❝The Unknown Farewell❞

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March, 2013. 

3:11 pm

The month of March had begun with its new arrival season; the spring had arrived carrying the warm weather in the day followed by the chilly nights yet it was being loved, as the season also brought a beautiful scenery along; the trees alongside the roads of the Seoul were growing the colorful leaves and the most loving of them were the cherry blossoms. 

The kind of petals that were adored for its soft pink and white color; behind the various representations of it. 

Like a new beginning; and for them, it was going to be. 

Among the several cars being driven on the clean road under the shining warm sun with the average speed as the traffic police was standing by every stop doing their respective work where, in the middle of the driving cars, a red Hyundai car was being driven but, at a less than the average speed. 

"At this point, even the bicycle will surpass us." 

Jinsoo commented with a roll of his eyes as he looked beside him at the driving seat to find Yoojung's tensed face; her both hands on the steering wheel in a tightened grip with her eyes widely focused on the road ahead of her where Jinsoo couldn't help but smile as it was the first time Yoojung was being a nervous wreck and at the moment he just wanted to . 

The squad of four were in the car; the car that belonged to Minho which they had taken to have a little drive around since they had gotten their driving license after a month of practice from the very Woo Minho, after their graduation which happened a month ago yet the man whose car was being driven in a pit of hell wasn't even aware of it. 

The idea was Yoojung's who wanted to make her weak driving skill, a strong one with Jinsoo beside her for a good instruction as out of the squad, Jinsoo was quick to learn the driving, and was good at it. 

Their graduation surely had given them a break to enjoy; to enter in their respective universities as Inha and Yoojung happened to get into the same, SNU university leaving Jinsoo to enter in Yonsei, and Sehun got into the KNSU after through his competition. 

They were one step closer to their dreams but dreams always come with a hard path to continue and for the pair, it was going to be. 

"Woah, even the bird flew past us." He giggled, and earned a glare from her only to be looked ahead by his hand on her cheek. "I wanna live." 

"You're distracting her, you airhead." 

He heard the scoffing remark from the girl whom he calls goofball, as he looked at her through the rear view mirror with a boring gaze. "That's why I asked her to let me drive." 

"So you could show off?" He heard his best friend seated beside Inha with a done look, and Jinsoo gave him a dumbfounded look. "You should be on my side, you punk!" 

"He's stating facts!" 

"You're taking his side?!" 

"I'm just stating facts!" 

"Shut the hell up for a moment!" 

Yoojung shouted, startling the trio as the silence greeted her; a deep sigh left her lips. "What should I do now?" 

Jinsoo frowned. "What?" 

"I want to stop the car," Yoojung gulped. "But I'm too nervous to press the brake!"

"What?!" 

The trio yelled together as Inha was quick to lean forward behind Yoojung. "It's okay, just take a deep breath, and stop it by the pathway." 

"Yoojung, I'm right here, so it's okay." 

Jinsoo patted her hand on the steering wheel, and the next second, Yoojung took a deep breath with a nod but Sehun was quick to hold the handle tightly as if his gut feeling was telling him that this won't end smoothly as he quickly took a hold of Inha's arm who slightly flinched; her widened eyes meeting his surprised ones to immediately gestured her to do the same thing as Inha followed suit. 

However, he couldn't shoo away the feeling of how Inha has been on a certain guard around herself, and from him. 

After that new year's day; after his declaration to be said. 

"AHHHH!" 

The next moment, the trio had to scream out loud as the car was speeding up rather than being stopped by the pathway as Yoojung had accidentally pressed the speed which led the car to drive straight in a speedy wreck while the trio was holding the handle tightly as if depending on their lives while Yoojung continued to scream with her hands working on the steering wheel swiftly yet in a messy way. 

"We're going to die!" 

"Do something!" 

"I'm scared!" 

"Press the damn brake, Yoojung!" 

Jinsoo shouted loudly and the next second, Yoojung's foot worked on its own as the car stopped by the side with a screech. 

A moment of silence followed and no one spoke. 

"Are we alive?" 

Sehun uttered, in a questioning frown; he leaned back from his forwarded position to immediately tilt his head towards Inha, as if his only concern was her at the moment while his arm was in front of her which she had linked with hers right now where her other hand was holding the handle. "Inha, you okay?" 

Her head raised with a shocked face. "Are we in heaven?" 

