Broken Vase (Bonus)

  Things were progressing, changing in a positive way. Hoseok was recovering. Hana was growing and finding better ways to deal with her anxiety.

    However, one point of anxiety was still lying constantly with Hana. Something she had left unresolved. She didn't feel like she had been fair to this person or been fair in their situation.

    Her nervous habits began to manifest more as she was consumed with worry. Hana didn't tell Hoseok or Jin Myung about the concern and the anxiety it was causing her, but both of them noticed her behaviors.

    One day, Hoseok couldn't stand the suspense anymore.

    "Cutie, you're biting your nails again. What's on your mind?" His tone carried slight concern, and Hana's heartbeat quickened at the Confrontation. He placed his hand on her arm, trying to calm her.

    "Um, it's fine. It's nothing." She quickly dropped her hands to her lap and began to subconsciously wring them. Hoseok shook his head at her cruddy response. Hana's mind began to panic, but she calmed as he placed his hand on hers and rubbed her thumb with his.

    "Hana, we both know that's not true." He bit his lip. "We both promised to be more honest with one another." Hana knew this, and she nodded her head. Then she quickly blurted out what she was thinking, afraid that if she waited she'd remain silent.

  "It's Bong Ki." Hana didn't notice Hoseok tense slightly at the name and narrow his eyes. "It's just that I feel as if I was unfair to him. The two dates we went on were disasters. And then I was so preoccupied with my worry for you that I never rescheduled." She swallowed, "And then I basically disappeared and didn't answer any of his calls or messages." Hana intertwined her fingers with Hoseok's before she continued. "Then I dropped him for this other random guy." Both of them smiled slightly at her words. "I just, I feel bad."

    Hoseok nodded and a few moments passed before he spoke again. "I see how that could make you worry. I think maybe you could talk it out with Bong Ki." His tone turned reluctant as he continued, "He really does seem like a genuinely kind and understanding guy." She murmured her agreeance. "Just, don't feel guilty my love." Hana bit her lip and nodded her head. Both she and Hoseok knew that she couldn't rest assured until she felt the issue was resolved.

    The problem in resolving it was that Hana didn't want to face Bong Ki alone. Every time she thought of it, she grew sick to her stomach because of her nervousness.

   So she begged Jin Myung to accompany her. With a lot of nagging and the bribery of coffee dates and lunches on Hana, Jin Myung agreed. She couldn't resist the offers of free food and coffee.

  Hana hadn't seen Bong Ki much at work due to his back-to-back business trips, but with his return date in mind, she prepared to ask him to meet her.

    Once she'd worked up the nerve to text him and ask him to meet, the date was set. The three of them would meet that Saturday at a local coffee shop, the Java Shop.

******

  Hana nervously tapped her foot as she sat at a table in the coffee shop, waiting for Bong Ki. Jin Myung stared out the window uninterested until she suddenly nudged Hana and whispered, "Is that him? Bong Ki?" Hana looked over in the direction Jin Myung was indicating. It was, in fact, Bong Ki, and she nodded her head to answer her friend's question. "Wow." This next statement from Jin was quiet, but Hana heard it and smiled slightly in amusement.

    Both women stood and greeted a very shy and awkward Bong Ki. Once they'd all ordered, Hana decided she didn't need to waste any more time.

    "Bong Ki, I owe you an explanation." At first, Bong Ki looked slightly taken aback at Hana's abruptness. As she continued to explain what had been transpiring in her life recently, his expression cycled through concerned, sympathetic, disappointed, and pleased. Hana began to finish while she picked at the hem of her shirt. "Hoseok and I have been pursuing a relationship together, and I just didn't want to continue that without first talking to you." Hana's heart pounded in anticipation. Bong Ki's expression was unreadable. Jin Myung continued to steal admiring glances in Bong Ki's direction.

    Hana's worries were put to rest when Bong Ki gave a friendly smile.

  "I'm glad to hear that you're doing well Hana." He paused and Hana wondered what he would say next. "I could tell that the two of you had feelings other than friendship between you on our dates." He smiled slightly at the recollection of said dates. "I really do hope that you two are happy together." He stood up, having already paid for his drink. "I should get going."

    "Thank you for being so understanding Bong Ki. I did have a lot of fun with you- that is when Hoseok wasn't crashing our dates." She returned his smile and gave a slight laugh.

    "It was my pleasure, really Hana. I'm sorry I won't get to treat you to an actual date though." Hana nodded in quiet agreement and Bong Ki began to leave. However, both were surprised when the previously silent Jin Myung spoke up.

    "Well, maybe you could treat me to a date."

******

  Jin Myung had been stunned by the stranger's looks. She found her awe hard to conceal. She had planned to attend this meeting and give little attention to detail, merely acting as moral support, however, that plan quickly flew out the window.

    She couldn't help but like the depth of his voice.

    She couldn't help but notice his tall build and handsome features.

She couldn't help but be attracted to him.

