—Present life. New Year, year 2017—

He promised me a surprise.

As we left the pub, Jimin had a small car—one that was quite familiar to my eyes—parked and waiting at the front of the pub. "It's my cousin's," he said with a smirk on his face, which I responded with, "I know," with a giggle, recognising the vehicle from the many times she and I had driven around with it.

We drove away into the night, passing through the crowded streets filled with people celebrating with trumpets and colourful hats. The sounds of fireworks had already started to enliven the night, sparks of their lights fell beautifully against the dark surfaces below, painting our skin with faint colours each time there was any being launched up to the sky above.

"Where are we?" I asked him as I stepped out of the car after the short drive. He didn't take me too far, still in the downtown area where the whole festivities were still surrounding us. I looked around and noticed the park ahead of me, crowded with people partying on the open space in the same way as the other people partying on the streets and back at the pub earlier. Yet this crowd had additions of families and young children joining the party.

"Just a place I thought you'd like," he grinned, taking my hand in his so he could guide me to walk along with him. "I hope you don't mind if we take a bit of a walk."

I returned his smile. "No, I don't mind. Just lead the way."

Walking past the outdoor party felt completely different compared to how everything went by back at the pub. Perhaps it was the open air and the loud music that was accompanied by random sounds of trumpets, or the warm welcome we got from everyone who was there—if their constant welcoming smile and occasional cheers of "Happy New Year" did not make it clear enough of the friendly atmosphere, then perhaps the free flow of canned beer being passed around would speak loud enough about it. Or perhaps it was the sweet boy who was holding my hand tightly in his grasp, whose smile never faltered during our walk together while sometimes placing his hand on the small of my back to make sure I was safe from getting bumped into random strangers.

He led the way until we reached the steps heading up the hill. Everyone who was there for the party had scattered around in every part of the spacious park, and even the steps, spreading the spirit of the party equally in every nook and corner. Jimin continued leading me up to the top, until we reached a landing with wooden seats overlooking the city skyline.

"Wow," I mused at the sight in front of me. My eyes were lost completely at the scene below—the lights coming from the streets and buildings, the bright commercial billboards scattered throughout the main roads, the visible colourful groups of crowds moving around on the streets, and the fireworks that were painting the sky above became the perfect addition to it all.

"I've thought about taking you here to see the stars a lot, but I've never had the courage to do it," Jimin spoke to me, sounding a bit bashful, while he was standing right behind me. "So when I thought about spending this night with you, I just—I wanted to take you here. I know you're not that into wild parties and crowds—" his voice trailed, and I looked over to him.

"Thank you," I gave him a smile and a soft kiss on his cheek. "This is so much better."

His lips curled into a relieved smile, as the glint in his eyes warmed into a soft gaze. "I'm glad."

We exchanged our gazes before turning to face forward, watching the wonderful scene ahead of us while talking about trivial things of the upcoming year.

"What's your wish for New Year?" he asked me after we talked briefly about our dreams.

"I don't know," I shrugged. "I used to be someone who looks far ahead and imagine what myself would be in many years to come. But right now, I just want to live in the moment. I don't—" I nibbled on my lips, as I suddenly realised that I had been so caught up with chasing answers and grasping on the twist of fate that was practically controlling my life, and I have never really figured out what it was that I wanted most for myself, aside for those answers that I may never find in the end.

"I don't think I've ever made any plans or wishes for new years, but I think I just want to find something I am passionate about this year." A huge smile was plastered on my face the minute I had let those words come out of me, as I let every word to sink into my mind. Jimin had his own smile which he gave to me as he listened patiently, which I caught on the moment I looked up to him. "What about you? Do you have any new year wishes?"

He leaned closer from behind, wrapping his arms around me while humming softly. The warmth that was engulfing my whole body allowed me to feel comfortable enough to lean my head back to rest on his shoulder. "One of my biggest wish I've had all my life has been fulfilled. I'm just waiting for the others to come true," he said to me softly.

"What are they?"

He released a soft chuckle. "It's a secret."

