"While on the plane, they explained everything to me. It was hard to take in. I cried a lot and they had to take breaks in between because they didn’t want it to be too much for me.
My father never died in a shooting at the airport. Mr. Kim kidnapped him and held him hostage. He tortured him, trying to get him to confess the code. He wouldn’t give it up. Taehyung said he searched the entire detainment facility but he couldn’t find him anywhere. He assumed that he ran off.
My brother's death wasn’t an accident either. Mr. Kim sent us all on a staged mission. Aera pushed him into the river and because it was dark, it was easy to hide it. Taehyung did save my brother but Jungkook stabbed him afterwards to make sure that he was actually dead. He also dragged away the body. Mr. Kim planned to use our deaths as a way to get my Father to squeal. He didn’t.
Thanks to Taehyung, his attempt to kill me failed. The mission he sent us on was also a staged one. They originally were supposed to shoot me but failed so they resorted to stabbing me. Taehyung didn’t know that it was staged so he saved me. And apparently that’s when he fell in love with me. If it weren’t for him my father would have two dead children.
Mr. Kim said planned to kill Sakura in a fire. Luckily we escaped before that. We were both very grateful to Taehyung for saving us. Without him, the Kimura family would be no more.
And about Taehyung being adopted, it turns out, Mr. Kim killed his parents when he was young and raised him, calling him his own. He never truly loved Taehyung, he just loved the thought of having an heir to the Mafia empire.
We flew to America, in hopes of starting over. Safe from the deadly life we had been living. I had to go to a hospital in America because I didn’t get any better. In fact my state became worse. I felt like dying half the time and they became really worried so they took me in. I stayed there for a week and a half before they released me. When they did, Taehyung and Sakura surprised me with a house. We had enough money to buy a house for the three of us. We all found jobs and we managed to ‘start over’. A year later, Sakura had fallen in love with one of her co-workers, Kim Namjoon. It’s ironic how Taehyung had the same last name. She was engaged to him a few weeks later. They got married in spring. Their wedding was beautiful. Taehyung proposed to me a few week after my sisters wedding and we've been planning our wedding since." I explain to the three young children intently listening to me.
“That story seems so fake.” Jay-won says. He’s the middle child.
“Yeah. There’s no way that all of that actually happened.” Ej adds. Ej’s the oldest. His name is Eun-Jin but we all call him EJ for short.
“What do you think?” I ask Ae-cha, the youngest.
“I believe you, Auntie Kari.” They all call me Kari, since they were born.
“Well, if you two don’t believe me, I have the scar to prove it.” I say.
“Ooo a scar? Can I see it?” EJ asks eagerly.
“Why would I mention it if I wasn’t gonna show you?” I chuckle. “Come here.” They stand up and walk closer to me. I lift up the edge of my shirt.
“Woah.” Jay-won gawks. “That is so cool.”
“I always believed you, Auntie Kari. Even without the scar.” Ae-cha says.
“Of course you did. You’re a girl.” EJ says.
“Shut up.” She retorts, sticking her tongue out at him.
“You shut up.” EJ pushes her.
“Hey. Don’t push each other.” I say.
“EJ, Jay-won! Are you picking on your sister again?” Sakura calls from the house.
“Uhhh..”
“Come here. Both of you.” She says. They reluctantly run to the house. I looked at Ae-cha who looked like she was about to cry.
“Come here.” I pat my lap. She climbed into it. “They’re just being like that because they love you. Trust me. I had a brother and he always said stuff like that to me.” I say, brushing my fingers through her hair.
“But it hurt my feelings.” She whines. She’s only 5.
“It’s ok.” I hug her. “Don’t let it get to you. They love you.” I assure her.
“Ok. I believe you.” She hugs me back. “Where’s Taehyung?” Taehyung didn’t want them to call him uncle. He said it made him feel old. He said ‘I’m only 27 and I don’t wanna feel older’.
“I’m not sure.” I reply.
“You can’t tell anyone, but he’s my favorite boy. Besides daddy.” She giggles, whispering in my ear.
“I won’t tell.” I hold out my pinkie and she links hers with mine.
“Are you talking about me?” Taehyung asks, walking over to us.
“Taehyung!” Ae-cha hops from my lap and runs over to him. He scoops her up.
“How’s my favorite girl?” He kisses her cheek.
“I’m good. Aunt Kari was just telling us a story.” She replies.
“Oh really?” He comes and sits next to me. “What kind of story?”
“A story about you and her and mommy and mommy’s brother and everyone else.” She explains. “It was really long. But I loved it.”
“You told them THAT story?” He asks. “She’s only five.”
“And a half.” She corrects him.
“Ok. Five and a half.” he chuckles. “But still. You told them everything?”
“Mostly. I skipped over a few parts. But I got permission from Sakura.” I reply.
“Ok then.”
“Ae-cha, honey. It’s time for dinner!” Sakura calls from the porch. “And EJ and Jay-won have something to say to you.”
“Coming mommy.” She climbs from Taehyung’s arms and grabs his hand. “Come on.” SHe starts walking towards the house.
“I’ll be there in a second, ok?” He replies.
“Ok. Don’t be long.” She instructs.
“Yes ma’am.” He teases, poking her side. She giggles and runs to Sakura. We sit in silence by the pond.
I take a deep breath and Taehyung grabs my hand.
“You alright?” He asks me.
“Yeah. I guess.” I sigh.
“What’s wrong?”
“I just feel bad that I can’t-”
“Akari, we’ve been over this. You don’t have to feel bad.”
“But I see the way you look at the kids. You can’t tell me that you don’t want to have any.” I look away from him.
“Ok. You’re right. I can’t say that I don’t want to have them.
“Exactly. So-”
“But it’s ok. Living with Sakura and her kids is enough for me.” He says. “I’m happy here. With you. I know they’re not my kids, but I get to help raise them.”
“It’s just not the same.” I add.
“I know it’s not. But there’s nothing we can do about it.”
“I’m sorry.” I say nearly in tears.
“Don’t be.” He pulls me into a hug. “It’ll all work out. Plus if you really wanted a kid, we could just adopt one and call it a day.” I laugh.
“I love you so much, Taehyung.” I hug him.
“I love you too.” Once I finally calmed down, he took my hand and we walked inside together. We sat down at the table with the others and Ae-cha would not stop talking about the story I told them. Sakura was laughing at how she tried to retell it. I smile at my new family. At least we’re all safe now.
The end