"I should have believed that horoscope I read this morning that this day might be my last day." Jinsoo mumbled, his eyes blinking a couple of times with a baffled state; too shocked to look at anyone or hear anyone until Yoojung leaned back with a rapid beating heart; a wave of relief rushing into her. "Oh, we're alive!" 

"Is everyone okay?" She looked around towards everyone with a worried yet apologetic expression. "I'm so sorry, guys!" 

"It's okay, everyone gets nervous." Inha reached out; her hold from the handle detached to pat Yoojung's shoulder through the seat as if reassuring her but her heart was still beating fast from the almost collision yet deep down there was a certain relief; a feeling of safety through the hold she had been holding onto; his arm to be said which he had extended at the moment when she was in need to feel safe. 

And he made her feel safe. 

Her eyes immediately turned to look at him in a concerned glint gaze only to meet his eyes; the exact emotion in his eyes and her heart warmed, but a wave of unpleasant pierce rushed behind like an unpleasant sensation; a sensation that she's been having these days, a sensation which she was trying hard to surpass but wasn't able to, not yet, or maybe not ever. 

His eyes seem to be glinting with the same emotions as hers, yet she couldn't raise her hopes high right now; not right now. 

The next moment, Inha's grip loosened around his arm with a sinking unpleasant heart to avert her gaze away from his stare; his stare was doing something to her heart, something she couldn't resist but she had to, because this was her choice. 

However, she wasn't able to notice how he had felt the same way. 

"Yoojung, switch with me." 

Jinsoo said, almost unbuckling his seatbelt until Sehun's voice stopped him; in fact, had him looking through the windscreen with a thought of doom. 

"We have a problem." 

The traffic cop was walking just in their direction. 

Oh, Minho was so going to kill them. 

______________________________________________

5:05 pm

Murmurs. Shouts. Phone rings. Officers. 

The entire police station was filled with the very things mentioned above; some people were murmuring amongst themselves of some news which was being aired on the small television on the wall, then some officers were shouting on some people who were seated across of them while being questioned, with the phone rings being ringing on continuously for some not so important reason. 

Then there were the squad of four troublemakers, sitting on the long bench beside the front door of the station; looking around with the amazement in their eyes as the sight surely was scary to be here but so interesting for the unknowns. 

Apparently, after being questioned for driving like an abnormal person in an abnormal speed, Yoojung was asked to have a driving license but the latter had left it at home considering the characters of the two females being toppers of the classroom, both of them weren't appeared to be smart enough for the officers as the two males had to talk it out with them; fortunately having their license with them but being the beginners, they were asked to be at the police station until the guardian arrives. 

Basically, Woo Minho who was on his way to beat their troublesome selves. 

"Woah, we're really in a police station." 

Jinsoo chuckled, elbowing his arm on the armchair as he fisted his chin to look around more and Yoojung, who was beside him had given him a look. "Why are you so happy about it?" 

He let out an excited giggle. "That was on my wishlist." 

"You sure have strange things on your wishlist." 

Sehun shook his head, not really surprised by his best friend's behavior before his eyes glanced at Inha; for some reasons his eyes would always stop at her, without any thoughts, without having anything to say but just to look at her, and this time he had to say as this girl has been looking at a particular direction which had him follow her gaze to find an officer who looked young and was having a heart full of his food; black bean noodles. 

Was she having a crush on him? That was merely a question to himself but it surely didn't leave a pleasant feeling for him. 

His lips pressed together; puffing out his cheeks as he slightly leaned closer to her ear. "What are you staring at?" 

Inha flinched, behind a subtle gasp from as she tilted her head towards him to find him close; too close to have her breath hitch as she leaned back slightly with a flushed state to meet his eyes; staring intently. 

"What did you say?" 

"You're staring too much." 

"Because it looks delicious." She stated, and his eyes widened, leaning back as he gasped. "He looks delicious to you?!" 

"What?!" 

"Who looks delicious to you, Inha?!" 

"Who's that unlucky man?!" 

Jinsoo whisper-yelled, looking around and Inha rolled her eyes. "You guys are so annoying." 

"Does he?" Sehun questioned again, his tone beaming with annoyance and Inha stared at him confused for a moment at his behavior to sigh. "I was talking about black bean noodles." 

"Black bean-" He frowned, and realized as his frown eased into confusion. "You were staring at black bean noodles?"

