A few weeks passed and you have gotten closer to the three boys than you ever thought you would be. You had been meeting up with all of them after school and they have dragged you to different places before and after your work.

Coffee shops where you all share one cup of bitter coffee after debating for half an hour if a five-dollar pizookie was worth it. Clothing stores where none of you ever buy anything from, you just hold the shirts to your bodies and think about wearing them. Pop-up art museums where you were fairly sure they only went for the aesthetics rather than the actual art.

It felt like you've been around the world just by spending time with the four of them. And everything they did—all the dragging you to places and waiting for you to finish with work so they could take you to hang out—was all in an attempt to give you back the childhood you should have had.

They weren't responsible for what happened to you, they knew, but as your friends, they felt it would be their part to make you as happy as you ever could now.

They even went as far as to join you at your graveyard shift after midnight once. It was an event organized by none other than Jisung himself, and Seungmin made up the sleepover excuse so nobody's parents would be worried that their child wasn't home yet.

They had caused a ruckus in the convenience store that night, but it had been fine because barely anyone approached the outside world in the dead of night. They continuously purchased instant noodles and sodas until they had either tried everything in the store or started getting tummy aches from all the different mixtures of food. It was an effort to keep themselves awake.

All four of them ended up falling asleep with their heads on the countertop by the start of sunrise, and you all ate breakfast in the store when your shift ended before bidding each other goodbye.

It was the closest you have ever felt to having a family. When Felix laid his head on your shoulder as he dozed off, still sipping the juice box in his hand; when Hyunjin ruffled your hair when you could finally join them by the windowpane; when Seungmin went to heat the bento box for you and stood by the counter table because he gave you his seat.

Just all the smallest things that made the world a little brighter for you. Just all the small things that made up a group of people and their habits around each other that made everything a little better for you.

You could not have asked for better friends.

"I knew we should not have picked today to come here," Seungmin said as he faced the crowded area.

Most of the time, at least.

You guys have planned to visit a cat café on a whooping Sunday afternoon—well, no, Felix planned it and made you join him by booking a table for five beforehand. Seungmin had complained about him picking a bad date, and he was right. The shopping area was packed with people free from school and work, moving from one corner to the other as they went about their last free day before the week recycled again.

That made it harder for you all because none of you knew exactly where this café was located, and you guys were on quite a tight schedule.

"There was only today!" Felix huffed. "Hyunjin should have come earlier, then we wouldn't have to worry about being late to the reservation. We would have had time to look for the café."

Hyunjin rolled his eyes, clicking his tongue in response to the accusation. "You made the reservation, Felix," he said. "If anything, you should know where it is."

Jisung and you shared a look before he pursed his lips and stepped between the two, his hands raised in mock defeat. With an awkward laugh, Jisung began, "Alright, let's not fight! We can just ask [Name] to find it for us!"

You widened your eyes at him incredulously then, surprised by his suggestion. When the three boys turned their hopeful eyes at you, you only shook your head at them. "I can't do that," you said. "We don't have location spells like that."

"What? So what kind of location spells do you have?" Jisung asked, dropping his arms to his sides.

"The kind that finds people? Or the kind that finds places that don't have duplicated names like 'The Meow Café,' " You replied with faint disbelief.

"There is probably only one of those cafés around this area, [Name]," Seungmin pointed out.

You sucked in a breath and forced a smile at him. Seungmin was always so smart, but somehow he was never on the same page as you.

"Right, except the strings don't point out where it is to me so I can eliminate the places," you said. "They pull me towards the place, meaning that if there is one of these cafés down the other direction, I will get pulled towards two different places at once."

Seungmin sighed then. It was a somewhat disappointed sigh. "That's unconventional."

"Phone maps that don't work without an internet connection are also unconventional," you retorted. "At least my strings work anytime I need them to."

"Do they, though?" Seungmin questioned. "Because from my recollection, you said that magic has consequences. And from what I am seeing, your consequence can actually end your life at some point."

Seungmin was about to add to his point when Jisung clamped a hand over his mouth. There was a smile on Jisung's face, but his eyes possessed a glare. Part of him was happy that you and Seungmin's relationship had gotten to this point where you could bicker with him as much as he and Hyunjin would, but sometimes he thought how much more venomous you two were in comparison.

It may be the product of both of you being logical and pessimistic people. When you two argue, it is never like the silly arguments that Jisung has with everyone else. Jisung possessed a ridiculously unserious nature that you nor Seungmin did, thus making every friendly quarrel stupid banters. You and Seungmin were both stubborn and opinionated. It was not the best combination when it came to disagreement, but a deadly great one when it came to needing a solution.

Jisung urged Seungmin to shut up and made sure Seungmin would comply before he was released from Jisung's grip. Jisung turned back to stand by your side, giving Seungmin one last pointed glare to behave. Clearing his throat, Jisung gave everyone a brief look before he suggested, "How about we split up and look for it? If some of us arrive then they can't cancel our reservation."

