Epilogue pt 7 - Finale

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

"Namjoon hyung," Hyun Wook called out, as he began to put some charcoals into the grill. Namjoon helped by putting the coals in the right spots before lighting them up. "When are you going to ask her?"

"When the right time comes," Namjoon muttered, letting out a sigh.

"What? Waiting again? No way! Just do it, now!"

"What if she rejects me?"

If only Hyun Wook had clean hands, he would've facepalmed himself, but he was holding a bag of charcoals. So he just dumped the bag onto the ground, sighing in frustration.

"You- ugh! There's no way for that to happen! Both of you love each other, and both of you had Yeon Hwa. All that both of you need now is marriage!"

"Shhh! Don't say it out loud!" Namjoon shushed, signaling Hyun Wook with his fingers.

Hyun Wook then sighed, and grabbed the man, turning him to face the house and pointing to the windows, where the kitchen inside was visible to them.

Where Hyun Ae was focused on preparing the food for guests, with an apron hanging from her neck, which was exposed because she had tied her hair in a high bun.

"Look at her. Isn't she look beautiful today? Then you must ask her today!" Hyun Wook urged, nudging his elbow.

"Today? But it's Yeon Hwa's birthday..."

"Yeah! When do you want it to be then?"

"Joon."

Suddenly Namjoon jumped on the spot after hearing a call upon his name, and as they turned around, there was Hyun Ae, walked towards them.

"Hey um... hi. What is it, baby? Do you need anything?" Namjoon weakly laughed, still a bit shocked. And somehow nervous at the sight of her that morning.

You are beautiful today.

"I... just wanted to know, when the rest will be here?" Hyun Ae asked, taking off her apron as she approached closer towards them.

"Oh... um... Ten minutes, they said-"

Before Namjoon could finish, they heard the sound of cars pulling up on the other side of the gate. Followed by the sound of doors opening and familiar laughter.

"Is that them? Hyun Wook, go! Oh my goodness!" Hyun Ae excitedly said, gesturing to Hyun Wook to open the gate, while she ran back into the house to put away her apron and untied her bun.

Namjoon could only shake his head, chuckling as he began to wash his hands under the tap near the swimming pool area.

Hyun Wook, on the other hand, had opened the gate, allowing the rest of BTS into the house.

Jungkook was the first one to step in after seven years.

"Hyun Wook! It has been a while! I heard you're a married man now!" Jungkook laughed, hugging his friend tightly.

"Yeah, I am! You, next!" Hyun Wook teased, patting him on the back as he began to talk with the others.

Namjoon heard footsteps coming towards him so he looked over, and saw Hyun Ae standing beside him with her hair down, eyes stuck at the sight of his friends chatting with her brother.

"Go," he whispered, softly placing his hand around her waist, urging her to move. She stared at him for a while and he chuckled. "I know you missed them a lot too, right? So, go."

Hyun Ae took a deep breath and began to walk. A single tear began to escape from her eyes as she got closer to the group.

Precisely, Jungkook.

"KOOKIE!!!!!" she called out, with arms opening towards the group's maknae.

"Heeey Hyun noona!" Jungkook called out, running towards her and hugging her.

Hyun Ae couldn't hold herself in anymore, so she let her tears roll freely down her cheeks as her childhood friend patted her head softly.

"Urgh, I missed you so much, noona!" he said, as they pulled away from each other. "Why did you lie to me? You said it was temporary. Turned out to be seven years. Seriously?"

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." she sniffed, chuckling as she patted his cheeks, noticing the slight changes on his face. "Look at you. You're a grown-up man now. No more 'Baby Kookie' for me."

"No, no. You said it yourself. Grown-up or not, I will always be-"

"My Baby Kookie," Hyun Ae giggled, squishing his lips and cheeks, literally playing with every muscle on his face. "HOW CAN YOU STILL BE SO CUTE EVEN AT 30 YEARS OLD, HUH?"

"Well, you're the same," he laughed, poking her cheek.

"No, I'm not! I looked like an old lady now!"

"Nah, more like a mother of a 7-year-old girl," another voice suddenly spoke.

Hyun Ae looked over Jungkook's shoulder, and it was Jimin, standing by Taehyung. "Hey, Hyun Ae."

"Jimin oppa, Taehyung oppa. How are the girls?" she cooed, giving them a look that made them a bit speechless at first, before laughing. "Hey, I know. Okay? I still follow your updates... kind of..."

"They're fine. They really wanted to come along, but... with their comeback promotions," Taehyung answered, scratching the back of his head.

"Yeah, I understand that."

