Every Rule Has an Exception

"Right..." Jo chuckled to herself and happily joined the others to kick off the celebrations. However, the wild dancing was postponed yet again as the catering delivery had just made its way inside the generous living room. Bambam insisted that the music should not be turned down and was happy to share a pizza with the DJ. Jo grabbed a paper plate and served some chicken pops and fries. Her body started grooving with the music.

"Is this me, or is this a playlist similar to what we used to have in college?"

"Sharp as always," Samantha admitted and took a big bite of her quattro formaggi slice. "So, I was planning all this with Bam, right? And he said, 'We must have a good mix. How can we call it a party without a good mix?' and I said, 'I got you homie, ' and then I gave the DJ my old Spotify playlist that I played when you twerked on me at that Sophomore gathering."

Jo almost spit her food laughing. Jackson and Mark were listening to the story with much interest. Objectively, of course. "Oh my God, Sam! I thought I was too drunk to remember that, but hell if my subconscious wants me to forget that. Music really is a very strong sense."

"Isn't that when you made out with Jonathan?" Samantha continued in a forgotten revelation.

"It was! Next morning, we had joint practice with the boys' volleyball team, and he asked me out at a set point. To hell if I set anything that morning!"

Mark saw Jackson wincing and started laughing too. "I swear to God, Jonathan had kissed all of our girls. Yikes."

"Did you play in the collegiate league?" Jackson asked Jo, trying to change the subject of kissing some other men. Perhaps if he hadn't met Jonathan, he wouldn't have given it much thought. Maybe jealousy was too strong of a word.

"I did, first three years I think," Jo nodded her head. "2016 seems so far away now, doesn't it?"

Jackson did a quick calculation in his head. His eyes widened in surprise. "You got admitted to Stanford in 2014?"

Jo did not question how Jackson knew about her studies. "Oh yeah. Sam and I are class of 2017, even though in different majors."

"You could have actually met if Jackson had gone to Stanford back then!" Mark joked, pushing the other man slightly with his shoulder.

It was Jo's turn to be surprised. She turned her body towards Jackson. "I totally forgot! You got a scholarship for fencing in 2012, didn't you?"

Jackson smiled. "It's funny how the world works. If I had accepted and met the two of you, maybe I wouldn't have met my other 6 brothers. And vice-versa."

People were preparing to put their plates to the side, and Jaebum took lead of gathering the remaining food to carry it to the kitchen. Samantha offered to help, cutting their reminiscent discussion short.

"Do you ever think about what could have been?" Jo stole a glance at Jackson, who quickly shook his head.

"I used to. Not anymore, though. I think if we're not living a certain life is because we are not meant to live it."

"Mhm," Jo accepted and angled her head to look him in the eyes. Although more mature, Jackson was still the same insightful person who captured her attention in the group. That glimmer in his eyes could not be seen behind a TV screen. Jo was wearing the same daring expression she wore when she captured Jackson's attention during their concert. "I think every rule has an exception."

With the tip of her finger, Jo provoked Jackson to follow her into the crowd towards the middle of the living room where the group was gathering. A suave come here which elicited a hearty laughter from Jackson would later be one of his core memories about Jo. For the moment, he obliged to follow her and ease the tension in his shoulders. Jackson gulped the rest of his drink and left the glass somewhere he did not bother to remember. A remix of Beauty and a Beat and Club Can't Handle Me got everyone moving.