Broken

15

The parent group was having a very heated discussion, the ones that couldn't get off work had arrived and they were about to fight over who would get to adopt Jihyo into their household. The Myouis argued they should have her, as Mina was the first one to befriend the girl, but got countered by the Ims saying Nayeon befriended both of them on the same day. The Sons said they should be the ones, but the Chous reasoned Chaeyoung and Momo didn't even like Jihyo at the beginning, which got the Hirais out as well.

The Chous were dismissed as well, when the Hirais pointed they already had two daughters. That argument dismissed the Sons, Myouis, Chous and the Hirais themselves, as all had two kids, leaving the Ims with the upper hand, that had them grasping at the chance and making their case. The girls and Jeonghoon (Chaeyoung's younger brother) arrived at some point and were over-entertained about the situation, going as far as making some popcorn to munch on while they watched.

After almost two hours, though, it was time to step in and have the discussion end, Jihyo had messaged the group saying she was on her way home, and the fight over who would be the family adopting her should, probably, stop before the girl came back. With that in mind, Nayeon got ready to call for their attention, she was the loudest one and th more likely to be heard.

"JIHYO JUST TOLD US SHE IS COMING BACK AND YOU SHOULD STOP BEFORE SHE GETS HERE." It worked, they all were startled a little, but quickly understood that their conversation should be put on hold.

"When did you all get here?" Mrs Hirai asked, with a confused expression Momo inherited to a T.

"About two hours ago. We were planning on keeping quiet and watching, but Jihyo just sent us a group message saying she was coming back." Chaeyoung explains.

"And what is Jeonghoon doing here? Weren't you supposed to be training late today?" Mrs Son asks, also very confused.

"I was, but the cheerleaders got some beef with the lacrosse team, something about the cheerleading vice-captain being dumped, and flooded the field. With that, us from the track and field and the football team just got sent home." The boy explains, amusement very clear in his voice.

"Oh, and who dumped who?" Mr Myoui, always the gossiper, took interest in the happenings.

Jeonghoon began telling the gossip group about the sports drama he got caught in the middle of, said group consisted of Mina, Mr Myoui, all the Hirais, Tzuyu and Mr Chou. The rest just gave up and began organizing for the barbecue they intended to do. Nayeon and Mrs Myoui began on the side dishes, Mr Im, Mrs Chou and Chaeyoung were sent out to get the meat and the groceries they needed, Mrs Im went out to light up the barbecue pit, and Mr and Mrs Son said they would prepare the meat when it arrived, but made themselves busy helping around.

When Jihyo got back, she could hear some very loud ruckus, chuckled to herself thinking she understood exactly where her friends got their hyperness from. Getting in, she was faced with Jeonghoon dramatically telling a very invested group something about a lacrosse player and a cheerleading vice-captain. They did stop a little to greet her, but soon went back to whatever was being told, so Jihyo headed to the kitchen, to find another group that was, also, very invested in making food for an army. They also greeted her cheerily but were quick to get back to their activities.

Jihyo just makes her way upstairs to change and come back down to see if she could help with something, but, then, her phone beeps, she received a message from a new number. Opening it, her throat tightens a little bit, not that she didn't expect it, but it still doesn't sit well with her, she just shrugged the feeling off, they were nothing to her anymore. The message read 'Don't show up anymore, the paperwork went through.' the girl knew who it came from, she was freed, but it felt a little lonely even though all those people downstairs were there for her.

As she returns, Nayeon noticed a slight change on behaviour, so she just excused herself and dragged Jihyo out back before anyone else noticed, Mina and Tzuyu did, but they knew everyone would hear about it, eventually, so just left Nayeon to take care of the situation.

"What's wrong?" Nayeon asks in a very serious tone, as soon as they are out of the house.

"I got this message just now. Guess I'm on my own, now." Jihyo chuckles dryly, showing the older one the text on her phone.

Nayeon reads it over and just takes Jihyo into a tight hug, muttering reassurances and asking how the girl was feeling. The younger girl was unbelievably fine with it all, it hit her that, what she really felt, was a hint of betrayal, but nothing really far that. Sure, the people who were supposed to have her back no matter what just threw her away with the morning trash, but they were always really forward in letting her know she wasn't welcome, nor was she ever really wanted in that house.

Mrs Im went out to check the grill, and saw her daughter had been crying and was hugging Jihyo, who looked dead inside, so, she did what was only logical, she dismissed everything and marched to the two girls, catching both in her arms and asked what had happened. Jihyo explained she just got notice she was officially disowned, and Nayeon started crying again. That was what it took for Mrs Im's resolve to strengthen and get her to make the final decision on the matter. The woman asked if it was alright for Jihyo to tell everyone about it, the girl agreed, so they went back inside.

"We are the ones who are going to adopt her, no arguing." Mrs Im declared as soon as Jihyo finished telling everyone about the news.

The woman looked fierce, like she would murder anyone who dared question her at that point. That other parents talked amongst themselves and relented, the Ims were a great family, and Nayeon had been ever so vocal about wanting a sibling, so they knew Jihyo would be the princess of that household. That, and Mrs Myoui, Momo and Mr Son were legitimately scared at that moment, so they all opted to make Park Jihyo become Im Jihyo, and live to pamper the girl another day.

Nayeon was ecstatic, for lack of better word, and Jihyo was still processing what had just happened. She seemed to have shut down, so somebody sat her down at the kitchen table to get her out of the way and they all just proceeded to do whatever they were doing. Laughing every time they passed by the girl, who was still stunned, Jihyo, on the other hand, was still trying to understand what was happening. It's not everyday that one gets a family just like that.

The following days were hectic, to say the least, Mr and Mrs Im had to rush the papers for jihyo's adoption, as the deadline for the exchange program paperwork to be delivered was approaching fast. Mrs Seungwan advised them to submit everything and have Jihyo sign off by herself, along with the adoption papers they already had, to guarantee she would have the spot and re-send everything again later, or Jihyo might not really make it in time. And that's what they did.

Everyone was more than surprised when Jihyo told them she already had enough money for moving and her first year there, Mrs Im doubted a little, but almost fainted when she saw the girl's account balance (Jihyo had been smart enough to ask Mrs Seungwan to hold on to the paychecks for her until she could be freed from the Parks, or she would have lost everything). Mr Im just said he was paying for the tickets, at least, and wasn't taking any objections, so Jihyo just let him and decided to take her new parents and sister to a fancy dinner before she left.