“So what happened after that?” You asked eagerly, eyes twinkling with curiosity. Peniel and you were seated in a quiet corner of the living room as he told you the story of how he and Seo Yeon first met. After Eun Kwang finally finally came out of the bathroom, you had chased Min Hyuk off to bathe. Just as you were heading out of his room, you had bumped into Peniel who had just come out of his room. Instantly you were reminded of the mysterious identity of the recipient of his frequent texts. You were just about to confront him when he suddenly spoke up. “Mi Young ah~ could I talk to you for a bit?” He asked earnestly, ruffling his damp hair rather absent-mindedly. “Of course oppa”, you said quietly in English, watching a fond smile grow on his face. The both of you walked quietly to a secluded lounge attached to the main living room. Despite the awkward situation that had happened a while ago between the both of you, nothing had changed in the friendship both of you shared. Peniel was the older brother you could confide in about almost anything, and you wanted to be there for him as well. Stealing a sideways glance at him, you noticed the usual dazed expression on his masculine features. Only this time, there was something more... You dared say it was a tinge of sadness that he had been trying to hide. “What’s wrong oppa? You know you can tell me anything right?” You urged him, laying a reassuring hand on his arm. Peniel looked up as he nodded brightly. “I’m sure you’ve realised that I’ve been texting someone recently”, He said sheepishly, unsure of whether to continue. “Let me guess... It’s Seo Yeon-sshi right?” You asked gently, watching his eyes widen in shock. “Howww... how’d you know?” He gasped loudly. You chuckled at his deer-in-the-headlights expression. “Girls have ultra accurate sixth senses you know… Especially when it comes to these sorts of things”, you added with a giggle. Peniel shook his head in defeat and flicked your forehead gently. Following that, he began to narrate to you the story of how he and Seo Yeon had met almost 4 years ago.

“After that day, I really did take her out for ice cream. It was the most wonderful first date I’ve ever experienced. By the end of the first date, I knew she was special”, Peniel recounted, a fond expression painted on his face. “Half a year later, and following many dates, I finally had the courage to ask her out. She agreed, and we spent the next year together. It was probably the happiest time of my life”, He continued softly. You could sense the impending twist of events, confirming your speculations when the expression on his face fell. You paused, letting him continue. “It was around the time of our first anniversary when I got the call from CUBE. Before that, I’d always been a JYP trainee based in Chicago… The offer from CUBE presented a wonderful opportunity, but it came with a large price-leaving for Korea. I tried to keep it from Seo Yeon, while I hesitated to accept the offer because I couldn’t bear to leave my family and her. One week later, she broke up with me… She claimed that she stopped loving me, and that she was in love with someone else. It was as if she had changed overnight. What had happened to the kind, gentle and loving girl that I fell for at first sight. It was as if I never knew her… With nothing I could say to change her mind, I decided to take up the offer, hoping that time away would help me to truly forget her”. Peniel shuddered at the memory of it, his broad forehead crinkled in a heavy frown. “Something must have happened. No one would change so drastically in a matter of weeks”, you reasoned logically. “The next time I saw her after that was the day she suddenly arrived here”, Peniel added. You remembered that fateful day, where her arrival brought you more than a fair share of problems. However, after hearing Peniel’s story, you couldn’t possibly reconcile the two contradicting personalities of the same girl you had met. She must have had a reason for breaking up with him… It was clear that she still had feelings for Peniel oppa. I wonder what happened…

“How did you guys start talking again?” You asked eagerly, wanting to cling on to the bit of hope that the relationship could possibly be saved. “It was all thanks to you, actually. Remember the day you misplaced your bracelet?”

