Kyungsoo walked into Jackie’s room and found her upside down on her head. She screeched and turned upright, and threw a pillow at his face. He dodged the pillow, laughing.

“Is that a new yoga pose?” he asked, grinning.

“As a matter of fact, you are right. It’s supposed to send blood to your head and help increase brain power.” Jackie huffed and jumped onto her couch. Kyungsoo flopped down next to her. “Sounds like something you would need,” he chuckled.

Jackie just sighed in response. “Tell me why you’re here?”

“Suga was asking about you.”

Jackie remembered what Suga had said to her, “Pay me back with a story? Jimin has my number.”

And because she wasn’t talking with Jimin, she hadn’t gotten around to contacting Suga. She sighed again.

“Yeah I was supposed to contact him.”

“I honestly don’t understand why he’s so bent upon on talking to you. But here’s his number.” Kyungsoo handed Jackie a small piece of paper with Suga’s number scribbled across it.

“Thanks… he wanted to hang out. Are you guys doing something? I could just tag along.” Jackie felt her cheeks heating up. She couldn’t believe she was asking to hang out with Kyungsoo. But she hardly trusted people, and she didn’t know Suga at all. At the same time, he seemed like a nice guy, so she didn’t want to give him a cold shoulder.

Kyungsoo responded with laughter. “You want to hang with me sister? That’s rare. But you know what, why not? I was actually going to meet him for drinks and dinner tonight, at that seaside shack. Wanna come?”

Jackie liked being near the sea. She nodded. “What time?”

“I’m leaving at 7. We can leave together? Actually Jimin was going to pick us up.”

Jackie glared at him. “You didn’t tell me before that Jimin was coming?”

“Jesus, I thought you cared about hanging with Suga. Who knows who he might bring along too?”

Jackie closed her eyes. She needed to work on her anger management.

“Sorry Kyungsoo, it’s just… well Jimin and I aren’t exactly talking right now.”

“Jackie, you’re always not talking to someone or the other. And you know Jimin, that guy carries the guilt of the entire world on his shoulders. He’s probably beating himself up over you.”

Jackie knew Kyungsoo was right. “Okay, fine. I’ll come. You’ve learned quite a lot about Jimin pretty soon yeah?”

Kyungsoo shrugged. “He’s a nice guy. Doesn’t deserve half the he gets.” Standing up, he waved at Jackie. “See you at 6:55 at the door,” he said, and walked out the room. Jackie smiled. This was probably the least violent conversation she’d had with Kyungsoo, and it wasn’t half bad.

……………………………………….

At 6:55, Kyungsoo and Jackie were chilling next to the driveway. Cool evening air blew through Jackie’s hair which wasn’t tied today. This is why I tie it, she thought. She pulled her hair together and tucked it behind both ears. She wished her hair would behave like other girls’ hair for once. How do these girls leave their hair down all the time??

Jimin drove into the driveway a few minutes later. Jackie blushed and hoped for a normal conversation. Jimin could be very passive aggressive, while Jackie just straight out spat venom. The thought made Jackie smile though. Their friendship had survived several fights, and it was stronger than ever. She knew they would make up. However, until they did, she hoped that both of them could control their tongues around other people.

Jimin jumped out of the car, followed by two other people- Suga, and a guy with hair as dark as the night, and tired but kind eyes. He smiled at both Kyungsoo and Jackie, and Kyungsoo introduced him to her as Hoseok. Suga fistbumped both of them and winked at Jackie, and Jimin highfived Kyungsoo and gave Jackie a small nod. However something came over her at that moment; Jimin looked horribly exhausted and upset, and she didn’t want to contribute even one tiny bit to it anymore. She walked forward and enveloped him in a bear hug. His body stiffened under hers at first, but then he hugged her back with the same fervor. “I’m sorry,” he whispered in her hair. “I’m sorry too,” she replied.

Then they were all packed in Jimin’s car, and their windows were down while music streamed through the amazing speakers Jimin had installed and out into the refreshingly cool evening air. Jackie put her head slightly out the window and let her hair whip through the wind. Suga reached out from behind and pulled her hair and she turned around and whacked him on the arm. “Kyungsoo! You’ve taught your friends your childish games too?” she yelled playfully.

Hoseok laughed in response. “Now you guys are behaving like Mia and I.”

“Yeah, how’s Mia?” Suga asked him.

“She’s fine, she’s made quite a few friends, and is always invited to sleepovers and such.” Hoseok smiled, thinking about how excited Mia became while packing her owl themed night dress and fluffy blankets.

“Jackie, Mia’s Hoseok’s little sister. She’s the cutest thing ever. You should meet her, might help with your temper,” Suga teased.

Jackie just scowled back, leading everyone to laugh.

“Come on guys,” Jimin said, laughing, “don’t make her regret coming.”

Jackie shook her head. “Don’t worry about it, I do have temper issues.” She laughed.

