7 months later

“Standby! 30 minutes to show time!”

The booming voice doesn’t affect me as I focus on applying the finishing touches to Kim Jaejoong’s face; it’s the day of his annual birthday fan meeting.

“Alright, you’re good to go, oppa.”

“Thank you, my little star!” Jaejoong oppa grins.

I roll my eyes and shoo him away so I can tidy my tools.

“You’re not talking back to me!” Jaejoong oppa feigns surprise, “what has America done to my Byul?!”

“Move,” I glare at him, “I just came back late last night and I’m still dealing with jetlag so don’t step on my tail.”

He laughs and puts his arm around me, “there’s the Han Byul I missed so much!”

“Yah, you have no idea how much hyung talks about you,” Youngjun says.

“Given how often he calls me, I would think he’s obsessed with me,” I smirk.

“Says the one who didn’t even bother giving her brother a heads up that she was leaving.”

“Oppa, I was given a short notice too! Besides, it wasn’t as if I wasn’t coming back.”

“Here we go again,” Youngjun yawns, “don’t you both get tired of arguing over the same thing over and over?”

“Oppa started it.”

Jaejoong oppa throws me a dirty look but says nothing. I stick my tongue out at him and make myself comfortable on the sofa, while he goes around doing final outfit and equipment checks. Despite the noise, my eyelids keep drooping, until I finally doze off.

“You’re home.”

Taekwoon’s smiling face greets me. I let myself fall into his arms and take in his familiar scent.

“I’m so tired,” I pout.

He chuckles, “I made us dinner. Do you wanna shower first?”

I snuggle closer to him, “can we skip it all and just remain like this? I missed you so much.”

“Alright,” his arms tighten around me, “let’s stay like this.”

“I love you.”

He presses a kiss to my forehead, “I love you too.”

“Byul. Yah, Han Byul.”

I awake to someone shaking me and calling my name. I force my eyes open and realize it’s a dream – the same one I’d been having for months.

“You okay?” Youngjun asks, a worried look on his face.

I nod, ”yeah, why?”

Youngjun doesn’t say anything and points to my face. I reach up and realize my cheeks are wet; I cried in my sleep, again. I avoid his gaze and reach for a tissue and dab my face dry.

“Hyung is due to come in for an outfit change soon, come on.”

----

“Byul noona?”

I hear a familiar voice call my name. I definitely did not expect to bump into Hongbin in this gigantic mart.

“Hongbin-ah!”

He comes towards me, a huge smile – one that put his dimples on full display – on his face.

“Noona! When did you come back?”

About a month after I went to America, I received an email from Hakyeon. After walking out of the pub that night, I had terminated my phone line and even my Kakao ID. The only contact of mine VIXX still had was via email. Hakyeon mentioned that he found out through Taekwoon, who had found out through Jaejoong oppa, that I had left Korea. I guess the news spread within VIXX from there.

“2 days ago,” I say, “it’s been a really long time since I last saw you…”

“I know. Are you here...alone?”

I n