Inha nodded, her eyes glinting in a shine toward it. "Isn't it looking so delicious?" 

Sehun stared at her for a moment to let out a chuckle to himself as he looked away with a dumbfounded state where Inha's heart flutter at his action; his soft laughter to be said, as a smile graced her lips unknowingly until he met her eyes again and his heart skip a beat at her smile; her always radiating smile. 

"Are you hungry?" He asked, and Inha shook her head. "I wasn't but the way he's eating is making me hungry." 

"I can agree." Jinsoo nodded, his eyes gazing at the almost empty plate until the officer looked at him only for the squad to look away yet Jinsoo looked away so obviously that the trio couldn't help but laugh as Yoojung slapped his arm. "What was that?" 

"Mukbang." Inha laughed, and earned a laugh from the trio. 

Yeah, they were on the verge of getting a good punishment yet it didn't look like it. 

"You sure are happy at this place." 

The four of them turned to the familiar voice to find Minho standing by their side; his hands each side of his hips with a stern look toward them as the four of them stared at him with a frightened look, not because of the punishment they were going to get, but the scolding from Minho for taking his precious car. 

The next thing they found themselves trailing behind Minho who was awfully silent unlike him scolding the world out of them. 

As if they had predicted the worst of it, he was quick to turn around with a deadliest glare; the squad had to look away from him as he stood still, fuming in anger, "You guys," He paused, with a deep sigh, calming himself to scoff as he looked up. "Leave it, not like you're going to listen to me but be glad that officer was my high school friend or you were definitely going to get a punishment, you idiots." 

"I'm sorry, brother." Yoojung had her lips in a downward curve; the bangs from her forehead brushing through the breeze around as she ran a hand through her hair softly. "I wanted to practice more so I asked Jinsoo to take your car." 

"No, I did it on my own." Jinsoo spoke, pinching the bridge of his nose as he fixed his denim jacket and Inha shook her head. "Yoojung wanted to drive on the ground but it was my idea to go for the road." 

"I asked them since I wanted to spend some time with them together before I leave." 

The voice affirmed, and everyone turned to Sehun standing with a serious expression; his hands shoved in his pockets as he looked down for a moment to lock eyes with Inha who was already looking at him; her eyes held an emotion that he couldn't understand yet it was like he could feel it. 

It was piercingly unpleasant. 

"Alright," Minho nodded with a chuckle to himself; more like scoff. "Keep it up with the emotional blackmail." 

"This is the last time I am getting you guys out of the trouble today and I'm giving you a punishment by not taking you with me in the car," He trailed off, a sigh of dejection left his lips, "My car," He paused, to give them a glare. "And this was the last time you took my car." 

He walked away toward it not before giving them a little wave to go towards the bus stop as the four of them followed suit yet a smile beamed on their faces knowing about Minho's warning of his last time which would never be last but this moment, the very living moment of theirs might be the last. 

And it was a heart sinking feeling. 

Minho was still standing there watching their backs walking away together; it was a sight to watch, to stare; a kind of sight to want to capture in your camera to look at it later with a heartwarming feeling and this kind of feeling will surely be felt. 

Not right now but someday it will. 

"Oh, the bus is leaving!" 

Yoojung shouted, and the next moment she was already running towards it as right now they didn't have enough money to pay for the cab; the bus was the only ride which would take them back home but somehow, it was here. 

Among themselves; with them. 

Jinsoo was quick to follow her with the usual late duos behind him as Yoojung had made the bus halt through her continuous slams on it until the driver was annoyed enough as she quickly got on with a heavy breath but her smile was screaming something else; joy. 

Jinsoo immediately followed suit, almost crashing himself against the bus through his clumsiness to look at the duo still catching up with him; he smiled getting inside where, this time, Inha was ahead of Sehun as she looked over her shoulder to instantly hold out her hand towards him; for him. 

He had slipped his palm against her in a firm yet warm hold; the hold which might be the last to hold, the last to warm. 

The four of them were quick to settle themselves on the last seat of bus like usual; their usual and as they were taking a moment to themselves from their passionate run to look at each other with a blank stare; a stare that seemed to be recalling about everything that happened earlier; today, and the next moment they found themselves having a heart full of laughter. 

Their laughter beaming through the whole bus; the kind of sound that was becoming a solely wholesome memory of theirs. 

