~~~ Memories of Alhambra OST - Star Little Prince~~~

Jihye's POV

Month later

"I can't believe that dork has actually committed to something other than, making our lives a mess," Bora mumbled over her full mouth. She was working on sweet cinnamon bun, sugar coating all around her mouth, but she didn't care. She was moaning with satisfaction.

"Funny enough, he kept it secret for so many months. And we didn't manage to keep anything from him, not even for one week," Jihye snorted out. She finished her chocolate bar a minute ago, waiting for Bora to be done with her guilty pleasure, so they can get up and find Baekhyun.

"Maybe we are bad friends to him then, if we didn't notice anything, while he managed to do what he wanted, along with helping out our sorry asses," Bora retorted. Beaekhyun was one of a kind, he was special in his own way, it made sense that he was also able to do whatever he wanted, while never giving them chance to get a hint to what was happening in his own life.

"Come on, he told us to be there at nine sharp. He will kill us, if we won't do as we were told," Jihye jumped up from her seat, checking the time. They had ten minutes to get few blocks away from the diner they were sitting at. Bora swiftly stuffed the rest of the bun in her mouth and they set on the road to the place, where they were supposed to meet Baekhyun.

"Is this it?" Bora sounded unsure about the choice of the venue. It didn't look that bad, Jihye wanted to say, but she was on the same page with Bora. They still approached old building made of red bricks. The music was dimply coming out of it.

"I swear if he led us here, so he can get rid of us, I will come back to haunt him," Bora pledged herself and Jihye nodded to that. She was up to that. The adrenaline flowed in her bloodstream, making her more awake than she ever was before. Only one person could make her feel this alive. But then she was not in danger with her life, whilst now she had a feeling that she was.

They walked past guy, who checked their IDs before letting them inside.

The inside of the venue were completely different than she would expected it to be. It was no drug lair. It was very nicely designed club. As they walked in, they ended up standing on the balcony, that provided them with view on the downstairs premises, which included spacious dancefloor or standing area, which was right before big enough stage. There was no one on it at the moment, the music coming out of the speakers in the corners of the room.

"Wow," Bora breathed out, both of their bodies relaxing little.

"There you are, right on time. Seeing your terrified expression before you went in, was hilarious by the way," Baekhyun spoke behind them. He flashed bright smile at them, mischief shinning in his dark eyes. He was wearing black skinny pants and loose white plain t-shirt. His brown hair dishevelled in precise stylish way.

"Why on earth you didn't come out to take us in. I almost had a heart attack," Bora scolded him, her cheeks flashed. Even though her crush on Baekhyun was completely eliminated, seeing him looking like this was still too much to handle. Baekhyun just had this affect on people. Handsome son of a bachelor.

"Are you ready?" Jihye changed the topic.

"Yes. I'm ready, we are I mean... just a little nervous. It's the first time you will see us," Baekhyun who was always full of confidence, really looked little uneasy.

"Is Sehun here yet?" Bora asked suddenly, without noticing Baekhyun being a nervous wreck. Her eyes travelled around in search for her brother. Jihye had to push back her urge to roll eyes, because the relationship between Sehun and Bora was driving her nuts. Actually everyone, who happens to be around them.

She once thought, being around the two of them, when they were trying to do all they could to rid world of one another, was bad enough. She had no idea, it can be even worse.

"Sehun is downstairs already, waiting for you guys. I need to go now, see you in a bit," Baekhyun directed them to the side of the balcony, so they can walk down and find her brother, whilst he disappeared.

She and Bora got downstairs, finding Sehun straight away, mainly because he was surrounded by group of three girls, that were almost literally drooling over him. Even over the music playing around, she could hear Bora growling next to her, as she watched over the scene in front of them. Sehun didn't smile, only nodded his head or replied to the questions he was asked from the girls, in very polite way. The moment he looked over where they were, his body straightened, his attention on Bora entirely. He even didn't care about his own sister, tagging along.

"Here comes another night, being the third wheel," Jihye muttered annoyed. Bora frowned at Sehun, like he did something wrong, except being beautiful and attracting girls to him like moths to light.

"Having fun?" Bora gritted through her teeth, when they reached Sehun. He shook his head in negation. She then glared at the girls, who still didn't get the hint, although after the murderous look, they received from Bora, they understood very fast and took their leave.

