"i swear to god these young people and their hormones," jungkook mutters, massaging his temples as he enters the kitchen, clearing his throat loud enough for aera and kevin to take a break from making out. jimin too, sighs deeply and haewon just smiles at the young couple, shaking her head for she finds the young love cute.

"oh uhm, good morning," aera stands straight, fixing her hair roughly. kevin smiles nervously at the elders, greeting them politely before joining them on the table for breakfast. aera sits between him and jungkook, while haewon sits next to jimin, holding her sleepy son in her arms.

"hey, jiwon, good morning," aera chirps at the little boy, making him lift up his head and glance at him. he stares at aera for a moment, then looks at his mother, pointing hid hand at aera.

"you wanna go to her?" haewon asks, making him stand down as the boy nods, rubbing his eyes and walks over to aera. the girl grins at him, bringing him on her lap and gives him a hug.

"ji, will stay with noona the whole day, right?" she asks, getting a nod from jiwon. kevin smiles at aera and the child, not understanding what she said in korean, but he certainly enjoys seeing her interactions with her brother's son.

"who' dis?" jiwon stares at kevin and aera smiles, glancing at kevin.

"he's noona's... uhm do you know what a boyfriend is?"

"he is your boyfriend?" jiwon gasps, suddenly not sleepy anymore and sits straight, facing aera as she nods, "nooo! ji is your boyfriend! you said ji is boyfriend, noona!"

"oh— uh i did?" aera presses her lips together, not recalling if she had ever told the boy anything like that.

"yes, you did," jimin sighs.

jungkook laughs at that, glancing at the clueless kevin and sniggers, "she told jiwon a few months back that he is her boyfriend, because he really wanted to date her. now jiwon doesn't like that you are her boyfriend as well,"

"wha— why would you lie to a child?" kevin turns to aera.

"i must've said it just like that..." she chuckles, "but anyway, why are you getting worried? he's just a little baby,"

"but he won't like me...!"

"he will, you play with him and carry him. he will be your best friend," aera grins, "impressing jiwon is pretty easy,"

"well yeah, and also you better not mess with aera in front of him," jimin adds with a chuckle, "this little guy is quite protective of her,"

"wow, thanks for letting me know,"

"noona," jiwon pouts, leaning in aera's embrace and rests his head on her shoulder, "ji is your fav'ite..."

"yes, ji's my favourite boy, okay?" aera smiles, making the brothers and the elder girl laugh while kevin sighs, accepting that he really needs to learn korean. aera shifts on her place, holding jiwon properly and pats his back, "do you wanna go out with me today? we'll meet jake and clay too,"

"mm-hmm," jiwon nods.

"i don't think that's a nice idea," jimin says in english for kevin to know, "—taking jiwon with you guys. he'll just bother you all day. you'll just get busy looking after him instead of spending the day with your friends and showing kevin around,"

"it's not like that, oppa. it'll be fun if ji can come with us. he'll like it too," aera smiles at jimin, "you and unnie can get some free time as well, and please don't worry i'll take care of him,"

"i think she's right," jungkook says, sipping his coffee and nods slowly, "let him go with her," he looks at the elder brother, virtually trying to communicate and make him understand that if jiwon is there aera and kevin won't at least be making out or doing anything weird together.

"i'll go with noona," jiwon nods, looking at his father as well, "daddy, ji wanna go with noona,"

"okay, fine," jimin agrees, "but don't bother her too much okay?"

jiwon giggles happily, nodding his head and slips down from aera's lap, running to jimin for a hug. jimin chuckles at him, lifting him up and kisses his cheeks, "there, my boy, let's have breakfast now. after that we'll get ji ready to go out with noona, hm?"

"yes! i'll wear that— blue shirt like daddy!"

"right," jimin smiles, "ji has to look handsome,"

"yeah," the boy smiles.

"ji, who's the most handsome guy here?" jungkook asks with a smirk and glances at jimin with a victorious grin when the four-year-old points at jungkook rather than his own father. "thanks buddy,"

"no, jiwon," aera speaks up, "you are the most handsome one here. jungkook is the last one,"

"uncle koo is my best friend,"

"okay, but you love me more don't you?" aera pouts at him and jiwon nods quickly, "and i'm saying you're the most handsome guy, so it's you okay?"

"i'm handsome!"

"yes, and jungkook is the least handsome,"

"uncle koo not handsome," jiwon laughs, clapping his hands while jungkook looks offended, "daddy is handsome,"

"yeah, daddy's handsome and your mamma is really beautiful, that's why you're so cute," aera, pinches his cheek gently.

"that's why you so cute, noona!"

aera laughs at that, nodding, "i guess so," she looks at jimin and haewon, "when are we gonna tell him that i'm not his real sister?"

"she's not your noona, buddy," jungkook scoffs, "they've been fooling you ever since you were born,"

"noooo! my noonaaa!"

