yourself, Dokyeom-ah.” Jeonghan playfully coverer his nose with a hidden mischievous glint in his eyes.

The said member looked appalled as everyone turned at his way. “That wasn’t me! I swear!” He cried.

The whole room cracked instantly.

Byeol laughed openly this time, no holding back, no hesitation, just pure reaction.

Because for the first time, Byeol didn’t feel like she was standing between something she lost and something she hadn’t found yet.

She felt like she was already here. The cameraman smiled and looked at the group, signaling that it was the last one. Seungcheol glanced back in amusement, “Alright everyone, say Star Byeol!” He yelled.

The girl turned to him in surprise. “What? That’s absurd.” She laughed.

The group grinned, “Star Byeol!” They all said in unison. And as the camera clicked one last time, she smiled a little brighter, not because she was told to, not because she was trying to be okay, but because she simply was.

Here.

With them.

⭒˚.⋆ ✴︎˚ ⋆˙⟡

A few weeks had passed.

The studio shoot was already behind her, but it didn’t feel like something that was “over” so much as something that had quietly settled into her life and stayed there. The heaviness she used to carry in her days had softened little by little, replaced with something she didn’t always have a word for, only a feeling she noticed in small moments.

That afternoon, Byeol stood inside her apartment as sunlight poured gently through the windows. The room felt warmer now, not because anything about it had physically changed, but because she had.

The once empty white wall in her living room was no longer bare. Two framed photographs now hung side by side.

One was older, carefully preserved behind glass. A family portrait of her childhood, her younger self standing between her parents. It was still and quiet, frozen in a moment that no longer moved forward, but one she could now look at without feeling like it would swallow her whole.

The other frame was newer.

Her group stood with her in the center, not stiff or overly arranged, but relaxed in a way that only came from comfort. There was laughter caught in their expressions, small imperfections in timing, and warmth that didn’t need perfection to feel real.

Byeol stood beneath them for a long time.

Her eyes moved slowly from one frame to the other, not searching for answers anymore, but simply acknowledging what was there. For a long time, she had thought she had to choose where she belonged, as if one memory had to cancel out another. But now, looking at them together, she understood something she hadn’t before.

They were not competing pieces of her life.

They were different parts of the same story.

One was where she came from.

The other was where she had learned to stay.

Her fingers lifted slightly, hovering near the edge of the newer frame before gently lowering again. A soft breath left her lips as she took a small step back, deeply proud of her work.

She had forgotten that her life was no longer a blank canvas.

Byeol turned away slowly, the sunlight following her as she picked up her bag from her couch and made her way out of her apartment. And this time, she did not feel like she was leaving anything behind.

She simply felt like she was finally allowed to continue on, to live within the music that had always been hers.

For them.

[Augus 10, 2022]

It was a saturday night at the HYBE building. Byeol sat beside Seungkwan in the living area of Woozi’s studio doing their annual weverse live.

Comments flooded the screen too fast to read, hearts floating endlessly as Byeol leaned closer to the camera, squinting. Beside her, Seungkwan was in the middle of explaining, animated as ever, his voice rising and falling while he tried (and failed) to keep up with the chat.

“Wait— wait,” Byeol murmured, tapping the screen lightly. “I saw something.”

Seungkwan paused, glancing at her. “What is it?”

She tilted her head, reading more carefully this time. “They said… when you and Jeonghan moved into your apartment, you put up a family portrait?”

Seungkwan blinked, then laughed softly. “Ah— yeah. We did. It’s kind of embarrassing, actually. It was like the whole place was made for newly weds.” He stated.

“It’s not,” she said quickly, a small smile forming. “I think it’s nice. I helped Hannie Oppa decorate your place.”

Byeol rested her chin lightly on her hand, eyes flicking back to the screen, though her voice softened just a little. “I kind of want to do that too,” she added. “Like… with the members.”

Seungkwan turned to her in confusion. “Of what?” He hummed.

“Family portrait. I don’t think we really have a proper one.” Byeol said, smiling tightly. It sounded too casual for nothing. Almost as if it’s like a passing thought that she thought he wouldn’t take that seriously.

But Seungkwan looked at her then, and something in his expression shifted. He would always notice. Of course he would.

