Alone | Jake Sim x OC

Smile For Me (Prologue)

"We didn't have a choice! Actually no, that's not true. We did. Of course we gave you up!" The irritated shout cut through the bitingly cold night air. A shocked tear leaked silently out of Isabella's disbelieving eyes, the words hitting her harder than her knees hit the ground, harder than she ever thought they would, harsher than the unforgiving wind swirling and tumbling around her.

"W-why?" A single word escaped trembling lips, expression frozen like the tear suspended on her cheek. A scoff was heard as she felt a strong, feminine hand forcing her back to her feet. 

"Children are just a huge money sink. Why would we want one?" Her biological mother snarled way too close to her face, the man who sired her nodding in the background, stinking of alcohol. "Of course we sent you off to an orphanage, you were noisy even as a baby. We don't want you, you were just a careless mistake. Now shut up and leave us alone." 

The door she was standing in front of slammed inches from her nose. The unsteady doorframe shook, and though it whined in protest, their words left more cracks on her breaking heart than  on the run-down house. 

They don't want me. I'm a mistake.

They don't want me.

I'm a mistake.

The words were a mantra in her head, sprinting around in continuous circles as her breathing grew unsteady. Collapsed on the stone doorstep of the people who gave birth to her, Isabella felt herself slowly breaking down. 

They don't want me.

Crystal tears fell freely onto the backs of her hands, heart breaking in a million ways as she clutched her chest. Frantically, she tried to draw in a breath. It was so cold.

They don't want me.

Though the wind seemed to die down, an icy blanket enveloped Isabella as she shivered, a chill running down her spine. Even the temperature seemed to hate her, her black t-shirt doing nothing to keep out the cold.

They don't want me.

Maybe it was for the best if she froze here. Maybe it was some sick form of karma; after living in the warmth of a loving family, she was doomed to freeze to death on her biological parents' doorstep, their icy words stopping her heart.

They don't want me-

A gentle hand rested on her shoulder. Warm brown eyes looked down into her teary ones. 

"Shh, it's okay." Seokjin gently scooped her up into his arms, lightly jogging to the car she hadn't noticed pull up. "I take it that didn't go well?" He murmured softly, sadly, breaking for the girl that turned around and sobbed into his chest. He cradled her closer to him, as they reached the car. He opened the door, quickly setting her down in the passenger seat before walking to the other side and plopping down in front of the wheel. It hurt him seeing his little sister this broken, even if she was adopted. He loved her like he loved his brother, and when her heart broke his did too. 

He carefully laid his coat around her shaking form before turning the car on and driving them back home.

~~•~~

Four years later

"I love you all, okay?" Isabella clutched tighter to her elder brothers, tears everywhere. 

"We love you too." Her eldest brother, Seokjung grabbed their mother's hand. After their father had died a few years prior, he had shifted slightly to take on some responsibilities left behind, keeping the house running smoothly. Until a few months ago their mother fell sick too. Her head turned to her sons.

"I'm so proud of both of you. You've gotten so far and it makes me so happy to see where you are in life, and I know you'll keep going strong even when I'm gone." Isabella could feel her brothers' hands tightening around her own.

"And you, Bella. Adopting you was one of the best decisions I ever made. You're such a sweet, kind, beautiful young lady and I wish I could spend more time with you-" She was quickly cut off by a series of hacking coughs that shook her fragile body. Isabella flew to her side, clasping a hand in her own as glassy droplets landed on the hospital bedsheets. She sobbed, quiet pleas and assurances that they would once again be able to look out over the city skyline together fell from her mouth, just as soon as she recovered, she would get better, they have plenty of time. They could read Puff The Magic Dragon together like when Isabella was young, she would survive this. 

Their mother's breathing grew even more ragged and she opened her mouth, wheezing, to speak again. Every word was torturous labour, fighting to hang on.

"Please can you smile for me?" Her eyes were kind, looking up at her children. "I don't want the last thing I see to be your tears." Sniffling, the trio did their best to dry their eyes. Bringing forth their best memories together, small hints of genuine smiles grew as they remembered how much they loved the woman in front of them.

"Say hi to dad for us?" Seokjung spoke up, bravely holding back tears as he reached over to clutch Seokjin's and his mother's hands. Dad. The words sunk in and Isabella realised. Her mother was going die, she was going to leave her. She would be alone again. 

"Will do. I love you guys."

"We love you too." All three voices sounded in unison as the laboured breathing that filled the room slowly grew quieter, before stopping altogether. Isabella's surroundings seemed to fade, sounding almost underwater.

An agonising cry coming from a collapsed boy

A violent sob from a person collapsed over the body

A painful scream from somewhere close to her heart

She was numb, watching the hospital staff slowly walk in to the heart-wrenching sight, glad they had allowed the trio these precious last moments with their remaining parent. She didn't notice the staff ushering them away from the body, didn't notice Jin holding her hand in a death grip, didn't notice Seokjung leading them to their cars. She didn't notice Jin hopping behind the wheel of the car she was in and driving to a cafe somewhere in town. She didn't notice the hot chocolate he set down in front of her.

She only looked up from her grief at the sound of screaming saesangs, the sweet taste of chocolate lingering on her tongue. When their eyes met, she saw her own miserable tears reflected on her brother's face.

Hey! It's meeeeee D: Just quickly saying: Once again, please remember this is a work of fiction. If you don't like what I do here, you have no obligation to stay.  Thank you :)

(Commerce Buddy and her twin please stop reading idk if I can take this jakevgfcfrtyuj😭) /hj

Edited✨ (BTW if you catch any more mistakes please lmk)