“Life's not a paragraph
And death I think is no parenthesis”

—E. E. Cummings

The earliest memories Migyung had of the house in the quiet suburbs flanked by trees and an old charm were of screaming, giggling, and running wild in the garden during hot summers. The sprinklers would drench her, her sister, and her mother as they played in the late afternoon. Her dad would then join them as soon as he returned home.

Unlike her school friends, they didn't come from old money, the Kim couple had made sure to remind their daughters of where they came from and where they belonged. It had strengthened their relationship, an awareness of what they had gone through had made the sisters extremely loyal and protective of their parents. A quality Migyung had often seen lacking in most children at the school. They were detached, from reality and family.

She was rightfully detached too but as she sat on the couch, her father's arm thrown around her shoulders, his hand drawing circles on her arm, and her head placed on his shoulder, she let the reality sink in. Taking a deep breath, her eyes closed she let nostalgia overwhelm her as she drew in her father's comforting scent.

He smelled like cloves which she knew came from cigarettes and old paper and ink. Her father worked way too much. But he was used to it, the routine of working calmed his mind and body. To let go of work, a habit developed over years was hard. Therefore, she knew better than to ask him to stop working.

"Don't work too hard, dad," she still said, worried he would tire himself out unnecessarily. "Your vice president is pretty capable of handling the work like you do, so take it slow."

A chuckle shook his shoulders, the sound reverberating from his body to hers. "Okay, sweetheart, I'll take it slow. You take it slow too, you are not twenty anymore."

She scowled at the floor, wanting to direct it to her father who she knew had a satisfied smile on his face. "I'm not that old, okay? Maybe a few sore muscles and broken bones but I'm still in my twenties. I'm perfectly healthy."

"Oh, then why don't you find yourself a good man and settle down. Best time to have children if you ask me," her mother's voice suddenly cutting through the conversation had Migyung groaning, her hand running over her face in irritation because it certainly wasn't the first time her mother had spoken her wish to have grandchildren.

"Ask Mijung to get married. Stop pestering me," she let out a frustrated breath just as her mother put a spoon full of creamy porridge in her mouth. The first taste of the food had her eyes widening and the second time she chewed it her stomach grumbled in appreciation, demanding more.

"Mijung doesn't get dropped off by boys at our doorstep. I saw the boy that dropped you off and I could tell you two are close."

Migyung blushed. She didn't think anyone had noticed them, not that she had been looking to make sure since all her attention was on Hoseok. The thought of him and the way he had looked a little shy after that kiss had her stuffing her mouth with food to ignore her mother. It didn't go unnoticed.

"What boy?" her father asked, his brows furrowed and his body tight. He had stopped stroking her arm.

"A friend," she mumbled around a mouthful of food.

"A friend she kisses goodbye," her mother quipped in rather quickly, making her poor daughter choke.

Migyung cast a quick glance at her father even as she patted her chest to get some relief. Her father's face was stormy and he looked as if he was ready to confront an unknown man to warn him off. Having only two daughters, Mr. Kim was extremely protective.

"I was just thanking him for dropping me off. It's no big deal," she tried to appease but her parents weren't convinced. While her mother winked at her with an encouraging smile, her father was scowling. Anyhow, they left her to eat peacefully.

Later that night, as she took comfort in the bed and comforter in her old bedroom she pulled out her phone and opened the messaging app. Before she chickened out, she sent the text.

Migyung:
Are you awake?

It took a few minutes before the reply came and Migyung almost dropped her phone in a hurry to read it.

Hoseok:
I am
Wassup!

Migyung bit her lip as she sent:

My mother saw you. Well she saw me giving you a goodbye kiss to quote her

Hoseok:
WHAT!?
OMG WHAT?!
AM I IN TROUBLE? ARE YOU IN TROUBLE?

Migyung had to laugh at his reply. He must be panicked.

Migyung:
Not really. My mom pestered me about marriage and my dad looked ready to see just how capable you are of taking care of me.

There was no immediate reply. In fact, three minutes passed and Migyung was worrying her lip, reading her reply again and again.

Stupid! So stupid! She shouldn't have mentioned the marriage thing. But then, his reply came and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Hoseok:
I'm not sure I'll survive, Migyung. I'm more coward than a house cat.

Migyung put a hand on her mouth to not let her loud laughter wake up her parents. Instead, she snorted as she tried to keep it to the minimum and replied to him.

Migyung:
Don't worry, Hoseok, I'll protect you. You don't have to be afraid of anything. I'll be with you.

Hoseok:
Really?

Migyung:
Really.

Migyung smiled at her phone and so did Hoseok as his heart did a weird flip. He wished desperately that this wasn't just a dream and they were really talking about it. Because in truth, he did want to be more than just friends with Migyung and the way she behaved with him...his hopes were high and he didn't want to get heartbroken.

Hoseok:
Good night, Migyung.
Sleep well

Migyung:
You too, Hoseok
Sleep well

As Migyung put her phone aside and pulled the covers over her body, she reflected on the events. In the span of twenty-four hours, she had almost died, felt herself slip away and for the first time she had been afraid. It had never happened before.

Three years ago, she would have been happy to die like that, she had tried it but someone had always been there for her. She had been annoyed back then, screamed, and raged for ruining her plans but everything was different now.

She realised, she had started to develop a liking for life. She wanted to live again. She wanted to live and continue dancing even if it was in the form of teaching. She wanted to be hugged by her parents now and then, and eat the food her mother lovingly made for her. She wanted to continue meeting Hwayoung and drink and smoke their worries away once in a month. And she wanted to be with Hoseok, laugh and cry and go on late-night dinners with him.

She wanted to live.