“You can’t.”

“Chaeyeon.”

“Please, Jongin. Don't try to stop me.” She begged, eyes flashing with frustration and the tiniest glimpse of moistness, and even though he knew she wanted to work, she had to rest. Upon being discharged, she had immediately thrown herself back into the mess that had put her in the hospital to begin with.

“You will get into the program without putting yourself back in the hospital,” he said firmly, shutting her laptop. He had told Kyungsoo to do something about it, but Kyungsoo had shaken his head, saying that Chaeyeon didn’t listen to him anyway.

“I thought you understood.”

At those words, Jongin frowned, turning back to her. Out of him and Kyungsoo, he thought he was the only one who understood completely. He got it. He really did. That’s why he had given her a book of maps. That’s why he wore that ring with the map compass engraving. That’s why the engraving on the back of the watch face meant so much.

So you never get lost in time.

Paired with the symbol of the map compass engraving, the words made it a prized possession.

He crouched down next to her, staring back into her defiant eyes, “I understand.”

“Then why won’t you let me—”

“You think your sister would want you sacrificing your health for her? This is turning into an obsession.” The words were harsh, but they were what she needed. She