Lost & Found

5 Years Earlier

5 Years Earlier
17-Years-Old

Yoongi braced himself as he watched Aera tearing through the crowd. She jumped into his arms when she reached him and wrapped her limbs around him like a koala.

"We did it!" she shrieked as she took Yoongi's cap off his head and threw it into the air. Yoongi laughed.

"I think I'm supposed to do that."

Aera giggled. "Do mine!"

Yoongi laughed again, but did as he was told. He then grinned at Aera as he set her gently on the ground.

"Congratulations, graduate," Yoongi said.

"And to you, graduate!" Aera replied excitedly as she beamed at him. She looked over at her parents. "You're coming out to dinner with us, right?" she asked, tugging on Yoongi's sleeve.

Yoongi glanced at his parents, who were watching them. His mother nodded. "Of course," Yoongi replied.

Aera squealed with glee as she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward her parents. They were too caught up in their shared excitement to notice Yoongi's parents grin at each other as they followed.

"When do you think they'll finally realize they're in love?" Yoongi's father whispered.

Yoongi's mother sighed. "I hope they figure it out soon," she replied. "It's been long enough!"

Thirty minutes later, the two families were waiting on their food as they chatted idly.

"So, Yoongi," Aera's mother suddenly said. "Have you decided where you're going to go for university?"

"Well, I've applied to three," Yoongi replied. "I'm just waiting for acceptance letters."

"Which three?"

Yoongi glanced at Aera. "Um, the three that Aera applied to."

Yoongi's parents exchanged a furtive look as they smiled. Aera's mother and father, however, weren't smiling.

Unlike Yoongi's parents, Aera's were no longer always thrilled by Yoongi and Aera's friendship. This fact seemed to go right over Aera's head, but Yoongi had been noticing their slight disdain lately, as university had become a main topic in their lives.

Both Yoongi's and Aera's parents knew the two would go to university together. While this thrilled Yoongi's parents, it made Aera's very nervous. Yoongi and Aera excelled in different subjects and activities. Yoongi had a knack for music theory while Aera showcased a great talent for art. Yoongi spent his extracurricular time in band and choir while Aera was an ace at tennis. Aera's parents were worried Aera might sacrifice a university that offered courses and programs that adhered to areas in which she shined in order to follow Yoongi.

They had already noticed that at least one university she'd applied to had a great program for music majors, but was not known for art or sports. While they didn't outright say anything about their concerns, Yoongi could tell something was wrong with Aera's parents when it came to university plans. He wasn't sure exactly what the problem was, but he could feel the awkwardness that always came with the conversation currently at hand.

"Which are you hoping to get into?" Aera's father asked.

Yoongi did his best to give him a polite, if not slightly nervous, smile. "I'd be happy with any of them."

"Even one that doesn't cater to your strengths?"

Yoongi's mother noticeably frowned at that. "All of the schools he's applied to offer courses in his planned major," she interrupted.

Now Aera's parents exchanged a look, but it was not a happy one. "What if the university you decide on doesn't cater to Aera's strengths?"

Aera's head snapped up. "What does that have to do with anything?" she snapped.

"We're just worried that you'll end up at a school that doesn't offer the type of courses and programs that will allow you to hone your skills," Aera's mother replied.

"I have no plans to attend a school that doesn't appeal to me."

"Even if it meant going to a different university than Yoongi?"

Silence fell over the table. Yoongi's father eventually cleared his throat awkwardly. "I think they should both be able to decide where they'd like to go on their own. It's their futures, after all."

"I just hope you won't regret any decisions you make, sweetheart," Aera's mother told her.

Aera just stared at her. "I won't regret anything, especially going to university with Yoongi. We've already decided we're going to be together. And that's what I want, regardless of the school."

Aera's father sighed, and Aera was about to snap at him, but Yoongi placed a hand on her arm.

"We'll both be sure to consider all avenues and options," Yoongi said quietly. "We're not going to be irresponsible about it. We both know how important this decision is." He looked at Aera. "Right, A?"

Aera simply nodded, but Yoongi could tell she had quite a bit more she wanted to say. He squeezed her arm, silently telling her to calm down.

A distraction suddenly occurred in the form of their food being delivered to their table. No one spoke as they ate. Yoongi could feel Aera's annoyance radiating off of her. He kept silently patting or squeezing her hand every once in a while, but he knew it wasn't helping.

By the time they were all done eating, everyone was ready to get away from the awkward situation.

"I'm going to go home with the Mins for a while," Aera told her parents, knowing Yoongi's parents wouldn't care.

"We'll bring her home in a few hours," Yoongi's mother added.

Aera's parents didn't look happy, but didn't argue. It wasn't until Yoongi and Aera were safely in Yoongi's room that Aera finally exploded.

"Can you believe that?!" she growled. "Acting like being at university with you would hold me back or something?! Ugh!"

"Do you think they have a point?" Yoongi asked quietly.

"What?!" Aera shrieked. "No!"

"I would never want to be the reason you don't excel to the best of your ability."

"Where is this coming from, Yoongs?! You know how much school and my future mean to me! Do you honestly think I'd do something to jeopardize that?!"

"No!" Yoongi hurriedly answered. "I just – "

"No matter the school, I would never excel without you by my side," Aera said fiercely. "I can't imagine life without you, Yoongs. Even if it's just for a few years. I need you."

Yoongi smiled slightly. "I need you, too."

"Good, then let's talk about something else," Aera insisted.

"What do you want to talk about?"

"I dunno," Aera admitted. Yoongi laughed.

They silently mutually decided to not talk about anything, and finished their night cuddled up together, watching a movie.