Lost & Found

13 Years Earlier

13 Years Earlier
Nine-Years-Old

Yoongi hurried down the hallway, flowers in hand, as his mother trailed behind him. When he reached the correct door, he threw it open.

"Aera!"

Aera looked up from the hospital bed she was laying in. "Yoongi!"

Yoongi rushed forward and threw his arms around her. They both began giggling excitedly.

"I got these for you," Yoongi said, holding out the flowers as he disentangled himself from the hug.

Aera took the flowers and smiled. "Lilies! My favorite! Thank you, Yoongs."

Yoongi beamed at her. "No problem."

"So, how is she doing?" Yoongi's mother asked Aera's mother.

Aera's mother sighed. "She's doing well, but she's going to have to stay here for another couple of days. She has a very severe concussion, so they want to keep her for observation."

"I'm sorry she can't go home tonight," Yoongi's mother said. "But I'm sure this is just a precaution."

Aera's mother nodded. Yoongi, who had been watching them and listening, turned to Aera.

"So, you won't be at school for a few days?" he asked quietly.

Aera stared at her lap as she shook her head. "I'm sorry, Yoongs."

"It's not your fault," Yoongi assured her. "I'll miss you, though."

"I just hope you'll be okay..."

"I will be," Yoongi assured her as he leaned forward and whispered so their mothers couldn't hear. "I punched Junho in the face."

"What?!" Aera shrieked, gathering the attention of everyone in the room. She then lowered her voice so only Yoongi could hear. "What?!"

"Yeah," Yoongi said proudly. "And he cried."

Aera burst into laughter. "Oh my god, Yoongs, I'm so proud of you!"

Yoongi's cheeks flushed slightly. "Thanks," he said shyly.

"So, you think he'll leave you alone now?"

"I do. I think his pride won't let him approach me again."

"This is so great!" Aera said. "I'm so excited to get back and watch him avoid you!" She giggled again.

Yoongi beamed proudly. "C'mere," Aera said, scooting over in the bed. "Give me another hug!"

Yoongi smiled as he climbed into the bed and wrapped his arms around her. "Thanks, A."

"What for?"

"For standing up to Junho for me, and also giving me the confidence to stand up to him myself."

Aera grinned. "You've always had it in you. You just needed a reason to unleash it."

"Well, I hate that you had to get hurt for me to finally do that."

"What?" Aera asked confusedly.

"When you hit your head," Yoongi explained. "It made me so mad that I jumped up and just punched him without even thinking about it."

"So... You did that for me?"

Yoongi nodded and a shy smile spread across Aera's face. "Thank you," she said quietly.

"I'd do anything for you, A."

"And I would for you," Aera said as she pulled him close and laid her head on his chest.

Yoongi wrapped his arms around her, and they both laid like that for a long time until Aera fell asleep. Yoongi then gently lifted her head off of him and placed it on the pillow as he slithered out of the bed.

"We should go," Yoongi's mother said.

"Thank you for coming," Aera's mother replied.

"Of course."

Yoongi looked back at Aera one last time before he left the room. "Bye, A," he whispered. "See you soon."