"Oh, right. This is for Yeon Hwa," Jimin said, handing her a bag along with Taehyung's.

"Oh, thank you," she smiled, and somehow her eyes caught something by the gate.

A girl with a surprised look all over her face, staring right at Hyun Ae with wide eyes and her mouth covered. Then she ran off somewhere.

"Oh, who is that?" Hyun Ae asked when they all turned to the gate and heard something.

"Oppa, oppa! Come here, quick! You never told me that she is your friend!" the girl shrieked from the other side of the gate.

"Who? Hyun Ae?" another voice said, and it was none other than Seokjin's.

"IS IT REALLY HER?" the girl asked, right when she finally reappeared with Jin beside her.

She kept clinging behind him he began to walk up to Hyun Ae, who looked curious now.

"Hey, Seokjin oppa. May I know who this is?" Hyun Ae softly asked, couldn't help but laugh as she bowed her head to the girl hiding behind him.

"My... fiancee- hey, stop it!" Jin huffed, nudging the girl behind him before he stepped aside and pushed her forward. "She's currently enrolled in a culinary academy in the city. Final year. Say something, Eunjoo!"

The girl slapped Jin's shoulder before she tucked her hair behind her ears and did a polite 90-degree bow to Hyun Ae as she began to introduce herself.

"H-Hi. I'm Shin Eunjoo. May I ask you... something?" she shyly asked, to which Hyun Ae responded with a nod as she smiled at Eunjoo. "Are you really Chef Park Hyun Ae? Masterchef Park? Owner of La Dolce restaurants, here and in Australia?"

"Haha! I guess, my face without makeup is different than I'm with it," Hyun Ae snickered before she nodded. "Yes, it's me."

Eunjoo gasped and began to slap Jin repeatedly which annoyed him so much. She tried to calm herself down as Hyun Ae held out her hand to the girl.

"I AM SO HONOURED TO MEET YOU! I'm a big fan of yours!" Eunjoo squealed, shaking Hyun Ae's hand in excitement.

"Look at you," Jin sneered, rolling his eyes at his fiancee as he crossed his arm over his chest.

"Excuse me, as if I ever know that you're friends with her! Plus, she's the nation's pride! It's the dream of every chef in my academy to meet her!" Eunjoo exclaimed.

"Well, is it your and your friends' dream to do this to her?"

Seokjin walked closer to Hyun Ae and began to pinch both of her cheeks.

"H-Hey! Ah, Seokjin oppa! We just met after seven years!" Hyun Ae whined, pushing him away.

"Yeah, I know you miss me too. I missed cooking with you though," Jin scoffed, patting her head playfully.

He turned to Eunjoo, and she was frozen as she watched the two friends. "Are you turning into stone now?" Jin sighed, tugging on her arm playfully.

"I just... I was... How do you expect me to react after seeing my inspiration right before my eyes?! And you just... pinched her," Eunjoo finally let out a sigh, shaking her head.

Hyun Ae laughed, now acknowledging the girl as her fan in the world of culinary. She took Eunjoo's hand and asked her, "wanna help me with cooking today?"

"Are you serious?! I would love to! I can learn skills from you at the same time!"

"That's exactly what am I going to do for you," Hyun Ae grinned at her, making her squeal again. Hyun Ae turned to Jin after realizing something. "Ah... where's Hobi oppa and... Yoongi oppa?"

"Like magic, I appeared!" Hoseok suddenly appeared behind Jin, looking so hyped up.

Hyun Ae laughed at him, who was still living up to his nickname even in his 30s, 'Sunshine Hobi'.

"Hey, Hyun Ae!" Hoseok said, being loud as usual as he hugged the girl. "It's good to see you again! This is my present for your daughter."

"Oh, thank you so much! Hobi oppa, you're just like when you were younger! Nothing has changed about you!" she chuckled, taking the present from him right when Namjoon was standing beside her. "Joon..."

"I'll take this inside. Let's get inside, everyone," Namjoon said, leading the way back to the house while followed by them, and he realized that Hyun Ae wasn't among them.

"Babe?" he called out as he turned, and Hyun Ae was still standing in the same spot while staring at the gate.

Because Yoongi was standing there. With a yellow gift bag, hanging from his hand.

Namjoon walked over to Hyun Ae and touched her shoulder, surprising her a bit. She turned to him and the look on her face was a bit different.

"Joon..."

"Ah... go talk with him. He already asked my permission to meet you. Just you and him, alone," Namjoon mumbled, smiling as he kissed her head. Hyun Ae was a bit confused, then he chuckled. "Hey, I already knew it. About the scar on your arm."

