Under the lights tonight || Park Jimin

15

My first full day in Korea is going to be less awful than I expected. I hadn't expected that my brothers would still want to attend their activities, so after taking Yeonjun to his piano lessons and San to his baseball practice. I'm left at home alone while Aunt Mae is off making funeral preparations, which I'm thankful for her to take care of because I don't know if I could have. We were supposed to meet with the lawyer but he had to cancel our meeting last minute. I look around at the white walls which are still plastered with the same BTS posters that were here when I left, it was a reminder of a really troubling time.

My phone buzzing catches my attention and I answer immediately, "Hello?"

"Ana!" Stella shouts, "How are you?"

"Hi Stella," I laugh at her, "I'm alright, still a little jet-lagged but I figured it out. I took the boys to their practices and now I'm home alone. How are you?"

"I'm fantastic!" Stella giggles like she can't wait to tell me something, "I have a surprise for you."

"Great but you know I'm across the world from you right now right?"

"I know that!" Stella snaps, "Now do you want to know or not?"

I pause, knowing Stella's surprises are never really things I like but more things she likes, "I suppose." I flop back onto my bed.

"I'm flying to Korea tomorrow!" She shouts making me pull the phone away from my ear to avoid going deaf.

"What?" I was used to her rash spending but never something this big, "Stella can you afford this? What are you thinking-"

She cuts me off, "It's taken care of."

"Oh my god," I huff, "Aunt Mae can't keep throwing her money around like this! I can't believe she would do this without asking me-"

Stella cuts me off, "Don't rip Aunt Mae's head off, she didn't spend any money. She offered but I did this."

"I can't believe you."

"Sorry I wanted to be there for my best friend."

"If you're leaving in the morning I should probably let you sleep," I sigh, "Goodnight Stella."

"Alright thank you," She laughs, "Oh and good Morning Ana."

*****

The day has been exhausting, I got my brothers home and I'm cleaning up dinner. Tonight I just made some noodles for dinner because that's all that was in the house. I found out that dad only fed them noodles or takeout, which is terrible for two growing boys, so I guess I'll have to go grocery shopping and start cooking more.

"Ana?" Junnie's little voice echos down the hall, "Come tuck us in we're tired!"

I set down the dishes that I was cleaning before heading upstairs and down the hall, "Coming." I stop right outside Yeonjun's room to see him climbing into bed. He looks so little compared to San at that age, he'll probably always be the baby of the family. I walk over to the bed and tuck the blanket around him, "There you go." I smile softly.

"Goodnight Ana," Yeonjun smiles, shutting his eyes, "I love you."

"Goodnight Junnie," I replied walking to the door.

Just as I'm about to shut the light off Yeonjun speaks up, "Do you not love me? You never say it back." He has a frown across his face.

The question catches me completely off guard, "Oh Junnie that's not it. Of course, I do, I just-" I pause thinking of how to explain it to him, "I do. I love you." I answer and he smiles, shutting his eyes again. I flick the lights off and shut his door.

"You don't have to tuck me in," San waves me off, "I'm alright."

I roll my eyes, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm getting too old."

"Alright goodnight." I reply, turning the light off, "I love you." I add.

"Love you too," San adds as I shut the door. I glance down at my watch, it was nearing 8:30. I should probably get ready to see Jimin. I walk down the hall to my room, quietly shutting the door since Aunt Mae had gone to sleep a little while ago and I had let the boys stay up to watch a movie with me. She came home with a migraine and was stressed about the funeral preparations. I turn to my clothes which I had put into my closet again, I flip through the closet to decide what to wear. I pull all my options off the rack, tossing them on the bed. Nothing looks good. I can't find a single dress to wear or even an outfit I like. I flop down onto my bed with a sigh beside my clothes.

I'm startled by a knock on the door, "Ana you alright?" She opens the door.

"Oh sorry," I apologize, standing up, "I didn't mean to wake you."

She waves me off, "You didn't wake me, I've been awake."

"I thought you went to bed?"

"I was just hiding from you all to get some rest, not sleeping." She laughs, "Besides I think we have more pressing matters than if I was sleeping or not. What are you doing?"

"Oh, I-" I pause, debating whether or not to lie and cancel or just tell her, "I'm going out tonight." I sigh.

"Oh reconnecting with some old friends?"

"Something like that." I sigh.

"Is it the guy from the bar the other day?" She questions and I remain silent, "It is! It's a date!"

"It's just drinks."

"Drinks with a pretty guy that you like!" Aunt Mae is practically jumping up and down.

"I don't like him like that," I roll my eyes, "We're just friends."

"If you're just friends then why aren't you ready to go? Why are you so worried about what you wear tonight?"

"Well, he's-" I cut myself off, "I just need to pick something to wear okay?"

Aunt Mae grins, "Alright. She flips through my clothing, picking out the black bodycon dress that Stella had taken from her closet and shoved into my bag, "Wear this."

"Isn't that too..." I trail off, hesitant to wear such a dress, "It's a little..."

"Stop being such a prude it's a dress." Mae snaps, "You're young, act like it."

"Fine." I hold my hand out for the dress and she hands it over.

"I'm gonna find you some shoes."

"Alright." I sigh.

"You're going to look great," Aunt Mae waves my worries off, "Put on that dress, pop on some heels, straighten your hair and add some lipstick, then you're gonna look amazing."

"It's not a date though."

"Ana that doesn't mean you can't look nice to go out," Aunt Mae rolls her eyes, "Now get changed."