Instead, his gaze softened, thoughtful in a way that meant he understood more than she’d actually said.

“Yeah,” he replied gently. “We should.”

Byeol smiled again, this time a little smaller, before turning back to the flood of comments. The moment passed, swallowed by laughter and noise and the rhythm of the live.

But the thought of it seemed to have left a lingering sting around her.

⭒˚.⋆ ✴︎˚ ⋆˙⟡

That night, she went home to her apartment— and everything to be still and quiet. Too quiet for her liking. Even though it had been a few months since everyone had lived separately, some of them got into pairs and dormed with each other, while others stayed back to their own family homes.

As for Byeol, she never really had a nearby family so she would just live on her own.

Byeol slipped off her shoes by the door, the faint hum of the city outside barely reaching her. She didn’t turn on the main lights, just letting the dim glow from the hallway follow her in.

The curtains were half open, showcasing the blinking lights from the street lamps, cars, and buildings nearby.

Byeol sighed, tirelessly rubbing the back of her neck as she went deeper to her bedroom.

Moonlight spilled softly into the room, pale and still, stretching across the floor until it reached her desk. As she was about to walk passed by to her walk in closet, she paused for a moment to see a blinding light reflecting at her.

There, resting where it always had, was a singular rectangular wooden frame.

Her family portrait.

Byeol stepped closer without thinking, her movements slower now as she padded through the carpeted floor. The light caught the glass just enough to make it glow faintly against the dark.

She reached out, absentmindedly brushing her fingers on the edge of the frame as she stared softly at the picture.

It had been taken on the day of her 10th birthday. She specifically remembered that her mother wanted to get a proper picture of the three just to commemorate the day.

All of them were standing too straight, dressed a little nicer than usual. Her parents had smiled the way people do when they want to remember something forever.

And there stood in the middle was herself. The young bright Evangeline Rośe, smiling widely with her natural curly brunette hair with a hint of golden strands in it placed in two separate braids. She wore her pink colored dress that had ruffled skirt. She specifically had chosen this one because there were pretty butterflies scattered around it, making her feel like a princess.

It had been a good day.

A complete one.

Her thumb hovered over the image, tracing and memorizing the faces of both of her parents.

It was the same day.

The same day everything had ended.

The room felt even quieter now, the kind of silence that presses in instead of settles.

Byeol’s gaze stayed on the photo, unmoving from her standing position.

And slowly, the present began to blur around her. A time where she JEON BYEOL wasn’t born yet.

⭒˚.⋆ ✴︎˚ ⋆˙⟡

[December 21, 2010]

The gymnasium of Phoenix Elementary School buzzed with noise and movement. Folding chairs scraped against the floor, parents whispered excitedly, teachers hurried near the curtains, and children in costumes fidgeted backstage. Above it all, bright stage lights beamed down so harshly that everything beyond the front row looked like a blur.

Among the contestants lined neatly across the stage stood a little girl in a white dress.

Her name was Evangeline Rośe Jeon, though everyone called her Eva.

She was small for her age, her hands clasped tightly in front of her as the hem of her dress brushed against her knees. A ribbon was tied neatly in her hair, though a few strands had escaped from all the nervous moving she had done backstage. Her shiny shoes tapped lightly against the wooden floor as she craned her neck, searching the crowd.

She could not make out faces. Only shapes.

Earlier, while she sang, the lights had shone directly into her eyes. She had squinted through most of her performance, unable to see if the two people she wanted most in the world had come.

But surely they had.

They promised her.

“The winner for this year’s Phoenix Elementary Talent Show is...” the announcer said dramatically, drawing the microphone close.

The audience erupted into playful drumroll sounds made by hands slapping laps and chair backs.

Eva puffed out her cheeks and squeezed her eyes shut, fingers twisting together.

“The winner is... Evangeline Rośe Jeon! Congratulations! Please come forward and receive your award!”

For one second, Eva simply blinked as her peers started talking in unison, congratulating at her. Then her mouth fell open.

She won.

“Oh, it’s her! Our child won!” a woman cried from the middle rows.

Two adults stood up quickly among the seated crowd.