A few minutes later, the car swung into a gravelly parking area from where one could hear the waves crashing into rocks and the screeching seagulls. Suga climbed out and took a deep breath of the refreshing sea air. His gaze drifted to Jackie, who was doing the same. He smiled. There was something about her that made him curious, and he was determined to get to the bottom of it. She was like a magnet; the first time they met in the coffeeshop, Suga felt like he had known her his entire life. He had to find out why.

Kyungsoo led the way to a small restaurant which was more like a shack with a few stoves and an open-air sitting area. The place served the best stir-fry noodles in the entire city though. Everyone stood in a line to place their order. Jackie went before Suga, getting all the vegetables but peas and asparagus.

“Those are the exact two vegetables I don’t eat,” Suga said, as he waited behind her.

“That’s probably the only thing we have in common,” Jackie replied playfully. Suga just laughed and got ready to place his order.

Soon, all of them were sitting around a round, rickety table, gazing out at the sea and the setting sun. Orange and pink clouds spread across the horizon, and the water glittered like gemstones. It was a beautiful evening, and the fresh, hot noodles with veggies and meat in cute, little boxes made for a wonderful evening and dinner.

“Let’s walk next to the water after we’re done,” Jimin said, with a mouth full of food.

“Jesus, Jimin,” Kyungsoo laughed, “you’re going to choke if you stuff your mouth like that.”

“Okay, mom,” Jimin retorted, and Kyungsoo kicked him under the table.

“I’m going to go now, you children join me later. Hoseok?”

Hoseok was the only one who had finished eating too. He stood up and him and Jackie removed their shoes and walked down to the water.

“I’d like to meet your sister,” Jackie said, squeezing the sand with her toes.

Hoseok smiled. “She is such an extrovert. She loves meeting new people, we can definitely arrange a meeting for you too. Do you have siblings?”

“An older brother. Aidan. He’s crazy but I love him.” Jackie laughed. “I actually live with him and his girlfriend. And guess what, Kyungsoo’s her son.”

“Ah, so you two must have a big . I get it, I am older by Mia by like 16 years.”

Jackie laughed again. “Actually no, he is only 6 years older than me. His girlfriend’s much older.”

“Oh,” Hoseok said, and then laughed, embarrassed. “Oh well.”

“It’s okay, I’m still getting used to it. Yoojung’s a darling though. I love my brother but she is too good for him!” They were at the water now and Jackie began to walk in. Hoseok lend her his arm for support and they walked into the cool water, waves frothing around their feet. A nice silence filled the air, and the two of them gazed at the now purple sky and sounds of the water and birds. Jackie sighed. It had been a while since things had been this peaceful. She turned to look at Hoseok who had graciously given her his arm when she almost toppled into the water. Clumsiness was an inherent part of her, and she was grateful for the support. She hadn’t realized how tall he was until now. Hoseok felt her gaze and turned to smile at her.

“I haven’t socialized in a very long time. You won’t believe it, but I was so darn noisy and loud. And…well, things happened, and… all I want to say is that my apologies if I don’t talk much…” he laughed.

“I like silence,” Jackie said simply, and her kind smile told Hoseok that he had nothing to apologize for. He nodded at her.

The quiet was broken by screams as the others came running down the beach. Jimin was being chased by both Kyungsoo and Suga, and he ran into the water, slipped, and fell on his . Within a few seconds, Kyungsoo and Suga were tackling him, all of them drenched with salt water. Jackie and Hoseok stepped back, laughing hard. Jimin managed to free himself and ran towards Jackie, holding her by the waist and lifting her up, to throw her into the water too. Suga pulled Hoseok in as well, and all of them ended up running from each other, pushing each other in, and slapping the refreshing cold water on each other’s faces.

Jackie’s stomach hurt from laughing so hard. She gave up and lay back, letting the water wash over her waist and neck. Her hair floated under her, and the water cooled her scalp. Jimin splashed onto his back and lay next to her, a big smile lighting up his face. “Hi,” he said.

Jackie smiled at him. “How are you?” she asked.

“Better,” Jimin replied, “did a lot of thinking, and…I am more at peace, you could say. I am still sorry I lashed out at you.”

“It’s okay, really. I wasn’t the kindest either. I’m glad we made up though.”

“We always do,” Jimin said, reaching out and pushing a stray hair behind her ear. His warm brown eyes sparkled merrily at her, and Jackie thought about how she never realized it, but Jimin had the sweetest smile. It lit up his eyes like stars, and it infected those around him too. She couldn’t help but smile back. He was the only one who could make her smile that big.

A loud cough distracted her. Suga loomed over the two of them, grinning widely. “Get a room, you too,” he said, chuckling. Jimin quickly pulled his fingers away that were still lingering next to Jackie’s ear. For some reason, Jackie’s cheeks flushed and she sat up.

“Get a life, Suga,” she said splashing him with water. That was a mistake. He lunged forward and tackled her, and they were all back into behaving like crazy children, playing in the water and filling the air with loud and happy whoops.