~~~ EXO - Moonlight ~~~

Jun's pov

When he saw Sehun standing outside of their house, with the door opened and with his eyes searching the surrounding frantically. He knew something is very wrong. He was supposed to come and hangout in his house this evening, but his heart dropped, when he locked eyes with his best friend. Sehun was panicking.

Sehun never panicked, unless it was about his... sister.

Jun got out of his car as fast has he could, running towards his friend. The light was coming out from the hallway of the house behind him. He could see their parent were around, noticing the car on the driveway.

"Sehun?" Jun stopped before him, demanding eyes on Sehun's slender frame. He had his phone glued to his ear, calling someone. After few seconds of waiting in silence, he put the hand with cell down, looking defeated.

"What is going on?" Jun asked, he refused to let the fear that was spreading in his body, to spill out on the open. He remained calm, waiting for Sehun's response. Sehun looked at him, but it was like he wasn't actually looking at him. His eyes were wide open, and his face was so pale. More than usually. He blinked rapidly few times, focusing his gaze at Jun at last.

"I... Jun... what are you doing here?" Sehun frowned, Jun was now more than sure, something had happened.

"We were supposed to have a playdate, you remember?" Jun reminded him.

"Oh, sorry I forgot, there is something I have to take care of first," Sehun mumbled, his expression looking drained.

"What is it?" Jun demanded an answer.

"It's Jihye...," Sehun let out reculantly. Jun had to get hold of himself, to not freak out. He stayed quiet, waiting for Sehun to tell him everything. "She ran out of the house half an hour ago, after parents told her something... hard to hear," Sehun mumbled.

"What do you mean? What did you tell her?" the panic was audible in his voice, no matter how hard he tried.

"I told you about her adoption and about her illness. We spoke to her about it, and some other things.... She knew about the adoption, but one matter shocked her to the point, she headed out. She asked us to let her leave for now, that she needs to think. But we are worried. Mom and dad are on the phone with the security team from the hospital...," Sehun's way of talking was too confusing and Jun found it hard to understand anything he said.

"Wait... why are they on the phone with the hospital. Did something happen to her?" he almost yelled at Sehun, he didn't notice Jun's outburst and only shook his head in negation.

"No. I didn't tell you one important thing and that is... Ji's mom is still alive and the reason they can't be together is because her mom is very badly mentally ill and closed up in the hospital. When we told Jihye, it looked like she knew some details about it as well, we don't know how. But it doesn't matter now, because she just took off and she left her phone and house keys behind," Sehun finished and Jun was trying to process everything he just heard from him.

He knew there is something not right with the whole situation. He didn't even have to ask, what hospital was the one Sehun talked about, he connected it all and so must had Jihye.  He couldn't not even imagine, how she must have felt at the moment she finally found out the secret behind this whole thing. The calls she was receiving, were from her mother...

He could understand why she freaked out.

The wave of another terror rose within him.

"Why didn't you tell me everything before, Sehun? You should have... she needed heads up, of course she freaked out now!" he could not help himself and yelled at Sehun out of desperation. His heart was pounding in his ears, he could not think, because all he could see in his head was Jihye being alone now, with her thoughts and broken.

Sehun snapped out of his own thoughts, realising Jun was getting angry with him, for no apparent reason, he widened his eyes at him.

"Why would I tell you all that...," Sehun asked confused. Jun frowned, he had no time explaining to her brother, why this all meant so much to him. He could have known all this and prepare her to deal with this. They just threw her into the water now, only hoping she will manage to keep hear head above the surface.

"I will go find her," Jun only snarled before jumping inside his car, reversing from the driveway and setting on the road, he did not hear his friend calling him. The only thing on his mind was the task to find Jihye as soon as possible, to make sure she is safe and sound.

He drove around the city for half an hour, constantly checking his phone, in case Sehun texted him, while he was searching the dark streets of the town.

"Come one, Ji... where are you?" he spoke into the silence of his car ride.

Suddenly he realised, he was looking at the wrong place, he should have known right away, where to find her whereabouts. He made a u turn on the empty road and found his way out of the town on the highway. He sped up down the road, leading him to where he believed she will be.

He stopped the car on almost deserted parking lot.

He got out and went straight to the the edge of it, his eyes searching the endless beach spreading in front of him. He squinted his eyes to focus his sight into the darkness, the only light around was provided by the moon. Jun could see her almost instantly. She sat on the sand in the middle of nothingness, her leg pulled to her chest, feet digging into the sand underneath her. He only saw he back, as she was facing the sparkling surface of the ocean.

The biggest rock fell off his chest. He could breath finally, the moment he saw her, being in one peace and safe. No matter what, no matter how bad she must feel at the moment, he knew where she is and that was all he needed. He waited for few minutes, only watching her sitting there. He knew she will be here. This place, he felt like was her safe place, where she could rest and think, surrounded by the serenity the sea provides you with.