Maria Jeon was already bouncing excitedly, her blonde colored hair seemed to have bounced around her as she jumped and clapped so hard that people beside her laughed. She turned to her husband and signed rapidly, her hands flying

‘Camera! Hurry! Record her!’ She signed towards her husband.

Beside her, Minho Jeon only smiled with fond patience.

He lifted the camera he had already prepared and pointed it toward the stage, then gave his wife a small look that clearly said ‘I was ready before you even asked.’

Maria gasped dramatically and swatted his arm, making him chuckle silently.

Onstage, Eva carefully walked to the center, trying not to trip over her own feet. The trophy looked huge in her hands, and the certificate nearly bent from how tightly she held it.

She glanced around nervously.

Where was she supposed to look?

Then through the blur of faces, she heard the voice she knew best.

“Eva! Over here, honey!”

Her head snapped toward the sound.

There.

Her mother waving both arms wildly.

Her father beside her with a camera raised high.

Eva’s whole face lit up brighter than the stage lights ever could.

“Mama! Papa!” she shouted, lifting one hand and waving so hard the trophy nearly slipped.

Maria laughed loudly, tears already in her eyes. “Smile, baby!” She yelled.

Minho lowered the camera for just a second and lifted his thumb high into the air.

Eva grinned so wide her cheeks hurt.

Later, outside the school gym, the evening air was cool and smelled faintly of grass and dust. The sun had nearly set, painting the sky orange and pink.

Eva walked proudly between her parents, the trophy hugged tightly to her chest.

She kept looking down at it every few seconds, as if it might disappear if she didn’t check.

“How was I?” she asked eagerly, turning first to her mother, then to her father. “Was I great?”

“Oh, you were wonderful, Eva,” Maria said immediately, brushing hair from her daughter’s face. “You were the best one there.”

Eva beamed and turned to her father with an expectant look on her face. Minho crouched down so he was eye level with her, then began to sign with gentle, practiced hands.

‘You sang beautifully. I could not believe what I was hearing.’ He said.

Eva’s smile faltered for a quick moment before she pouted deeply, crossing her arms.

Minho blinked in surprise.

“What is it?” Maria asked, already trying not to laugh.

Eva signed back with exaggerated seriousness.

‘How can you hear it?’ She signed back, using the ASL sign language that she had learned since she was a toddler. She looked at her father with all the suspicion a child could hold.

At her young age, Eva already understood something important— her father was deaf.

He could not hear voices the way others did. He could not hear music or applause or laughter the same way most people could.

So when he said he heard her sing, she knew something did not make sense.

Minho stared at her for a moment, a bit perplexed at her statement.

Then he eventually smiled.

A soft, warm smile that always made Eva feel safe.

He reached forward and placed one hand gently over her small chest, right where her heart beat beneath the white dress.

Then he placed his other hand over his own heart.

Slowly, carefully, he signed.

‘You are right. My ears could not hear you.’

Eva watched intently.

‘But when you sang...’

He tapped his chest lightly.

‘I felt it here.’

Her brows furrowed in concentration.

Minho’s hands moved again.

‘Some sounds are louder than noise.’ He pointed at her. ‘Your courage. Your happiness. The way you smiled.’

Then he pointed back to his heart. ‘That reached me.’

Maria went silent beside them, eyes shining.

Minho gently touched the trophy she was holding.

‘Even though I could not hear your voice... I could feel it in my heart.’

Eva’s pout slowly disappeared. Her eyes widened with wonder.

“Really?” she whispered.

Minho nodded once.

Then with playful seriousness, he signed. ‘Very loudly.’

Eva burst into laughter; The kind that made her whole body shake.

She threw herself into her father’s arms so suddenly that he nearly lost balance, laughing silently as he hugged her back tightly.

Maria wrapped both of them into her arms from the side.

There, beneath the darkening sky, stood a little family holding each other close.

No music played.

No applause echoed.

No voices filled the air.

And yet, in that quiet moment, Minho heard everything that mattered most.

Eva suddenly pulled back from her father’s embrace, cheeks pink and eyes shining brighter than the trophy in her hands. She looked between both of her parents, her small chest rising with excitement as if her happiness could barely fit inside her.

Then she quickly lifted her hands, signing with the clumsy but earnest movements of a child.

