The Night I Found Home (The Forever Pirates) #1

008

Seonghwa

I sat comfortably next to Yunho and Wooyoung. The nightsky had been lit up by the stars and the moon in the sky, and Yunho and I shared a look of shared intrigue and fascination.

Two twin girls and a boy stayed close to Wooyoung. I learned their names were Arin, Ayun, and Kyungmin. They meant the world to Wooyoung, and he held onto the boy tightly, pressing a kiss to the top of his head, holding him like the boy was a son or very young brother. It made me smile.

After my very long conversation with San, and an even longer hug with the man, we were reminded of an event that was to take place. San informed me that another pirate with the name Jongho was to sing for us, and San would join where he saw fit. He told me that the young sailor's enchanting voice was one that could rival sirens. Which was something I had not known existed, but I could only hope he was just using it as a metaphor.

I was truly excited even though I hadn't the clue as to what I should expect, for I did not grow up listening to much music. The only melodies I heard were ones my mother hummed while she was with me or the song she used to sing to me so she could soothe my nerves.

Apparently, I cried a lot as a child, but I would stop entirely whenever she would sing to me.

A man I vaguely recognized but hadn't personally met yet sat next to San with an eye roll and a gummy smile. San, being the man he was, had already wrapped an arm around the Jongho's shoulders as he started to hum a melody to get Jongho started.

I knew the songs they sung were called sea shanties. And I had recognized a few of them from songs San or Mingi would hum on occasion. I smiled warmly, Jongho stuck to more high notes even though his mid and low range were lovely. And I truly did not realize just how nice San's tone was to listen to. He did a lot of the lower tones, using his voice like a character. It was extremely entertaining. Even more so, listening to Wooyoung's bright sounding giggles and seeing how much his eyes sparkled when he watched San. Or the proud and genuine smile he wore while looking after Jongho.

I didn't know the man, but their love and care for him were evident. He had Mingi grinning like a fool. So far, I've only seen Yunho have the ability to get him to smile like that previously.

For a second there, I felt tears prick my eyes. This was something I had never had before. And it meant absolutely everything to me. Suddenly, I felt a gentle hand grab mine, and I looked up to see Yunho with a sweet smile.

"There will be more to come, I promise."

I matched his smile, feeling the warmth from it.

"Seonghwa, come on! Join us!" San called, forcing my smile to drop instantly.

"I can't sing!" I defended myself, hating how I noticed Hongjoong across the deck and how his eyes stayed trained on me.

"Yoe don't have t' be good at it, t'at's not t'e point. It be t' have fun. Sing one song ye know, no matter what it be."

I felt slightly panicked because I hadn't been lying. I don't sing. Not unless it's to myself.

I thought about begging my way out, and a part of me knew that if I pushed back hard enough, he wouldn't force me, but I enjoyed how this evening was going, and I wanted to continue and enjoy this moment with them.