"Welcome back!" San's voice was laced with playful surprise as I stepped into the Bamboo Luau for my second 'first' day. "I see you survived brunch with the ladies unscathed, and that they didn't scare you off."

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Survived? Those three are nothing short of angels," I quipped, eliciting a look of mock horror from San, followed by hearty laughter. "Leilani, Poppy, and Michelle—they're a riot. I'm looking forward to all the mischief we'll get up to as friends."

San's smile was genuine, affirming his words. "They're gems, truly. And I think you'll fit right in with the rest of our motley crew. Today's the day you meet some of the guys. Jimin, Seonghwa, and Mingi usually swing by on Wednesdays when the kitchen is closed after lunch service."

As I tackled a mountain of silverware in need of polishing, San suggested a strategic relocation to the bar so we could multitask and chat. Amid the clinking of polished utensils and glasses, he filled me in on the guys—stories untold by their significant others.

"Jimin's the mastermind behind Serendipity Dance Studios," San shared, diligently wiping glasses to a sparkle. "And both Seonghwa and Mingi are his right-hand men. The three of them are renowned dancers, famous in Honolulu."

"I heard that Seonghwa and Jimin are brothers and were adopted into Yoongi's family?" I ventured, eager to steer the topic away from dancing. That was Chloe's life, not Bonnie's. As much as I missed dancing, it was a direct reminder of the old life I had left behind.

With a steady hand, San reached for another glass. "Yep. Jimin is a couple of years older than Seonghwa. Their world turned upside down when they were just kids—losing their parents in a tragic plane crash when Hwa was about 20 months old. It's no surprise it was hard on the two boys, being orphaned in an instant."

A pang of empathy struck me; such a loss was unimaginable. I didn't know which would be harder—not having memories of your parents or losing them as a teenager.

"Yoongi's mother is the boys' paternal aunt," San continued, his hands moving deftly over the cutlery. "Jimin and Hwa were adopted into the Min family and brought from LA to Hawaii. They may be cousins by blood, but they're brothers in every sense of the word. The bond they share is something special—something rare."

"They sound like a tight-knit family," I remarked, a hint of envy creeping into my voice. "I've seen families like that from afar, but I've never experienced it." Fortunately, Bonnie's backstory had no family, sparing me the challenge of fabricating a warm family history I'd never had.

San's voice softened. "Oh honey," he murmured, his eyes meeting mine with a knowing understanding. "The family we're born into isn't always the one that supports us. Mine certainly didn't. They disowned me when I was caught kissing my best friend, Min-Jun. But he's a story for another day."

Recognising the pain of family rejection myself, I understood that San's openness wasn't a plea for pity but a gesture of solidarity.

"It's ironic, isn't it?" he continued. "It took me leaving Korea and coming to this paradise to find my tribe. And it's the same with the others." I tilted my head, trying to follow his logic. "Apart from Leilani, Mingi, and Yoongi, everyone else moved to Hawaii, and we've all sort of forged our own family."

San paused, his eyes reflecting the twinkling overhead lights. "And now you're part of this chaotic tribe, too." He darted around the bar, picked up one of the parcels of cutlery I'd been wrapping and stood before me. "On behalf of the tribe of misfits," he announced with mock solemnity, "I hereby induct you, Bonnie Sinclair, as a member of our tribe from here forth on."

I couldn't help but giggle. "I half-expected you to say, 'The tribe has spoken,' like they do on Survivor."

"Ah, shit! I knew I was forgetting something," he laughed. "Usually, Yoongi handles these ceremonies since he's the eldest." Our laughter merged, filling the room with a sense of belonging and joy.

⋆⁺₊⋆ 🖤 ⋆⁺₊⋆

"Gentlemen, I'm sorry, but we're closed for the day," I said to the group of four incredibly attractive men who had just walked into the restaurant. Despite their baggy sweatpants and loose-fitting t-shirts, it was clear they were all in peak physical shape. Maybe Hawaii was going to be a great place to start my new life—surrounded by exceptionally hot men. "We'll be open again for breakfast tomorrow morning at 7."

The shortest of the group let out a giggle, a melodic sound that filled the room with warmth. "You must be Bonnie... my Mouse told me all about you," he said, his voice light and playful. I tilted my head, lips pursed, trying to recall anyone with that name I'd recently encountered. The man giggled again, his eyes narrowing into crescents as his puffy cheeks rose. "I'm Jimin Park, Poppy's boyfriend."

Poppy's boyfriend—of course!

As the words left Jimin's lips, a warm flush crept across my cheeks. Poppy had mentioned him, and the pictures she showed me featured him with blonde hair, a stark contrast to the dark locks he sported now. I couldn't help but think they would make beautiful babies—her pale skin and blonde hair blending perfectly with his plush lips, heartwarming smile, and expressive eyes.

He was a little bit shorter than I'd imagined; in one photo, he and Poppy were cuddled up, with her reaching just below his nose. I'd thought he was squatting, but with him before me now, I realised I was wrong in that assumption.

I laughed, perhaps a bit louder than necessary, trying to mask my fluster. "Oh! Jimin, right! Poppy told me a bit about you," I managed to say, hoping my voice didn't reveal the mix of mortification and excitement bubbling inside me. "I didn't connect the dots... Wooyoung mentioned three of you were coming, so seeing four threw me off a bit."

"Sorry, I usually don't tag along, but I had the afternoon free," the tallest of the four said, his smile lighting up the room.

His crewcut emphasised the angles of his face and the strength of his jawline. Deep grey eyes that were almost black sparkled in the light, creating a warm contrast to his powerful, muscular build. His shoulders nearly rivalled Seokjin's in breadth, but it was the bulging biceps that strained against the fabric of his sleeves—far more impressive than my old boss's.