‘Then... you’ll come to all of my performances?’ She hopefully signed towards her parents.

Maria’s lips parted, already emotional again, while Minho looked at his daughter as though she had handed him the most precious thing in the world.

Without hesitation, both parents nodded.

Maria knelt in front of her and cupped her face gently. “Every single one, sweetheart.” She softly said.

Minho raised his hands and signed slowly so she could understand every word.

‘As long as you want us there, we will come.’ He softly smiler. Eva gasped softly, then bounced on her feet in excitement.

She hugged her trophy tighter before lifting both hands again, signing so fast her fingers nearly tangled.

‘Then I promise!’ She pointed to herself dramatically. ‘I promise to sing for you forever!’

For a moment, neither parent spoke.

Maria let out a watery laugh as tears slipped down her cheeks.

Minho’s eyes softened, his hand pressing once against his heart.

Because even before the future came, even before bigger stages and brighter lights, he already knew this was a promise she would keep.

⭒˚.⋆ ✴︎˚ ⋆˙⟡

[March 19, 2010]

A few months later, the Jeon household was full of laughter once again.

It was Eva’s birthday.

The house smelled like vanilla cake and candles. Pink ribbons were taped crookedly against the walls because Minho insisted he could decorate “just fine” and Maria kept laughing while fixing everything behind him.

Eva, now in a frilly birthday dress, sat on the dining chair with a paper crown slipping sideways on her head.

“Do you I look pretty? ,” she declared proudly.

“Yes your royal highness,” Maria corrected, kissing the top of her head.

Minho, standing nearby with the camera around his neck, pretended to gasp.

Before bowing at the princess in front of him.

Eva pointed at him dramatically. “Papa! Take my picture!”

He saluted obediently, grasping his cameria quickly.

That afternoon, Maria suggested they finally take a proper family portrait at the mall. So there stood the three members of the Jeon family, all dressed up for the occasion.

“A real one happy family portrait this time,” she said. “Not blurry, not crooked, and not with Eva making silly faces.”

“I do not make strange faces,” Eva protested, earning a laugh from her mother.

The photographer counted down, softly smiling at the family of three. “On the count of three, say Star!”

The family of three stood side by side.

Maria elegant and smiling.

Minho calm, warm, one hand resting on his daughter’s shoulder.

And Eva in the middle, grinning with missing teeth and happiness too large for her small face.

They all smiled, opening their mouth. “Star!”

Flash!

No one knew in that moment that it would be their last photograph together.

⭒˚.⋆ ✴︎˚ ⋆˙⟡

That night, the rain had started gently.

Small droplets tapped against the car windows like curious fingers. Streetlights stretched across the wet roads in shimmering lines of gold, blurring whenever the windshield wipers swept back and forth. Inside the car, everything felt warm and safe. The heater hummed softly, and the sweet scent of leftover birthday cake still lingered from the boxes tucked in the back.

Eva sat in the rear seat, buckled in after being reminded more than once. Her paper birthday crown had slipped sideways again. Resting carefully on her lap was the freshly printed family portrait, still protected in a clear sleeve.

She kept staring at it. They all looked so happy in the picture.

At the front, Maria glanced back with a teasing grin. “Still admiring yourself?”

“I look beautiful,” Eva said proudly.

Beside her, Minho glanced at the rearview mirror. Catching Eva’s eyes, he signed with one hand while waiting at the red light.

‘True. But I look handsome.’ He signee,

Eva immediately leaned forward. “No! I look best.”

Maria gasped dramatically. “Excuse me? I am the birthday girl’s mother. You literally got your looks from me!”

Eva narrowed her eyes, pretending to think deeply.

Then she pointed toward Maria.

“Uhuh... you look beautiful, Mama.” She stated, smiling sweetly.

Maria burst into delighted laughter. “There we go. Smart child.”

Eva then pointed toward her father.

“And Papa looks...” she paused for suspense.

Minho raised a brow, watching her through the mirror. Even though he couldn’t exactly hear, he could still do lip reading.

She grinned wickedly. “Old.”

Maria laughed so hard tears gathered in her eyes.

Minho placed a hand over his chest in mock offense before signing back.