Eventually, he decided to come down on the sand, slowly walking towards her crouched figure. He made sure to not make any sound, not to startle her approaching her from behind. He stopped few feet beside her, he didn't look at her at first, giving her the time to adjust to the idea that he was here with her. He could feel her stare at her but managed to stay untouched by it, gazing in front of him on the the waves softly coming to the shore.

They stayed quiet for few moments, then he could not stay unmoving for any longer, turning his head around to look down at her. She's had her arms wrapped around her knees, her chin resting on those arms. She looked very vulnerable, but he was relieved to discover that she was not crying, at least no anymore. Her eyes were a little puffy, the glint in them visible. Even with her hair messy, with dry tears on her cheeks, she looked beautiful. He balled his hand in fists, he hated to see her... broken. That was the word fitting the situation.

"I kind of knew, that you would find me here," she spoke the first, her eyes diverting at him. She smiled lightly, except the smile didn't reach her eyes at all.

He nodded his head, then he sat down in the sand next to her. Just now her could notice, that she was shivering. Although it was warm at night now, she wasn't feeling the best at the moment. He took off his jumper reflexively and placed it over her shoulders. She mumbled her thanks, pulling the warm fabric closer to her body.

"Everyone is worried about you," he informed her. He'd sent a message to Sehun, before he walked towards her, to makes sure her family knows she is perfectly fine and he will bring her home later.

"They are always worried about me, because I'm a time bomb, waiting to explode," she let out bitterly. She sounded so convinced about her being one big walking problem, inconveniencing everyone around her.

"Take that of your mind, Ji. You are no such a thing," he retorted, she looked over to him, they locked eyes, she didn't take a notice to his words.

"I am sure, you have heard from Sehun, about everything," she stated, she didn't ask. She simply knew.

"Yet, I still mean what I said. I know what you are thinking, and I beg you to stop. None of it is true," he asked her silently. He watched her lips pressing into a thin line.

"You have no idea, what I think, Jun. You may know all the facts, but you have no idea what everything is happening in my head. You can't even imagine, how hard...," her voice cracked, she swiftly wiped tears that escaped her eyes, away.

"You are right, sorry. I can only imagine how bad it all seems at the moment. But don't let the fact, your biological mom...," he didn't quite know what to say about her mother. She and Jihye had the same issue with sleeping, it got pass down on Jihye, because of genetic crap and there was no way around it.

"Exactly, my mother is apparently on the lock down or she was, which is exactly what will happen to me eventually," Jihye spat out. He predicted her worries well. It was his first thought, when he found out, her mom's condition it's no joke, Jihye was getting worse, which was why he butted in so much. Now that he knew there is an actual real cause behind it, it made him uncertain about what it means for Ji. Although she clearly figured that out on her own. The conclusion wasn't anything he wish to hear though.

"It will not happen to you, you are strong person, Ji. You need trust yourself and the people around you, who will no let you end up in any way close to how your mom did," he responded wit calm voice, he was itching to touch her face, that was twisted with mental pain.

"You talk like you don't recall, how bad my situation is," she lifted her eyebrows, searching in his expression. Her amber eyes dove into his, shaking up his whole world. He stayed quiet, only returning her gaze, trying hard to convey some of his tranquillity on her, in order to talk her nonsense out of her head.

"Jun, I know about the incident by the pool. I don't remember it, but I heard you talk about it with Sehun...," she uttered, her eyes boring into his, almost like she was trying to remember what exactly happened that night, she nearly died.

"I acknowledge that it was hard back then, but you are okay and that's what matters," he frowned, when he saw how much she struggles. He won't tell her that he dreams about that night, he has nightmares about scenarios that could have occurred if he didn't wake up on time and didn't see her. It made him sick to just imagine the world without Jihye in it.

"Don't be stupid, Jun. Me being this wreck, put you in danger and that scares me even more than the fact I might end up like my mother," her voice rose as she spoke, her eyes filled with emotions of all sorts. Fear, pain, despair...

"Nothing happened...," he argued, but she shook her head.

"But It could! You could get hurt, while saving me. People suffering with parasomnia are sometimes aggressive, while sleepwalking! There is so much that could have happened, you should get away from me, while you can!" this time she yelled at him. He didn't wait anymore and threw his arms around her, even when struggling, trying to get away from him, he didn't let go. He pulled her towards him, pressing her trembling body to his, borrowing her some his body heat.

He was mumbling sweet nothings into her hair, while stroking her back gently.

"I've told you, that I will not give up on you, no matter what you say," he professed. It took her some time to calm down again, she was breathing rapidly into his chest, her hands on his sides, clutching the fabric of his shirt.

