Pyongyang 1952

Yoona know the war was ending. She couldn't help but feel a tiny bit happy inside. Everything was going to be alright. She was going back home to her friends, her family, Sehun. But that would mean leaving Jongin behind. She remembered when he said she was his forever. A tug of pain wretched her heart. I had lost him before I had him. She thought. Perhaps they weren't meant to be together. Her parents would never forgive her if they knew she loved the son of the enemy. What would Seohyun say? She would be disppointed. Yoona felt confused. Time was running out.

She wanted a refresh herself. The balcony was the first place that popped into her mind. Quietly, she made her was up. The cold air rubbed against her arms. She looked up at the sky. Instead of being the usual light blue, it was grey. It was a sliver afternoon. But she knew she wasnn't the only one up there.

"Mother, father. Do you know why I came here? To North Korea?  I wanted to find my Juliet. But what if I wasn't her Romeo? I was like Tybalt. Loved but soon forgotten. I know I cry a lot and for many things, but it seems this one is the first. It just hurts too much. I made a lot of mistakes, some of them fatal. Why did I hurt Yoona? Why did I want to kill Jongin? I don't know. No matter how much I want to forget about her, desire strikes me again and again. I can't let go of her I dream of kissing her. I love her, I love her, I love her."

It was Luhan. Yoona couldn't tell if he knew she was there. Was he being honest? Or was he scheming something cunning?

"Luhan you can stop." she curtly replied.

Luhan's heart stopped. He was flustered. 

"Yoona." his lingered towards her.

"What do you think you're doing?" she angrily grunted.

"I can explain."

"I love you too. I did. But I loved the old Luhan. The kind, caring, gentle man."

"I changed-" he stopped. There was something similar on Yoona's neck. It was the sliver necklace. The one he gave to her on her 16th birthday. It was monogramed with both of their initials. He was stunned. 

Yoona's eyes followed his gaze to her neck. She absentmindly touched the necklace. 

"This is the necklace you proposed to me with. I remember it took you forever to put it on me. Even if I love Jongin right now, you'll always be a piece of me. I will never forget you." she blushed.

"I can't believe you still have it." Luhan was abashed. She still loves me.

"But it doesn't me I forgave you for everything you've done to me. You hurt me."

"If I could go back and undo my mistakes I would. But time only moves foreword."

"You had the nerve to hit me. To kiss me. To mock me. How could you?"

"...You're right. You derseve someone better. Maybe one day we'll find a place where our dreams and reality collides. Where our love can exsit."

"Our love does exsit." Yoona couldn't help but hesistantly embrace Luhan. She could remember the warmth he gave to her years ago. It felt nice.

Luhan felt his lips turn into a smile. He felt all his vegeanance and hate vanish. He remembered the humanity he once had. She had given him hope.

They held their hug for what it seemed like forever. Finally Luhan pulled away.

"Kris... my brother." he sighed.

"The doctor?"

"He's planning to kill me."

"What? He's your younger brother." she gasped. She had once met him before. A few years ago at that very ball. He was much taller than Luhan. He was very sharping looking. In fact they were polar opposites. But Kris was polite enough to satisfy her.

"He's holding me for Seohyun's unhappiness." 

"Seohyun? She's gotten over you."

"I know. She's planning to kill me too."

"But why?!"

"For your sake." Luhan smiled sadly.

"My sake?"

"She knows what happened the first day you were captured. She doesn't want you to get hurt anymore."

"You-you can't die!"

"I'm not planning on either. There's someone inflritating our every move. A spy."

"Who?!"

"Kim Myungsoo."

"Myungsoo?! You mean my ex fiancee?! You killed him years ago!"

"I was going to, but he escaped here."

"I need to see him." Yoona started to walk but Luhan's hand frimly grabbed her wirst.

"Yoona ah. You can't. He's going to kill you. Kris planned everything. He planned everything at the beginning. Seohyun doesn't even know. Myungsoo's going to kill you, me and then Jongin. I have a plan, but you have to cooperate with me."

"I have to protect Jongin." she was determined.

Luhan's heart cracked. Of course. Yoona couldn't let Jongin get hurt. 

