The All-Rounder || Karina X Male Reader

16. New Beginnings

As Jaeyoung settled into the plush leather seat of the private jet, he gazed out of the window, watching the runway lights blur as the aircraft began to ascend. The hum of the engines was a dull roar in his ears, but his mind was far away, tangled in a web of emotions.

His mother sat across from him, flipping through a fashion magazine, while his father was on a call, his voice low but commanding as always. The contrast between their calm demeanor and the storm brewing inside Jaeyoung was stark. He clutched the star-shaped pendant Hanni had given him, the weight of it grounding him even as they soared thousands of feet into the air.

“You alright, son?” his mother asked, glancing up from her magazine. Her tone was gentle, a rare softness that Jaeyoung wasn’t used to seeing often.

He hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

But his mother’s gaze lingered on him, as if she could see through the facade. “It’s okay to feel sad, you know. Leaving behind a place, people... it’s not easy.”

Jaeyoung looked at her, surprised by the understanding in her voice. “I know,” he said quietly. “I just... I didn’t realize how hard it would be until now.”

His father ended his call and joined the conversation, his tone practical but not unkind. “Change is never easy, Jaeyoung. But sometimes it’s necessary. This move is for your future.”

Jaeyoung nodded again, though his heart still ached. He glanced at the pendant in his hand, its surface catching the soft light of the cabin. “I get that, Dad. I just hope I’m making the right choice.”

“You are,” his father replied firmly. “And remember, this isn’t forever. Korea may be home, but you can always find your way back to the people and places that matter.”

The words offered some comfort, but Jaeyoung’s thoughts drifted back to Hanni, Felix, and Chan. He could still feel the warmth of their hugs, hear the emotion in their voices as they said goodbye. It felt like he was leaving a piece of himself behind in Sydney, a version of Jaeyoung that had flourished in the past year.

As the jet leveled out, his mother leaned over and placed her hand on his. “Focus on what’s ahead, Jaeyoung. You have so much potential, so many opportunities waiting for you. And the memories you’ve made—they’ll always be there.”

Jaeyoung looked at her, a small smile breaking through the melancholy. “Thanks, Mom.”

She nodded, satisfied, and went back to her magazine. His father resumed his work on a tablet, leaving Jaeyoung alone with his thoughts once more.

He pulled out his phone, scrolling through the pictures they had taken earlier. The one of him and Hanni stood out the most. Her playful pose, the way her eyes sparkled even through the sadness—it made his chest tighten. Without thinking, he set it as his wallpaper, a reminder of the people who had shaped this chapter of his life.

Leaning back in his seat, Jaeyoung closed his eyes, letting the hum of the engines lull him into a contemplative calm. He thought about what awaited him in Korea: Fourth Haven University, his band, his classmates like Jimin, and the unresolved tension with the Kings and Queens. It felt like stepping into a storm after finding brief solace in calm waters.

But he also knew that the experiences he had in Sydney had changed him. He wasn’t the same Jaeyoung who had left Korea a year ago. And while the future felt uncertain, he carried the strength of those memories—and the star pendant around his neck—as a guiding light.

Jaeyoung hesitated for a moment before pressing the "Post" button. His Instagram feed now showcased a carousel of moments he wanted to hold close to his heart. The first photo was the playful picture of him and Hanni, her lips teasingly close to his cheek, both of them smiling brightly. The others were snapshots of their time together: a goofy group selfie with Felix holding up a peace sign, Chan pretending to flex his muscles while Jaeyoung and Hanni laughed in the background, and a final photo of all four of them sitting on a beach, the sun setting behind them.