We stayed there, sitting on one of the benches with our eyes looking far ahead as we kept whispering our thoughts to each other while still in a deep embrace. Until the cheering around us started to sound much louder, before everyone started to chant the countdown at the same time. As the numbers were moving closer to its final count, Jimin released me from his hold and turned my body around.

We locked our gazes, and I could feel myself being enveloped by the familiar feeling of home. "Happy New Year," he whispered, right before he leaned down until his lips met mine. He hesitated at first, while I froze for a moment. The touch of his lips was soft. But for some reason, I could feel something inside of me awakening the moment we kissed. It took me only seconds to recover, and I pulled him close to return the kiss right when he tried to pull himself away.

He still held me close to him after we finally pulled away from the kiss. His hands held my upper arms with his thumbs grazing gently on my skin. "Will you grant me one of my wishes for the new year?" He spoke so softly, letting his forehead resting on mine and his gaze never wandering away.

A soft chuckle escaped my lips. "Of course. How many wishes do you have, exactly?"

He grinned. "Plenty. But right now, there is only one that I really want so badly."

The warmth we were sharing pulled me to lean forward and graze my lips on the corner of his curled smile, allowing a faint blush to appear on his skin. "Tell me," I whispered to him, mirroring his sheepish smile, as he finally said—

"Will you be mine?"

—First life. Hoseok's Apartment, New Year's Eve, year 2026—

Everyone was busy with the preparation for my brother's party. And by everyone, I meant Hoseok, Yoongi and myself, as we were the only three people who were present at his apartment before every guest which he had invited would start coming. Thankfully, he had his staffs, the cleaning girl and the cook that were also present to aid us when we felt overwhelmed with everything.

It was New Year's Eve, and Hoseok had decided to throw his own party. A fancy one at that, where he could invite his colleagues and close friends. No family members were invited, since he knew I was not ready for them yet. But he wanted me to meet everyone he knew close around him so I could adjust to our different lives, now that I was practically in his care.

"How's the food? Is everything here?" I heard Hoseok called out to Yoongi as the latter was in the kitchen, setting up some small plates and counting on glasses. Yoongi only responded with a low grunt of—

"Yeah, they're ready," before continuing to set the food on the kitchen counter.

Hoseok turned to find me in the living room, in the middle of settling down plates of finger food and some light snacks. "Are you okay?" he asked me as he took one plate away from my hand.

"I'm okay. I won't break apart only by doing these things, you know?"

He looked over and gave me a guilty smile. "I'm sorry, I can't help but always be in constant worry," he said while walking over to me, kissing my temple as an apology. "I just got my baby sister back with me. And sometimes, I'm afraid that I'd look away for a second to find you gone again."

I smiled. "I'm not running away again. I promise."

He released a sigh, before looking around his spacious apartment—his fancy penthouse, really, but he hated it the most when I called it that way because the thought of him living so fancy made himself cringe for some reason I could never understand—and once he had made sure that all that was needed to be done was basically finished, he sat down on the sofa to take a quick break.

"And now we wait," he said, his face beaming with a smile as he gestured at me to sit next to him. "Is he coming later?"

I lifted my eyes at him when I realised what he meant. "Hmm? Oh, you mean—"

"Your plus one." He grinned. "You invited him, didn't you?"

I nibbled on my lips, suddenly starting to feel a bit nervous as I remembered that I was about to meet Jimin at my brother's home. "I called him, and he did say something about coming later."

Hoseok suddenly chuckled, which caught me completely by surprise. "What?"

"You're nervous," he mused. "You like him a lot, don't you?"

I looked away, biting my lips when I could no longer control my own thoughts or emotions. "Don't tease me."

"I'm sorry. I just think it's good for you."

"Why is that?" I asked him as I turned to glare at his smug smirk.

"You deserve a new start. This might seem to be a bit too fast, but—if he could give you a positive mindset for your recovery, then you have my full support," he said to me with a soft smile.

I only pouted and avoided his gaze. "He might not think of me that way, so—We're just good friends, that's all."

"We'll see. And this time, I get to say my opinion about him, alright?"

"Whatever you say, big brother."