Namjoon nodded in understanding, then began to walk back into the house after signaling Yoongi to pass the gift bag to him.

"Yoongi..." Hyun Ae whispered as she ran towards Yoongi and hugged him tight in silence, tears began to roll down her face as he softly patted her head and his other hand on her back.

"Hey, Hyun Ae. How are you?" Yoongi hummed as she pulled away.

"Great. I'm doing great. I hope the same goes for you," she chortled, sniffing as she kept wiping her tears away.

"Yup. I already met Yeon Hwa once, she's a sweet girl. Just like you," Yoongi smiled, caressing her hair. "Sweet, beautiful, and smart."

"Thank you," she shyly bowed, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Have... you found someone... special in your life?"

"Well... to be honest, I did," he sighed and gave her a look as he went on, "seven years ago."

Hyun Ae silently sighed, tilting her head to one side after hearing it from him.

"I'm sorry that I still couldn't move on from you. But don't worry about me. I told you, I'm the happiest man in the world when I see you happy with someone you love."

Yoongi then grabbed her arm and turned it over, smiling as he noticed it.

"The scar is fading. I guess soon enough, I will be no longer a part of your life as I fade along with the scar."

"No," Hyun Ae suddenly said. "No, that will never happen. You know why?"

Yoongi looked up at her, anticipating the answer.

"How can I forget the man who had saved me? Because if it wasn't for him... I won't get my current happiness," she whispered, taking both of his hands in hers.

"Thank you again, Min Yoongi. You will always be a part of my life."

*****

"Phew..." Namjoon breathed out, after taking in the whole glass of his orange juice as his nerves kept on tingling. He put down the glass on one of the small standing tables and looked around.

It was the after-event BBQ private party at night on the rooftop where the only guests were BTS themselves, both Jimin's and Taehyung's girlfriends that had come later, Henry, and some other Hyun Ae's friends in her business area.

But Namjoon only had his eyes on Hyun Ae, who was having bright conversations between her and Jimin's and Taehyung's idol girlfriends.

Hyun Ae did notice him staring at her, but every time their eyes met, they naturally looked away from each other. Which she had found silly.

"Well?" suddenly a voice interrupted Namjoon, and an arm suddenly came around the nervous guy's shoulders. Namjoon turned to him, only to realize it was Hyun Wook.

"What are you waiting for?" Jin suddenly said, standing beside Namjoon with a drink in his hand.

"Hyung, I'm nervous," Namjoon stuttered. The shakiness in his breathing was so obvious to both of them.

"Tell me you're bluffing. Hey, you stood before millions of fans in the past. This is just one girl. It's Hyun Ae, not anyone else! It's simple! You don't have to say many things, just get on your knee and pull out the ring!"

"I know! It's just... what if she's not ready-"

"Attention, everyone!" Jin suddenly announced, clanking his glass with a fork he found on the table.

Everyone turned to him and now it was total silence, with the whole attention on him. Also Hyun Ae's attention too.

"Namjoon here had something to say."

"Seokjin hyung!" Namjoon hissed, pulling the eldest by his sleeve to the side. Namjoon then turned back to the people. "Uh... hahahaha, hi... everyone. I'm uh... Kim Namjoon-"

"Just. Do. It!" Jin prompted from behind him, giving him a push on his back.

"Fine!" Namjoon huffed, finally taking a few steps toward Hyun Ae.

He patted his jeans' back pockets to look for something, and let out a nervous sigh as he was ready.

"Park Hyun Ae," he loudly called out to Hyun Ae. She was a bit confused about what was happening, so she took a few steps forward and finally stood face-to-face with Namjoon.

There was a moment of silence, even the sound of random people breathing could be heard.

Here goes nothing.

"Your love is something that I can't control. You are on my mind and heart all the time. Before I met you, I was not familiar with the feeling of love. But now I came to know what love is. My heart misses its beats when I come closer to you."

Hyun Ae softly laughed, tilting her head to one side as she looked up at him and he continued.

"You are so beautiful, both inside and outside. I must be so lucky that I was able to find you in this big world and make you mine. Thank you for coming into my life. I love you, darling," Namjoon said, cupping her face with his hand.

And Hyun Ae gasped as he began to go on one knee on the floor, while his other hand was searching for something in his back pocket. Murmurs could be heard now from the guests, which had given him more strength than he needed to be able to say the next thing.

"Our past was memorable, can our future be infinite?" Namjoon asked, pulling out a purple ring box and opening it, revealing a simple yet beautiful diamond ring to Hyun Ae, who was already in tears.