    While she wasn't particularly listening to Hana's explanation, she was stealing glances at the man across from her; she did listen to every word that Bong Ki spoke.

    Jin Myung could easily read the kindness and understanding of the man's voice. He was kind to Hana in a situation where most would've reacted poorly. She respected that.

    She thought he had the most beautiful smile a human being could possess every time he flashed it. Jin Myung was a sucker for a nice smile.

  Jin Myung had always been very assertive. However, when it came to romance, she was quite shy. Like Hana, she hadn't gone on many dates. It was rare for her to go on a second date, mostly because she went on few first dates. It was out of character for her to put herself out there for anyone.

 Especially, someone, she'd just met.

    Even she was surprised when she spoke to Bong Ki so boldly.

    "Well, maybe you could treat me to a date." Her voice almost didn't seem like her own, but it was her.

    As soon as the words left her mouth she felt her body kick into panic mode. Jin could read the surprised on both Hana and Bong Ki's faces. She braced herself for the imminent refusal and embarrassment.

    However, it didn't come.

    Instead, Bong Ki flashed one of his smiles and said, "Name a time and place."

    Jin Myung had apparently reached her limit of speech for the day, so she was unable to even form a response for Bong Ki.

    Luckily, Hana helped her best friend out.

    "She's free on Saturday."

    "What do you say, Jin Myung, can I take you for dinner on Saturday?" He framed his question towards her, hoping she'd answer herself.

    "Yes, that sounds nice." The two exchanged numbers and Bong Ki promised to text her about Saturday.

    Jin Myung stayed silent and dazed for at least an hour.

    That Saturday, she enlisted Hana's help in getting ready at her apartment.

    "What do I wear? I mean I can't, like what if blush pink is his least favorite color?" Jin Myung's voice was tinged with worry, and her usual self-confidence was hiding in parts unknown. Hana laughed at her.

    "Girl, get a grip. I think he likes the color pink." Hana threw the blush pink sweater at her friend. "You need to just be yourself Jin, he'll like you if you do." Jin nodded in understanding.

    "Okay." She took a shaky breath and slipped the sweater on. She went to the mirror and looked at herself. "You look fine Jin Myung, you're a babe. Okay, I've got this." Hana nodded encouragingly at her friend's pep talk to herself.

    Forty-five minutes later, Jin Myung was answering the door for Bong Ki. Hana had left ten minutes ago, giving Jin a smile of encouragement before leaving.

    Bong Ki had flowers when he arrived on her doorstep.

    Jin Myung almost swooned as she reached out for the colorful blooms. She mumbled a soft and sweet thank you. Bong Ki rubbed his neck as he told her it was no problem. Awkwardness pervaded the room. Jin Myung's hands shook as she reached for a vase. Bong Ki moved closer to the sink.

    "Here, I can help cut the flowers-" He'd tried to move to one side of the sink, but Jin Myung misjudged his direction, trying to move out of his space, she bumped into his chest. The vase of water crashed to the ground.

  For a moment, the pair was silent.

    Then Bong Ki let a small laugh loose. He quickly clamped his mouth shut.

    However, the two joined in laughter a moment laughter as Jin Myung cracked up at their awkward beginning to their first date.

    "I'm sorry about your vase."

    "It's fine. It was ugly and I got it for free from my great aunt." Jin Myung smiled at Bong Ki as the two of them cleaned up the mess. He smiled shyly back at her.

    Their date went smoothly after that.

  Jin Myung couldn't recall the last time someone besides Hana had made her laugh so much. She liked his sense of humor and his laugh. His gentlemanly manners made her smile.

Bong Ki tried to recall the last time he'd had so much fun on a date or the last time he'd enjoyed a girl's company so much. It had been a long time. He liked the way that she knew what she wanted, but wasn't abrasive. He liked her laugh and her deep brown eyes.

    Both of them smiled widely to themselves as they parted on either side of Jin Myung's door.

    The second date went just as smoothly.

    And the third.

    And every date after that, with a few minor mishaps of course.

    The pair got to know one another better with every date.

    Slowly, something they hadn't expected began to grow between them. It confused Jin Myung, and she struggled to put a name to it.

    But Hana knew what it was.

    Jin Myung was in love.

    And so was Bong Ki.

******

My Forever

  Two years and seven months. Hana knew this was the length of time that she and Hoseok had been dating, and she'd never felt so happy before.

    In that time they'd got to know one another better, which had seemed impossible at first. The two of them talked for hours on end about nothing and everything. The biggest change though had been Hana's job. She'd quit her secretary job and began to train with Hoseok's aid organization. It had taken a while, but after some time, she was able to go on an aid trip with his team. Finally, Hana was able to understand what Hoseok had been telling her. She felt as if she was helping people. He had helped her find that, and she was grateful for it.

