Wish (Jung Hoseok)

Fourteen

Riley never slept back at her apartment after that, learning she needed to do some therapy if Riley even wanted to try.

"Riley! You got something in the mail ... you don't even live here!" Yoongi said, opening Hoseok's door without so much as a knock. 

"Yah! Yoongi I could be naked in here, for fucks sake!"

"I wouldn't mind that" he said, tossing a package on her lap.

"What the hell was that supposed to mean?" Riley said, standing with the package ready like a weapon.

Yoongi panicked. "I was kidding! Oh dear god forgive me for I have sin- ow. I'm sorry!- ow."

Riley kicked him out after beating him with the box, then shut the door.

It was a bit dented now as it collided with the hardheaded Yoongi a couple times, but regardless, the name "Jung Hoseok" was written on the sender.

Riley ripped the package apart, staring down at a silver chained necklace, with a simple charm at the end. It was shaped as a normal circle, but on the silver plate, 'aein' was engraved.

In Korean, of course.

Riley's eyes welled with tears as she looked down at a picture of Hoseok that laid under where the necklace's box once was.

"Damn... he really knows how to get me crying without trying, huh?"

Riley put the necklace on within seconds of seeing it, sending a picture to Hoseok of herself wearing it with the best, non-teary smile she could muster.

"Thank you, I'm totally not crying right now"

"I don't believe you, but you're welcome :)"

-

Riley opened the door to see Jin and Yoongi, who was pointing accusingly. "She hit me with a box, Jin-Hyung!" He fake cried.

Jin rolled his eyes. "You probably deserved it with how her eyes are all red!"

"No, I'm only crying cause of a gift Hobi sent..."

"Ah~ if that's the case, come with me, your punishment for hitting Yoongi will be to cook dinner with me"

"Yah, what're you doing! I can't cook!"

"No problem! That's why you'll be on boiling water watch."

"Boiling water watch? I might as well hand you each noodle individually!" Riley whined.

"Ah, don't tempt me."

-

Riley groaned as she stood in front of a simmering pan.
Not boiling. Simmering.

"Aish~. I can't just leave, can I?"
"Nope." Jin said, returning to the kitchen holding paper grocery bags.

"What is on the menu today, chef Jin?" She said, her voice monotone.

"It'll be you if you keep up that attitude, missy." Jin was so calm, cutting up onions, carrots and tofu, that she hardly even paid attention to what the man was saying.

"Anyway if you so insist on sleeping in Hoseok's room at least try not to steal our blankets, the maknaes are quite fond of those."

"Well I can't help it, it's always so cold!" Riley whined.

"I put a heater in the room, Riley Clarence-ssi"

"Rude"

"Now, Riley, would Hoseok want you talking to your Oppa like that?" Jin teased, holding a knife at a threatening angle, one hand on his hip as his thick lips spread in a smirk.

"I don't call anyone oppa, Seokjin!"
She skipped the formalities in pure rebellion.

Namjoon suddenly came in, snagging a diced carrot from the tray. "Except for Hoseok!" He mused, winking as he left.
"Not helping!"

"I see... you care for hobi?"

"Obviously."

"Romantically?"

"Hell no!"

"Admit it!"

"Admit what? I won't answer to an old man!"

"I'm not old I'm twenty freaking eight!"

Silence. And then laughter, ending their feud right there as the two laughed over boiling water and chopped vegetables.

"Alright, if I call you Oppa will you leave the hobi topic alone?" She said.

"I guess... just let me be the first to know if anything happens."

Riley smiled. "I can do that, old man."

"Yah! We agreed."

"Fine, fine. Oppa."

"Good girl, here's a cookie."

Jin opened a cabinet, tossing her a box of cookies as he threw the vegetables in a sauce pan.

"You are dismissed, I guess. Make sure you don't hog those blankets."

"Aish... Fine."

-

Riley plopped on her bed, full of Jin's cooking, and exhausted from their fake fight.

Cocooning herself in her favorite plush blanket, Riley took the biggest breath she could, savoring the final scent left of her Hobi.

It had been one week and three days now.

Hoseok was slowly driving her crazy, and he wasn't even there.

Love?

Why does everyone ask me like I'd know what it was?