"I promise to love you a little bit more every day. So... will you be mine... forever?"

Squeals could be heard from the female guests, some already whispering multiple 'yes', but Hyun Ae was totally speechless, as tears kept on flowing down her cheeks.

"I don't really know what I'm supposed to do if you say 'no', so could you save us both the trouble and say 'yes?'" Namjoon muttered, as his nervousness began to seep into him again when she didn't answer him.

Hyun Ae laughed after realizing how quiet she was, immediately nodding at him. "Oh, yes! Yes, yes, yes!"

The guests began to applaud and congratulate both of them after Hyun Ae said her answer.

As for Namjoon, he let out a sigh of relief as he stood up and pulled out the ring. He took Hyun Ae's hand in his, putting the ring onto her finger, and it fitted perfectly.

"Namjoon, I love you so much," Hyun Ae whispered, as she looked up at him and had a quick kiss.

The party went on but now with a different vibe after Namjoon's proposal to Hyun Ae. Hyun Wook, Yoon Hee, Henry, and the rest of BTS began to approach the bride and groom-to-be, congratulating them, starting with Jin.

Which was not really a good idea.

"See? You're still alive. She didn't bite you, right? I was ready to call the ambulance, just in case she cut your hand for supper," Jin teased.

"Urgh, Jin hyung..."

*****

After the whole party came to an end, the guests went home one by one. Hyun Wook and his wife already went to sleep in their room, and so was Yeon Hwa.

Leaving only both Namjoon and Hyun Ae on the rooftop, alone.

Setting the place like the last time they hung out on the rooftop. Beanbags on a picnic mat, a small fireplace, and a small table on one side.

Hyun Ae took the spot next to him on the mat and scooted closer to him as he pulled her closer.

"Hmmm. You're so warm," she whispered, inhaling his scent. She adjusted herself in his arms before stretching out her arm to the sky and both of them stared at the diamond ring. "I still can't believe it."

"Then please believe it," Namjoon chuckled, taking her hand and placing a kiss on it.

Both of them stared at the night sky in silence, only accompanied by the sound of fire crackling and insects with its sounds.

"Remember that night? It was a starry night sky too," Namjoon said, letting out a sigh.

"Yeah, what a coincidence- Oh!" Hyun Ae sat up immediately and pointed to the sky. "A shooting star! Make a wish now!"

Hyun Ae closed her eyes and had her hands clasped together as she said her wishes in silence.

A few minutes later, she opened her eyes and looked over to Namjoon, who was watching her with a smile.

"You're still doing it?" he asked, chuckling.

"So? Anyway, did you make a wish?" she asked, lying back next to him as he shook his head. "Why didn't you?!"

"Because I already got my last wish granted."

Their eyes locked onto each other before Namjoon began to lean closer and placed his lips against hers. Hyun Ae placed one of her hands on his shoulder, pulling him closer.

"I want you to move in and live with me. You and Yeon Hwa. I have a house in Hannam The Hill. Seokjin hyung lives nearby too," he whispered against her lips, giving it another peck before pulling away.

"Really? Oh, I would love to! Hannam The Hill. Your old dorm was there too, right?"

"Yeah. And for now, only Hobi and Jimin lived there, and sometimes Jungkook too. More like a hang-out place for us. I can't wait to wake up next to you every morning, legally," Namjoon smirked, earning a giggle from her as he kissed her hand again.

They continued to stare at the sky in silence, and at this moment, he wanted to surprise her.

"Watch me," he whispered, then began to point to the sky. "That's Corona Borealis. Consists of seven stars. The myth behind it is that it was a crown given by Dionysus to Ariadne. When they got married, Dionysus threw it to the sky."

"I won't be surprised, because Dionysus inspired you last time. So pretty much you already knew it from the start," Hyun Ae chortled, poking his cheek playfully.

"Fine. Pick one then."

Hyun Ae looked around, then she pointed to one constellation. He stared at it, then cleared his throat.

"Cygnus. It represents a swan flying down the rich starfields of the northern Milky Way. Deneb is the brightest star in the constellation," he smoothly explained, turning to her with a victory smile. "Babe, I studied astronomy last time. I'll be honest, it was so damn complicated. But I wonder..."

Namjoon began to point at one single bright star in the sky as he asked, "what's that?"

Hyun Ae stared at it for a while and tried to remember anything, but she truly had no idea about the mysterious star.

"Hm... I don't know either. I just realized that too. A new star? What if..." she paused and looked over to him, "Joon, do you believe in a parallel universe?"

"Parallel universe?"

"Yeah. Another world where

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net