"Fun had only arrived now," Sehun concluded, smirking at Bora, who could not hold her frown anymore, biting her lip as she tried not to smile in delight over his reply. Jihye on the other hand didn't bother to hold her expression anymore and gagged. No one cared about, how she thought of the two of them flirting so openly in front of her. They were impossible past few weeks.

Just to make things clear, Sehun and Bora were not an item. At least not yet, although they worked hard to show everyone, they are having feelings for one another. When Jihye asks Bora about it, she just shrugs her shoulder, not explaining a thing to her. There is nothing to talk about, she says and then she flirts with Sehun, can't take her eyes of off him and the same went for her brother. He already proclaimed his love for Bora and he was doing all in his power to keep proving her he means everything. He was literally courting her on every step she made. There was not a single moment he would let slip past, to have her swoon for him.

All those years being a player, are now being very useful to him.

So now, instead of them coming at each other in other to kill one another, changed into something a little different.

She didn't know, if it was better how it used to be, or how it is now. She didn't decide on that matter yet. She only knew she would like to kill them both, just like she wished to do so before. Except now, she was alone, not having anyone one her side to help her with this struggle. She shook her head, focusing her eyes on the stage, when the whole room became pitch black, indicating the show is about to start.

Good for her, for another hour, she can focus her attention to something different other her brother trying to get in pants of her best friend.

In following second, she saw prepared stage with drum set and two microphone stands by the edge of the stage. Small person sitting behind the drums, barely visible, but still there and then two figures standing by the mic stands. The sound of electric guitar, bass and drums echoed around the room. Her heartbeat sped up, seeing the lights illuminating, creating spotlight for the figures, revealing Baekhyun holding the guitar and singing into the mic. The other two guys in charge of bass and drums, were his bands mates.

Jihye jumped up at once, followed by everyone else, when the music blasted out of the speakers in exciting way. Seeing Baekhyun like this was like seeing him for the first time. He grinned brightly, when the other guy playing the base sang the second verse to the song, indulging himself into the music.

What Baekhyun was doing the whole time, she was struggling with her life, discovering so many new things and coming to understand why she is the way she is, he was forming the band he wanted to have for very long time. It was known that he had gold in his throat, but no one had an idea, that he was secretly wanting this to happen for such a long time and he worked his butt to achieve that. He found his members, they named the band CBX, with the letters of their names. And they performed around the city, in multiple clubs. She was happy for him, he found something he was passionate about.

Later they met the band members, Chen and Xiumin. Nice guys and they enjoyed the music as much as Baekhyun, leaving her at peace, knowing they all are on the same page.

She went home with Sehun and Bora, after they spent some time with guys. Sehun dropped off Bora at her house, after Bora swiftly planted peck on his cheek and then ran into her house. Sehun didn't stop grinning stupidly, not even after he dropped her off too. He then had to go back to Seoul, where he was on the University. It was nice of him to come down to the hometown, he tried to lie and say he misses his house, parents and his sister. But all he did when he came, was chasing after Bora.

It was weird to be living in the house only with her parents now. But not as weird anymore, she got to spend plenty of time with her parents, who now didn't work as much as they used to. They were doing all they could to help her with her issue and she decided to do the same.

She realised that neglecting the whole situation is not the best way to try and get better.

She spoke to her mother. She didn't think, it will do her any good. She felt horrible after. The following weeks after she had to go through that conversation, were not good. She admitted it, but it made her see through. Her mother was not strong enough to resist her illness. She crumbled, when her husband left her and put herself and her daughter in danger. That was another thing, that she had never recovered from.

She explained everything to Jihye.

She saw herself in her. She saw herself making the same mistakes. He mother didn't try to cure her problem and that then became something much bigger and more uncontrollable. And that drove her away from Jihye.

