25th October 2024

Jiyoon lands heavily on the couch.

“Noona, you’re back!” Hakyeon greets cheerfully, looking up from his notes, “work’s been busy?”

“Yeah, it’s been busy. Rushing to make the end of year comebacks, you know, the standard fare every year. Where’s the rest?”

“Sohyun and Hongbin were exceptionally wound up and stressed today, so hyung brought them out to unwind a little. Hyuna’s studying, and I think Taekwoon’s bathing.”

“I finished bathing five minutes ago,” Taekwoon interjects as he stalks into the living room.

“And Taekwoon’s over there, probably now preparing to watch his mobile drama.”

Taekwoon emits a noise of irritation, “Hakyeon keeps teasing me about it even though he also cried watching the first episode.

“Did not!”

“Don’t bother denying it, you and I both know that you did cry watching the first episode. Then you went on to watch all the other episodes,” Taekwoon alleges, his eyes threatening.

“Since I can’t win a physical fight with Taekwoon, let’s just assume that what Taekwoon said was true.”

Taekwoon grabs Hakyeon by the collar, “it’s true. We don’t just assume that what Taekwoon said was true.”

“Anyway, noona, you want to watch with us? To make sure Taekwoon doesn’t blow my head off.”

Jiyoon chuckles, “he won’t. But okay, why not?”

Hakyeon sweeps Taekwoon’s hand off his collar and goes to his room to fetch his laptop.

“Rushing for end of year?” Taekwoon softens and shifts his attention to Jiyoon.

“Yeah. You know the standard. Has everything been okay at home?”

“Don’t worry, things are fine. Hongbin and Sohyun were just sick and tired of studying in general. Don’t worry about us, we know you have busy periods, we know.”

“The laptop has arrived!” Hakyeon announces rather uselessly as he places his laptop on the dining table.

-

The columbarium.

“Sorry. I haven’t come to visit as often as I should have. Many things have happened, and I don’t know if I would be strong enough to come here, now alone, to visit those who once came to visit with me. I used to think how much easier things would be if I could just join all of you, because it’s so painfully lonely here. All the people I love most have left me behind to press on. But perhaps I’m still here because my business here is not finished. Then by my own choice, I find myself with five children, and the last time I checked, I was pretty much still a child. But this forced me to get back up, to stop hiding in the darkness. Things are better now, nowhere near good, but much better. Sometimes I still cry myself to sleep. It’s hard, but I’m finally feel u