"You are too persistent," she breathed out wearily. He chuckled little, she was not wrong about that. Once he decides what he wants, he becomes very possessive over things that he cared for. In this case a person he cared for very much. She was the first that took charge of his heart. No matter how many times he felt attracted to girl before, nothing could come close to what he felt, when Jihye appeared around him.

He placed peck on the top of her head, releasing her slowly.

"Jihye, listen to me. You will overcome all the obstacles. You just have to tackle them down one by one, don't try to take care of them all at once, you will fail," he took her face in his palms, his thumbs tracing over the soft skin under her eyes. She nodded her head and he let go of her completely.

"Do you want to see your mother?" he asked in low tone, sensing her body next to him tensing.

"I don't know. I'm trying not to think about it. All I know that if I took it all the way, at the hospital, I'm not sure what I would do right there and then, if I met her, not knowing everything like I do. I'm glad my family told me now at least," she replied, her expression nervous.

He figured they both were in the same hospital for the same reason and to find out information about her, but he was now happier than ever, that he ran into her and took her away.

"I can finally ask you, what were you doing in the Hamchun hospital that day?" Jihye gazed at Jun, question marks in her eyes.

"You must have already come to conclusion that I am that guy that always chases after you. You can imagine, that I couldn't just drop that fact about the person who kept calling you. Just like you, the lead took me all the way there, where I thankfully ran into you," her said truthfully. She seemed amazed by his response.

"You have no boundaries," she mumbled, it looked like she wanted to add something more, but stopped herself.

"Anywho, it's kind of relieving to know, it was her who was calling me, but it would be good to know this before, I'd save myself so much hard time," she sighed. She looked more in peace now.

"No matter what, she was probably trying to see, if you are doing fine. You should see her, now that you know everything," he advised her. She nodded her head.

"Junmyeon," she whispered, after they stayed quiet for few minutes, watching the ocean before them. He turned his head around to see soft featured of her face. The view of her, was taking his breath away, more than anything else will ever be able to. He didn't know how to stop himself from feeling this way, now that he was so deep into this.

"Jihye," he let her name roll down his tongue, waiting for whatever she had on her heart.

"Thank you for coming. No matter how much I try not to depend on you all the time, I always kind of end up doing exactly that...," she started, he inhaled to tell her, he wished for nothing but for her to feel alright, while leaning on him but she quickly continued, not giving him the space to speak and argue with her on that matter. "I don't want to do that, even if you say it's fine. I so want to get use to this... to you being around. But you are off to Uni in few weeks...," her voice trailed off.  He knew that he will be gone, he didn't like the thought of being this far from her, but he didn't even consider that. He didn't see the distance between them as an issue, but now he realised, that was how Jihye viewed that.

"Don't think about it now, Ji," he murmured. He didn't want her to feel troubled by this on top of everything.

They stayed on the beach for a little longer, then they finally got up. Their limbs were frail from the long sit, both slightly chilly, from not moving for longer amount of time. They got in the car and slowly drove back to Ji's house. He turned the engine off and glanced at Jihye. She looked little nervous.

"Can I rely on you one last time? My parents will be mad at me, it would be better if you come in with me," she tried to smile at him, and he laughed. They walked towards the door.

"They will be mad, but they will be happy to have you back, mainly. Don't worry," he knocked on the door, before she could respond to that. She didn't have her keys with her, as she ran out of the house empty handed. Jihye's dad opened the door, his tense look loosened a little, when he saw his daughter all in one piece, but his expression didn't ease up entirely.

"I'm sorry," Jihye spoke softly. Mister Oh shook his head, not even trying to pull of the lecturing. Jihye peaked up at Jun gratefully, thinking that it was his presence having this affect on her dad, who would be yelling at her at this point otherwise.

"Come in, both of you. Thank you for bringing her back, Junmyeon," Mr. Oh patted his back as they walked past him. It was early in the morning, but the whole house was awake anyway and not only because of Jihye's disappearance, as they found out the moment, they walked into the kitchen.

Among Sehun and Ji's mom, there was one more person. Woman sitting on the bar stool. She stood up the second, they all walked inside the room, silence stretching longer and longer.

As he realised, who the stranger was, he looked down on Jihye next to him. She probably didn't even know, but she automatically motioned herself closer to him and he was more than keen to be there for her, while she faces her real mother.

~~~

Hello dearies!

We are nearing the end rapidly!

Don't cry, just yet haha

Well I originally planned to write this longer than anything I've written before, but it seems my number is 30... the max of my chapters hah :D

I think that will be just right, I would hate to trying to stretch this longer than it needs to be! I got where I wanted to!

Nonetheless, I would like you to try and guess how will this end?

Let me know about your ideas:P

Remember, no matter how much some points in your life seems to be pointless and unbearable, you can always pull through. I do that everyday :)

until next time

love ya