Wish (Jung Hoseok)

Eighteen

One day later, and wheels hit the American soil.

There was no convincing Hyunwoo out of anything. Especially when his main argument was that the American branch was in flames since Riley's departure.

But once the girl saw Korea fade out of view of that little square of a window, she felt her heart fade with it. Everything she had built of herself felt like it came crumbling down.

And overall, the anniversary was approaching.

At least I can see my mother. Oh wait, I can't. She's in Tennessee. Riley thought sarcastically, pushing some hair behind her ear as she pushed her way out of the plane, out of the airport, onto the streets.

It was crowded, and Riley hated it.
Sure, Seoul could be busy sometimes. But the people were nicer, and Riley could tell they at least weren't raised by addicts.

No offense New Yorkers. She thought, like they could tell what she was thinking.

They might as well have been able to tell, with the glares and pushes each New Yorker gave Riley, when she forgot where she was and forgot to dodge out of the way.

It was like a fever dream she felt she'd never be able to wake up from.

"Riley!" She heard. The voice struck a nerve, but she turned around. Hyunwoo waved excitedly, running to hug her.

Riley pushed him away.

"I don't want to be here." Was all the girl said as her bags were loaded into a car.

She missed her Hyundai.
She missed her apartment, even.

Riley missed... everything.

Her apartment had been snagged by Bangtan as soon as they could, in case she ever could come back.

Riley's stomach twisted at the thought of their goodbyes.

Hoseok still hadn't talked to Riley, but he knew if he didn't he would regret it.

Especially considering the girl could only take so long of sleeping alone before she lost her mind.

Riley was sleeping on the couch, trying to catch a nap before her flight that evening.

He didn't even care that she was sleeping, gently poking her cheek to wake the girl. Each moment was important to him.

"Riley... please, I'm sorry I overreacted but-"

Riley's eyes opened at the sound of his apology. Her arms then wrapped around him, her face buried in the crook of his neck.
"It's okay, I understand."

"No, Riley I shouldn't lose it on you for something out of your control. I'm just scared to lose you. Lose you to... him."

Riley chuckled. "Hyunwoo is selfish for this, but he's not my best friend. You are."

She could see a flicker of hurt on his face, but the smile never faltered.

Riley's words hurt her too. She still didn't know how she felt even now.

Suddenly, her alarm went off, signaling it was time to leave.

Her eyes grew sad. Tired.
"Please don't go." Hoseok whispered, holding her close.

"I'm sorry."

Riley's lips curled in a sneer.

Hyunwoo expected her to be happy to be back. To be happy after being snatched from country she'd dreamed of for so long.

To be snatched from Bangtan.

From Hobi.

"Please, Riley it was for your own good." Hyunwoo said from the drivers seat, rolling his eyes like she couldn't see him in the rear view mirror.
Her blood boiled.

"For your information, Hyunwoo. I am in no way happy. I was happy there, with bangtan. In Korea where I belong. Why else would I start speaking the language if I didn't belong there?"

He didn't respond. Only pulled up to her old apartment, which was kept alive by Dani.

Dani... that would be a little bit of a plus. She hoped to heavens the girl was home.

Riley suddenly felt ill. This situation was way too familiar.

Being dropped at some unknown new home, expected to just thrive like you've always been there.

Riley snatched her bag from Hyunwoo's hand, making her way inside before he could say another word.

She locked the door instantly.

Do I even trust Hyunwoo anymore? Why is he acting like this?

Suddenly, he started pounding on the door an Riley's stomach sank to her toes.

It sounded like at any minute he'd just kick the door down, but finally after so long of knocking, pounding and shouting, he left.

Riley broke down almost as soon as she heard the car drive off. The tires squealing from his angry driving somehow calming to her.

Without second thought, she called Hoseok.

"Aein, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
Hoseok already knew what was wrong by the desperate gasps for breath.

"Aein please breathe, where is Dani?"

He didn't ask for Hyunwoo. Does he know?

After a couple breaths, Riley set the phone down on the dusty coffee table as she curled up on the stiff, cold couch.

"I don't know... H-Hyunwoo got angry with me. I locked the door but he kept pounding on it. Hobi I'm scared, you're so far away and I just feel so... out of place. Like a 500 piece puzzle piece shoved into a 1000 piece puzzle to make it complete."

"Riley, you have to go to your president and ask to be transferred again. I promise, we'll work over here to get you back. Taehyung is raising a big stink to anyone else trying to interview him this week."

Riley sniffed, wiping her eyes with a small chuckle as she imagined Taehyung acting like a diva.

"I miss you. All of you."

"We miss you, Riley. Come home soon okay, aein? Call me if anything happens and I'll kill that dick on sight."

His voice wavered from sweet to absolutely murderous within two words. It sent chills through Riley's spine, down to her toes like a breeze was blown past.

"I promise I will."

-
Back in Korea
-

Jungkook laid on Taehyung's bed, needing some sense of comfort.

Riley had become their eighth member, and now that she was gone, the poor boy was restless.

His ears perked up when he heard his phone chime. Sarah.

Jungkook grabbed for the phone, reading her message.

He'd ranted earlier, about how Riley had left and they all were going through their own loss of the girl.

She wasn't dead, but she might as well have been with how far she was.

"I know her well, kookie. I promise she'll be back before you know it and you'll forget this ever happened." Sarah said.

"Will you come here? Soon?" Jungkook pressed send before he could second guess it.

"I'll be there tomorrow, Kookie."

He grinned. A week early.

It fell as soon as it came.

Christmas. Their first Christmas with Riley was gone.

But... first Christmas with Sarah made him feel a bit better.