First, I would like to apologize for keeping my readers waiting for so long!!! T^T I'm so sorry!!! I had a writer's block and I don't want to simply update stuff. Well, I'm back and should be updating often now. I hope you guys aren't disappointed. Another big thank you to navita and candy_ellia, my newest subscribers and commentors XD, AD0RKABL3-A-S-I-A-N for commenting once again and omnomnomcookiez for suggesting that mystery guy is Onew XD.

Kekeke, it's starting! =D

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I don’t usually curse. It’s rude and vulgar. But when I start to panic, the rational part of my brain will begin to malfunction. So now, as I’m running away to who knows where in this forsaken place of a mansion, I’m constantly muttering one word under my breath like a chant, despite needing to save some effort because of my weak stamina.

.

I tried to retrace the accident step by step like a forensic research. Wait, first, I was succumbing to my ‘afraid of public’ phobia. I decided the best area to settle down was the normally abandoned west wing. Then, I don’t know how it happened, but I slipped on my heels. Instead of falling flat on the ground and having bruises all over my body, I fell on something that prevents the force of fall from happening. Immediately, I just stood up and walked away. That’s all right?

Nope, you fell on a stranger. You fell on a guy. Don’t try to modify the facts.

A voice in my brain answered my self-asked question. In accordance to it, the scene of him under me started replaying in my mind like an out-of-control DVD player. Nerve impulses are then sent to the sensory parts of my body. I close my eyes and buried my face in my palms. I can see his face and feel his heartbeat underneath. I can’t get the embarrassing scene out of my head.Ahhh!!!

Also, don’t forget you aren’t exactly very light either.

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On another spot of the same location at the same time, Lee Taemin walked around the compound of the building alone. Keeping in his mind that he should not wander off too far by himself, he made sure that he stays within an eye’s sight range with his family members. Walking on the tiles of the gazebo, he looked around the green garden which size was much more inferior compared to the land surrounding his home. Droplets of water were sliding off leaves of every plant, evidence that a rain took place earlier.

He continued on his venture by stepping onto the carpet grass. The ground wasn’t muddy, so his shoes weren’t soiled. The air smelled like artificial lavender scent, courtesy of the candles lit around. However, it was only masking the powerful aroma of the food, drinks, cologne, perfume and the flowers that were well-groomed.

A variety of flowers. There were honeysuckles, alamandas and a whole lot more that Taemin did not recognize. But they all were planted in small quantities. The type of flower that he guessed must be the favorite of the household were red tulips. Some petals of the big flower were falling on the ground. He picked one up, a particularly big piece and felt it under his fingers. It was like velvet, he thought. Putting it carefully into his pocket in hopes of bringing a memory back from this place, he decided to stop examining the non-living things.

The youngest’ eyes scanned around again. As soon upon their arrival, his father was leaded by a polite butler to the host of the event. The three eldest, Jinki, Jonghyun and Kibum were talking to some girls he recognized were from their school. Taemin tried to recall their names, but failed to do so since he had no whatsoever interest in them since day one. The girls were giggling away with their high-pitched voice and teasing when apparently Jonghyun, the flirt did something to attract such a reaction.

On second thought, Choi Minho was no where to be found. Shouldn’t he be back from the restroom already?

Come to think of it, his fourth brother was almost similar to him. Almost in a sense that both were the youngest, the ones without much words, the ones who were sensible and the ones who had yet shown any interest towards humans of the opposite gender. Not the exact same that Lee Taemin had a fiery temper that wouldn’t cool down in a while once it blows up, which it rarely does. Anything about Choi Minho you ask?

Speak of the Devil.

“Minho-hyung!” Taemin called while dismissing the fact that the observant one had already noticed him walking while straightening his clothes with a blush on his face.

There, Choi Minho was the opposite of him that he rarely reveals emotions. Not even when he’s extremely troubled. If Taemin were to describe him, it would be ‘as still as the old oak tree’? How rare to see his flustered state.

Something must have happened.

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“It’s been a long time, hyung.”

The man turned around with a glass of wine in his hand. Both men smiled at the year-long reunion. Lee Soo Bin was trying to hide the shock he received when he first saw his hyung’s face after seven long years. Min Shin Hyun had aged a lot. He was only about three years older than him, but looked like he’s already reaching his fifties. Nevertheless, the good looks were still prominent on him; his smile still sincere and warm.

After all, he is the man Na Young fell for.

“Soo Bin, my old dongsaeng! I missed you!” Shin Hyun exclaimed, unable to hide the excitement in his voice. Expecting a formal handshake, the younger was about to extend his right hand when he was pulled for a hearty hug. Soo Bin’s mouth formed an ‘O’ instantly. He saw his sons looking at him like he had never seen him before.