Flashback----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In Peniel’s POV)

“Peniel, you okay?” Eun Kwang hyung asked worriedly, gesturing towards the fully drunk-and-asleep girl in my arms. I managed a slight nod. “You guys head off to bed first, I’ll just carry her to her room”, I whispered carefully. Eun Kwang and Hyun Sik nodded in understanding, their faces worn out with worry. Looking at the worried expressions plastered over their tired faces, I couldn’t help but think back to Mi Young. I really hope Min Hyuk Hyung managed to catch up with her. Where ever you are, please be safe. I said a prayer silently, before turning my attention back to the limp body lying in my arms. I never imagined our next meeting being like this. With a resigned sigh, I walked towards the spare room in our wing, pushing the door open with my foot. Holding my breath, I lowered her frail body gently onto the bed, careful not to wake her up with any sudden movements. Not that she would even crank an eye open-she was probably too drunk. As I pulled the covers of the bed over her body, my gaze fell on her pink face. Lying with her eyes closed and cheeks tainted with rosy swirls, she looked almost angelic. For the first time in a while, I was reminded of the girl I had fallen in love with almost four years ago. Where was she now? I wanted to leave at that instant, my mind flooded with hurtful memories of betrayal. However, I couldn’t just leave her, especially when she looked as vulnerable as she did at that very moment. Ruffling my hair frustratedly, I succumbed to my latter thoughts as I pulled a chair over to the bed. Sitting by her bedside, I continued to stare at her mesmerising features. Memories started to hit me at full force, the very intensity of it paralysing my heart. I knew that deep down, a part of me still loved her, even if I refused to admit it. Suddenly, she shifted in her sleep, snuggling closer to the warm comforts of the thick blankets. I took it as my cue to leave. Interrupting my thoughts, were the unexpected slur of words. “Peniel oppa…. Please… please don’t leave… don’t leave… for…korea”, she whispered in English, her voice rough with desperation. Her drunken pleas left me paralysed. What was she saying? I turned back towards her, noticing her face scrunching up in a sad expression, slight beads of tears wetting the corners of her eyes.  My footsteps brought me back to her bedside as I watched her intently. The pained expression on her face was like a stab to my heart. I never wanted to see her hurting, even in her dreams. With trembling hands, I reached out to gently trace the creases on her forehead. At my warm touch, she relaxed, the frown on her features unfolding in steady rhythms. “Pabo… Why didn’t you tell me how you really felt? Were you trying to make me leave?” I couldn’t help but whisper softly, tears forming at the corners of my own eyes.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“After that night, I confronted her. It took me almost weeks of persuading her before she finally let it slip. She had never loved anyone else. My sister had accidentally revealed to her about my offer, and she knew that I would never leave. But she loved me enough to want the best for me, even if it meant being apart from her. She wanted me to pursue my dreams. That was why she broke up with me, pretending that she had changed to get me to forget her completely”, Peniel ranted quietly, voice gruff with regret. “Wow… Seo Yeon really loves you Peniel.” You admitted with a soft smile, watching his face contort into an unreadable expression. “It’s obvious that she still has feelings for you, and even more obvious that oppa still loves her too. You can’t force love, and you can’t run from it forever. If you really love her, why don’t you go after her”, you urged, looking into Peniel’s eyes. “Do you still love her?” You asked softly when he didn’t answer. Deep down, you already knew the answer. Still, you needed him to admit it, not for your sake, but for his own. “I do... I do Mi young”, he muttered quietly, resolve clear in his eyes.
“That’s all you need. That’s the only reason for you to go after her”, another deep voice reverberated from behind the both of you. You looked up at the boy you loved with all your heart, eyes shining with pure admiration. Peniel glanced up at his older hyung, who placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Thanks Hyung”, Peniel whispered with a touched smile as Min Hyuk hugged him affectionately. You watched the two boys with a proud smile on your face, eyes watering slightly. “And thank you Mi Young”, Peniel added as he reached out a hand to ruffle your hair. “I’m going to head to bed now”, the younger boy said, his usual dazed expression replaced with a clear look of determination. “Don’t forget to call her”, you reminded. “Don’t worry! I will” And with that, Peniel disappeared into the long labyrinth like hallway. As you watched