‘Ungrateful child. You obviously got my good looks.’

Eva cackled from the backseat, clutching the portrait tighter.

Rain began to fall harder.

The wipers sped up, sweeping away sheets of water. Tires hissed against the slick road. Reflections of red brake lights smeared across the pavement like paint.

Maria reached over and turned on the radio. A familiar melody soon filled the car.

Eva gasped happily as she realized the song was “The Rainbow Connection”

“It’s my favorite song!” She exclaimed, legs kickint excitedly.

The couple glanced at each other, smiling as Maria began singing softly.

“Why are there so many songs about rainbows...” she started, looking back at her child. Eva joined in loudly and proudly, barely missing half the notes.

Minho could not hear the song.But he knew it. He knew the shape of the words from Maria’s lips, the rhythm from the way Eva kicked her feet against the seat, the melody from the countless times he had felt them sing beside him.

He glanced at them both and smiled.

At a stoplight, Maria reached over and squeezed his hand.

He squeezed back.

Eva watched from behind, chin resting over the front seat.

Her mother looked beautiful under the passing lights.

Her father looked steady and warm, hands strong on the wheel.

So she sang louder.

“Someday we’ll find it... the rainbow connection...”

The light turned green, and the car moved forward.

The rain seemed to pounded harder now.

Another set of headlights appeared through the storm.

Maria squintee, it was too bright.

Too fast. It was like, the driver was not in control.

Minho noticed first as his posture stiffened, immediately placing her hand right by her abdomen just to secure her. He glanced at her worriedly before eyes shifting back to her daughter who was oblivious the whole time.

Maria felt her heart quicken, reaching back out an arm to hold onto her daughter’s knees. The child glanced at her, noticing a faint distress lines on her face.

Eva softly smiled, “What is it mama?” She asked.

The mother lets out a shaky breath before shaking her head, “It’s nothing. I… just wanted to know you that both of your father and I love you so much, okay?”

Eva looked at her funnily with how fast she said those words but she just smiled. “Love you too, mama! You too papa!” She cheerily said.

Suddenly, there was the violent flash of a horn. Maria turned sharply toward the road ahead, eyes widening in fear.

“Minho!-“ Her husband gritted his teeth, as he tried his best to swivel his car through the rain then suddenly there were screams of brakes.

“Eva, hold on!” Eva jumped when her mother screamed as Minho jerked the wheel with all his strength. The sudden tilt of the car made the family portrait slip from Eva’s lap.

Glass exploding like shattered stars.

Metal crushing inward.

All Eva could even remember that her world started spinning sideways, and pain bursting white across her skull. All she could hear under that pouring rain was the last lines of the song playing in the background. Then before she could hold out her hand towards her parents, darkness swallowed everything.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁༉‧₊˚.

When Eva opened her eyes, everything smelled strange.

Clean. Sharp. Cold.

The ceiling above her was white.

Her body felt heavy. Her head was in an agonizing pain. There was a bandage wrapped around her arm.

Machines beeped softly nearby, and there were chatters coming outside in the hallway.

She blinked in confusion.

“Mama?”

No answer.

“Papa?”

The room stayed still.

A woman seated beside the bed suddenly stood up, as if she had just woken up from a nap. Eva furrowed her brow’s in confusion, only to realize how familiar this woman was. It was her Aunt Claire, her mother’s older sister. Eva had only met her a few times before.

Claire’s eyes were swollen red.

She moved closer and held Eva’s hand carefully, as if the child might break.

“Hi, sweetheart,” she whispered.

Eva looked past her. “Where’s Mama? Where’s Papa?”

Claire’s lips trembled. She tried once to speak and failed. Then she crouched beside the bed, brushing hair away from Eva’s forehead.

“There was an accident,” she said softly. “Your parents... they were hurt very badly.”

“I’m so sorry, Eva.” The woman sobbed, squeezing the girl’s hand tightly to ground herself.

Eva stared at her blankly as Claire’s tears started fell freely now.

“They loved you very much,” she whispered. “And they always will.”

It was like the world around her went silent. She did not hear the remaining words that escaped from her Aunt Claire’s lips. She only stared at the blanket over her legs.

Then tears slid soundlessly down her cheeks.

