As the group of Ye Jin, Jung Kook and his friends headed out of the school gates, a sleek black sedan pulled up to the curb. The timid driver hurried to open the back passenger door. The group stood still, curious as to who was the special visitor. 

Out of the backseat, a middle-aged man with graying hair at the sides emerged fixing his buttoned jacket. He looked around at his surroundings before laying his eyes on Ye Jin. 

She felt his stare, but couldn’t recall who he was. He continued to look at her, smiling mischievously. She recognized that smile immediately. He smiled just like... 

"Father!" Suga called out from behind them.  

Jung Kook glanced from Suga to his father. The father smiled upon seeing his son and motioned for him to enter the car. However, as soon as Suga noticed Ye Jin in the front, he paused.  

"Father, I'll be right there." 

His father nodded and returned to the car. Suga approached Ye Jin, ignoring the surrounding boys. 

"Does he know?" She whispered as soon as Suga was close enough. Her heart beat increased as she waited for his answer. 

Suga sighed and said, "No, I said I wouldn’t mention it." 

Her shoulders slumped, relieved.  

"I'll see you tomorrow." With that, Suga opened the car door and took his seat next to his father. As soon as the car drove off, Tae Hyung turned to her. 

"What was that all about?" He asked. 

Ye Jin shrugged her shoulders, not sure how to explain the situation to them.  

"Let's go," Jung Kook said, leading the group away from her.  

She knew she should've said something, but seeing Jung Kook's disappointed face, she knew that if she even mentioned a sliver of the truth, she would be met with endless questions.  

--- 

Just as Ye Jin her apartment, Nam Joon texted her saying that his mother wanted to have dinner with her that night. Glancing at the screen, she noticed that she didn’t have much time left before dinner, so she hurried to get ready and headed out again. 

Her Aunt's house was the same as she remembered it. Nam Joon's mother was by far, her favorite Aunt as she encouraged her and guided her in her magic experiments.  

As Ye Jin pressed the bell to her Aunt's house, she pressed her hands along her cotton blue dress, wanting to assure her Aunt that she was fine from being exiled. The door opened and Ye Jin heard a gasp. 

She looked up to see her brother's wide eyes. "Noona," he whispered. 

Ye Jin stuttered, "Wh-what are you doing here?" 

"Family dinner," he responded.  

"Ye Jin-ah!" Nam Joon joined in from behind Suk Jin. He pulled Suk Jin aside and ushered Ye Jin inside.  

The moment she entered the house, her blood seemed to drain from her cheeks. She remembered the house as a warm place but, with all the staring eyes and the glares, the house turned ice cold instantaneously.  

Her parents sat at the dinner table and as soon as she entered, her father stood up, ready to argue, while her mother sat silently with eyes wide with shock.  

Ye Jin bowed to each of them, but stood in place, afraid to make a simple move.  

Her Aunt and Uncle emerged from the kitchen and placed the food dishes on the table.  

"Ye Jin-ah! You're finally here!" Her Aunt welcomed. 

"You invited her?" Her father barked across the room. 

"Of course, she's family," her Aunt retorted.  

Nam Joon pusher her slightly, towards the table. He pulled out a chair for her and took his own seat to her right. Ye Jin now sat directly opposite her brother. However, her eyes continued to travel to meet her father's stares.  

"Alright, let's eat," her Aunt instructed as she took her seat next to her husband at the top of the table. Nam Joon and his parents dug in without hesitation. Ye Jin merely sat there, waiting for someone to tell her how to act. 

When Nam Joon finished serving himself, he looked over at her un-moving frame and placed his full plate in front of her, going to serve himself again. 

Ye Jin stared down at the food in front of her. As soon as she took up her chopsticks to touch the food, all hell broke loose. 

"Are you really going to stay right now?!" Her father yelled at her. 

"Now, brother-in-law, is that anyway to speak to your daughter?" Her Aunt intercepted. 

"Daughter? I don’t have a daughter like her." 

A lump was forming in Ye Jin's throat, threatening to overtake her emotions. She continued to look down, fearful to meet her father's attacking eyes. 

"You shouldn’t have such a danger in your house," her father told her Aunt, but she felt his stare on her. "You never know who she'll end up hurting next." 

Suk Jin slammed his spoon on the table and glanced around. "I want her to stay," he said. 

Her father, sensing the challenge, yelled, "A father is supposed to keep his family safe. I don’t know what she is but she belongs nowhere near us." 

With watering eyes, Ye Jin rose to her feet. She bowed to her Aunt and Uncle and then made a beeline for the front door. As soon as she was safely away from the house, she let the tears streak her face. She scolded herself for staying there so long.  

She walked without a destination; she just needed to keep moving before she collapsed for good. 

She made it to a park in another neighborhood and hurried to rest her aching feet. She headed to the swing set and sat down, grasping the cold chains that kept her up.  

"Park Ye Jin?"  

Ye Jin looked up to see the one person she didn’t want to see: Suga.