She didn't know she would be able to have an actual conversation with someone who escaped madhouse, but it was like her mother had something unresolved, that made her come to her senses, before she was taken back to Seoul. Jihye made a promise that she will come and visit her, and she meant it.

After that event, she started to see her therapist again, taking different meds. She was becoming better and better. Everyone was trying to distract her and the moment she accepted the help form others, she could finally proceed in healing herself.

How easy it sounded, it was very slow process. She had good days and then bad days. She also realised, one of the reasons she was having such a terrors, was because she had an memory in her head, that kept repeating itself, inducing the nightmares. Her mom took her once to her actual mother, to the hospital and that experience, when she was so small, got stuck in her brain as the most terrifying one. That caused her most horrible night terrors. And when she cleared that out, she felt weirdly relaxed, knowing that.

Should I come over to watch movie?

She received a message from Bora, bringing her back from her deep thoughts. Jihye shook her head, smiling. Her parents were already in bed, because she came a little late. She replied, that she can come, but she must be quiet.

She waited in the living room, going through the list of movies on the TV. It's been almost half an hour since Bora texted her, she let out breath of frustration. She was slowly falling asleep. Her mind slowly wondered to direction, she didn't wish to go.

She missed him. It has been weeks, since she last saw him, and it was still fresh in her mind. All those weeks he spent doing the internship in Seoul, before the term started. He was texting her, he called even, to check up on her and don't get her wrong, she was more than happy only for that. It was enough, because he was on the move with his own life, just like she was.

Soft knock on the door, stopped her drowsy mind from slipping into the slumber.

She got up, her mind fuzzy from the sleepiness.

"You sure took your time," Jihye let out as she opened the door.

"I know and I'm sorry," soft melodic voice answered her complaint. Her eyes grew wide as she looked at the person standing on her threshold, who was definitely not her best friend. Someone whom she would not expect to be here whatsoever.

"Junmyeon," she exclaimed, shutting her mouth right after, realising she was too loud with her whisper scream.

He was there, standing in his beautiful glory. Just like she remembered, her memory was bad though. She realised, when she finally saw him again. His hair seemed shorter and his eyes brighter than ever.

Without asking for permission, he stepped inside of the house, causing her step away from him as he closed the door behind him. She wanted to inform him about Bora, being on her way here, but she forgot the second he smiled at her. She was not ready for it. She was not ready for him to be here, in the first place. She could not get overt the shock, when she watched him move towards the entrance to the living room, whilst following him. He ended up crashing on the sofa. His eyes travelled over to her, she was standing by the wall.

She got a strong sense of dejavú. It reminded her of the night, he came to her. The night after he noticed her after so many years, of not giving a damn about her.

"You are making me nervous, standing there," she could swear, he said something similar, when he came all those months ago. The little smile, curving his lips, was telling her, that he remembered that too.

"You... you startled me. I didn't think... why are you here?" she stammered. It really was like back then. His eyes sparkled with amusement, as he recalled the same memories like her.

"I like this. It's like reliving the history," he smirked. She shook her head, she couldn't calm her heart, it was pumping in her ears and it was hard to focus, on anything other than that he was here. When the reality finally sank in, she could feel the wave of happiness spread over her body. She should not be feeling this happy seeing one person, but the fact was, she couldn't not feel this way.

"Bora...," she remembered again.

"I texted Bora, to set this up. I wanted to see you. I couldn't stay away any longer," his face became serious. The breath got stuck in her throat. Bora was not coming, that was for sure. Shiver went down her spine, as she watched him get up from his comfortable position on the sofa, walking towards her.

"How is the life in Seoul," she mumbled speedily. She could barely breath, wanting to escape this room, where the man she loved, was with her. Was this dream again? She was reminded of her wild dream, she had when he visited her that night.

"Let's not do this. I didn't come to see you this late at night, to have small talk with you, Ji," tone of his voice slipped to this compelling pitch, that made sure to keep her still on one place, with no choice to run.

"What... what do you want to talk about?" she didn't want to sound this way, but his gaze was caressing her face, she was shaking involuntarily.

