A Graceful Melody (An EXO Fanfiction)

Charlene's Epilogue

The Beach...

"Kai! No! I don't wanna get wet!" I yell up to my boyfriend, who is laughing hysterically as he runs us over to the sea water that crashes softly against the warm sand. I wrap my arms around his neck, and yelp as he takes a seat into the cold water.

"Too late." Kai says, setting me down into the cool water and wrapping his arms around my waist. I sigh, and without a fight, I just ease into his grasp. Kai puts his head on my shoulder, and we look out to the clear, blue water and watch a pod of dolphins do tricks and flips in the air.

We stay in this position for a while, before Kai lifts his head up and looks me in the eyes.

"When the group is finally done, what will we do?" Kai asks, and I blink my eyes a few times before answering.

"Well, I honestly don't know." I respond, feeling his steady heartbeat against my back. I look over to his face, and our eyes meet. Kai has an uncertainty in his eyes, and I laugh and kiss his nose.

"Stop worrying too much, just live life as it goes. After all, all we will have is family and each other." I explain, and I look over to our friends.

Luhan, Kimberly, Kris, and Tao are on a team against Chen, Baekhyun, Chanyeol, and Suho playing volleyball. Suho serves, and Kris hits it over the net, but Chanyeol spikes it, the ball flying past Luhan's head, and it hits the sand with a loud thud.

"Babe, you should stick to football." Kimberly says with a laugh.

"Ne, I guess so." Luhan says, scratching his head and then throwing the ball to Tao. He serves, and the next round begins again.

My eyes search around the empty beach, to see the other four boys hanging out with Ariel and JaeHwa. I see Sehun, who is holding JaeHwa in his lap and clapping his hands together. Lay and Xiumin sitting around and watching with fascination as JaeHwa laughs and plays along with his father. Kyungsoo is sunbathing next to them, and Ariel is doing what I thought she would never do again.

She's forcing a smile, and without a reason, is holding something back.

Ariel. I say, looking over at my friend who looks back over at me.

"Kai, go play volleyball or talk to Kyungsoo. I need to speak with Ariel in private." I say, and Kai gives a nod. He kisses my cheek before standing up, and walking over to Kyungsoo.

I make a motion for Ariel to come over, and when she does, she sits down next to me in the water and shivers.

"Cold..." She mumbles, and then looks over at me.

"Ariel, what's wrong? We have everything we could have asked for, a life, a mate, EXO for Christ's sake! But yet, you look so sad. Why?" I ask, and she gives a sad smile.

"Well, despite everything that has happened, out of all things, I miss my mom. I wish she was here to see me grow up, I wish she would be here to see her own grandchild grow up. I just.. can't help it. I miss her, and it pains me thinking that maybe, just maybe, my son would think of me as small or weak." Ariel explains, and I can't help but sigh.

"Where ever your mother is, she is watching over you. She has watched you grow up, silently, and without notice she praises you for your strength. But, she probably doesn't want you to be feeling bad for yourself. It just isn't you, trust me, because I know you." I say, and Ariel looks out to the ocean with her eyes full of thought. After a few silent moments, she looks back at me with a soft smile.

"Well, I guess you're right. Maybe I shouldn't be like this, well, I just shouldn't be like this period." Ariel finishes, before splashing water in my face. It catches me off guard, and I splash it back in her face and our water fight starts for the first time today.

 We spend the rest of our day at the beach, until the sun starts to go down and everyone crowds around our spot where we had placed our belongings.

"Wow, so beautiful." Chanyeol says, Baekhyun taking a seat next to him and then leaning his head on Chanyeol's shoulder. Luhan looks to Kimberly, who is smiling and watching the orange sun descend from the pink sky.

"Everyone, I have something to say." Luhan says, standing up and then pulling something out of his coat pocket and clutching it in his palm. We look over at Luhan, who gets on one knee in front of Kimberly and then taking her hand into his.

"Woo!"

"Go, Luhannie~"

"You can do this!" Everyone cheers, and Kimberly blushes deeply as Luhan opens his hand to reveal a small ring.

"Kimberly, I've loved you ever since I laid my eyes on you. And at that point, I knew you would be my mate. I love you, more than the bond, and love you more than life itself. So, will you marry me?" Luhan asks, looking into Kimberly's teary eyes with hope. The group gets silent, and she smiles.

"Ne, Luhan, I will marry you!" Kimberly answers, letting joyful tears fall from her eyes. Luhan pushes the ring on her finger and is then engulfed into a hug by his new fiance.

We all cheer and clap for the couple, JaeHwa looking around at the adults with wonder.

"Ahjussi, what did you put on Ahjumma's finger? Does it hurt, auntie?" JaeHwa asks, crawling out of Sehun's lap and then to Kimberly. He sits in her lap, and she holds her hand out to him, close enough for him to see but far away enough so he doesn't mess with it.

"Ani, it doesn't hurt little one. But, are you sure your uncle is ahjussi? He isn't old yet.." Kimberly asks, looking over to Luhan as he tries to contain his laughter.

"Uncle Chanyeol said ahjussi was ahjussi!" JaeHwa responds, and Chanyeol laughs and claps his hands together. A small, mischievous smile on his lips.

"Chanyeol.." I test, crossing my arms and then biting my lips to keep from a smile leaking out. Chanyeol throws his hands up in the air with a laugh.

"I was just having a little fun, noona! JaeHwa, don't call your Uncle Luhan ahjussi, yet." Chanyeol teases, before Luhan gets up from his spot and tackles Chanyeol.

I put my hand on Kai's, and we looks to each other with loving eyes.

I love him so much, sometimes I feel like it could be too good to be true. My life, my Kai, everything seems so surreal. Like a fairy tale, or one of those fan fictions you read online and get totally engulfed in. You believe it's real, but then reality checks up on you and you see it isn't.

But right now, at this moment, it isn't. My Kai, my Jongin, is perfect in every way. I would never trade anything for him, for my life with him.

It's just simply, Blissful.

The next epilogue will come Thursday.