***

"Are you Kim Myungsoo?" a voice called.

"Yes. What do you-"

"It's me."

Myungsoo was gapping. A beautiful lady was standing in front of him. She had long brown hair that passed her shoulders. She had flawless cream skin. There was something familiar with her face. Yoona.

"Yoona..."

"I know you were spying on me. On Luhan. On Jongin. A week ago, when Jongin and I kissed, you were the one smirking around the corner weren't you? At first I thought it was Luhan but now that I know everything... why? Why are you helping Kris kill us? Just give me a reason. Please." she begged.

He felt nostalgic. He remembered when Yoona was his. His future wife. Then a rush of anger flowed through him. Xi Luhan.

"Luhan tried to kill me Yoona. Because I was you're first. It's a little unreasonable isn't it? I just want him to taste his own medicine."

"Then why do you want to kill me? And Jongin?"

Myungsoo's smugness faltered.

"I-uh- I don't-"

"Everyone deserves second chances. Please Myungsoo. I beg you. You can kill me and spare the two."

"I believe in second chances. I just don't think everyone desrves them. And I can't do that. I have to follow Kris' orders."

"Just because Luhan did something wrong doesn't mean that he's a good person. But it doesn't mean he's a bad person either. He deserves another chance at happiness. I know you're angry at him, but please, if either of them die- I wouldn't be able to forgive myself."

He was touched. He hated that Yoona's words were true. 

***

Jongin knew he would die. But he would die for his country. He would stay. With his father and mother. He didn't want to be called an coward. But the though of letting go of Yoona was unbearable. He gave a long sigh.

"Hey."

"Hey."

Yoona steadily made her way towards his armchair.

"I learned a lot today." she said.

"I did too."

"Jongin, I- I think it's my time to go." 

Tears threatened to fall over Jongin's eyes.

"I know. You miss you're family. I have also made a decision. I'm going to stay here."

"You're- you're going to get killed!"

"Yoona, I ing know. I ing know! But I'm not going to escape while all my people are dying!"

"I can't let you get killed!

"Yoona," Jongin breathed. He gently carassed her face. She was crying.

He first kissed her lips, then he hungrily kissed her jaw.

"Jongin-"

"Let's just dream that today is our last day." he smiled.

She wanted to, but something stopped her.

"I still love Luhan."

He abruptly stopped. 

Yoona closed her eyes. 

"Get out. Get out!" he screamed.

"Please, just listen to me!"

"Get out of my room before I slap you."

She whimpered. How could he be so cold? But she didn't leave. Instead she remained at her ground.

"I know you wouldn't do that."

"Get out. Now."

"No."

Before Jongin's hand could smack across her face, Luhan pushed her out of the way. His head snapped back as Jongin's slap made contact with his left cheek.

"What the hell!" Jongin yelled.

"Don't... hurt... her... like...I... did..." Luhan managed to reply.

"Luhan...Jongin... I'm sorry. I'm sorry you fell in love with a girl like me. I'm selfish, I'm weak, I'm reckless. I just want to go home." she cried.

***

Seohyun knew Kris was planning a dangerous assasination. She wasn't going to let him kill Yoona. From Myungsoo, she found out that Yoona had developed a love for the youngest son of Kim Il Sung. It struck her as crazy, but she respected her best friend's heart. She also found out that Yoona still lingered feelings towards Luhan. It was complicated, but she had to do something.

"Kris," she breathed.

"Seohyun ah? What is it?"

"Let's stop."

He halted. He knew what she meant.

"I know you hate Luhan. But you're brothers. Luhan loves you. You should give him another chance."

"I don't care. He hurt you. I should've killed him when I had the chance."

"Don't you even care about Yoona?! She still loves him Kris! She's the closest person I have right now! If she loses him- then how am I supposed to look at her everyday when I killed her love?"

"Yoona is merely a petty lady to me."

"Listen to me! I love you Kris! Can't you see that? You're never going to be alone, because I'll always be by your side. You're important to me, Yoona's important to me, this war is important to me! If all this was strived by jealously, then please just stop! If you really love me back, then wouldn't you care about my happiness?"

Kris was broken.