YeongMi sat on the beach, staring over at Namjoon in the water with Jin.

She quickly looked away before anyone noticed; or so she thought.

Pinpricks of irritated pain broke out on her arm, and she turned to see Jeonghan with a handful of sand.

He quickly threw it to the side with his best innocent face beaming at her.

"I needed your attention."

YeongMi rolled her eyes, tossing sand back at him.

"Why didn't you tap me?"

"Wouldn't want to get dick germs on you," Jeonghan smirked, "allegedly."

YeongMi gave up the topic with an annoyed, amused smile. "Why did you need my attention."

"I needed to stop you before you screamed at Namjoon for attention."

"As if she wasn't already."

"That's true." 

YeongMi glared at Hyjoon, "when did you even get here?"

"I'm hurt. I mean, I basically rode with you the whole way here, don't you remember?"

YeongMi rolled her eyes, "You're so right, I must have forgotten that. Just like I forgot that you and Yoongi have the tension of 2 rabbits that haven't had action in months."

"Really? Because you and Namjoon are the ones sneaking glances at each other every second, quite terribly, might I add."

Wait, he was doing it too?

No, shut up, it's not important.

"Whatever you say. I don't need this." YeongMi stood up and started walked towards the water with an indignant scowl.

"Yeah, run away like a baby. Hey, leave some thirst for the ocean, would you? You're being selfish, hogging it all."

"Fuck off."

YeongMi tried not to think about what they had said.

Now that Jeonghan was around, YeongMi would get double the shit for whatever it was that she had with Namjoon.

But try as she might, she could do nothing but adore Hyjoon and Jeonghan, as incredibly irritating as it was.

She waded out over to her brother, who was standing idly near the drop off into deep water.

She almost made to next to him, but before she could make it to him, she was drenched in the chilled salt water.

Her wet hair coiled around her face, water pouring into her surprised mouth. Her eyes stung from the salt, and she was frozen, not quite believing what had happened.

"Oh, shit! That was meant for Seungkwan, sorry YeongMi!"

Through the strands of hair in her face, YeongMi saw Vernon standing awkwardly, his shoulders winced over and his face pulled into regret.

She took a deep breath and relaxed her arms a little before sending them flying at Vernon, carrying a wide spray of water that soon left him looking like her.

And she laughed.

She laughed hard enough to get salt water up her nose, enough to leave her panting for air, enough to leave her feeling like she had emptied her entire being and filled it with better things, happier things.

"Don't worry about it Vernon. Just work on your aim next time, because you kind of, really fucking suck."

Seungkwan stood by the side, his face completely dry, a pleased grin gracing his lips.

She walked next to him, putting an arm around him and leaning down to rest her head on his shoulder for a moment.

"Seungkwan?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think mom and dad were ever actually in love?"

He froze at the question, and YeongMi couldn't blame him. They were the joking type of siblings; they didn't often get into these serious topics. And with all the skills Seungkwan had of being an older brother, he had no way to respond.

But it didn't matter to YeongMi, she just wanted to talk. She just needed him there so that she could find the strength to say these things.

"It was all strategy. They look good together. But do they actually care about each other?"

"I don't know, YeongMi. They're not the best example of love."

"But that's just it! I have no idea what love is. We grew up without it around us. We didn't get to see it in action. So how are we to know if we fall in love?"

Seungkwan laughed softly. "Love isn't something you can just be in without knowing it. It's deep, it takes hold of you. You feel it."

"But how do you know? Like, really, really know? What if it doesn't actually exist the way it's supposed to? What if it's all about mutual gain, and, just material views. What if it's all image, and there are no real feelings to it?"

"YeongMi, I thought you of all people wouldn't look at our parents as examples. Just because they don't act like they're in love doesn't mean that no one can be in love."

YeongMi sighed hopelessly.

When she glanced around to search for Namjoon, she only grew more upset with herself.

"Why are you asking this, YeongMi?"

Namjoon's eyes glanced up, meeting hers, and she felt the uneasy warmth lingering in her body at the feeling of his eyes on her.

She turned back to her brother quickly, her stomach churning.

"Just, someone asked me what I thought love is. And I realized, I don't know. All I can think of is all the bad, all the fake love. I don't know what it really is, what it's supposed to be."

"Who's asking this, that's making you so upset?"

"Just.... a guy."

"A boyfriend?"

YeongMi coughed, "god no. You know I don't do that, Seungkwan. Relationships, they're not for me."

"Bullshit, you're just scared."

"Whatever, I don't do the whole boyfriend and girlfriend."

"Well maybe you should, sometime. He must be special if you're so upset about what he said, and the fact that you're telling me."

"You know, I do enjoy a little comforting every once in a while, Seungkwan."

"There there, YeongMi." He patted her back softly, and she groaned at his mocking. "I'm sorry, I'm just not used to you confiding in me. I've got to take advantage of it before you go back to your arrogant self."

"Okay, whatever."

Under the water, Seungkwan reached for YeongMi's hand, squeezing it softly before loosely holding it.

YeongMi smiled slightly.

The moment was ruined by a slight tug to her hair; her roots pulled at her scalp, quickly sending pain through her head.

What was worse was the feeling of fabric untying, and YeongMi grabbed her chest just in time for the two strings to fall against her shoulders.

YeongMi was mortified; a second longer and she would have flashed her brother, all his friends, and all of hers.

"Seungkwan, can you tie -"

Soft hands were quickly at her back, brushing her hair over her shoulder before grabbing the strings and tying them back together easily.

After they were tied, the hands remained at her back for a moment, the fingers brushing up her neck.

She shivered and turned around to see Namjoon standing there, a blank look on his face. The only thing giving away any emotion was the pink coating his cheeks and spreading across his nose.

"Thank you...."

He nodded and stepped away, looking to the side.

And the uneasiness was back in her gut. She opted to turn away, instead looking for the reason behind the clothing malfunction.

Soma was standing beside Bora, though she leaned slightly behind her, as if she was scared. Bora just stood there, a slight smirk on her face, though her lips were momentarily pressing downwards, as if she was upset that it hadn't been as disastrous as it was, no doubt, planned to be.

She gave her a tense smile, her eyes narrowing.

"I know you think I'm really hot and everything, but next time just ask to see my boobs. Or even better, just fuck off."

YeongMi turned to her brother, who's face was still frozen in surprise.

"Thanks for the help, you loser."

"Hey! I was just so shocked-"

"Oh yeah, my bad. You were shocked because you were the one who was about to expose your chest to everyone, right?"

"Well, on the bright side, I totally know who you were talking about before."

YeongMi paled. "I don't know what you mean."

"Yeah, it was so obvious. That, and he was staring at you the entire time you were over here with me. And when you were with Jeonghan. And earlier, with Minghao and Jun. And before, with Hoshi and DK. And then, when you were with - "

"Shut up, you're lying."

"Whatever you say, Mi."

YeongMi shook her head insistently, walking back to the beach.

The smile took over her face before she could stop it.

He was looking.