Approximately two hours later, the party was up and going. The guests were present, food and drinks were being circulated all around and everyone was having such a good time. I felt a bit out of place in the middle of the party, where no one I really knew was there. Hoseok and Yoongi had dragged me here and there, introducing me to everyone who mattered. Yet once the introductory session was over, I was lost on my own, unable to mingle as much as I would like to. Perhaps my skill in adjusting to the crowd had withered away after all.

I was hiding in one corner of the living room, opting to shy away from the groups of people that were conversing to one another with a glass of champagne in my hand and my own thoughts. Previously, I had tried hiding by the kitchen where the food was within reach. But Hoseok had found me there and pulled me back.

"Don't disappear from my sight. I'm always worried when I can't see you," he told me before, leaving me here to watch him and his friends laughing at their inner jokes, yet still keeping my smile on my face to make sure that Hoseok would not see me frowning each time he turned his gaze to find me.

The loneliness was engulfing me and I tried to distract myself by looking out the window to watch the dark sky above, until I felt like being pulled away. I turned to look away from the window, scanning around the crowd. He felt like an invisible magnet, pulling me to him even before I could even see him. And the moment my eyes landed on him, everything seemed to slow down to halt.

He appeared between the guests, calmly walking over to reach me with a pair of soft gazes in his eyes and a warm smile. His skin that was usually looking so pale and lifeless suddenly appeared luminous, that everything surrounding him slowly lost their colours for he became the only one I saw. As he reached for me, now standing in front of me and so close, every noise surrounding us, all the music and the constant chattering, slowly started to dissipate away. And his voice became the only thing I could hear.

"There you are," he said with a smile on his face, the hum that came out of his lips flowed so beautifully like music to my ears.

"You're here," was the only thing I could say to him. The voice that came out of me sounded foreign, yet it was the one thing that pulled my senses back, allowing me to finally feel my hand already being caught in his hold. Our fingers were intertwined to one another before I even realised it.

Jimin's smile widened. "There's nowhere else I want to be but here with you."

The moment I heard his voice and felt his touch, every loneliness, and every bit fear of mine was lifted almost instantly. Everything became a bit too overwhelming that I was close to tears. Yet at the same time, I was able to breathe better and I could feel as if I was being awakened from a deep, long sleep.

There was something that I felt inside me which could never be depicted with words. All I knew then as I tightened my fingers around his was that I felt so safe and so alive.

And I have never felt so sure that everything would be alright.

Even though I had been highly nervous about introducing Jimin to my older brother and his best friend, things went on pretty damn well in the end. It didn't take long before the three of them got along, and our conversation lasted for quite some time. Until Hoseok had to go back to mingle with his guests.

"You don't look like you're enjoying yourself that much," Jimin told me when we were finally alone, still standing in the living room among the unfamiliar guests with our drinks, yet I was practically using him to hide me from curious eyes.

I gave him an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. I just don't normally go to parties and mingle with strangers that much. Maybe I was when I was much younger, but now—"

He reached out to me, brushing his palm on my arm ever so softly. "Is there anywhere we could hide away together? Somewhere you could feel more comfortable at?"

There was a place where I would always go to when I needed some space.

One of the perks of having my brother living in a penthouse on the top floor was that his balcony was located at the top floor, a rooftop outdoor space where he would usually hold his barbecue brunches and also where I would usually go to at night to be alone. So right when he offered me to escape from the festivities, I took his hand and pulled him away to my hiding spot.

The minute I was able to breathe in the night's fresh air, I felt more than relieved.

"Wow," he mused as he stood by the railings. His eyes scanned through the view of the skyline in awe, before he started admiring the blanket of bright lights covering the city below with fireworks hiding the stars above. "So this is your favourite place, huh?"

"Yeah," I chuckled amusedly at how his eyes lighted up. "Whenever I feel like I want to be alone, when I need to have some time on my own and reflect, or to take a break from everything or sometimes vent out, I'd go up here and enjoy the view. I've always loved hiding in high places. And it feels so calm up here, so peaceful, away from the suffocating mess happening below."

"Vent? How do you vent when you're alone up here?"

I gave him a grin. "I scream out loud over the balcony," I told him while laughing at myself, which he thankfully joined with his own amused laughter and added, "Ask me to join you next time."

