The sign board spun to ‘close’. But, everyone was still busy with their tasks; closing the book, sweeping the floor and making sure items weren’t misplaced. Some were still discussing regarding the problem and solutions for customers.

And then, there was Seokjin appearing behind the wall. “Kids, gather!” Everyone turned their heads only to find Seokjin was already retracting back to the narrow corridor.

Wheein leant nearer to Jisoo and whispered, “are we getting new staff again?” Jisoo just shrugged her shoulders with a frown.

On their way to gather in the meeting room, they could hear Seokjin scolding Hoseok for putting on a sour face. “Don’t make me throw salt on your face, boy.” Hoseok made a tight, broad grin for a few seconds before it darkened again.

“Hoseok’s lips are frowning again,” Jimin said, taking a seat in between Yoongi and Taehyung.

Yoongi, with his lips slightly parted, eyes observing Hoseok’s behavior but not expressing any emotion. He asked, “what did you do this time, hyung?”

“Nothing. Nothing for you to worry,” Seokjin sing-songed. “I asked Hoseok why he doesn’t plan any holidays with the children this year. And he said, because Amber is not here. Hah! This boy is sure so smart in making excuses. Am I right, boy?” he asked and laughed in a fake tone, clapping his hands. Almost abruptly, he stared at Hoseok, dumbfounded. “Bringing the children on holiday and making them happy is part of our responsibility!”

“We can tell them Amber’s not here with us,” Hoseok said, still frowning.

“Not having Amber here shouldn’t be an excuse!” Seokjin demanded. Hoseok declared defeat.

“Holidays with the children?” Jiah asked with a careful tone.

“Right!” Seokjin hit Hoseok on the arm and said, “why didn’t you tell her?”

Hoseok rubbed his throbbing arm and spoke in a low voice, “you didn’t ask me to.”

Seokjin got agitated. He yelled, “do I have to tell you everything?"

“Calm down, hyung. Your hair is greying,” Yoongi commented, unfazed.

Triggered, Seokjin exclaimed, “excuuuse me?”

Ignoring the eldest outburst, the man with short, crimped hair looked at every younger individual and asked, “does anyone want to explain it to her?”

“Me, me, me! Let me do it!” Taehyung said, enthusiastically raising up a hand.

In the background, Namjoon pulled Seokjin down to make him sit and told him to calm down. Still unfazed, Yoongi opened his palm, giving him permission to proceed. Taehyung turned around and said, “Amber owns an orphanage. There were fifteen children aged one to fifteen. Saekang, Joohee, Goo-in, Rowoon, Jae –”

Yoongi cut him off, “we’ll introduce them to her. Skip." 

“Okay! It’s been five or six years since the orphanage operated. Jimin’s mother is one of the caretakers," Taehyung said.

Jimin displayed a smile. “I visited them yesterday. They were asking for Amber noona,” he said (Jiah swore she saw Wheein was rolling her eyes at him). “They also asked why there weren't any vacations last summer. Amber is not around, so I told them that. They want me to beg you,” he told Seokjin.

“Me? Why me?”                            

Jimin snorted. “Don’t know.”             

Jiah quickly added her comment, “you guys go on holidays during summer? To where?”

Relaxed, Yoongi answered, “anywhere. Usually Amber’s plan.”

Nodding her head, she muttered, “oooh.”

With a fist pumped up, Seokjin said, “let’s go for a holiday next spring!"

“It’s going to be exam season for me though,” Namjoon spoke.

“Stay in Korea then, and study. Good luck!”

“That’s unfair!” 

The older one sighed, “let me be honest, I suddenly feel safer that you won’t join us. No one is prepared for the things you break in the hotel, Namjoon. No one is prepared for your injuries either.” He pursed his lips tight before adding, “the last time I remember, you tripped, broke a chair and scraped your chin in Sarawak. It’s embarrassing. None of the children got hurt, but you.”

“That chair being wooden and brittle is not my fault!”

Yoongi said, expressionless, “he needs a baby stroller. Much safer than a wheelchair. Trap him in the stroller, he won't have to walk while exploring."

“Then, who’s going to push me?” Namjoon asked.

“No one. Renting a buffalo would be better, I guess.”

The meeting room erupted in laughter.

**********

On Sunday, Jungkook, Jimin, Jiah, Seokjin and Hoseok headed to the orphanage. Jungkook drove them to the place. Hoseok was forced to go as usual. Jiah sat at the back seat, near the door. With her at the back seat, Seokjin at the middle and Jimin at the other side.

Nature covered in snow had been filling her sight, cars and pick-ups passing by once in a while breaking the calm view for a few seconds. Her face and half of Seokjin’s body reflected on the window she was facing. The journey could have been silent if it weren't for the rant on the radio and Seokjin chewing his gummy worms' noises that filled her ears. But she didn’t mind. The smell of one of the men’s cologne lingered in the car.

Her gaze broke when she heard Seokjin asking her, “do you like gummies?”

“Yeah.”

He showed her the opened gummy worms’ pack. “Would you like some?” he asked.

Jiah realized she was low on sugar that she had been feeling a little tired on the road. Therefore, she thought she needed some. She beamed. “Sure,” she said and Seokjin positioned the pack closer. After taking a few pieces, she chirped, “thank you!”