    At two years, six and a half months, Hoseok had entered the brightly lit shop on the main boulevard of Seoul's shopping center. He kept muttering one specific number, a size, as he tried to hold it in his memory. Butterflies had flown around his stomach as he tried to calm his nerves. He clutched his small bag protectively, keenly aware of what he carried inside of it.

    The sales manager consulted with him personally. The man answered every one of Hoseok's questions. He handed over his precious cargo with shaky hands. "Please take good care of it, it's precious to my family and me."

******

    Two weeks later Hoseok left the store with his precious cargo returned to him. The butterflies had returned.

   They continued to be his companions as he dressed up for his date with Hana that night.

    The two of them were going to eat dinner at her favorite outdoor café. Then they were going for dessert at the Java Shop, her favorite coffee shop.

    Hana sighed happily as she smelled the flowers Hobi had brought to her.

    They were her favorite, the last in the city.

    The scene was familiar in some ways when she thought about it. Hoseok had shown up at her door with the flowers she loved the most as a greeting. He'd gone through great trouble to find them, searching every flower shop in the city.

    Both thought fleetingly of that Saturday over two years ago and both of them smiled slightly.

    "Good evening, cutie. Are you ready?" Hoseok smiled as he looked at Hana, whose beauty never seemed to cease surprising him. Hana nodded in agreement as she sat the flowers down on her counter next to her newly received invitation to Bong Ki and Jin Myung's wedding, of course, she'd known about it long before it had been sent to her. She was the maid of honor after all.

    Their fingers intertwined as they walked to the café, Hoseok knew she preferred to walk. Besides, he could look at her more if he wasn't driving.

    He kept glancing at her as they walked down the streets of Hana's neighborhood, passing the elderly who didn't seem to notice them.

    Hoseok noticed how her brightly colored dress moved gently with the breeze, how her hair shined in the evening sun, how her eyes reflected the surrounding colors back. Looking at her, something floated to the surface of her mind, forever.

  It was something he didn't consider often. The word scared him with the permanence and uncertainty it carried.

  At least it usually scared him.

  Tonight it didn't though.

  As the two laughed and talked about anything and everything, he wasn't afraid.

  Tonight he could only think of how much he wanted Hana to be his forever.

  And if she wanted to be his.

  Hana was accustomed to Hoseok looking at her when they were together. He would always meet her protests with the excuse of "I like to admire beauty, " and she would blush and let it go.

    Tonight she didn't mention his frequent glances, choosing instead to enjoy the walk to the café in his company. "Besides," she thought, "I don't want to be hypocritical."

    Because she was stealing glances of him too. Hana noticed how his eyes shone so brightly in the summer's setting sun and how handsome he looked in his button-down and jeans.

    Content, she smiled.

    She wanted to have Hoseok beside her like this for forever.

    After the pair had finished their dinner, Hoseok paid, and then pulled on Hana's hand, urging her to follow him.

    "Where are we going Hobi, the coffee shop?" Hana was looking at the back of his head as he led her into the night.

    "You'll see in just a moment flower." His excitement was dripping from his words.

    And she did see in just a moment.

    Hoseok had taken her to her favorite street in her neighborhood, well it was more stairs than a street. That wasn't the beauty of it though.

    The whole street was painted with daisies. The residents had strung soft lights to illuminate the way at night. There was a distinct artistic beauty to the entire street. To Hana, the whole place had always seemed so peaceful and pretty.

    Hoseok watched as the smile spread across Hana's face. The twinkling lights were reflected in her eyes and they illuminated them even more brightly. Hoseok smiled as he kneeled.

    He cleared his throat to get Hana's attention as he felt the cool cobblestone beneath him. She looked at him and her eyes widened and softened simultaneously.

    "Min Hana, I cannot count the days we have spent together. Each one has carried light and love and good into my life." Their gazes on one another didn't waver as Hoseok continued. "You've been by my side through it all, even when I wasn't by yours." He pulled a small black box from his pocket. "But I don't ever want to leave you alone again." A pause for breath, a moment of anticipation. He opened the box. "Hana will you be my forever, and marry me?"

    "Hoseok, you were always going to be my forever. Yes, I'll marry you." Hana's voice was quiet, but heavy with emotion. Tears were filling both their eyes as he slipped the ring onto her finger and as he wrapped her into a tight embrace. She recognized that it had been the ring his grandmother had worn. It was elegant and old-fashioned, and she'd always thought it beautiful. Now, though it carried even more beauty for her because it was the symbol of a promise.

    The promise that Jung Hoseok would be there for her for forever. He would love her and help her through everything, through happiness and pain, highs and lows, through sunshine and rain. Hana smiled into Hoseok's shirt front, and he looked up into the stars, wondering how this beauty could be his.

A/N: 

 I hope you liked this bonus chapter! If you guys want more of Hana and Hoseok or Jin Myung and Bong Ki, let me know. Maybe I could arrange a drabble book about them.

Anyways, please eat well and take care of yourselves 💜

(Edited July 2019)

*Novi*