"They think you're not worth it? Dude, you could buy them multiple times."

_

Nine years later...

"Y/N-ah, were we really that dorky back then?"

Y/N grimaced as she eyed the five-by-eight photograph her cousin, Yang Lia, was holding. The framed image was from nearly nine years ago and had been sitting on an end table next to a sofa, which was nearly as old but still in fairly good condition. Both eighteen-year-old girls were grinning, each with an arm over the other's shoulder.

 While Lia had the appearance of the cool, popular, athletic, and attractive teenager she'd been back then, Y/N had been a nerdy wallflower. The photo had been taken at the end of her high school year at her old high school, two weeks before she and her parents had moved to Seoul.

At the time, while she'd known she would miss her Aunt Emily, Lia, and the rest of her relatives in the area, Y/N had looked forward to starting over in a new place and making friends. Anything would've been better than her time at Seoul College, being targeted by the mean girls and seeing that bastard Jungkook all the time. God, she hated the memories of those days.

She stared at the photograph, memories flooding back. Lia's confident smile contrasted starkly with her own awkward grin. She remembered how out of place she had felt, constantly worried about fitting in and being accepted.

"Can you believe how far we've come?" Lia said, breaking the silence.

Y/N nodded slowly. "Yeah, it's hard to believe sometimes." She forced a smile, trying to push away the lingering insecurities from those years. "I was such a nerd."

Lia laughed. "Maybe, but you were also the smartest person I knew. And look at you now, all successful and everything."

Y/N appreciated Lia's attempt to cheer her up, but the old feelings of inadequacy still lingered. "Thanks, Lia. I guess we both turned out okay."

She thought back to the day she left Seoul College for good. The relief she had felt was immense. No more bullies, no more cruel jokes, and most importantly, no more Jungkook. She had managed to avoid him during the final exams, keeping her head down and focusing on her studies. The last day of school had been bittersweet; she was happy to leave.

Moving to a new college in Seoul had been a fresh start. She had promised herself that things would be different, that she would be more confident, more outgoing. And for the most part, she had succeeded. But there were still moments, like now, when the past crept up on her.

As she put the photograph back on the table, she sighed. "Those were tough times, but I guess they made us who we are today."

Lia nodded, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Exactly. And look at us now. We've grown so much."

Seoul had been better than Y/N had hoped for. The rest of the summer had flown by with all the unpacking and decorating she and her parents had done at their new house. It took a few weeks to settle into the new college and find a group of friends she fit in with. Through it all, even with thousands of miles between them, her cousin Lia had been there for her. 

They'd often texted, FaceTimed, and called each other, celebrating, commiserating, and supporting one another through different life events. That was why Lia was now helping Y/N sort through her deceased aunt's possessions.

Aunt Emily had been Y/N's father's sister, while Lia was related to Y/N on her mother's side. Despite this, Aunt Emily had treated them both with the same amount of love as they grew up. She'd been widowed at a young age and never remarried or had any children of her own, but everyone close to Emily had been family to her, whether they were blood-related or not. 

Lia had mourned as deeply as Y/N when she heard about Emily's passing two months ago. Since Y/N was the closest heir, most of the estate had been left to her. The rest had been donated to several charities.

As Y/N sorted through a box of old photographs and personal items, she glanced over at Lia.

"I was such a dork back then," Y/N said, her voice tinged with nostalgia.

Lia rolled her eyes, a playful smirk on her face. "You were not a dork—just a late bloomer. I mean, look at you now. You're gorgeous. Hell, most of the people at Aunt Em's wake and funeral who weren't family had no idea who you were."

Y/N chuckled, feeling a mix of sadness and relief. "I guess time really does change things."

"Yeah," Lia agreed, her eyes softening as she looked at Y/N. "You've grown into someone amazing. And even though Aunt Em is gone, I know she'd be proud of you."

Y/N's heart ached a little as she looked around the room filled with Aunt Emily's belongings.

She tried to steady her breath, but her chest felt tight, and she couldn't stop the tears. "I really miss her!" Y/N cried out, her voice breaking. "She's gone forever... why?"

Lia rushed over, wrapping her arms around Y/N in a comforting hug. "Oh, my baby!" Lia whimpered, her own voice trembling.

"She's gone!" Y/N sobbed, clutching Lia tightly. "I can't believe she's really gone. It feels like a nightmare that I can't wake up from."

Lia stroked Y/N's back gently, trying to soothe her.