“Can you buy me a strawberry smoothie?”
Hoseok couldn’t help but smile at his little sister, and he lifted her up to kiss her tiny button nose. Mia giggled and her chubby cheeks turned pink. She was really a very cute child, and her tinkling laugh always reminded Hoseok of their mother…

“Sure, you’ve been a good student, you definitely deserve a smoothie!” Hoseok said, pushing sad thoughts about their mother out of his head. Mia whooped and jumped out of his arms. She was now skipping along the pavement, waving Hoseok to hurry towards their favorite coffee shop in the mall. Hoseok chuckled and jogged after the hyperactive toddler. Within minutes they were at the café. Hoseok found a nice booth next to the windows and helped Mia settle in.

“I’ll be back soon with our drinks,” he said softly and gave Mia a peck on her forehead. He always made sure she never felt like she wasn’t loved enough. Hoseok knew he couldn’t take their mother’s place, but he tried his best to ensure Mia did not feel like she was missing out on anything. He walked up to the counter and met a friendly barista with warm brown eyes. He smiled at Hoseok and his eyes crinkled pleasantly in the corners.

“How may I help you?”
Hoseok’s eyes trailed to the name tag on the barista’s shirt. It said “Jimin” in bright purple letters.
“A medium strawberry smoothie and a large iced coffee, no room, please.”
Jimin nodded and placed Hoseok’s order. “Be ready in five!” he said cheerfully and turned around to prepare the drinks. Hoseok’s attention was diverted when he heard Mia’s high-pitched giggle. A young man had stopped at their table, and was showing her some sort of magic trick.
“Where did the coin go?” Mia squealed delightfully.
The guy reached behind Mia’s ear and showed her the coin. She clapped happily. Seeing Hoseok approaching them out of the corner of her eye, Mia exclaimed, “Oppa! This new oppa pulled a coin out of my ear!”
Suga turned around to look at Hoseok’s exhausted but friendly face.
“I’m Hoseok, and that’s my sister Mia.”
Suga took Hoseok’s hand and shook it warmly. “I am Suga. I was here to visit my friend who is the barista here. Couldn’t help but say hello to your cute sister.”
Hoseok laughed. “I don’t blame you. It is hard to avoid the little mouse.” Mia squealed and playfully punched Hoseok’s arm.
Suga smiled at the two of them. Nothing could compare to a sibling relationship. His heart constricted as he remembered his own sister’s giggles and mischievousness. Oh, how he missed her…

Hoseok caught Suga’s sad expression and wondered what had caused it. Suga noticed Hoseok’s concern and smiled sadly.
“It is nothing. I just miss my own sister sometimes.”
“Where is she?”
Suga sighed. He ran his fingers through his pale hair and leaned against the table. “She went missing when we were young. We never found out what happened…”
Hoseok gasped. He couldn’t imagine going through something like that. Mia was his lifeline. Especially since his family broke apart, Mia was all he had. His heart overflowed with sympathy for this friendly stranger he had just met.
“I am so sorry. That must be so hard.”
Suga laughed bitterly. “I still can’t come to terms with it. It just seems so unreal… I was quite young myself, but I still remember what a sweetheart she was...”

Before Hoseok could respond, Jimin walked over with their drinks. He smiled at Mia who was coloring into her art notebook and handed Hoseok his coffee. He fist-pumped Suga and grinned at Hoseok.
“Didn’t know you guys knew each other.”
“We just met,” said Suga, smiling warmly at Hoseok. “Do you guys know each other?”
Hoseok shook his head. “I am Hoseok,” he said to Jimin, who shook his hand and pointed at his own name-tag.
“Nice to meet you. Not to be creepy, but you work at that really old music store a few blocks away right?”
“I do, how did you know?”
“I collect old CDs, I remember seeing you fall off a ladder while pulling out a few vinyls.”
Hoseok and Suga laughed loudly. Mia stopped slurping her smoothie and said, “Oppa is always crashing into things and falling here and there.”
Suga laughed even louder and ruffled her curls. Hoseok smiled at the two of them. He could see how happy Mia made Suga. They had just met, but he was glad to see Suga happy after hearing his heart-breaking story.
“Where is Kyungsoo?” Jimin asked Suga.
“I wouldn’t know where that crazy is. Only god knows what he might be up to.”
“That sounds shady.”
“Kyungsoo is the shadiest person you’ll meet Jimin,” Suga said, chuckling and shaking his head.
“Kyungsoo is a friend of ours,” Jimin explained to Hoseok. “I was thinking of asking these two to get dinner tonight, if you would like to join us Hoseok.”
Hoseok smiled at the two of them. “That would be really nice actually. Mia is sleeping over at a friend’s so I am free to spend the night out. What time and where were you thinking of going?”
Jimin scratched his chin and said, “Hmm, what about 7 at the Patterson Pub? They have a live band performance tonight!”
“That sounds great, let me inform that crazy Kyungsoo.” Suga said, pulling out his phone.
Hoseok sighed and finished the last of his coffee. He couldn’t wait to take some time off from his insane schedule and have some fun with new friends.