"Finally, an idea!" Hyunjin exclaimed. "I'll go with Felix!"

Seungmin furrowed his brows as he looked at the two. When he realized he wasn't quite feeling like joining the chaotic duo, he turned to look over at you and Jisung. He frowned more because of the petty argument you two just had, and he grimaced as he took a few steps step.

"I'll ask around by myself," he said.

You looked away, not wanting to meet eyes with him. It was not because you felt wrong about what he said, but it was out of pure spite to act like you couldn't care less. The only reason you were willing to be petty about this was that you and Seungmin knew this wa less than what it seemed to be. It was just friendly hatred. Like siblings, a random question or an offering of food would fix the rigid tension.

You knew he would come around eventually, and you two would be chatting again in no time, so for now, you'd wither under all the spiteful actions you could muster and prepare to apologize to him later.

After the little searching parties were formed, you all went separate in different directions. You and Jisung continued to walk straight ahead while the others went on either side where the roads open up with more stores littered on the side.

The crowd was still large and buzzing, causing a lot of trouble with sticking together and walking normally. It was almost as if you two were stuck waiting in a queue in a theme park. Jisung kept turning his head back to glance at you, his brows furrowing more and more each time when he noticed how you seemed to get farther and farther away from him.

Soon enough, when he turned back once again, he could barely see you among people anymore. He clicked his tongue and halted his steps, his eyes darting everywhere for your face. He waited for the people to move around him, some throwing him glares for not moving while some others simply moved out of his way. None of them caused him to budge from his spot until you caught up with him slowly, popping out from behind strangers.

"It's so crowded here," you complained with a sigh. "Felix really chose a bad day."

He smiled faintly, giving you a shrug. "At least we can pet kittens later," he said before looking down at his phone, a map displayed on his screen.

He had no idea where it was bringing him to. Back then, when the group was still gathered, the map clearly showed that they were at the destination despite their inability to find it. The route on the screen continuously changed to fit the illogical directions he was heading toward, and he just knew he didn't trust it. He only still had a map out because it was better than blindly guessing where the café would be.

Putting his phone back into his pocket after he took a good look, he gave the surrounding shops a scan before he hummed. "I think we should try walking further and see."

"Yeah, I will keep an eye out." You nodded at him.

Before Jisung moved again, he casually reached over to grab your hand before he started to walk. A silent squeal fell at the tip of your tongue. For some odd reason your mind didn't consider this a grand gesture even though your heart was swelling at how bold that was. It was just to keep you from getting lost in the crowd and to keep you from being separated from him; for all you knew, Hyunjin was probably dragging Felix by the hand as well, considering the sea of people around you.

But it was a romantic gesture, nonetheless.

Jisung kept his gaze forward. The first few seconds of him holding your hand, he went through it with widened eyes and pursed lips, a blushy smile threatening to rise to his face. He was both surprised at his daringness and glad that you chose to keep his hand wrapped under yours. Then he slowly got used to it. The softness of your palm no longer a foreign object of his affection and desire.

You were close to him, you two were holding hands among the crowd, and there was that.

As you two shifted through waves of people, Jisung suddenly paused as his head turned to the side. You followed where he was looking at, wondering if he had found the shop already only to find him looking at a stationery store.

Turning back to him, you asked, "Do you need to get something?"

Jisung hummed in thoughts, unsure if he should wait until you guys are done with the café before coming back here to get what he needed for school. But he also didn't want his forgetful self to remember he needed something until you both got home because a coffee shop filled with cats seemed like a nice place to get school-related amnesia.

"Kind of..." he muttered as he started tugging at your hand, bringing you out of the main street and to the side where the shops were located. "It'll just be a minute," he said when you two were at the entrance, his thumb briefly brushing past the back of your palm as a form of farewell before he let go and rushed into the store.

You watched his back disappear into the shelves before looking away and leaning against the wall, hiding near an empty corner so you couldn't be in people's way. During this dull moment, you decided to glance down at your hand instead of watching people pass by, thus running the risk of making awkward eye contact with strangers.

A small smile appeared on your lips as you squeezed your hand together, remembering the shape of Jisung's hand in yours. You felt like such a sap, but it was rightfully so. Everything has changed for both of you since that day in the alleyway. None of you have made a declarative move yet, but there have been moments of affection here and there; there have been many suggestive questions and dodgy replies, blatant smiles and glances, and a whole lot of subtle touching.

It was all pushing and pulling, not telling each other how you felt, and leaving confusing signals.

All three of your friends knew, though. Seungmin had also dragged you into confronting conversations about how you felt about Jisung (which he already knew). The conversation would quickly be halted by a distracting topic about the differences between your lives. No matter how much of yourselves you reveal to each other, there seems to be more to learn.

The most hilarious thing was Seungmin's reaction toward your childhood tragedy, which you expected from someone with such strong opinions about everything.

