A speck of blood

The consequenses of a speck of blood - finale

And so they were 7

Who can tell what life will bring you?
Who can tell what choices will make a difference in what,
2 years, 20 years or a minute?

Once a year they will meet in Canberra or Brisbane, once a year in the country house. All 7 of them. That was unanimous.

But first it was the matter of the funeral.

Hoseok was a nervous wreck, flying over seas like that but he
wanted to say his last goodbye to the man nobody really knew for sure. Or maybe they knew him in little pieces? And those pieces were to be shared and combined. Like a puzzle?
In Jungkooks letter was another letter, addressed to Hoseok.
They sat in the garden of Jungkooks parents and read them.
Both cried.
The funeral was tough, the only good thing was that grandpa and grandma had spent the last year together. Just like old times.
People that nobody knew showed up, holding speeches and crying.  You really could say that uncle Leehyun/grandpa Sihyuk was a mystery man and still ...so well known and liked.

A week later Seokjin arrived. His new life began. Chef in the boarding school. One entire year he would see his children every day. After that they had already made plans for university.
Not in 4 years had Seokjins heart been lighter. Or maybe 6, 10?
Him leaving was a shock for So Ahn. She thought life was under control and Seokjin as well. Her work was important,  networks,
meetings,  their brand grew stronger and she was the Queen of it.

But , even so, the house was just a house without him.

2 years later she opened a restaurant in Canberra. Seokjin was invited to share. He declined.
He only wanted a share of what he treasured most; family.
They had work permits for 5 years. That was enough.
And they shared a family. For real this time.

July 5th

-  Are you ready Hye Jin?
-  Get out, you're not supposed to see me! You should be going,
   Hoseok is waiting outside. Come on, you're not getting cold
   feet are you?
-  Maybe sore feet, these shoes aren't exactly tracking boots.
-  If you could choose I bet you would be biking down the
   isle dear.
-  Can I ? Please?
-  Oh shush. Joonie, you'll be fine. Go now!

And so he left the house reluctantly because he was all nerves
and couldn't believe that Hoseok was his best man. After all that pain and that bitter conversation they had that day two years ago.
Without that conversation they might have split up.
The guilt and shame in Namjoon was so burdening.

Hoseok had realized that this was facts, life, truth.
She wasn't his.
He wasn't hers.

But she was Namjoons. But Namjoon wouldn't commit totally.

He loved the freedom of choice.  His playboy life. His idling. His free-as -a-  bird with the wind blowing as he let the pedals work. Free to come and go as he pleased. A free soul.

Only, one day freedom started to burden him.

Hye Jin was a free soul, no strings attached, marriage had been suffocating. It wasn't Hoseoks fault.
The day she looked him up to talk, she told him about the restless soul that carried her away from what they had.
She was a free but restless soul.

Only, one day freedom started to burden her.

The day he proposed to her, he knew there would be changes.
He knew she was afraid too. A free soul like her. But there was no need to be afraid now. For any of them.

They were done playing games.  Life was so much more.

As they walked down the isle he saw the cheerful faces of the others, the brothers, more important than anything but today he began a new life. Hoseok waited up front, smart dressed and looking cool and happy.