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"some people seem to fade away but when they are truly gone,
it's like they didn't fade away at all."

— Bob Dylan —

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[ 3RD PERSONS VIEW。]

The twenty-fourth of July is a dreadful day for the Lee family. Today marks the day whereas they confirmed that the body found ragged deep in the groves of Jinhae-gu was finally identified– it belonged to no other than Lee Jaewon, Jeno's younger brother.

Jeno had his head hung low, feeling like a part of him was snatched away. Torn apart as he heard the news boosted out from the television like wildfire, abruptly standing up as he felt like time has stopped for him.

"Jeno–"

"Why... I was with him last week– I thought he was just lost... I thought he'll come back home to my open arms, but no." Jeno rambled, gradually crumbling apart as he clenched his fists.

Donghyuck stood up and wanted to hug the boy but Haruki beat him to it. They were all in Jeno's house; his parents went to the police station after a quick phone call and were welcomed with horrible news.

These teens have been trying to help the Lee family in searching for their missing son, sadly it had ended with this.

Nothing but a dead kid.

Haruki whispered soft assuring words into his ears, drawing circles onto his back. Jeno had his arms wrapped around her upper body whilst the others remained silent, praying for Jaewon's death.

"He was just a kid! How– h-how could they..." Jeno's voice trembled in their ears.

Donghyuck's heart pained, whether it was because Jeno was hurting or the jealousy inside him was flaring at the scene that unfolded in front of them. Averting his gaze away, he could see their other friends all with frowns drawn on their lips.

Jaewon was a kind and friendly little brother that they all adored. Jeno always made sure that he was safe; and like Haruki, Jaewon was someone who warmed his heart and filled the emptiness in his home.

Renjun scrolled through the articles that popped up about Jaewon's confirmed death. Frustration was evident on his face as he pursed his lips, appalled with how they displayed his death.

Lost and was attacked by bears– like anyone would believe that, no, children would believe such nonsense. The 'forest' wasn't even that big, it didn't extend wide as an actual forest would. You could consider it as like a mini-cluster of trees.

There aren't even any bears here in Jinhae. Renjun thought as his eyes skimmed along the lines. Everything the media was spouting right now was absolutely false, maybe the lost part was the only fact.

"Can't believe this, just a month in summer and there has already been like– what? six announced missing children– only to be found dead in a couple of days!" Jaemin exclaimed and crossed his arms, "I didn't intend to spend my summer like this."

A phone ringing caught their attention. Jeno's sobs were quelled and everyone had their eyes locked onto Haruki's pocket. She pulled away from Jeno, fishing out her phone to answer her mom; who was the caller.

"Hello?"

"Haruki! Where are you? Get home now! You know how dangerous it is nowadays. You're making me worry." Haruki flinched a bit as her mom's nagging tone stuck in her mind like superglue.

An apologetic smile plastered on her face as she slowly stood up, "I'm sorry... my mom wants me home now."

Jeno sniffed and stood up as well, running his fingers through her hair, "No, it's okay. Besides, almost curfew, right? Everyone needs to get home before the kidnapper even lays their hands on you guys."

"But Hyung—"

"I'll be fine Jisung. I promise."

Haruki felt her heartache at Jeno's obvious lie. He can't be just fine that quick, he's masking up all his emotions again.

And the day went on. If you could even consider it as a day– it felt like winter was here instead of summer. Jeno curled himself, tangling his legs into his covers as he stared up at his star-filled ceiling. His room was dark, the sound of hard pouring rain was enough as melancholy devoured the boy.

Biting down his bottom lip hard as he suppressed those loud sobs, unfortunately, it progressed into small whimpers until he couldn't hold back any longer.

The boy cried his heart out, nothing but the downpour accompanied him as he did.

A few days passed, it didn't seem like Jeno was getting better. Haruki would visit him if she could, although her rigorous curfew made it impossible to be with him, she still tried.

Days turned into weeks– weeks turned into months, by then, a year has already gone by.

November 2018. Back to present as Jeno stood inside his room. He decided to stay home, instead of going out with his friends. After Haruki's passing, it just seemed like nothing was normal. He hated how he had to accept the reality and that she was gone. He was angry at himself for breaking the promise and even hurting his long time friends.

He was disgusted. Jeno wasn't supposed to act like this but his emotions carried him far.

He thought about what Haruka had said. Jeno heard rumors about her — those sayings that she didn't exist nor is she alive at all — complete nonsense! Was what he just thought.

From what Mark and Jaemin kept updating him, he wasn't surprised anymore. Haruka... a possible copycat ghost? To him, it wasn't true. Yes, there were shreds of 'evidence' to justify her nonexistence, but like what the old town myth people believed– impostors can alter memories and pictures.

If Haruka was a true imitator then she would've done that by now– not by mouth, but the use of her altering abilities. However, she didn't. And if Haruka is Haruki's copycat, then Haruka should've been convincing them that she was Haruki.

Jeno sighed deeply, raking his fingers through his damp hair as he had just taken a quick shower. His eyes trailed down to his charred finger joints– how ragged and bruised they already looked from his seemingly endless punches.

Making his way to his desk to treat his wounds. "Do you really forgive me like what your sister said, Haruki?" he mumbled, glancing at a picture frame that held a picture of Haruki and him.

"Of course Jeno!" eyes widening, he looked back, seeing a brighter picture. His room was colorful, with no more sense of melancholy as Haruki sat on his bed.

He remembered this.

It was after their third date. He could visualize it so well. Their joyous laughter and sweet smiles, it was as if nothing bad was about to happen.

Averting his gaze back onto his desk, everything went dark.

"Haruki... I keep telling people to stop making me remember of you... because it hurts. It hurts so much."

"But then again, if I forgot about you, then that would've hurt more."

"Thank you for being a part of my life– showing me how beautiful it is to live despite all the struggles we may face," he chuckled and looked up to see the luminous stars that glowed above him.

"Why are we putting glow in the dark stars on my bedroom ceiling again?" Jeno remembered asking Jaewon as he continued to stick the plastic-made stars on his ceiling.

"Hyung! I dream to become an astronaut remember?" little Jaewon told his brother as he passed the stars onto Jeno's palm. "Once I become an astronaut– I won't be able to see you often because I'll be in space!"

Jeno chuckled, shaking his head as he gleamed down at his younger brother, "Mhm, and what do these stars have to do with that?"

"So that if you ever feel lonely because I'm not around, just look up and you'll see the stars!" Jaewon exclaimed before closing Jeno's lights, the glowing stars illuminated from the ceiling.

Jeno smiled as Jaewon pointed up, "They will remember you of me! I'll be up there someday, right Hyung?"

"Right... you are up there– resting peacefully as you should, Jaewon-ah." Jeno murmured, his memory of Jaewon lingering in his mind as he continued to stare up his decorated ceiling.

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poor jaewon :((