- • -

Having a talk with Mr.Jonghoon literally gave me tons of emotions altogether since yesterday.

Shock. Amazement. Pain.

"...and guilt."

Somehow, it made me regret that I somehow thought- or assumed, that the duke, is kind of a heartless person. The one who usually just focus on his duties more and just don't care about his kids and only care because they'll be the possible heirs to inherit his place. But boy, was I so wrong.

Anyways, while you were in thought, you were already right in front of the door to your house. Feeling relaxed from the atmosphere of home, you took out your spare key to unlock the door but before doing so, you noticed something on the ground, just half-slid under the door.

You picked it up, now fully knowing that it was a small folded piece of paper. After unfolding it, you then saw a message.

Meet me again at the garden?

You then tensed for a bit. Somehow, it reminded you that time when he once invited- or demanded you, to go once.

(A/N: *cough* Chapter 9 *cough*)

At some point, you began to smile from all the memories you've had with the two them since the beginning.

All the fights, the arguments, the good, bad, and funny moments...and the bonds you had together.

You began to let out a small single tear from the corner of your eye as you then red the corner of the note that red:

-JJK

-

In the late afternoon, after asking permission from your parents, to which they agreed, you proceeded your way to the spot where you and Jungkook met once; at their garden.

You actually had a hard time deciding whether you should go, or if you can get through it after all the dramas you've been before. But finally, you've decided to finish things up as soon as possible.

Relaxingly strolling at the sidewalk, you passed by the park. Its nature and cleanliness still intact along with its refreshing scent.

When you were around your early teens, you used to bring your little sister, Taeyeon around, mostly at the playground area.

Even if you were already out of the kid's age, you still played with your sister as if the both of you were of the same age as of little kids. In short, you're still a kid at heart even until now.

You were about to continue proceeding on to your destination, until it made you stop your tracks once you spotted someone.

"Is that..."

Since you have a ton of time to spare, you decided to enter the park towards to the person you're curious about since you planned to meet Jungkook later on in the evening.

It's quite weird that there aren't a lot of people around, you thought, but you continued on walking. As you got closer to the person with his back facing you, you finally recognized him.

"Miss me already?"

A voice that deemed its sweetness and cheerful aura showing all over him made your heart beat even more faster as you are now really sure who it was.

"Hobie, it really is you!" You said happily along with an excited mood as you quickly hugged him tight.

"Glad that you still remember me," He replied, letting out his cute sunny smile that you've always miss.

"So, why are you here?" You started to query him already, curious.

"That...we have to talk about it privately."

With his response, he signalled you to follow him, in which you did in return, now the both of you walking beside each other.

...

"So what is it you want to tell me about?" You asked as the both of you took a seat at a nearby bench, with a sight of less people that are far away at least to not hear your conversation.

"Well..."

-

"You've already done your part, Jung Hoseok."

"W-What?"

"Since those guys aren't going to make a move, or at least for a decent amount of time, you're done guarding and checking on her."

"But hold on-"

"This is an order, Hoseok. We still have other important things to worry about."

...

"Y-Yes, sir. Will do."

"You have a chance to say goodbye to her..."

"Or who you called your 3rd great granddaughter or something."

-

"Oh, right..." You intervened as you then remembered something, which made him a little surprised by your sudden action.

"When I fell down the stairs. It was you, wasn't it?" You asked, as you looked at him quite anxiously.

-

"I'll take care of it from here," He said as he quickly yet gently lift you up.

You slowly opened your eyes for a bit, trying to see who's carrying you, yet your vision is blurry.

Is it...

Before you could say anything, you then fainted, forgetting about it...

-

"Yes, I did" He answered as the look on his face is now worried.

"That's what I want to talk to you about," He added as he then looked at you, the serious now becoming serious.

"I-It's nothing really. It's just the clumsy old me being careless.." You answered as you let out a nervous laugh.

"Is it really?" He questioned again once more. You looked at his eyes to see that he could see right through you, which is weird.

"W-Why do you seem so upset today? You don't seem the kind of person to worry that much-"

"It'll be the last time for us to see each other."

You discontinued your statement when you heard his words, your eyes widened and now speechless for a second.

"Huh? Wait- not you too," You said as your tone including your emotions felt saddened.

"That's why, I want to at least help you in any way I can before I leave," He stated, his face somehow the opposite of his usual mood.

You then paused for a second and faced down, hesitating for a bit.

"It's this..."