One after another.

No sobs.

No voice.

Just silent crying from a child who did not yet understand how the world could continue.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁༉‧₊˚.

The funeral was crowded.

Black umbrellas lined the entrance. Flowers surrounded the room with sweet perfume so heavy it made people dizzy.

Two caskets stood at the front.

One for Maria.

One for Minho.

Eva sat between her Korean grandparents, who had flown from all the way from Korea. She was dressed in black dress that was too large for her small frame.

Her feet did not touch the floor as she sat at the front row.

People approached her all day.

Some bowed politely.

Some offered condolences.

Some whispered when they thought she could not hear.

“Poor child.”

“She hasn’t cried.”

“I heard she hasn’t spoken once since the accident.”

“I can’t imagine how painful for her to be the only survivor.”

“Maybe she is still in shock. Poor girl.”

Eva heard every word. All the pity and sympathy.

She simply did not care. She never really cared if people were there.

Her eyes never left the caskets.

Her grandmother wept quietly into a handkerchief. Her grandfather’s shoulders shook though no sound came from him.

They were expecting them to visit Korea in the following months for a summer vacation. But now, they had lost both their son and daughter.

And now the only piece of the two left sat motionless right in front of them.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁༉‧₊˚.

Later, after everyone had gone, Eva stood alone before two fresh graves.

The soil was dark and uneven. Rain from earlier had softened the earth, leaving the scent of wet grass and cold dirt in the air. Two names were carved into stone side by side.

Her parents.

Wind moved the hem of her black coat gently. In her arms, she held the family portrait against her chest so tightly that the corners had begun to bend.

For a long time, she only stared. She didn’t not cry nor sob. But she did felt like the world was pressing all of its weight on her.

Behind her, her grandfather and grandmother stood several steps away, giving her space even as worry consumed them.

The wind blew softly at her face, gently lifting her hair from time to time.

Eva’s lips parted at last, taking a deep breath.

“Mama...” she whispered, voice frail from days of silence. Then she looked to the grave beside it. “Papa...”

Her chin trembled for a moment.

“I’m here… can you hear me?” She softly said.

No answer came.

Only the wind brushing through the trees.

Her fingers tightened around the portrait in her arms.

“I got scared,” she said softly, tears beginning to gather. “I woke up... and you weren’t there.”

A tear rolled down her cheek.

Then she lowered her eyes to the photograph.

Three smiling faces of them.

One last happy day.

And suddenly, she remembered the promise she made in the car.

‘I promise to sing for you forever!’

Eva let out a broken breath. “You were supposed to be still here… how can I sing if you’re not here?” She asked, glancing up in the sky. Then she looked back dwon at the graves. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do. But it felt like it was right to do this, for one last time… just for them.

Drawing in a shaky breath, she began to sing.

“Why are there so many... songs about rainbows...”

Her voice cracked on the last word.

She paused, swallowing a sob, then continued.

“And what’s on... the other side...”

The notes trembled and wavered, thin from grief, but she kept going.

“Someday we’ll find it... the rainbow connection...”

“The lovers… the dreamers…” She sniffled, wiping her right cheek. “and… me..”

By the final line, tears were streaming freely down her face.

Her knees gave way and she sank into the damp grass before them.

She clutched the portrait to her chest and cried openly now, harder enough to release the burden of being the only survivor from that car crash.

“I’m going to miss you both,” she sobbed. “So much... I’m going to miss you...”

That was when her grandparents could no longer stay back.

Her grandmother hurried forward first, dropping to her knees beside the child and pulling Eva into her arms. She wept into the little girl’s hair, rocking her gently.

“My poor baby... my poor baby...” she heard her whisper in korean.

Her grandfather followed, kneeling beside them despite the wet ground. His weathered hands trembled as he rested one hand on Eva’s back and the other over hers.

“We are here,” he said thickly, voice breaking. “You are not alone.”

Eva cried harder, burying her face into her grandmother’s shoulder.

“I want Mama,” she choked out. “I want Papa...”

Her grandmother held her tighter, tears falling freely.

“I know,” she whispered. “I know.”

The three of them remained there in the cold grass, huddled between the graves, grieving together as the evening sky darkened above them.