As you huffed out a breath of fresh air, trying to keep your mind off of the sappy relationship problems (that were not real problems, really), you made a mental note to yourself that you should initiate the apology this time. Your eyes wandered off in the moment of not thinking, and quickly, you caught sight of a pair of designer shoes stopping in front of you.

You ignored it for a moment, your brain not ready to process your surroundings yet. But when the person refused to leave, you finally snapped your head up.

The irritation that masked your face faded the second you saw those pair of familiar eyes shining down at you. You paused to assess the familiarity; was it illusional nostalgia, or was it real? Was he who you thought he was? The man stared at you for a good moment as well, having the same question as you, then realization flooded into his face, and he huffed out an almost relieved laugh upon seeing your faint smile.

"Minho..." you muttered under your breath, disbelief clouding your judgment upon seeing the man who used to babysit you when your parents were off to council gatherings.

Lee Minho lived within the same residential area as you. His house was within your block, only separated by two houses. His family was also part of the council, but they were not as long-standing as yours. Since his family was more lenient about having him be around at council meetings despite being of age to do so, he had always gotten free time to take care of you.

"Oh my god, it is you." He gasped in wonder. "I haven't seen you in years!"

"Yeah, I know. I was there when you didn't see me," you said sarcastically before smiling faintly at him. "How are you? How have you been?"

"I've been fine. I finished college already, if you can do the math, and I mainly help around my family's work at the council now," he replied with faraway eyes and a few nods. He was thinking, debating if he wanted to bring up what had happened. "I have been worried about you, actually."

Minho was young back then, but he understood the intensity of the situation and had waited for you to turn to him for help or comfort. He did take primary care of you immediately after the accident despite his parents' protest. You lived with him, he took care of all the living expenses with his allowance, and he would bring you to check on your uncle in the hospital. Then you grew older. You turned ten, and the council stripped you from his protective grasp.

You did confide in him once or twice when you were forced to be under the educational curriculum of the existing council members, but then one day, you vanished and never returned. You just fled without telling him anything.

"People thought you died because nobody in the council has heard from you again. I thought you died!"

You gave him a casual shrug, your lips pursing as you thought of what to say to him.

He must have felt betrayed somehow. Despite everything, Minho had once been close to you, albeit you were very young and didn't feel the need to have gratitude. He cooked your meals, he tutored you with school, and he lied to your parents for you countless times. Even the trusty spell you used to hide your trails came from him when he taught you how to always win in a game of hide-and-seek.

It was a simple spell. It was easy to break, but nobody thought to break it, not even Minho.

You wondered why you never looked to him for help, and it felt like the answer was already there: his family was part of the council. You knew not of the detail of what went down and who schemed the entire incident, so you were unwilling to place your bets on any family. Minho's family was just as likely to have taken part in the murder of yours despite you knowing them as kind neighbors.

Would it directly be Minho's fault that your family died? No, but he became a liability once the possibility that his parents may have been part of the culprit group, and you refused to take any chances. Even though he cared about you. Even though he was a great friend of your uncle.

"You should consider coming back, [Name]," Minho suggested then, straightening his posture.

You furrowed your brows at him, unable to fathom how he thought that would be a good idea. Even if nobody was plotting your downfall, why would you return to the city where you lost everything? He was idiotic to make that suggestion.

"There is no reason for me to," you replied.

"The council still has a spot for you," Minho retorted softly.

"Tell them to find somebody else," you blurted out coldly. "I'm not interested in working in a system that murdered my family, nor am I interested in helping them be better."

Minho gave you a brief sigh of defeat, trying to find the right words to phrase everything. He understood. Logically, he really did. If he were in your position... well, he would probably do a few things differently, but the hatred you held for the council was justified. However, things have changed drastically since then. Change was bound to happen after so long; as Minho saw it, the council would be safe.

There was no reason for you to suffer alone in the mundane world.

"Look... it has been years, [Name]. I am sorry for being insensitive, but it really has been years since what happened," he said. "The council is much different now, I promise you. Most of the people who used to be there are not a member anymore, and a majority of us do not agree with what happened, nor will it be allowed again. You should give it a chance. Come back, come home. I can help you."

You sucked in a breath. Disregarding that you could never get over what happened to your family or that only a majority of things changed and not all things, you could appreciate Minho's determination to help you out. But you never wished to go back to that godforsaken place. Not only because of the tragic memories plastered all over that city but also because you have got important things here with you now.

You built your identity in this city; you found your jobs here, you met your friends here, and you found your soulmate here. You would never permanently leave this city unless the people you love are leaving it too.

"I am not going back, Minho. I'm sorry." You shook your head. "I am doing really good here."

Minho was quick to frown at you. "Good here?" He said, his voice suspicious and almost condescending. You have never seen him like this because you never got the chance to. Everyone around you used to be magic users. "[Name], people here can't do what we can. You can't explore your potential here, which is a huge waste! Remember who your family is and what they can do, don't let all of that go down the drain!"

"Who cares about my magic if I will be miserable for the rest of my life? Like you said, only most of the council has changed, not all of them. I will not be safe until all of