You started explaining to him everything, but only about the things that made you upset and the problems you've encountered and then you told him about what you're up to today.

"I apologize for not coming to your aid, ____."

"What are you talking about? It's not your fault for it. It's me being careless and all that," You replied to him, denying.

"But, are you still deciding whether to go or not...to him?" He questioned, now waiting for an answer.

"Well, sort of. I'm actually heading there right now. But remembering once again those events, I don't know if I should continue..." You answered as your mind is filled with complexity.

"Hey, ____..." He called, in which you looked at him in return.

"I know it's tough to forgive especially in these kind of situations you've been through. But, I suggest that forgiveness is the best thing to do," He advised.

"How so?" You queried, somehow not getting on what he's saying.

"Well, simple to be explained. Life is short," He answered, then paused for a moment.

"For me, we shouldn't keep our hatred bottled up to ourselves and waste our time to the ones who did something that doesn't do us good..." He continued as he looked up at the sky, staring at it.

"Since we're given life, it's up to us on how we use it, and all these beauty around us... will just rot away on who knows when. If we just let go of all the hate, and learn to forgive and move on, the future might possibly become even more better and happier," He finished his reason as he looked back at you with a hopeful smile on his face.

"In which I wish I should've done before..." He muttered as he faced down on the ground, feeling regret.

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"Oh, nothing..." He replied as he let out a cheerful smile that you always see yet somehow, you felt that it's lacking something, but shook it off.

"You know what, I'm glad I've met you and that you're my friend." You said casually yet with a hint of gratefulness, staring at the view of the park in front of you.

Hoseok's attention suddenly went to you as he was quite confused and curious at the same time.

"I know that you're going to leave, but I'll always know that you're going to be one of the people that I'll miss the most..." You hugged him once again as you said those words as Hoseok was really surprised by your sudden action yet he felt warm by your words.

"M-Me too," He responded back as he hugged you back, trying not to let out a single tear.

"Well, it's nice once again to see you."

Breaking the hug, he said it as he stood up from the bench.

"Same," You replied as you stood up as well.

"Here..."

You stated as you took something from your pocket and gave it to him.

"What's this?" He questioned as he looked at it from the palm of his hand.

"That's what I've been meaning to give you once I came back here, which I almost forgot," You answered as you let off a nervous laugh.

"Woah, this is awesome..." He muttered as he wore it around his wrist.

"You are...my sunshine?" He mumbled as he red the words from the charm clutched onto the bracelet.

"I actually just incidentally noticed it at a cute accessory store. It made me remember that you would always smile a lot and it somehow lightened my mood up whenever I see it..." You stated as you showed an anxious smile.

"You also would cheer me up at my worst times and even if things trouble you, you'd just brushed it off and kept on being happy. Well, at least that's what I think when I was in Paris."

"Thank you, ____" He replied back as he looked at you with a caring simper on his face.

"Here's mine by the way," He stated as he also let out something from the back of his pocket.

"Wait- hold on. Are you seriously giving this to me?" You exclaimed as you looked at the small red box now placed on your hands.

"Think of it as a return of thanks and remembrance of our friendship," He answered with an expression of kind happiness.

"It's beautiful, I don't know if I really deserve this..." You muttered when you opened the box, which has a seemingly expensive and antique silver locket with a clear crystal at the middle of the outer cover.

"Of course you do," He responded as he assured you.

"Thank you so much, Hobie" You said as you almost going to burst into tears of happiness but successfully controlled it.

...

As the both of you arrived at the exit of the park, you both stopped your tracks.

"Promise me that you'll treasure it with all your heart. It's...important to me, and I trust you with it" He reminded, showing a hint of worry and concern in his voice.

"I will," You said, giving an assuring smile.

"Well, this is the time we part ways now..." He stated as the both of you looked at each other once more.

"Until next time, ____!"

After that, he slowly turned his back at you, then slowly walked away as you looked at him leaving further away.

You are my sunshine
My only sunshine...

As he left, you started to face the other direction and started humming while walking away.

You make me happy
When skies are gray
You'll never know dear
How much I'll miss you
Please don't take my sunshine away...

- • -

Yes, I intended to make it "I'll miss you" instead of "I love you" lol

Hope you enjoyed this another long chappy (almost 2k words excluding this note haha)

Anyways, there's the J-hope y'all been expecting 😊

But what about Jungkook? 🤔

Who knows when he'll appear 🤷😏

That's all there is to it for now 😁 Thank you and 안녕!~❤️