ACT XVII | SCENE LXXXII

❝NIGHT AIR❞

HOSEOK NEARLY FELL back with the force of jangmi throwing her entire weight on him. chuckling, he wrapped his arms around her. "i missed you too, ballerina." he mumbled into her hair. "i missed you even more. ah, your calming heavenly scent." she sighed, relaxing into his body and he laughed again.

jimin stood back, holding a sleepy yet excited rosalie to his chest as she smiled wearily, her eyes droopy, small hands securing the welcome back card she had made for her uncle. he rubbed a hand up the girl's back, watching the reunion of best friends with a tiny smile on his face.

jangmi finally let go of hoseok and he turned to the father-daughter duo. "hey, jimin." he smiled softly. "welcome back, hyung." jimin returned the warm gesture. "thanks," hoseok nodded before his gaze drifted to the child in his arms. "rolly polly!" his features brightened like the sun, arms opening wide. "uncle hobi!" rosalie took on an equally excited expression, reaching out for him.

jimin obliged her, allowing her to jump into hoseok's arms as he let out a dramatic grunt at her light weight. "hey, angel. your uncle missed you so much." hoseok kissed her forehead. "i missed you too, uncle hobi." she replied, beaming brightly. "i maked you a card." she lifted the piece of folded paper for him to see. gasping dramatically, hoseok took it from her and took a look at it. "i love it!"

the child beamed proudly. "yay," she slurred and he chuckled. "you tired, rolly polly?" his voice was soft as he held her closer, feeling her bob her head slowly in reply. "you can sleep, angel. uncle hobi will keep you warm." he whispered softly, stroking her hair. smiling small, the four-year-old snuggled closer into his arms and let her eyes flutter close, trusting her uncle to keep her warm and safe.

jangmi and jimin smiled at the sight. helping him with his luggage, jimin led the way out of the airport. "you have to tell me more about amalia later. are you guys official now?" jangmi skipped a little to keep up with his long strides, leaning in to her best friend. hoseok chuckled. "at least let me have some rest and get my body used to our time zone again before i have to go back to work." he glanced down at her. her nose scrunched and her left brow lifted sardonically.

he knew she was about to make a sneering comment but before the words could leave her mouth, jimin glanced back in confusion. "i thought you were going to take a break after such a trip."

"the business of event planning is one that rarely allows for a break, jimin. i'm constantly on call for one event or the other and it's not always in korea. i'm used to making trips like this all the time and having to come back only to get more jobs. my mind and body are accustomed to it." hoseok answered, running a hand over rosalie's back when she shivered as they stepped into the cool night air. "plus, how do you think he's going to plan bora's wedding if he does nothing now?" jangmi chimed in.

jimin completely stopped then. "wait, what?" he turned around fully to look at the best friends, leg twitching only slightly. "she didn't tell you?" jangmi's left brow lifted in question. "no," he replied, a frown etched on his face.

"that's strange. she asked me almost a month ago." hoseok held rosalie closer, pulling his jacket around her to protect her from the slight cold. "well, she has been busy with the gallery and all the drama. it probably just slipped her mind." jangmi shrugged, pushing her hands into the pockets of her jeans.

"she's been all over the place lately, yeah." jimin let out a heavy breath, nodding his head. she walked towards him and her small hands gripped his shoulders, turning him around, pushing him lightly. "now let's go home. it's cold out here." she whined directly into his ear. his shoulders tensed for the shortest of seconds before he relaxed into her touch.

hoseok observed the scene with a raised brow, lips curling in a knowing smile. he wanted nothing more than to make a comment about how cozy they seemed but decided to say nothing, well aware jangmi would not hesitate to hang his severed head on her wall. he shivered slightly at the thought, thoroughly disgusted by the vivid image he managed to conjure in his head.

jangmi glanced back at him, a wide grin on her face. "hurry up kenobi! it's late already. and we still have to call bri." she called out, hands gesturing for him. sighing at the nickname, he picked up his pace, hurrying to the car. breathing in the cool air, he grinned wide. no matter where he went, it was always nice to be back home.

☀️☀️☀️

we're getting really close to the end and i'm getting quite nostalgic already.
and i realise i never officially introduced myself. hi, i'm toni. what's your name?