"hey, it's alright," jimin hisses, holding the squirming and crying son and pats his back, "aera's your noona, okay?"

"she's my sister," jungkook grins.

"no! my sister!"

"she's my sister. if you want a sister, ask your mamma and daddy,"

"stop it jungkook," haewon laughs, taking her son from the husband and hugs him assuringly, "shh, don't cry. do you want jungkookie to win and make fun of jiwon?" the boy stops crying, shaking his head and looks at jungkook, sticking his tongue out.

"i' not crying, look,"

"yes, you are," jungkook says.

"noooo!" jiwon breaks into a sob, "i' not crying... mamma..."

"yes, ji's not crying," haewon sighs, wiping his tears and gives jungkook a look, making him laugh silently.

"anyway, how are you guys going?" jimin asks.

"car?" aera says, gulping down her food and glances ag jungkook, "we'll take one of the cars,"

"since when can you drive?" jungkook arches up a brow.

aera smirks at him, gesturing towards her boyfriend who smiles as well, nodding, "i taught her how to drive," kevin says.

"oh, cool," jungkook nods, "you can whichever you like. please try not to crash it, rest is fine,"

"perfect!"

•••

jiwon is sitting quietly, occasionally staring between kevin and aera, trying ro convince himself that aera can't make him sit with him while she's busy driving, and if he wanted to escape from the booster seat, his only option was kevin, the stranger who seems to be close to jiwon's noona, jiwon is sitting on his lap, not really liking it but okay.

he watches aera and kevin singing along the lyrics of the song blasting inside the car as they're laughing and having fun. jiwon frowns at their weird choice of songs and turns ro sit facing aera, "noona," he calls, "play baby shark,"

aera laughs at him, ruffling his hair and gives him the ear pods and her phone, playing baby shark in it, "do you wanna sit at the back?" she asks.

"no," jiwon pushes the phone away and points at the music system in the car, "there,"

"ji, let's listen to this for now," aera says, and he shakes his head. kevin arches up a brow questioningly and aera sighs, "he wants me to play rhymes,"

"oh," kevin nods slowly, "how far is your friends' place?"

"just five minutes,"

"okay cool, play whatever he wants. we won't have to listen to it for long,"

"yeah, right," aera nods playing baby shark for jiwon and smiles when the boy cheers, standing down and sways with the beats, singing along as he now knows the lyrics.

in a few minutes aera pulls up in the parking lot of a building where jake and clay live. she straightens her clothes and fixes her hair, stepping out of the car. kevin glances at the young boy, holding out his hand for him to hold. jiwon stares at kevin's hand, holding it hesitantly and glances at aera, "noona, le's go," he calls, seeing aera walking to them from the other side of the car. his free hand holds her left hand, feeling much more confident and skips his way inside towards the elevator with the elders.

"your friends are older than you?" kevin asks.

"just a few months," aera nods,

"and they're boys?"

"yep," she grins, linking her arm with his and looks up at his face, "we used to be pretty close in high school, when i didn't know you existed,"

"you're such a brat, aren't you?" kevin shakes his head.

"i know right?" aera suppresses her laugh, "are you nervous— like to meet my boys?"

"your boys... right," kevin mutters to himself, quite fairly not liking the reference, "no, i'm not. you're my girl and that's all that matters,"

"okay, yeah," aera nods, laughing at him and kevin shakes his head, wrapping his arm around her, "you're jealous, aren't you?"

"and you're enjoying it,"

"obviously, just look at your face. it's like you wanna—"

"you don't know," kevin chuckles lightly and aera looks away with blushing cheeks, "done? not fun anymore?"

"shut up, let's go," she says quickly, taking jiwon as the doors slide open and she heads out with urgency, walking to the apartment door in the second right end.

"jake! clay hyungie!" jiwon calls, hitting the door with his tiny hands while aera presses the doorbell. "jake hyungie! i's ji and noona! open the door!"

"ah, is that jiwon i hear?" clay's voice greets them as the door clicks open and jiwon laughs playfully, hiding behind aera's legs. "hey, aera," clay smiles, hugging the girl right away, "i missed you so much, ri. it's been more than an year,"

"ah wait," aera smiles, letting go of jiwon and pushes clay away for a second as she enters the apartment and kicks off her shoes, "now hug me properly," she says, throwing herself on him, making the boy chuckle as he lifts her up, "i missed you soooo muchh! you have no idea!"

"is that why you don't talk to us anymore?" jake  says, making aera gasp and pull away from clay. but before she goes to hug jake, the boy crouches down to meet jiwon first. "hey, who'd you bring with you?"

"noona and kevin and ji," jiwon answers.

"is noona here to see us?"

"yeah, noona miss you,"

"i don't think so," jake chuckles, "she would've called us or at least replied to our texts if she missed us, right?"