He sighed. He couldn’t shove his hyung off. It would be too cruel for him to do so.

Not when he saw the sadness and the tired look in his eyes.

Eventually, they broke off contact. Soo Bin cleared his throat while Shin Hyun took another sip of wine. It was silent for a while since they were two old men who didn’t know how to start a conversation. From nowhere, the boys’ father caught hold of a glass of drink and stared to take in the liquid slowly, copying his hyung as if trying to prolong time.

Aish, Soo Bin, open your mouth and talk to him! A thought came to his mind. The voice sounded a lot like Shin Hyun’s late wife, their best friend, and the one that had always managed to break the wall of ice surrounding them. He half expected to feel a punch on his shoulder, but none came.

Na Young had a daughter…   

"So hyung how’s your daughter?” he asked curiously. The drink in his glass had finished long ago. A good way to start a conversation is by focusing on the younger generations. Which are, Min Shin Hyun’s daughter, and his own five sons. 

“Ah yes, that girl. Where is she? She’s always wondering off on her own.”

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And out of them, Soo-Jung ahjumma will be like a volcano of lava waiting to erupt.

I stood up and decided to walk out. I can’t have my head down like a convict, or else I’ll look suspicious, and walking with my head held high isn’t exactly my thing. Instead, I tried to focus my mind on something else. Eye contact with people is a definite no. I took slow but haste steps while admiring the tulips. They were in full bloom tonight. Unknowingly, a smile crept onto my face. Tulips were one of the things in my list of favorites. I remembered that mother was also rather fond of them.

“Ahh, Nana, there you are.”    

“F-Father?” Well, he didn’t look angry. In fact, he was smiling away. I responded to him with one, until I saw another man behind him. I’ve never seen this man before, but he seemed faintly familiar. When was it that I saw him before?

“Where were you? I didn’t see you in the gardens.” I shrugged and held up Pride and Prejudice. He chuckled and shook his head while patting my shoulders. “Aigoo, what am I going to do with you…”

“I guess I was too engrossed in the book.” I apologized while he leaded me towards the man. There were many people around, and I kept looking around then back and forth between Father and his friend. I still can’t remember him.

“There is someone I want to introduce you to. This is Lee Soo Bin-ahjusshi, my old friend.” Father gestured towards him. I gave him the normal 90 degree bow and greetings. He looked fairly young to be one of father’s friends. I half-expected all of father’s friends to be older. This man here looked like a veteran actor on dramas.

“Ah, so this is Nana?” he asked while giving me a warm smile. “I don’t think you remember me, do you? You grew up well.”

He knew me? So, we’ve met before? I know that we’ve met before, but where and when is what I want to ask. I couldn’t ask him like that, not with father here like this. The way father’s friend looked at me reminded me of Mother. I don’t know why. Questions were beginning to pop up in my mind.

“Come with me, Nana. Hyung, you too. It’s my turn now. I want to introduce to you my sons.” Soo Bin-ahjusshi continued.

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It wasn’t weird, since they’ve been stalked around often.

“Yah, those girls were too much.” Key complained, still frustrated at how one of them pulled off the cuffs on his shirt as ‘souvenir’.  

“I’m just glad that they’re gone.” Jonghyun commented. Even the man of the group that was most familiar with women ethics spouted such words. Taemin chuckled silently. To him, that’s what you get if you dwindle too much with them.

“So, where’s father?” Onew asked.

“I don’t know. He just told us to gather here a short while before he went off with what I gather should be Min Shin Hyun-sshi.”

“Should be the awkward introductions, I guess.”

“There’s father.” Taemin pointed while shaking his hyungs’ shoulders.                

They began to head towards him. After a while, two more figures emerged. One was a man that no one could deny would be the ‘old friend’ of their parent. The other one, was a young girl that looked around Key’s age?

Whatever her age is, all of them halted their steps and focused on her with awe.

Even in silence, they couldn’t deny that she was different. Different in a good way. Different as in so beautiful. Definitely not the usual you see in school that had either got their face done or put on the amount of make up that can be applied on the crew of the entire musical production. Youngest Taemin was also taken aback slightly. Finally, he could hear his heart beating.

She hadn’t notice them yet, as she was busy talking to their father and her own father. Not in the spoiled kind of young lady way, where they whined about what they want from business trips of their father. But with utmost diplomacy and respect.

Something was stirring in them. But Onew and Minho knew better than the other three.

They were meeting her officially now. They were going to meet her, again.