"Sergeant Yunho Jeong at your service," he said, pulling me from my stupor.

"Ah, your Marine's shirt makes sense now. Yeosang has told me a bit about you, especially how you both work out together. I'll pass on joining, though; drill sergeant exercise isn't really my style," I quipped, earning laughter from the group.

"Don't worry, my Yu-Yu is more of a pussycat than a snarling tiger," the brooding brunette chimed in with a grin. "Hi, I'm Mingi Song, Yunho's fiancé. You like?" He caught my gaze on the intricate ink that wound down both of his arms and along the side of his neck. "They're my designs. If you're ever thinking about a tattoo, come to me—I'll do it at mate's rates, so it'll be on the house."

Surprised, I replied, "I had no idea you were a tattoo artist! San mentioned you're a dance teacher."

"I juggle both roles," Mingi said, his broad smile making his small eyes nearly disappear. With a dancer's physique—muscles toned and a narrow waist—he certainly fit the part. "I teach street dance. You know, a lot of people think street dance and hip-hop are two different styles, but hip-hop is actually a form of street dancing."

I nodded, feigning ignorance. Since leaving Chloe and Lola behind, I wanted to avoid any mention of my own dance training, especially in hip-hop. It was a direct link to my past that could invite questions I wasn't ready to answer.

Just then, San's voice boomed as he walked out from behind the bar, "Woo, the guys are here!" He joined us at the hostess counter. "Bonnie, have you met everyone?" I shook my head and turned to the last man in the group. "Bonnie Sinclair, meet Seonghwa Park."

"You're Jimin's brother and Michelle's partner, right?" I asked, eager to show that I had been paying attention.

"Yep, and San's roommate," he replied, his voice a harmonious blend of charm and sincerity. Seonghwa was a captivating mix of beauty and handsomeness, his features simultaneously soft and strong. He stood with a calm confidence that was comforting, yet he remained the quietest of the four, preferring to observe rather than engage in the conversation. From what the girls had told me yesterday, though, Seonghwa was like a big kid, bursting with extroverted energy beneath his tranquil exterior.

Like my half-siblings back in Australia, although Jimin and Seonghwa bore little resemblance to each other, subtle familial traits made it clear they were siblings. They both have soft, youthful faces with well-defined cheekbones and adorable dimples that punctured their chubby cheeks as they smiled at me. I did notice that Seonghwa was a bit taller than Jimin—I'd seen plenty of friends whose younger siblings were taller, though, so that didn't mean much to me. The most striking difference, however, was in their eyes. Jimin's were mono-lidded and smaller, while Seonghwa's were larger with double eyelids.

Damn, that Park family has good genes! I knew they were adopted, but I couldn't help but wonder what their older brother looked like now.

San ushered us toward one of the larger booths before rushing off to the bar to prepare drinks. Moments later, Wooyoung arrived, arms overflowing with a tempting array of dishes. As he headed back to the kitchen for more, I went to join him so I could do my job. To my surprise, he insisted I sit with the guys.

Over the late lunch—and some questionable cocktails courtesy of San—I began to get to know the men better. It was certainly rowdier than the previous day's brunch with the ladies, and I now understood why Yeosang had waited until I was more settled to introduce me to this energetic group. They were hyper and far more extroverted than most people I'd ever encountered.

Amidst the playful chaos, Yunho struck up a conversation. He shared that he was an artillery sergeant stationed at Kaneohe Bay—K-Bay to the locals—after serving three tours. I couldn't fathom how Mingi managed during Yunho's deployments, but it seemed to have only strengthened their bond.

"Mingi always sees me as the courageous one," Yunho told me, his gaze softening as he looked at his fiancé, his eyes glowing with admiration. "He thought I was the stronger one when I was deployed, but the truth is that he's always been my rock. The last deployment was the hardest, especially when I returned injured. I reckon he aged a decade when he heard my unit hit an IED during a routine patrol."

I gasped, taken aback by his revelation. I would never have suspected that if he hadn't told me. Yunho continued, "Luckily, my guys were mostly unscathed, each only sustaining a few cuts and bruises. But as the driver, I bore the brunt of it." He lifted the left leg of his sweatpants, revealing a maze of scars that marred his tanned skin. "Munchkin here jokes that I'm half machine now with all the metal in there," he chuckled.

Mingi leaned in for a kiss, quipping, "Still, he outdances me any day."

"How long have you two been together?" I asked, smiling at how cute they were together.

"Five years," Mingi beamed. "I would have made an honest man out of him sooner, but we've only recently managed to spend more than a few months together at a time."

"And I wanted to be done with all my physical therapy before we walk down the aisle," Yunho said, turning to Mingi. His smile became even brighter as he added, "We need to add Bonnie to the wedding list."

I started to protest, which caught the attention of the rest of the table. "Bonnie, you're ohana now," Seonghwa explained. "Michelle's already fond of you—I think she loves you more than me." Jimin and Wooyoung nodded in agreement, saying their partners had claimed me as one of the girls.

San lifted his glass in a toast. "To ohana!"

The rest of us echoed, "To ohana!"

"And since you're now family," Mingi said in his deep voice, "you have to come to the Labor Day pool party that Yu-Yu and I throw every year."

Jimin clapped his hands excitedly. "Yes! Then you can meet Hwa's and my older brother, Yoongi."

I accepted the invitation with excitement flowing through my veins. As I looked around the table at these six new friends, I silently thanked the universe, God, and Namjoon for bringing me to a city filled with such amazing people. Even though I hadn't been here long, I finally felt like I had what everyone else had...

A family.