And a hold of the pair of hands together; like a feeling of them. 

_____________________________________

7:43 pm

The nightlife in Seoul will always be bright; the kind of bright like the city lights that Inha likes to stare; the kind of bright where Sehun likes to have a bike ride; the kind of bright that brush like a wave of breeze that Yoojung likes to feel; and the kind of bright that reminds of the fresh air that Jinsoo likes. 

Their kind of bright. 

Their steps were pacing in a neutral way; no kind of rush as if rushing any moment of theirs might ruin the moment they were having it right now; living it right now before their steps slowed down at the sight of claw machine where a kid was trying to get a plushie for himself but was not able to. 

Yoojung was quick to approach the kid with a smile; she adored kids. "Can we help you with this?" 

The kid frowned with a disagreeable face. "I can do it, auntie." 

Jinsoo and Sehun had cupped their mouths before their loud snicker could have shove them down the road by Yoojung who glared at them where Inha immediately towered over the kid's small figure with a frown; her hands either side of her waist. "Look at this tiny peanut calling a young girl like that." 

He mirrored Inha's posture with his head high toward her. "I'm not a tiny peanut." 

The reason Inha doesn't get along with kids. 

"This little-" 

Inha was shoved back by Yoojung who smiled at the kid. "Of course, you are not tiny but we just want to help!" 

The kid peeked through the both girls to smile back at Yoojung. "Okay, Noona!" 

Inha rolled her eyes as Yoojung began to play the game leaving the kid to stick out his tongue toward Inha whose jaw dropped to imitate his actions back to him and the different kinds of making faces to each other continued with the boys behind them staring at them with a done look; it was like watching two kids fighting for a candy. 

This continued yet Yoojung wasn't able to get one toy for him until Inha had switched over with a smug look toward the kid who pouted in return but she also wasn't able to do it until the position switched to Jinsoo who was getting frustrated with the girls yet he was the one struggling to get one toy out of it. 

"Yah, you have to catch it firmly to take it out!" 

Sehun yelled, running his hand through his hair back, and Jinsoo had his lips pressed as he worked with the controller as he had taken the toy which was almost through the basket until it fell back over leaving the four of them to shout loudly in frustration. 

This time, Sehun had switched over with Jinsoo; his eyes focused, and competitive as the toy was being hard to take, and kept losing it countless times yet they stood still, in fact, Sehun had them standing still as the boy wasn't leaving any chance of leaving; the competitiveness of his had been seen a lot yet the trio had to get used to it. 

And it happened; the plushie was finally in the basket. 

"Yes!" 

The four of them had to scream out loud while jumping in a group hug with their bright smiles beaming on their faces until the plushie was in the hands of Yoojung but the kid was nowhere to be found; he left. 

"Guess, I'll keep it." 

Yoojung hugged it to her chest with a smile as they walked down the path ahead; walking past the shops, and restaurants as they ended up walking into their neighborhood to find the outdoor basketball area being filled with some youngsters playing among themselves. 

"Shall we have a game?" Jinsoo took off his jacket with a smile; he missed playing basketball, and Sehun had to agree as the next minute he had taken off his leather jacket revealing his plain white shirt to walk toward the court. "Let's go!" 

Inha and Yoojung stared at them running towards the direction but the way they were running like kids had them giggle together to follow them along as they also included themselves in the game. 

The youngsters who were strangers a moment before were playing with them as if they had known them for a long time; making a goal with huge hugging smiles, shouting in a concern for each of them while baffling at the girls' performance; they were beating them equally. 

Yoojung had her hair in a high ponytail as she was bouncing the ball to immediately find Jinsoo in front of her blocking her; his hair upwards in a damp mess yet his eyes seemed focused and determined; the boy was such a passionate lover of basketball. 

The next moment, she gave him a smug grin to throw the ball towards Inha who had caught it with a huff; her legs pacing to the basket with the bounce of the ball until she found a figure blocking her way; Sehun was keeping his pace with her as his eyes focused on her attentiveness which somehow had him captivated at how her shoulder length hair were in a bun yet a few strands of hair were brushing her face; he had to look away before she could have caught him doing something strange. 

Inha wasn't oblivious to his stare; it was enough to leave her in a flustered state, but she was quick to find her way to the basket until the ball accidentally slipped through her hand accidentally which, now, was being thrown into the basket by Sehun who ran his hand through his damp hair