collateral damage 🔞 - COMPLETE

•seventy-four•

~~~~~Naeun

Jin just got a text from Jeongguk letting us know they are almost here. The members are frantically decorating their apartment for a welcome back party that I'm not sure Haerin will appreciate. She's understandably nervous around them when they're all in a group. I tried to explain to Jin how stressed this could make Haerin, but he didn't really listen. The kids are so funny with how excited they are, and are running back and forth to the dorm and their apartment.

They were really disappointed yesterday when Jeongguk and Haerin decided to stay an extra night in Daegu, but I distracted them with pizza and ice cream. I wonder how their reunion will go. The kids show signs of stress, and I hope it will all go well. Thinking back, the last time they really spent any time with her was right before the accident. In the last 6 months, Ye-Jun has grown almost 2 inches, and Mi-Hi is talking up a storm.

"Nana? Come taste this for me."

I hear Jin's voice and I move into the kitchen. He's cooking so much food, and I check out the things I know Haerin will like the most.

"It's good... But you know that already... So what did you really want?"

"Haha! You do know me well... I wanted to make sure you're alright. You seem stressed."

"I am... I don't know what to expect actually. She's changed so much Jin. Not in a bad way... But she's different, and I don't know how the kids will be."

"They are only going to care that she's here Nana... The rest will work itself out."

"I guess..."

He wraps his arms around me and plants a kiss on my forehead, soothing me. The kids hollering brings me out of the pleasant moment, and I move away to see what's happening. As I open the door and move into the hall, I see Haerin on her knees, sobbing while her children cling onto her. Jin was right... The other members are all standing and watching the scene with teary eyes. Jeongguk is next to Hae, rubbing her back and speaking softly to her.

When everyone has calmed down some, Haerin picks up both kids, and turns around. I see her pale face for the first time in a couple months. She smiles at me, and moves in my direction.

"Unnie... I've missed you!!"

I can't hug her with the kids in the way, but I kiss her cheek making her giggle. I move her in the direction of the apartment where the party is set, and whisper to not get overwhelmed. She nods and squeezes her kids tighter, refusing all offers of help from anyone that tries to carry one of them. When we enter, 6 men stand and cheer "WELCOME BACK!" setting off party poppers, and smiling like crazy. I saw her jump with the loud noises, but Jeongguk kept a firm hold on her waist, rubbing his thumb in circles to keep her calm.

"Wow... Tha-thank y-you... You did-didn't ha-have to do a-all thi-this..."

Eyes blown wide, she is taking everything in. Mi-Hi picks her head up from the shoulder she was snuggling, and smiles at her mother.

"Mama... We do paw-teee..."

Tears start building in Haerin's eyes hearing her daughter, and Jeongguk back hugs Haerin to support her. He puts his chin on Hae's shoulder and grins at his daughter.

"You did great Mi-Hi-ah... You and Ye-Jun are such good party planners!!"

Haerin is nodding her head and sniffling. Jimin approaches her and takes Mi-Hi in his arm so he can lean in to give her a hug. She loops her arm around his waist and leans into him, and it's the sweetest little picture seeing the 3 friends with the kids. A piece of me thinks it could have been so much different if they hadn't separated back then, but I push the negative away. They're here, together, and I feel hopeful they'll help heal Haerin.