"fine, i'm sorry!" aera exasperates, "you can stop being so butt hurt about it and actually be happy that i'm here!"

"are you talking to me?" jake stands up, glancing at aera, then at the boy she brought along with her, "who is this?"

"kevin," aera says, "he understands english, so if you guys can please talk in english, it'd be great,"

"oh, sure," clay smiles, holding out his hand for the boy, "hey, kevin, i'm clay, aera's friend. nice to meet you, man,"

"nice to meet you too," kevin smiles, shaking clay's hand then does the same with jake who doesn't look that enthusiastic about meeting him, "you're jake, right?" kevin asks when jake doesn't introduce himself.

"yes, her friend,"

"i know, she talks a lot about you guys," kevin nods, following aera and clay to the couch and takes a seat with his girlfriend.

"she does?" jake arches up and it now bugs aera. she glances at clay who sighs, nudging jake to behave himself. "i mean, she has been quite busy and i just thought things might've slipped out of her mind,"

"anyway," kevin forces a smile, "uhm can i get some water please? it's kinda hot outside,"

"yeah, just a sec," clay nods, leaving them alone goes to the kitchen.

"i'll help you," aera says, getting up after him and takes a deep breath. standing next to clay, she whispers, "kevin is my boyfriend..."

"oka— wait, what did you say?" clay frowns, facing the girl with a surprised face and shakes his head, "no, you're not dating him... how can you date just anyone out of nowhere?! and how come we didn't know about him?"

"hey— shh, i'll tell you everything," aera whispers, "i came her to break this news to my brothers and you guys. i already told my brothers and now you know too... but i think jake won't be very happy... he's not even talking to me,"

clay sighs deeply, massaging his temples and looks at her, "is he the reason why you stopped talking to us? does he force you to do weird things— does he not let you talk to your friends?"

"no, it's not like that. he's fine— in fact he's amazing, he loves me. i was just busy and stressed about some things in the uni. so i didn't really get any time to text you guys. i'm sorry i shouldn't have ignored you like that, i regret it, clay. i regret it so much, i missed you a lot but everything just... i'm sorry,"

clay nods slowly, glancing back at the kevin guy, talking to jake, "is he really treating you fine? i don't want any douche to hurt you, aera," he says, hugging aera and kisses her cheek, "you were and still are my favourite girl, aera, and i don't wanna see you getting hurt,"

"i don't know what to say," aera mumbles, looking up at him, "are you okay with this? me dating a guy..."

"if it makes you happy, then yes," clay nods, "but remember, you can always call me and jake if you ever need help, support or just anything, okay?"

aera nods with a smile, kissing his cheek, "you're the best," she says before pulling away and helps him take the cans and the glasses of water to the living room. kevin smiles thankfully, picking up the water glass and downs in a couple sips together.

"so, i have a news," aera says, opening a can of sprite and watches as jake too picks up a coke, "jake, are you listening?"

"i am," he says quietly.

"are you mad at me?" she asks first, putting the sprite down while jake casually sips on his coke, shrugging his shoulders and as he leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

"won't you be mad at me if i ghosted you out of nowhere for months?"

"no," aera says.

"liar," jake hisses, "you'd be first one to be mad at me and probably even fight me if i ever did that to you,"

"okay yeah, but i have my reasons—"

"i have my reasons too. just spill whatever you have, i've to go out after this,"

"dude, relax, she's just trying to talk," kevin says. aera sighs softly, turning to kevin and gestures him that she'll take a moment with jake alone and talk. kevin nods with a small smile, giving her space to move out. jake stands up without a word, following her inside and clay joins shortly.

"look, before you say anything," jake starts, closing the door of the room and gestures his hand towards the bed for aera to sit, "explain about this dude. who is he? why is he so close to you?"

aera nibbles on her lip, glancing at clay who gives her an assuring nod, making her hum softly, "kevin is... my... boyfriend," she says slowly, studying jake's expression and stands up quickly when she realises he's not taking it well, "wait!" she gasps, holding his arm before he can go out again and give a character check to the guest. "i know i should've told you earlier, but just hear me out. everything happened so fast and— okay, not that fast, but still. the college and everything, it's too tiring and i just couldn't figure out what to do..."

jake stares at her with a tired expression, taking her hands in his and makes her sit again as he pulls a chair in front of her and leans forward, his thumb gently grazing over her knuckles, "is he good to you?" he asks.

"are you mad...?" aera asks, tears blurring her eyes as stares at his hands, not having the courage to look at his face.

"yes," he hushes out, "didn't expect this at all. now tell me, is he good to you? does he treat you well?"

she breaks into a sob, leaning towards jake and hugs him tightly, nodding her head to answer his questions. jake sighs, stroking her back, "i hate you.." he mutters, "you got me so worried when you wouldn't talk to us,"

"i'm sorry," aera sniffles, closing her eyes into jake's shoulder, "i missed you so much, jake..."

