fall again

epilogue

Everything has changed now.

Or maybe not that much.

Karina has never been exactly the same after those years have occured in her life. But she's glad hell is over. She's glad they're gone and she knows damn well that if they come back she'll kick her father's ass and as well as Mr. Choi's.

It has exactly been two years since all that ruckus happened in Karina's life. Was she thankful for it? Probably. I mean after all, there was something about it that made her connection with everyone a bit better and her a life a little happier but sometimes she still wishes Aeri was there with her.

"Karina, you're zoning out again!" Ningning said and it made Karina chuckle. "Sorry. I was just thinking about something." The older replied and smiled at the tombstone. "I miss her." The redhead looked down and smiled as well. "I miss her too." And after that, they hugged as they stared at their old friend's tombstone.

Aeri Uchinaga, you will always be missed.

The two stayed around the cemetery for a little longer and tried to catch up with their life. Ningning has been painting for quite some time now and she even has her own art studio. Her paintings have been recognized around the city and even got big opportunities with it. Karina has totally stopped affiliating herself with their company and lets her older sister Irene it the way she wants to. The younger sister still works at the pub and now she helps her grandmother with their small restaurant.

It has always been a life she wanted. To settle down and to do what she wanted to do. "It sucks that we won't get to hear Aeri sing anymore or rap. I was honestly expecting for her to release something under that recording label." The redhead spoke. "When I get to afterlife, I'll slap the shit out of her, man."

"Yizhou!"

"Okay fine. I'm sorry. I just miss her so much." She said and added a little laugh to her words. "If Minjeong didn't leave, would you have ended up like Irene and Yeonjun?" Karina was taken aback by the question. Irene and Seulgi have been wives for two years now and they handle both of their respective businesses but never forget to spend time with each other and Yeonjun still works for them. He got married to Soobin last year. Both of the couples got married in Las Vegas.

Yeonjun and Irene looked so happy that day. Karina could vividly remember how they never got to smile that much around those father figures. She's glad they got the happiness they deserve.

"Why would you ask me that?" Karina chuckles lightly. "Minjeong and I were never meant to get married in the first place." Ningning raised a brow at her. "You even tried proposing to her and now you're saying that you were never meant to get married in the first place?"

"It's true, Ning. She was always meant to be with Minju not me and besides it's been two years. I've moved on." Karina said but could feel her heart slowly break in two. Ningning back hugged her. "It still hurts doesn't it? We tell people we've moved on but deep down, it still hurts."

"You and Giselle really like telling me love advice, don't you?" Karina replied with a big smile on her face and caressed Ningning's arms around her waist.

"Maybe," Ningning laughs. "Oh hey but have you heard the news? Winter's coming back. That son of a bitch never contacted me until today." Her choice of words made Karina laugh even louder than earlier. "Are you ready to see her once again?" The younger whispered and Karina felt her body momentarily stop but quickly brushed her worries away when she felt her lips curving into a smile.

"I am. I am ready to see her again."

Both of them bid goodbyes to each other when Kimlip, who is Ningning's friend, called the younger to help her with something. They enjoyed the day with each other's company and it was enough for Karina to make her smile.

As she drove towards the pub, she remembers her last sight of Winter. It was the day of the wedding and Tiffany looked so pretty in white meanwhile Taeyeon just silently grieved her heart out but she smiled at them. She tried to smile at them and to Karina, it was an act of bravery that she could probably never do.

The thought of losing someone you were so sure you'd stay with just hurts. She'd never have the courage to do it but the moment Minjeong kissed her for one last time, she knew she was capable of letting go. She knew she was capable of letting Minjeong go. An act she was so sure she wouldn't do but there she was, crying a pool of tears as she slowly started to watch Minjeong disappear.

To let Minjeong go was to let go of someone she has always wanted. It broke her, of course but even if she wanted to go back to her, she knew it was wrong. She knew it was wrong to long for someone who'd always want someone else.

"Oh you're up early," Yves said behind her as soon as she entered the pub and the next thing she knew, Chuu and her girlfriend were clinging onto her. They looked like a big family. Over the time she had spent there with them, she felt so loved. They were like her own little family.

Speaking of family, she saw Irene, Seulgi, Yeonjun, Soobin, Kimlip, and even Ningning around the pub. "I thought you were-??" She asked and pointed at Ningning which made the younger laugh. "Kimlip told me to help here to prepare for something." Kimlip nodded beside her and laughed as well. "It's for Minjeong."

"What for?"

"A welcoming party, duh?" Irene said, tone filled with attitude. "How come I didn't know about this?" Karina said as she looked around and saw decorations spread out across the pub. "It's a surprise for you as well." Yves said. Karina raised an eyebrow at all of them. "What?"

"What?" Chuu returned back with a wide grin. "What do you mean a surprise for me as well?" Karina asked, an eyebrow rising up higher by the second. "Well, she told us she wanted to speak to you." Chuu replied nonchalantly which resulted for her to get a glare from everyone except Karina.

"Oops. Bye." She said and dragged along Yves outside. One by one each of them started to get out of the pub and confused was an understatement for Karina's situation. She was so very much dumfounded. "Hey, you guys!" She called out onto them and tried to run but quickly stopped when she heard a voice.

"Karina."

"Good god, you were there the whole time?" She turned and placed her hands on her waist. She very much looked like your typical asian mom who loves to scold you all day. Winter laughed at Karina's image and handed her a bouquet of flowers.

"I missed you." She said, making Karina's heart flutter but didn't say anything as a reply and only closed the gap between them with a hug. She pulled away after a few seconds. "You didn't even bother reaching out to me while staying in Australia." She jokingly slapped Winter's arms. "I was prohibited to do it but I'm glad to be back here. It's been a while."

"Stay here for a while, Min."

We could never be the same people as we once were, it's not the same as it was. Along the way, we meet people, we create friendships, we fall in love but sometimes it doesn't usually work out the way you want it to so you sob, you cry, it leaves you in anguish but that doesn't mean you should stop making memories.

After all, we're all miserable souls down here just trying to find what love really is.

Karina smiled at Winter and held her hand as they walked out to call their friends to come in. With a big wide smile, she thought maybe this isn't so bad after all. The future is still far from them, who knows what will happen?

But for now, it's alright to enjoy the moment.

"I guess I've missed you a lot too, Winter."

— finish —