"guys! i got a perfect A+ on my test! like i wished for!" jeno exclaimed excitedly to the group as he approached them. "and it was math. my absolute worst subject."

the five of them walked out of school together, and back to their special spot.

"i can't believe i'm saying this, but at this point, it can't be a coincidence." donghyuck said.

"did you just indirectly call me dumb?"

"okay," renjun started, "i don't know what we're supposed to do now that we know... you know. but we should be responsible."

"ah yes, wishing for a cat, very responsible."

"you're just mad because you wished for money and didn't get it."

nari trailed behind them as they spoke, feeling the same excitement but also worry for her mom. she didn't technically wish her away, but she was gone anyways and nari had no idea where she was.

"nari? you okay?" a voice snapped her out of her thoughts. she looked up and saw jaemin looking back at her while he walked.

"hm? yeah, sorry, just thinking." she replied, grinning lightly. jaemin stepped back so that he was now walking beside her.

"whatcha thinking about?"

"uh... my mom. i don't know, i'm starting to feel guilty for making that wish. she wasn't great but she's still my mom."

"you can wish her back when we get there."

nari nodded, looking at the ground as she walked. they all eventually made it to the place that started it all.

the same as the night before, the group all set down their bags and sat down on the cold ground together.

"before anyone else says anything, nari has a wish to make," jaemin announced, putting his attention on her and gesturing for her to speak.

nari squirmed in her seat slightly as they stared at her intently. "actually, um, i was gonna wish for my mom back. but i decided not to. she was never there for me, and since i met you guys, life is actually bearable so, i'm gonna keep her away for now."

"aw! you actually like us?!" donghyuck said, jokingly holding his chest but actually feeling genuinely happy that she's become comfortable with them.

"i knew you'd eventually enjoy being around us!" jaemin beamed. "life honestly sucks, but at least we have each other."

"i really wish we could just go somewhere, like away. escape this shitty reality. just us." jeno sighed, covering his mouth after realizing what he said. "oh shit. i made a wish."

"hyuck wished for a lot of money and that didn't come true, so i highly doubt we'll wake up in a different reality." renjun shrugged.

"why do you think it was us that had to discover we can make wishes? like, how come not anyone else?" nari asked.

no one really knew what to say, because they didn't know either. it was like the universe picked them out specifically, for whatever reason, maybe because they're inseparable.

"i think because, we're so close, the universe picked us out. we've been stuck like glue since we were really young. we do everything together, we even planned out our futures together so we'd never have to spend too long apart when we were like 10." jaemin joined, grinning at the memories from his childhood.

nari found her self smiling too thinking about the four of them as young boys just having fun together. a part of her envied the brotherly relationship they had because she never had anyone like that growing up.

"nari, what was your childhood like?" jeno asked, becoming curious after jaemin talked about theirs.

nari shrugged mindlessly, "nothing special. i was just a normal kid, i was mainly taking care of myself but it taught me a lot growing up. i came to realize i'm a lot stronger than i thought."

"sorry... i feel like i keep making our conversations really depressing, but it's not like that. i just genuinely have never been able to open up like this before." she said.

jaemin grinned again and slung his arm over her shoulder, pulling her close to him. "good, i'm glad we could help you."

the same as the previous two days, they spent the rest of their time talking mindlessly about anything and everything. as the sun began to set, the air became cooler as the five of them held their arms closer to their bodies to stay warm, but didn't leave until it was pitch black outside.

they found the only light source coming from a makeshift campfire very calming, and didn't end up leaving until way later than expected.

"can we get food? i'm hungry." donghyuck complained, pouting his lip dramatically and rubbing his stomach.

"hell yes."

nari stopped as they approached her house, "you guys go ahead, we're already at my place anyways."

"no way, come with us, pleaseeeee," jaemin insisted, dragging out his words.

the girl took a quick look at her front door and decided she didn't really want to be alone. after all the nights she spent alone, it would be better for her to stop acting like she's better off isolating herself.

"okay, i'll go."

although the sun was nowhere to be found, and the amount of cars that drove by became less and less, they decided it wasn't too late to grab a quick snack somewhere. they found a small convenience store close by and spent whatever cash they had on food and drinks, probably way more than they needed.

they were all practically high on sugar, except nari, who was watching everything unfold in front of her and could hardly say or do anything because she was laughing so hard.

"hey, that was my last sour straw, wasn't it?" renjun said, gripping the empty package as he glared at donghyuck who held the last of his strawberry flavored sour straws.

"maybe..." donghyuck mumbled.

"the stars are pretty," jaemin said all of a sudden, looking up at the sky and admired the bright specks faintly illuminating the sky.

nari laughed at his childlike behavior, but couldn't pull her eyes away from his eyes. the stars gave his orbs a glisten that was so mesmerizing, and she couldn't tell if it was directly from the stars or the fact that he was so effortlessly happy in that moment that his eyes lit up beautifully. either way, she adored it.

jaemin looked down at her, not expecting her to even be looking in his direction, but was surprisingly mistaken.

"what?"

"nothing," nari shook her head, "i just really admire how you find joy in the littlest things possible. it's making me happy seeing all of you so happy."

jaemin grinned widely, his perfect set of teeth showing that eventually turned into a low chuckle. "not getting emotional on me, are we?"

before nari could say a word back, jeno came up next to them with a slight pout forming at his bottom lip, holding up an empty milk carton.

"i drank all of my chocolate milk."

"sorry buddy," jaemin apologized, playfully ruffling his hair as they walked.

"hey guys.." nari announced, grabbing their attention, "i don't really want to be alone tonight. so, if it's not too much to ask for—"

"sleepover!" donghyuck shouted as he cut nari off mid sentence, throwing his arms up with balled fists.

"yes!" jeno exclaimed.

"is that what you were going to say, nari?" renjun asked the girl.

"i was going to ask if i could sleep at someones house, but yeah, a sleepover sounds nice too." she grinned.