Reserved [Book V]

Same Old

i bet ur confused bc i am too, so here's a Prologue recap. West: Wu Yi-fan(Freshman;M), Kim Joon-myun(Freshman;K). East: Seo Eun-Kwang(Senior;BtoB), Woo Ji-ho(Sophomore;Block-B). South: Lee Jin-ki(Freshman;SHINee), Yang Seung-ho(Freshman;MBLAQ). North: Park Jae-beom(Senior;2PM), Nam Gyu-ri(mix years). carry on reading, my child.

"If we've been here before, then why did we have to leave Seoul for Wonju in the first place?"

The walls of the huge apartment were heaps and bounds away from the description of home, even farther from the interpretation of a feminine touch. It smelled like mint-flavored toothpaste and cleaning fluid for mops, most probably because the four less-than-shipshape guys who inhabited the place for the past years wanted to impress a new housemate.

Areum's eyes were everywhere and the expected feeling of missing home was strangely not tucked in her chest. Perhaps it was the presence of the very familiar faces around her, or the fact that she brought everything from her previous city to where she would live while studying in college – writing materials and her pet Nog included.

The boys struggled to carry her stuff into the living room and refused to answer her question, which had been ringing in their ears for the nth time. Areum couldn't help it, though. Everybody seemed to have found ways to make the conversation drift away, like asking her about how life had been, studying in Wonju alone without them.

"What the hell do you have in here?" Hakyeon asked, placing a large case on the couch before flexing his worn-out arms. "It's like you brought large rocks with you."

"That's my typewriter. Be careful with it." Areum answered while placing Nog's cage down on the wooden coffee table along with her bag, which by the way, were the only things she carried all the way. Leave it to her brothers to do all the hard work. "My first question still isn't answered. Don't make me ask again."

It wasn't like she didn't know the reason, it's just that Areum had been so amazed with whatever her eyes had settled onto while travelling and Seoul impressed her very much. Sure, Wonju was populated as well, but it wasn't a city as major as this.

We left because of Appa's job.

"We left because of Appa's job." Jaehwan replied and Areum small smiled at the similar state of mind. She was always connected with her siblings and being in sync with thoughts wasn't a surprise anymore.

Areum threw the older boy a short glance before facing the rest of the crew. She looked around and the boys were quick enough to notice how she was judging the whole area. "You cleaned up because you don't want me to tell on you, right?"

"Yes. Now, can we please move all this shit to your room now?" Jaehwan whined. Hongbin let out an airy laugh and Wonshik smiled a little, ruining Areum's hair.

A few complaints – okay, a lot – and some settling down later, Jang Ah-reum found herself in the middle of a small welcome party from her siblings. With a plate of buttermilk cake and all the carbonated apple juice her heart desired, they had dinner, although not the best homemade meal she had, was one of the most packed with stories.

The five of them, to Areum, was the best group when they're together, and she had been away from her siblings for too long. Nothing much changed, really, but it felt like a lifetime and Areum was thirsty for whatever Seoul provided for her brothers while they stayed without her.

The story of her big family was a miracle, her mother said. Their parents married when they were both on their early twenties and was eager to create a family of their own. However, they've consulted a doctor and a child had slim chances of happening. Areum's mother and father waited years and just when they thought that the dream they had would be impossible, bam! – Hakyeon was born when their mother was thirty-seven.