We settled down on one of the wooden recliners that my brother had set up there for his guests, sharing the seat as we conversed privately with his arms around me so I could snuggle closer to him. It had been quite a while since we managed to find time to share our deepest thoughts, so we decided to bring it up that night as we waited for the clock to strike at midnight.

"What is your biggest regret?"

He hummed with his fingers circling on my back as he tried to think of an answer. "I regret that I was greedy. That I had to let go one dream to reach for the other, only to end up losing everything in the end."

I stared at his face, catching that regretful gaze enveloping his eyes like they always did when he talked about that part of his past. "Did nobody tell you that you could do both? Continue studying in music while you dance?"

He lightly shrugged. "I think some people did try to. But no one ever tried hard enough to make me listen, or perhaps I was too stubborn to talk to. People used to let me know about how stubborn I could be."

"Too bad I wasn't there. I'd probably do anything to force you to listen cause I could be stubborn enough when I need to. Both Taehyung and my brother could vouch for you on that," I told him, leaning back in the seat without looking away from him. The fireworks had started to appear much more vigorously right in the middle of our conversation, and the lights above us made him glow so beautifully. His skin and face appeared so radiant in my eyes that I found it hard to look away. A part of me refused to, too scared that he might disappear if I had turned my eyes away from him. Everything about him seemed ethereal, almost unreal, and I wanted everything to just stay the way they were at that moment.

For the moment to seize completely.

"If only I found you first. If only you appeared there in front of me to stop me from making those rash decisions," he said to me, gnawing his lips as he let his mind trailed back to the past. "You could've saved me."

The look in his eyes was filled with remorse, and I didn't have to see myself to know that they mirrored mine as we exchanged our gaze under the night sky which was being painted by colourful fireworks. The excitement of the party--both inside the apartment and out—felt so distant, when he was the only one I paid close attention to.

"Too bad we missed each other," I mused with a pursed smile while I recalled all the parts in our lives that we had shared before, regretting that we only knew now on how many chances of us to cross path throughout our whole lives. To know that fate had been relentlessly playing its game, making sure that we kept looking at different directions, to anywhere else but towards each other. "Then I'd have to say that it is also my one biggest regret."

"What is it?" he asked me while taking my hand in his. His thumb moved in circles on my knuckles as he waited for me to answer.

"I regret that I didn't find you first."

We kept our eyes on each other after, getting lost in our own exchanged gaze, not even caring about the guests that had run out of the apartment to join us in watching the fireworks. Neither of us could no longer care for the festivities happening around us, only caring on each other's presence as our embraces kept tightening as the night passed. The sound of everyone chanting the countdown seemed so far away, and yet I couldn't look away from him.

"Happy New Year, love," he whispered right when the time struck at midnight, right before we shared our first kiss.

I let myself lost in his warmth, as his kiss made me feel as if I was being cured, like the pieces of my broken heart was moulded back together with him filling each missing piece. I returned his kiss with the same need as his. And even after we pulled away, I only let him held me tighter in his embrace as we both finally decided to watch the beautiful fireworks painting the sky that night.

I let myself lost in the comfort of his presence, completely unaware of anything else surrounding us but him. The gentle thump of his heartbeat that vibrated through my back as he wrapped both his arms around my body and had me resting on his chest, and the soft hum he was making each time I brushed my fingers over his arms while I shared him my wishes for the upcoming year was all that mattered.

I was so lost in my comfort that I could no longer care for the other strangers sharing that space with us.

If only I had, however, I probably would have noticed him also being present there—just the same way I would always find him among the crowds. I would have felt the pair of doe eyes that were watching me from afar as he stood by the glass door separating the outdoor balcony to the private hallway inside.

Although with the whole vibe that was going on, and the many guests crowding the whole penthouse, I was quite sure that no one noticed him being there. No one noticed him clenching his fists on his side as he locked his gaze not at the scenery of the party, but to a certain pair that wouldn't let go of each other no matter how long time has passed.

And nobody noticed him when he turned back around, making a quick stop at my brother's home office to leave a folder containing the unsigned divorce paper on top of the wooden desk, before he then made his way out of the penthouse and disappeared through the night.