"i know," he pulls her closer, tightening the hug and blinks his own eyes, earning a soft smile from clay as he gives a pat on his shoulder. "why did you stop talking to us?"

"i don't know, i just felt like things changed... i used to be quite busy with the uni stuff, then the time difference between seoul nd sydney. i thought you guys must be busy with your own lives too. distance does affect things, jake, whether we admit it or not,"

"we could be busy, but not for you, aera," clay says, sitting beside her and pats her back gently, "you were the one who told us not to stop texting you ever remember? and you just did it yourself,"

"he's right," jake agrees, "i felt like an idiot waiting for your texts or calls or just anything, y'know?"

"i'm sorry, i shouldn't have done this," aera says, "it's fine if you're mad at me... i understand..."

"no, you don't," jake sighs, cupping her cheek as he makes her look at him and wipes her tears, "you'll keep sulking if i say i'm still mad,"

"then don't be mad at me," aera mutters, looking at him and clay, "you said you love me, remember?"

"that doesn't mean you'll get everything you want,"

"i always do," aera stands up, wiping her tears and takes a deep breath, gaining herself back now. her attention shifts to the laptop on the table, which is kept for charging but it's screen is on and glowing, displaying of aera herself. she turns to jake, not saying anything and approaches the laptop, "did you really miss me that much? i'm your wallpaper,"

"i didn't do it," jake denies, "it was probably clay. he missed you like hell. soomin almost assumed that he ws crazy,"

"yeah?" aera chuckles knowingly and the boys end up laughing too.

jake wraps his arms around her, resting his chin on aera's shoulder, "sleep over?"

"with kevin?" aera looks at him.

"if he lets me hug me all the time, then yeah,"

"i don't think so," she laughs lightly, looking at clay and opens her arms, "why are you not hugging us?"

"ah nothing, just... thinking," clay shrugs, giving a brief hug to the girl and pulls away, "you have a boyfriend now, that's kinda new,"

"i know, even i'm not used to it," aera shakes her head, "in the club last time, this guy asked me if i had boyfriend and i was like no. then i remembered about kev, and i was like, shit, i do have a boyfriend!"

"does he kiss you?" jake asks.

"uhm yes? isn't that normal?"

"do you sleep together?"

"sometimes,"

"sleep together as in just sleep or..."

aera pretends to think and crosses her arms on her chest, "do you just sleep with girls?"

"damn," clay hisses.

"what if i say i just sleep?"

"that'll be a lie," aera laughs and the boys arch up their brows amusedly, "kev told me guys are hopelessly horny and they just can't seem to stay virgin, especially after they turn eighteen,"

"you know some stuff," jake nods, "anyway—"

"let's go back, it's not very nice to keep someone waiting," aera says and clay nods, opening the door and walks out first while jake rolls his eyes, holding aera's hand to steal a moment, "jake—"

"i don't know about this boyfriend of yours, but promise me that if you ever need someone in any way, you won't hesitate calling me,"

aera's gaze turns soft as she smiles, kissing his cheek and nods, "promise," she whispers.

"i love you whether or not anybody tells you,"

"god, what's up with you today?" aera laughs at him, "come over at home later, i'm in seoul for two weeks. we've got a lot to catch up on,"

"yeah, i'll sneak in, don't let anyone know,"

"wha—"

"hush, that's it. that's the plan, me and clay will be there,"

"you're wild,"

"i know right?" jake smirks, leaving her there and walks ahead casually, sitting down with kevin, talking with less tension now.

"you okay?" clay whispers and aera snaps out of her bubble, nodding her head quickly with a smile, making him chuckle, "you had an amazing glow up by the way," he says out of nowhere.

"yeah, i got a nice ass,"

"i was talking about all over you, but okay, yeah, you do have a nice ass,"

aera nods, poking his chest with her finger and says, "you too had an amazing glow up. look at you,"

"really?"

"yeah, like damn,"

clay laughs, shaking his head and aera grins, sneaking in a whisper, "you guys are just raising my standards in men, i mean just look at my brothers, and look at you and jake. there's no way i'm settling below this,"

"as you should. you're the princess,"

"that i am," aera smiles at clay, making him smile as well.

____________

a/n- donneeeee finallyyyy! i know many of must've been waiting for a part where aera introduces kevin to the rest of bts too. i undesirable you wanna see, that but i'm sorry i'm kinda busy with coaching and all. i just a had a test a few days back and now the next one is coming too. my studies are taking a lot of time, that's the reason for slow updates as well. so, yeah, i hope you guys understand. i'll try to do that chapter in future when i have enough time and plot for that. but i can't make any promises rn seeing how things are going.

anyway, thank you for reading, please gote and comment if you liked the chapter. also what do you think about aera's relationship and her boys? 😌✨

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