"I gave you the time to tackle your struggles. I was waiting for you, I will wait forever, but I had to see you again. I felt like I was going crazy," he whispered towards her, she blinked at him, trying to comprehend his words. She clenched her hands in fists to hold herself from reaching for him, but he didn't restrain himself. Like he never did.

He cupped her first with his hands, tingling sensation sent to her body, from the point where their skin touched.

"I know I'm being selfish again, but when it comes to you, all I want is to have you for myself. I can't live in Seoul, thinking.... Knowing you are not mine," he continued, stepping closer to her, when she didn't do anything, apart of staring at him. "I promised myself, that I will not do the same mistake I did all those years ago,"

She knew what he was talking about.

The night, she found out about her adoption, the night she had the terrible night terror, the night he was the witness to it. The night he didn't come back to her, the night after he'd never looked at her again, until few months ago.

"I don't blame you...," she started, of course, she didn't blame him, how could she. She did ask herself questions of all sorts, for example, why he didn't come, did the sight of her being in that horrific state, too much for him to even spare her a look? After few years, she stopped with that and only fed her crush she developed for him. Only looking at him, when it was safe for her, never being visible, staying around him, but not touch his life in any way, to not disturb him ever again. Until the accident with glass of milk.

"You should blame me, Ji. You never got mad at me, you never came after to demand answers. Did you not wonder, why I didn't come, why I left you there, why I ignored you? You never wanted to yell at me and ask me all those questions?" he squeezed her hands lightly to make sure, she understands his frustrations.

"I understand, you didn't want to have anything to so with freak, like me," she shrugged her shoulders dismissively. Anger flashed in his eyes.

"I've never once thought of you as a freak. All I wanted to do that night was to be there for you," the urgency in his eyes was pressing on her. The emotions being stirred inside of her, she was struggling to breath, gazing up into his eyes.

"Then why? Why did you not come?" she said, at last. After such a long time, she managed to ask him this. She told herself, she doesn't care, whatever the answer is, and it was still what she thought. Jun only showed her his kindness and tender heart. They were young back then, so much has changed since then.

"Because your mom told me to. She told me, that you are having a bad time and you need to be alone. I was told that, you need to be calm and rid of all distractions to be able to function. And I believed it, instead of trusting my own judgement. Even if I didn't come that night, I shouldn't have just shut you down. I shouldn't have just forgot about you and ignored you. I will never forgive myself for doing that to you, when you needed me...," he blurted out, his hands travelled up her arms on her shoulders.

"Jun, you don't need to be there for me all the time, get that out of your head...," she frowned at him.

"Maybe you don't need me, but I need you," he replied in all seriousness.

The honesty radiating  from the way he held her, from the look he was giving her, was killing her. She wanted to put some space between them, thinking it will be better for both of them. She didn't want that anymore, she was tired of fighting this.

"I need you too," she mumbled back at him, it was obvious he didn't expect her to resign so fast. He gaped at her, processing her response, but she didn't wait for him to realise and decided to confirm her words with actions. She snuck her arms around his neck, pulling herself up and kissing him softly. He inhaled in surprise as she brushed her lips against his. She knew then she was where she was supposed to be, when he encircled his arms around her body tightly, returning her kiss passionately.

The feeling of being in peace, while her life was falling on the right tracks, was now entirely complete.

~~~

the end

I think I will not drag this any longer, there is few more things I would write... but only if you want me to - I'd include them in EPILOGUE. I will do so😊💖

So let me know😊

Tbh this story was exhausting to write, and no I don't mean I didn't love writing it, it's more like - it meant a lot to me and many times I felt too overpowered by emotions and the reality of my own struggles - that it was difficult to display everything I wanted into my writing... if that makes any sense 😅

I did research for this sorry and for Jihye's illness - It should all be accurate, including her symptoms and some medical terms. I might have exaggerated some things, but only for the drama 😁🤷‍♀️

I do hope you liked this story! I put a bit of myself in this too!! But I do that always!!

So I'll see you in another sorry maybe??

Love ya