his disappearing figure, you heaved out in a loud sigh. Suddenly, a pair of arms s around your waist, tightening around you firmly and pulling you backwards. A small chuckle escaped your lips when you felt your back colliding with a familiar chest. “I see someone is playing cupid again”, he whispered against your neck, nuzzling his warm face against your shoulders. You shivered slightly, feeling his voice reverberating against your spine. “Peniel oppa really deserves someone else. He deserves to have someone love him too”, you said with a sigh. Min Hyuk rested his chin on your shoulder gently, his fluffy brown hair tickling your right cheek slightly. “Of course he does”, He said with a small smile. You glanced at him from the corner of your eyes, catching a glimpse of his adorable lips that were curved upwards. “Come on, let’s go somewhere”, Min Hyuk suddenly exclaimed as he let go of your waist. You pouted at the reluctant loss of contact. “It’s past one in the morning oppa! Where can we go?” You asked suspiciously, eyes widened in bewilderment. “You’d be surprised. Come on, let’s go”, He said with a cheeky wink before grabbing your hands. Did he just wink... I think my legs just went weak... Slowly, you let him lead you through the vast corridors of the house and up various confusing stairwells. It was really weird how despite living here for the most part of a year, you barely knew your way around the house. “Remember this?” Min Hyuk asked, eyes shining with expectation. Still trying to catch your breath, you studied the familiar looking door with growing interest. It certainly looked familiar. Now, if only you could remember the last time you were here... “Ahhh. Doesn’t this lead to oppa’s favourite place?” You squeaked excitedly, grabbing Min Hyuk’s arm. He chuckled at your cuteness before nodding. With his other arm, he pushed the door open and a cold gust of wind greeted you. The night sky was dotted with shining stars, floating clouds and intriguing constellations. “It feels so good to be here again! I almost forgot about this secret rooftop balcony”, You exclaimed in carefree amazement, running towards the metal banisters of the balcony. “Aish this girl... How could you forget about this place so easily! Don’t you remember what happened that night we were here?” Min Hyuk chided in mock disappointment as he walked to your side. The smile on your face widened at the fond memory, followed by slight pink swirls that graced your cool cheeks. Another unforgiving gust of the night breeze whipped past you, making you shiver involuntarily. “It’s cold”, you whined distractedly. The next thing you remember was a warm cardigan being draped gently across your shoulders. You froze slightly, face flushed in pink as he guided your arms into the sleeves of his jacket. With a tender smile on his handsome face, he zipped up the woollen cardigan gingerly, sweeping your hair behind your shoulders. “I think I just experienced a déjà vu moment”, you whispered shyly. Slowly, your eyelids fluttered close as he leaned forward, planting a chaste kiss on your forehead. “It doesn’t matter if you forget, I’ll always be here to make you remember”, he said with a mischievous smile, pulling you into a back hug. “Oppa... Are you nervous about tomorrow?” You asked meekly, thinking about BTOB’s first live broadcast. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t”, He replied against your ear, his warm breathe tickling your neck... You squirmed in his embrace, making his arms loosen reluctantly. With his arms still wrapped loosely around your torso, you turned around to face him. His eyes widened slightly at your sudden movement, before his eyes shifted shyly. Oppa is so cute when he blushes. Min Hyuk tilted his head slightly, as if questioning why you were staring so intently into his eyes. You pulled your arms out from his embrace and wrapped them around his neck. Sighing into his broad chest, you felt his arms tighten around the small of your back. “Don’t worry oppa, I’m confident that you and the other BTOB oppas will put up a great performance”, you said reassuringly, fingers playing with the soft tufts of his wind-swept hair. “You know that you’re my hero right?” You added softly, cringing at the cheesiness of it all. Regardless, it was true. “And you’re my heroine”, he responded with soft laughter. “Aish oppa, you’re as cheesy as always”, you teased, lifting your head to pout at him. His hands let go of your waist as he reached out to pinch your nose gently. “I may be cheesy but I’m always right”, He said smugly, lips etched in a permanent smile. 

Hi guys! It's me again *beams* ! I really apologize for the late update! I actually starting typing this almost a week ago but didn't manage to upload it because this week was a really busy week hehehe! Leave me your comments kay, I've missed hearing from all of you! Also, a big "HI" to all my new subbies ^^
BTOB is in Japan this week ):
Byes~