“You’re welcome! Tell me if you want more.”

“Can I have some?” Jungkook asked, looking at the older man through the rear view mirror. 

“I want some too!” Jimin said this time.

“I’m not sharing!” Seokjin said.

Jimin uttered, “but you shared with Jiah!”

“She needs to be okay! That’s why I shared with her." 

Hoseok sighed. From the side view mirror, Jiah saw his fingers held both of his temples. 

“I’m not okay! I’ve been driving for two hours and this car will crash anytime," Jungkook exclaimed.

“Don’t you fucking dare! I’ll haunt your family if I die!”

“Uh… do you guys want Choclairs?” Jiah asked, but no one heard her.

“I’ll haunt your family, your children, your grandchildren, and your great-great-great grandchildren if you aren’t giving me some!” Jungkook yelled.

“Hey, I’m still young and I’m not married yet!”

Jimin seemed to have given up. As if he remembered Yoongi telling them not to leave Seokjin low on sugar, she heard him sighing, looking distant at the window and murmured, “he curses when he’s high on glucose too?”

Hoseok’s frustration reached its peak as he finally spoke for the first time after the two hours of journey. Still, calmly, he spoke, “just give him some.”

“He’s going to ask for more when I give him enough!”

“He’s tired, hyung. You know he’s capable of crashing the car and it’s going to be your fault,” Hoseok said. Again, he sighed, propping his head on a fist, his arm resting on the door.

“How is that my fault?” Seokjin asked, which then, was left unanswered. “Ugh, you guys love to get on my nerves!”

Day by day, it felt like she had known and understood her boss. He must be thinking that this moment was the time to use Yoongi, the most laidback member of the staff, who would sarcastically shut down anyone. She was thinking the same.

When the car fell silent, she asked loudly but carefully, almost stuttering. “D-do you guys want some… Choclairs?” 

**********

Stepping out of the car, the first thing she saw was children happily chasing each other. One of the children screamed when the tallest one caught him and his friend. One of them threw a snowball at the tallest one and then, he put them down and chased the one who threw a snowball at him.

Behind the children was a small, colorful slide; beside it was a three seated swing. A large tree stood between the terrace house and the playground, and a wider and longer swing was attached to its thick, broad branch.

“It’s our brothers!” She heard one of the children shout.

Jiah was only able to smile, watching Jungkook getting hit on the buttock before he carried a boy and playfully flipped him to the ground, Jimin laughing at the children as they told their stories, Seokjin carrying the smallest girl as she rested herself on his shoulder, patting her small hands on his neck. Hoseok smiled at them. His smile did not exude arrogance or anxiety. He even talked to them, asking their well-being. He asked them, "How are you?" "Did you eat well today?" “What did Jimin’s mom cook for lunch?” “How is school?”

When one of the boys told Hoseok that Power Ranger won their fight over a monster, he only responded “wow, that’s amazing!” with his big, genuine grin spread on his face. With his hoodie on his head, the children didn’t seem to find that bothering.

The view had her lost. The moment was too sweet, warm, innocent and too deep for her to ignore, but she couldn't ignore the tugs on her coat when she felt them twice. She looked down, only to find a girl who might be five to seven years old looking at her with her big eyes. Her high pitch voice, asking “who are you?” made her smile.

She squatted to match her height. “I am your oppas' (brothers) new friend,” she said and then extended her slender hand in short distance. “I’m Lee Jiah. Let’s be friends.”

The girl nibbled her lips as she cast her gaze away from Jiah. Immediately after saying, "Joohee," she ran to Seokjin and hid behind him. The girl took a peek to see her.

Seokjin looked at Joohee and then, at Jiah before chuckling softly. “That’s our new friend,” he said to Joohee, patting her back with his free hand.

Jiah smiled at her. Suddenly, she remembered something. “Oh right!” She dug into her tote bag and fished out a few pieces of Choclairs. “I heard you and your friends love chocolates. I bought some Choclairs to share," she said and held up her palm containing two pieces.

Joohee looked at Seokjin before Jiah and then, at him again. Seokjin said, “get them.”

“No sweets after lunch,” Joohee said.

“Who said that?" Seokjin asked, surprised.

“I said. My teeth. Black. Look,” she said, showing her teeth. There were cavities in between of two of her incisors.

Seokjin snorted. “It’s okay. She only gives you two. Make sure to brush your teeth after dinner,” he said. The girl made a glance at Jiah again when she encouraged her to approach her.

At last, the little girl approached her and took the sweets. She bowed and thanked her. Looking at the woman, she asked, “can I eat one now?”

Jiah nodded her head. As the girl peeled the wrapper off the sweet, Jiah held her back with her hand to lead her along. Then, they reached Seokjin. The baby in his arms had her chubby cheeks squished on his shoulder as she rested her head. Wider Jiah’s smile became. She asked, “what’s the baby’s name?”

“Ah. Our orphanage’s maknae (youngest). Kang Saekang,” he said, rubbing the baby’s back.

“It seems like she likes you so much,” Jiah said, still wearing a grin on her face.

“I’m handsome and she knows that,” he said and winked.